Author: Dakin Hardwick

A Letter From The Editor. Nothing major, just more new Wet Leg!

As with every other music blog on the planet, the editor in chief is allowed to play favorites and over-blog about their favorites. And, right now, Wet Leg is my favorite. And they finally have a fifth song out in the world! “Angelica” has a nice, clean, jittery riff that’s a little bit 60’s psych, a little bit Elastica, and definitely designed for getting “just drunk enough” at an indie dance club. Also, I definitely miss indie dance clubs. 

Anyways, this song rips just like the other songs. They are playing the US this spring, but every show is sold out, just like God intended. (Try heading to SXSW or This Ain’t No Picnic in LA or Thing near Seattle.) You can also preorder their debut record, out April 8th, in a myriad of lovely ways. They even FINALLY have a t-shirt, just like Rhian prophesized in our interview last year. 

Single of the Week: “Lewis” by Tianna Esperanza

This spoken word track from Tianna Esperanza, granddaughter of Paloma McLardy of both The Slits and The Raincoats, two of the most pivotal acts of the UK punk world. “Lewis” is an homage to Lewis H. Michaux, the owner of Harlem’s historic African National Memorial Bookstore. It’s a thoughtful song about connecting the words of a legend and connecting them to your life and the struggles of the day. It’s a stunning, emotionally direct piece of work that forces you to listen and sit with it for a bit. 

“Lewis” is available at all of the DSPs for you to enjoy at your leisure. Keep an eye out here for more news about Tianna Esperanza! 

Noise Pop Preview: Fast Times Presents

Amid mask mandate confusion (NOTE: venues are still mandating masks in SF, so MASK UP AND DON’T KILL YOUR BARTENDER), uncertainty in Ukraine, and a general malaise of life, I forgot about Noise Pop this year! But, my good friend Ashley Graham of Fast Times Presents reminded me that there is still joy in this world, and if you feel safe, she’s got a nice assortment of events this week. And if you don’t feel safe going out, you should re-listen to our interview with her from late 2020! Continue reading “Noise Pop Preview: Fast Times Presents”

Single of the Week: “(So Far From) Silverlake” by The Loyal Seas

The Loyal Seas’ debut record, Strange Mornings In The Garden, was one of our most anticipated releases of 2022 LONG before a single note of this project was released. For those who missed our interview with them last year, this is rock n roll legend Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses, The Breeders) and underground hero Brian Sullivan (Dylan In The Movies), who happened to be best friends. This song is a warm hug of a ditty about, well, that very same friendship and what it means when you live on opposite ends of the country.(At least, that’s my interpretation as the listener) It’s insanely relatable since we are in year 23 of this pandemic and I haven’t seen friends that live across town since March 2020. In short, I don’t know if you needed to hear this song today, but I REALLY NEEDED TO HEAR THIS SONG TODAY. So, thank you Tanya & Brian. 

You can track down this track today at your favorite DSP. And if you enjoy the thrill of getting a package in the mail, then unwrapping it and throwing it on your turntable/cassette deck/CD Player (do people still have CD players?), you can preorder the full album here, and it will be in your hands around May 20th! 

Interview: George Chen of Zum Audio

George Chen has been a friend of Spinning Platters for many, many years. In fact, we’ve interviewed him before! And I’ve appeared on his podcast, Sup Doc to discuss 2020’s documentary on The Go Go’s. With all the years I’ve known him, we’ve never talked about his record label, Zum Audio. So we decided to chat about Zum’s history as well as his upcoming Noise Pop Showcase! It’s happening at Bottom Of The Hill on Tuesday, February 22nd, and features Body Double, The Acharis, and My Heart, An Inverted Flame. You should buy your tickets here and then read the interview: Continue reading “Interview: George Chen of Zum Audio”

MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN 2022 FULL LINEUP REVEALED

Hello Folks! Remember in 2020, I posted the line-up to an amazing music festival that never happened? WELLL!!!!!! It looks like it’s been reborn as Mosswood Meltdown and it’s happening July 2nd & 3rd in Mosswood Park in my own lovely city. Tickets are available here! 

Full Lineup: 

Day 1
Kim Gordon
The Dirtbombs
Shannon Shaw
Bleached
Flipper
Twompsax
Carbonas
SNõõPER
Rubinoos

Day 2
Bikini Kill
Hunx and His Punx
Pansy Division
The Linda Lindas
The Fevers
Podium
Brontez Purnell
Fatty Cakes and the Puff Pastries

DJ’s
BABY DONUT – Allison Wolf (Bratmobile)
Jonathan Toubin – NY Nightrain 
Omar Perez – Pop Scene 

Single of the Week: “Good Day” by Seratones

The most effective form of protest is experiencing joy in the face of darkness. I honestly can’t wait for a Single of the Week post to proclaim an expression of pure joy and relief… Until then we have statements like “Good Day” by Seratones. It’s a funky, soulful number really does fire up production of the brain chemical that is the band’s punsake. 

“Good Day” is out there on all the DSPs. Like something physical? Love & Algorhythms, the upcoming full-length that contains “Good Day,” is available for preorder here to be in your hands on April 29th. 

Single of the Week: “Growing Up” by The Linda Lindas

The last year or so have been a whirlwind for The Linda Lindas, the LA band of high schoolers that have been together since they were middle schoolers. They landed on our radar back in 2019, when they managed to open for one of the epic Bikini Kill reunion shows. The band has literally grown up in that time and their songwriting and playing chops keep getting better. Last year’s Racist Sexist Boy was the anthem of the Summer. The single of the week for this week, “Growing Up,” is a power-pop confection that is just the key to dancing your way through the doldrums of post-Christmas winter. 

“Growing Up,” the song, can be enjoyed at your local DSP. The Linda Lindas debut album also called Growing Up, is out April 8th. You can reserve your copy here!

Single of the Week: “Ceci n’est pas un cliché” by Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul

I love dance music. But I need my dance music to feel like it’s made by humans. This track by Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul has a tight, solid groove and an infectious bassline that all sounds and feels like it was made with human hands. They call to mind 00’s legends New Young Pony Club, The Rapture, and yes, even a little LCD Soundsystem at times. (But without all the things that make LCD Soundsystem an absolute bore. Yeah. I said it.) “Ceci N’Est Pas Un Cliche'” is a great song for when you need a great sweat. 

“Ceci N’Est Pas Un Cliche'” is out now in all the usual places. Their upcoming full length record, Topical Dancer, is coming to stores, DSP’s, and your mailbox on March 4th and can be prewhatevered here. Oh, and as regular readers of this site have gotten drilled into their skulls- get yourselves vaxxed and boosted and keep your N95 sealed to your face so you can catch them live this Spring, including a gig at our beloved Popscene on May 18th! 

Single of the Week: “Looking Backward” by Melody’s Echo Chamber

It’s been far too long since we’ve heard from Melody’s Echo Chamber. Her delightful psychedelic pop is kind of a warm, sonic hug. “Looking Backward” features her soulful soprano over layers of harp, funk bass, guitars, strings and electronic elements that manage to send you into space, the mall, and home on the couch with a hot chocolate that may have a microdose of LSD, or might just be made with whole milk. Either way, it’s a pleasant experience. 

“Looking Backward” can be enjoyed right now in all the usual places. It’s the lead single off Emotional Eternal, her full-length album coming to DSPs and your turntable on April 29th. Reserve your copy / prep your playlists here!