Dakin Hardwick – Page 33 – Spinning Platters

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” Season 4, Episode 2 with Zella Day

Zella Day is a singer songwriter that signed to Hollywood Records when she was merely 17, and has been putting out a steady stream of material since then, enough to be considered a “veteran” at the young age of 27. We had a lovely opportunity to talk about what it’s like to be making decidely non-Disney music on a label owned by Disney, producing music as a teenager. The conversation ran through early tours, navigating the major label system, finding an off-ramp to the major label system, nourishing a community during the pandemic, and so much more. She may be one of the wisest humans I’ve ever had the pleasure of talking to. And, apologies- we both have pets that interrupt some pretty pivotal moments, so bear with that.

Zella Day’s most recent record is called Sunday In Heaven, and is available now from Concord Records in all the usual places, included some lovely vinyl variants!

Single of the Week: “After I Go” by Roanoke

It’s a downright intimidating new release day. New Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift and Arctic Monkeys and a-ha (Did you know a-ha are still together?) and Archers Of Loaf (even more surprising?!?) and I’m kinda drowning so much that I almost MISSED giving you a single of the week this week. So here is some blissful, Fleetwood Mac-inspired country from Roanoke. The band, not the city. This song is the perfect antidote to the epic amount of stress that has been burning through the world. “After I Go” is, simply put, pleasant. And, yes, I know it’s uncool to enjoy pleasant things, but sometimes it’s nice to just have something nice.

“After I Go” is the lead single from Wolf Motel, coming to you November 11th on… (checks notes) Kill Rock Stars Nashville? Yes. The legendary Olympia punk label now has a Nashville imprint.

Single Of The Week: “Flip It” by Bleached

I am ALWAYS ready for a new Bleached track. This one is a big, classic power-pop number. Heavy in the riffage, and colors of Bangles-esque minor key harmonies… A catchy, optimistic number from a band from Jennifer Clavin, a songwriter that, somehow, always knows exactly what I need right when I need it.

You can buy/stream “Flip It” in all the usual places. Bleached are also playing a handful of dates this November, including a 5th Anniversary show for the Lodge Room in LA on November 9th and a 10th Anniversary show for The Chapel on November 15th. They put on a fantastic show. So get your Omicron booster and party with us!

Picks Six: Six Defining Tracks from 5RC Records

The pandemic has put is knee-deep into MySpace-era nostalgia. Bands like My Chemical Romance, Limp Bizkit, and The Strokes play bigger venues than in their heyday. So, obviously, it’s time for the weirdest of the 00’s to get a chance to return, too! Kill Rock Stars have resurrected 5RC (5 Rue Christine), a home for more experimental works. The video above is their first release of the 2020’s, “Glass from Sand” by MV Carbon + Charlemagne Palestine (Full Length out Nov 4th)/ I spent A LOT of time with 5RC bands in the early ’00s, as I wanted desperately to be welcomed by the noise community.

Continue reading “Picks Six: Six Defining Tracks from 5RC Records”

Single of the Week: “Loving You (Demo)” by Wet Leg

Wet Leg are arguably one of the few bands to have a “really good pandemic.” They broke through with amazing videos and the right hooks to rise above the misery. And they have been excellent at giving back when they can, sort of thanking the world for their success. In 2021, they donated merch money to Afghan Refugee women. And now they are donating the original demo of “Loving You,” one of the most beautiful and serious tracks off their debut album, to The Brigid Alliance, an organization that helps connect women with abortion services.

“Loving You (Demo)” is the first track from Good Music To Ensure Safe Abortion Access For All, a digital compilation available TODAY and only TODAY from Bandcamp! It’s chock full of exclusive tracks from Sleater-Kinney, Bully, Ty Segall, and many more. There are also a slew of alternate takes and live versions of tracks, including a re-recording of David Byrne’s “Empire” with help from Devo, a much desired Thao & tUnE-yArDs collaboration on “Meticulous Bird,” and, really, too much more to name. Oh, and 100% of the proceeds will go to The Brigid Alliance and Noise For Now! Full tracklisting after the jump! Continue reading “Single of the Week: “Loving You (Demo)” by Wet Leg”

Single of the Week: “This Is Why” by Paramore

It’s been about five years since Paramore has graced our eardrums. Normally arena-level acts get bypassed in this column, but holy fucking Gang Of 4 groove punk shit?!?! In a time when MySpace-era emo is having a bit of a resurgence, the third part of the My Chemical Romance / Fall Out Boy holy trinity of this scene came back with a post-punk gem that would’ve been perfectly at home on 4AD in the late 80’s. Like, I almost used the word “angular” here and not in a 00’s disco punk way.

“This Is Why” is the title track of their forthcoming record due out February 10th, 2023. You can get reserve this perfect Valentine’s Day gift here!

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” Season 4, Episode 1 with Sergio Dias of Os Mutantes

We’ve made it to the fourth season of How Did I Get Here?!!! And our first guest of a bonafide rock legend- Sergio Dias, founding member of the groundbreaking rock n roll band Os Mutantes. We made a good-faith attempt to cover a 50+ year career in about 30 minutes, but I can already tell you that we could use another 4 hours to scratch the surface of his career.

Os Mutantes are hitting the road, headlining Freakout Festival outside of Seattle, November 10th – 13th, and coming to The Chapel in San Francisco on November 16th.

Single Of The Week: “Ex-Girl” by Alexis Castrogiovanni

It’s funny… Alexis Castrogiovanni sent me a different track for single of the week, and I thought, this is really good. And then I clicked on “Ex-Girl,” and was taken aback. This driving cello puncutated by lyrics that puncture your heart? OH SHIT! And then a baritone sax kicks in? MY GOD! This song is so brutal!

“Ex-Girl” comes from Alexis Castrogiovanni’s EP, Someday My Thoughts Will Be Like A Range of Mountains, which is availble NOW from her Bandcamp page.

Vinyl Reissue Spotlight: The Habibi Back Catalog

Every single time I talk to a member of the Habibi camp, I gently remind them that I’m still waiting for their self-titled debut to get re-released on vinyl. And I give them a good amount of space on this site, so those conversations have been pretty frequent. Well, their manager has hinted that this was in the works for the last few years without saying it. So, now that it’s true!!! Even better, it’s been taken off the roster of the now-defunct Burger Records label and picked up by the polar opposite label: KILL ROCK STARS! (My favorite record label.) Continue reading “Vinyl Reissue Spotlight: The Habibi Back Catalog”

Aftershock 2022: What you do not want to miss!

It’s not often that we leave the breezy confines of the San Francisco Bay Area, but on occasion, we like to venture outside of our comfort zone, and the annual Fall festival in Sacramento known as Aftershock is one huge reason to do so. They definitely didn’t hold back on the lineup this year, and it looks like a great opportunity to go and show off all the black t-shirts that we’ve collected over the past year of catching up on live events. Like any other music festival with multiple stages and dozens of bands, Aftershock doesn’t happen without a bit of scheduling conflicts that will make it impossible to try to decide which barricade to consider posting up on. Fear not though, as Spinning Platters will attempt to breakdown any major conflicts and present reasonably valid reasons to choose one band over another throughout the four-day weekend.

Continue reading “Aftershock 2022: What you do not want to miss!”