Dakin Hardwick – Page 45 – Spinning Platters

Burger Boogaloo Has Moved To July 2021

“Like a punk rock Leap Year, BB2021 will be back next July to slam your ass and tickle your musical pleasure!” – John Waters

God. COVID-19 is the worst, and has managed to bring out the worst of humanity, at least in the US and much of Europe. Sadly, because we are in capable of comprehending how helping others avoid getting sick will, in turn, help prevent us from getting sick, everything is being pushed til 2021.

There are a lot of bad people out there, but the organizers of Burger Boogaloo are not those people. Remember when we all gushed over how amazing the Burger Boogaloo 2020 line up was? Well, they worked hard and managed to get nearly every single one of those bands on board for Burger Boogaloo 2021, coming to you July 10th & 11th! That means we get the triumphant Bay Area returns of Bikini Kill, Circle Jerks, and Carbonas. We also get to see California punk legend Alice Bag as well as Bay Area legends Flipper, The Rubinoos, and Pansy Division. We also have Bleached and Shannon Shaw, both of which have released career best records in recent years. Rounding out the line up are The Fevers, Hammered Satin, Midnite Snaxxx, and Younger Lovers. Well, until they release more bands that will inevitably knock your socks off.

So, you know you are going to go. Why don’t you buy your tickets now so you can finally get excited about something? I know damn well I could use a little joy in this world.

Single Of The Week: Tuesday Night by Fast Times

This week’s Single Of The Week, “Tuesday Night,” comes from Fast Times, a Bay Area rock supergroup comprised of leader Andrew St James, Duncan Nielsen of Doncat and Cody Rhodes of Geographer. It’s a fun, lofi number with a swing that’s reminiscent of The Strokes at their best, and is another Summer number perfect for helping keep the serotonin pumping while we remain stuck, not getting to see each other or commune together at a rock show. (Which I miss so much, I don’t care if the first version of the vaccine causes me to grow a third arm, I’m in as long as my attendance at a show doesn’t threaten anyone’s life)

Speaking of needing to get to a show, Fast Times were going to do a single release party at Rickshaw Stop, but instead will be doing a livestream benefitting both Rickshaw Stop and it’s employees displaced by COVID-19, but also local charity Hip Hop For Change. The livestream will be Wednesday, July 15th, and can be viewed on both Rickshaw Stop‘s and Fast Times‘ Instagram pages.

Single Of The Week: Waiting For Me by Madame Gandhi

Madame Ghandi is the former drummer for Thievery Corporation and M.I.A. “Waiting For Me” is her major label debut, and it’s a bright number that explores the complex nature of how societal norms contribute to oppression. The video is a bold piece of filmmaking, feature a cast and crew made of entirely female identifying persons, including many queer and trans women. Oh, and it was shot entirely in India!

“Waiting For Me” is available now in all the usual places. Madame Ghandi also has an amazing Tiny Desk Concert and TEDTalk to enjoy while waiting for the full length to drop!

Single Of The Week: Si Te Portas Mal (Be Bad) by Loyal Lobos

Loyal Lobos is Andrea Silva, a Colombian-born / Los Angeles-based singer songwriter. “Si Te Portas Mal (Be Bad)” is a sexy little groove that hits the veins in all the right ways. It’s a song that understands that you are cooped up right now in your apartment with no hope in sight for getting back out into the freedom of the world, and is there for you to help you feel human again. It’s hard to feel “sexy” with the world on the brink of collapse. But Loyal Lobos has gifted us with the cure.

“Si To Portas Mal (Be Bad)” can be streamed or downloaded from all the usual places. Their debut record, Everlasting, is due out August 7th from AWAL.

Outside Lands 2021 Line Up HAS BEEN UNLEASHED

Like all of you out there in the world, I’ve been constantly checking Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, anywhere I can think of hoping to find any clue as to what was happening with Outside Lands this year. I was hopeful that measures like masks and social distancing would lead to true containment of COVID-19, and by late Summer the disease would be but a memory of a tough time we all lived through, but through strong leadership, a sense of global unity, and clear, concise directives, we succeeded in ending transmission of this wretched virus.

I should’ve known better. Continue reading “Outside Lands 2021 Line Up HAS BEEN UNLEASHED”

Single Of The Week: SNIPERS by blackgirlsaremagic

This week’s Single of the Week is an intense one. It comes from Oakland’s very own blackgirlsaregood. The nom de plume of local multimedia artist and author Nick Lovett. The song is a dark, sweeping piece about police activity during the recent wave of Black Lives Matter protests. This one is specifically calling out the presence of snipers during peaceful marches. It’s a chilling, vital piece.

You can download this track from blackgirlsaregood’s Bandcamp page. And, since today is Juneteenth, Bandcamp is donating 100% of their portion of the proceeds to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. So buy a bunch of blackgirldaregood music, or any indie music you have been thinking of picking up.

Single Of The Week: Back For More by Kat Meoz

This week’s single of the week comes from Venezuelan-American Singer/Songwriter Kat Meoz. “Back For More” is an exhilarating blend pop beats with heavy as fuck guitars, calling to mind Sleigh Bells in many ways. Only she has more than a hint of dirty, bluesy swagger. Imagine if Jon Spencer Blues Explosion worked with an 808, and then upped the dirty/sexy thing by like 100 degrees. That’s what Kat Meoz is giving with this track, and it’s EXACTLY what I needed to hear this week.

“Back For More” can be found in all the usual places. Expect to hear a lot more from her later this year!

Ways You Can Support Artists AND Help Fight Police Brutality and Systemic Racism

That headline is a mouthful, isn’t it? It’s been difficult processing all of my feelings about everything that has happened this year… From Australian burning to the destruction of Nashville to COVID-19, this year has been a rough one, but it’s been particularly bad for the music business. Yet, in the last few weeks, coming off the heels of the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor and Charles Floyd, there has been an outpouring if activity coming from musicians, all donating to worthy causes that will fight the infrastructure that has led to so many innocent people of color dying at the hands of the people they pay to serve and protect them.

All I am asking of you is to do something you probably want to do anyways: buy merch from your favorite artists. Many of these artists are leveraging that June 5th is “Bandcamp Day,” where Bandcamp waives their fees, so artists get everything. Here are just a handful of campaigns happening now from some Spinning Platters favorites:

Continue reading “Ways You Can Support Artists AND Help Fight Police Brutality and Systemic Racism”

Single of the Week: Someone’s Lost Their Goddamn Wallet by MAITA

MAITA is a band from Portland, Oregon that’s fronted by singer/songwriter Maria Maita-Keppeler. “Someone’s Lost Their Goddam Wallet” is the second single to drop off their debut record, Best Wishes. It’s a fun little number that’s great for dancing around to, but also reminds you that parties and such might not be as fun as you recall. Especially when throwing a party is suddenly the deadliest thing on Earth, next to going to work in an office or choir practice at church. It’s exactly what I needed to help deal with the norms of now.

Best Wishes is out NOW on Kill Rock Stars, and it’s FANTASTIC. You should buy it TODAY on Bandcamp, because not only is Bandcamp not taking a commission on sales today, but Kill Rock Stars is donating 20% of all sales to community bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizations through ActBlue. So buy a few records today, actually. Pick up the Elliot Smith, Marnie Stern, Deerhoof, and many other great Kill Rock Stars releases that you should already own but don’t.

Oh, and if you either forget to buy stuff today, or you want to split your purchases, on Juneteenth (June 19th), Bandcamp is donating their proceeds to NAACP Action Fund.

Single of the Week: New Mood / LPX

I’m desperate for exhilarating music these days. Every bit of information out there is draining the soul, and some days it feels like we will never have good news. One of the few things that has turned that around for me lately is the latest single from LPX, “New Mood.” This song is ferocious. This song is angry. This song is also optimistic and perky has hell. This is one of those songs that forces you to take whatever is hurting your reality (which is the pandemic that’s hurting EVERYONE IN THE WORLD), and forces you to squash that and take your life back over. This song is vital listening for anyone that needs to escape the hell of now and get motivated to live.

God bless you, LPX.

“New Mood” is the first single off LPX’s upcoming, as yet untitled EP, due out this Summer. You can listen / buy this track here, and don’t forget to follow her on Twitter and Instagram to get up to do info on preordering what may be the soundtrack to your Summer.