Dakin Hardwick – Page 55 – Spinning Platters

Spinning Platters Interview: Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s and The Bluebonnets

There aren’t many artists out there that can stake the claim that they are having a “big” 2020. However, Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s is having one of the biggest years of her career! Earlier this spring she released her first book, an autobiography of her early years, leading up to the Go-Go’s mid-’90s reunion, All I Ever Wanted. In addition to the book, she released a solo record to accompany the book, also called All I Ever Wanted, providing a soundtrack to that book. This Friday, July 31st brings us the first new single by the Go-Go’s since 2001, “Club Zero.” Once you have given the new single a few dozen spins, that very same night brings us the premiere of the Go-Go’s on Showtime, a documentary film about the life and times of the most successful all female rock band of all time at 9/8c!

Spinning Platters had the opportunity to chat on the phone with Kathy Valentine, and in between a few fanboy moments of excitement, I managed to ask a few questions. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s and The Bluebonnets”

Vinyl Reissue Spotlight: Rilo Kiley by Rilo Kiley

I went to a show in college at Cafe du Nord in the early 2000’s. Specifically, it was October 10th, 2002. I recall it vividly, because for some reason I had a lot of cash on me at the show, and a woman I had a crush on was there. A little band called Rilo Kiley were headlining, and I had already fallen hard for this band based on a prior appearance at this venue opening for The Mountain Goats. Anyways, the girl I had a crush on was their for a support band… Someone called Arlo. She asked me about Rilo Kiley, and I described them as “guitar-heavy indie rock with a subtle hint of twang.” This was enough to convince her to stay for the headliner. (YES!) She fell for the band much like I had. At the end of the night, I went to the merch table and bought double of everything they’ve released thus far: their self titled debut EP (which on some pressings was referred to as The Initial Friend EP, but not this one), Take-Offs and Landings, and The Execution Of All Things. I gave her one copy of everything, and I kept the other copy. I also gave her my scarf, because it was cold and she lost her’s. Sadly, I never officially asked this woman out on a date. Also, sadly, about two years later, I fell on hard times financially about a year or so later, and sold a lot of CDs. By this time Rilo Kiley had signed to a major and were getting big, and that first EP had fallen out of print, so I sold it, because it had value to it. Also, if I had known lead singer Jenny Lewis would become massive one day, I would’ve held onto it a little longer.

I’ve regretted both not selling that CD and not asking that woman out for years. Luckily, I married a different, wonderful woman, and we had the Rio Kiley song “More Adventurous” play as we walked down the aisle at our wedding. Also lucky for me, that record that I so sadly miss from many years ago is FINALLY seeing the light of day again! It is coming out on Little Record Company on October 2nd, and can be preordered here as a colored, gatefold vinyl release, or, if you dislike having “things,” you can also get it digitally! And, just for fun, our writer Joel Edelman got to interview Rilo Kiley in 2002 for Agouti Music! You can enjoy him musing with the band over the joy of El Farolito and a commitment to Converse shoes here!

In the meantime, here’s a couple of videos from the bands’ first release to tide you over til October: Continue reading “Vinyl Reissue Spotlight: Rilo Kiley by Rilo Kiley”

Single Of The Week: NOTDF by Le Fomo

This week’s single of the week comes from Le Fomo, and it’s extra special, because it tells a story about one of my favorite venues in San Francisco, El Rio! This is the story of, well, a nipple falling out of someone’s outfit while dancing. An experience that we’ve all experienced at some point. (For me, it was at The Sonics show at The New Parish, and the crowd was so raucous that my shirt ripped open. Apologies to the rest of that audience.) It’s a fun little disco number, perfect for reminiscing about El Rio and all the wonderful daytime dance parties with delicious fry bread being served up in the backyard, the intense punk shows in the side room, or all of the trouble you got into in college during their legendary $1 drink nights, only to be saved by Tamale Lady’s midnight arrival. (RIP Tamale Lady)

“NOTDF” is the lead single off their upcoming full length record, Swallow Me Whole, due out September 25th on Club Queen Records. If you purchase the single off Bandcamp, 50% of all proceeds will go straight to El Rio and helping keep this institution alive during the pandemic. El Rio is also selling t-shirts designed by local artists, so please check them out here if you want a stylish new shirt sent to your door.

Op-Ed: The Damage Of Rock n Roll’s Obsession With Underage Girls

On Monday, I woke up to the painful news that many people in the garage and punk scenes had been accused of taking advantage of underage fans. It left me feeling heartbroken and angry. This is a scene that I always took great care of and pride in. It felt safe, and it seemed, on the surface, to be very open and accommodating and respectful. I wrote a piece that is a little disjointed and without a clear focus. But it was also a very pure sense of how I was feeling, and I’d like to share it with you.

Before I continue, I’d like to clear the air a bit… Spinning Platters, though priding itself on elevating female voices and always being on the side of believing women, has made a few mistakes. I was reminded by a fellow writer that we did, indeed, sponsor a few screenings of the R Kelly film Trapped In The Closet. I even presented R Kelly trivia at one of these events. If I could take that back, I would. We also once had a member of our staff that was accused of many of the same things being written about Burger Records and many folks within that scene. When this came to light, we immediately fired this writer, but we did it silently, without any statement. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time, but after the deafening silence of the men when women come forward, I realized that our silence only protects the perpetrator. It does nothing for the victims, and, really, does nothing to help move society forward. I am grateful that Total Trash, the folks that put on Burger Boogaloo, made a statement, and that they have cut ties with Burger Records and will be renaming the event. I am also grateful that Nobunny has actually admitted to wrong doing, something that few others are willing to do. We need more men to step up. We need more men to call out their fellow men for bad behavior. We need men to admit to the ways they’ve abused people they hold power over, and take responsibility for their actions. After the jump is the piece I wrote… Continue reading “Op-Ed: The Damage Of Rock n Roll’s Obsession With Underage Girls”

Single Of The Week: TFW by Divide & Dissolve

So, each Single of the Week during the pandemic seems to be tapping into a very specific place of my own emotional well being during this whole nonsense. This week’s comes from probably the heaviest band to ever sign to Saddle Creek, Divide & Dissolve. The song “TFW” is a slow, heavy dirge that keeps building and building until the weight of it feels like it’s crushing your bones. There is never relief. Just stacks and stacks of thick, heavy guitars and heavy, pounding drums. You know, just like COVID. It’s all pain and pressure, and there is no relief in sight, and no way out to feel human, and everything you can think of doing will almost definitely cause you or a loved one to get horrifically ill and either die or have to live with painful disabilities for the rest of their lives. It’s a fucker.

“TFW” is streaming on all the usual places now. A physical 7″, with the b-side “8VA” drops August 7th. You can preorder that here!

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”