Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Molly Neuman is a rock n roll legend. She is the drummer for Riot Grrl groundbreakers Bratmobile. She was also a member of The Peechees and The Frumpies. AND she helped run Lookout Records in the late 90s. AND managed The Donnas. AND was Vice President at early digital music distributor eMusic. This is only a small portion of her career.
She’s now President of CD Baby and hitting the road with Bratmobile this Summer: Continue reading “How Did Molly Neuman Get Here?”
I almost ignored this one. The headline of the press release said “Former Fulbright Scholar,” which is a cool and interesting achievement. I honestly thought it was some SPAM. Then I re-read it and saw that it truly the best way to describe this project. Texas Native Amanda Pasacli has taken the classic Sicilian folk song “E Vui Durmiti Ancora,” flipped the gender, translated it into English, and gave it a stunning, Roy Orbison-inspired arrangement. I keep wanting to replay it. And then use it to scare the last bit of hair off Stephen Miller’s head when he hears an American singing a bilingual song. And then they learn that they are actively curious about other cultures and enjoy surrounding themselves with diverse people.
“Wake Up, Baby! (E Vui Durmiti Ancora)” comes from Pacali’s upcoming full-length record,Roses & Basil. I’m pretty excited to hear more off this record.
We are less than two months away from Outside Lands 2025! And fellow San Franciscans are currently enjoying classic Outside Lands weather (overcast and cool- sorry, THE REST OF THE USA. But, also, why not escape the heat and join us in the park in August?) One of the last big announcements for the big event dropped today- THE NIGHT SHOWS! Although enjoying music in the park is great, you also have an opportunity to see folks like Thundercat, Still Woozy, Midnight Generation, FCUKERS, Hope Tala, Luna Li, and more in intimate venues, starting late enough for you to get to after a great day in the park.
Eager Beaver and Golden Gate Club ticket holders will once again have the first opportunity to purchase tickets, with presales running from Wednesday, June 25, at 10:00 a.m. PT to Thursday, June 26, at 11:59 p.m. PT. The festival ticket presale for ticket holders is Thursday, June 26, from 10 am PT to 11:59 p.m. PT. Any remaining tickets for Night Shows that are still available will go on sale to the public on Friday, June 27, at 10 am PT. Eager Beaver, Golden Gate Club, and festival ticket holders will receive an email with their respective presale codes. Details and ticket links here!
Full schedule below:
If someone had told me in 1995 that Pop-Punk would remain a vital genre of music, continuing to strike a chord with young people 30 years later, I wouldn’t have believed them. But my Thursday Night out at Brick & Mortar Music Hall showed me that the younger generation not only really connects to this genre, but might be doing it far better than Gen X did.
Holy lofi!!!! The new Automatic single rips! Just bass guitar, drums, and vocals with the occasional synth flourish, and they lock into a perfect groove. I was wondering how they would fit in on the usually funk-oriented Stones Throw Records, but they are clearly here to outfunk everyone.
“Is It Now?” is the first single off their upcoming album of the same name. Tour Dates are up here, and hopefully, a Bay Area date is in the cards.
Dear God, what an awful, awful newsweek. I’m not going to rehash all the many, many ways the current administration is, well, trying to destroy everything good about being an American. Instead, why don’t we celebrate Trump’s birthday by blasting our single of the week (timed just for him), “Jesus and John Wayne,” coming to you from googly eyes, featuring Joy Oladokun and Allison Ponthier. It’s a beautiful, poignant cut that’s not subtle in its dissection of the Christian Right, revealing it to be neither Christian nor right.
“Jesus and John Wayne” can be streamed NOW in all the usual places. A portion of this single’s proceeds will be donated to The Ally Coalition. This Fall, the good people at All Things Go will be releasing a compilation that will include this track.
This song… It’s honey-soaked, mildly rockabilly, and so hot that I want to jump in the pool that’s in the background of this video. “After The Fact” is one of those perfect Summer jams. Syd’s voice is timeless, and that guitar is perfection. Aside from the F-bombs in the chorus, this could’ve come out any time in the last 80 years and fit in perfectly.
“After The Fact” comes from Syd’s upcoming record, ALSO called After The Fact, available June 25th!
Sunflower Bean’s sound has been steadily evolving since the release of their debut album, Human Ceremony. Their latest record, Mortal Primetime, is their heaviest and most fully realized record yet! We had the chance to talk to singer/bassist Julia Cumming from their tour van about the record, the tour, and, of course, it wouldn’t be a Spinning Platters interview if I didn’t ask about an early cult project from when they were a teenager. There are only two weeks left of their North American tour, and tickets are available here! Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Julia Cumming of Sunflower Bean”
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!! Outside Lands is continuing its mission of supporting and advocating for the local LGBTQ+ culture by letting locals curate the DOLORES stage, placed in a prime spot – at the end of the Polo Field, right in the middle of the festival. Friday is brought to you by Fake and Gay, Saturday is brought to you by the legendary Oasis Arts, and Sunday is brought to you by Polyglamorous. Limited tickets are still available to Outside Lands here.
DOLORES’ LINEUP
FAKE and GAY @ Dolores’ – Friday
Fcukers (DJ Set)
Chase Icon (Live)
Memphy
Dangerous Rose
Adam Kraft
Beverly Chills
Just Another Bitch
Mama San
Hosted by Nicole Paige Brooks
OASIS ARTS @ Dolores’ – Saturday
PRINCESS feat. Tito Soto & Snaxx
with DJ Bella Spreads
REPARATIONS feat. Nicki Jizz
with Miss Toto
BALONEY & FRIENDS feat. D’Arcy Drollinger, Michael Phillis, and Rory Davis
with DJ Subeaux
AND MORE !
Polyglamorous @ Dolores’ – Sunday
Rebecca Black (DJ Set)
Father Figure
David Harness
Jen DM
Chelsea Starr
Mouthfeel
BEYA b2b Mark O’Brien
Drag by Vivvy and her cast of 1,000
“Alive” is a jangle garage confection that is making me feel all sorts of bubbly and good. And “good” is really hard to reach these days, so it’s great to face something that can push the serotonin up the right amount of notches- not aggressively happy, not sad, just kinda content. Think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or The Raveonettes or something that would fit in during your favorite 90’s britpop dance night.
“Alive” is the first single off GHOSTWOMAN’s latest record, Welcome To The Civilized World, hitting your eardrums on September 5th. Prepare accordingly.
