Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Treasure Island Music Festival is always a good time. This year marks what may have been the biggest year ever for the event! Outkast are, arguably, the biggest name to ever play this event. It was also a blissfully sunny weekend, with temperatures staying in the low 70’s with just a subtle breeze throughout the affair. And, despite some of the biggest crowds ever, the event never felt “too crowded.”
So good. Continue reading “Treasure Island Festival Diary 2014, Day 1”
Treasure Island Music Festival is coming up this weekend. Which is the best music festival in America. Nonetheless, there are still a bunch of other great shows, too!
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts: 10/16/14-10/22/14”
Yes, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is this week. It’s an amazing line up as usual. It’s free, so everyone is there. However, there is more than enough great music happening this week. Enjoy the shows!
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts: 10/3/14-10/8/14”
This week is a pretty epic week if you are in the mood for some classic rock. Or new music. Or just like being alive. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts: 9/25/14-10/2/14”
Thursday, September 11th Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/11/14-9/17/14”
Thank you for enjoying the rock.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/4/14-9/10/14”
Summer is nearly over, but there is still plenty to do. Including two really inexpensive, all day music events in the Bay Area for you to celebrate this holiday weekend.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 8/28/14-9/4/14”
There was a point in my life where The Mars Volta were, in my opinion, the most interesting thing in rock. Those first three full length records, De-Loused In The Comatorium, Frances The Mute, and Amputechture were all in heavy rotation while I moved from my early to mid 20’s. These records were the perfect balance of heavy and creative. Insane records filled with intensity that drew from influences as wide ranging as Fania All Stars, Pink Floyd, Fugazi, and Stockhausen. Delicious albums that I listened to almost daily. Before long, however, it felt like the band kept losing the plot. The records seemed stale, and the live shows also seemed to like some of the “Oomph!” of their earlier sets. When they decided to close up that chapter, it made sense to me. Both Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala found themselves exploring music apart from each other, and made for some awfully compelling records.
The year that they parted ways was 2012. Now, a mere two years later, Cedric & Omar quietly started putting out new material on the web. Under the name “Antemasque.” These were some great, concise tracks. So, the moment they announced a tour, I decided it was worth my while to see if they’ve really re-inspired themselves.
Ending a festival is always a little bittersweet. Because you had fun, but you are also tired. So tired that you will end up seeing fewer acts, but it’s OK. Quality over quantity, eh? And these were probably the best sets of the weekend.
The good people of Sketchfest have decided to grace our Summer with another weekend of epic programming at The Castro Theater. Thus proving that you can, indeed, laugh in the Summer as well as the Winter. These four events at The Castro Theater are all going to be wonderful, joyful affairs. (Note: All events are at The Castro Theatre) Continue reading “Sketchfest Summer Social Preview”