Author: Dakin Hardwick

Show Review: Nellie McKay: “I Want To Live” at The Rrazz Room, 2/28/12

There aren’t enough artists like Nellie McKay in the world. Stylistically, she sounds like classic jazz pop, but she isn’t afraid to push those boundaries. Unlike many similar artists, her politics are always worn on her sleeve, and she isn’t afraid of offending people. Her records have explicit lyrics stickers on them, yet you wouldn’t realize it if you weren’t paying close enough attention. Which surprised me that she ended up booking the traditional jazz lounge The Rrazz Room, inside the upscale Hotel Nikko.

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Show Review: Buck 65, Busdriver, Kristoff Krane at Slim’s, 2/19/2012

The is how we dance in Canada. (All photos by Kara Murphy)

Canada has had a very difficult relationship with hip hop in the US. It seems that very few acts can break through, despite all the talent that is brewing in our great white north. Aside from Drake, there has yet to be a true superstar to come from the great white north. Which means that such great acts like k-os, K’Naan, and Buck 65 are stuck cris-crossing America, playing small clubs on weekday nights to have full rooms. Which is a shame, because there is so much serious talent coming from our “America’s hat.” On a a cold Sunday night, San Francisco was treated to a performance from Nova Scotia’s Buck 65.

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Spinning Platters Guide To Noise Pop 2012

For the last 20 years, the good folks of Noise Pop have turned a single show at Kennel Club (now known as The Independent) into a huge, weeklong festival that causes Bay Area music nerds to clear their calendar every year. In recent years, the fest has expanded beyond music- we have movies, craft fairs, and literary events in addition to one of the best programmed music fests you will ever go to. Go to 2012.noisepop.com for a full listing, but if you want to know what I think you should go to, follow the jump!

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/16/12-2/22/12

We are on our way to the beginning of Noise Pop…  But, since you are addicted to show going like I am, I have prepared a list of warm up gigs that you should attend. I know that I will be!

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/9/12-2/15/12

Comin' To Oakland!

February is a pretty nutty month for shows in SF. And that’s not just counting Noise Pop… The weeks warming up to Noise Pop are pretty insane, too! So, clear your schedule, and go out to a few shows!

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Sketchfest Review: Greg Behrendt & The Reigning Monarchs: “Bring The Rock” at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 2/4/12

Photo By VickyPezza

Sketchfest, the three week long behemoth of a comedy festival came to a mind-melting close on Saturday night. Although there were some more popular events with bigger stars, nothing stood up to the sheer volume of “Bring The Rock.”  This was, quite literally, the first time I ever needed to wear ear plugs at a comedy club.Yes, other shows were fun, but nothing could prepare you for this epic event.

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Show Review: The Spinners at Yoshi’s – Jack London Square, 2/3/12

Photos By Emily Anderson

When we started Spinning Platters back in 2009, we really weren’t thinking about the fact that our name could remind people of two ground breaking, classic R&B groups. We were really trying to get at a pun on records, CD’s, and hard drives. I’m not sure where the trigger came from reminding us of The Platters and The Spinners, but I decided that we needed to be there the next time either act played. Due to legal reasons, it seems that the likelihood of a Platters show is slim, but when Yoshi’s announced a three night stint with The Spinners, well, I had to seize this moment.

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Sketchfest Review: Reggie Watts, Garfunkel & Oates at Mezzanine, 2/1/12

Singin' and Dancin' (All Photos by Marie Carney)

Some of the most talented people on earth hail from right here in the San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, we have so many uber-talented musicians, writers, comics, speakers, artists, chefs, and so on, that it’s easy to take them for granted. Reggie Watts is one of those performers. He seems to be performing all the time, and everyone in the bay area seems to swoon over him. Yet, I have yet to see him. It could be due to the fact that every show sells out, no matter what the venue. Which is also how Sketchfest was able to book him four nights in a row, also giving him the ability to indulge in whatever he pleases.

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Show Review: Wilco, White Denim at The Fox Theater – Oakland, 1/31/12

The success of Chicago experimental-alt.country-indie rock combo Wilco really defies the conventions of a successful rock band. Where most bands become as big as they will get within about 5 years of performing, these guys seem to get bigger and bigger every year. At nearly 20 years into their career, they are doing a “small venue” tour of 3,000 seat theaters, and each date on this tour seemingly sold out in minutes. SpinningPlatters were lucky enough to check them out on the third night of a mini Bay Area tour, where the hit San Jose and San Francisco on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/2/12-2/8/12

Being brought to Cobb's This Saturday Night

It’s another week of live music, and, although it might seem to be a little slow, since every is getting amp’d for Noise Pop, there is still plenty of awesomeness. You may even get some things that you will never see again!

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