Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Here’s another sampling of the fine music out your disposal in the Bay Area this weekend! I think that there’s something for everyone this week.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/19/12 – 7/25/12”
Marina & The Diamonds were supposed to play The Fillmore a year and a half ago. She canceled the show in order to record her new record. I had purchased tickets, and I will admit to being a little bummed about this at the time. But, alas, I let it go. The wait seemed to be a good thing for her, because when she finally rebooked, the show sold out rather quickly. I guess it’s the whole story of “If you love something, set it free, and if it comes back, it’s yours forever.” Because this crowd defintely seemed more in love with Marina than they would have a year and a half ago.
Continue reading “Show Review: Marina & The Diamonds with MS MR at The Fillmore, 7/11/12”
In the difficult weeks between Summer music festivals, we have a pretty epic week of shows coming up. I can guarantee you that you will find at least two acts on this list that you thought would never tour again!
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/12/12 – 7/18/12”
Happy Fifth of July, loyal readers!
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/5/12 – 7/11/12”
I don’t listen to heavy metal music very often. There are two or three records that I pull out on rare occasion to fill a certain void, but at no time would I consider myself part of the movement. So, when the opportunity fell in my lap to cover Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival, I wasn’t entirely sure if I was the right man for the job. But, I do really like Motörhead, and life isn’t about doing the safe thing. So, I decided to throw caution to the wind and see what happens when I spend an entire day absorbed in the metallic crunch of a heavy metal show. I put on my most “metal” of t-shirts, which was, most ironically, a Yelle T-shirt that was all black and had “Dance Or Die” written in bold red.
Continue reading “Show Review: Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival at Shoreline Amphitheater, 7/1/12”
When I first heard about this Summerland tour, I didn’t believe it. As a punker kid in high school, these were all bands that I was too good for. I would only listen to Live 105 or KOME in secret, while I told my friends that I was listening to bands like The Queers or cub. I did see Everclear back in the day, but only because they opened for Primus. Sugar Ray? I saw because Save Ferris and Goldfinger were opening. But I secretly enjoyed these bands. Even when this tour was booked, my gut was to be an angsty 16 year old and make fun of it. But, secretly, I really wanted to go. Since I am much more comfortable with my own skin, I decided to own my nostalgia and make the long trek from Oakland to Saratoga, a city that most Oaklanders aren’t even aware of.
Happy Independence Day! That’s why you are getting the rare list where nearly every band is from the US. And the only English band has an umlaut in it’s name. Alright, enough chatter:
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/28/12 – 7/4/12”
As a self professed music nerd, it’s almost embarrassing that I don’t go see the San Francisco Symphony more often. We are really lucky to have a world class orchestra in are backyard, playing nearly every night. Davies Symphony Hall is also one of the most perfect rooms to experience live music in, where every seat has an excellent view, and the sound is near perfect. This is my first time here since I took my dad to see PDQ Bach in 2008. And it took a pop musician to bring me there. Natalie Merchant, best known as the lead vocalist for 10,000 Maniacs, isn’t your average pop singer, and the idea of that majestic voice backed by a full orchestra sounded like a perfect combination.
It’s been a few years since Jenny Lewis last graced our presence. In the two years since the release of I’m Having Fun Now, her Rilo Kiley bandmate Blake Sennett declared the band broken up, and her first ever acoustic tour (which would have included her first appearance at Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit) ended up getting derailed due to a family emergency. When she finally returned to San Francisco, so booked the incredibly intimate and historic Swedish American Hall, and it sold out in moments. Since this show was initially announced in late Summer of 2011, people have been waiting almost a year for this show. This show was a big deal.
Continue reading “Show Review: Jenny Lewis with Nik Freitas at Swedish American Hall, 6/16/12”
My editor in chief and I had an interesting conversation by text specifically about my musical tastes. I confessed that it seems that the older I get, the more I like louder, faster, more aggressive music, and this seems to be counter the normal musical evolution. He made note that loud, fast music isn’t really fashionable right now, and that the main reason I relate to it is because I feel the need to counter mainstream musical taste. There’s a chance that he’s right. There is a better chance that the rest of the world is simply missing the glory of a dynamic performance by a ferocious rock band. And, on a beautiful Summer’s night in Potrero Hill, we were treated to an amazing evening of all that is loud and fast.
Continue reading “Show Review: Ume with Kitten at Bottom Of The Hill, 6/13/12”