Author: Gordon Elgart

A music nerd who probably uses that term too much. I have a deep love for bombastic, quirky and dynamic music.

Show Review: Rush at HP Pavilion San Jose, 11/15/2012

Rush in Gainesville, VA, earlier on this tour. (Click to see more from this show by Flickr user Sofafort.)

A Rush concert feels like a family reunion made up of people who are meeting for the first time. Everyone dresses in their coolest Rush t-shirt and heads out to the arena, ready to air drum along to classic hits and rarely played deep cuts, and find new favorites among the new material. For unlike other bands approaching 40 years in the business, Rush fans still stay in their seats (or in the case of the floor, stand by their seats) for songs from the new albums. Tonight, Rush was bringing their Clockwork Angels tour to San Jose, and it was full of the familiar, as well as full of surprises. Continue reading “Show Review: Rush at HP Pavilion San Jose, 11/15/2012”

Film Review: “Skyfall” (aka The New James Bond Movie)

Daniel Craig as James Bond in Skyfall.

Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Judi Dench

Written by: Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan

Directed by: Sam Mendes

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking

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Show Review: Helio Sequence with Slowdance at The Independent, 10/4/2012

Both the best and worst spot at a Helio Sequence show.

When I arrived at The Independent on Thursday, I immediately took the spot in the front row immediately in front of the draped drum kit on stage right. I knew from past experience with Helio Sequence that this is both the best and worst spot to be when they play. It’s the best because you get to watch the crazy, happy faces of Benjamin Weikel as he slams away brilliantly on his drum kit. And it’s the worst because you’re really close to that drum kit. And it’s loud.  Continue reading “Show Review: Helio Sequence with Slowdance at The Independent, 10/4/2012”

The Insiders’ Guide to the Treasure Island Music Festival (Updated for 2012)

The view from the ferris wheel, courtesy Flikr user tumburre.

(This post is actually from 2009. Our esteemed Editor In Chief, Gordon Elgart, wrote it. But he’s lame and not coming out this year. So I, Dakin Hardwick, have made a few tweaks for this year’s festival guide. Not many, however, because when you put on the best music festival in California, you don’t need to make too many changes every year.)

This weekend’s Treasure Island Music Festival has quickly become my favorite musical event of the year. There are no conflicting set times, so you can see everyone on the bill. The size of the festival is fairly small, so it’s easy to get around. The setting in the middle of San Francisco Bay is absolutely stunning. And something about all of these combine to keep the people going in a relaxed, pleasant mood that makes being there all the more enjoyable. Set times are up, but, seriously, you should just expect to be there from morning til night, because it would be foolish not to.

Now, you might think going to this festival is as easy as hopping in your car and going to the festival to enjoy some music, but you’d be wrong. Read on, and I’ll teach you how to avoid rookie mistakes.

Continue reading “The Insiders’ Guide to the Treasure Island Music Festival (Updated for 2012)”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 10/4/12-10/10/12

Playing at Slim’s on Monday night? Or what people will be doing all weekend at Golden Gate Park? You decide.

Oh, man. Rocktober continues! This weekend in the Bay Area is completely crazy. Fleet week, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, a 49ers game, the Giants and A’s in the playoffs, Oracle Open World, Castro Street Fair … and all the shows and concerts I’m about to suggest that you do otherwise. This is the absolute best time of year to live here, so enjoy it all!

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 10/4/12-10/10/12”

Click to Reveal Spoilers: Questions About What Happened in Rian Johnson’s “Looper”

I’ve warned you. Put this post down! Don’t you dare read it before seeing the movie!

Please don’t read this post until you’ve already seen Rian Johnson’s excellent film, Looper. I’m about to spoil the heck out of it. There are some lingering questions about this movie (most of them crazy theories) that I want to discuss with someone, so I’m asking you, the Internet, to discuss it with me. If you click to read more, I’m going to assume you’ve seen it. Click below to reveal spoilers. Continue reading “Click to Reveal Spoilers: Questions About What Happened in Rian Johnson’s “Looper””

Show Review: The B’z at The Warfield, 9/17/2012

A reminder of a time when hands went in the air without phones in them. (All photos by Mark Portillo for SF Station.)

The biggest rock band in Japan played in San Francisco last night, and you may have missed it. While the band is a household name in the Japanese community, the jingoistic American music fans are likely to be at a loss about them. And that’s too bad, because you missed a killer show by a tight live band, with a surprise in store that made it even more special.
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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 8/30/12 – 9/5/12

Playing for free on the streets of Oakland this Sunday.

With FYF going on down in LA this weekend, we’re getting a decent spillover of excellent shows up here in the Bay Area. Though not quite at Fauxchella levels, it’s nice to have a Faux Your Festival going on right now. And since your regular host for this column, Dakin Hardwick, will be enjoying himself at the real thing, I’ll be guiding you through your options for our fake version.  Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 8/30/12 – 9/5/12”

Show Review: Howard Jones at The Mezzanine, 7/12/2012

Nostalgia about the ’80s is a weird thing. For some reason, the “kids” of today will talk endlessly about going to see Modern English at Cafe Du Nord, hoping they’ll play both “I Melt With You” and “I Melt With You ’88.” They’ll go see endless cover bands of their new wave heroes.  But the modern story of this decade always seems to forget one of the singular songwriting talents, someone with several hits up his sleeves, someone whose “one person and a synthesizer” sound was once revolutionary and is now common. That someone is Howard Jones.
Continue reading “Show Review: Howard Jones at The Mezzanine, 7/12/2012”