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: 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”

Spinning Platters Interview: 10 Quick Questions With Levi Weaver

Levi Weaver plays at Steph’s Backyard this Saturday, July 14th.

Levi Weaver and I have an interesting background. I saw him open for Imogen Heap several years ago at the Warfield when I was working as an usher. During her set, he climbed up on top of the speakers to play a guitar solo. It was dark up there, and some people wanted pictures, so I said I would “light him up.” So I shined my flashlight on his guitar for pictures. Later, he blogged that some security guard was trying to blind him and he almost lost his balance, falling to his death. Yeah, that was me. I apologized and explained myself; he apologized in kind.  With that history, is it any wonder I’ve become a big fan, especially of his real DIY ethos, going so far as to book him to play Steph’s Backyard in San Francisco this Saturday the 14th? We’d love to see you at the show, and we’re still selling tickets. Keep in mind that 100% of the ticket price goes to the artists.

Thanks to Levi for taking a few minutes out of his busy schedule of driving around the country to play in people’s homes to answer my email questions.

1. What inspired you to begin booking your own tours? Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: 10 Quick Questions With Levi Weaver”

Show Review: The Gaslight Anthem with Dave Hause at The Independent, 7/5/2012

On this first night of a completely sold out tour, New Jersey’s Gaslight Anthem showed that they are ready for the big time that’s around the corner for them. They didn’t do this by focusing on material from their forthcoming album, Handwritten, but by blowing through nearly two hours of their infectious combination of punk, pop, “New Jersey,” new wave and Americana. And the crowd sang along, every word. Continue reading “Show Review: The Gaslight Anthem with Dave Hause at The Independent, 7/5/2012”

Warped Tour Diary: AT&T Park, Lot A, 6/23/2012

Crowd surfing will never die.

The Warped Tour found a new home in San Francisco this year, parking itself in Lot A of AT&T Park. Like its old home at Pier 30/32, there was a view of the water, and the Bay Bridge. Unlike Pier 30, there was not plenty of room to move around. This running of the Warped Tour was a hot, crowded mess; a maze of sponsor tents, clothing companies, and band merch. Interspersed throughout were several stages with bands giving their all, often to thousands of revelers, and other times to a mere handful. My goal, as always, was to sample as many bands as possible in 7 hours. Let’s see how I did. Continue reading “Warped Tour Diary: AT&T Park, Lot A, 6/23/2012”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/21/12 – 6/27/12

While you’ll find this item on my wedding registry, you can see the contents this Sunday at the Alameda County Fair.

It’s summer time! Officially. Finally. And that means it’s time to see some outdoor shows, some bands from your youth, and maybe even see one of the worst concept tours I can possibly imagine.  Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/21/12 — 6/27/12”

Album Review: The Temper Trap

When a band releases a self-titled album after their debut record, I always take it to mean they’re making a statement of intent. They’re saying, “this is what the band’s going to be about. Everything else before was just a warm up.” But when your warm-up album has the gigantic hit single, “Sweet Disposition,” on it, should you really be calling that practice? What if you don’t have a worthy follow-up? With that in mind, does The Temper Trap make a statement? Or is it just the next album? Continue reading “Album Review: The Temper Trap”

Amanda Palmer Has Enough Money: Here’s 5 Music Kickstarters to Support Now

I hope she'd agree it's time to help out other musicians, too.

Everyone loves a big success story, and I’m included. Look, we’re huge fans of Amanda Palmer here at Spinning Platters, and we’re all very happy that she’s made over a million dollars on her Kickstarter page. That’s fantastic; I hope she spends it wisely.

But enough is enough. There are many other artists looking for money to help with their musical aspirations, and they’re not going to get there without a little boost. So please, stop giving your money to Amanda Palmer, and start giving it to these talented folks.  Continue reading “Amanda Palmer Has Enough Money: Here’s 5 Music Kickstarters to Support Now”

Film Review: “Men in Black 3”

Will Smith in MEN IN BLACK 3

starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson

written by: Etan Cohen

directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, and brief suggestive content

Continue reading “Film Review: “Men in Black 3””

Film Review: “Battleship”

Taylor Kitsch and Rihanna in BATTLESHIP

starring: Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna, Alexander Skarsgard, Liam Neeson

written by: Erich Hoeber and Jon Hoeber

directed by: Peter Berg

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action and destruction, and for language

Continue reading “Film Review: “Battleship””