Gordon Elgart – Page 32 – Spinning Platters

Show Review: Elbow at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, 7/22/09

Guy Garvey and the Mirrorball about which he may be singing.

Last night, I finally visited The Wiltern in Los Angeles to see my current favorite band, Elbow. [Editor’s note: expect lots of fanboy gushing.] They’re in the U.S. supporting Coldplay, and they added three headline dates. Since none of their shows–the support or headline ones–are coming up to the Bay Area, I decided that I would fly down for the show as well as take the opportunity to visit with some of my Southland friends and drop in on Disneyland, too. Travelling for a show automatically raises the stakes and makes it harder to live up to expectations. So how did this night go? Continue reading “Show Review: Elbow at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, 7/22/09”

Show Review: No Doubt, Paramore and The Sounds at Concord Pavillion, 7/21/09

Our group pulls back the curtain on the No Doubt show. Thanks to Flickr user Eytonz for the photo.

About two weeks ago, I sent out an invite to a select group of friends reminding them that the No Doubt concert we kept saying we were going to see was coming up, and it’s time to decide if we’re really going or not. We ended up with a group of seven, including four founders of Spinning Platters. But since all of us who went are music nerds in one way or another, I asked everyone there to write a brief recap of the show to post as a giant group review. Of course this limited the post-show conversation because everyone was saving their best nuggets for the blog (we hope). This is our first time trying this, so please let me know what you think about it in the comments.

And now, on to our first review. Continue reading “Show Review: No Doubt, Paramore and The Sounds at Concord Pavillion, 7/21/09”

Show Review: Ozomatli at the Alameda County Fair, 7/16/09

I’ve never been to a county fair before, and people are always making fun of the bands that play there for being on “the fair circuit.” I always thought that was a bad rap because the bands that are on this circuit are getting paid well and gigging regularly at fairs all across this great land of ours. When I heard that Ozomatli were playing at the Alameda County Fair, I knew I’d be popping my county fair cherry because I love Ozomatli, especially outdoors. So I made my way out to the fairgrounds to eat a fried Twinkie, look at barnyard animals, shop for bootleg merchandise, and see Ozomatli. Continue reading “Show Review: Ozomatli at the Alameda County Fair, 7/16/09”

Spinning Platters Podcast — Episode 1 (The Pilot)

D.P. kept reminding us to talk into the mic.

What we’ve got here is a podcast! Dakin, D.P. and I recorded a podcast at the 10th Floor Studio on New Montgomery last night, and we’re presenting it here to you! I’m working hard to get this going on itunes, but it’s not as simple as all that. We have to apply and be approved. Well, rather than wait for that approval, you can always just listen to the podcast right here and now! Once we have an itunes subscription link, we’ll be sure to send it along.

The show notes and the podcast follow below. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Podcast — Episode 1 (The Pilot)”

Glastonbury Diary, Part Three: The Music

Seeing this on the screen was only a hint of the excitement to come.

What follows is a pretty simple list of every single musical act I saw at Glastonbury 2009 for at least one song. There were others that I walked by, and sometimes it takes a whole song to walk by them, but when I don’t know who’s playing until I’m finished walking by them and have gone back to my tent to look at a list of who was just on stage, I don’t think that counts because I wasn’t paying any attention at all. I’m looking at you, The Script (or was it The View?) I’ll make very brief remarks about some acts, and pretty lengthy ones about others. I probably won’t say too much about the music for some bands, but will assume you know them already instead. Find out which acts had me dancing, which had me skankin’, which ones had me screaming, and which one left me in tears. Buckle up, because this is going to take me a while. Continue reading “Glastonbury Diary, Part Three: The Music”

Glastonbury Diary, Part Two: The Experience

Things can get a little crazy down front at Glastonbury

When last I was writing a diary, everything was going swimmingly as far as getting to the Glastonbury Festival on schedule. But then a funny thing happened while I was on the train. It turned out that accidents on the M3 and M4 had blocked up traffic throughout the region, and the buses were running a bit behind schedule. How much so? I was told to expect a 3 1/2 hour queue. And so, I’ll make “waiting in queues” the first of the Top Six Things That Define “The Glastonbury Experience.” Continue reading “Glastonbury Diary, Part Two: The Experience”

Glastonbury Diary, Part One

I'm on this bus right now. Or one just like it. I didn't take the photo.

I’m on my way from Heathrow to Reading, due to arrive at about 15:15. Then I have a 15:44 train to Castle Cary, arriving in a couple of hours from then. Finally, I get on an official Glastonbury Festival shuttle bus, which takes anywhere from 15-45 minutes according to various reports. Continue reading “Glastonbury Diary, Part One”

10 Quick Questions For We Be the Echo

Luckily for us, the construction gig didn't work out. — Lucky for us that the construction gig didn't work out.

After seeing We Be the Echo play this last Sunday, I caught up with drummer Ilk after the show and asked him if he’d do 10 Quick Questions with us. He and guitarist Graeme Nichols answered our questions. After reading, be sure to clear your schedule for this Friday night and catch the band at the Hemlock in San Francisco as they celebrate the release of the new album.

SP: Tell us a brief history of the band.

Graeme: We’ve been playing in this incarnation for 4-5 years, having emerged from a murky past of hardcore punk, post-rock improv and teenage metal.

Ilk: Our new album “MASKS” (coming out this Friday) is our second full-length, and we’ve also released two EPs. We’ve toured both coasts and the Midwest, and will be in Europe this summer to spread the mayhem worldwide.

SP: Where does the name come from? Continue reading “10 Quick Questions For We Be the Echo”

Spinning Platters Picks Six: Hidden Music Gems on Youtube

Shhhh. Don't tell the record label that this video is out there.

Many an hour in my life has been spent hunting down classic music moments on Youtube. From live performances that have never been released on home video–only a moment from being removed by a copyright holder–to modern-day music videos, Youtube is a treasure trove of musical moments. So although I’m picking only six today, you can be sure that I’ll be picking six again. Here are six Youtube music videos I can watch over and over again, and do. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six: Hidden Music Gems on Youtube”

A Sunday Spent With the Locals, 6/14/09

Just one of the local bands that made for an entertaining day. — A Current Affair was just one of the local bands that made for an entertaining day.

This past weekend, I spent my Bay Area Sunday hanging out, drinking some beers, and seeing a seemingly random assortment of four local bands. When I was seeing the second one (an Alameda combo playing covers of Finnish pop songs), I decided that blogging about it was in order. Before the night was over, I’d also be seeing a Christian emo band from Fresno, and a local ska-core band of Asian teenagers who referred to their trumpet player as “the white guy.” The day started, however, with an insanely talented instrumental power trio. Continue reading “A Sunday Spent With the Locals, 6/14/09”