If this post is a little bit delayed, it’s because I’ve been preparing to speak about my (almost) six years of experience as a live music photographer at SXSW this coming week. If you’re headed out to Austin, make sure to stop by WeWork and check it out. Bonus: it features some incredible up-and-coming bands from the Bay Area including Survival Guide, Abbot Kinney, Kendra McKinley, and The Damn Fanatics. Hope to see you there. Continue reading “Photo Set: Happy Fangs at Great American Music Hall”
Author: Kara Murphy
90+ albums to look forward to in 2015
Don’t call it a comeback. It’s just worth acknowledging that years have passed since the forecast for upcoming releases has been this bright. Here’s hoping it doesn’t amount to an audio equivalent of the anticipation and subsequent let down one might experience on New Year’s Eve. Giorgio Moroder (who really made Daft Punk’s latest album a worthwhile listen), The Juliana Hatfield Three, and Sleater-Kinney are just a few of the sorely-missed acts making triumphant, long-awaited returns in 2015.
This list may have grown by twenty additional albums compared to last year, but that doesn’t mean every last major release was included. Sorry to inform you, in advance, that you won’t find the likes of Papa Roach, Marilyn Manson, Fall Out Boy, Fergie Ferg, or Canada’s *pride*/current Calvin Klein cover boy, Justin Bieber listed. Even Mumford & Sons will not be mentioned beyond this sentence. That’s just Spinning Platters allowing me and my subjective musical tastes to run amok. However, there is something here for every musical taste imaginable and as I mentioned at the conclusion, if there was something we must all know about that was overlooked, let it be known in the comments.
Read on, discover some new gems, and get an overview of what to expect this coming year. I’ve even included links to lead-off tracks where they’re available and, of course, my own witless banter when absolutely necessary. Happy New Year of listening.
Support Norton the First: America’s Emperor on Kickstarter
While it’s easy to be appalled by the overwhelming amount of bad behavior that abounds in Silicon Valley, just remember one thing: from the Gold Rush to the tech boom, the greater Bay Area has always been a haven for misfits looking to make a fortune. Colorful characters have fueled its expansion and gained notoriety for living by their own rules. However, few of its most notable eccentrics have been as beloved or celebrated as Joshua Norton.
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Show Review: Erasure at Fox Theater Oakland
Reading up on Erasure, before they performed to a sold out crowd at Oakland’s Fox Theater this past Saturday night, I discovered that they didn’t really break through into the mainstream’s consciousness until their third album was released in 1988. Could you imagine such a scenario in today’s modern-day music industry? Luckily, Mute and Sire records were good to them and foresaw the longevity in classic hits such as “Oh L’amour” and “Who Needs Love Like That.”
Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, the latter formerly of Depeche Mode, have been performing together since the 1980s. They’ve conquered adversity, the pitfalls of fame, and HIV (Bell was diagnosed in 1998). They also may not have had a proper hit in a decade, but that doesn’t diminish their invaluable contributions to the LGBT community or the staying power of the music they’ve created.
Continue reading “Show Review: Erasure at Fox Theater Oakland”
Review: SOHN, Mr. Little Jeans at The Independent
SOHN and Mr. Little Jeans, who are touring together on a jaunt through the West Coast, have a few things in common. Besides sharing a stage set up of vertically-aligned pulsating LEDs, they’ve both released long-awaited, highly-anticipated debut albums, within a month of each other, after a riding a long wave of well-deserved hype.
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SXSW 2014: A Recap in Photos
I haven’t been to SXSW in four years. I can’t say I was too sad about that fact, though. Ever since 2007, the festival has changed dramatically, and not necessarily for the better. To paraphrase, I don’t agree with Lady Gaga’s comment, during her keynote, that corporations are what make this festival remarkable or even possible. SX thrived long before big business descended upon Austin in droves, and will be just fine if some decided to pull out in the future.
That being said, I did enjoy seeing Big Freedia and my new Houston hero, RiFF RaFF, perform in the Doritos-sponsored tent. Yes, it was as crass an atmosphere as you could imagine from a brand targeting youth with their mass-produced, processed food; but the free chips and ample lounge seating were a relief after a long day of walking. Damon Albarn’s set was a bit disappointing at Stubb’s, largely due to the incompetence of the crew setting up between gigs, but he brought the real thunder, in the form of original Gorillaz’ members, Del tha Funky Homosapien, De La Soul, and even Snoop, at the Levi’s-sponsored Fader Fort.
Overall, I had a wonderful time. This is partly due to the fact that I was in good company alongside Michelle Viray and Dakin Hardwick, who wrote quite the remarkable review of all the bands we took in during our four-and-a-half-day sojourn. Though it’s not quite possible to see every act on one’s list, having a wristband does help in certain circumstances (like getting into the Hype Machine’s Hype Hotel for evening shows). I still wish we had discovered this guy, though. Without further ado, here is a collection of some of my favorite photos taken last week.
Win a VIP pass to SF MusicTech Summit XV
SF MusicTech Summit is not only the Bay Area’s largest, longest-standing, and most respected music tech conference, it’s in the same league with nationwide and worldwide gatherings such as MIDEM and SXSW Music. Year after year, it brings together the best and brightest from all areas of the music industry. Want in? We’ve got one pass to give away to a lucky reader – read on to find out how it can be yours. Continue reading “Win a VIP pass to SF MusicTech Summit XV”
Magik*Magik Orchestra celebrates five-year anniversary at Fox Theatre Oakland
This past Friday, Minna Choi gathered with Maestro Michael Morgan, her co-conductor, The Pacific Boychoir, and a local all-star line-up including Geographer, Rogue Wave, John Vanderslice, and Diana Gameros to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Magik*Magik Orchestra, aptly titled “When We Were Young.”
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From Beck to The Boss, here are 70+ albums to look forward to in 2014
If there was one thing the contributing writers, and staff, of Spinning Platters agreed on during our annual gathering to determine the best albums of the year, it was that 2013 was a bit underwhelming for music. The silver lining in what was mostly a mundane, forgettable time for music was that a lot of women broke through and achieved some well-deserved recognition. Daft Punk and Deltron 3030 returned after a near-decade hiatus and did not disappoint. Still, the fact that Miley’s antics garnered any attention, whatsoever, and were even considered “interesting” didn’t exactly bode well for collective musical output.
It’s time to move forward and hope for a better turnout these next 350-plus days (some of us are still recovering/getting acclimated, thank you). If you’ve noticed a pattern in titles such as “50 must-hear albums coming your way in 2014,” with an emphasis on the staggering figure, from other publications, it’s because, well, there are already that many hotly-anticipated releases to look forward to in the coming year. Of course, there are more to be found here because we’re delightfully (right?) exhaustive (in case you haven’t noticed our other, alternative best-of-2013 round-ups).
This list offers an alternate variation on what has already been published by the likes of SPIN and Consequence of Sound; but if there’s one thing we can all agree on, we’re stoked for the return of Beck. Not included: soundtracks, EPs, reissues, and live recordings. Special thanks goes out to Pause & Play, a wonderful, consistently updated resource for new album releases on the horizon. Without further ado, here are the anticipated links – some with videos, links to singles, and even full album streams. Enjoy.
Continue reading “From Beck to The Boss, here are 70+ albums to look forward to in 2014”
Photo Gallery: Social Studies, Ash Reiter, The She’s at Brick & Mortar Music Hall
Last Monday, Spinning Platters had the opportunity to present the final night of Social Studies’ 4 week residency at Brick & Mortar Music Hall. Our own Editor In Chief, Gordon Elgart, entertained the crowd between sets as in house DJ, and we enjoyed sets by garage rock locals The She’s, who introduced us to their new bassist that night, a blistering set of psych from Ash Reiter, and, of course, an hour long set of old and new songs from Social Studies. For those who missed it, here are a few pics from the show, taken by the fantastic Kara Murphy.
Continue reading “Photo Gallery: Social Studies, Ash Reiter, The She’s at Brick & Mortar Music Hall”