Marie Carney – Page 5 – Spinning Platters

Show Review: Desaparecidos with The Velvet Teen at Bottom of the Hill, 8/28/12

Waiting in line for the doors to open at Bottom of the Hill last night I knew it would be a nostalgic evening. Ten years ago I came to the same place, early and excited, to find a printed paper sign saying that Desaparacidos would not be performing, that instead Conor Oberst would be performing a solo acoustic show. That show was great, though it was hindered by the fact that Conor Oberst had played the same show as Bright Eyes earlier that year at Great American Music Hall and that anyone going to see Desaparecidos at Bottom of the Hill should have been expecting a night of feverish music and aggression not intense sadness and introspection. As I walked inside I just hoped my dreams of ten years ago would not be destroyed. Continue reading “Show Review: Desaparecidos with The Velvet Teen at Bottom of the Hill, 8/28/12”

Show Review: Jay Brannan at Great American Music Hall 8/4/12

JB1 — Jay Brannan’s stories are so good, he even makes himself laugh

Leaving the Great American Music Hall Saturday night, sure we talked about the great show and how opener Chris Pureka was a perfect fit, but mostly we talked about how Jay Brannan should be a superstar. His personality beams charm at you from the stage and his voice is clear tenor perfection that emotes every single word, so much so that it can almost break your heart. So why isn’t he super famous? Continue reading “Show Review: Jay Brannan at Great American Music Hall 8/4/12”

Sketchfest Review: Comedy NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences, 1/26/11

Your Tour Guides, Kasper Hauser (By Jakub Mosur)

When I saw the roster of performers playing at California Academy of Sciences I knew I had to check it out. Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, Greg Proops, Rick Overton and Will Franken were all scheduled to be there plus many more. I had no idea how they were going to pack in all of those performances, but with the entire California Academy of Sciences at their disposal it was easy to fit everyone in, but not so easy to see all the performers you wanted to. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Comedy NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences, 1/26/11”

Sketchfest Review: Pretty Good Friends at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/20/12

Eugene Mirman’s show Pretty Good Friends turned out to be a great start to my SF Sketchfest experience, in spite of the grim start to the evening. At 10:20 it was pouring rain and the line to get in to Cobb’s Comedy Club was around the block. I was umbrella-less, water dripping off my nose and actually thankful that I had forgotten my camera. But then the nice people behind me offered to let me huddle under their umbrella and I ended up meeting some fellow comedy nerds. And to think I was dreading going to a comedy show by myself. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Pretty Good Friends at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/20/12”

Show Review: Noah and the Whale with Nikki Lane at Great American Music Hall, 11/21/11

When I walked in to The Great American Music Hall the energy was already strong. It was one of those fanatic crowds where, even though it wasn’t sold out, everyone was pushed up against the front of the stage. I have seen Noah and the Whale twice before, but never had there been people so excited to see then like there was at this show. The energy was immediately infections and I stood impatiently with the rest of the crowd, pressing as close as I could to the stage. Continue reading “Show Review: Noah and the Whale with Nikki Lane at Great American Music Hall, 11/21/11”

Show Review: They Might Be Giants with Jonathan Coulton at The Fillmore, 11/12/11

tmbg5 — John Linnell of They Might Be Giants

After an inexplicable ten years without seeing They Might Be Giants, I got to the Fillmore early to get that spot right up front just like I remembered. What I wasn’t sure of was if I would still hear my favorite song and would the two John’s still rock it like crazy. Lucky for me, and hopefully everyone else at the sold out show, everything I hoped for happened, plus even more. Continue reading “Show Review: They Might Be Giants with Jonathan Coulton at The Fillmore, 11/12/11”

Theatre Review: Stuffed and Unstrung by Henson Alternative at Curran Theater, 8/18/11

Stuffed and Unstrung is an improv show put on by the Henson Alternative using 80 Henson puppets and six performers. This sentence makes it sound good and intriguing, but actually watching it is like an explosion of joy in your brain. When I left the theater Thursday night, with tears in my eyes from laughter and an added spring in my step, I said to my friend “We should watch it again!” Continue reading “Theatre Review: Stuffed and Unstrung by Henson Alternative at Curran Theater, 8/18/11”

Show Review: Schande / Silent Pictures / Bam! Bam! at Hemlock, 7/30/11

SilentPicturesLead — Alexander Mann of Silent Pictures

Saturday Night’s show at the Hemlock was a reunion of sorts. Most people there probably didn’t realize that each band was a new project of a former member of the queercore band BoySkout. What that gave the audience was a varied show with seasoned musicians that somehow fit together just right. Continue reading “Show Review: Schande / Silent Pictures / Bam! Bam! at Hemlock, 7/30/11”

Show Review: Sondre Lerche with Nightlands and Kishi Bashi at Great American Music Hall, 6/28/11

SLerche1 — Sondre Lerche - The sweet before the rock storm

This evening with Sondre Lerche and friends reminded me about why I go to shows. The right performer can take their music and twist it just the right amount to bring you something new and dynamic with their live show. Sondre Lerche, with his sweet pop/rock sounds on record will rock the hell out of you live; jumping around and playing his guitar hard. It is unexpected and quite punk rock of him. Add to that a great accompanying band and his intricate melodies and you get a show to remember. Continue reading “Show Review: Sondre Lerche with Nightlands and Kishi Bashi at Great American Music Hall, 6/28/11”

Show Review: The Wombats with The Tender Box and Wild Party at The Rickshaw, 6/3/11

The Wombats’ new album This Modern Glitchhas quickly become my favorite of the year, overtaking all the others on my iPod until it spent two weeks as the only thing I listen to. So on a Friday night after a long week I had high hopes that this would be the perfect night. Continue reading “Show Review: The Wombats with The Tender Box and Wild Party at The Rickshaw, 6/3/11”