Author: Marie Carney

Show Review: IAMDONALD tour with Donald Glover/Childish Gambino at The Fillmore, 4/28/11

If you read Spinning Platters with any regularity, you know I love Donald Glover, so let’s just get the personal stuff out of the way now.  I spent all day with an increasing sense of agitation waiting to see if I was going to get a pass for the IAMDONALD show at the Fillmore tonight.  I got stuck in some angry self-righteous critic reel where I actually thought I deserved a ticket.  Well, I did write this review of the preview show.  Then I campaigned hard for Donald Glover/Childish Gambino’s album Culdesac to win album of the year in 2010.  Then I gave his fans a SXSW award (and missed The Dead Milkmen to see him!).  Is it possible this makes me his biggest fan?  And is it possible for a show to live up to expectations after all that? Continue reading “Show Review: IAMDONALD tour with Donald Glover/Childish Gambino at The Fillmore, 4/28/11”

Show Review: Bright Eyes with Farmer Dave Scher at The Fox Theater, 4/12/11

In sharp contrast to the last show I went to at Oakland’s beloved Fox Theater, the crowd was overwhelmingly mellow, especially considering this could be the last time Bright Eyes plays the Bay Area.  Luckily this ended up being more telling about Bright Eyes’ fans maturity than their level of worship.  Just like every other time I’ve seen Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and their team of talented musicians (this was number nine if anyone’s counting), the audience still fell into a hush while a sense of quiet worship filled the room as the band took the stage.  And they held that stage for over two hours of intensity. Continue reading “Show Review: Bright Eyes with Farmer Dave Scher at The Fox Theater, 4/12/11”

Show Review: My Chemical Romance with Neon Trees and Architects at The Fox Oakland, 3/31/11

Fists in the air for My Chemical Romance

MCR!!!!  That’s all my fangirl heart was screaming while walking towards The Fox and the hoards of people, clad mostly in black, slowly making their way in to the theater.  Of course, I didn’t have a ticket, just a photo pass, but trivial details will not keep me from a show!  After a brief panic the ticket was procured and I made my way in and was amazed by the crowd already formed on the floor. By the excitement radiating through the room I could tell that this, the fourth time I’ve seen My Chemical Romance, was going to be the best. Continue reading “Show Review: My Chemical Romance with Neon Trees and Architects at The Fox Oakland, 3/31/11”

Marie’s Best of SXSW 2011 Awards

Art vs Science = Happy Award Winners

This year I probably saw even less buzz bands than the average blogger than last year. My priority was to have a good time, whether that be hanging out with friends or watching great music. So this list is a testament to all the artists, people and venues that made my time in Austin memorable. Continue reading “Marie’s Best of SXSW 2011 Awards”

Show Review: Revolver with Hey Rosetta! and 7 Orange ABC at Rickshaw Stop, 3/11/11

Revolver giving us their sweet harmonies

Sometimes I like to know as little as possible when I go to shows, all I need is a recommendation from a friend of good taste and I’m off!  Seeing a great show from a band you know is fun, but even better is seeing a band you know nothing about and being blown away.  This show was one of those.

Continue reading “Show Review: Revolver with Hey Rosetta! and 7 Orange ABC at Rickshaw Stop, 3/11/11”

Spinning Platters Picks Six (x2): Indie and Pop Acts to Watch at SXSW

The first new band to see on my list: Kitten.

I needed a picks six x’s 2 to settle the warring factions in my South By Southwest Brain this year, new vs old.  Who do I concentrate on?  The tried and true or the exciting and fresh?  This year, more than any other for me, is bringing out the artists that I grew up with; the ones that have helped shape my musical taste.  The fangirl in me is excited to follow these people around for five days to continue my personal worship.  The music journalist in me is excited to see some new acts that will hopefully blow my mind.  Whichever side ends up winning I am sure to have a wonderful time. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six (x2): Indie and Pop Acts to Watch at SXSW”

Sketchfest Review: Music Night at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/29/11

The real stars of Music Night: Garfunkel & Oates

I chose Music Night as my finale to a wonderful Sketchfest mostly because of my long-term fangirl love for Chris Hardwick (I even watched Shipmates back in the day, Shipmates!).  So, just like the night before for the Nerdist Podcast, I got to Cobb’s early hoping to be right up front.  I was rewarded with a front row seat for one of the best and funniest nights I’ve ever seen.  With so much talent on stage: Mike Phirman, Eli Braden, Zach Selwyn, Garfunkel & Oates, David Koechner doing 10-20 minute sets each and Chris Hardwick MC-ing, it was bound to be non-stop entertainment. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Music Night at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/29/11”

Sketchfest Review: The Thrilling Adventure Hour at Marine’s Memorial Theater, 1/22/11

The Thrilling Adventure Hour is a monthly live performance podcast done at Largo in Los Angeles written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker.  For SF Sketchfest we were treated to two performances featuring many great actors of varying degrees of famous-ness.  The 10:30 show featuring Neil Patrick Harris sold out, as everything he has done at Sketchfest has, so my ticket was for the early NPH-less show.  But the show didn’t need Neil Patrick Harris to be great.  It was an hour of fun witty writing and excellent acting, so good in fact I came home and subscribed to the podcast. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: The Thrilling Adventure Hour at Marine’s Memorial Theater, 1/22/11”

Sketchfest Review: Iron Comic hosted by Nato Green at The Punch Line, 1/20/11

Per Brendan Lynch, this is a white person's problem.

To be honest, when I arrived at the Punch Line on Thursday night I still had no idea what to expect.  All I knew was that one of my favorite comedians, Matt Braunger, was performing and that he would be funny.  Since it is a SF Sketchfest show, I knew I wouldn’t be watching a standard stand-up performance.  What I got was an evening full of pleasant surprises, where women dominated, the guy with all the sex jokes bombed, and I laughed so hard I cried. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Iron Comic hosted by Nato Green at The Punch Line, 1/20/11”

Show Review: The Velvet Teen with Silian Rail at Bottom of the Hill, 1/7/11

Fierce energy from The Velvet Teen
The Velvet Teen is a force of indie-noise-pop-rock to be reckoned with that everyone should know about.  This is something I spent years of my youth slowly convincing all my friends of, and now, finally, this show proved that people have been listening.  Bottom of the Hill was packed before the first band even started playing and the energy in the room was palpable.  There was no question that something great was about to be heard. Continue reading “Show Review: The Velvet Teen with Silian Rail at Bottom of the Hill, 1/7/11”