Matthew Blake – Spinning Platters

Spinning Platters Interview: Maxim of The Prodigy

Maxim DJ

Hailing from Essex, England, The Prodigy have attacked the electronic music universe for over twenty years, successfully blending punk, reggae, and dance music into sounds that have been constantly reinvented over time, all while driving their fans mad all over the world with their notoriously bone crushing live performances. This I can personally attest to, being witness to gigs at The Fillmore and The Warfield, the only moments in my concert going history where I felt concerned for my safety, losing 10 lb. of sweat in the process. At the forefront of this rebellion is longtime Prodigy MC, Maxim. He has recently branched out into the DJ scene and in anticipation of his first ever tour, which includes a local appearance at 1015 Folsom on Friday, 10/25, I caught up with him during a busy schedule for a few questions.

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Spinning Platters Interview: Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails

Robin Finck, bathed in green at Outside Lands Music Festival

As San Francisco’s Outside Lands Festival made a seemingly bold move by including Trent Reznor’s freshly reunited band of heavy hitters in Nine Inch Nails to its weekend roster, some wondered if this was the right decision considering a historically safe trend of artists who provide the soundtrack for having a good time in the park. It ended up working out brilliantly – Nine Inch Nails’ Saturday night closing performance will go down as one of the greatest since the festival started in 2008. Not bad for having to follow Sir Paul McCartney’s nearly three-hour rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza the previous evening. We were lucky enough to catch up with touring guitarist and longest standing live member, Robin Finck, for a few questions just before the musical onslaught. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails”

Show Review: Tame Imapala with The Amazing at The Fillmore, 11/15/12

Tame Impala at The Fillmore — Tame Impala photos by Mark Ricksen.

The impala is a swift and sleek creature that has ultimately found itself endangered, much like rock ‘n’ roll these days. It makes up the latter half of Tame Impala’s name, the former creatively and aptly chosen by this group of mellowed out lads from down under. Hailing from the Western Australian town of Perth, whom you may or may not know is also home to INXS, Tame Impala bring forth sort of a revival of psychedelic rock, packaging it in a fresh, edgy and dance provoking product that has thwarted them to rising acclaim and continues to generate buzz amid the music world while toeing the line between pop and psych rock. Vocally and instrumentally speaking, the band seems to naturally draw off late-Beatles work, with lead singer Kevin Parker’s thin falsetto vocals frequently compared to that of the late John Lennon. Their San Francisco appearance sold out fairly early on and was a highly anticipated date on the calendar of Bay Area music fans. Fittingly performing at the legendary Fillmore, who is no stranger to psychedelia, would Tame Impala deliver a night worth of causing Bill Graham to look down with a nodding grin? Continue reading “Show Review: Tame Imapala with The Amazing at The Fillmore, 11/15/12”

Show Review: Blood Red Shoes with STARSKATE and Happy Fangs at Rickshaw Stop, 10/1/2012

Perhaps due to the myriad of musical selections these days, there’s chance you haven’t heard of them, but young English rock duo, Blood Red Shoes, are on a mission to change that. Leaving their familiar Europe, they arrive almost two years to the day they first played the States, bringing their simplistic but powerful set to entice those who don’t know and incite those that do. In an area chock full of both local and visiting fresh talent, how would these Brighton, UK natives fare?

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Show Review: Portishead with Thought Forms at The Greek Theatre, 10/21/11

PortisheadGreek — The ecstatic crowd, bathed in light.

Portishead. 14 years since their last Bay Area appearance, the legendary experimental trio have returned. The majority thought this day would never come, but after long anticipation, it finally did. Would these sojourned pioneers be able to successfully transfer their art live? Continue reading “Show Review: Portishead with Thought Forms at The Greek Theatre, 10/21/11”

Spinning Platters Interview: MC Zumbi of Zion I

Fresh off the huge success of their most recent release, Atomic Clock, local hip-hop legends Zion I play to a hometown crowd at The New Parish in Oakland this Friday night. Spinning Platters caught up with a busy MC Zumbi for a couple of questions…

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Show Review: UNKLE with Sleepy Sun at The Regency Ballroom, 10/28/10

cmj_unkle_5_adp

Fresh off the release of their newest album, Where Did The Night Fall, trip rock pioneers UNKLE return to San Francisco almost three years to the date of their last SF performance. Competing with Game 2 of the World Series, James Lavelle’s live band would have to pitch a strong game in order to please the divided, yet loyal audience. Would they deliver?

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Spinning Platters Interview: Zion I

“Hip-hope” perhaps? Their music blends genres of rap, electronica, reggae, jazz and other sounds, invoking spiritualism and awareness on social issues. They have risen to the top of their class, working with such greats as De La Soul and Run D.M.C. As Oakland’s MC Zion (aka Zumbi) and DJ/producer Amp Live prepare for a hometown reunion of sorts, opening for the infamous Black Star collaboration at the Fox Theater on Saturday, July 31st before setting out on a nationwide tour, they had a few moments to share with us to discuss their craft. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Zion I”

Artist Interview – Crystal Monee Hall

With Broadway experience as well as session work along side musical greats such as Elton John already on her resume, the soulful Crystal Monee Hall arrives the Bay Area with a lot on her mind, a lot to sing about, and a readiness to achieve her musical independence…

How much of a role does your musical and cultural background growing up play in your new album?

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Massive Attack with Martina Topley-Bird and MNDR at The Warfield, 5/26

4626556382_da3bed05c9 — The lights wash over Massive Attack

The boys from Bristol are back. After a seven year waiting period, studio perfectionists and UK music pioneers Massive Attack return to full form with their newest and much delayed album, Heligoland. The second show of a two night stop in San Francisco, Massive Attack bring their eccentrically driven set for all to marvel at. Would their perfection pay off?

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