Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Editor-in-chief, Dakin Hardwick here! Introducing you to the latest addition to the Spinning Platters team, Ammar Hasan! He’s a great photographer and writer, and he joined us in a pinch when our original photographer on Portola had an emergency and couldn’t make it. Without further ado, here’s his coverage of Portola Music Festival 2026: Continue reading “2026 Portola Festival Diary: Day 2”
I’m the kind of person who prefers a person with a microphone fronting a live band, so if you had told me I’d basically stop going to Outside Lands and become a regular at Portola, I wouldn’t have believed you. Yet here we are! Continue reading “2026 Portola Festival Diary: Two Days on a Pier With Beats, Not Boats”
Regular followers of Spinning Platters will notice that we largely ignore dance music. Why? Because I strongly dislike electronic dance music. Yet, somehow, I’ve gone to Portola twice and had a fantastic time both times I went. And this year looks exceptionally good. Why? Well, it might be due to the significant number of Swedish acts on the bill, the best pop music country in the world. I mean, ROBYN IS HEADLINING?!?!? She hasn’t played the Bay Area in seven years, and her comeback album, Sexistential, is amazing. Plus, we also have 2026 breakout star Zara Larsson, sleaze pop icon Tove Lo, and, of course, the biggest Swedish act since ABBA, Swedish House Mafia! Who else? The first SF Solo Appearance by Beastie Boys legend Mike D! Bay Area legend DJ Shadow playing his Entroducing… record from front to back. An actual Spice Girl, Melanie C. And my personal favorite find from 2026- Idaho’s brilliant Gelli Haha.
Tickets are still available, but are going fast. Those can be found here!
Photos and review by: Alan Ralph @ConcertGoingPro
Each summer for the past 89 years, Stern Grove Festival presents ten weeks of free concerts every Sunday on the stage at Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove. Beginning in 2024, Stern Grove began to have a two-show final weekend called The Big Picnic Weekend… and the penultimate show of the 2026 season featured none other than Chuck D. and Flavor Flav and Public Enemy!
Continue reading “Show Review: Public Enemy “Bring the Noise” at Stern Grove!”
I’ve been to 16 of the last 18 Outside Lands. Some years have been more fun than others, of course. (I missed 2010 due to work and 2021 due to COVID anxiety) But I will always come back. This party in Golden Gate Park is always a good time — the music, the vibes, the food. I’ve never had a bad time. But this year, 2026, was the absolute BEST Outside Lands I’ve ever been to. It’s been a few days, and I’m still beaming over my OSL experience, and I can’t wait until next year. Which, I might add, Eager Beaver tickets go on sale 8/19 at 10am. Register here for the presale!
On with my recap of the greatest OSL ever:
Continue reading “Outside Lands 2026 Instant Set Reviews”
I love music festivals. They are like a tasting menu for music, and probably my favorite way to discover new acts. Past Outside Lands have made me fall for The Marias (playing early in the day on the smallest stage), Ashe, underscores, Odie Leigh, CMAT, Samia, and even a little artist named Sabrina Carpenter. (Seriously, I had no idea what to expect from her, but was pretty much amazed from beginning to end). I’ve spent the last few weeks listening to acts on the lower half of the original poster, and I’m here to help you navigate the best and brightest of the undercard for Outside Lands this year. The full lineup is here, and tickets are sold out, but you can join the waitlist here.
Die Spitz Continue reading “Top 10 from the Bottom Half of the Outside Lands 2026 Poster”
We all knew that legendary bassist Jennifer Finch was sitting out the L7’s “The Last Hurrah Tour.” We learned today the reason why… She’s battling an extremely aggressive form of brain cancer. Being a legend and coming from one of the most important bands of all time doesn’t necessarily mean access to resources, and she’s asking for help to pay for absurdly expensive medical care. (Jesus, America!) Here’s a link to her GoFundMe!
Five weeks until Outside Lands!!! FIVE WEEKS!!! Time to start picking out your outfits and figuring out which shoes are most comfortable!!! And today, they are gifting us with ANOTHER stage’s worth of acts! The Dolores Stage is a tribute to the queer events of San Francisco, with each day curated by a different local promoter. Friday is presented by the great Hot Goth GF. Saturday is brought to you by the legendary Oasis team. Sunday has been brought to you by Polyglamorous!
They’ve also added “Dolores’ Courtyard,” featuring a glam bar, a barber, and cocktails!
Full Line-Up below. Tickets are SOLD OUT! Get on the waitlist here! Continue reading “OUTSIDE LANDS ANNOUNCES THE DOLORES STAGE LINEUP”
We are roughly six weeks out from Outside Lands 2026. Which means it’s time for news to start coming out again from the event organizers! I was literally just thinking about the night shows, and, sure enough, they’ve started rolling them out. Including the legendary Clipse playing the tiny Independent?!?! Also, Modest Mouse gracing the stage of the recently revitalized Castro Theater?!?! And so much more! OSL Ticket Holders can buy tickets starting tomorrow at 10 am. Tickets to the general public are on sale on Friday at 10 am from this link. Full lineup below! Outside Lands 2026 is mostly sold out, but you can get on the waitlist here if you slept on tickets.
We made it! To catch you up one last time: I’m turning forty-two today. In the spirit of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, I’ve spent some time considering the existential mundanity of turning this age, and what has been the answer to the question of my life, my universe, and everything.
I have also decided to hang up my film critic hat. Over thirteen years and nearly three hundred film reviews written, numerous festivals covered, and a handful of interviews conducted, all beginning with my April 2013 review of 42 (see, it’s fate that I finish on my 42nd birthday), I’m ready for my next chapter. Of course, I’ll leave the door open for the occasional guest post or podcast appearance.
If you wish to use my 100 Favorite Films list as a watchlist, here’s a handy dandy PDF checklist. A more compact list can be found on my Letterboxd account.
Here’s Monday’s post listing films #100-76.
Here’s Tuesday’s post listing films #75-51.
Here’s yesterday’s post listing films #50-26.
And now, my Top 25 Favorite Films of All Time…
Why: The book gave me chills, and I thought it was impossible to adapt to film. Alex Garland proved me wrong and delivered a beautiful, horrifying, and haunting sci-fi drama that explores humankind’s self-destructive nature.
Favorite Scene: The nightmare bear.
Why: Buoyed by brilliant performances and a keen eye for unique visual storytelling, Lanthimos crafted a devilishly funny yet dramatic narrative portraying the misuse and misunderstanding of power. This was my #1 film last year.
Favorite Scene: The badger exchange.
Why: One of my favorite books and a decisively brilliant film adaptation. It’s tough to think of a more perfectly casted movie in the last twenty years, and each performer is firing on all cylinders.
Favorite Scene: Gas station clerk coin flip. Continue reading “Film Feature: Chad’s 100 Favorite Films of All Time (25-1)”
