Noise Pop Film Review: Hustler’s Convention

The Artistic InfluenceBefore the beginning, before ‘The Last Poets’, was a genius toaster  whose natural conversation always had rhythm and rhyme.  Jalal Mansur Nuriddin was the influence of our influences on rap.  He is a storyteller with flare and purpose using intrinsic linguistic connections with a purpose beyond what is considered ‘dope’ today.  The documentary is an authentic perspective of Jalal and how his work influenced our current music influences.  The film itself has a poetic flow driven to inspire future artists by referencing his work and the revolution that followed..  Jalal’s last album ‘Hustler’s Convention’ was pressed and release 1973 world wide.  It was a time when poets were the educators.  Jalal, aka Lightn’ Rod, as most influential people, spoke on untouchable topics.  Ideas and Events that were known but never to be discussed.  It was the use of words as bullets and his mouth as a gun with style and purpose that generated a spark.  The spark that created an artist revolution.   And even to this day, Jalal remains a timeless influential lyrical inspiration.

Interview with Film Hustler’s Convention Executive Producer – Lathan Hodge: Continue reading “Noise Pop Film Review: Hustler’s Convention”

Spinning Platters Interview: Chad Heimann, Noise Pop Talent Booker

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The first Noise Pop Festival was in 1993. It was one show for $5 at The Kennel Club, and it was headlined by The Fastbacks — who are amazing, if you don’t already know them. 26 years later, we have a multitude of bands crossing over dozens of genres, and a festival that spans a week! Spinning Platters recently had a chance to speak to their music booker, Chad Heimann, about this year’s fest.

The fest is about halfway over, but there still are plenty of gigs all over town that you’ll be really sad that you missed. The schedule can be found here! Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Chad Heimann, Noise Pop Talent Booker”

Spinning Platters Guide to Noise Pop 2016

Korla Pandit, Godfather of Exotica Music (whom you can see on February 20th during this year's Noise Pop Festival!)
Korla Pandit, Godfather of Exotica Music (which you can see on February 20th during this year’s Noise Pop Festival!)

This is a really big year for Noise Pop, one of the most long-standing and widely-genred music festivals in the Bay Area. For the first time ever, the festival is running 10 days — double its usual duration. They’ve expanded the film portion of the event, featuring 22 films in addition to the usual assortment of bands covering the entire gamut of “noise pop,” including hardcore punk, bubblegum pop, hip-hop, jazz, garage, twee — everything, basically! Of course, with such a huge variety of entertainment taking over the town for nearly two weeks, you’ll need some help deciding on what to go to. That’s what we’re here for — letting you know our picks for the best things to see and hear at this year’s Noise Pop Festival! Continue reading “Spinning Platters Guide to Noise Pop 2016”

Spinning Platters Interview: Thao Nguyen of Thao & The Get Down Stay Down

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Thao Nguyen is a hometown hero. She’s continuously pushing the boundaries of folk music, and making the acoustic guitar an instrument you can dance to. Her 2013 record We The Common is a beautiful and thought provoking piece of work. She’s headlining the 20th St Block Party this weekend alongside Nick Waterhouse, Dominant Legs and many more. This is a totally free event, so there is no excuse not to come.

Spinning Platters had an opportunity to chat with Thao ahead of this performance. Here’s a bit of what we talked about: Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Thao Nguyen of Thao & The Get Down Stay Down”

Noise Pop Review: Dr Dog, Moses Sumney, Saint Rich at The Warfield, 3/1/14

Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog

Moses Sumney was a sentimental surprise as he kicked off the evening.  His emotional acoustic and soulful balladry lifted everyone to the smiling, smooth side of  R&B.   His performance gave an opening emotional dynamic to the show by allowing a vulnerable, emotional connection to what was yet to come.

Just prior to Dr. Dog was Saint Rich.     Saint Rich, a New Jersey skateboarding enthusiast, had an eccentric life stage performance.  Complimented with the musical harmony but not to duplicate Dr.Dog.

Closing the exciting Noise Pop Festival was – Dr. Dog.    When their fans packed the Warfield,  Dr. Dog knew exactly how to respond with current favorites  “The Truth” and “Lonesome” while blending in a favorites from the past such as “These Days” and “Oh No”.

Dr. Dog certainly has a loyal fan club in the Bay Area.  The simple reason is, each of their albums sequentially build on the one before while remaining true to the original unique sound.   Each performance enhances an appreciation of their vintage harmonizing sound.  Still true to the east coast vibe; yet, unique enough to remain unclassified from the common pop and indie trend.  Just one of many reasons Dr. Dog will remain a Bay Area favorite.

Moses Sumney
Moses Sumney
Saint Rich
Saint Rich

 

 

 

 

Saint Rich
Saint Rich
Saint Rich
Saint Rich

 

Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog

Noise Pop Review: Bleached, Terry Malts, Mystic Braves, and Tropical Popsicle at Rickshaw Stop, 02/28/2014

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I have no idea how to describe what just happened. This entire show felt like a crazy collision of surf, classic, psychedelic, and punk rock all interlocking and interweaving together to make Bleached, a veritable Voltron of music. Looked at individually, each of these groups are amazing reminders of angsty, dreamy, teenage Southern California rock days gone by. But their presence on stage here at Noise Pop unequivocally proves that this sound is timeless, and so, too, are the people who listen to it.

Continue reading “Noise Pop Review: Bleached, Terry Malts, Mystic Braves, and Tropical Popsicle at Rickshaw Stop, 02/28/2014”

Noise Pop Review: Throwing Muses, Mark Eitzel at Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 2/28/14

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We were treated to the standard older-band-promoting-a-new-album set, with Throwing Muses playing a large section of Purgatory/Paradise. I know it gets boring playing the same songs hundreds of times over 30-plus years. But sometimes that’s what people want. Luckily we got some of that too. Continue reading “Noise Pop Review: Throwing Muses, Mark Eitzel at Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 2/28/14”

Spinning Platters Tells You What Noise Pop 2014 Shows To Go To

Spinning Platters is helping you decide which noisey pop you will be enjoying during Noise Pop!
Spinning Platters is helping you decide which noisey pop you will be enjoying during Noise Pop!

Noise Pop can be intimidating. It’s the best week of live music programming in the Bay Area, and sometimes it’s hard to decide what to go to, because you can’t always be in two places at once. (However, I will be going to two shows on Friday night. I’m a bit insane.) So, if I were deciding what shows you were going to, this is what this shows would be. Disagree? Well, you can decide for yourself by checking the schedule out here. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Tells You What Noise Pop 2014 Shows To Go To”

Noise Pop Review: Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Before The Brave, Kacey Johanssing at Great American Music Hall, 3/1/13

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Normally, four band shows are too much to bear. However, the good folks ay Noise Pop managed to piece together a complete package that more than impressed. We got to enjoy for distinct musical projects that both complimented each other, and still remained entirely unique. We ended up enjoying 4 straight hours of great music.

Continue reading “Noise Pop Review: Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Before The Brave, Kacey Johanssing at Great American Music Hall, 3/1/13”

Noise Pop Review: Francisco The Band, Kitten at Bender’s Bar & Grill, 2/28/13

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Noise Pop Happy Hours are once of the better kept secrets of the festival. They all happen at Bender’s Bar & Grill in the Mission- a great spot that serves some of the cheapest drinks of any music venue in town. They also serve tater tots. And who doesn’t like tater tots? It also gets you some really intimate performances for free, and set times that are early enough for the fans to get with day jobs to get to bed at a reasonable hour, or the hardcores can tackle two shows in one night! On this Thursday evening, I managed to battle rush hour traffic in order to head out to see a couple of bands over a delicious grilled macaroni & cheese.

Continue reading “Noise Pop Review: Francisco The Band, Kitten at Bender’s Bar & Grill, 2/28/13”