Category: Interviews

Spinning Platters Interview: Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s and The Bluebonnets

Photo by Ruby Matheu

There aren’t many artists out there that can stake the claim that they are having a “big” 2020. However, Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s is having one of the biggest years of her career! Earlier this spring she released her first book, an autobiography of her early years, leading up to the Go-Go’s mid-’90s reunion, All I Ever Wanted. In addition to the book, she released a solo record to accompany the book, also called All I Ever Wanted, providing a soundtrack to that book. This Friday, July 31st brings us the first new single by the Go-Go’s since 2001, “Club Zero.” Once you have given the new single a few dozen spins, that very same night brings us the premiere of the Go-Go’s on Showtime, a documentary film about the life and times of the most successful all female rock band of all time at 9/8c! 

Spinning Platters had the opportunity to chat on the phone with Kathy Valentine, and in between a few fanboy moments of excitement, I managed to ask a few questions.  Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s and The Bluebonnets”

SF Sketchfest Interview: Jodie Sweetin & Celia Behar of Never Thought I’d Say This

Everyone in the universe knows who Jodie Sweetin is. She was Stephanie Tanner on Full House, one of those cultural touchstones that somehow hit everyone of a certain age in the universe. In her twenties she moved on to host Much Music’s Dance Off, Pants Off. Now she does a slew of creative things, including creating a podcast about parenting called Never Thought I’d Say This with her best friend Celia Behar. As a new parent myself, I take great joy in listening to this podcast.

We had the opportunity to talk with Sweetin and Behar ahead of their appearance at Cobb’s this Thursday as part of SF Sketchfest. (Tix are available here) We talked about parenting, the podcast, and even learned a bit about how Macy Gray handles delays in the studio. Yeah, it got a little weird…

Spinning Platters: Thank you for taking a little bit of time out on your Saturday morning to talk to me. You folks are in San Francisco right now. Is that correct? Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Interview: Jodie Sweetin & Celia Behar of Never Thought I’d Say This“

Spinning Platters Interview: Erinn Hayes of Medical Police

Erinn Hayes was the star of the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital, and is also the star of it’s upcoming offshoot series, Medical Police. She is coming to town for two SF Sketchfest appearances, first on Thursday, January 9th for a Medical Police panel and preview at Marines’ Memorial Theater, and then Friday, January 10th for an appearance as part of Porchlight at Swedish American Hall. Spinning Platters had the opportunity to have a chat with Hayes ahead of her visit. We discussed living in the Bay Area, our weird rivalry with LA, her time as a doctor on TV, and, most importantly, her work on Bill & Ted Face The Music, the upcoming Bill & Ted sequel. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Erinn Hayes of Medical Police“

Spinning Platters Interview: Randy Randall of No Age

 
No Age are one of LA’s finest experimental punk bands, and have been making a great noise for almost 15 years. Guitarist Randy Randall has taken that noise to the next level with his recently released Sound Field Vol 1, a series of sonic experiments inspired by the I-10 freeway. Randall is playing a handful of shows to promote this release, and is dropping by Cafe du Nord in San Francisco for 4/20. Tickets are available here
 
Spinning Platters recently had a chance to chat with Randy. Here’s what we talked about!

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Randy Randall of No Age”

Spinning Platters Interview: Niki Bodemann of Noise Pop

This year marks the 26th year that the Noise Pop Festival debuted at The Kennel Club (now The Independent). Since then, it’s grown to become one of the primary tastemaking music festivals in the world! Past performers that have broken shortly after their Noise Pop debut have included The White Stripes, Death Cab for Cutie, Tash Sultana, Vince Staples, and many, many more. Spinning Platters recently got to speak to Niki Bodemann, one of the bookers of the festival to talk about what it takes to make a week of music that even frustrates the most decisive music fan.

Festival badges, single show tickets, and a full schedule can be found here!

Spinning Platters: How long have you been booking for Noise Pop?

Niki Bodemann: So, I have been a full-time talent buyer at Noise Pop for like a year and three months now. Then before that, I was an assistant talent buyer. So, I would like help with the support bookings like all the openers on our shows and stuff um, but like booking actual headliners and stuff. Uh, it’s been a little over a year, yeah. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Niki Bodemann of Noise Pop”

Spinning Platters Interview: Jackie Kashian

Photo by Luke Fontana

Jackie Kashian is one of Spinning Platters’ most favorite comics. Her podcast Dork Forest embodies pretty much everything we stand for. She has another podcast call The Jackie and Laurie Show with Laurie Kilmartin, where they discuss the trials and tribulations of being a female touring stand up. She’s in town this weekend for three appearances at SF Sketchfest, presented by Audible. Those appearances can be found here! Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Jackie Kashian”

Spinning Platters Interview: Jon Glaser

Jon Glaser might not be a name you recognize immediately, but you definitely know his work. He spent years working on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, playing a slew of different cast members. He’s also Jeremy Jamm on Parks and Recreation, Laird on Girls, and Jon on Delocated, in addition to a slew of other projects. His current show, Jon Glaser Loves Gear, just kicked off it’s second season on truTV.

Glaser will be performing at SF Sketchfest on Saturday, April 19th at Cobb’s Comedy Club, and then heading up the coast to play shows in Seattle and Portland. If you can’t make any of these shows, you can always check out new episodes of Jon Glaser Loves Gear every Wednesday at 10:30/9:30CST. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Jon Glaser”

Spinning Platters Interview: Annakalmia Traver of Rubblebucket

Rubblebucket are a soul flavored indie pop band from Brooklyn, NY. They recently released a brilliant record called Sun Machine, and are currently on the road supporting this album. Spinning Platters had the opportunity to chat with lead singer / trumpeter Kal Traver ahead of this tour, and here’s what we talked about!

Rubblebucket are playing August Hall on November 7th with the brilliant Diet Cig opening! Tickets are still available here! Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Annakalmia Traver of Rubblebucket”

Spinning Platters Interview: Rae Livingston and David Owen of Outside Lands, Pt 2

Rae Livingston and David Owen both help book the Barbary at Outside Lands, and have for several years now. This, is course, means they have a lot to talk about. So we split the interview in two, because we here at Spinning Platters understand that your time is precious. In this one, we talk about the bookings that they are most excited about this year, as well as some favorite memories of passed years.

If you missed part one, it’s right here! And if you still haven’t purchased tickets yet, what are you waiting for? You can find those right here!

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Rae Livingston and David Owen of Outside Lands, Pt 2”

Spinning Platters Interview: Rae Livingston and David Owen of Outside Lands, Pt 1

Outside Lands generally does quite well with the music lineup. However, I have always thought that the real gold at the festival has been the bookings for the Barbary. This year, we finally found time in their busy schedule to talk to some of the people behind those amazing bookings: Rae Livingston of Another Planet and David Owen of SF Sketchfest. We got to spend a little time with them to discuss the history of the stage, the booking process and their careers, and for a bit, we just got to nerd out about comedy.

Limited 3 Day and single day tickets to Outside Lands are still available! You can also check the full Barbary schedule!

SPINNING PLATTERS: So you’ve got Another Planet and SF Sketchfest, both doing that booking. How does that collaboration work? Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Rae Livingston and David Owen of Outside Lands, Pt 1”