Single of the Week: “Heartbreak” by Ivy

I *love* Ivy. The faux French Pop project from married couple Dominique Durand and the late, great Adam Schleisinger was almost certainly a thing of the past when COVID stole the life of one of America’s greatest songwriters in 2020. However, while working on remaster / reissues of Ivy’s fantastic catalog, Durand started listening to various demos from over the years, called up bandmate Andy Chase and, bam! We have a new Ivy album! And much like a ghost giving you a warm hug, these are all songs worked on by Schleisinger. Even though COVID is still frustrating our lives, its impact has reduced in the last year, and hopefully will continue to wane. That being said, “Heartbreak” sounds as fresh and inviting as anything off their classic record Apartment Life, and I’m eager for more music and to hopefully see them live again.

“Heartbreak” comes from Ivy’s upcoming record, Traces Of You, in stores and at your friendly neighborhood DSP on September 5th!  

Film Review: “Highest 2 Lowest”

Lee and Denzel’s fifth collaboration is a mix of many highs and 2 many lows

David King (Denzel Washington) strolls through the office in ‘Highest 2 Lowest.’

It’s tough to avoid comparing a remake to the original, especially if the original is a five-star masterpiece. Such is the case for Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, which is based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 procedural crime drama, High and Low (which is based on a 1959 book, King’s Ransom by Ed McBain). Kurosawa’s High and Low explores stark class divisions within post-war Japan, challenging the characters with life-threatening moral dilemmas and utilizing a detailed police procedural plotline to expose these divisions, literally and metaphorically. Lee moves the 1960s Japan setting to a present-day New York City, shifts the protagonist’s business empire from a shoe company to a music label, and abandons High and Low’s slow burn pace for a thriller, all of which deliver a mixed bag of results. Continue reading “Film Review: “Highest 2 Lowest””

Outside Lands 2025: 15 Instant Set Reviews

I’m no stranger to Outside Lands, having only missed two iterations of it since its debut in 2008 (2010 and 2021 for those keeping score). I’ve seen a lot of changes, and I admit that I miss a few things that have gone away, such as the Barbary tent and the craft vendors in the Polo Fields. But, in return, the addition of the Dolores’ stage, spotlighting SF’s rich legacy of LGBTQ culture and arts, as well as the gorgeous Duboce Triangle stage, has been a welcome addition. This year, in particular, felt like the “nicest” Outside Lands has ever been. People were kind and polite. Taller folks were letting shorter folks in. I lost my water bottle leaving a set, and a kind woman RAN AFTER ME TO GET IT BACK TO ME! I’ve never hugged more strangers, and it was all just so very lovely! Also, everywhere I went, I saw a young person with “Fuck Ice” written on their clothes, or a Palestinian flag, rainbows, “No Kings” attire, etc- For those believing the hype that Gen Z is all conservative and MAGA, that certainly wasn’t what was happening in the park this weekend. Truly, Outside Lands 2025 was a welcome respite from the real pain the world is feeling right now. 

Continue reading “Outside Lands 2025: 15 Instant Set Reviews”

Film Review: “Nobody 2”

The first Nobody does it better

Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) lets his dark side emerge in ‘Nobody 2.’

Hutch Mansell, the deceptively mild-mannered, disgruntled everyman (and former elite assassin), is back. Hutch pleased audiences with a barrage of brutal bad guy beat downs in 2021’s Nobody, directed by Ilya Naishuller (Heads of State), a self-aware, more grounded version of a John Wick-esque action flick. Nobody was a surprise hit, considering its non-action star, Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul; Mr. Show), and because its release coincided with the controversial return to theaters from Covid-19 lockdowns. And yet its success greenlit a sequel, and Nobody 2, from director Timo Tjahjanto (The Shadow Strays), mostly delivers the same ruthless fun as the original, but with more than a few questionable choices. Continue reading “Film Review: “Nobody 2””

Film Review: “Weapons”

It’s 2:17 am. Do you know where your children are? 

Nothing to see here… just young children running into the night at 2:17 am….

Zach Cregger triumphs with Weapons, proving the success of his 2022 critically acclaimed horror movie Barbarian was no fluke. Indeed, the writer/director’s sophomore effort is the better picture. Clever, downright scary, and at times laugh-out-loud funny. Cregger’s new film brings freshness to a glutted genre in need of something new. Continue reading “Film Review: “Weapons””

Single of the Week: “With You” by Jorja Smith

Jorja Smith keeps knocking out banger after banger. “With You” is a bright and happy tune perfect for detaching from the stress of life, holding your loved ones, and enjoying the sun. It’s delicate and just housey enough that it’s got a sexy groove without being, well, annoying. 

Jorja Smith is playing Outside Lands on Sunday evening (6:50 / Twin Peaks Stage), and I can’t wait to hear this one in Golden Gate Park. 

Top 10 from the Bottom Half of the Outside Lands 2025 Poster

Outside Lands is THIS WEEKEND!!! This is always one of my favorite weekends, and it’s generally a great weekend for discovering your new favorites. And now it’s time for the 2025 edition of my “Top 10 from the Bottom Half” list, which I’ve spent actual months researching and listening, and these are my 10 favorites. And, in case you are keeping score, in 2022 Wet Leg and Faye Webster made my list. In 2019, I introduced you to The Marias. 2018 had Lizzo. 2017 had Khruangbin. 2016? Anderson .Paak. That’s not a bad track record… There is a LOT of good stuff happening this weekend, and the full schedule is out here. Limited tickets are available here, but don’t delay! The weather is gonna be the best of any festival in America, just like every year. Continue reading “Top 10 from the Bottom Half of the Outside Lands 2025 Poster”

Punk Rock show reviews: Summer Circus of Discontent

Photos and review by: Alan Ralph @ConcertGoingPro

Back in the day, Warped Tour was the travelling festival of the summer. It’s back after a six-year absence, but as a destination festival, with one of its three locations being in Southern California.

Historically, the Bay Area always reaps the rewards of destination festivals like Coachella where bands will book other nearby shows or West Coast tours outside of the festival’s radius clause— so much so that Spinning Platters esteemed Editor even coined the phrase Fauxchella (and owns that domain name!) — and each year keeps track of Coachella bands that make their way up here.

So now, one of the advantages of Warped Tour bringing nearly 100 punk rock bands to Long Beach is that some of them will book in the Bay Area… and in the span of four nights following Warped Tour Long Beach, five of the travelling festival veterans and one LBC newbie made the journey up here.

Continue reading “Punk Rock show reviews: Summer Circus of Discontent”

Mosswood Meltdown 2025 – We Love You

Follow Emily Anderson @EmilyPhotoAdventure

Mosswood Meltdown is an annual beacon for all the freaks, geeks, rebels, righteousness, and everything that smells like punk rock.  The East Bay punk scene has continued to thrive, as punkers converge on familiar and unique locations from 925 Gilman Street to the beach with a solar-powered van and even the public transit system. This is a dedicated mob of misfits that continues to expand and connect.  It was no surprise that this year’s Mosswood Meltdown had a significantly larger attendance than years past.  Moving the date to an off-holiday weekend was a plus. Although headlining a legend like Devo and closing the festival with Bratmobile, a new uprising force in the punk world, is a stronger likelihood for a significant increase in attendance.  My main complaint was that this festival ended too soon. I am still hungry and looking forward to next year.   This must have been a shared feeling, as the early bird tickets for 2026 sold out quicker than a sneeze. Continue reading “Mosswood Meltdown 2025 — We Love You”

Film Review: “The Naked Gun”

One hundred percent pure, unadulterated co… medy

Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) fashionably thwarts a robbery in ‘The Naked Gun’.

A cop is thwarting a bank robbery, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with one of the robbers. At first, they block punches, then their actions become a game of patty-cake, and then it’s a pantomime as the cop dispenses with the robber with a finger gun. Ah yes, the healing power of comedy! From the minds of legendary filmmaking trio Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker (Jim Abrahams and brothers David and Jerry Zucker) came Airplane! (1980) and Top Secret! (1984) and then The Naked Gun (1988), a feature film version of the TV show, Police Squad! Yes, ZAZ really liked exclamation points. The trio’s brand of humor redefined blockbuster comedies, continuing Mel Brooks’s 1970s “spoof” style of adult, metanarrative, slapstick humor. A remake of The Naked Gun has been circling Hollywood for a long time, and it has finally arrived in the form of a legacy sequel directed by The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer (Popstar; Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers). Could the new Naked Gun capture the unapologetically silly nature of the original, and is that type of parodic comedy still funny today? The answer to both is ‘yes, of course, now shut up and watch the movie.’  Continue reading “Film Review: “The Naked Gun””