Single of the Week: “My Life” by Julia Cumming

Sunflower Beam had been progressively getting heavier with each record. So, when this track dropped as the solo debut from Julia Cumming, I was surprised to hear a delightful, almost musical theater-referencing gem of a piano pop song. “My Life” is an infectious earworm, driven by piano and complete with an Edgar Wright-directed video that might be a little too twee for some folks, but just enough bubbly joy for me. 

Julia, the debut full-length from Julia Cumming, is dropping April 24th. Preorders are happening NOW! 

Film Review: “How to Make a Killing”

Powell impresses in Killing’s toothless satire

Becket (Glen Powell) scanning the scene in ‘How to Make a Killing.’

Producer Glen Powell found a fitting project for actor Glen Powell. Writer/director John Patton Ford’s new dark comedy How to Make a Killing, on which Powell is an executive producer, is a perfect star vehicle for the actor and a welcome return-to-form after last fall’s disappointing The Running Man remake. Aimed at being charmingly inoffensive to a wide audience, though at the expense of its satirical precision and level of twistedness, How to Make a Killing is an easily digestible distraction featuring likeable actors and nothing more. Continue reading “Film Review: “How to Make a Killing””

Just Announced: Bruce Springsten & The E Street Band Spring 2026 Tour

Man. I love Bruce Springsteen. I know, I know, everyone does. Even your hardcore right-wing cousin secretly listens to the man. But, boy, do I love Bruce “IDGAF, I’m going all in on exposing this fucking broken system” Springsteen. And doing a last-minute, arena tour called “The Land Of Hopes and Dreams” tour, but subtitled “No Kings” really drives it home. 

This tour preview post feels really nice. Tickets on sale either Friday or Saturday, depending on the venue. No fanclub presales. I don’t see any sort of corporate credit card nonsense. Just kicking off March 31st at Target Center in Minneapolis (of course) and ending in Washington, DC on May 27th, blowing through the country to thaw its ICE with a hot rock ‘n’ roll show. Full tour dates and purchase links below: Continue reading “Just Announced: Bruce Springsten & The E Street Band Spring 2026 Tour”

Film Review: “Crime 101”

Terrific cast anchors engaging contemporary LA noir

Detective Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) ponders a case.

If you loved Mark Ruffalo in HBO’s terrific miniseries Task, you need to go see Crime 101 immediately. I’m not sure when Crime 101 was made, but if Brett Layton, its writer/director, didn’t watch Task first, I’d be surprised. Ruffalo’s engrossing turn here as another rumpled but wise detective with a sad personal life is just one reason to see Crime 101, a highly entertaining and utterly absorbing heist thriller.

Continue reading “Film Review: “Crime 101””

How Did Eddie Argos of Art Brut Get Here?

Eddie Argos is the lead singer of the British cult band Art Brut. They are currently on the road touring to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their classic debut, Bang Bang Rock n Roll. We talked about music and mentioned several very specific bands that only people born in 1979 think about (The Pipettes, Crash Test Dummies, The Donnas).

Art Brut have just released a greatest hits record, A Record Collection, Reduced To A Mixtape, as well as a box set, Sorry That It Doesn’t Sound Like It’s Planned! Battling Satan, 2009 -2020. Click the title to order.

Tour dates below: Continue reading “How Did Eddie Argos of Art Brut Get Here?”

WEEZER SELF-TITLED BOX SET!!!!

First of all, Weezer is one of the very few bands that can get away with a box set of all of their self-titled albums. And, since those SEVEN records are all color-coded, what better way to package them than with a 72-page coloring book, a box of markers, and a backpack! From “My Name Is Jonas” through “California Snow,” it’s about the best Weezer that Weezer can be. Release date is April 10th, and can be preordered here in both fancy and less fancy iterations.  

Complete track listing below, after you enjoy the most 00’s internet music video of the 00’s: 

BLUE ALBUM Continue reading “WEEZER SELF-TITLED BOX SET!!!!”

Single of the Week: “Cult Daddy” by ill peach

ill peach is a songwriting trio that has written songs with Hayley Kiyoko, Miya Folick, and Big Freedia, to name a few SP favourites. Despite all these names, I wasn’t prepared for the emotional and sonic thunder that is “Cult Daddy.” A brutal satire of religious cults that hits very hard in the face of the scariest Christian right movement in modern history. 

“CULT DADDY” is available for streaming and purchase here. I look forward to hearing more from them. 

Noise Pop 2026: Spinning Platters Tells You What To Do

Noise Pop is celebrating its 33rd iteration, and it’s 34th year (DAMMIT COVID!), which means it’s the 33 1/3 Noise Pop. Not really, but I prefer to label it as such. Because of records. But it could also take 33 1/3 years to dig through the lineup. Feeling like some Noise Pop (or, as Swami John Reis referred to it at Bimbo’s in 1999, “popping noise music”) but don’t want to do the work? Here’s what I like. The full schedule is here. Badges and limited individual tickets are still available for many shows.

Continue reading “Noise Pop 2026: Spinning Platters Tells You What To Do”

Film Review: “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”

Verbinski embraces human interaction in this offbeat, comical critique

Future man (Sam Rockwell) is mesmerized in ‘Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die.’

Director Gore Verbinski, who spent nearly five years in Disney franchise filmmaking while helming the Pirates of the Caribbean series, is one of those rare filmmakers who is unafraid to venture off-the-rails when it comes to unique storytelling (Rango) and/or genre-obscuring tonality (The Mexican, The Weather Man). With Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, Verbinski is once again letting loose and crafting a dynamic, low budget sci-fi adventure that defies categorization.  Continue reading “Film Review: “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die””

LA ONDA FESTIVAL IN NAPA IS LOOKING MIGHTY LOVELY!

Back in 1998, I was waiting for my girlfriend in front of The Warfield. This was pre-cellphone. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs were playing. The band finished their set, and THEN she showed. Very apologetic. I forgave her, and security let me buy a shirt. Sadly, it’s taken them 28 YEARS TO COME BACK TO THE BAY AREA!!!! They are the only playing three US shows (LA, San Diego, Napa), so it’s time for me to FINALLY head up to check out La Onda Festival, May 30th – 31st. 

Who else is playing? Well, the kings of Rock en Español, Mana. Reggaeton master J Balvin, the funk metal band that is WAY better than RHCP: Molotov, the politically potent Ozomatli, the great Kinky, and a WHOLE LOT MORE. Tickets are on sale Friday, 2/13 at noon PST.