Film Review: “The Penguin Lessons”

A charming tale with a heartwarming duo at its center

Tom (Steve Coogan) and Juan (penguin) teach Masefield.

The Penguin Lessons has all the recognizable tropes of an inspirational true-story Disney adaptation of the early 2000s; the film effectively utilizes a serious real-world backdrop but doesn’t deeply explore it, the protagonist (a teacher) recites literary passages that closely (albeit metaphorically) parallel the plot, and there’s a really cute beacon of innocence at the heart of the story – typically an animal or child, and in this case, a penguin. Based on Tom Michell’s memoir, The Penguin Lessons has enough heart and humor to elevate it above its predictive outline, and the chemistry between Steve Coogan and his absolutely adorable penguin costar(s) is worth the watch. Continue reading “Film Review: “The Penguin Lessons””

OUTSIDE LANDS DROPPED IT’S AMAZING 2025 LINE UP

I walked out the door this morning to experience the sun on my face for the first time in what feels like years. This last winter was one of the coldest, dreariest ones in memory. I enjoyed a gentle breeze while serotonin made its first real return to my brain in a while. Then I opened up my phone (a thing that has brought the opposite of joy lately) to see Outside Lands drop its lineup, and now I’ve moved from joyful to glowing! 

Highlights include a triple shot of the best live acts in modern hip hop: Tyler, The Creator, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, and Doechii,  the unclassifiable Doja Cat, the insane bass stylings of Thundercat, the inventive and brilliant Jorja Smith, and for those looking for a touch of proper nostalgia, there’s Ludacris! Lower on the bill and there are some insane Easter Eggs like Big Freedia & The SF Gay Men’s Chorus, whatever “Vampire Weekend ?? /? ” means, the reinvented Rebecca Black, and for those who need a little mosh in their weekend, Oakland’s Destroy Boys are playing as well as the amazing Mannequin Pussy. 

Tickets are on sale TOMORROW! Yes, that’s 3/26 at 10 a.m. at SFOutsidelands.com. 3-Day GA tickets start at $499 ALL IN, and Payment Plans start at $99 down. The full lineup is below! 

Continue reading “OUTSIDE LANDS DROPPED IT’S AMAZING 2025 LINE UP”

Show Review: The Linda Lindas with Be Your Own Pet at The UC Theatre, 3/20/25

It’s been about six years since Spinning Platters first encountered The Linda Lindas. They were all in middle school at the time but managed to score the opening slot for Bikini Kill’s second show in 20 years. They played 30 minutes worth of classic punk covers with the skill of players twice their age but with the enthusiasm and curiosity of, well, pre-teens. Fast forward six years, and they have three albums worth of critically acclaimed original material and have risen to be the band effectively leading Gen Alpha to rock ‘n roll. 

Continue reading “Show Review: The Linda Lindas with Be Your Own Pet at The UC Theatre, 3/20/25”

Single of the Week: “I Found God” by Cera Gibson

Man, I love a good, sexy video where everyone looks, well, normal. “I Found God” is good old-fashioned, sexy, and groovy, along the lines of Erotica-era Madonna. The hooks are hooking, and the lyrics are just naughty enough. It’s a great way to kick off the first weekend of Spring. 

“I Found Love” is the latest single from Cera Gibson’s pinksoak, which is available now all across the internet. 

How Did Kathy Foster Get Here?

Photo by Jason Quigley

Odds are that you don’t know the name Kathy Foster, but you’ve probably seen her live a few dozen times. She’s probably best known as the bassist for Portland punks The Thermals. Or as a member of the supergroup All Girl Summer Fun Band. Or any of the 8,565,233 other bands she’s been a part of. Alas, after decades of backing up other acts, she’s released her debut solo record under the alias Roseblood. We talked about her pathway to rock, with some adventures and misadventures along the way. We even touched on the time she played “Faith” and “Rebel Rebel” with Sleater-Kinney, where her band Hurry Up got their name from, and spent a LOT of time talking about how amazing Maggie Vail is.

Roseblood’s self-titled debut is out now on Bandcamp or wherever you stream music.

Film Review: “Black Bag”

Some fun to be had in intricate spy thriller 

George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) are a married couple with secrets.

If you decide to go see Black Bag, here’s a word of advice: see a matinee after a good night’s sleep and a large cup of coffee. You’ll need to be fully alert and engaged to follow this twisty, talky spy thriller. Whether or not you take that as a recommendation depends on your tolerance for convoluted but highly stylized, aesthetically pleasing espionage tales. Continue reading “Film Review: “Black Bag””

Single of the Week: “Money & Power” by Ally Venable

Some weeks, I go through literally hundreds of tracks for this column, and nothing grabs me right away. And as it goes on, it gets HARDER to bring me in, not easier. This week was one of those weeks. And then this blistering, 70’s hard rock stomp, guitar virtuosity, and full-on braggadocio reinvigorated me within moments. “Money & Power” brings to mind late-era Donnas- combining elements of blues rock, British metal, and feminism in one intense punch. 

“Money & Power” is the first single from Ally Venable’s upcoming album of the same name. It’s coming our way on April 18th. Click here to presave the digital or preorder the physical. 

Noise Pop 2025: A Recap

Noise Pop 2025 kicked off with a bang — and my festival experience started with picking up my badge at the California Academy of Sciences on a Thursday evening. Coinciding with the Academy’s weekly NightLife program, the scene was electric. Even though I was solo, it struck me as possibly the best Bay Area date night I’ve seen in years. Noise Pop was in full swing, contributing DJs and a dance floor to the evening’s programming. But the real magic came from the Academy itself. There’s something about wandering through the aquarium under black lights, music pulsing through the exhibits as exotic fish glide by. People of all ages roamed the space in pairs or pods, sipping craft cocktails from the multiple bars scattered throughout. Small science demos popped up in every corner, adding an intellectual edge to the atmosphere. It was a perfect blend of science, art, and social buzz — I’d give it a solid 100 for ingenuity and wholesome romantic fun. Continue reading “Noise Pop 2025: A Recap”

Film Review: “Novocaine”

Novocaine delivers a funny dose of violent shenanigans

Nate (Jack Quaid) dangles unfeelingly in “Novocaine.”

Novocaine opens with a needle drop that signifies a level of spot-on self-awareness that perfectly sets up the tone of the film, as if the filmmakers are telling us, “Hey, our film is gonna be ridiculous, melodramatic, and won’t pull any punches, so just sit back and enjoy!” Using Jack Quaid’s everyman charm and a central conceit that allows for an abundance of inventive comedic violence, Novocaine fulfills its goal of delivering preposterous hard-hitting entertainment. Continue reading “Film Review: “Novocaine””