Photo Gallery: Social Studies, Ash Reiter, The She’s at Brick & Mortar Music Hall

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Happy Birthday, Micaela!

Last Monday, Spinning Platters had the opportunity to present the final night of Social Studies’ 4 week residency at Brick & Mortar Music Hall. Our own Editor In Chief, Gordon Elgart, entertained the crowd between sets as in house DJ, and we enjoyed sets by garage rock locals The She’s, who introduced us to their new bassist that night, a blistering set of psych from Ash Reiter, and, of course, an hour long set of old and new songs from Social Studies. For those who missed it, here are a few pics from the show, taken by the fantastic Kara Murphy.

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Show Review: Kate Nash, Emmy The Great at The Fillmore 11/22/13

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All Photos by Michelle Viray

Oh great music philosophers, Sorockcrates and Rufus (yes dudes, I went there), I beseech thee.  Is there ever a good answer to the following question? Do you want your favorite artists to evolve or stay the same?

Unless you move to a desert island accompanied by your top ten albums of all time, there probably is no good answer.  But like anything, we must realize, no matter how much you want your adorable puppy to stay that adorable puppy, it’s going to grow up.  Being “excellent to each other” requires room for growth.  Without growth, the chance for something even greater might as well be stuck in a phone booth stuck traveling through time.  So unless you’re one of those people who go to great lengths to breed puppy versions of dogs (I’m looking at you desert island folk), I implore you to keep an open mind.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 11/27/13-12/3/13

DaveTurkeyDay Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 11/27/13-12/3/13”

Film Review: Frozen

It’s worth visiting Frozen’s musical winter wonderland.

Characters chill in Disney's "Frozen"
Characters chill in Disney’s “Frozen”

Disney made a lot of smart moves with Frozen, the new animated family film being released just in time for the holiday season.  With snow/wintery elements at the core of its story, Frozen’s release is not only timed well at the beginning of the holidays, but is thematically (and seasonally) relevant.  Also, Disney had been toying with an adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen for over a decade, and rather than rush it out the gate, it appears that the studio took careful consideration for a worthwhile script and stellar musical accompaniment.  Finally, speaking of the music, Disney made a brilliant move by bringing in Robert Lopez, the Tony award winning composer behind the music for Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon.  With a Broadway style of musical energy driving the story along (at least for the first three quarters), Frozen is heartwarming fun with a very powerful feminine voice…one that would pass the Bechdel test with flying colors.

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Show Review: Ryan Cabrera with Keaton Simons and Mike Annuzzi at Red Devil Lounge, 11/20/2013

Ryan Cabrera. Tonight on a very special episode of Blossom.
Ryan Cabrera. Tonight on a very special episode of Blossom.

Once upon a time (circa 2004), Ryan Cabrera was a new face, introduced to many (most?) by way of his then-girlfriend, Ashlee Simpson via her MTV reality show, The Ashlee Simpson Show. Despite his Muppet hair and whiny voice, Cabrera’s major-label debut, Take it All Away, peaked at #6 on The Billboard 200 chart, fueled largely by hit single “On the Way Down.” Now, nearly a decade later, Ashlee Simpson is long gone, and it’s been six years since Cabrera last released an album. Nonetheless, he’s inexplicably touring with my beloved Keaton Simons (for whom I’d do most anything), and so I had no choice but to subject myself to an evening of his music last week at what turned out to be my farewell show to the soon-to-close Red Devil Lounge. Continue reading “Show Review: Ryan Cabrera with Keaton Simons and Mike Annuzzi at Red Devil Lounge, 11/20/2013”

Film Review: Nebraska

Just in time for the holidays: The joy and Payne of family

David (Will Forte, right) discusses his stubborn father (Bruce Dern, left) with his exasperated mother (June Squibb).
David (Will Forte, right) discusses his stubborn father (Bruce Dern, left) with his exasperated mother (June Squibb).

We are heading into the time of the year when studios typically release what they hope are their best films, the ones they want to be fresh in the minds of Academy members for Oscar Best Picture voting. Director Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants) gets into this game with Nebraska, sure to be a contender in many categories come Oscar time. Beautifully shot in black and white and filled with nuanced and sensitive performances, the picture brilliantly melds Payne’s signature quirkiness with charm, emotional honesty, and wry humor. Continue reading “Film Review: Nebraska”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 11/20/13-11/26/13

Monday Night at Brick & Mortar Music Hall
Monday Night at Brick & Mortar Music Hall

Part of this fantastic week of music includes show presented by yours truly… Come join us for Social Studies, Ash Reiter, and The She’s at Brick & Mortar Music Hall on the 25th! You can win tickets, too, if you enter here by November 22nd at 6 PM!

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Show Review: Cults at The Fillmore, 11/13/13

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Stuck in a Cults-like Trance

Give me the big show. When it comes to a live musical performance, I always want the big show. The greeting. The city salutation. The witty banter. Comments on the venue. The running dialogue. The background on what the song is about. The “we were in L.A. last night and the crowd here tonight is definitely louder than last night” bit. The impromptu jump into the crowd OR the planned jump on to stage-set speakers. The call and response. The encouragement also known as “feel free to sing this song with us if you know the words!” I call it: the big show.

Now, the big show doesn’t have to be all those things. The big show can be subtle, humble, and true to the band. It should serve as a way for the audience to connect to the music through the performers. The big show doesn’t always have to include fancy pyrotechnics or multiple confetti guns, lest you think I bring a Flaming Lips-only / Wayne Coyne-and-thousands of red balloons-on Halloween bias to the table. What I always like about a live performance is the fact that it’s unique. There is something to be said for raw talent but I also believe there is something to be said for engaging a crowd when it comes to a live performance. I believe the big show should match the band and should get the audience closer to the music and to the performers.
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Win Tickets to Social Studies with The She’s and Ash Reiter at Brick & Mortar Music Hall, 11/25/13

Social Studies from Phono del Sol
Social Studies from Phono del Sol

Spinning Platters are proud to present Social Studies at Brick & Mortar Music Hall on Monday, November 25th at 9:00 PM. This is the final night of their month long residency at Brick & Mortar, and features opening sets from The She’s and  Ash Reiter. We are really excited about this show. So excited that we want you to join us! We’ve got three pairs of tickets to give away. Simply enter to win by taking this short Social Studies Quiz!

Of course, if you don’t like to leave things up to chance, or you don’t remember much from school, you can always buy a ticket. After all, they are only six bucks! Just click here to buy tickets!

See you on the 25th!