Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
The final week before Outside Lands, and we have a whole lot on our docket. We’ve got no less than 8 bona fide rock legends coming to town, as well as 3 of SpinningPlatters’ all time favorite acts. Consider this your warm up for Golden Gate Park.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 8/2/12 – 8/8/12”
In the dramatic thriller Red Lights, Cillian Murphy and Sigourney Weaver star as the world’s foremost investigators of paranormal phenomena. Professional skeptics, they have debunked dozens of fraudulent mind readers, ghost hunters, and faith healers by detecting “red lights”, subtle clues to the trickery behind each of these “supernatural” occurrences. But when a world-renowned psychic (Robert De Niro) suddenly resurfaces after a lengthy exile — and the death of his biggest critic — they begin to investigate him, despite increasingly bizarre and dangerous incidents the closer they get. Co-starring Elizabeth Olsen and Joely Richardson, Red Lights is the second English-language film by Spanish writer/director Rodrigo Cortés, who previously created the acclaimed Ryan Reynolds thriller Buried. Below, Spinning Platters talks with Murphy and Cortés about manipulating the human brain, Murphy’s reflections on 28 Days Later and Inception, and how profoundly unamused he is by my phone’s autocorrect.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Cillian Murphy and Rodrigo Cortés on “Red Lights””
Ever since his 1995 breakout Welcome to the Dollhouse, writer/director Todd Solondz, 52, has continued to plumb the depths of soul-sick suburban alienation with equal parts open-hearted compassion and satirical ruthlessness. While he is prone to subjecting his characters to the most profoundly unsettling social and psychological horrors imaginable (this arguably reached its nadir with his notorious 1998 epic Happiness and its wrenching pedophile protagonist), it is always clear that he loves and embraces them in all their sad, desperate flailing for love and validation. And while Solondz’s protagonists have always been underdogs, his latest film both deconstructs and transcends that familiar archetype. It is titled, appropriately, Dark Horse.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Todd Solondz on “Dark Horse””
This week is heavy on the world music… Maybe it’s time that you took a leap and tried something completely new? It will be quite good for you.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/26/12 – 7/31/12”
I find it hard to believe that 2002 was 10 years ago. This was the last time that we heard from Cody ChesnuTT. He released a brilliant record called The Headphone Masterpiece. It was a two CD set, recorded at home, and was one of the most refreshing R&B records of it’s time. He managed to balance out the fine line between neo soul and indie rock in a truly inventive way. Both The Roots and Miranda July sang his praises, but it didn’t seem to be enough, and nearly as soon as he burst onto the scene, he was gone. I genuinely thought that this was going to be his sole artistic contribution to the world. Then, as I often do, I found myself scrolling through the listings of local venues, and found ChesnuTT playing a show. Of course, that meant that I was going to the show.
Continue reading “Show Review: Cody ChesnuTT at Yoshi’s — SF, 7/12/12”
starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Matthew Modine, Juno Temple
written by: Jonathan and Christopher Nolan
directed by: Christopher Nolan
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language
Here’s another sampling of the fine music out your disposal in the Bay Area this weekend! I think that there’s something for everyone this week.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/19/12 – 7/25/12”
Nostalgia about the ’80s is a weird thing. For some reason, the “kids” of today will talk endlessly about going to see Modern English at Cafe Du Nord, hoping they’ll play both “I Melt With You” and “I Melt With You ’88.” They’ll go see endless cover bands of their new wave heroes. But the modern story of this decade always seems to forget one of the singular songwriting talents, someone with several hits up his sleeves, someone whose “one person and a synthesizer” sound was once revolutionary and is now common. That someone is Howard Jones.
Continue reading “Show Review: Howard Jones at The Mezzanine, 7/12/2012”
Marina & The Diamonds were supposed to play The Fillmore a year and a half ago. She canceled the show in order to record her new record. I had purchased tickets, and I will admit to being a little bummed about this at the time. But, alas, I let it go. The wait seemed to be a good thing for her, because when she finally rebooked, the show sold out rather quickly. I guess it’s the whole story of “If you love something, set it free, and if it comes back, it’s yours forever.” Because this crowd defintely seemed more in love with Marina than they would have a year and a half ago.
Continue reading “Show Review: Marina & The Diamonds with MS MR at The Fillmore, 7/11/12”
Levi Weaver and I have an interesting background. I saw him open for Imogen Heap several years ago at the Warfield when I was working as an usher. During her set, he climbed up on top of the speakers to play a guitar solo. It was dark up there, and some people wanted pictures, so I said I would “light him up.” So I shined my flashlight on his guitar for pictures. Later, he blogged that some security guard was trying to blind him and he almost lost his balance, falling to his death. Yeah, that was me. I apologized and explained myself; he apologized in kind. With that history, is it any wonder I’ve become a big fan, especially of his real DIY ethos, going so far as to book him to play Steph’s Backyard in San Francisco this Saturday the 14th? We’d love to see you at the show, and we’re still selling tickets. Keep in mind that 100% of the ticket price goes to the artists.
Thanks to Levi for taking a few minutes out of his busy schedule of driving around the country to play in people’s homes to answer my email questions.
1. What inspired you to begin booking your own tours? Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: 10 Quick Questions With Levi Weaver”