Happy Fifth of July, loyal readers!
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/5/12 – 7/11/12”
Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/5/12 – 7/11/12
Show Review: Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival at Shoreline Amphitheater, 7/1/12
I don’t listen to heavy metal music very often. There are two or three records that I pull out on rare occasion to fill a certain void, but at no time would I consider myself part of the movement. So, when the opportunity fell in my lap to cover Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival, I wasn’t entirely sure if I was the right man for the job. But, I do really like Motörhead, and life isn’t about doing the safe thing. So, I decided to throw caution to the wind and see what happens when I spend an entire day absorbed in the metallic crunch of a heavy metal show. I put on my most “metal” of t-shirts, which was, most ironically, a Yelle T-shirt that was all black and had “Dance Or Die” written in bold red.
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Warped Tour Diary: AT&T Park, Lot A, 6/23/2012
The Warped Tour found a new home in San Francisco this year, parking itself in Lot A of AT&T Park. Like its old home at Pier 30/32, there was a view of the water, and the Bay Bridge. Unlike Pier 30, there was not plenty of room to move around. This running of the Warped Tour was a hot, crowded mess; a maze of sponsor tents, clothing companies, and band merch. Interspersed throughout were several stages with bands giving their all, often to thousands of revelers, and other times to a mere handful. My goal, as always, was to sample as many bands as possible in 7 hours. Let’s see how I did. Continue reading “Warped Tour Diary: AT&T Park, Lot A, 6/23/2012”
Show Review: Summerland Tour: Everclear, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Lit, Marcy Playground at Mountain Winery, 6/28/12
When I first heard about this Summerland tour, I didn’t believe it. As a punker kid in high school, these were all bands that I was too good for. I would only listen to Live 105 or KOME in secret, while I told my friends that I was listening to bands like The Queers or cub. I did see Everclear back in the day, but only because they opened for Primus. Sugar Ray? I saw because Save Ferris and Goldfinger were opening. But I secretly enjoyed these bands. Even when this tour was booked, my gut was to be an angsty 16 year old and make fun of it. But, secretly, I really wanted to go. Since I am much more comfortable with my own skin, I decided to own my nostalgia and make the long trek from Oakland to Saratoga, a city that most Oaklanders aren’t even aware of.
Film Review: “Magic Mike”
starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Cody Horn, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez, Olivia Munn, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Gabriel Iglesias, Betsy Brandt, Riley Keough
written by: Reid Carolin
directed by: Steven Soderbergh
MPAA: Rated R for pervasive sexual content, brief graphic nudity, language and some drug use
Spinning Platters Interview: Chris Pine and Alex Kurtzman on “People Like Us”
If I were to tell you that one of this summer’s most character-driven and emotionally mature dramas comes to you from the writing team responsible for three of Michael Bay’s last four films, you’d accuse me of being hopped up on bath salts and run away covering your face and screaming. And yet, such is the case with People Like Us, the directorial debut of writer/producer Alex Kurtzman. In addition to his work with Bay, Kurtzman (along with creative partner Roberto Orci) is best-known for writing action-packed episodes of TV shows like Alias, Hawaii Five-0, and Fringe, and blockbusters like Mission: Impossible III, Cowboys & Aliens, and the J.J. Abrams reboot of Star Trek (as well as its upcoming sequel). And when the time came for him to finally tell a personal story inspired by one of the most shocking chapters from his own life, he chose his dashing Star Trek leading man, Chris Pine, to play his onscreen surrogate.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Chris Pine and Alex Kurtzman on “People Like Us””
Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/28/12 – 7/4/12
Happy Independence Day! That’s why you are getting the rare list where nearly every band is from the US. And the only English band has an umlaut in it’s name. Alright, enough chatter:
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/28/12 – 7/4/12”
Film Review: “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Written by: Seth Grahame-Smith
Starring: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell and Dominic Cooper
Continue reading “Film Review: “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter””
Film Review: “Brave”
featuring the voices of: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Craig Ferguson, Kevin McKidd
written by: Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Brenda Chapman, Irene Mecchi
directed by: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell
MPAA: Rated PG for some scary action and rude humor
Show Review: Natalie Merchant w/ San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall, 6/18/12
As a self professed music nerd, it’s almost embarrassing that I don’t go see the San Francisco Symphony more often. We are really lucky to have a world class orchestra in are backyard, playing nearly every night. Davies Symphony Hall is also one of the most perfect rooms to experience live music in, where every seat has an excellent view, and the sound is near perfect. This is my first time here since I took my dad to see PDQ Bach in 2008. And it took a pop musician to bring me there. Natalie Merchant, best known as the lead vocalist for 10,000 Maniacs, isn’t your average pop singer, and the idea of that majestic voice backed by a full orchestra sounded like a perfect combination.