Show Review: Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour at The New Parish, 3/6/2011

Everything on stage but the kitchen sink

Let’s get this out of the way at the beginning. No, Jeff Mangum did not show up. So if that’s the only reason you might care about a review of this show, you can go on your way. If, on the other hand, you like 3-hour shows full of lively music by talented musicians with great chemistry who write songs of varying degrees of excellence, then you might want to keep reading.

And yes, they did veer of the setlist and play a song from In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. If you could pick one, which one would it be? So was that the one? Continue reading “Show Review: Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour at The New Parish, 3/6/2011”

Show Review: The Dillinger Escape Plan in Yerba Buena Gardens at GDC, 3/2/2011

Oh, yes! 

Original Dillinger member Ben Weinman exhorts the crowd onward. Guitar above head in the middle of a song? Yes.

“Sometimes words just can’t express exactly how we feel. The deep complexity of our emotions is something I’ve always felt was better conveyed in song. Sometimes we are put into a situation that we don’t always know how to deal with quite right. Here’s my attempt at letting you know how I feel. All I can offer is my deepest thanks to everyone who sent a card, everyone who wrote about the situation in a zine, did a show, donated money at a show, or offered their sympathy to what amounts to be a stranger. You always put a smile on this cynical asshole’s face and helped me get through the hardest year of my life. I hope I’ll be seeing all of you soon.”

– From the liner notes of the Dillinger Escape Plan’s album Calculating Infinity by former bassist Adam Doll.

As Doll said, some emotions can’t be summed up neat and tidy through words. Sometimes what we feel can only be expressed through sound.

This is where the Dillinger Escape Plan excels. Continue reading “Show Review: The Dillinger Escape Plan in Yerba Buena Gardens at GDC, 3/2/2011”

Show Review: Stryper with Cry Wolf, Skinner and Radio Friendly at Avalon Night Club, 3/5/2011

Photos and review by: Alan Ralph @ConcertGoingPro

777 Lawrence Expressway in Santa Clara looks like any other nondescript building in any other shopping plaza.  Tonight however, there is a tour bus parked in plain view in front, and upon further inspection of the parking lot, there is a sign (from God?): “3-5 Stryper”.  Although the number “777” is not actually referenced by the Bible, the number “7” is traditionally associated with divine perfection.  So it is with little surprise that Stryper’s return to the Bay Area would be to the hallowed grounds known as the Avalon Night Club. Continue reading “Show Review: Stryper with Cry Wolf, Skinner and Radio Friendly at Avalon Night Club, 3/5/2011”

Show Review: Morcheeba at The Warfield, 3/5/11

Thanks to flickr user avantard for use of the picture

About thirteen years ago, while waiting first in line to get in to a Portishead show at the very same venue, a girl gave me a promo cassingle, yes, a cassingle, of “The Sea.”  Some months later, I found myself at the The Fillmore, having one of the best times, seeing Morcheeba having one of the best times, performing that night.  It was during the height of their most treasure release Big Calm, and the at the peak of their buzz.  They shared a ridiculous amount of energy on stage, and that spark reflected mutually with the audience.  I can’t remember one person who wasn’t dancing that night.   Most often it’s very difficult for trip-hop bands to translate their sound in a full, warm, and lush manner, but somehow the simplicity of the music and the wizardry of the Godfrey brothers set them apart. Continue reading “Show Review: Morcheeba at The Warfield, 3/5/11”

Film Reviews: “Beastly” / “Take Me Home Tonight”

Mary-Kate Olsen and Alex Pettyfer in BEASTLY

Beastly

starring: Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Neil Patrick Harris, Mary-Kate Olsen, Peter Krause, Lisa Gay Hamilton

directed by: Darren Barnz

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for language including crude comments, brief violence and some thematic material.

Topher Grace, Anna Faris, and Dan Fogler in TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT

Take Me Home Tonight

starring: Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler, Teresa Palmer, Chris Pratt, Michael Biehn, Lucy Punch, Demetri Martin, Michelle Trachtenberg, Michael Ian Black, Angie Everhart, Bob Odenkirk

directed by: Michael Dowse

MPAA: Rated R for language, sexual content and drug use.

Continue reading “Film Reviews: “Beastly” / “Take Me Home Tonight””

Noise Pop Show Review: Ben Gibbard at Great American Music Hall, 2/27/11

Ben Gibbard is called out by Bob Mould at Noise Pop

Closing the Noise Pop festival with solo acoustic shows from Ben Gibbard and Zach Rogue was the right choice. People flew in from Europe, skipped the Oscars, even skipped church for an a relaxing evening at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall. The young crowd was a mix of experienced Noise Pop festival attendees and those that made last night’s show their select choice. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Ben Gibbard at Great American Music Hall, 2/27/11”

Noise Pop Show Review: No Age, Grass Widow, Rank/Xerox and Crazy Band at Rickshaw Stop, 2/26/11

I want it to be understood that I’m fucking sick of irony…and I’m not being ironic here either. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: No Age, Grass Widow, Rank/Xerox and Crazy Band at Rickshaw Stop, 2/26/11”

Noise Pop Show Review: Peanut Butter Wolf, Dam Funk, Guillermo and Hakobo at Public Works, 2/26/11

The balconies at Public Works allow for this kind of educational view of the DJs at work

Do you remember when Hip-Hop was good and everything that came out was, well fresh?  I’m talking about the days of Tribe Called Quest, Pharcyde, Freestyle Fellowship, Nas,  DJ Shadow, The Roots, Paris, KRS- One, The Fugees, DJ Greyboy… I do, that’s when I fell in love with it.  Before shorties having birthdays, and milkshakes in the yard.  When grillz donned by Method Man were being sold on the back page of The Source and before the term ‘bling’ was added to the dictionary.   I am ready for this goodness of Hip-Hop to return. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Peanut Butter Wolf, Dam Funk, Guillermo and Hakobo at Public Works, 2/26/11”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 3/3/11 – 3/9/11

I know that you thought that Noise Pop ending means that you can take some time off… But that was before you learned that Stryper were coming to town. STRYPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 3/3/11 – 3/9/11”

Noise Pop 2011 — My Notes and Ramblings

Kid Koala capped off my Friday evening, and I wasn't drunk. He really was wearing a koala suit. (Kid Koala action photos by David Price.)

What you might be thinking is, “why does he get to write all of his Noise Pop comments in one post when everyone else did full reviews of each night they went?” From an excuse standpoint, I’ll just say that I’ve been so busy editing posts, resizing & captioning photos, and redesigning the website, I decided to give myself a little slack. (Editor’s privilege?) But really, this all started because of Wednesday night.

Continue reading “Noise Pop 2011 — My Notes and Ramblings”