Here’s another fun week of fun stuff to fill with funness. Happy funny funtimes!!
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/9/2010-9/15/2010”
Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/9/2010-9/15/2010
Channel Surf the Blogosphere for the latest tracks with Shuffler.fm
It seems like every other week, a new music service is launched with the intention of being the ultimate, one-stop “music discovery tool.” Truth be told, any savvy music aficionado will own up to the fact that they use at least two or more tools to find, stream, and download new and classic music alike.
Since there’s always the promise of “the next big thing” looming, whether it’s the rather failed impact Ping (the social extension of iTunes 10) had on consumers or Google’s forthcoming music service that’s reportedly making a grand debut on Christmas day, I decided to spend some time with Shuffler.fm, which I discovered through a feature on Mashable, to see if it’s something I’d actually use on a consistent basis. The answer, quite surprisingly, is “yes” and “daily.”
Continue reading “Channel Surf the Blogosphere for the latest tracks with Shuffler.fm”
Show Review: Stereo Total at Slim’s, 9/2/10
Thursday night usually isn’t a night people stay in, but by the sparse attendence at Slim’s for the Stereo Total show you would have thought it was Monday night. Maybe it was the $20 ticket price, or the fact that Jenny and Johnny stole the indie kids for the evening, but either way I can’t say I was disappointed. Those who were there brought their A game (including a gentlemen with flowers wrapped in leopard print tissue paper for Francoise!). And most importantly, there was plenty of room to dance. Continue reading “Show Review: Stereo Total at Slim’s, 9/2/10”
Show Review: Jenny and Johnny with Sonny & the Sunsets and Farmer Dave Scher at Great American Music Hall, 9/2/10
I’m Having Fun Now, the “debut” album by Jenny and Johnny (Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice), is being marketed as the first collaboration between indie lovebirds Lewis and Rice. This isn’t strictly the case, though; Lewis and Rice have been all over each other’s material (what the kids are calling it these days) for the last five years. Rice has been playing in Lewis’ touring band since 2006, and had a very strong presence on her underrated 2008 LP, Acid Tongue. In turn, Lewis co-wrote and sang on several tracks from Rice’s 2007 album, Further North. But now these kids have made it official and released a full-length duets album. Last night, they played the first of two nights at Great American Music Hall. How did it go?
Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/2/2010-9/8/2010
Labor Day weekend is filled with musical adventures in the Bay Area… Including two of the very, very few worthwhile summer shed shows that seem to be timed out perfectly for the weather getting good. Here are the highlights:
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/2/2010-9/8/2010”
Show Review: Rondo Brothers with Oona, King Midas in Reverse and Matthew Hansen at Slim’s, 8/26/2010
On Thursday night, Slim’s hosted a dynamic range of Bay Area music. Opening with R&B, eased into alternative rock, Pop with soul, then jumped into Hip Hop and ended with fans twirling to Electric Trance. Contrary to logic, the various of styles had a smooth transition from one band’s music flavor to another, which was appreciated by a tight crowd as loyal as family. Continue reading “Show Review: Rondo Brothers with Oona, King Midas in Reverse and Matthew Hansen at Slim’s, 8/26/2010”
Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 8/26/2010-9/1/2010
This is a busy, busy week for SF show goers… Lotsa stuff to go to! Enjoy your last week of summer vacation! Here’s how:
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 8/26/2010-9/1/2010”
Show Review: Crowded House with Lawrence Arabia at The Warfield, 8/23/2010
Crowded House is a band with only two real American “hits.” But don’t be fooled by that. If you go see Crowded House live, you’d better be ready to sing. And although your less astute friends will assume the loudest singing will be for “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” the band’s biggest U.S. hit, those same friends will wonder what the heck this “You always take the weather with you” song is about. Congratulations, singer! You’re the smart one. Continue reading “Show Review: Crowded House with Lawrence Arabia at The Warfield, 8/23/2010”
In Appreciation of From Monument to Masses
I’m feeling very old this week, as two of my favorite Bay Area bands will be playing break-up shows in two nights. The first is my old band Audrye Sessions who will be saying goodbye on Friday, August 27th at The New Parish in Oakland. The second is From Monument to Masses who are playing final show at Great American Music Hall on Saturday, August 28th. Since Judgement Day is opening up the Great American show, I thought it might nice for me to share some of my thoughts on the night’s headliners. Continue reading “In Appreciation of From Monument to Masses”
Show Review: They Might Be Giants with Oona at The Napa Uptown, 8/21/2010
If I had to give a title to this review, apart from the boring, SEO-friendly titles we always use here, it would be “They Might Be Giants vs. The Napa Uptown Theatre.” I think that the band started the show really loving the beautifully restored theater, but by the end of the performance, I feel like there may have been some antagonism between the two. Was this an actual fight? Or merely a love-fest in disguise? It was a bit hard to tell. Continue reading “Show Review: They Might Be Giants with Oona at The Napa Uptown, 8/21/2010”