Spinning Platters Weekly Tip Sheet: July 28th-August 3rd

Follow these tracks to the Great American Music Hall on Sunday.
Follow these tracks to the Great American Music Hall on Sunday.

This is part 10 of a continuing series… Next week, we will discuss how race relations affected the reconstruction.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Tip Sheet: July 28th-August 3rd”

Wanderlust Festival Diary: Part Two

Everyone was really high at this festival.
Everyone was really high at this festival.

In order to get to the mainstage at the Wanderlust Festival, you need to board the funitel and ride the gondola to one the Gold Coast at Squaw Valley.  This is definitely the riskiest activity I’ve ever done to get to a show.  So what did I find when I got to the top? Continue reading “Wanderlust Festival Diary: Part Two”

Show Review: Jay Brannan at Bottom of the Hill, 7/25/09

Witness the death of Jay Brannan's kashaka during his a capella version of Blowin' In The Wind
Witness the death of Jay Brannan's kashaka during his a capella version of Blowin' In The Wind

Jay Brannan has the kind of voice you dream of at night.  Silky smooth and beautiful.  My first voice teacher used to prod me to imagine a string, and while singing you’re slowly pulling the string out of your throat in this smooth never ending line.  That’s what Jay Brannan sounds like, that elusive smooth perfect voice flowing on and on into the night.  He backs that voice of his up with some great songs, good guitar playing, hilarious stage banter and a whole lot of hotness.  

Continue reading “Show Review: Jay Brannan at Bottom of the Hill, 7/25/09”

Wanderlust Festival Diary: Part One

Sharon Jones belts out another one.
Sharon Jones belts out another one.

When I heard about the Wanderlust Festival, its amazing location, and its perfect lineup, I booked a hotel room the same day.  Because of this, I’m writing this diary post from an amazing hotel room with three queen size beds, a full kitchen with utensils, and killer balcony, and right inside the village where the festival is located.  The fridge is stocked (salmon for dinner tomorrow), the beds are made, and everyone’s getting ready for sleep.

But how was tonight’s music? Continue reading “Wanderlust Festival Diary: Part One”

Show Review: La Roux, io echo at Cafe du Nord, July 22nd

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The secret to this hairdo? 1 part mousse, 1 part hairspray, 1 part gel, 1 part wax, and a mysterious secret ingredient that she wouldn't give me...

In this economy, it’s rare for shows to sell out, especially well in advance. Even some of the most hyped acts are playing to 2/3 empty rooms.  So how did La Roux sell out Cafe du Nord so far in advance? Was it based on Glastonbury reports? Is it her sophisticated style and well crafted hooks? Or was it the $12 ticket price? Continue reading “Show Review: La Roux, io echo at Cafe du Nord, July 22nd”

Show Review: Elbow at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, 7/22/09

Guy Garvey and the Mirrorball about which he may be singing.
Guy Garvey and the Mirrorball about which he may be singing.

Last night, I finally visited The Wiltern in Los Angeles to see my current favorite band, Elbow. [Editor’s note: expect lots of fanboy gushing.] They’re in the U.S. supporting Coldplay, and they added three headline dates. Since none of their shows–the support or headline ones–are coming up to the Bay Area, I decided that I would fly down for the show as well as take the opportunity to visit with some of my Southland friends and drop in on Disneyland, too. Travelling for a show automatically raises the stakes and makes it harder to live up to expectations. So how did this night go? Continue reading “Show Review: Elbow at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, 7/22/09”

Show Review: No Doubt, Paramore and The Sounds at Concord Pavillion, 7/21/09

Our group pulls back the curtain on the No Doubt show.
Our group pulls back the curtain on the No Doubt show. Thanks to Flickr user Eytonz for the photo.

About two weeks ago, I sent out an invite to a select group of friends reminding them that the No Doubt concert we kept saying we were going to see was coming up, and it’s time to decide if we’re really going or not.  We ended up with a group of seven, including four founders of Spinning Platters.  But since all of us who went are music nerds in one way or another, I asked everyone there to write a brief recap of the show to post as a giant group review.  Of course this limited the post-show conversation because everyone was saving their best nuggets for the blog (we hope).  This is our first time trying this, so please let me know what you think about it in the comments.

And now, on to our first review. Continue reading “Show Review: No Doubt, Paramore and The Sounds at Concord Pavillion, 7/21/09”

Spinning Platters Weekly Tip Sheet: July 21st-27th

This is Zoey, and she would like to see La Roux at Cafe du Nord with me tomorrow night, but she doesn't like loud noises, and I think they have a no cats policy. Who wants to take her place? At the show, not my home...
This is Zoey, and she would like to see La Roux at Cafe du Nord with me tomorrow night, but she doesn't like loud noises, and I think they have a no cats policy. Who wants to take her place? At the show, not my home...

Another week, another installment of our continuing series of me telling you what to do. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Tip Sheet: July 21st-27th”

10 Quick Questions for Hiroshi Narita, Manager of The G3 Lounge

He's consumed by the music...
He's consumed by the music...

Hiroshia Narita is one of the 1st people I ever encountered in San Francisco. I was working at a music store in the financial district of San Francisco, and he was working in the mailroom at Universal Music & Video Distribution. Since my store closed and he was laid off from Universal, we’ve kept in pretty good touch. He’s managed to survive a lot of the changes in the industry, and still manages to work for the art form he cares deeply about. He currently manages the G3 Lounge at 3rd Ave and Geary in San Francisco! He took the time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for you, the reader. Continue reading “10 Quick Questions for Hiroshi Narita, Manager of The G3 Lounge”

Show Review: Tori Amos at the Paramount Theatre, 7/13/09

What was Tori's surprise?  Read on.  (Thanks to Jon for the setlist photo.)
What was Tori's surprise? Read on. (Thanks to Jon for the setlist photo.)

I’m not going to sugar coat this, because there really isn’t much that could have been sweeter than this adventure, which was entirely one of the most awesome experiences I’ve ever had, concert or otherwise.

Oh, where to begin… Continue reading “Show Review: Tori Amos at the Paramount Theatre, 7/13/09”