Noise Pop Show Review: Zee Avi, The Hot Toddies, Leslie & the Badgers, Tiny Television at The Rickshaw Stop 2/25/10

Aw shucks, she makes Joel want a nicer car.

It was a revisit to the scene of the crime, a reunion with my new favorite band, and an attempt to pay attention after a double mocha and six donuts from All Star Donuts, the only place at 9 p.m. that’s still open in Hayes Valley when you need to work.

I’d been to a Rickshaw Stop show a few times before, most recently while raising the ire of the bouncer because, God forbid, I walked outside with a cup of water. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Zee Avi, The Hot Toddies, Leslie & the Badgers, Tiny Television at The Rickshaw Stop 2/25/10”

New Release Round Up 2/23/10 – 30 Instant Album Reviews

Nice drugs, dude.

There’s gonna be some more obscure stuff this week because I foolishly left lala running while I went to lunch. Missed out on some of the more popular stuff, but you’ll still be entertained. Continue reading “New Release Round Up 2/23/10 — 30 Instant Album Reviews”

Noise Pop Show Review: Foreign Born, The Fresh and Onlys and Free Energy at The Rickshaw Stop 2/24/10

foreign_born1
One Serious Dancing Band

My night ended on a couch in the city followed by 4 hours of sleep and a massive hangover. How was I supposed to know I was going to have so much fun on a Wednesday?

My day started off like any other. I worked, exercised, and went to The Rickshaw Stop. Doing these things took time and various levels of prep. What I neglected to do was include dinner. I thought, “No worries, you’re not actually hungry AND you’ll get drunk quicker.” I was definitely right about that last part. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Foreign Born, The Fresh and Onlys and Free Energy at The Rickshaw Stop 2/24/10”

Concert Review: The Kronos Quartet – Music From 4 Fences at Z Space @ Artaud, 2/24/10

The Kronos Quartet isn’t really the type of show we normally review.  There are no earplugs required, you’re sitting in seats and most of the audience is over 35.  In fact, it’s not even really a show, it’s more of a concert.  But Spinning Platters wanted to cover what they are doing this Noise Pop week; a West Coast premier of Jon Rose’s Music From 4 Fences along with music written by various musicians more well known in popular culture.  I especially couldn’t miss tonight’s offering: music composed by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz fame (the other artists showcased this week are listed here).  There were many things I expected from The Kronos Quartet, like professionalism and amazing talent and skill, but it was the surprises that make it an experience I highly recommend. Continue reading “Concert Review: The Kronos Quartet — Music From 4 Fences at Z Space @ Artaud, 2/24/10”

Noise Pop Show Review: The Ghost Of A Saber Toothed Tiger, If By Yes, Consortium Musicum at The Independent, 2/24/10

This show was, to some degree, the after party for the big  YOKO ONO PLASTIC ONO BAND on Tuesday night. It was just quite a bit later, but every member of the Plastic Ono Band was onstage, aside from the very famous lead singer. In fact, only one person appeared on stage tonight that didn’t appear at the previous evening’s show. It also consisted almost entirely of music that isn’t yet available in recorded form, which helped even out the familiarity playing field, but based on the turnout, it had little effect on ticket sales. It was a rare show that all in attendance came based on the reputations of the performers. Of course, when you have the son of a Beatle, leaders of two of the most innovative and influential acts ever to come out of japan, and the go-to girl for session violin of the alternative rock era, you’ve got a pretty set to work from.

Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: The Ghost Of A Saber Toothed Tiger, If By Yes, Consortium Musicum at The Independent, 2/24/10”

Noise Pop Show Review: Rogue Wave at Bottom of the Hill, 2/24/10

Ain't no party like a Rogue Wave party!

When a Rogue Wave show ends with a couple dozen people dancing on the Bottom of the Hill stage, you know a sea change has happened in the band. The press materials for the new album Permalight go into a lot of detail about this, but nothing in the press materials could prepare you for the new sounds coming out of the band: a little bit of dance (backing tracks?), a lot more volume, and some spirited takes on some old friends. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Rogue Wave at Bottom of the Hill, 2/24/10”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/24/10-3/2/10

Four nights of four fences with the Kronos Quartet
Four Nights, Four Fences, One Quartet. Nice.

There’s more to life than Noise Pop. Not much more, so these week’s list is going to be a bit shorter than usual, but there is still plenty to do that isn’t with the masses.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/24/10-3/2/10”

Album Review: You Say Party! We Say Die! — XXXX

I’ve never understood why “garden variety” is viewed by many as a pejorative. You don’t have to be a vegetarian to appreciate broccoli. Just ask Steve Masters.

You Say Party! We Say Die! doesn’t offer much in the originality department outside of the double factorial, but that’s fine. We need more bands like this. Let’s start at the end with “Heart of Gold.” It does belong at the end, because it has a “Road Movie to Berlin” feel to it, but musically it reminds me of The Cure’s “Untitled,” and the singing is straight out of a Marine Research-style track. The rest of the album copies other styles, but no other band manages to homogenize this many sounds together. Continue reading “Album Review: You Say Party! We Say Die! — XXXX”

Noise Pop Show Review: Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band with Deerhoof at The Fox Oakland, 2/23/10

I have spent a lot of time defending different artists in my day. Usually this is because, well, my tastes are difficult to define, to say the least. (Case in point: two of my early reviews, which happened one right after the other were this and this) But, the one single artist that I come to the defense of more than any other is Yoko Ono. Everyone has an opinion about her, and generally speaking, this opinion is pretty negative. The primary cause of this is most likely either a.) they blame her for the break up of The Beatles (I still think that this was Linda’s fault) or b.) they blame her for the widespread acceptance of the avant garde. I personally don’t hold her responsible for either of these things. I also think people either don’t take her seriously enough, or take her far too seriously.

I must give a respectful shout-out to the good people of Noise Pop for making this show happen. They took a chance at booking such a divisive figure for their opening night show, and it paid off pretty nicely.

Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band with Deerhoof at The Fox Oakland, 2/23/10”

Show Review: Fanfarlo at Great American Music Hall, 2/22/10

Fanfarlo entertaining a loving crowd.

Fanfarlo wants you to know that they are not nerds.  I‘m sitting with them in their supremely messy dressing room after their show to a packed audience at the Great American Music Hall while they go through press clippings from the local weekly papers.  “It’s all because Justin used to work at a bookstore and all he’d talk about was books,” Cathy the mandolin/violin player announces.  “We’re really not that bookish.”  When the cooler of drinks is empty, we migrate to the Hemlock before they have to wake up early to fly to Portland. Continue reading “Show Review: Fanfarlo at Great American Music Hall, 2/22/10”