Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Gil Scott-Heron’s new album I’m New Here is a look back at his life and the lives of the people in his life. On I’m New Here, Scott-Heron starts off with a tribute to the person he considers his mother, grandmother Lily Scott. The majority of the album deals with death, responsibility, and socio-economic issues. Continue reading “Album Review: Gil Scott-Heron — I’m New Here”
There was nothing conventionally romantic about soul legend/civil rights icon Mavis Staples’ Valentine’s Day weekend shows at Yoshi’s Oakland. But while the fleeting whimsies of romance may have been absent, they were replaced by something much more substantive: the fiercely passionate love, devotion, and commitment with which Ms. Staples, 70, has tackled her stirring, liberating material ever since she first began recording with her family band, The Staples Singers, sixty years ago.
Continue reading “Show Review: Mavis Staples at Yoshi’s Oakland, 2/13/10”
This week at Spinning Platters, we reviewed a few new albums, saw a few shows, and told you what shows to see. Although this post is meant to tell you the busiest new posts of the week, I’d like to mention that we had a strange boost of traffic on an old review of a show by Rooney and Tally Hall. It got mentioned on a Rooney message board, and Rooney fans are spectacularly loyal. Welcome, fans of Rooney! I hope you’re still reading. As for our top five new posts? Continue reading “Week in Review: Top 5 Posts from 2/5/10 — 2/11/10”
I didn’t think I was going to finish up this week. Got sick through the middle. But the fortunes smile on all of you, your reviews are here. Continue reading “New Release Round Up 2/9/10 — 28 Instant Album Reviews”
Popscene is known for getting its share of buzz bands on the way up. Marcus Mumford, lead singer of Mumford & Sons, the newest such band to grace the Popscene stage, commented on this as well.
“There’s a wall of fame downstairs, and it’s a bit intimidating.”
Will Mumford & Sons follow in the footsteps of such past performers like Muse, Bloc Party, Amy Winehouse, The Killers, and countless others? I’m guessing yes. I’m also guessing it’s not going to be cool to like this band in a few years. I should explain. Continue reading “Show Review: Mumford & Sons at 330 Ritch (Popscene), 2/11/10”
I want to start this off by saying Wild Beasts were really appreciative of the sold out crowd at The Independent. They seem like really nice guys but man did I dislike that show last night.
The show started with a narration over some sort of noise that indicated an epicness was about to occur. The band had yet to take the stage and as this English narrator talked of nature and such, the band finally took the stage.
I wrote down in my notes, “I can already tell this is going to be a good show.” Continue reading “Show Review: Wild Beasts at The Independent, 2/11/10”
When last we left Oakland’s gorgeous Fox Theater, it was at the close of Wolfmother’s final screaming shreds. Two Disney concerts, two Norman Buffalo tribute shows, and one Temptations concert later, the Fox Theater needed to start its new year (having been open since February ’09) off with a bang. It therefore comes as little surprise that the grunge monsters of Alice In Chains were selected as just the right band for the task. Continue reading “Show Review: Alice In Chains and Creature with the Atom Brain at The Fox Oakland, 2/11/2010”
There’s an amazing thing that happens when bluegrass musicians get together. Anyone can be in the band at any time playing any song, and everyone will know the whole thing. This happens in jazz and blues, but you’re not going to see a bunch of indie bands trading licks and verses on a flawless version of “Oh Comely” without a little bit of rehearsal. So when Dave Rawlings showed up at The Fillmore with a tight five-piece combo, was there any question the night would end with twice as many musicians on stage? Continue reading “Show Review: Dave Rawlings Machine at The Fillmore, 2/9/10”
Since this week gives us both Valentine’s Day and President’s Day, I am going to create a theme to all our recommended shows list: Every single show listed features a performer that has had an affair with a sitting president of a country. The person that guesses which member of which band band for each show listed gets a special surprise! Please leave your guesses under the comments section. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/10/10-2/16/10”
You would think that featuring love as your sole inspiration for so many years may provide you with more luck on the subject, but in the case of HIM, a steady relationship will always find a way to elude them. Curses! Will their tortured souls ever catch a break? For the sake of their wallets, I certainly hope not.
Continue reading “Album Review: HIM – Screamworks: Love in Theory & Practice”