Ten years got behind alt-j’s seminal record, An Awesome Wave. The still-fresh sound, now topped with nostalgia and ten years of collecting new listeners, filled the Fox in Oakland to the rails. The record flummoxed reviewers when it dropped. Did they love Joe Newman’s creaky tessellating shrill, yet palatable scree? They were confused and transfixed. The romance and journey of each song alt-j spins are solidly complicated layers. It could easily be written off as a neo/hippy/gen x-z Dj tricks. It’s simply an unexpected sound and a labor to hear all the detail packed into such a small scape of one song. The lyrics are not the first thing a listener will hear. A world music or drum and bass mask is removed upon several listens, then the intimacy of Joe’s lyrics are more decipherable. Sigur Ros comes on like a drug in a similar way. An opium lull takes over the body before making sense of what’s being said. The assumed keyboard or effects are often woven tapestries of one note sung over and over by Newman, Unger-Hamilton, and Sonny. It’s incredibly well thought out. Syncopated laser lights beat along to bass lines and drums. Chris Koruda style. Props to the lighting guy they have with them on this limited run. Continue reading “Show Review: alt-j at The Fox Theater, 3/23/23”
Single of the Week: “Hand Grenade” by Be Your Own PET
When Be Your Own PET got back together last year to open a few shows for Jack White at his personal request, I thought those few shows were going to be it. They last graced our eardrums with new material in 2008, when the members of the band were still barely out of high school. Their frantic chaos still delighted me ever so much, and they stayed in my rotation for the last 15 years. BUT! Sometimes the future does hold something good, as Nashville’s finest (Suck it, Diahrrea Planet!) has gifted us with a brand new track, “Hand Grenade.” And, I know some of you might be disappointed, but the band has certainly matured over the years, living as civilians and not a bunch of punk kids riding around the country in a van. It’s a solid, heavy piece of rock n roll and I can’t wait for more. And a West Coast tour, please and thank you?
BREAKING: Raphael Saadiq is touring with Tony Toni Toné!
I was walking down Grand Ave to get to my barber, and I looked up and saw a giant billboard with Raphael Saadiq, D’wayne Wiggins, and Timothy Riley and the words “Raphael Saadiq presents Tony Toni Toné” to the left and “Just Me & You Tour 23” to the right. This seems pretty obviously an old-school way to let the world know that 2023 is getting one of Oakland’s most important and influential bands back together. Digging deeper, there are no dates, nothing other than a cryptic “Text Raphael Saadiq at 310-861-2685.”
This is one of the few bands left on my bucket list, and I’ve gotta say, I’m stoked and needed to share. Until we’ve got more info, here’s a sampling of their greatness from 1993:
Film Review: “A Good Person”
Pugh’s performance not enough to save overwrought addiction drama
Writer/director Zach Braff hasn’t made a solo feature film since 2004’s Garden State (2014’s Wish I Was Here had a co-writer), so you’d think that a 19 year incubation period would be enough for him to craft something truly great. But sadly, that’s not the case: A Good Person, his newest picture, is a disappointing misfire.
Single of the Week: “Come On Baby” by Alison Sudol
There is so much wrong with the state of abortion in the United States. The loss of Roe v Wade is causing widespread damage to the state of reproductive health, particularly in states where there is little support to begin with. One often missed issue here is that since caring for a miscarriage often requires the same procedure as performing an abortion, there are states where doctors are too scared of prosecution to do what is needed for both the physical health and emotional well-being of the mother. It’s heartbreaking. Especially since we are seeing some lawmakers BLAMING miscarriage on the mother. What does this have to do with our Single Of The Week? Well, Alison Sudol, the artist formerly known as A Fine Frenzy, has given us possibly the most potent, honest, and heartbreaking song about this, something we never talk about, yet happens to 10-20% of pregnancies. “Come On Baby” is a gut punch of a song that needs to be blasted in the halls of Congress and The Supreme Court.
“Come On Baby” is off Sudol’s most recent record, Still Come The Night, which is out now in all the usual places, both virtual and physical. Also, if you know anyone looking for support in this regard, HAND of the Bay Area is an excellent organization that I highly recommend.
Single of the Week: “Fuck Around Phase” by Housewife
Do you know what trend I LOVE? The return of the heavily overdriven guitar tone of the 90s. So many young songwriters, most of whom weren’t even alive yet when alternative radio was littered with the most glorious walls of noise, are incorporating this sound. “Fuck Around Phase” by Housewife is definitely in line with that. Spine-tingling guitars combined with honest, bold, well-crafted lyrics? Sheer Perfection.
“Fuck Around Phase” is available in all the usual places. Housewife is, somehow, touring with Paolo Nutini? I bet this band is gonna scare a few people at those shows.
Show Review: August Burns Red 20th Anniversary in Las Vegas
Photos and review by: Alan Ralph @AlanHasPicks
Every band has an actual start date that they can say is their official beginning. Likewise, every album has an actual official release date. Somewhere along the way, some band somewhere was probably in-between albums and decided that their anniversary would make a great reason to tour… and well, the idea caught on, and is still going strong.
No one appears to like anniversaries more than August Burns Red. They have had quite a few anniversary tours — there was the 10th anniversary of their album Messengers in 2016, the 10th anniversary of their album Constellations in 2019, and the 10th anniversary of their album Leveler in 2021. For each of these tours, the entire album was performed. Now in 2023, there is the current 20th anniversary tour… not of an album, but of the band itself! Continue reading “Show Review: August Burns Red 20th Anniversary in Las Vegas”
Film Feature: Carrie Picks the 2023 Oscars
Who will – and who should – win the 95th Academy Awards
The 95th Academy Awards air tomorrow, Sunday March 12th, on ABC at 5:00 pm PST (Don’t forget to spring forward so you don’t miss the beginning!). Tune in to see not only who will take home Oscar gold, but also how host Jimmy Kimmel will handle the elephant in the Dolby Theater – last year’s infamous Will Smith/Chris Rock moment, AKA the Slap Heard ‘Round the World. Whether we get any similar jaw-dropping moments this year is anyone’s guess, but, in the meantime, there’s always your good old-fashioned Oscar pool to keep you entertained. See how your predictions line up with mine, below:
Continue reading “Film Feature: Carrie Picks the 2023 Oscars”
Single Of The Week: “To be honest” by Christine & The Queens
Christine & The Queens is one of the most captivating live acts I’ve ever seen. He puts on a rich show full of emotional range. “To be honest” is, at first, a subtle synth ballad. By the time you reach the end of the track, you’ve been taken on a journey on par with his live act. This very well could be his first real hit single in the states.
“To be honest” is the first single off PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE , coming to you June 9th. Also, don’t miss Chris when he brings his spectacular live show to The Regency in SF on April 13th.
OUTSIDE LANDS 2023 LINE UP ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!
Christmas came really early this year! We’ve got the full lineup for Outside Lands 2023 six whole weeks earlier than last year!!!! And they did very well, as usual. Topping the bill is Kendrick Lamar, making his first trip to the bay since the amazing Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers came out, as well as the first Foo Fighters set since the passing of Taylor Hawkins and ODESZA, making them the first electronic act to close out Lands End. Other Spinning Platters favorites include Megan Thee Stallion (Yes. This is the act I’m most excited to see), Janelle Monae, The 1975, Maggie Rogers, Lil Yachty, Interpol, Father John Misty, Orville Peck, ALVVAYS, beabadoobee, Soccer Mommy, Shaquille O’Neal (!), and my favorite current Bay Area band, Fake Fruit!
I’ve already started studying for our annual “Top 10 from the bottom half” of the poster, but don’t miss your shot to buy tickets! 3 DAY GA, GA+, VIP, and Golden Gate Club tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am.
Outside Lands 2023 Lineup Continue reading “OUTSIDE LANDS 2023 LINE UP ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!”