Show Review: Chaka Khan with Steel Pulse at Stern Grove, 8/25/24

Stern Grove is one of my favorite places, but I have never make it out there enough. It’s a sunny oasis in the middle of the foggiest reaches of San Francisco’s Sunset District, and every year, they commit to a Summer’s worth of amazing free shows. (Donate here to help keep these shows coming) I often feel intimidated by the commute, traveling from Oakland to the city’s furthest reaches across the bay. However, whenever I get here, I remember how magical this place is. And it doesn’t hurt that our show this afternoon features one of my bucket list artists, recently Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee Chaka Khan. 

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Film Review: “Between the Temples”

Schwartzman and Kane are a winning combo in thoughtful, appealing film

Cantor Ben (Jason Schwartzman) and bat mitzvah student Carla (Carol Kane) form an unlikely friendship.

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival concluded a few weeks ago, but lucky for you its Centerpiece Narrative film opens widely today. While Between the Temples is without a doubt thematically very Jewish, it’s also very universal. Audiences of all stripes will find moments of humor, grace, and wisdom in this charming film.

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Single of the Week: “Taste” by Sabrina Carpenter

I did not have “Becoming a Sabrina Carpenter Superfan” on my bingo card for 2024. Mostly because I didn’t know anything about her in 2023 and didn’t initially like “Espresso.” Then “Please Please Please” happened. Then Outside Lands happened. And now I’m smitten with her snarky blend of disco and country that feels so utterly timeless. “Taste” is, at its heart, a brilliant send-up of the “woman done wrong” country song. It would be “Jolene” if Jolene didn’t decide she was the victim. And the video is brilliant, too. 

“Taste” is the latest single from Sabrina’s 5th (Yes. 5th) record, Short n’ Sweet, in stores and streaming TODAY. You can experience the magic I felt at Outside Lands this fall on tour: Continue reading “Single of the Week: “Taste” by Sabrina Carpenter”

Show Review: Bikini Kill with Frightwig at The Warfield, 8/19/24

We were there for the first Bikini Kill reunion shows in 2019.  They were a profound and moving experience. We didn’t know what COVID was yet, which upended this tour and, well, still upends everything. I’m grateful that they managed to find a way to get back on the road. Everything feels really hard and continues to feel hard, and this band has always been the thing that gives me the strength to persevere and find reasons to be hopeful in the face of hopelessness. Continue reading “Show Review: Bikini Kill with Frightwig at The Warfield, 8/19/24”

Film Review: “Blink Twice”

Kravitz’s directorial debut is a messy but impressive comic thriller

Let’s get this out of the way – Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, Blink Twice, very closely recalls a similar directorial debut from 2017, Jordan Peele’s Get Out. “It’s Get Out, but for women,” would be an apt headline. This comparison should be considered a compliment, even if it oversaturates the public discourse about the film. All of this shouldn’t take away from Kravitz’s stylish, thrilling, sometimes messy, but thoroughly entertaining thriller. Blink Twice is an imperfect concoction of thrills, laughs, and sinister themes.  Continue reading “Film Review: “Blink Twice””

Show Review: Foo Fighters + L7 at Toyota Pavilion in Concord

Photos and review by: Alan Ralph @ConcertGoingPro

Having not been to Toyota Pavilion in Concord at all during this 2024 season, Spinning Platters made the long journey twice in four days (see also Megadeth + Mudvayne)! It really is a trek too… from our satellite penthouse office in San Francisco, there’s a thirty-minute MUNI bus followed by a fifty-minute BART ride followed by a twenty-minute Pavilion shuttle, and traveling back after any show typically takes even longer.  All that said, it certainly is worth it to be able to bring these shows to life to the readers with our photos and words… it just takes longer to travel than some of these bands’ headlining sets are!

Except for Foo Fighters…

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Show Review: King Buzzo and Trevor Dunn w/JD Pinkus and Field at The Lodge Room, 08-06-2024

I’ve been so immersed in the metal world lately that sometimes I forget that I like other music. I especially forget that weird thrill of going mostly blind into a show. Sure, I may not know an opener or two, but it’s pretty rare for me to cover a band I haven’t listened to beforehand. It’s both exciting and nerve-wracking and, let’s face it, no one wants to be disappointed. Luckily for me, I at least knew of the other music projects of the artists on the night’s lineup, but even knowing that, did not prepare me for what I was about to experience.

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Spinning Platters Interview: Eva Hendricks of Charly Bliss

I’ll admit it. I never thought I’d see another Charly Bliss record. When COVID struck, the lead singer, songwriter, and lyricist, Eva Hendricks, had been in Australia and ended up moving there. How does a New York-based band survive when their singer lives on the opposite side of the world at a time when travel was nearly impossible?

Then, one day, after three years of silence, a new song appeared. Then another. Finally, we got the exciting news that a new album and tour were right around the corner. That album, Forever, comes out this Friday, August 16, on the UK-based label Lucky Number. It not only sounds like what we’ve heard before from Charly Bliss, but it is also a step forward in both songwriting and lyricism. 

How did this happen? How did the band keep it all together and get to the point where they were going to keep this band going forever? I hopped on Zoom with Eva, 17 hours ahead on the clock in Australia, to find out! Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Eva Hendricks of Charly Bliss”

Single of the Week: “As Above So Below” by Fievel is Glauque

Nice things can be happy, right? Nice things that take you on a sonic journey are still a joy by the time it’s over, only in a different place? SO GOOD!!! Fievel Is Glauque is a Stereolab-esque fusion of lounge, psych, and pop, with the bonus of live horns that are just plain perfect. “As Above So Below” is a fantastic pop number for a sunny, late Summer weekend. 

“As Above So Below” is the first single from Rong Weicknes, due out on Fat Possum Records on October 25th. Prepare for it’s release accordingly. 

Outside Lands 2024: 21 Instant Gig Reviews

I really love Outside Lands. It’s funny because my heart genuinely lies in the world of Punk, and something this big *shouldn’t* be my thing, but I love being able to disconnect from the outside world and just take in music with strangers and friends, and the best part- strangers that became friends that I only see at this event. And, yes, a fellow writer recently referred to Outside Lands attendees as “norms” (I saw what you did there, Alan!), but, man, I had such a wonderful, blissful time, dancing with strangers, eating amazing food, enjoying nearly perfect weather, and taking in some amazing music. I honestly can’t wait for next year, and hope I’m able to keep coming to the park for many years to come. Continue reading “Outside Lands 2024: 21 Instant Gig Reviews”