A Letter From The Editor. Nothing major, just more new Wet Leg!

As with every other music blog on the planet, the editor in chief is allowed to play favorites and over-blog about their favorites. And, right now, Wet Leg is my favorite. And they finally have a fifth song out in the world! “Angelica” has a nice, clean, jittery riff that’s a little bit 60’s psych, a little bit Elastica, and definitely designed for getting “just drunk enough” at an indie dance club. Also, I definitely miss indie dance clubs. 

Anyways, this song rips just like the other songs. They are playing the US this spring, but every show is sold out, just like God intended. (Try heading to SXSW or This Ain’t No Picnic in LA or Thing near Seattle.) You can also preorder their debut record, out April 8th, in a myriad of lovely ways. They even FINALLY have a t-shirt, just like Rhian prophesized in our interview last year. 

Single of the Week: “Lewis” by Tianna Esperanza

This spoken word track from Tianna Esperanza, granddaughter of Paloma McLardy of both The Slits and The Raincoats, two of the most pivotal acts of the UK punk world. “Lewis” is an homage to Lewis H. Michaux, the owner of Harlem’s historic African National Memorial Bookstore. It’s a thoughtful song about connecting the words of a legend and connecting them to your life and the struggles of the day. It’s a stunning, emotionally direct piece of work that forces you to listen and sit with it for a bit. 

“Lewis” is available at all of the DSPs for you to enjoy at your leisure. Keep an eye out here for more news about Tianna Esperanza! 

Noise Pop Preview: Fast Times Presents

Amid mask mandate confusion (NOTE: venues are still mandating masks in SF, so MASK UP AND DON’T KILL YOUR BARTENDER), uncertainty in Ukraine, and a general malaise of life, I forgot about Noise Pop this year! But, my good friend Ashley Graham of Fast Times Presents reminded me that there is still joy in this world, and if you feel safe, she’s got a nice assortment of events this week. And if you don’t feel safe going out, you should re-listen to our interview with her from late 2020! Continue reading “Noise Pop Preview: Fast Times Presents”

Film Review: “Uncharted”

Uncharted is a lot more fun when operating via video game controller

Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) and Victor Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) search for a better movie.

The video game Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was released in November, 2007 for the Playstation console. It was an immediate hit, spawning four main series sequels and a handful of spin-offs. When Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was released in 2009, chatter about a film adaptation began to take shape, since the series began earning fame for its cinematic presentation, and Among Thieves is widely considered by many to be among the best video games of all time (including me). Alas, we finally have the Uncharted film adaptation we’ve waited over a decade for, and it’s, well, meh. Much of the plot turns, action set pieces, and dialogue is inspired by, if not directly taken from, the video game series. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The film also pays fan service by sprinkling a handful of easter eggs (and a special cameo) throughout. All of this adds up to a moderately entertaining action adventure, but the best thrills are few and far between, and don’t measure up to the iconic gameplay.

Continue reading “Film Review: “Uncharted””

Single of the Week: “(So Far From) Silverlake” by The Loyal Seas

The Loyal Seas’ debut record, Strange Mornings In The Garden, was one of our most anticipated releases of 2022 LONG before a single note of this project was released. For those who missed our interview with them last year, this is rock n roll legend Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses, The Breeders) and underground hero Brian Sullivan (Dylan In The Movies), who happened to be best friends. This song is a warm hug of a ditty about, well, that very same friendship and what it means when you live on opposite ends of the country.(At least, that’s my interpretation as the listener) It’s insanely relatable since we are in year 23 of this pandemic and I haven’t seen friends that live across town since March 2020. In short, I don’t know if you needed to hear this song today, but I REALLY NEEDED TO HEAR THIS SONG TODAY. So, thank you Tanya & Brian. 

You can track down this track today at your favorite DSP. And if you enjoy the thrill of getting a package in the mail, then unwrapping it and throwing it on your turntable/cassette deck/CD Player (do people still have CD players?), you can preorder the full album here, and it will be in your hands around May 20th! 

Interview: George Chen of Zum Audio

George Chen has been a friend of Spinning Platters for many, many years. In fact, we’ve interviewed him before! And I’ve appeared on his podcast, Sup Doc to discuss 2020’s documentary on The Go Go’s. With all the years I’ve known him, we’ve never talked about his record label, Zum Audio. So we decided to chat about Zum’s history as well as his upcoming Noise Pop Showcase! It’s happening at Bottom Of The Hill on Tuesday, February 22nd, and features Body Double, The Acharis, and My Heart, An Inverted Flame. You should buy your tickets here and then read the interview: Continue reading “Interview: George Chen of Zum Audio”

MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN 2022 FULL LINEUP REVEALED

Hello Folks! Remember in 2020, I posted the line-up to an amazing music festival that never happened? WELLL!!!!!! It looks like it’s been reborn as Mosswood Meltdown and it’s happening July 2nd & 3rd in Mosswood Park in my own lovely city. Tickets are available here! 

Full Lineup: 

Day 1
Kim Gordon
The Dirtbombs
Shannon Shaw
Bleached
Flipper
Twompsax
Carbonas
SNõõPER
Rubinoos

Day 2
Bikini Kill
Hunx and His Punx
Pansy Division
The Linda Lindas
The Fevers
Podium
Brontez Purnell
Fatty Cakes and the Puff Pastries

DJ’s
BABY DONUT – Allison Wolf (Bratmobile)
Jonathan Toubin – NY Nightrain 
Omar Perez – Pop Scene 

Film Review: “I Want You Back”

Slate, Day charm in warmhearted rom-com

Emma (Jenny Slate) and Peter (Charlie Day) stalk their exes on Instagram.

If you’re looking for a post-dinner, new streamable rom-com to add to your Valentine’s Day evening itinerary, you could do worse than I Want You Back. Featuring the always appealing Jenny Slate and Charlie Day, the film hews close to standard rom-com tropes, but offers up just enough surprises and engaging performances to keep it from feeling too tired.

Continue reading “Film Review: “I Want You Back””

Film Review: “Stay Awake”

A tender portrait of a troubling issue

Ethan (Wyatt Oleff, r.) and Derek (Fin Argus, l.) unwillingly play the waiting game.

Unfortunately there has been a recent wave of films and TV shows about the U.S. prescription drug and opioid epidemic. Not unfortunate in the sense of artistic merit achieved (I’m NOT looking at you, Hillbilly Elegy), but unfortunate that there exists a crisis of this magnitude in the first place. Millions of people are affected by drug addiction each day, and the opioid crisis has already taken countless lives. The new indie film Stay Awake shines its own match light on the disease with great care and an intimate focus. In this film we don’t have villains (well, maybe the enabling doctor and drug co.), cringeworthy child abuse, or the stereotypical yet often truthful standards set forward by the depiction of drug addicts in Hollywood. Rather, Stay Awake shows that sometimes addiction and family issues lay just beneath the surface of small town normalcy and kind, functional people, and that caretakers deserve some of the spotlight.

Continue reading “Film Review: “Stay Awake””

Single of the Week: “Good Day” by Seratones

The most effective form of protest is experiencing joy in the face of darkness. I honestly can’t wait for a Single of the Week post to proclaim an expression of pure joy and relief… Until then we have statements like “Good Day” by Seratones. It’s a funky, soulful number really does fire up production of the brain chemical that is the band’s punsake. 

“Good Day” is out there on all the DSPs. Like something physical? Love & Algorhythms, the upcoming full-length that contains “Good Day,” is available for preorder here to be in your hands on April 29th.