Single of the Week: “The Universe is Watching Us – What Happens Next…” by Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder has recently started pumping out a slew of singles, including the classic Wonder of “Where Is Our Love Song?” with Gary Clark Jr and the political hip-hop track “Can’t Put Your Hands In Fate” featuring Busta Rhymes, Rapsody, Cordae, and Chika. However, this week’s “Single of the Week” isn’t one of those tracks. It’s not even a piece of music. It’s a passionate plea to humanity that was sent to the world on Election Day. As of publish date, the US Presidential Election still hasn’t been called, but all signs point to Biden/Harris winning. (God I hope so! If Trump/Pence really wins this thing, I can’t imagine it being safe to hold large events anytime in the next few years) 

So, while we frantically refresh and await the networks to call this thing, maybe listen to a national treasure give some wisdom from his long time on this Earth. Songs In The Key Of Life has been my go-to record for dealing with the fright and stress of this pandemic and administration, and he continues to help remind me when to stay calm and when to fight. 

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” Episode 13 with Photographer Paige Parsons

Photo by Mike Rosati

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” is available most everywhere you enjoy podcasts. You can find us and subscribe here!

Today’s guest is rock photography extraordinaire, Paige Parsons! We talked her first shows, how she stumbled into rock photography, giving away ice cream at concerts, and her current photography project, the PPE Project, which is an effort to give a face to doctors working in PPE. We had a great conversation, that made me really sad that shows are off the table for the foreseeable future. 

Paige can be found in Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. There is also a great documentary about her on YouTube. 

Here’s a quick list of links that were mentioned on our chat:

https://icecreamman.com

https://www.ellenby.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PPEPortraitProject

https://ppeportrait.org/create

https://www.kqed.org/news/11817046/from-ebola-to-coronavirus-a-simple-practice-of-sticker-photo-portraits-for-doctors

If you have any feedback about this episode, feel free to email me at dakin@spinningplatters.com. If you like what you heard and want to help support this thing, feel free to Venmo me whatever tip you feel is adequate @Dakin-Hardwick.  And, most importantly, please go to SaveOurStages.com to find out what you can do to help independent promoters and venues weather this COVID crisis so we have shows to go back to when this pandemic is over. Thanks for listening!

Single Of The Week: “Mr Monster” by Miranda and The Beat

This might be the scariest Halloween ever… COVID means we can’t get together and party. We really REALLY can’t do an apple bob. (Seriously folks, DO NOT BOB FOR APPLES! I mean, ever. It’s gross. But it’s pretty much a death warrant this year) Also, we are only a handful of days away from an election where, no matter what the results, there will be a contingent of people that believe the results mean that America will cease to exist as we know it. So, in lieu of a series song, our single of the week is a campy, garage-soul rave up from Miranda and The Beat called “Mr Monster.” We’ve got soulful vocals, campy horror-movie imagery, and a driving farfisa that will make your solo Halloween dance party still kick nicely. 

“Mr Monster” can be streamed in all the usual places, and you can dig deeper into their catalog on Bandcamp. Also, DON’T FORGOT TO VOTE!!!!!!!!

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” Episode 12 with Stephen Chilton of Pskyo Steve Presents

Photo by Justin Yee

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” is available most everywhere you enjoy podcasts. You can find us and subscribe here!

This week’s guest is legendary Phoenix-based concert promoter Stephen Chilton, aka Psyko Steve. We talked about how he got his start putting on shows in high school, and how he turned that into a full time job. Or several full time jobs. We also talked about what it’s like to open The Rebel Lounge. He is also the Board Vice President of NIVA – National Independent Venues Association, a coalition of over 3,000 venues, promoters, and festivals, working together to help keep each other afloat during this time when you can’t run your business. 

Recently NIVA hosted the SOS Fest: 35 artists performed short sets in empty venues across America over a weekend, all streamed on NIVA’s YouTube page. This fest was to raise money for a fund to help keep our independent venues afloat until they can reopen. You can still watch every set here, donate to this worthy cause here, buy merch here, and, most importantly, press Congress to pass the Restart Act here!

If you have any feedback about this episode, feel free to email me at dakin@spinningplatters.com. If you like what you heard and want to help support this thing, feel free to Venmo me whatever tip you feel is adequate @Dakin-Hardwick. Thanks for listening!

Single Of The Week: “January 21st” by Oceanator

Oceanator is a band of one. That specific one is a woman by the name of Elise Okusami. Our single of the week comes from Oceanator, and it’s a song called “January 21st.” Okusami played many of the instruments when constructing this loud and intense reflection on anxiety. It’s interesting that it’s the day after the Inauguration, so I’m hoping we may get some relief of our collective anxiety that day. (NOTE: DON’T FORGET TO MAKE A VOTING PLAN!)

“January 21st” comes off Oceanator’s debut record, Things I Said. Things I Said is available digitally and on streaming services NOW, and will be coming out on orange swirl vinyl, yellow tinted cassette, and old-school CD on January 6th. Preorders are happening NOW! 

Film Review: On the Rocks

Murray shines in Coppola’s wistful, funny father-daughter story

Felix (Bill Murray) and his unhappy daughter Laura (Rashida Jones) drink and chat.

With many Bay Area movie theaters still closed, film fans may be looking for viewing experiences that are better suited to small screen, home viewing. On the Rocks, which is available to stream on Apple TV+ today, is the perfect film to watch from the comfort of your living room. Writer/director Sofia Coppola has crafted an intimate, tightly constructed character-driven story that doesn’t need the multiplex treatment to be enjoyed.

Continue reading “Film Review: On the Rocks“

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” Episode 11 with Russell Gatewood of The World Famous Rick & Russ Show

Sketch by Justin Bua

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” is available most everywhere you enjoy podcasts. You can find us and subscribe here!

This episode features one of my earliest music industry mentors, Russell Gatewood. I met him while interning at UMGD while I was in college. We discussed his career as a DJ, how he fell into music marketing, working for the early music tech startup Music Buddha, starting your own business, and so much more. This was a really fun chat, and I hope you enjoy it!

The World Famous Rick & Russ show can be found on the web at www.celebdjs.com, and every Friday from 12pm-4pm on Twitch! He can also be found in Instagram and Twitter as @bigggrusss, and, of course, LinkedIn!

If you have any feedback about this episode, feel free to email me at dakin@spinningplatters.com. If you like what you heard and want to help support this thing, feel free to Venmo me whatever tip you feel is adequate @Dakin-Hardwick.  And, most importantly, please go to SaveOurStages.com to find out what you can do to help independent promoters and venues weather this COVID crisis so we have shows to go back to when this pandemic is over. Thanks for listening!

Single Of The Week: “L’Internationale” by Downtown Boys

Did you know there is a big film coming out about Karl Marx’ daughter, Eleanor called Miss Marx? And the New England punk band Downtown Boys is doing the music for it? Neither did I. But with the Republican ticket calling two unabashedly pro capitalism presidential candidate “Socialists,” it might be nice to see what a socialist ACTUALLY is. The lead single is a cover of the classic left wing anthem “L’Internationale,” written by Eugene Pottier. 

This track can be found in all the usual places, and, also DON’T FORGET TO VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!  Make a plan.  Email me if you need help making a plan. Let’s get that monster out of office ASAP. 

Keep Live Alive: Save Our Stages Fest is THIS WEEKEND!!!

For this of you somehow missing out on the biggest news story of the century, a horrific pandemic has upended any business where people congregate together. The industry ravaged most by COVID-19 might be the independent live entertainment industry. I mean, sharing airspace and transmitting aerosols IS the business model, so this industry is essentially on hold until the bitter end of this thing, which is still unknown. In order to help prevent this entire world from going under, over 3.000 independent venues, promoters, and festivals in all 50 states have gotten together to form NIVA- National Independent Venue Association.  Continue reading “Keep Live Alive: Save Our Stages Fest is THIS WEEKEND!!!”

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” Episode 10 with David Owen, Co-Founder of Sketchfest

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” is available most everywhere you enjoy podcasts. You can find us and subscribe here!

In this installment, I got to speak to SF Sketchfest co-founder David Owen about, well, how to put on an underground comedy festival, and what do you do when it’s no longer underground. We talked about his first production, his first festival, how he met Cole Stratton and Janet Varney, the other two founders of the festival (SPOILER: It’s Talking Heads related, just like the name of this podcast), and how they are handling things when it’s entirely unknown when the festival will be safe to play out again. 

SF Sketchfest is doing a virtual live read of Plan 9 From Outer Space just in time for Halloween with Kat Aagesen, Maria Bamford, Bobcat Goldthwait, Dana Gould, Jean Grae, David Koechner, Tim Meadows, Laraine Newman, Oscar Nunez, Bob Odenkirk, Jonah Ray, Paul F. Tompkins, Janet Varney, Baron Vaughn, plus musical accompaniment by Eban Schletter. Well, just before Halloween. October 29th to be precise. Tickets can be purchased here!

SF Sketchfest’s archives have also been opened up for rental, and those shows can be found here!

If you have any feedback about this episode, feel free to email me at dakin@spinningplatters.com. If you like what you heard and want to help support this thing, feel free to Venmo me whatever tip you feel is adequate @Dakin-Hardwick.  And, most importantly, please go to SaveOurStages.com to find out what you can do to help independent promoters and venues weather this COVID crisis so we have shows to go back to when this pandemic is over. Thanks for listening!