MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN 2026 LINEUP IS BONKERS!!!!!

My partner and I named our kid after Corin Tucker. Once the doctors and nurses cleared the room, on the day they were born, we decided we needed to sing them a song. After being awake for like 36 hours, there was only one song we could remember the words to. That song? “The KKK Took My Baby Away.” That hospital? Kaiser in Oakland. It was magic. Today, Mosswood Meltdown released a lineup that brings this all full circle. Because The Return Of Jackie & Judy is a Ramones cover band comprising of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney, plus Toko Yasuda of St Vincent on bass, and Fred Armisen of Trenchmouth on drums, playing directly across the street from the very hospital I first sang a Ramones song to my Corin. 

Oh yeah, and there’s like Iggy Pop, Bikini Kill, Otoboke Beaver, The Dead Milkmen, Scowl, and SO MANY MORE AMAZING BANDS. And of course, it’s being hosted by the legendary John Waters. Tickets on sale NOW! 

A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2026

Hi. Have you read the news today? 

I’m sorry. 

You know what 2026 is desperate for? Some bloody joy while we can still get it. I’ve had a really tough time doing the nerd’s guide this year because the onslaught of life under Trump 2.0 has been brutal. Which is also a good reason to get out and enjoy some laughs in a space where you can really be yourself as yourself, while it’s still kinda legal. So be your own kinda nerd. We’ve got three weeks of fun coming your way. Here’s a small sampling of events. The full schedule is here! Continue reading “A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2026”

Festival Preview: BottleRock Napa Valley 2026

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time again! BottleRock Napa Valley has announced the lineup for this year’s festival, taking place May 22-24, 2026 at Napa Expo.

Prior to today’s announcement, BRNV took to the socials to drop some hints about the artists coming our way this year. I sure didn’t guess any correctly, but I’m looking forward to catching quite a few, as usual. It’ll be fun to see the return of Foo Fighters as headliners once more, and I’m really going to enjoy both Teddy Swims and Sombr as well. Other headliners include Backstreet Boys, Lorde, LCD Soundsystem, Lil Wayne, and Zedd. Continue reading “Festival Preview: BottleRock Napa Valley 2026”

Spinning Platters’ Top 15 Records of 2025

I don’t know if it’s because we procrastinate or because we’re simply very thorough, but the editorial team at Spinning Platters has FINALLY settled on our Top 15 albums of 2025. There’s a little something for everyone, including some metal, punk, hardcore, Spanish-language avant-pop, and a whole lot of scorned women on this list, which is my favorite music genre anyways. 

Without further ado, here’s the list: Continue reading “Spinning Platters’ Top 15 Records of 2025”

Show Review: Not For Radio presents Winter In The Garden at The Fox Theater – Oakland, 1/7/26

I’ll be very straight with you- I had no idea what to expect out of the Not For Radio performance at The Fox this night. I knew very little about this project, other than this was only their third show EVER, and it was the third of three sold-out weekday nights at The Fox. I really enjoy the lead singer Maria Zardoya’s other band, The Marias, but the opportunity to attend this show came up so unexpectedly last minute that I barely had a chance to listen to the record. Continue reading “Show Review: Not For Radio presents Winter In The Garden at The Fox Theater — Oakland, 1/7/26”

Film Review: “Father Mother Sister Brother”

Familial tensions abound in Jarmusch’s newest

Jeff (Adam Driver) and  Emily (Mayim Bialik) pay a visit to their father.

Six years after his much acclaimed sardonic zombie film The Dead Don’t Die, writer/director Jim Jarmusch is back with a low-key follow up that may only appeal to his faithful fans. Father Mother Sister Brother isn’t an extended narrative, but actually three short films in one. The triptych shares thematic and odd, amusing plot elements, but no characters. Taken as a whole, the film is an entertaining but somewhat forgettable look at the often strained relationship between family members.

Continue reading “Film Review: “Father Mother Sister Brother””

Single of the Week: “Sexistential” by Robyn

It’s been a very long, very sad eight years since Robyn last graced us with new music. And with “Sexistential,” we learned exactly what she’s been up to: having a baby via IVF. You know what pop music is sorely lacking? Music about the struggles of reproduction. But we are also lacking like, I really, really sexy song about how IVF can actually have a positive impact on one’s sex drive. So,God Bless Robyn. This song is fire, and I’ve never heard anything like it. 

“Sexistential” comes from Robyn’s upcoming album of the same name out March 27th. Preorders are available here!

LOGISTICS FANS REJOICE! SF SKETCHFEST ARE DOING A SHOW ON A BART TRAIN!!

HOLY SHIT!!!! I’ve been dreaming of this my entire life! Our dear friends at SF Sketchfest are doing the most logistically bonkers thing I can imagine a festival doing- A STAND UP COMEDY SET ON A MOVING COMMUTER TRAIN!

Here’s how it will work: ticket purchasers will meet at 12th St/Oakland City Center at 2 pm on Saturday, January 24th. Ticketholder will then be given a headset to listen to the set on (because, um, trains make noise, so this makes sense) as well as instructions on how to make sure you are on the right train and car. Brent Weinbach, Brittany Carney, Natasha Vinik, and Hunaid Shakoor will then each do 15-minute sets while you ride. They won’t be selling tickets at the door, so make sure you buy your ticket in advance from BART at this link! 

Honestly, SF Sketchfest has done a LOT of cool things. But this is probably the coolest. 

MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN PREPARTY! PAVEMENT, WEDNESDAY, VIVIAN GIRLS TAKE OVER MOSSWOOD PARK

We are waiting patiently for our good friends to unveil the Mosswood Meltdown 2026 line-up. In the meantime, they tossed a fun little surprise our way! The night before Mosswood, they are bringing us a pretty impressive, stacked indie rock line-up: the delicious Sonic Youth meets classic country of Wednesday, the return of power pop legends Vivian Girls, and headlining is the pride of Stockton, PAVEMENT! All hosted by John Waters. 

Tickets are on sale NOW! $99 for GA, $165 for VIP (with special viewing area and ins & outs), and those prices are fee-inclusive! 

I CAN’T WAIT FOR JULY!!!

Film Feature: Carrie’s Top 10 Films of 2025

With Oscar nominations announced in just a few short weeks on January 22nd, Spinning Platters closes out the year by weighing in with our own Best Films of 2025! Check out fellow critic Chad Liffmann’s Top 20 here, and read on below for my Top 10:

10. BOB TREVINO LIKES IT

Way back in March, I boldly predicted that this understated but powerful film would secure a spot on my Top 10 list. Despite the many outstanding movies that followed since then, I always remembered this well-told, empathetic story about loneliness, unexpected connections, and found family. Released early in the year, the picture seems to have been forgotten at awards time, which is unfortunate. It deserves a wide audience.

Continue reading “Film Feature: Carrie’s Top 10 Films of 2025”