Thee Stork Club Hath Returned

One night, maybe about a decade ago, I found myself bar hopping with a group of friends and, somehow, my high school girlfriend. It was already a weird night, and we landed on The Stork Club. I had heard about this place for years, but, somehow never entered it’s hallowed halls. There was a real drunken haze to the night already, but I am pretty sure there was a burlesque show happening when we arrived at like 11pm. Then at midnight it turned into an 80’s goth dance party. Then at 1am, I’m pretty sure a jam band started setting up. It was a very weird night. But it brought me much joy, too… So I was gutted when they ended up shutting in 2020. 

Fast forward to 2022, and the folks behind Mosswood Meltdown, Eli’s Mile High Club, and Hemlock Tavern have gotten together to reopen the place. Only with an extra “e”, so it’s now Thee Stork Club! And there will be a retro cocktail bar, a live performance space, and what is especially vital in this day and age- THEY ARE OPENING UP IT’S BACK YARD!!! So you might actually be able to enjoy a drink with a limited threat of COVID! 

Opening night is July 1st, and it will be a special show with John Waters, Shannon Shaw, and Budget Rock’s DJ Chris Owen. Sadly tickets are sold out, but there will be plenty more fun where that came from!

Sing It Hasselhoff: Chris Jericho’s Band Fozzy

So, we haven’t posted a “Sing It Hasselhoff” in like a decade on this site. However, I’ve finally forced myself to sample legendary wrestler Chris Jericho’s band, Fozzy. Their latest record, Boombox, is out tomorrow, and it’s filled with giant, anthemic metal suitable for, well, kicking off a wrestling match? Check it out for yourself! And on Sunday Night they are bringing the “Save The World” Tour to Great American Music Hall, and, by golly, we really need it right now. Seriously, Mr. Jericho, please save us!

Stern Grove 2022 Season Has Been Announced

GOOD NEWS! We weren’t sure it was going to happen after the crappy thing that happened just before the last show of the 2021 season… But it looks like the Stern Grove Festival will be returning for it’s 85th year! Like last year, they will be doing reservations to ensure the safety and security of attendees. The Oakland-powered Tower Of Power & Too $hort show originally scheduled to close last year will be opening this year on June 12th! So be prepared to blow the whistle and get FREE tickets! The entire schedule, including Spinning Platters favorites Liz Phair, Cat Power, Amythyst Kiah, Monophonics and more!  Reservations will become available on staggered dates throughout the Spring and Summer right here! Continue reading “Stern Grove 2022 Season Has Been Announced”

Single of the Week: “Suite: Jonny” by Faye Webster

Faye Webster is only 23 years old, yet has unleashed her magnum opus upon us with the haunting “Suite: Jonny.” This is an extended journey of story through song that belongs alongside Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” or The Velvet Undergrounds’ “Sister Ray.” If you thought last year’s I Know I’m Funny, haha was a work of genius (and it is), it definitely didn’t prepare me at all for this stunner of a track. 

“Suite: Jonny” is the lead track off Car Therapy Sessions, an ep of mostly previously released tracks re-recorded and arranged for full orchestra. The record is out TODAY and you can grab it in either the physical or virtual world here. And don’t forget to catch Webster at Outside Lands 2022 on August 5th-7th! Tickets and details available here!

Show Review: John 5 & The Creatures, DNA Lounge, 04/20/2022

Photos and review by: Alan Ralph @ConcertGoingPro

It’s interesting when successful musicians branch out on their own solo projects.  Maybe they have too much creative energy that doesn’t flow with their band and need to expand on it, or maybe they just have free time between recording and tour cycles to do their own thing.  Whatever the case may be, the best moment to see these performers live is not with their marquee name bands, one hundred yards away in some stadium… no, the best time is when they are on their solo tours!  Paul Stanley of KISS once performed at The Fillmore to 800 people.  Joe Perry of Aerosmith also performed at The Fillmore in front of only 400 people.  When John 5 is not performing to thousands of people with Rob Zombie, he very often makes solo records, tours with his own solo project called John 5 & The Creatures, and when in San Francisco, always comes back to the intimate DNA Lounge.

Show Review: Boy Harsher and Troller at The Belasco Theatre (Los Angeles) 04/19/2022

“Take me down to LA, I wanna go down”

It’s wild to think that the last time I wrote a show review was in 2019. Here we are in the waxing and waning throes of a two-year-long global pandemic and while still testing regularly and waiting for information on the next COVID variant it seems like we’re beginning to move toward a new normal. There’s something surreal and strangely dystopian about going to a concert, let alone to a MinSynth one, but that didn’t stop the many, if any, from attending Boy Harsher’s return to Los Angeles.

Continue reading “Show Review: Boy Harsher and Troller at The Belasco Theatre (Los Angeles) 04/19/2022”

Film Review: “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”

Basking in the total Nick Cageness of Nick Cage

He's reached total Cage
He’s reached total Cage.

If you live in California, Nicolas Cage is a Prius. If you live in Alabama, Nicolas Cage is an F-150. If you live in Colorado, Nicolas Cage is a Subaru. Ubiquitous, omnipresent, universal don’t begin to describe his career. Simple descriptors, most adjectives, even words themselves, fail to cover the sheer, gargantuan, remark-ability of the man’s effect on our collective souls. Continue reading “Film Review: “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent””

Film Review: “The Northman”

Unbelievable physical detail can’t overcome blocky storytelling and a mawkish core

The Northmen doing their thing
The Northmen doing their thing.

In the new Robert Eggers film The Northman, a young prince in proto-Europe’s far north swears vengeance for his father’s murder, is driven mad by revenge, and faces his rival in a climactic battle. Sound familiar? Continue reading “Film Review: “The Northman””

Film Feature: 65th SFFILM Festival Spotlight #3

The 65th SFFilm Festival opened on Thursday and will run through Sunday, May 1st, so there’s still plenty of time to check out some new films this weekend and through next week. Here’s a look at four more offerings. 

1.) NAVALNY
(USA/Germany/Russia, 2022. 98 min)

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Back in late January, nobody knew just how relevant this documentary about Russian opposition leader, poisoning victim, and current prisoner Alexi Navalny would be just a few weeks later, as the Russians invaded Ukraine. Nominated for Sundance’s Documentary Grand Jury prize and winning both the Festival Favorite Award and the Audience U.S. Documentary Award, this portrait of courage is as relevant as it is intriguing. An eye opening look at Russian politics, director Daniel Roher’s film shouldn’t be missed.  

Screenings (click here for tickets):
– Sat., April 23rd, 4:30pm at the Castro
– If you miss Saturday’s screening, the film is also available on CNN.

Continue reading “Film Feature: 65th SFFILM Festival Spotlight #3”

Single Of The Week: “Goodnight Moon” by Gabriella Marinaro

I kinda love a good, solid, melodramatic torch song. “Goodnight Moon” by Los Angeles’ Gabriella Marinaro may not be a torch song by strict definition, but in a concise 1:57 takes you on the same kind of emotional journey that the greats like Julie London or Amy Winehouse would take you through. 

“Goodnight Moon” is the first single off Marinaro’s EP, Inner Space, due out May 6th. Keep an eye out on her official page and her Bandcamp for more details on this release!