Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 12/02/10-12/08/10

Another wildly eclectic week of amazing live music here in the Bay Area! Check out the awesomeness!

Thursday, December 2nd

Wu Tang Clan, The Jacka, DJ M-Rock at Mezzanine

Who knows how many of them will show up? You can’t really fit all 9 on stage at Mezzanine, anyways! No matter how you slice or dice it, a Wu Tang show is pretty rare, primarily since it’s impossible to get that many people to all show up to work on time together. It’s also guaranteed magic, no matter who you end up with because even half the group means that you still have 4.5 of the finest mc’s in the business. How about a little C.R.E.A.M.?

The Brothers Comatose, Jugtown Pirates, The Human Condition at Slim’s

Friday, December 3rd – Sunday, December 5th

Ravi Coltrane at Yoshi’s – Oakland

Yes, he isn’t the experimentalist that his mother or father was, but Ravi Coltrane is still a genius musician, and the closest we are going to get to actually seeing John Coltrane every perform.

Friday, December 3rd

Secret House Party w/People Under The Stairs, DJ Day at Slim’s

Diego’s Umbrella, Triple Cobra, The Lloyd Family Players at The Independent

Saturday, December 4th

Margaret Cho at Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium

The legendary funny woman has decided to learn how to play guitar, and is hitting the road with her six string and taking her scathing sense of humor on the road, and she’s singing to you as well!

Maus Haus, Fol Chen, Brent Amaker & The Rodeos, Exray’s at Bottom Of The Hill

Abjeez at Great American Music Hall

Sunday, December 5th & Monday, December 6th

Leonard Cohen at The Paramount Theater – Oakland

Sunday, December 5th

The Posies, Brendan Benson, Aqueduct at The Independent

We’ve got a highly influential 90’s dream pop band, a close personal friend of Jack White, and one of the cleverest pop bands I have ever heard. And they are sharing an epic 3-band bill that is going to keep your ears happy for days!

Dick Dale, James Dale, The Bitter Honeys at Uptown Nightclub

Rumor has it there is a very famous surprise guest at this show. I have no idea who, and who wouldn’t want to play with Dick Dale? Guy is bloody insane on the guitar!

Monday, December 6th

Raul Malo at Yoshi’s

He is the former lead singer in the dramatically underrated country band The Mavericks. As a solo artist, his stunning tenor shines as he sings country, rancheros, and pop ballads.

Mt St Helens Vietnam Band, The Globes, Il Gato at Rickshaw Stop

Tuesday, December 7th

Delta Spirit, The Fling at The Fillmore

I could tell you why you should go to this show, but I think guest writer Jen Robie has a much more persuasive argument.

Wednesday, December 8th

No Age, Fresh & Only’s, Lucky Dragons at The New Parish

No Ages blistering brand of psychedelic punk is even more intense in person than it is on any of their fine records. This show will be both brutal and beautiful, and I highly recommend spending an evening in downtown Oakland so you may enjoy this fine rock & roll band!

Blind Guardian, Holy Grail, Seven Kingdoms at The Regency Ballroom

Farmer Dave Scher, The Chapin Sisters, Neema at Cafe du Nord