This is kind of a slow show week… You know what’s great about living in the Bay Area? Prince, Kylie Minogue, Jenny Lewis, and Poncho Sanchez are all playing a “slow” week. This place is awesome!
Thursday, May 19th
Yelle, French Horn Rebellion at The Regency Ballroom
French Horn Rebellion were kind enough to share a few words with us, and of course that alone is reason to support this show. But, the headliners, Yelle, are amazing!!! They are French (unlike French Horn Rebellion, who are from Wisconsin), and they do wonderful pop music in their native tongue. Also, many Spinning Platters staff members are invading this show. Six of us to be precise. Wanna party with us? Come to this show!
Echo & The Bunnymen, Kelley Stoltz at The Warfield
Friday, May 20th
John Fogerty, The Tedeschi Trucks Band (Sonoma Jazz Fest) at Field Of Dreams – Sonoma
Yeah, it’s about an hour north of San Francisco, but it’s totally going to be worth the drive or hitchhike up to see a living legend. John Fogerty wrote some of the greatest songs in the history of rock n roll, and is still one of the most dynamic performers alive. So, either gas up your car or try to find a rideshare on craigslist.
Saturday, May 21st
Kylie Minogue at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Spinning Platters was there for Kylie’s first show in North America EVER! And, yes, it was awesome. She may not have every truly broken out in the US, but that means we get to see her in much more intimate locations than the giant arenas she plays in Europe & Australia.
Prince at HP Pavilion
Because Prince refuses to let his stuff get posted on YouTube, in protest I’m posting a video of some guy doing an excessively melodramatic acoustic cover of this song recorded in his living room. Sorry. I like Prince an awful lot, and this is going to be a damn good show. This is torturous, so please listen. Towards the end he does an Eddie Van Halen style tap solo on his acoustic. Guaranteed vomit inducing.
Sunday, May 22nd
Poncho Sanchez at Yoshi’s – SF
This master percussionist has been pushing the boundaries of his craft since 1975, fusing together Afro-Cuban rhythms, with the adventurous nature of bebop, creating his own, unique form of jazz. This is a special nightclub show for this amazing performer, and this really shouldn’t be missed.
James Blake, Nite Jewel at Great American Music Hall
Monday, May 23rd
Bomba Estereo, Tokeson at The New Parish
I will admit, on very rare occasion, I come across a night where I can’t find a show. So I start listening to bands that I never would have listened to before hand. Bringing me to finding this awesome band. It’s a fusion of latin rock rhythms with subtle touches of mid-90’s trip hop. They are kind of like what would happen if Os Mutantes formed 30 years later.
Tuesday, May 24th
Fitz & The Tantrums, Ximena Sarinana at The Blank Club
Sometimes San Jose gets some good tours that the rest of the bay misses. This might be one of the best double bills that you can take CalTrains to, but not BART. Fitz & The Tantrums do fun retro soul, where opening act, Ximena Sarinana might be Mexico’s finest songwriter since Julieta Venegas.
Twilight Singers, Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s at The Fillmore
Wednesday, May 25th
Jenny & Johnny, Nik Freitas, Whispertown at The New Parish
So many things seem awesome about this show… First of all, Jenny & Johnny is Jenny Lewis (formerly of Rilo Kiley RIP) and her beau Jonathan Rice. They remind me of what Rilo Kiley was in the beginning- a fun pop band with amazing lyrics. Opening the show is the great singer/songwriter Nik Freita, who has been around for years doing bright and catchy tunes, and has been taken into the fold by Conor Oberst, signing him to his Team Love imprint, and taking him around the world in his Mystic Valley Band. This is going to be a killer triple bill, because local old timey throwbacks Whispertown will be kicking the whole thing off with class. This show is another great reason to live in Oakland.
Stiff Little Fingers, Sharks at Slim’s
