Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
It’s not hard to see why Spin magazine calls Neon Indian one of the top ten bands most likely to break in 2010. There’s nothing to dislike. Beats that demand dancing and vocal melodies that layer with funky 80’s synth so well, you’d have to be a regular Principal Belding not to like the energetic romp of Neon Indian. Continue reading “Show Review: Neon Indian at The Mezzanine, 3/26/10”
Wellll, damn. If I wasn’t worshiping at the shrine of Metric already, last night’s show at the Fox Theater easily convinced me: this band is fierce and invincible. Their live set was a tight performance; it seems doubtful that there was more than a moment where they didn’t hold the audience firmly in their grasp. Guitarist James Shaw has mentioned that the band “toured the new songs a lot” and it shows – they move effortlessly through a set, never missing a note, and still look as though they’re having as much fun as the audience. Continue reading “Show Review: Metric, Codeine Velvet Club and Nico Vega at the Fox Oakland, 3/24/10”
Rock ‘n’ roll is defined as getting off work at 9, going to Bottom of the Hill at 10, leaving at 1, getting home at 2 and going back to work again at 7. But two things are in my favor: It’s a slow news day, and Sim Dynasty is down, so I have no distractions and can tell you all about the show I saw last night. Continue reading “Show Review: You Say Party! We Say Die!, Fake Your Own Death and Nylon Heart Attack at Bottom of the Hill, 3/12/10”
The amps were turned up high and the lights were turned down low at the Great American Music Hall on Wednesday night, as some feedbacky, shoegazery throwback bands were on the bill. The Big Pink showed up with half of the band missing, A Place to Bury Strangers ended their set in blood, and hardly anyone got there early to watch io echo. It was a weird show that featured good music, but was less than satisfying in the end. It could have been better. Continue reading “Show Review: The Big Pink, A Place to Bury Strangers and io echo at Great American Music Hall, 3/10/10”
At 6:00, I was crowded into the country section at Amoeba waiting to watch Little Boots perform a short in-store at Amoeba. She played four songs there, all solo, sang them beautifully (including a Kate Bush cover), and then proceeded to sign copies of her album as I made my over to The Fillmore to see her full band set. Little did I know that only hours later, I’d be trying to defend her to people, for The Fillmore show was not a good night for Little Boots. All was not lost, though, as there was definitely one band worth seeing. Continue reading “Show Review: Little Boots, Dragonette and Class Actress at The Fillmore, 3/9/10”
In 2001, Kansas’ The Appleseed Cast made the leap from being a well-regarded emo rock group to something not on any charts.
The band released an ambitious precedentless work: Low Level Owl, Volume 1 & 2.
The songs of the Low Level Owl project mostly flow into one another without break, changing tempos and beats mid-stream. Some songs have choruses, some don’t. Some have singing, most don’t. Musical facets or patterns repeat and shimmer like dust devils dancing through the summer air. This aural sum flitted free of convention so thoroughly that it couldn’t well be called “emo” rock. What does it sound like? Intricate chiming melodic rock that fords forward without map yet with purpose. It sounds matter-of-factly majestic without trying to be majestic — like a hawk cutting a turn through an updraft. Continue reading “Show Review: The Appleseed Cast at Bottom Of The Hill, 3/6/10”
Marianne Faithfull is my absolute favorite singer of all time. I should just admit that right now. This review is not by an apathetic novice or a casual fan of some familiarity with Marianne and her material. This review is by a certifiable megafan who sat in his booth and scarily mouthed the words to every single song throughout the evening, audibly gasping whenever she played a song I hadn’t heard live before. Despite my immense fandom, this was only my second time seeing her in concert. The first time nearly killed me. So, how did show #2 stack up?
Continue reading “Show Review: Marianne Faithfull at Yoshi’s Oakland, 3/4/10”
The New Parish is such a new venue that this is the first time Spinning Platters have reviewed a show here. It shows, in that the paint isn’t all chipped, the upholstery is not ripped and the walls have not absorbed that smokey stench yet. The New Parish’s youth is also evident in their promoting, or lack there of. Tonight’s show has a draw of not more than 50 people. What did those 50 people see? Continue reading “Show Review: Kid Sister with Honor Roll at The New Parish, 2/28/10”
Noise Pop is over, and what better way to bring the festival to an end than Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. It was a lazy Sunday here in the city, so lazy that I lazily missed the opening bands at Bimbos and spent 20 minutes looking for parking because I was too lazy to take public transportation to beautiful Bimbo’s 365 Club.
But enough about my inability to be on time, let’s talk about Mr. Sharpe (actually Alex Ebert, front man of Ima Robot), his merry band of bards, and their ability to perform. It would be an understatement to say that they put on a great show. They had the crowd at a very giggly “Hello, San Diego!” There was enough flannel in the audience to clothe Williamsburg in the winter, and by the smell of things, everyone was a jolly as the crowd at Woodstock. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes at Bimbo’s 365 Club, 2/28/10”
“You’re REAL handsome.” This is what the toothless bum, who was propositioning me for a 3-way said, as I made my way to the Herbst Theater for The Magnetic Fields. I was running a real tight schedule and unfortunately I had no time for a toothless-three-way, I had a show to get to.
The Magnetic Fields were first introduced to be in the form of 69 Love Songs. I was amazed that I’d never heard of the band and even felt a little embarrassed. Since then the Merritt-led band have been gracing my iPod playlists, adding some unique perspectives on love and sound. They’re the type of band that most of your friends don’t know about and you feel real proud when you’re the one to pop their Fields cherry. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Magnetic Fields at the Herbst Theater, 3/1/10”