San Francisco – Page 34 – Spinning Platters

Show Review: A Perfect Circle performing Mer de Noms at The Fillmore, 11/16/2010

In live music, one of the most intriguing types of performances to see is a full-album show. It is gratifying for the fans who want to hear that ONE obscure song that their favorite band NEVER plays live, and it is a challenge for the band who may not be used to playing said compositions — in a long time, or possibly at all. To take this concept and span it out into multiple nights, in multiple cities, for multiple albums, is an even bigger feat. Leave it, of course, to the men in A Perfect Circle to step up to this challenge — for they have arrived in San Francisco, and are taking over the Fillmore Auditorium for the next three nights, for this very purpose.

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Show Review: Nitzer Ebb with //TENSE// at The Mezzanine, 11/11/2010

When it comes to the category of music known as “industrial rock”, there are a wide variety of definitions and interpretations. One constant seems to be an influx of heavy analog synth pulses, machine-gun-precise drumbeats, snarled vocals, and a collection of black-clad, morose musicians, often pounding away at keys or writhing to the underworld rhythms. Being that industrial bands often share these similarities, it is reasonable that one could go to an industrial show with little prior knowledge of the main group, and still enjoy themselves as they were mostly certain of what the evening would be like. With the Essex EBM trio of Nitzer Ebb, however, the darkness and somber attitudes are shrugged off, in favor of a minimalist but wildly energetic performance that got even the moodiest rivetheads in the audience up on their feet and defying gravity in favor of the industrial masters’ performance.

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Show Review: Delorean, Lemonade at Great American Music Hall, 11/10/10

“You need to be dancing harder.”

I stared into the face of the woman who’d just punched me in the arm to get my attention and tell me this. She continued, “You need to be dancing more, like this, up and down, having fun.” I ignored a passing instinct to punch her in the face, and smiled instead. “Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay!” she shrieked in closing.

A moment later, she punched me again. “Are you from Barcelona?” she inquired.

“No. I’m from Pittsburgh.” She stopped talking to me after that.

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Show Review: Young the Giant with Geographer at Rickshaw Stop, 11/5/10

YTG_crouch — Sameer Gadhia of Young the Giant

Since I saw Young the Giant open for Marina & the Diamonds earlier this year their self-titled album has been in heavy rotation on my iPod, so I was super excited that they were coming back to town. I love getting the chance to see a band at that moment in time where they are number one in your mind and the potential for a great evening is endless. Add on top of that a good venue and great opener in Geographer and I was confident I would not be disappointed. Continue reading “Show Review: Young the Giant with Geographer at Rickshaw Stop, 11/5/10”

Show Review: Bloody Beetroots with Pance Party at Mezzanine, 11/2/2010

On Monday night, the city celebrated (and rioted a bit). And on Tuesday night, some of those people celebrated (and rioted a bit) at The Mezzanine for another energetic show by The Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77, the in-your-face live version of the noted Italian DJs. And while the audience was pumped and ready for the show, the venue itself had no idea what they were in for. And it showed. For a mosh pit was about to happen at The Mezzanine, and not a soul seemed to be prepared. Continue reading “Show Review: Bloody Beetroots with Pance Party at Mezzanine, 11/2/2010”

Show Review: Lucha VaVOOM at The Fillmore, 10/31/2010

Lucha Queen — Lucha, VaVoom or both? Depends on your perspective.

A music blog reviewing a wrestling show? I thought the same thing moments after I agreed to review Lucha VaVOOM at The Fillmore on Halloween. But I had seen this event on the calendar multiple times, always thought about going, and figured there’s certainly going to be enough musical content to warrant a review. While apart from the theme music of Los Pollos Locos there wasn’t much music to talk about, I did find a whole lot of fun. Continue reading “Show Review: Lucha VaVOOM at The Fillmore, 10/31/2010”

Show Review: UNKLE with Sleepy Sun at The Regency Ballroom, 10/28/10

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Fresh off the release of their newest album, Where Did The Night Fall, trip rock pioneers UNKLE return to San Francisco almost three years to the date of their last SF performance. Competing with Game 2 of the World Series, James Lavelle’s live band would have to pitch a strong game in order to please the divided, yet loyal audience. Would they deliver?

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Show Review: Free Energy with Foxy Shazam and Hollerado at Slim’s, 10/29/10

Foxy_Stagedive — Foxy Shazam shows everyone how it's done

Spinning Platters has seen all of these bands before, more than once in fact, yet about half of the staff was at this show. Why? It is impossible to resist the chance to see three such high energy fun acts all in one night, and it was Managing Editor Dakin Hardwick’s birthday party! For both these reasons it was a very fun night full of joy and dancing. Continue reading “Show Review: Free Energy with Foxy Shazam and Hollerado at Slim’s, 10/29/10”

Show Review: LIGHTS at Slim’s, 10/25/2010

LIGHTS is definitely not hard on the eyes! Think Alexandra Lawn from Ra Ra Riot but edgier. She’s not exactly hard on the ears either. Synth heavy female vocals, lightly backed by a drummer, and when I say lightly I mean he could play with one arm half the time. She breaks from her elrctro-pop way mid-way through her set to play a solo acoustic song off her purely acoustic EP, and to do what I guess would be a “cover” of the YouTube video “hide your kids hide your wife,” And then she finishes out the remainder of the set like the beginning. Continue reading “Show Review: LIGHTS at Slim’s, 10/25/2010”

Show Review: Azure Ray with Tim Fite and Whispertown (solo) at The Independent, 10/24/10

Azure_left — Maria Taylor and Orinda Fink shine in darkness

When we arrived at The Independent I was surprised by the lack of people. Maybe I live in a bizarre universe in which Saddle Creek in the early 2000’s was the epitome of music, but I thought Azure Ray coming back would be big. Apparently I was wrong. It could have been the rainy Sunday night, or maybe it’s that slow, haunting pop songs are out of style. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a lovely, and surprisingly varied, evening of music. Continue reading “Show Review: Azure Ray with Tim Fite and Whispertown (solo) at The Independent, 10/24/10”