Tag: San Francisco

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

Photo by Jimmy Kim

“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.

Continue reading “Show Review: Delorean, Lemonade at Great American Music Hall, 11/10/10”

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

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, 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?

Continue reading “Show Review: UNKLE with Sleepy Sun at The Regency Ballroom, 10/28/10”

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

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

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”

Staff Picks from Treasure Island Music Festival – Sunday 10/17/2010

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Monotonix did not get the memo on the San Francisco weather

I sent out an email to everyone from Spinning Platters that went to the Treasure Island Music Festival on Sunday. I asked them to send me back something about their favorite act from the day. From some people, I got nothing, but from nearly everyone who responded, I got the same news. Belle & Sebastian was their favorite act.  So you’re about to read mainly a Belle & Sebastian love-fest, and look at a whole lot of pictures of Monotonix. And other than the rainy, windy, cold conditions and some energetic sets from Surfer Blood, Superchunk and Rogue Wave, that’s my biggest takeaway, too. Continue reading “Staff Picks from Treasure Island Music Festival — Sunday 10/17/2010”

Day 1 of Treasure Island Music Festival 2010 – Instant Band Reviews

Nick Offer of !!! wants you to read this now!

Sure, one could write hundreds of words about each band on the bill at the Treasure Island Music Festival, but then the entire comment section would be filled with a lot of “tl;dr” comments, which aren’t much fun. And I could write a “best-of” post, which basically translates to “I took a nap during Jamaica’s set.” Instead, in the tradition of our fan-favorite Instant Album Reviews columns, I instantly review Saturday Treasure Island Music Festival, with the help of some great photos from David Price. Continue reading “Day 1 of Treasure Island Music Festival 2010 — Instant Band Reviews”