San Francisco – Page 50 – Spinning Platters

Show Review: The Gaslight Anthem, Murder By Death, The Loved Ones and Frank Turner at The Fillmore, 9/20/09

Brian Fallon's headwear was copied throughout the crowd

Ever since I was introduced to The Gaslight Anthem and their brilliant breakthrough album, The ’59 Sound, I’ve wanted to see them live. I missed a couple of chances due to unsolvable conflicts, but last night I finally got the chance. As a devoted reviewer, I got there plenty early to check out the three opening bands as well. Four bands on one bill can be a bit much, especially for a Sunday night. So how did it all go in the end? Continue reading “Show Review: The Gaslight Anthem, Murder By Death, The Loved Ones and Frank Turner at The Fillmore, 9/20/09”

Show Review: Frightened Rabbit, We Were Promised Jetpacks and The Twilight Sad at The Independent, 9/18/09

I’d been looking forward to the Frightened Rabbit show at The Independent for some time. Not because of Frightened Rabbit or even The Twilight Sad, I’d been pining away for We Were Promised Jetpacks (WWPJ).

I first listened to their album These Four Walls on Lala and it quickly became one of my favorites. The intensity and power of Adam Thompson’s (lead singer) voice almost guaranteed an excellent live performance. So, naturally, when I found out they were playing in the city I had to go. Continue reading “Show Review: Frightened Rabbit, We Were Promised Jetpacks and The Twilight Sad at The Independent, 9/18/09”

Show Review: Porcupine Tree at The Warfield Theater, 9/18/09

I arrived at the Warfield tonight for the Porcupine Tree show, and Market Street was already packed with people waiting to get in. Another night, another sold out show at the Warfield, and this time it’s a band with no “hits” to speak of. This time, it’s the masters of modern British prog, Porcupine Tree. I’m a huge fan, so I’m not the best person to judge whether this show was good or bad. But I can tell you, if you’re also a fan, everything you need to know. Continue reading “Show Review: Porcupine Tree at The Warfield Theater, 9/18/09”

Show Review: Phoenix & The Soft Pack at The Warfield Theater, 9/17/09

Thomas Mars feels at home among his fans

Phoenix is something of a rarity these days: they’re a band that can sell out the Warfield. It’s been a pretty slow-selling concert season here in San Francisco, and a lot shows are going undersold in many venues around town. Some venues are offering season passes, some are offering their shows for half price on sites such as Goldstar, and others are simply papering the house. None of that was necessary for Phoenix, who are riding the wave of their extremely well received album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Continue reading “Show Review: Phoenix & The Soft Pack at The Warfield Theater, 9/17/09”

Outside Lands Festival Diary: Part 4 – Sunday, 8/30/09

She was pretty excited to be seeing M.I.A.

Today was mainly a working day for me. I needed to be at the info booth by 4:00, and I wasn’t going to get to the park until almost 2:00, so what would I be seeing? The short answer? Not much. The long answer? A lot of really cold people, a few minutes of a few bands, one entire set, and a lot sad people. Continue reading “Outside Lands Festival Diary: Part 4 — Sunday, 8/30/09”

Outside Lands Festival Diary: Part 3 — Saturday, 8/29/08

Like watching TV on the Radio in my backyard

I was excited to wake up and find my cold had subsided, and off I went back to Golden Gate Park for an early afternoon of volunteering and listening to bands chosen especially for me based on their proximity to my volunteering site. My exciting adventures for today included potentially getting food poisoning, a random passerby saying some really strange stuff to me, and almost getting into a fight. Join me on Saturday at Outside Lands. Continue reading “Outside Lands Festival Diary: Part 3 — Saturday, 8/29/08”

Outside Lands Festival Diary: Part 2 — Friday, 8/28/09

You know how when you have a little cold and you take cold medicine, and when the medicine finally kicks in, your cold breaks? And you get really sweaty? Now what if you were taking cold medicine on a hot day at a sunny music festival? You’d be having my day. So for me, and surely for many others, Friday at Outside Lands was a fun, sweaty time. Continue reading “Outside Lands Festival Diary: Part 2 — Friday, 8/28/09”

Outside Lands Festival Diary: Part 1

I have to know this backwards and forwards

Some news organizations get full access to festivals like Outside Lands. They get a photo pass, backstage access, free tickets, free food, special parking, and other forms of special treatment. Some blogs get a lower level of access to these festivals, which would include free tickets, and perhaps a photo pass. And finally, there’s up-and-coming, fast growing music sites like Spinning Platters, who work for a ticket. This will give you an entirely different perspective on Outside Lands, access be damned. We’re not here to hobnob, we’re here to have a good time. And answer your questions at the info booth. Continue reading “Outside Lands Festival Diary: Part 1”

Show Review: The Cult at The Warfield Theater, 8/23/09

That tambourine at Ian's feet is mine now

The Cult came to the Warfield on a Sunday night as part of their Love Tour, a show that has them playing through their classic first album on a nightly basis. When bands play the full albums, fans get excited in advance, but having seen a number of these shows for myself, they’re usually boring affairs, as you already know what’s coming. What’s the fun of track eight, “Revolution,” when you know that track nine, “She Sells Sanctuary,” comes next? Well, I’ll tell you what kind of fun that is. Continue reading “Show Review: The Cult at The Warfield Theater, 8/23/09”

Spinning Platters Podcast: Episode 3 – The View

Listen to the podcast to see why this photo is here

Episode 3 of the Spinning Platters podcast is now available below, and in iTunes. Dakin, Gordon and D.P. are joined on this episode by writer Raffi Yousouffian for a discussion of:

What we’ve been listening to
Cult Bands
Stop the War on Fun and the ongoing fight to keep San Francisco all-ages clubs open

Click on to listen, or even better, subscribe to the Spinning Platters podcast on iTunes.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Podcast: Episode 3 — The View”