Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
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:
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Continue reading “Spinning Platters Podcast: Episode 3 — The View”
The last time I saw The Noisettes, they were opening for TV On The Radio at The Fillmore in early 2007. They played a solid set of soul-inflected garage rock, similar to The Dirtbombs and The Detroit Cobras, only a touch noisier. They were also very shy on stage. They didn’t talk to the crowd, and stayed pretty reserved throughout the set. Two years, and several UK hits later, we have a completely re-identified band.
Continue reading “Show Review: The Noisettes, Princeton at The Rickshaw Stop, 7/28/09”
Jay Brannan has the kind of voice you dream of at night. Silky smooth and beautiful. My first voice teacher used to prod me to imagine a string, and while singing you’re slowly pulling the string out of your throat in this smooth never ending line. That’s what Jay Brannan sounds like, that elusive smooth perfect voice flowing on and on into the night. He backs that voice of his up with some great songs, good guitar playing, hilarious stage banter and a whole lot of hotness.
Continue reading “Show Review: Jay Brannan at Bottom of the Hill, 7/25/09”
In this economy, it’s rare for shows to sell out, especially well in advance. Even some of the most hyped acts are playing to 2/3 empty rooms. So how did La Roux sell out Cafe du Nord so far in advance? Was it based on Glastonbury reports? Is it her sophisticated style and well crafted hooks? Or was it the $12 ticket price? Continue reading “Show Review: La Roux, io echo at Cafe du Nord, July 22nd”
It’s been almost five years since PJ Harvey has graced San Francisco with her electric energy. Without a tour in the States for her previous release, “White Chalk,” the barest and probably quietest of all her records, she reemerged alongside old writing mate John Parish, with guns blazing and a fire simmering in the belly. Continue reading “PJ Harvey and John Parish at The Warfield, 6/19/09”
It’s pretty easy to see why this show was so sold out. Bjork and Radiohead endorsements aside, people always seem interested by an artist who opens up a portal into a construct they can deeply explore. Natasha Khan who is, Bat For Lashes, carries you into her songs in the same way an author submerges readers into the lush world of their own creation. Full of fairies, birds, ghosts and howling wolves, her thoughtful and refreshingly imaginative music invites you into a world you’re not sure she discovered, envisioned, or simply grew up in. Continue reading “Bat for Lashes at the Great American Music Hall, 6/13/09”
Describing Patrick Wolf is hard. I was just asked, “what kind of music is he?” I did not have a quick answer. I hemmed and hawed. I know I like it, and I know it should make for an interesting live show, so there I was at Slim’s on a Monday night seeing the Nylon Summer Tour with headliner Patrick Wolf. Little I did know how crazy the night would actually get. Continue reading “Patrick Wolf at Slim’s, 6/8/09”
In Queensryche’s heyday, they were an awesome force of a band. Geoff Tate was an absolute beast, a singer with an incredible voice and an incredible range. The twin lead guitars of Michael Wilton and Chris Degarmo alternated heavy riffs and bright solos with the greatest of ease. And the solid, spectacular rhythm section of Eddie Jackson and Scott Rockenfield carried the whole thing forward with fierce momentum. That was 1990 or so. This is 2009. What are they like now? Continue reading “Queensryche at The Fillmore, 6/4/09”
For some reason, I thought Jens Lekman would be very serious. I’m not sure why I thought this, but I assumed he’d stand up at his microphone, quietly singing his songs by himself. So I was more than pleasantly surprised to see him dancing happily along with his 5-piece band right from the very beginning of the show. He had a smile pasted on his face the whole time, and so did I. Continue reading “Jens Lekman at Bottom of the Hill, 6/2/09”
Continue reading “This Week In Shows That We Think You Will Enjoy”