Show Review: No Doubt, Paramore and The Sounds at Concord Pavillion, 7/21/09

Our group pulls back the curtain on the No Doubt show.
Our group pulls back the curtain on the No Doubt show. Thanks to Flickr user Eytonz for the photo.

About two weeks ago, I sent out an invite to a select group of friends reminding them that the No Doubt concert we kept saying we were going to see was coming up, and it’s time to decide if we’re really going or not.  We ended up with a group of seven, including four founders of Spinning Platters.  But since all of us who went are music nerds in one way or another, I asked everyone there to write a brief recap of the show to post as a giant group review.  Of course this limited the post-show conversation because everyone was saving their best nuggets for the blog (we hope).  This is our first time trying this, so please let me know what you think about it in the comments.

And now, on to our first review. Continue reading “Show Review: No Doubt, Paramore and The Sounds at Concord Pavillion, 7/21/09”

Show Review: Tori Amos at the Paramount Theatre, 7/13/09

What was Tori's surprise?  Read on.  (Thanks to Jon for the setlist photo.)
What was Tori's surprise? Read on. (Thanks to Jon for the setlist photo.)

I’m not going to sugar coat this, because there really isn’t much that could have been sweeter than this adventure, which was entirely one of the most awesome experiences I’ve ever had, concert or otherwise.

Oh, where to begin… Continue reading “Show Review: Tori Amos at the Paramount Theatre, 7/13/09”

Show Review: Ozomatli at the Alameda County Fair, 7/16/09

Ozomatli always gives it their all.
Ozomatli always gives it their all.

I’ve never been to a county fair before, and people are always making fun of the bands that play there for being on “the fair circuit.”  I always thought that was a bad rap because the bands that are on this circuit are getting paid well and gigging regularly at fairs all across this great land of ours.  When I heard that Ozomatli were playing at the Alameda County Fair, I knew I’d be popping my county fair cherry because I love Ozomatli, especially outdoors.  So I made my way out to the fairgrounds to eat a fried Twinkie, look at barnyard animals, shop for bootleg merchandise, and see Ozomatli. Continue reading “Show Review: Ozomatli at the Alameda County Fair, 7/16/09”

Show Review: Death Cab For Cutie at The Greek Theater 7/11/2009

Hey Cutie! Wanna Ride In My Death Cab? (Actual pick up line heard outside of venue)
Hey Cutie! Wanna Ride In My Death Cab? (Actual pick up line heard outside of venue)

So, in a bit of autobiographical information, I was recently “relieved of my working duties.”  In fact, that was on Friday, July 10th. I was going to have to work a very long day on the 11th initially, and now I suddenly had the day off. So, I sat around and sulked all day.  After I was done sulking, I decided take BART to Berkeley, and go see a show before I couldn’t afford to pay my way in to shows anymore. (This is an exaggeration. I am eligible for unemployment, so I will have some money.) Well, as I am walking towards the show, it starts raining.  I see a couple of scalpers, and I talk to one of them that I have seen at shows before.  I buy a ticket off him very cheap, because he wanted to get out of the rain.

Continue reading “Show Review: Death Cab For Cutie at The Greek Theater 7/11/2009”

Show Review: Wilco and Okkervil River at The Greek Theater in Berkeley, 6/27/09

Wilco played the Greek Theater in Berkeley on June 27th, 2009. Somebody fainted. People wore tie-dye.

Wilco. Not pictured: Berkeley.
Wilco. Not pictured: Berkeley.

I’ve seen a lot of bands in my day.  I’ve seen a lot of very famous people, and I have been very close to them.  I often think that I am immune to the surprise of seeing someone in the flesh that I primarily know from pictures, but Jeff Tweedy is one of those frontpersons that has such a unique charisma, that I my heart skips a beat whenever I see him.  Continue reading “Show Review: Wilco and Okkervil River at The Greek Theater in Berkeley, 6/27/09”

Elvis Costello at Amoeba Records SF

Elvis Costello debuted new songs from his record “Secret, Profane, and Sugarcane” at Amoeba Music on Haight Street in San Francisco.

Holy Crap! Jim Lauderdale played for free at Amoeba!
Holy Crap! Jim Lauderdale played for free at Amoeba!

I consider myself to be a music fan.  I enjoy listening to music quite a bit.  When I’m not listening to music, I am usually talking about music or reading about music.  I consider myself to be pretty good at appreciating music… but I will never be as good at it as Elvis Costello. Continue reading “Elvis Costello at Amoeba Records SF”

Neko Case at The Warfield, 6/10/09

Glad no one requested Marais la Nuit..
Glad no one requested Marais la Nuit..

Normally, for a show like this, I would have arrived at the venue at 7:00 pm, then had a drink, made my way over to the front of the stage to plant myself there for the rest of the evening in anticipation of one of my favorite acts. However, after a stressful week it figures I didn’t get there until Neko was already on stage. Continue reading “Neko Case at The Warfield, 6/10/09”

Queensryche at The Fillmore, 6/4/09

One more time around is all he asks for now.
One more time around is all he asks for now.

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”

Jens Lekman at Bottom of the Hill, 6/2/09

Was Jens Lekman as serious as I expected?
Was Jens Lekman as serious as I expected?

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”

Animal Collective at The Fox Oakland, 5/26/09

The Animal Collective stage was colorful all night long
The Animal Collective stage was colorful all night long

Animal Collective are one of those bands that people either love or hate.  There doesn’t seem to be a middle ground with them.  Yet I found myself smack dab in the middle before seeing them live.  Admittedly, I don’t know their material all that well.  I love some of their songs; I hate some of their songs.  My favorites of their songs are ones that sound an awful lot like Conspiracy, the ridiculously obscure Yes side project that featured tons of vocal interplay.  The songs I can’t stand are the ones that meander endlessly, seemingly without purpose.

So what was the live experience like?  A little from column A, a little from column B. Continue reading “Animal Collective at The Fox Oakland, 5/26/09”