Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/31/14-8/6/14

Opening for Michael McDonald at Mountain Winery
Opening for Michael McDonald at Mountain Winery

This is the week leading up to Outside Lands. Which means, of course, that you should be training. Listening to music at loud volumes, walking 7 miles a day, subsisting on beer and trail mix, etc. Of course you should go see a band a day until it’s time to spend three days in a park with, well, BANDS! So go see a few: Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/31/14-8/6/14”

Show Review: Lilith at Shoreline Amphitheater, 7/5/10

There has been a lot of controversy over the resurrected Lilith tour, including complaints of mis-marketing, poor ticket sales, and a general lack of consistency in the line ups. When it comes down to it, though, none of this matters when it comes to the actual event. I was there to account these events first hand, and I honestly felt that the show I went to was quite successful. It was actually refreshing to attend a festival that was so well organized, as well as such a well behaved audience.

Continue reading “Show Review: Lilith at Shoreline Amphitheater, 7/5/10”

In Defense Of: The New Lilith Tour

Once upon a time, in the late 90’s, a struggling singer-songwriter was finding it difficult to get her music heard. She was too edgy for Adult Contemporary radio, but too light for Alternative Rock radio. She also noticed that both of these genres were awfully male-centric. So, her solution was to find a group of like-minded female musicians and take them on the road with her. The basic idea is that there is strength in numbers, and with the marketing push of several artists, it could be good for everyone, much like Lollapalooza managed to accomplish in the early 90’s. That artist was Sarah McLachlan, and the tour was called The Lilith Fair, named after Adam’s first wife. Continue reading “In Defense Of: The New Lilith Tour”

Show Review: Jay Brannan with Terra Naomi at Bottom of the Hill, 6/16/10

Photo by sascha10er

Sensitive gays from around the Bay Area flocked to Bottom of the Hill last night for the latest San Francisco appearance by outrageously cute twee-folk pin-up Jay Brannan.

Continue reading “Show Review: Jay Brannan with Terra Naomi at Bottom of the Hill, 6/16/10”

Show Review: Jay Brannan at Bottom of the Hill, 7/25/09

Witness the death of Jay Brannan's kashaka during his a capella version of Blowin' In The Wind
Witness the death of Jay Brannan's kashaka during his a capella version of Blowin' In The Wind

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”

Spinning Platters Weekly Tip Sheet: July 21st-27th

This is Zoey, and she would like to see La Roux at Cafe du Nord with me tomorrow night, but she doesn't like loud noises, and I think they have a no cats policy. Who wants to take her place? At the show, not my home...
This is Zoey, and she would like to see La Roux at Cafe du Nord with me tomorrow night, but she doesn't like loud noises, and I think they have a no cats policy. Who wants to take her place? At the show, not my home...

Another week, another installment of our continuing series of me telling you what to do. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Tip Sheet: July 21st-27th”