The Center Won’t Hold – Spinning Platters

Show Review: 2 Nights of Sleater-Kinney with Kaina at The Fox Theatre, 11/16-11/17/19

These two shows at The Fox Theater in Oakland marked what was basically the last night on the road for what may have been the most challenging tour in Sleater-Kinney’s 25 years on this Earth. Not only were they out to support the single most-divisive record in their catalog, but their long-time drummer, Janet Weiss, abruptly quit the band in the middle of rehearsals.

A lot of hardcore fans felt betrayed. People were demanding refunds because they bought tickets under the impression that they were getting the core trio of Corin Tucker and Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein. All of this meant that, instead of hitting the road in celebration of their career, Sleater-Kinney have to prove themselves all over again. They couldn’t rest on their reputation of being the fiercest live band around.

Continue reading “Show Review: 2 Nights of Sleater-Kinney with Kaina at The Fox Theatre, 11/16-11/17/19”

Album Review: Sleater-Kinney – The Center Won’t Hold

The Center Won’t Hold is possibly the most divisive record of 2019. Months before even a single note was heard outside of the recording studio, when the photo of the band recording with Annie Clark of St. Vincent fame was released, many folks already had their minds made up. I heard declarations from folks that “Annie is going to replace Janet Weiss with a drum machine” and that “it’s just going to be a Carrie solo record.” Other fans were excited about the possible new direction, but those folks seemed to be muted by the naysayers, worried that an outside entity was going to destroy their favorite band. Continue reading “Album Review: Sleater-Kinney — The Center Won’t Hold“

Single Of The Week: The Future Is Here by Sleater-Kinney

This is the second single off Sleater-Kinney’s highly anticipated 9th studio album, The Center Won’t Hold. For those who felt the first single, “Hurry On Home” was a departure, it was merely the gateway to “The Future Is Here.” Kicking off with a simple, analog synth riff before some of the most subtle drumming of Janet Weiss’ career kicks in. Corin Tucker then comes in, singing in the lowest register I’ve ever heard her sing in. What this becomes is a beautiful, kind of gothy song that feels more like Siouxsie and The Banshees or The Cure than the driving psych rock or classic punk that we’ve grown used to from Sleater-Kinney.

It’s been 25 years since Sleater-Kinney first entered the world as a functioning unit. Since then they’ve continuously challenged themselves with every record, proving to have the most consistent and exciting discography in rock n roll. The Center Won’t Hold will be available in all of the usual places on August 16th, or you can preorder from the band here!

Tickets for their Fall US Tour went on sale this morning, and tickets to those shows can be found here! Presale begins on Monday for their Winter EU Tour, so don’t forget to join their mailing list at sleater-kinney.com for presale info!