If you search my iTunes account for “Jack Black,” you’ll find results in two separate areas: comedy films like School of Rock, and hidden in the music of a band known as Tenacious D. Their music has the distinction of being the only band on my entire iPod listed with the genre I call “comedy [...]
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Show Review: Tenacious D with The Sights at Fox Theater, 5/24/2012
Film Review: “Men in Black 3″
starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson written by: Etan Cohen directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld MPAA: Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, and brief suggestive content In a world full of unnecessary sequels, Men in Black 3 might stand as one of the most unnecessary in history. The second movie is [...]
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Show Review: Sparta with KI:Theory at The Independent, 5/21/2012
Rising from the ashes of a former band can be a help or a hinderance to a new act that has cut their teeth in the music scene and is ready to unleash a fresh new set of tunes to the world. When you are as volatile and chaotic of an act as At The [...]
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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 5/24/12-5/23/12
The first of 400,000 outdoor music festivals of the Summer start this week, but there is plenty of other rocking for you, so good luck and make some excellent live music decisions. Thursday, May 24th Tenacious D, The Sights at The Fox Theater – Oakland People think that I look like Jack Black, and that [...]
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SpinningPlatters Interview: Penelope Houston of The Avengers
Penelope Houston is a rock legend. She is the lead singer of seminal San Francisco punk rock band The Avengers, and actively performs with both The Avengers, and releases solo albums. She recently released a fine new record called On Market Street, as well as a 2-disc edition of the band’s 1983 debut full length, [...]
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Show Review: Rachel Platten with Madi Diaz at Hotel Utah, 5/18/2012
What’s a girl to do with a Friday night off in San Francisco? When Rachel Platten is in town with her first headlining gig (supporting her album Be Here), the choice is easy. When she brings the lovely Madi Diaz with her and sets up her keyboard on the Hotel Utah’s tiny stage, I’ll even [...]
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Film Review: “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”
starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Rodrigo Santoro, Ben Falcone, Chace Crawford, Dennis Quaid, Brooklyn Decker, Rebel Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Chris Rock written by: Shauna Cross and Heather Hach directed by: Kirk Jones MPAA: Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, thematic elements and language At first glance, a film adaptation [...]
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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 5/17/12-5/23/12
This list simply goes to show you that there is no such thing as a slow week in the bay area for shows…. We have two legendary punk bands playing in SF, plus a slew of other odds and ends that insure that nobody’s musical taste will go unaccounted for. So, do yourself a favor [...]
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Film Review: “Battleship”
starring: Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna, Alexander Skarsgard, Liam Neeson written by: Erich Hoeber and Jon Hoeber directed by: Peter Berg MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action and destruction, and for language Picture yourself as an executive for Hasbro. You’ve made boatloads of money on the Transformers movies, and you want to [...]
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Film Review: “The Dictator”
starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley written by: Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer directed by: Larry Charles MPAA: Rated R for strong crude and sexual content, brief male nudity, language and some violent images How does one successfully parody internationally infamous figures that are already parodies of themselves? This [...]
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Spinning Platters Interview: Richard Linklater on “Bernie”
Ever since leisurely ambling onto the cinematic scene with his generation-defining 1991 classic Slacker, Richard Linklater has remained one of the most influential and innovative figures in American independent film. A restless creative force frequently driven to push himself into personally uncharted territory, Linklater’s filmography is remarkably diverse: ensembles pieces beloved (Dazed and Con
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Show Review: OFF! at Amoeba Records Berkeley, 5/12/2012
When a band comes to a local record shop to do an in-store appearance, it’s a really unique type of event. Songs are generally stripped down to a more acoustic and delicate format, conversations are had between the band and the crowd with greater regularity and openness, and it’s a guaranteed opportunity for a meet-and-greet [...]
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Show Review: Jay Nash at Red Devil Lounge, 5/11/2012
Don’t you hate it when you’ve totally been looking forward to an event and then when it actually rolls around, something comes up that completely hinders your ability to enjoy it as much as you’d planned to? Sadly, that was my experience Friday night last. The thing I look forward to is, of course, seeing [...]
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Show Review: Roger Waters: The Wall Live at AT&T Park, 5/11/2012
In 1979, a record that would forever shape the concept of what an “album” was, or could be, was released. Its chief creator, one Roger Waters (of the English rock juggernaut Pink Floyd), brainstormed a show so daunting, so massive, and so strange in scope, that in its heyday it was nigh impossible to tour [...]
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Show Review: The Dead Milkmen with Terry Malts at Slim’s, 5/10/2012
Nearly 30 years ago, in the state of Pennsylvania, a troupe of four young upstarts formed a band that was anything but what had been perceived to be the general standard for quality punk rock. With their thick Philadelphian accents, songs about defecating lizards and maintaining a healthy diet, and the general appearance of a collection [...]
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Show Review: Kristin Chenoweth at Zellerbach Hall, 5/11/2012
Kristin Chenoweth came to UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall last night for the second date of a 19-city North American tour promoting her newest album, Some Lessons Learned, as well as her campy ABC series GCB. Or at least, that was the plan. Then, late yesterday afternoon, ABC announced their decision to cancel GCB, which is [...]
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Film Review: “Dark Shadows”
starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote written by: Seth Grahame-Smith directed by: Tim Burton MPAA: Rated PG-13 for comic horror violence, sexual content, some drug use, language and smoking Audiences have understandably grown a bit fatigued of the collaborations between [...]
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Show Review: Carina Round at The Apple Store and Café du Nord, 5/8/2012
If you were fortunate enough to catch the last two waves of touring put upon by Puscifer, the brainchild of one Maynard James Keenan of Tool fame, you might have caught a glimpse of a sultry and furious siren known as Carina Round, who opened for the art-collective-cum-musical-explosion on every single one of their dates. [...]
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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 5/10/12-5/16/12
So, this week is a great week if you wanna see old people sing youthful songs… We get The Dead Milkmen, Keith Morris (Circle Jerks) and Roger Waters all coming very soon. There are also a few shows happening if you like it slightly more youthful. Also this week: CREED! Thursday, May 10th The Dead [...]
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Show Review: The Black Keys with The Arctic Monkeys at Oracle Arena, 5/4/12
I’ve seen The Black Keys twice before going to this show. The first time was opening for Sleater Kinney at The Great American Music Hall in 2003. It was two guys that looked like they came in off the streets, playing super lo-fi blues. I honestly didn’t know what to think of them, and I [...]
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