Month: April 2013
Local Reviews: Dirtbags Don’t Die
Dirtbags Don’t Die reminds me of those Hellcat Records compilations, Give ‘Em the Boot, which were full of all sorts of punk, hardcore, ska and a ton of other genres. Dirtbags Don’t Die can blast out top-notch punk rock, like on “Suckerpunch,” and the next thing you know, they’re seamlessly slipping into a laid-back ska tune like “I Remember.” … read more
Local Reviews: Doomed to Extinction
This is a batch of three recording sessions slapped onto one CD-R from a salty trio of grindcrushers, all captured (as the title suggests) in Raunch’s back room. Doomed to Extinction cops their name from a killer Disrupt cut, and the nominal homage lends a solid, sonic reference point for the liminal space they occupy, like crud under a toenail, ’tween grind, crust and sludge. … read more
Local Reviews: Stories of Ambition
Stories of Ambition is ambitious, indeed. While the band has added members since the recording, everything on this album was written and performed (or in the case of the drums, written and programmed) by one man, Zach Hyte, formerly of Oh, Antarctica. … read more
Local Reviews: 5 State Killing Spree
Alternative, ‘90s-inspired and with a fun little Latin twist in the rhythm now and again, these guys have done a nice job of referencing some of the bands they probably grew up listening to. … read more
Local Reviews: Jay William Henderson
The Sun Will Burn Our Eyes EP is the first solo release from Band of Annuals’ lead singer, Jay William Henderson. Instrumentally, Henderson favors the acoustic guitar backed by tremolo keys or electric guitar, slide guitar and the earnest whines of the steel pedal. … read more
Local Reviews: Melody & Tyler
I woke up with lyrics stuck in my head a couple of times after listening to this album––the songs are catchy, well put together, and totally genre-appropriate. Singer/songwriter Melody Pulsipher has a beautiful voice, and, better still, is willing to experiment with it, ranging from soft and moody to twangy and countrified. … read more
Local Reviews: The Mighty Sequoyah
While folk may not be my personal favorite of the genres, The Mighty Sequoyah have managed to produce a solid and pleasant-sounding album. In Sunken Houses, the sounds have been well produced under drummer Bret Meisenbach’s label, Black Pyramid Recording. … read more
Kvelertak: Meir Og Meir
After missing their scheduled set earlier that night on Converge’s headlining tour due to van problems, Kvelertak rolled into SLCto play a last-minute show on 10/22/12 and delivered their potent mix of black metal, punk, hardcore and classic rock n’ roll to a rapturous crowd. Kvelertak riled up the crowd so much at midnight on a Monday that multiple fights broke out, but, as vocalist Erlend Hjelvik potently put it when the band stopped in the middle of a song to calm the audience down, “We are here to party, not to fight!” … read more
Photo Feature: Brodie Penrod
By the time you read this, spring will be in full swing, the days will be longer and sunnier, and Utah’s coldest winter in recent history will be just a memory. However, this photo was taken Feb. 16. It was the first time temperatures had climbed to nearly 50 degrees in months. It was the first time Brodie had skated in two weeks, the first time this rail had ever been skated, and it was the first time he had done this trick on a round rail. … read more
Pounding the Pavement: A Day with Kwami Adzitso
Calm, cool and collected: That’s the best way to describe Kwami Adzitso. He’s a humble dude just looking to have the most fun he can, doing what he loves––and that is skateboarding. Kwami is the kind of kid who would get as hyped on nollie heel flipping a ten stair as he would on half cabbing a parking block. If it involves skating, Kwami is there, and chances are, he will be rifling off tricks one after another. … read more