Month: August 2014
Warped Tour 2014 @ Utah State Fairgrounds 08.02
I’ll get to get to the point right away for my review of the 2014 Warped Tour so you get the idea of what you will be reading. If it wasn’t for my 15-year-old daughter and her extreme desire to see the tour and a fair amount of the bands playing, I wouldn’t have even bothered going. Suffice it to say, during battles of the day muddling through the heat, crowds and noise, I found some great times at the show and most of those great times were equally shared between myself and the kiddo. … read more
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market: A Blessing or a Curse
As I was walking to the Salt Palace on the city’s main streets, I even thought to myself, “This is kinda fun. It kinda reminds me of how I feel in NYC.” I stress ‘kinda’ because earlier that morning I was kinda irritated with the constant stop-and-go traffic on my way to work. … read more
Deer Tick @ Urban Lounge 08.13 with T. Hardy Morris...
Snapping out of our dream state rather severely, we were given an instant dose of adrenaline-fueled, ragged kegger rock that we had been expecting. Croaking of loves lost, alcoholism and a complete lack of sympathy for the human condition, McCauley’s stage presence was as big as the ideas he sang about. … read more
“The Love Gets Higher …” Erasure’s “The Violet Flame” Reviewed
I take it as a positive portent that the day I received the new Erasure album promo to review, I was on an obsessive cycle of listening to its first single, the anthemic “Elevation.” … read more
A Taste of Mexique with Chef Carlos Gaytan
You might recognize Chef Carlos Gaytan from his stint on Top Chef. Trained in French cuisine, he used that skill to revitalize Mexican gastronomy. His restaurant in Chicago, Mexique, has recently earned a prestigious star from the Michelin Guide, the only Mexican restaurant to do so. It was a once in a lifetime treat to have Gaytan cook for us, since my husband has sworn to never leave the West. … read more
Ex-Cult @ Kilby Court 08.16 with Zig Zags, Swamp Ravens,...
After the first number is concluded, he comes off stage, and approaches an audience member who has a joint in hand. Taking the little doobie, he glares at the spectator while taking a hit. Returning to the stage, Shaw shares his prize with the band. Very cool and charismatic with no fucks given, Ex-Cult jumps right back into where they left off. … read more
Cosmonauts @ The Shred Shed 08.15 with Beat Hotel, Breakers,...
The world seems to be going to hell in a hand basket with the greats getting one-way tickets out of here. To find some relief from these epic bummers, the path to temporary salvation seems to include finding a bar to crawl into or checking out a Rock n’ Roll gig. Luckily for me, I am able to do both. … read more
Das Energi Festival @ The Great Saltair 08.16
Ah, raving at The Great Saltair. There’s nothing quite like it. Whether you’re a dedicated EDM fan or just a fun-loving bro there’s something for everyone whenever a big V2 production rolls around. For this years’ Das Energi Festival, V2 promised to deliver their biggest production to date. … read more
Gravytrain on Biscuit Wheels: Blue Plate Diner Video Premiere 08.17...
A restaurant producing a skate video is a strange idea to wrap your head around, but it totally makes sense when you look at the crew that works there. “Every skater who has a full part in the video also works at the diner,” Joe Mandl, co-owner of Blue Plate Diner let me know at the beginning of the night. … read more
Corrosion Of Conformity @ In The Venue 08.21 with Lord...
Going to a show with no real expectations of anything of particular grandeur is interesting, because it can lead to some awesome experiences when you witness something amazing when you weren’t expecting anything at all.
… read more