Localized: Lovelace

Prepare your heart, soul and ears for a display of Salt Lake City’s most intense bands backed by a strong DIY ethos at Kilby Court on November 14. Co-headliners Lovelace and eardrums will bring the basement screamo–punk crossover show energy to the Kilby stage with opener Lucy. Tickets are just $5 for this Riso–Geist sponsored Localized event. 

Salt Lake City’s underground metal scene has always been a hotbed for intense, unrelenting music, but Lovelace is a band that brings something different to the table—a mix of extreme metal, thrash and punk with a heavy dose of humor. “We are not very serious,” admits Ryker Wicknick, the band’s vocalist, as a light chuckle makes its way around the interview table. “Our music has comedic elements—same as our stage presence. The names of our songs are nonsense. We play really heavy metal stuff—like, you can’t take that too seriously.”

While their sound can be blisteringly heavy, Lovelace keeps things light, making their performances as much about the entertainment factor as they are about the music. Their stage banter, wild energy and refusal to stick to a single genre have quickly set them apart in the local scene.

Lovelace’s origin story reads like the start of many great bands—friends hanging out, goofing around and stumbling upon a shared passion for music. The band formed in November of 2021, when Wicknick, Elijah Williams (drums) and Dell Allred (guitar) started jamming together. But it wasn’t a typical start.

“We were screaming ‘Shove It’ by Deftones,” Williams recalls, “and Ryker got mad because he couldn’t scream like us.” Determined to keep up, Wicknick taught himself to scream in a matter of weeks, and soon after, the trio began playing together seriously. Their early “practices” were far from glamorous, with their very first jam requiring the band to walk miles hauling drum kits to Wicknick’s tiny apartment, where only half the cymbals could fit. Still, the chaotic setup laid the foundation for what would become Lovelace.

Soon after, Isaiah Bumgork joined the band on second guitar and Nadine Mora (Liv) became the group’s bassist— their first bassist left when her continuous razzing of Williams reached a tipping point. “Her name was the same as my dog,” Williams laughs, “so I couldn’t tell my dog I loved her without hearing it from the bass player.”

“Our music has comedic elements—same as our stage presence. The names of our songs are nonsense. We play really heavy metal stuff—like, you can’t take that too seriously.”

Musically, Lovelace’s influences are no secret. Bands like Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus and Cryptopsy have all left a mark on the band’s sound, which combines elements of black metal, thrash and punk. But while the band’s sound is rooted in heavy metal, they are not tied to any strict definition of genre. “Every song we write is a little different,” Wicknick explains. Each member of the band writes their own parts, allowing everyone’s individual tastes and styles to shine through in the music.

Despite being around for four years, Lovelace has yet to officially release any music. “We’ve recorded three separate times but nothing has been quite what we were looking for,” Williams says. However, fans won’t have to wait too much longer—Lovelace is currently working on a full-length album, which they hope to release early next year. “It’s sounding pretty good so far,” Williams teases, giving a shout-out to their producer, Marshall McIff. In the meantime, fans can find live sets of the band on YouTube.

Salt Lake City’s music scene has played a huge role in Lovelace’s growth as a band. They give special credit to venues like Black Lung Society’s original Salt Lake City location, where they played almost weekly when they were first starting out. “It’s where we got our foot in the door,” Wicknick says. Playing two shows a week for several months helped them build a following, and soon other venues began to take notice.

The now-closed House of Blooz (RIP) and SodaBoba Drinks are two other local spots that have a special place in the band’s heart. Their time spent playing at these venues has helped Lovelace become a notable presence in the local metal community.

Admittedly, the band has slowed down a bit on playing shows in recent years to avoid burnout; however, this has no bearing on the passion they all have for their music. “We love jamming,” Williams says. “If it goes big, it goes big. If it stays local, it stays local. None of us ever want to stop as long as we can.”

Lovelace is equally enthusiastic about supporting the broader Salt Lake music scene, giving shout outs to fellow local bands like Dysentery, Skrude, Mocosos and Sleep Cult—all of whom they’ve shared stages and/or experiences with over the years. 

“We love jamming. If it goes big, it goes big. If it stays local, it stays local. None of us ever want to stop as long as we can.”

As Lovelace looks to the future, they remain grounded in the spirit that started it all—friends getting together to make music, hang out and have fun. “It’s more about just hanging out and having something to do other than sit on a couch and drink,” Wicknick says. That laid-back approach to their craft keeps them on solid ground, whether they’re playing to a packed room or just jamming in a small practice space.

So, what can fans expect from Lovelace moving forward? An upcoming full-length album, more shows, drunken antics and a plethora of extra-musical activities (Wicknick can spit very far), but one thing’s for sure: Lovelace isn’t about to lose their sense of humor.

And for a final thought? Lovelace leaves you with this memorable phrase: “Mama huevo maricon mama pinga. All up in’a like a wee wee dinna.” Heinous.

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