SLUG Contributor Limelight
May 4, 2017
Contributor Limelight: Ali Shimkus
Ali Shimkus joined the SLUG team as a contributing writer in February 2015 and has since swiftly killed every one of her assignments with enthusiasm. We can always trust Shimkus’ adaptable, perceptive and illustrative writing style to cover a broad swath of topics, which range from the 2017 Slamdance Film Festival to any one of her pieces for SLUG’s themed issues, including her article this month on Ogden Bicycle Collective Director Danielle Fry (pg. 8). From interviewing Babes in Toyland‘s Lori Barbero to whipping out several SLUG Localized features, Shimkus has employed her passion for writing to showcase the unique, creative people of Salt Lake City and beyond. A distro driver for Utah County since October 2015, Shimkus is a SLUG lifeline in more ways than one, and we’re always thrilled to know that we’ve got Shimkus to rely on.
Articles by contributor
Local Review: Buried Giant – Swallow the Sun
Buried Giant = Shawn James & the Shapeshifters + Jeff Buckley + Private Island … read more
Local Review: Hoofless – Ad Nauseam
Self described as “chamber punk” and “orchestral post rock,” Hoofless have created a memorable EP with Ad Nauseam. … read more
Local Review: Capo – Camp Crush
Camp Crush by Capo, released February 18, feels like a ’90s shoegaze fever dream set to a hip hop drum beat. … read more
Local Review: Sky Olson – Hollow Walls
Sky Olson = Armors + Silent Pilot … read more
Local Review: Indigo Waves — Indigo Waves
Indigo Waves = Pond + Naked Giants … read more
Gift Ideas from Indie Utah Businesses 2021: Black Cat Comics
Black Cat Comics is one of the best purveyors of older comic books around, while also keeping up with latest releases. … read more
Gift Ideas from Indie Utah Businesses 2021: Lillies of the...
As a 501-C3, Lillies of the Fields is a thrift store whose goal is helping those in the community who need it most. … read more
Magical Endowment: The Mormon Endowment Tarot of Gazelam Ale
Gazelam Ale’s tarot deck is a source of magical inspiration and a tool to catalyze creativity, as well as a way to preserve the Endowment. … read more
Fresh Fruit for Plotting Vegetables: Al Grossi, The Punk Rock...
The bounty from Al Grossi’s garden is something he believes even urbanites with a small amount of space can achieve. … read more
A Way to Heal: Sarah Lynn of The Esoteric Way
Even from a young age, Sarah Lynn of The Esoteric Way has been in tune with the emotions and energies of other people. … read more
Everybody Loves Everybody Tattoo
Everybody Tattoo has been a rare studio in offering new opportunities for self-taught artists and creating a safe space for their clients. … read more
Sit Down and Gather ‘Round: Justin Brown of Justin Brown...
Designer and craftsman Justin Brown of Justin Brown Designs seeks to merge practicality with beauty in the chairs he creates. … read more
The Black Queen, Uniform, SRSQ @ Urban Lounge 03.20
The balance of SRSQ’s emotionally wrought performance, Uniform’s chaotic energy, and The Black Queen’s chilly, melodic synths made for a very interesting and musically diverse night. … read more
Review: Woolen Men – Temporary Monument
Woolen Men = The Wipers + Saccharine Trust … read more
Review: Yacht – I Thought The Future Would Be Cooler
Yacht= STRFCKR x Le Tigre … read more
Review: Wild Nothing – Life of Pause
Wild Nothing Life of Pause Captured Tracks Street: 02.19 Wild Nothing = Toro y Moi + Beach House There is already a hype around Life of Pause with each pre-released track that comes out, especially for “TV Queen,” which features a very nostalgic synth sound that brings The Smiths, David Bowie and Washed Out to mind
Review: Total Babes – Heydays
Total Babes = Cloud Nothings + Real Estate … read more
Review: Tropic of Cancer – Stop Suffering
Tropic of Cancer = Phaeleh + Blouse
… read more
Review: The Expanders – Hustling Culture
The Expanders = The Aggrolites x Toots & the Maytals … read more
Review: Stealing Sheep – Not Real
Stealing Sheep = Santigold + Tennis + Lykke Li … read more
Review: Seoul – I Become A Shade
Seoul = Washed Out + Made in Heights … read more
Review: Reservoir – Cicurina Vol. 1
Reservoir = Mineral + Tiger’s Jaw … read more
Review: Rolando Bruno – Bailazo
Rolando Bruno = Chicano Batman + Chicha Libre
… read more
Review: My Bubba – Big Bad Good
My Bubba = Gregory and the Hawk + Angus & Julia Stone
… read more
Review: Meat Wave – Delusion Moon
Meat Wave = Saves the Day + New Politics … read more
Review: M is We – Self-Titled
M is We = Reggie and the Full Effect + Trust … read more
Review: Lymbyc Systym – Split Stones
Lymbyc Systym = El Ten Eleven + Working for a Nuclear Free City … read more
Review: Jeen – Tourist
Jeen Tourist Self-Released Street: 06.30 Jeen = Alanis Morissette + Mazzy Star I have a musical crush on Jeen O’ Brien; there is something very nostalgically ’90s about her singer/songwriter style. Tourist sounds like a woman who has a score to settle—“Buena Vista” is a demanding foot stomper with plenty of angst contrasting her softer,
Review: J Hacha De Zola – Picaro Obscuro
J Hacha De Zola = Primus + Tom Waits … read more
Trailblazing Breweries of Utah: Strap Tank Brewery and Zion Brewery
In Springville and Springdale, respectively, Strap Tank and Zion Brewery have cultivated enough success to suffuse different parts of Utah with craft beer. … read more
Review: Golden Eels – Periscopes In The Air
Golden Eels = (The Flaming Lips – Butthole Surfers) + Strictly Commercial–era Frank Zappa … read more
Review: Chairlift – Moth
My first introduction to Chairlift was to their single, “I Belong in Your Arms,” off their 2012 release Something. The simplistic message and the catchy chorus was what drew me into Chairlift initially, and the dark, almost 80’s inspired electronics in some tracks held my interest. … read more
Low Cut Connie @ The State Room with Balto 04.15
Touring rock n’ roll acts Balto and Low Cut Connie came to Salt Lake with rhythmic, upbeat Americana and blues tunes that evoked a neo-classic rock spirit. … read more
Local Reviews: Jail City Rockers – You Had It Coming
Jail City Rockers = Social Distortion + Street Dogs … read more
Local Review: Wey – Self-titled
Wey = The Stooges + X
… read more
Local Review: Valentine and the Regard – Girlfriends
Valentine and the Regard = Eels + Seahaven
Local Review: Various Artists – Archive Recordings 2016 Collection
Various Artists = Tiger’s Jaw + Eternal Summers + Joyce Manor … read more
Local Review: Westing – I Haven’t Been Feeling Myself
Westing = The Get Up Kids + The Story So Far … read more
Local Review: The Anchorage – Regrow
The Anchorage = (Rx Bandits + The Expendables) / Mad Caddies … read more
Local Review: The Dirt Nappers – Self-titled
The Dirt Nappers = Drive By Truckers + Social Distortion … read more
Local Review: Students of Expression – The Astronomer EP
Students of Expression = Brook Pridemore + (acoustic) Saves The Day … read more
Local Review: Talia Keys and the Love – We’re Here
Talia Keys and the Love = Hozier + Amy Winehouse + Joshy Soul and the Cool
… read more
Local Review: Sleep Dealer – Please, Reconnect…
Sleep Dealer = Sinai Vessel + Pianos Become the Teeth … read more
Local Review: Sex Room – Naked on the Internet
Sex Room = Dillinger Four + Reagan Youth … read more
Local Review: Sex Room – Galactic Front
Sex Room = Agent Orange + Circle Jerks
… read more
Local Review: Salduro – Longest Night
Salduro = The Cranberries + Silversun Pickups … read more
Local Review: Run Into the Sun – The Spark
Run Into the Sun = Dangers + Modern Life is War + Have Heart … read more
Local Review: Rotten Things – I Told You I Was...
Rotten Things = salvia palth + Told Slant … read more
Local Review: Magda-Vega – Destroyer
Magda-Vega = (Joan Jett + Black Sabbath) x Savages … read more
Local Review: Lost, The Artist – Lost Boy vs The World
Lost, The Artist = Dine Krew + YZE … read more
Local Review: Jay Citrus – Lucid Dreams
“I’m livin’ lucid,” croons the sleepy voice of Utah rapper Jay Citrus, who appears to be the real life version of James Franco’s character in Pineapple Express, with long hair, oversized Hawaiian shirts and a penchant for weed. … read more
Local Review: Jeff Dillon – For Heidi
Jeff Dillon = Expo 86-era Wolf Parade + The Gaslight Anthem + Mike Ness … read more
Local Review: Hectic Hobo – Died on the Fourth of...
Hectic Hobo = Gogol Bordello + Mischief Brew + Ramshackle Glory … read more
Local Review: Golden Plates – The Light
Golden Plates = Fang Island + NoFx + Titus Andronicus
… read more
Local Review: Fur Foxen – Night Sun
Fur Foxen = Okkervil River + Iron & Wine + I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning–era Bright Eyes … read more
Local Review: Erasole James – Tawa’s Nephew
Erasole James = Blu +Eddy Baker … read more
Local Review: Entomb the Wicked – Mortem
Vocalist/lead guitarist Tyler Bromberg has intriguingly diverse vocal abilities that come through in the slower tune, “Despondency,” which has a very Alice in Chains “Rooster” vibe to it. However, the rest of Mortem consists of faster, mosh-worthy death metal. … read more
Local Review: End of Man – Abyss
End of Man = Deftones + Glassjaw + Baroness … read more
Local Review: DJ Buttweed – Got My Money and Mercedes
DJ Buttweed = Jon Lajoie + Three Loco … read more
Local Review: Dream Collage – Ripple Effect
Dream Collage = Circa Survive + Hidden in Plain View + Anberlin … read more
Local Review: Clawson – Old Soul
Clawson = Sage Francis + Eyedea and Abilities … read more
Local Review: Cinders – I Could Do Better
Cinders = The Lumineers + Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros … read more
Local Review: Burnell Washburn – Gratitude
Burnell Washburn = Action Bronson + Grieves + Kooley High … read more
Local Review: Brad Thomason – The Pacific Clone
Brad Thomason = Ludo + Yeasayer … read more
Local Review: Brother. – Volume II
Brother. = Local Natives + Fleet Foxes … read more
Local Review: BassMint Pros – BMP Pirate Radio Take-Over Show
Let me start by saying that BMP Pirate Radio Take-Over Show is something you definitely can’t just listen to as background music. Immediately, the stage is set with a smooth jazz DJ being assailed mid-sentence by Bass Mint Pros, who shout “It’s BMP, mofo!” before all chaos ensues. … read more
Local Review: Apt – Almost
Apt = Schoolboy Q + Kid Cudi … read more
Local Review: Afro Omega – American Ital
Afro Omega = Taïro + Black Uhuru … read more
Local Review: Amalo – Forest Street
Amalo = Appleseed Cast + Brand New … read more
Local Music Review: Poet – The Lone Revolutionary
The self-described “hip-hop anarchist” Poet does not fail to live up to his own hype. “Crash & Burn” sets the tone early in the album, bringing up Eric Garner’s murder and challenging those who talk about injustice from behind the protective screen of social media to take the streets and protest. … read more
Local Music Review: Shecock and the Rock Princess – A...
Shecock and the Rock Princess = The Epoxies + Faith No More + Period Bomb … read more
Creative for a Greater Good: Making Masks with Danielle Susi
For Danielle Susi, having a cause to fuel her creativity and create masks has helped alleviate the stress from the pandemic and reinvigorate her creativity. … read more
Review: Gacha – Send Two Sunsets
Gacha = oOoOO + XXYYXX … read more
Review: Eternal Summers – Gold and Stone
Eternal Summers Gold and Stone Kanine Records Street: 05.26 Eternal Summers = Cold Beat + Black Tambourine Even in their name, Eternal Summers evokes a kind of summertime nostalgia, mixing a subtle punk attitude from classic influences like the Wipers with a ’90s lo-fi sound. Gold and Stone is the fourth full-length release that the
Review: Empresarios – The Vibes
Empresarios = Thievery Corporation + Thunderball + Yerba Buena … read more
Review: Dinner – Psychic Lovers
Dinner = Wild Nothing + Pillar Point + David Hasselhoff
… read more
Review: Culture Shock – Attention Span
Culture Shock = Citizen Fish + Buzzcocks … read more
Review: Class Actress – Movies
Class Actress = Phantogram + Banks + Tove Lo … read more
Review: Charlie Hilton – Palana
Charlie Hilton, known as the frontwoman for Blouse, changed her name from her given Sanskrit name, Palana, in favor of the more androgynous Charlie, after leaving high school. … read more
Review: Cheatahs – Murasaki
Cheatahs = Drop Nineteens + Swervedriver … read more
Review: BUTANNA – Retribution
BUTANNA = FEA + Wanted Dead + Discharge … read more
Review: Bleached – Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough?
Bleached = Cherry Glazerr + Best Coast … read more
Review: Allah-Las – LAHS
Allah-Las = Kurt Vile + The Growlers + Mystic Braves … read more
Review: Black Marble – Bigger Than Life
Black Marble = Cold Cave + Wild Nothing … read more
Local Review: Acid Cvlt – Acid Cvlt
There is something subtle about the dark, sexy synths of Acid Cvlt that get lodged into your subconscious and get you to physically nod along. … read more
WTF: Beehive Bike Polo Club’s Women, Trans and Femme (WTF)...
In addition to encouraging new playership, the Beehive Bike Polo Club designates playtime specifically for women, trans and femme folk, known as WTF Nights. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Máxima
Máxima is a must-see for anyone who feels they can’t make an impact—the film is proof that the willingness to fight for what is right can make a difference. … read more
Keeping Salt Lake Unique: SLC’s Business Development Division
The Business Development Division wants to create a vision of SLC that balances a vibrant local scene with responsible economic growth. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Bastards’ Road
Bastards’ Road is a film portraying a sense of hope in veterans creating their own network, breaking down the stigma of struggling with PTSD and reaching out to one another. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Summertime
Summertime Sundance Film Festival Director: Carlos López Estrada Opening with a girl wearing roller skates, singing poetry into her guitar on a pier in Venice Beach, Summertime establishes the plot as a snapshot in the day of a life of different teens and young adults around Los Angeles. There are many characters in the story,
Sundance Film Review: Us Kids
Us Kids Sundance Film Festival Director: Kim A. Snyder The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, is still fresh for many, particularly for the students who survived the ordeal. With the second anniversary of the tragic event looming, documentary Us Kids is the story of the survivors dealing with their trauma.
Sundance Film Review: Spaceship Earth
While Biosphere 2 was considered a dismal failure, Spaceship Earth presents the response, “Yes, but what did we learn from this?” … read more
Sundance Film Festival: Save Yourselves!
The timing couldn’t be worse for Su (Sunita Mani) and Jack (John Reynolds) to go off the grid. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Be Water
Be Water Sundance Film Festival Director: Bao Nguyen There is no denying the presence and charisma that Bruce Lee has onscreen. His quick, agile fighting style captured audiences in Hong Kong, America, and around the world. Be Water explores Bruce Lee in the context of the ’60s and ’70s in America and how he was
Sundance Film Review: Blast Beat
At Sundance 2020, Blast Beat explores the struggles of trying to navigate suburban America as a young immigrant through Carly and Mateo. … read more
Finding Hope in Tragedy: Director Kim Snyder on Us Kids...
“Us Kids is told through the lens of youth,” filmmaker/director Kim Snyder says. “It was an attempt to give them their voice.” … read more
Punk Rock for Humanity: Rex Andersen Foundation Homeless Drive
The Rex Andersen Foundation Homeless Drive is something that can become a punk rock tradition for making change in the community for years to come. … read more
Localized: Voidsmen
You could stake the claim that Voidsmen are strictly a metal band, but you would only have one finger on the pulse of what the band is about. … read more
Localized: Together Forever
Together Forever are currently working on a new album—one they anticipate will be a departure from their debut, I DO, in both sound and process. … read more
Chelsea Wolfe @ Metro Music Hall with Ionna Gika 10.21
I left Metro that night as a new fan of Gika’s, and with a newfound appreciation for Wolfe’s vocal prowess, musicality and strengths as a performer. … read more
Returning to Escapist Fiction: I Am the Ocean
Escapist Fiction serves as a sort of time capsule for what each member of I Am the Ocean was going through during recording. … read more
Philotimo for Local Food: Richard Cardenas of Nicholas and Company
Restaurant distrubtor Nicholas and Company’s mission is encapsulated in one Greek word: philotimo, which translates to “the love of honor.” … read more
Craft Lake City: Bigger, Bolder DIY Festival at the Utah...
The 11th Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival will take place Aug. 9–11 at the Utah State Fairpark. … read more
“Pushing the Envelope”: Vu Symposium 2019
For Vu Symposium co-founders Katie Porter and Devin Maxwell, keeping the symposium as inclusive as possible was an important tenet of the event’s founding. … read more
The Saxophone Centenarian: Joe McQueen
While being 100 years old and in good health is a feat in itself, Joe McQueen’s legacy is all about his impressive prowess as a musician. … read more
SLC Staycation: Bike Edition
Luckily, there are many bikeable local amenities to enhance your tour of downtown SLC. … read more
For the Love of the Craft: Chad Hopkins of Hopkins...
For Chad Hopkins, moving over to the system at Hopkins Brewing and brewing on a larger scale was a lot less daunting than he originally thought. … read more
The Nels Cline 4 @ The State Room 02.11
The Nels Cline 4 performance on February 11 was musical and rich, challenging you to become a better musician. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Crystal Swan
The theme of the movie centers around the dichotomy of Velya wanting more for herself amid the complacency of everyone around her in Belarus. … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Last Black Man in San Francisco
The opening scenes of The Last Black Man in San Francisco were enough to take my breath away. … read more
Sundance Film Review: David Crosby: Remember My Name
With a knit cap over his long, silver hair, David Crosby (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Byrds) recounts his life as a rock star … read more
Sundance Film Review: Ask Dr. Ruth
With an instantly recognizable, raspy German accent, 90-year-old Dr. Ruth Westheimer is “America’s Sex Therapist”, giving advice on love and sex since 1981. … read more
Utah’s Filmmaking Future – The Artist Foundry
There’s a communal sense of work that goes into a film, whether it’s a short or feature, and the Artist Foundry is an eclectic mix of all the people who can help make that happen, from actors and writers to video editors and cinematographers. … read more
The Bee: True Stories From the Hive
The Bee is a story slam that has joined storytellers together for workshops, curated shows and “lovingly” competitive storytelling since 2014. … read more
Nautical by Nature: Holystone Distilling
The Holystone Distilling name is steeped in maritime history, making the navy-strength gin a fitting first offering. Though their branding has a maritime twist, Michael and Miller insist that the focus will be centered around Utah. … read more
The Art of the Side Hustle with Two Adobe Designers:...
As a child, Kassie Scribner learned embroidery from her grandmother, a hobby she eventually returned to as an adult. For Scribner, her work at Adobe is a striking contrast from the simplicity of embroidery, but it’s a difference she embraces. … read more
The Art of the Side Hustle with Two Adobe Designers:...
Alan Peck’s workshop is organized to maximize efficiency. Time is a precious commodity for Peck, who is constantly trying to find a balance between his design work and the many different artistic outlets he has picked up over the years. … read more
The Future is Hydroponic: Debbie Strong of Strong Vertical Gardens
It’s an impressively efficient system that Debbie Strong, manager and visionary behind Strong Vertical Gardens, came up with, through much experimentation and trial and error in the five years she has grown her business. … read more
Saniderm Has You Covered
Riding high on a marathon of tattoo convention appearances, Steve Tarr—Director of Sales for Utah-based, medical-grade bandage/tattoo aftercare company Saniderm—gears up for Inked Magazine’s Empire State Tattoo Expo. … read more
Sandy’s Newest Coffee Specialty: The Bean Yard
Walking through the front door of The Bean Yard, it’s clear to see the sleek, communal vision of Sandy’s newest coffee shop. Eugene Kim, co-founder and General Manager, stands behind a brand-new, chrome espresso machine working on his latte art. … read more
Crowdsurfing at Warped Tour ’18
On Saturday, June 30, the energy around the final Warped Tour was palpable. There was the usual buzz of excitement with a twinge of the bittersweet. Warped Tour was my coming of age. I moshed to my favorite bands, discovered new music and forged friendships that have lasted to this day. As a final goodbye
Localized: Shecock & The Rock Princess
With full faces of makeup, pink corsets and attitudes to match, Shecock & The Rock Princess, comprising guitarist/vocalist Sofia Scott (The Rock Princess), bassist Garrett Gridley (Low End Lucy) and drummer/vocalist Matthew Bennett (Mat Benatar), have a heavy sound and profound message. … read more
Localized: Magda-Vega
Heavy, hyperaggressive rock n’ roll is the essence of Salt Lake–based Magda-Vega’s sound. Since 2013, ex–Wild Ones members guitarist Bill Frost and vocalist Robin Brown, with the help of guitarist-turned-bassist Angela Mize and drummer Mike Walton, have created a sound that is both infectious and substantial. … read more
The Visual Journalist: Photographer Kim Raff
There is an intimacy in each photo that is unmistakable when glimpsing into the lives that Kim Raff captures, and each portrait is vastly different from the next. “I’m legitimately curious about people and how they live, so it’s not really hard for me to talk to people and explain why I want to spend time with them.” … read more
La Iniciativa Latina de Bicicletas
La Iniciativa Latina de Bicicletas es una colaboración entre Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective (SLCBC) y la coalición Safe Kids Salt Lake County que empezó en 2016, para mujeres latinas. … read more
The Latina Bike Initiative
The Latina Bike Initiative, a collaboration between the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective (SLCBC) and Safe Kids Salt Lake County coalition, was piloted in 2016. Now in its second year, it continues to provide classes for Latino families in Salt Lake County. … read more
What’s New in Home Brew: Ogden City Brew Supply &...
At many home-brew supply stores around the country, “clone recipes” are everywhere, However, the idea had never been applied to a Utah brew—until Ogden City Brew Supply and Talisman Brewing Company teamed up to sell the Dagda IPA recipe for home brewers to recreate back in August. … read more
Sagittarius, Saturn Return and SLUG Magazine: Astrology with Christopher Renstrom
The chart laid out in front of him is for the date Dec. 1, 1988, at 7 p.m., and the birthplace is listed as Salt Lake City. However, this particular star chart is not made out for a person. Rather, it is the chart marking SLUG Magazine’s “birth”—the first issue “hitting the streets” at Speedway Cafe at the tail end of 1988. … read more
Agua Donkeys: MP Cunningham
In MP Cunningham’s latest short film Agua Donkeys, pool boys MP [Cunningham and Jer [Jackson] work on their tans, ponder the pureness of water, and concoct ways to win over the office girl Jackie’s [Baby Darrington] heart, all while (occasionally) cleaning pools. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
For me, and for many viewers, Won’t You Be My Neighbor is a nostalgic trip into what made Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood such a memorable and prolific television program, and also a testament to how much imagination and care Fred Rogers put into his show, as well as his life. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Lords of Chaos
Admittedly, what I know about the Norwegian Black Metal scene I owe to Last Podcast on the Left—I basically knew what to expect from the plot of Sundance film Lords of Chaos. However, there was no way to prepare for the brutal way the story is presented through the eyes of Euronymous (Rory Culkin). … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Queen of Fear
Alone in her mansion, famous Argentine theater actress Robertina (Valeria Bertuccelli) grows increasingly anxious in the days leading up to her much anticipated, one-woman show in The Queen of Fear. … read more
Sundance Film Festival: Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
“Come inside my mind,” says Robin Williams, in his own distinctive voice as the film opens with a scene from a different time—an interview where Williams uses an impromptu performance as the answer to a question about whether he can think faster than most people. … read more
Sundance Film Festival: Our New President
Before the screening, director Maxim Pozdorovkin jokingly warned that his film, Our New President, had so much archival Russian propaganda footage that it was probably not safe for human consumption in one sitting, saying, “You’re not going to feel good at the end of this.” … read more
Sundance Film Review: Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Director RaMell Ross described the loosely developed plot of Hale County This Morning, This Evening, as an “anti-narrative.” The film is a series of beautiful scenes of Hale County, Alabama, and seems to be a love letter to the people there, specifically the black community. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Kailash
Kailash is a World Documentary selection that covers many horrors of child labor and the fight against it. Kailash Satyarthi is a Nobel Peace Prize recipient for his work of fighting against child labor around the world. … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Death of Stalin
It’s difficult to imagine humor in the midst of bleak, Soviet-era Russia during and directly after Stalin’s demise, but writer/ director Armando Iannucci seems to have found the way to effectively normalize and satirize the horrific events in Sundance film The Death of Stalin. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Mexman
Germán Alonso’s main project is Mexman, an idea Alonso first worked on for his senior thesis at USC. It’s a crazy story—one about a Mexican immigrant who comes to America for a better future, who then dies unexpectedly and is subsequently turned into a “cyborg slave.” … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Lovers
With the gorgeous backdrop of Copenhagen, Denmark, Lovers explores the inner workings of three people at different stages of their respective love lives, in an almost episodic sequence. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Fake Tattoos
Opening with a confusion of racing cars and yelling to a black background, the first actual scene of Le Faux Tatouages is of brooding, angry teen Théo (Anthony Therrien) wearing a Dead Kennedys T-shirt, being carded at a convenience store while buying his first pack of beer on his 18th birthday (the scene is set in Montreal). … read more
Sustainable Filmmaking: Slamdance Polytechnic
Slamdance Polytechnic promises to provide resources, practical information and learning opportunities together around the Slamdance Film Festival—giving those who are interested in the art of filmmaking a chance to go beyond simply viewing independent films at the festival and one step closer to successfully creating their own. … read more
Taking the Hard Road: Sugar House Distillery
For four years, Sugar House Distillery has been steadily making an impact on Utah liquor, focusing on the quality of their product and honing their craft. … read more
Utah’s Haunting History: Jennifer Jones of The Dead History
The Dead History focuses on the factual evidence that Jones digs up through her research, but does not discredit the ghost stories behind these reputable locations and people. … read more
Bamboo Revolution: Daniel Wagner and NaturePonics
Daniel Wagner’s goal for NaturePonics is to revolutionize the way we grow and source our food. This means eradicating practices that destroy the environment. … read more
Crucial for Utah: Crucialfest 7
Ultimately, Crucialfest 7 is a festival made by Utahns for Utahns, and it is a must-see for local music aficionados and fans of the headlining bands alike. … read more
Man of the Museum: Tim Lee of the Natural History...
Exhibits Manager & Senior Exhibit Designer Tim Lee has been designing exhibits for NHMU for 14 years, in what Lee refers to as “storytelling through space.” Lee says, “I try to make the objects the stars and the stories at the center of every experience.” … read more
Ogden’s Ticket to Ride: Danielle Fry of Ogden Bicycle Collective
At the head of Ogden Bicycle Collective is Director Danielle Fry, who believes in a mission of giving the people of Ogden access to bicycles when other transportation options may not be as viable. … read more
The Quantum Artist: Tara McPherson
Dreamy portraits in hues of pastel blues and pinks are trademarks of New York–based artist Tara McPherson. Often depicting dainty figurines with a mystical, surreal air, the subjects of McPherson’s paintings delve into myth, emotion and astronomy. … read more
Lavender Vinyl: Downtown Ogden’s Premier Record Store
Lavender Vinyl houses an eclectic and well-rounded mix of vinyl records in many different genres, and has already made an impact on Ogden’s music scene despite having only been in business for less than a year. For owners Hallows and Lundell, the name Lavender Vinyl draws a parallel between the serenity that comes with music and the calming effect of lavender. … read more
The Eternal Art Major: Sam Wilson
Sam Wilson’s paintings feature portraits—often recognized from pop culture and art history—that are juxtaposed almost on top of each other. The trademark style of cluttered portraits in the same painting with colorful motifs in the background is something that Wilson attributes to his compulsions to fill the entirety of his paintings. … read more
East Meets West: Wallace Mecham’s Hybrid Banjos
By challenging the notion of what a traditional banjo should sound like by Western standards, Wallace Mecham hopes to create a hybrid of the Eastern and Western styles of music. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Supergirl
Naomi Kutin is a fairly normal, Orthodox Jewish, preteen girl growing in New Jersey. The only catch: She is also a world-record-breaking powerlifter, who, at one point in the movie Supergirl, deadlifts almost three times her body weight. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: On The Sly: In Search of the...
Starting innocently enough as a documentary of a fan trying to score an interview with their favorite musical artist, On the Sly turns into a decade-long search for Sly Stone, the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone and composer of hit classics like “Everyday People” and “Thank You.” … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Bogalusa Charm
Bogalusa Charm chronicles the people of Bogalusa, who narrate their own interwoven histories as part of the collective lore of the town. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Cortez
Cinematically, Cortez is a beautiful film and focuses on the wild, unpredictable nature of the Southwest. It follows the story of struggling musician Jesse as he is aimlessly drifts from town to town, trying to make it as a solo musician after the breakup of his band. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Weather House
“Weather House” depicts a post-apocalyptic world where humans are driven to the brink of extinction via extreme and sudden temperature shifts. While the film does not give us many clues as to how the world came to be this way, it does show what a certain, cult-like group does in order to ensure its survival. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: The Modern Jungle
“The Modern Jungle,” directed by Charles Fairbanks and Saul Kak, depicts life in an area of Oaxaca, Mexico, known as La Selva Negra (The Black Jungle), and follows local Zoque shaman, Juan Juarez Rodriguez and his neighbor and friend, Carmen Echavarría Gomez. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Kate Can’t Swim
“Kate Can’t Swim,” directed by Josh Helman, can almost be described as a post-coming of age film as Kate (Celeste Arias) starts to feel unsettled right as her life is seemingly falling into place. Artistically, all of the elements are in place for a visually stunning cinematic experience. “Kate Can’t Swim” shows on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ballroom and Jan. 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the Gallery. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Dave Made a Maze
Slamdance Film Festival’s “Dave Made a Maze,” directed by Bill Watterson, is a quirky, absurd comedy with a touch of horror-movie antics, starting with Annie (Meera Rohit Kumbhani) learning that her boyfriend Dave (Nick Thune) is inside of a cardboard mass. “Dave Made a Maze” plays Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 23 at 10:30 a.m. in the Ballroom. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Beat Beat Heart
Slamdance Film Festival’s “Beat Beat Heart,” directed by Luise Brinkmann, creatively portrays how a person heals from a heartbreak—especially in a closed-off, small-town setting. … read more
Ford Clitaurus at Slamdance: MP Cunningham
Ford Clitaurus is a 2017 Slamdance Film Festival short with an oddball sense of humor. Taking place in Salt Lake City, the story follows three friends’ misadventures, from an inspirational interview with a triathelete gone awry to a sheepdog competition to playing chess with a Sufi mystic while pondering one’s sexuality at Liberty Park. … read more
Infinit-O: Corazon Del Sol
Infinit-O is a video game that reaches into the bizarre. The player is confronted with the absurd and artistic at the same time. … read more
The Rough Year Chronicled: Matt Mascarenas of Westing
Westing has evolved into something of a fully realized, post-hardcore sound, complete with full instrumentals, high intensity and honest lyricism. … read more
Caffé D’Bolla: The Art & Science of Coffee
Caffé D’Bolla offers a unique coffee-tasting experience that is not found anywhere else in the city: siphon-brewed coffee—also roasted onsite—which highlights the nuances and complexities of each roast. … read more
The Peachy Side of Utah Liquor: Ogden’s Own Distillery
Everyone loves local cinnamon whiskey, Porter’s Fire—and now, there’s another seasonal Utahns are going to get to love. Ogden’s Own Distillery has created Porter’s Peach, which came out just in time for fruit season and is too delicious to resist. … read more
A Year of Local Music: Wes Johnson of Archive Recordings
Archive Recordings has compiled some of the best local tracks that they recorded from the past year to form the Archive Recordings 2016 Collection. The release show takes place on Monday, Oct. 24, at Kilby Court at 7 p.m. … read more
The Republic of Zaqistan: Zaq Landsberg, Founder of Zaqistan
Unbeknown to many Utahns is another country in their backyard. After recently celebrating its 10th year since its founding in 2005, the nation, known as the Republic of Zaqistan, is located in the desert, just west of the Great Salt Lake. This year, Zaqistan is opening up its doors to tourism and partnering with CUAC to host expeditions into the desolate nation as well as an exhibition on the country. … read more
An Evening in Brazil: Dustin Gledhill and Lucas Pullin
For one night, the sounds, sights and flavors of Brazil will feel a little closer to home with Taste of Brazil, a program featuring Julliard Performance Conservatory graduates Dustin Gledhill on piano (of Hive Riot fame) and Lucas Pullin on guitar performing the music of 20th-century Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos at The Forge Collective on Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. … read more
Joshy Soul and the Cool: Craft Lake City Performer
Even on a hot day in late June, Joshy Soul sticks to his vintage aesthetic with a suit and a hat, his mustache neatly curled at the ends. It’s this throwback style that sets Joshy Soul and the Cool apart in the local music scene. … read more
Michele Medina’s Chamber Musicians: Craft Lake City Performer
Contemporary classical music is an oft neglected genre with few empowering or practicing opportunities for individuals who are not students or professionals. Local violinist Michele Medina has been challenging that notion, creating spaces for chamber musicians to learn music and perform together. … read more
Will Baxter Band: Craft Lake City Performer
A unique blend of jazz, blues and soul, the Will Baxter Band is a group that can be seen regularly around the Salt Lake City area, improving and grooving wherever they go. The sound is effortlessly soulful with hints of New Orleans jazz with trumpet and a little bit of funky organ and bass. … read more
Margaret Glaspy: Emotions and Craft
With a soulfully sweet voice and a songwriting structure that mimics poetry, singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy considers herself somewhat of a craftsman. … read more
The Band That Lived: Paul DeGeorge of Harry and the...
Centered primarily around J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series and the movies that followed, Harry and the Potters are known for epitomizing Harry Potter fan culture with catchy, keyboard-laden jams that capture the campy yet somewhat serious nature of Rowling’s novels, which they’ll soon bring to Salt Lake City on May 28 at Kilby Court. … read more
Localized: Larusso
This month’s Localized will feature the heavy-hitting, poetic antics of Sights, followed by the addictive melodies of Larusso and Heartless Breakers headlining the show. If you miss the angsty days of the mid ’00s when Brand New and Taking Back Sunday dominated the airwaves, you better be at Urban Lounge on Thursday, July 16 at
Rock and Roar: Shawn James and the Shapeshifters
Fusing only the best elements from blues, metal and rock n’ roll, Arkansas-based rockers Shawn James and the Shapeshifters describe their eclectic, frenzied sound as “Rock and Roar.” Their most recent release features some of their most ambitiously soulful pieces to date with plenty of fiddle, banjo and heavy guitar to accent frontman Shawn James’ richly fervent vocals. … read more
Rock n’ Roll Swap Meet
The first Rock n’ Roll Swap Meet will take place at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake on April 24 with a special collector’s hour from 10 to 11 a.m. for $20. The meet will be open to the public from 11 to 4 p.m. for $2 and is free for children under 12. … read more
Mostly Harmless: David Bello of The World is a Beautiful...
Harmlessness, the second full-length album from emo band The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die, has elevated the band’s status in the indie community. … read more
The Legend of Star Wolf
As part homage to the well known game Star Fox, Star Wolf started as a side project for Campana, who is also known for his role as lead guitarist and songwriter for local metal act Visigoth, as a way to work on music late at night. … read more
Dance Out in the Sun: Interview with Hive Riot
Comprising brother/sister-in-law duo Mindy (vocals) and Dustin Gledhill (synths), Hive Riot brings both artists’ best attributes to light. “I felt like we both had strengths we could bring to the table” says Mindy. … read more
Localized: Herban Empire
Homegrown alt-reggae group Herban Empire have been a part of the local circuit for almost 10 years, as they are the product of good friends with a shared love for music. The interest in the same kind of bands, such as 311 and Sublime, fed into their style, and soon they were creating their own take on the genre. … read more
Localized: Tribe of I
Since forming in 2012, Tribe of I have been a group that thrives on live performances and improvisation. The positive vibes that Tribe of I emanate come from a unique mix of alternative, reggae and hip-hop. It’s a combination that has garnered the attention of the larger, national acts that Tribe of I have opened for, as well as earning them a solid and loyal fanbase within the Salt Lake reggae scene. … read more
Babes in Toyland @ Urban Lounge 09.01 with FEA
Babes in Toyland, having reunited after a 14 year hiatus, are touring again with original members Kat Bjelland and Lori Barbero. … read more
Babes in Toyland: Babes on Tour
The height of the grunge era of the ’90s was defined by loud, aggressive rock, distorted guitars and high-octane performances, and Minneapolis-based Babes in Toyland epitomized this sound from their inception in 1986 to their dissolution in 2001. Their narrative is steeped in the late ’80s and early ’90s, making them synonymous with bands such
Localized: Heartless Breakers
This month’s Localized will feature the heavy-hitting, poetic antics of Sights, followed by the addictive melodies of Larusso and Heartless Breakers headlining the show. If you miss the angsty days of the mid ’00s when Brand New and Taking Back Sunday dominated the airwaves, you better be at Urban Lounge on Thursday, July 16 at