Authors: Alex Cragun
Local Reviews: Summerteeth
Summerteeth’s recent release is a conglomeration of swirling hooks and high-neck diddles played through synthpop keyboard. The EP has an early ’00s indie rock influence that plays out well with its lo-fi guitars, discordant vocals and simple chord progressions. … read more
Local Reviews: Austin Joseph
Early Years, Austin Joseph’s first album, has an intriguing duality to it—whether it was a conscious effort is left to the listener to decide. To start, Mr. Joseph looks pretty clean cut: all smiles, hair gel and jeans. His musicality reflects this clean-cut image: uplifting keys and inspirational guitar. It’s clear that Joseph has extensively studied the catalogs of Pete Seeger, Gordon Lightfoot and other guitar-wielding good guys. … read more
Local Reviews: Matthew and The Hope
Matthew and The Hope wasn’t my kind of jam. Matthew claims to sound like Joshua James or Ray LaMontague, but I see his vocal styles as akin to back-of-the-throat singers from neo-grunge (think Scott Stapp or Gavin Rossdale). That being said, Matthew Bashaw has solid vocal skills, but the man needs someone to back him up if he is going to pull off the alternative country sound. … read more
All That Is Left: The Left Show Celebrates 100 Episodes
Somewhere in West Jordan, in an underground bunker, a man is making dick jokes. For over 100 episodes, the guys at The Left Show have been dishing up the pressing political issues of the day, all the while piling on an insurmountable amount of self-deprecating humor. … read more
Painted Temple: Tattoo Craftsmen to the World
When I first walked into Painted Temple Tattoo, I got the feeling that I had walked into the wrong shop. However, underneath this art gallery/tattoo shop is a world of pure metal manufacturing: acetylene torches, surface grinders and spare parts. It’s one thing to illustrate bodies—it’s another to craft the tools yourself. Dan Walker and Oak Adams, the owners and artists at Painted Temple, have been crafting their own tattoo machines (don’t call it a gun) since 2007, and business is good. … read more
CrucialFest 5 Recap: Area 51 – Day One
It’s finally here! My musical Christmas is here (I should have a beer advent calendar) and oh boy, was it a fun first night. In a matter of six hours, I saw eleven bands. While bouncing between the booze and sans-booze rooms at Area 51 (a venue I haven’t been to since I was 17. It hasn’t changed a bit.) I had my face melted off on multiple occasions. … read more
True Horror: Thirteen Years of the Working Dog
Working Dog is an unofficial fixture of the University of Utah’s highly ranked graduate creative writing program. Named after the phrase “working like a dog,” the premise is simple: a once-monthly evening of art, wine and students reading material from their portfolios. … read more
Pissing My Jeans on RSD
More than 10 years after the band’s inception, Pissed Jeans have gone from punk stardom to Sub Pop’s best-kept secret. A combination of hardcore punk and noise rock, with a smattering of dudeist cynicism, Pissed Jeans were a total gamble—a divergence from typical Sub Pop artists of the last decade like Fleet Foxes and The Shins. … read more