Authors: James Orme
Punk Rock Valhalla: Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, The Selecter, Kevin Seconds...
For the encore, both Dropkick Murphys and Rancid took the stage, and what transpired was glorious: a slew of covers from the Ramones to Johnny Cash. … read more
Walking Contradiction: Justin Townes Earle
There’s an inherent conflict to Justin Townes Earle. He’s often touted as Americana or alt-country, but he’s able to incorporate blues and folk in a very sincere way, while still keeping himself as a through line in each song. … read more
Local Reviews: Opal Hill Drive
Rumor has it this record took eight years to release. What was the big hold up? I’m sorry, but at this stage in your music career, you should be pushing as hard as you can. … read more
Local Reviews: Timothy Hay
This Wreckerd is all over the place as far as genre, bouncing back and forth from blues to folk and everything in between. However, this roots cavalcade hits all the right spots to make an interesting record. With over a dozen players featured, the record becomes epic in scope. … read more
Local Reviews: Victims Willing
I couldn’t be more impressed with a band I hadn’t heard a thing about until I had the CD in my hands. This is hardcore punk rock with just as much vibrancy and attention to melody as brutality, and it has as much viscosity as anyone can handle. … read more
Local Reviews: The Fully Blown
How do I relate to you the greatness found on this record? In complicated words I could say, The Fully Blown is a heavy hard rock band with post-punk influences and lightly dusted with hardcore inflections, with touches of psychedelic guitar work. Simply put, they fucking rock. … read more
Swingin’ Utters, Version Two, Utah County Swillers @ Metro 09.13
On Sept. 13, SLC’s Metro Bar hosted three punk bands that you’ll be sad to have missed: Ogden’s own Version Two, the Utah County Swillers, and the headliner, the Swingin’ Utters. … read more
Bloodshot Bill: A One-Man Riot
“I just think of myself as the human jukebox, just a noise-making, and hopefully, you like the noise I make,” says Bloodshot Bill. Hailing from great Montreal, Bill has been raging on the rockabilly scene since ’98—and this October, Bill will light up the stage in Salt Lake City and Ogden. … read more
Luke Bell: The Country Gentleman
When it comes to country music, it’s all about the song, the story, the emotion and, for the lack of a better word, the soul. That’s the thing that can’t be faked. So, when the real thing comes along, it is like a punch to the gut. That’s how I felt when I first heard Luke Bell, who comes to play Salt Lake City at The State Room on Aug. 2. … read more
Pine Hill Haints: Spirits That Are Willing
If it’s the latest, up-to-the-minute, newfangled music you want, you better look elsewhere, because that’s not what the Pine Hill Haints do. If you want honesty and candor done creatively, that’s what the Haints deliver in droves. … read more