Authors: Kia McGinnis
Widowspeak @ Urban Lounge 10.26 with Big Wild Things, Pure...
Having been described as “cowboy grunge,” Widowspeak quilt together classic Americana with darker rock and roll touches. Their Northwest background seems to add a very ’90s texture to their music. It was a bit alarming to me that there were only 30 people at most there to witness what was sure to be a glorious set. I overcompensated my excitement with cranberry vodkas and spilled one all over the floor during the first opener, Big Wild Things. … read more
Neutral Milk Hotel @ The Depot 04.01 with Elf Power
The symphonic effect of the full band seems to be a testament to the length of time that they have been making music together. Maybe after so many hours, weeks and months of this, they transcend as a group into music nirvana. Their music crosses into the familiar and timeless effortlessly, like a classic novel that anyone can pick up and connect with. The relationship Jeff has with his songs is incredibly intimate, and when he shares them with an audience their vulnerability is illustrious and historic. … read more
Cunninlynguists @ Urban Lounge 04.17 with Dumb Luck, Nemo Achida,...
There’s nothing like arriving painfully early to the Urban Lounge on a Thursday. It’s dark, covered in the sticky residue of alcohol and/or sweat and sort of sad—like a teenage boy’s basement bedroom. I roosted in one of the decrepit booths and listened to an hour of sound check and A Tribe Called Quest being played at a shittily loud volume. Being a white girl from the suburbs, I take a certain pride in my love for Tribe. I felt like screaming to the three male strangers in the room, “THIS IS MY JAM, FUCKERS!” … read more
Run On Sentence: Feelings & Freedom
Folk is, by definition, the carrying of culture. Dustin Hamman of Run On Sentence instinctively understands this—whether he’s at a hot springs ranch or a film festival, he internalizes experiences to translate into his music. His storytelling is second nature. … read more
Conor Oberst @ Red Butte Gardens 09.14 With Jonathan Wilson
It’s likely that when you think of Conor Oberst, you think of Bright Eyes. His latest album and second solo release, Upside Down Mountain, suggests that his growth as an artist is still a working priority. … read more
An Interview with Brooke LaChance
Mary Brooke LaChance does not look like someone battling Stage IV Melanoma. She is young and strikingly beautiful, with softly glowing skin and a sweet smile. … read more
Tacos and Graffiti: An Interview with Anthony Ortega
For as long as he can remember, Ortega has been dabbling in art. Whether it was ceramics or spray paint, he has always had his hands covered in something. … read more
SLUG Swings SXSW
Being handed a press pass for SXSW made me feel like a 12-year-old in a candy store with an unlimited credit card. Believe me, whatever you’ve heard about Austin being the place to see music is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. … read more
SLUG Swings SXSW Day Two
Attending a festival such as SXSW requires a level of patience and strategy not intended for the weak of heart. For my second day, I dedicated the majority of my time to an event put on by The House of Vans at the local indoor/outdoor venue The Mohawk. … read more
SLUG Swings SXSW Day Three
Let me start off with a sincere wish—that Salt Lake City can grow into its still budding music scene and take some serious lessons from Austin. The 801 has got the community-oriented mindset that it takes to foster musicians, and our venues are only getting better, but something we are severely lacking is concert etiquette. … read more