Authors: Matt Brunk
Make Do And Mend, Sights Sounds, Heartless Breakers @ The...
After the first time I saw Make Do And Mend on tour with Senses Fail, I pledged to myself that I’d never miss a chance to see an MDAM show. I had the opportunity to catch them a second time in Seattle, celebrating the recording of their latest album, Everything You Ever Loved, and have been itching desperately for another chance ever since. When their latest tour was announced, I was one of many who were bummed that they were passing over Salt Lake City this time. I underestimated them, however, being proven wrong shortly after thanks to an announcement for their off date in SLC, coming all the way here just to play a show for us before catching back up with their tourmates for the rest of the haul. Make Do And Mend love SLC, and everyone that showed up proved that we love them, too. … read more
Off With Their Heads with Alkaline Trio, Bayside @ In...
In a surprising twist of events on the “Nobody Plays Salt Lake” reality show, Alkaline Trio made this fan undyingly happy by deciding to rock SLC two times in the past four months. The opening band also played Salt Lake City recently, a trio of incredibly talented fellows performing under the name Off With Their Heads. I caught them at Burt’s Tiki Lounge that night and knew that they’d be kicking ass again even if they weren’t headlining this time. They played just as well this time, no nonsense and no bullshit banter, just music. … read more
Ballyhoo! with Authority Zero, Versus The World, Racist Kramer @...
On this particular Saturday, Bar Deluxe was the stopping point for the Summer Sickness 2013 CD release tour for Ballyhoo! and Authority Zero. Not overly familiar with either band’s catalog, although a fan of what I’ve heard, I was excited to get a chance to see both of these bands up close and personal and get a real idea of what they’re all about. … read more
From Ohio and Back Again: Hawthorne Heights Return To Warped...
Weathering more than their fair share of hurdles, including label disputes and the unfortunate loss of friend, guitarist and screamer Casey Calvert, nothing has managed to keep Hawthorne Heights from playing the music they love. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist JT Woodruff in-between shows on their way to the tour start in Seattle to talk about their new album and what it’s like being part of Warped Tour. … read more
SLUG Journalist Needs Water Badly: A Warped Tour Story
On Saturday, June 29 of the year 2013, I set out into the arid wasteland of Warped Tour with little more than a camera, a bottle of water, and the cheapest bottle of suncreen that I could find. … read more
Crucialfest Day One @ The Woodshed 06.26
On a warm and muggy Wednesday night, I had the opportunity to cover the first night of Crucialfest 3 at the Wood Shed. While technically starting at Kilby Court earlier that day, I was stoked to get in and get some of that sweet Crucialfest vibe. If you’ve never heard of Crucialfest, now is a good time to catch up before next year. A huge, local festival, getting bigger and bigger every year, Crucialfest is literally a crucial part of the Utah music scene in a big way. Taking place over several days and several different venues, with mostly local acts peppered with a few touring bands, it’s a great way to dive in and get a grab bag of new tunes.
Crucialfest Day Two @ Killby Court 06.27
On the second day of Crucialfest 3, the music gods looked upon Kilby Court and decided, “This is where the rock shall be.” A little slice of all-ages paradise, Kilby Court is a great venue tucked away in the back of an alley. The only downside is a serious lack of air conditioning, but fantastic lighting and sound makes up for it. Besides, it’s the summer—if you’re not sweating, then you’re not trying hard enough. One of the most fun things about Kilby Court that doesn’t really translate to a lot of venues is also the easygoing, casual vibe. “Casual” is the best way to describe Kilby all the way around, with the open garage door in back and courtyard full of stickers with a firepit flanked by park benches. Not a half bad way to catch some tunes and make some new friends. … read more
My Ticket Home with Sights Sounds, I Am King, Night...
For SLUG’s end-of-the-year wrap-up last year, I chose My Ticket Home’s To Create A Cure as one of my Top 5 albums, and I’ve been watching the news for a while, waiting for my chance to hear them live. There’s just something about them that I loved right away, especially after watching the video for “New Breed.” Plenty of bands do the heavy-and-light mix, but I thought there was a genuine passion in their take, an earnestness that stood out to me. Touring to promote their new album, Strangers Only, they finally announced a Salt Lake show in the second half, bringing along Night Verses and I Am King to round out the bill. … read more
Music Without The Middleman: Visitors, Heartless Breakers, Eidola and Visioneer...
On Aug. 23, four hard-working, incredibly-talented local bands are combining their powers into one hell of a bill designed to spread their own particular brands of badassery into the airwaves. I met up with a bunch of these guys at the Beer Hive to get the low-down on the show, and it was a hell of a fun time. Just one conversation with this group, and it’s clear that they’ve got a lot of passion for their craft and a lot of love for the scene. … read more
Uproar Festival 2013: Rockstars and Wannabes 09.02 @ USANA Ampitheater
Typically anchored by fairly recognizable and boring headlining acts like Disturbed or Shinedown, this year those acts consisted of the strange combination of Circa Survive, Coheed & Cambria, Jane’s Addiction and the legendary Alice In Chains – strange mix, but finally compelling enough for me to begrudgingly make it to an Uproar date. Make no mistake, though, I’ve got a lot of generic bullshit to tear apart before we get to the good stuff. … read more