Authors: Nick Kuzmack
Prelude to Invasion: Questions for Another Ska Revival.
Blazing a checkered trail through North America, the Ska Revival Tour is about to land on the salty shores of Salt Lake City on August 6th. While ska music has not died out, this revival tour seeks to shine a spot light on an otherwise overlooked and perhaps under appreciated genre. … read more
Ex-Cult @ Kilby Court 08.16 with Zig Zags, Swamp Ravens,...
After the first number is concluded, he comes off stage, and approaches an audience member who has a joint in hand. Taking the little doobie, he glares at the spectator while taking a hit. Returning to the stage, Shaw shares his prize with the band. Very cool and charismatic with no fucks given, Ex-Cult jumps right back into where they left off. … read more
Cosmonauts @ The Shred Shed 08.15 with Beat Hotel, Breakers,...
The world seems to be going to hell in a hand basket with the greats getting one-way tickets out of here. To find some relief from these epic bummers, the path to temporary salvation seems to include finding a bar to crawl into or checking out a Rock n’ Roll gig. Luckily for me, I am able to do both. … read more
Roots, Radicals and Rockers: Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers
It’s been busy year for Stiff Little Fingers—they’ve completed their latest album No Going Back, toured the world, played the Rebellion Festival and are about to hit the salty shores of Salt Lake City as a part of Offspring’s “Smash 20th Anniversary” tour. How are things going for the gang? Well according to Jake Burns, “Fantastically well, actually.” … read more
Punk Rock Summer Nationals 2014 @ The Complex 08.26 with...
The Complex seems to have the edge when it comes to booking big-name punk acts. In the last year alone, Salt Lake has been graced by the likes of Adam Ant, Screeching Weasel—via the SLC Punk 2 film—and even Black Flag. Of course attending these gigs provides a hefty dent in the wallet, but it’s arguably worth the nostalgia, or in tonight’s case, a possible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the legendary act, Stiff Little Fingers. … read more
Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas @ Urban Lounge 08.27 with...
This week has not been short of good gigs, having caught Stiff Little Fingers the night before, one might think that’s enough. But it isn’t. A month prior to tonight’s venture into the dimly lit venue, I looked up Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas via the Urban Lounge site. Thinking that a band having the name Deltas in it, they must be cool, I checked out their music video for “Caught Up.” My initial reaction was along the lines of “right, I know what I’m doing.” Though, I will confess to my eagerness to check this gig being somewhat considerable, as again I’m early and sipping my drink, waiting for the gig to kick off. … read more
Monorchist @ Diabolical Records 08.29 with Creature Double Feature, Coyote...
I’ve already spent 45 minutes listening to various 45s at Diabolical Records and I need to go into temporal exile from the lures of an addicting habit. My exile is brief—I come back to find that things are still not yet underway. But I find that the members of Monorchist are tailgating in the parking lot. After introducing myself, I am invited to join them in some pre-gaming before their big comeback gig. … read more
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats @ Urban Lounge 10.04 with...
The month of All Hallows’ Eve has come upon us, and what better way to kick this off than to witness Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats blast out their fuzzed, psych-induced ’70s-style heavy metal that arouses nostalgia for the early years of Black Sabbath. … read more
Dum Dum Girls @ The Depot 10.17 with Ex Cops
Playing the Dum Dum Girls single “Pay for Me,” I was immediately hooked by the melodic-but-with-an-edge vocals provided by Dee Dee Penny. The following week, I decided that the only logical course of action was to check out their show at The Depot. As this is the only way one with a Blues Brothers mission-from-god-like enthusiasm for the addictive sound of rock n’ roll can proceed. … read more
Punk Rock Halloween 2014 @ Diabolical Records 10.31 with Chalk,...
Every party or night of heavy partaking prior to All Hallows’ Eve is a stepping stone to build the tolerance of the faithful for the ultimate celebration of horror-filled thrills and chills. By this, I mean the traditional celebration of paying respect to the great punk bands of years before by playing the devil’s music for Punk Rock Halloween. … read more