Music
Naysayer @ SLC Foursquare Church 07.19
The best thing about all-ages hardcore shows isn’t the moshing. It’s not the contrived feeling of male camaraderie and it’s not the chance to shout along to a butchered Chain of Strength cover. No, the best thing about all-ages hardcore shows is the simple fact that six legitimate bands can play full sets, and the passive observer can still be home in time for 10 PM Simpsons re-runs and a hot bath before the following work day. … read more
JP Haynie, Mooninite, Ben Best @ Kilby 07.12
Concluding the night with songs from his new LP, The Sand, JP Haynie was joined on stage with bandmates Nate Housley on bass, Greg Wilson on guitar, Danny Orme on drums and Denny Fuller on the trumpet. … read more
Teen Daze, Beat Connection and White Arrows @ Kilby 07.18
Teen Daze evinces the same sort of tactile relationship with his equipment as does a guitar player as he fiddles with the knobs, a coy simper on his face. … read more
She’s A Lady Fest: 2012 Edition @ Free Speech Zone...
I am happy to announce to you Salt Lake City dwellers that a community of extraordinarily talented female musicians surrounds us. This years Lady Fest at the Free Speech Zone showcased an exciting variety of such local artists. … read more
Liars @ Urban Lounge with Cadence Weapon
Then, like a splash of hot oil in the face, we were hit with the caustic surf guitar and cymbal crash of Sisterworld’s “Scarecrows on a Killer Slant.” The crowd members immediately started slamming into each other as our long-forgotten punk instincts took over, and the band took advantage of our heightened energy as they moved into the dance-punk club banger, “Brats,” from WIXIW. It was as if the Liars from 2001 met the Liars from 2012 and made a song together—too bad nobody knew how to dance, because this would have been the time for it. … read more
Fitz and the Tantrums @ The Depot 07.03
After spending a night with Fitz and the Tantrums, I realized that when artists take a quintessentially American music staple like soul and douse it in Los Angeles swagger, I get all gushy about living in a country that makes this brand of awesome possible. … read more
Girl Talk 06.21 @ In the Venue
Although I’d never attended a Girl Talk show and am hardly partial towards mashups to begin with, I felt hard pressed to see what Gregg Gillis was all about considering he’s been getting repeat plays in my car. From what I’d heard, Gillis’ modus operandi for his live music’s production relied solely on a single laptop—nothing else. … read more
This Will Destroy You @ Urban 06.14
The band sets up quickly, and we all congregate to the front of the stage. Without a word, Jeremy Galindo (guitar, effects), Chris King (guitar), Alex Bhore (drums) and Donovan Jones (bass) begin to play their heavy, otherworldly brand of ambient noise-rock. … read more
John Ross Boyce and His Troubles @ Kilby Court 06.12
As a former resident of the area, I empathize with the folks that live down in Utah County. The community has an overbearing influence from BYU and can, at times, become pretty annoying. Luckily that town has a thriving music scene for folks to find an outlet to release frustrations, and bands like John-Ross Boyce and His Troubles express the woes of life in a counter-religious way, providing tunes for all the troubled kids that may find themselves in deadbeat Provo. … read more
The Shins, The Head and The Heart, Blind Pilot @...
What’s better than getting to see The Shins? Getting to see two bands you’ve been solidly obsessed with for ages beforehand, making for a holy trifecta of folk pop. This Red Butte show sold out like crazy despite $50 tickets, so clearly I wasn’t alone in recognizing the glory of this lineup. … read more