Music
Dead But Dreaming: Rockstar Mayhem Festival 2011
The day started early, but already the summer sun was scorching the thousands of eager fans lined up outside the gates. The Main Stage was still being drilled and hammered together, so I followed the river of black shirts down a grassy knoll and to the huge side field where the Revolver and Jagermeister stages had been set up, one at each end, ringed by the merch booths of every band on the tour. … read more
Vegetable, Handicapitalist, Firebrand, Dick Janitor @ Raunch 06.29
The shows that Raunch Records hosts are consistently solid. The crowd is energetic and colorful, the bands kick ass and proprietor Brad Collins is a friendly, genuine dude. The audience, who had filed in to listen to Handicapitalist, Dick Janitor, Firebrand and Vegetable, didn’t know it at the time, but in the back parking lot of Raunch Records there was a sinister car full of kids who probably deserved a fine stomping. … read more
Kid Cudi @ Saltair 06.27
As we expected, Cudi killed it. Touring with a live band, this time around the music was more personal. Instruments bring a whole new feel to some of his classic tunes, as well as his new shit that is more evolved. … read more
My Dead Ego and The Last Look @ Utah Arts...
My Dead Ego is the stage name of Allison Martin, previously of Cavedoll. Martin is a piano prodigy, who finds herself quite at home on the stage and also shines as vocalist, backed by the band The Last Look. Martin relishes the stage, she exudes confidence and charisma and you’d never know from hearing her that this is her first project wherein she sings. … read more
Tech N9ne, Jay Rock, Krizz Kaliko, Stevie Stone, Kit Calhoun...
I arrived at the All 6’s and 7’s tour at the Great Saltair and immediately felt a little out of place—I wasn’t aware that Tech N9ne’s fanbase is the Bloods. I’m glad I’m not in a gang so I can wear whatever color I want. … read more
Cake @ Red Butte Garden 06.16
Although my musical tastes have shifted and evolved over the past decade or so, listening to Cake was an important part of my young teenage years. At parties, I danced like a maniac, kicking and knocking people’s drinks from their hands to “Stick Shifts and Safety Belts.” … read more
This Will Destroy You with Pure X and Sleep Over...
Words don’t hold enough meaning to describe my experience seeing This Will Destroy You live at Kilby. … read more
The Meatmen @ Burt’s 04.05
It was freezing. Why I had elected to ride my bike down to Burt’s Tiki Lounge for The Meatmen show was beyond me, but I didn’t have time to think about it—only time to get inside and order an overpriced beer. I didn’t really know what to expect. At the very least, I hoped it would be good. … read more
Here We Go Magic @ Urban Lounge 05.04
Having recently reviewed Here We Go Magic’s proggy The January EP, I went into this show wondering a couple things: would they be able to reproduce the EP’s intricacies live, and more importantly, would it be any fun? The show ended up surprising me pleasantly, making my original concerns irrelevant. … read more
A-Trak @ Complex 05.10
Alain Macklovich a.k.a. A-Trak has been a busy man. One month ago, he left Coachella after playing a wild set with Duck Sauce mate Armand Van Helden and met up with Kid Sister and the Gaslamp Killer to kick off the Magic 8 Ball Tour. Serving partially as a pretext for A-Trak’s most current stage design, the tour spanned south from coast to coast twice, ending up in Salt Lake City last Tuesday. … read more