Music
▼ Interview
The Used: Fuck You Cakes and French Movies
Say what you will about Orem’s The Used, but I have a small place in my heart for the first local band I ever interviewed on air and the first rock band to really “make it big” outside this small bubble. The last time we spoke, it was to reminisce about Asian massage parlors on Pico and Bundy (no shit). This time it was a bit more professional. … read more
The Slits; Unleashed Animal
It’s been 30 years since the release of The Slits’ influential debut album, Cut. Ari Up, only 14 years old when she started the group, was a woman destined for greatness––after all, she grew up in a household that became a stomping ground for punks and, well … her stepfather was Johnny fucking Rotten of the Sex Pistols. … read more
OM: Vespers and Vigils
Ascend. A light skyward to the field rise claimant to freedom.
One key element that separates OM from the wide majority of their peers is the obvious spirituality in the lyrics, and subsequently the music as a whole. Every part of the sound is devotional and surrendered as prayer. … read more
Royal or Not, Cable is Back!
After twelve years, a few breakups and about ten releases. A year after the release of their live album Last Call, I found an article where Cable had mentioned that the one studio track on that album had the line-up they wished they had on every album, and that gave me hope that, true to Cable form, they would get back together. Sure enough a year or two later, a The End Records signed Cable!
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The Man Who Put the R in Music: A Conversation...
While most everyone was mourning the loss of the King of Pop, I was preparing myself to interview reggae legend Frederick “Toots” Hibbert of The Maytals. When I emailed my good fortune to a few friends, they all sent back the same question— “Who’s that?” I wondered how I could possibly call such clueless people my friends.
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Creation and Crucifixion: INVDRS in the Studio
Since INVDRS formed, it’s been a short but eventful path from just jamming out ideas and blowing fuse boxes at local bars, to these final weeks of recording their first full length, Electric Church. From the material I heard during my visit, I could only later describe it to a friend as if “someone had just dropped a filthy coffin full of stones onto my chest.”
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Compound: If you Hit the Wall, You Have to Take...
House shows are the best way to see live music. Sweaty musicians, and a sweaty crowd come together on a person-to-person basis instead of king-to-peasant basis. In Provo, UT behind the tucked away door of #166 lies the Compound––part time illegitimate venue and current residence of Joey Mayes. … read more
Maximum Volume Yields Maximum Results: Feedback from SUNN O)))
O’Malley and Anderson have been releasing speaker-destroying albums under the SUNN O))) moniker since the late 1990s, and have no fewer than 20 splits, full-lengths, collaborations and EPs to show for their efforts. … read more
Flying West to the East: Uzi and Ari Tours Japan
The experience of touring in Japan is a tough one to put into words. There is a lot of positive energy that flows through the hearts and minds of the Japanese people. We feel very lucky to have had the experience. … read more
Can’t Stop This Runaway Train
This king of juke joint swing’s sole purpose has been to put out stellar record after stellar record of his own blend of honky tonk, jazz and rockabilly. He also tours his ass off and plays each show like there’s no tomorrow. … read more