Music
▼ Interview
Death Waltz Recording Company: An Interview with Spencer Hickman
Opening any release from Death Waltz Recording Company is like opening a fantastic gift—soundtracks to films both cult and lost, with bespoke tip-on jackets, detailed liner notes, unique artwork, lithographs and colorful variants, all combined to form an immensely rewarding multisensory experience. These records aren’t like many others: They’re special, rather than a reissue cash grab—and obviously the work of someone who loves what he’s doing. I spoke with Spencer Hickman, owner of Death Waltz, via Skype at 3 a.m. here, to make up for the time difference between the Mountain West and the UK. The conversation moved quickly, comfortably, and focused on one of my favorite topics—records. … read more
¡Vinyl Vive! Sacred Bones’ Caleb Braaten on Record Stores, Reissues...
Founded in 2007, Sacred Bones Records has grown from a small, independent label based in Brooklyn into a diverse community of international artists—with a range that includes the avant-pop star Zola Jesus, the psych-kraut of Psychic Ills, the dismantled post-punk of Pop. 1280 and The Men, coldwave outfits VÅR and Lust for Youth, and industrial noise fright Pharmakon. Though difficult to categorize, Sacred Bones releases are hooked through with fervent, often unsettling dedication to the craft and communal life of music. … read more
Sounds From Out There: Records, Record Store Day And Singing...
Last September, the Voyager 1 left our solar system. That cold little coffin containing all of what mankind thought was important in 1977 is now careening through uncharted interstellar space. Onboard that space craft is a gold-plated phonographic record containing images and sounds that represent a fairly decent cross-section of human and animal life, as well as a record of some of our best scientific achievements up to that point. … read more
Localized: Charles Ellsworth
This month’s Localized, on April 18, will feature a mysterious hodgepodge of sincerity. Crook and the Bluff will start off the set with western-tinged psych-blues, after which blues crooning, working man rocking, badass motherfuckers Vincent Draper and the Dirty Thirty will sexy your face off. Following, mustachioed and chocolate-voiced singer-songwriter and strum-master Charles Ellsworth will finish things off. This delicious treat begins at 10 p.m. at Urban Lounge, $5 for those 21+. The night is hosted by Ischa B. and sponsored by Budweiser, Spilt Ink and KRCL 90.9FM. … read more
Cult Leader: God’s Lonely Children Emerge From the Shadows
Discussing the moment the group was faced with an uncertain future for their past project, Gaza, Mason says, simply: “It can’t end like that.” So, from ashes, Cult Leader was born in Salt Lake City. Within less than a year, Mason, Hansen and Lucero faced the end of a successful band, the creation of a new one, and became part of the Deathwish Inc. record-label family: a redemptive myth in the music world, if ever there was one. … read more
Localized: VINCENT DRAPER AND THE DIRTY THIRTY
This month’s Localized, on April 18, will feature a mysterious hodgepodge of sincerity. Crook and the Bluff will start off the set with western-tinged psych-blues, after which blues crooning, working man rocking, badass motherfuckers Vincent Draper and the Dirty Thirty will sexy your face off. Following, mustachioed and chocolate-voiced singer-songwriter and strum-master Charles Ellsworth will
Marching To Their Own Beat: An Interview with Temples
Audiences long for something fresh and wonderful. They long for the goosebumps of a genuine song and the thrill of not knowing what’s next. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Temples. This brave English foursome has created one of the most entertaining and unique albums to cross the pond in some time … read more
Cult Leader – Nothing For Us Here
Salt Lake City’s own Cult Leader have been signed to Deathwish Inc. Nothing For Us Here is their debut EP, and it’s streaming from SLUGMag.com exclusively, until Friday, April 4! Tell all your friends that if they want Cult Leader, SLUG Mag is the place to look, and check out our April cover story on Cult Leader. Physical copies of the magazine can by found anyplace cool in Utah on Friday, April 4, and be sure to catch Cult Leader’s EP-release show at The Shred Shed on the same day. … read more
Reading Through the Refraction: Black Lips Talk Touring and New...
Raising hell since the late ’90s, the foursome of the Black Lips has always made music-making look effortless. They’ve pushed the boundaries of production and sound with their seventh studio album release, Underneath the Rainbow—a melodic mixture of gritty rock n’ roll, tangy lyrical wit and a dash of sticky-sweet Southern soul that drips off the tongue like molasses. SLUG was able to hash things out with bassist Jared Swilley to discuss life on the road, battle plans and bucket lists. … read more
Just Jonny: An Interview with Social Distortion’s Jonny “Two Bags”...
“So many different things about me manifest themselves on the record, whether it be through lyrics or whatever.” Jonny “Two Bags” Wickersham has put together an eclectic record that plays like a musical autobiography of a guy that has made music his entire life. … read more