Review: Big Eyes – Almost Famous

Review: Big Eyes – Almost Famous
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Apparently a Seattle band by way of New York, Big Eyes comes to bat with some serious rock pedigree. Made out of a fairly traditional three-piece, Big Eyes doesn’t do much to experiment with the formula, but they’ve got a solid sound that doesn’t wear out their welcome. More on the garage rock end of the spectrum, their one secret weapon comes in the form of their female vocalist, the husky-voiced and charismatic Kate Eldridge. … read more

Review: The Besnard Lakes – Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO

Review: The Besnard Lakes – Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO
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This album would pair best with a morphine drip. This shoegaze sonata is lush and minimalistic all at once. The chorus for “The Specter” sounds like it came straight from from Veckatimest. … read more

Review: Armed With Legs – Self Titled

Review: Armed With Legs – Self Titled
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To stand out as a two-piece you have to be creative. You are starting off at a disadvantage, and even if you are damn-decent, at best you will be getting compliments laced with qualifiers … read more

Review: Anvil – Hope is Hell

Review: Anvil – Hope is Hell
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It’s been six years since the documentary was made about Canada’s Anvil rising out of obscurity to, well, just about a higher level of obscurity. The fact that Anvil had some good records in the ‘80s—right about the time metal wasn’t so cool anymore—but never rose to outright fame is the story of a lot of metal bands.  … read more

Review: Agrimonia – Rites of Separation

Review: Agrimonia – Rites of Separation
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Part neo-crust, part post-hardcore, with a healthy heaping of sludge and doom, is the recipe for Rites of Separation by veritable super-group Agrimonia. … read more

Review: Age of Taurus – Desperate Souls of Tortured Times

Review: Age of Taurus – Desperate Souls of Tortured Times
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Three years after their promising debut, Age of Taurus return to bring down the heavy hammer of doom. Desperate Souls of Tortured Times might take some time to sink in, but once you give in to the unrelenting rhythm of its leaden dirge, there’s no going back. Very few modern metal bands are brave enough to draw comparisons to doom metal giants Candlemass, and fewer still do justice to the classic sound. Yet Age of Taurus seems to have hit on a unique sound, both heavily influenced by the golden age of doom metal and bravely departing from tradition. … read more

From Ohio and Back Again: Hawthorne Heights Return To Warped Tour

From Ohio and Back Again: Hawthorne Heights Return To Warped...
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Weathering more than their fair share of hurdles, including label disputes and the unfortunate loss of friend, guitarist and screamer Casey Calvert, nothing has managed to keep Hawthorne Heights from playing the music they love. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist JT Woodruff in-between shows on their way to the tour start in Seattle to talk about their new album and what it’s like being part of Warped Tour.  … read more

Ballyhoo! with Authority Zero, Versus The World, Racist Kramer @ Bar Deluxe 06.15

Ballyhoo! with Authority Zero, Versus The World, Racist Kramer @...
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On this particular Saturday, Bar Deluxe was the stopping point for the Summer Sickness 2013 CD release tour for Ballyhoo! and Authority Zero. Not overly familiar with either band’s catalog, although a fan of what I’ve heard, I was excited to get a chance to see both of these bands up close and personal and get a real idea of what they’re all about. … read more

Rooftop Concert Series @ Central Bank parking terrace 06.07

Rooftop Concert Series @ Central Bank parking terrace 06.07
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There is beauty all around. That insipid tune is ringing in my brain as I walk toward the downtown Provo parking structure that doubles as the venue for their Rooftop Concert Series. Why? Because everything about the early Summer night in Provo is so damn beautiful. The weather is a perfect 75 degrees, with a light breeze and clear skies. The sunset, with all of its oranges and purples, falling behind the downtown Marriott and into Utah Lake. The massive mountains are the stage’s backdrop. The sweet smells waft from the WaffleLuv truck. And the people … Oh God, the people of Provo. Every single one is more beautiful than the last. … read more

Rogue Wave @ Urban Lounge 06.12 with Koala Temple

Rogue Wave @ Urban Lounge 06.12 with Koala Temple
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As Rogue explained to the audience, Salt Lake City was their first stop on the tour. Their time off left their sound a bit tarnished, but they soon shook the dust off and started shining as bright as the many colorful lights around them—the overall sound improved immensely as they shuffled and grooved through the first few songs. … read more