Music
▼ Music
Henry Rollins @ The State Room 09.16
Rollins’ two-and-half-hour speech about whatever willed from his mouth—politics, reunion shows, being drug-free, iPod playlists, the smell of cow piss and more—was pretty bitchin’. With a sold-out crowd, Uncle Rollins proceeded to put the audience on his lap and tell them what the world is really like. No stone was left unturned, no ass cheek awake. For those of you who skipped this show, I shame you. … read more
Audio Circus @ Saltair with Krewella, Infected Mushroom, Nicky Romero...
Incredible light shows, crazy stilt performers and LED walls the size of the venue itself—it was a wondrous sight to behold. Did I mention the swagged-out fireworks display? Plus, with DJs like Pretty Lights, Nicky Romero, Andy C, Krewella, Infected Mushroom and countless others, how could Audio Circus simply not be phenomenal? … read more
Desert Noises @ Velour with The Young Electric, Timmy TheTeeth...
“You don’t seem impressed,” Jacob, my brother-in-law, said midway through Desert Noises’ set, “Do you not like them?” The thing is, I did. I was actually quite impressed with their skill and their songs—it was a much-better-than-average performance. The issue was not how good the band was, and they were quite good—the issue was who performed before them. “That’s not it at all, it’s just hard to have this,” I said, motioning toward the stage, “Follow that,” I point to the back of the room. … read more
Mercies @ Kilby with Daisy & the Moonshines, Your Meteor,...
Connecticut foursome, Mercies, looked endearing when the tambourine began to ring, initiating the intro into their opening number. Ambient rhythm guitar blanketed rolling drums in an unsteady and beautiful crescendo that would cut off just when you needed it most for a split second, then continue and pull you swiftly back in like breakers at high tide. … read more
Fictionist @ Rooftop Concert Series 09.07
This installment of Provo’s Rooftop Concert Series provided an interesting juxtaposition of coming and leaving in the Provo music scene. The show featured the scene’s most recent success story of breaking into the national eye, Fictionist. In contrast, The New Electric Sound is a rising force in Provo and is here to stay (for a little while, anyway). … read more
Swagatha Christie: The Swagged-Out Mystery Interview
Swagatha Christie rolled through Salt Lake City for Mike Brown Fest at Urban Lounge on Thursday, Aug. 30. This Portland local legend made time out of her busy schedule to come rock some super progressive, dirty South swag. SLUG was able to sit down with her and ask her a little about herself, her music and her crew. … read more
Why? with Serengeti, Jel @ Club Sound 09.04
The semi-circle set up in the background made plenty of room center-stage, making it clear that Yoni is in command of this game. This isn’t to say that the band adds nothing; one of Why?’s strengths is in their ability to mix indie, hip hop, pop or experimental instrumentation with well crafted lyrics. While the songs embody the attitude typical of a lot of affluent males as a pitiful, lonesome individual, the setup fit. As Yoni started the night with a popular hit from Alopecia, “A Sky for Shoeing Horses Under,” the crowd was quick to warm up to Yoni’s voice that pays solid attention to rhythm and wordplay. … read more
National Music Reviews – September 2012
New and recent releases from Aesop Rock, Callow, Fang Island, Gallows, Hot Chip, Los Straitjackets, Om, Propagandhi, Purity Ring, Swans, Xibalba, and many more are reviewed. … read more
School of Seven Bells @ Urban Lounge 09.01
Unlike most shows at this venue, the crowd was not speaking in the wings, but corralled into “The Holding Pen,” as I like to call the rail-lined dance floor in front of the stage, and hanging on every extended vocal harmony that Deheza began and finished. She is as good as she ever was. … read more
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: Making a Career Out of Strange
“Uncomfortable” is probably one of the best words to describe the early Ariel Pink albums, as well as the majority of interviews and a great deal of the performances. His eccentricities and diamond-in-the-rough garage pop drew people in initially, built him a fanbase of loyal, lo-fi cassette hounds, and did wonders for the beginning of the new chillwave genre. Released in August on 4AD, APHG’s newest album, Mature Themes, is a return to weird. … read more