Issues: Issue 276 - December 2011
Top 5: Yuck
You’d be hard-pressed to find a review of Yuck’s self-titled debut in which the reviewer doesn’t mention the band’s admiration for ’90s indie rock. Fine. I just did it. But dwelling on Yuck’s meticulous sound doesn’t fully explain why this record was so beloved this year. After all, it’s not like they are the only ones who’ve been copping Dinosaur, Jr’s sound lately. … read more
Suedehead: The Rhythm and The Groove
Formed just over a year ago, Southern California’s soul-pop pushers Suedehead are all about positivity … and dancing. “Our only real goal is to be productive and try and play good music,” says vocalist/guitarist Davey Warsop. “That’s what gets us off. That’s what matters.” If the band’s first three vinyl EPs—released on their own International Soul Rebel Society imprint—are any indication, they are certainly living up to Warsop’s stated goal. … read more
Black Unicorn Confidential: An Interview with Voltaire
One of the most beloved artists in the goth scene over the last two decades has been the unusual, Cuban-born Voltaire. With his first club hit, “When You’re Evil,” from 1998’s The Devil’s Bris, goths got something they desperately needed: an artist with a sense of humor. Voltaire’s wickedly biting humor conveyed something that few artists had managed at the time: He was comfortable enough with his goth cred that he could make fun of it. … read more
Game Grid: Utah’s Arcade Exclusive
Upon walking into Game Grid Arcade’s tight phalanx of flickering arcade screens, I felt like I had stepped into the past. Somewhere between the background music and “Game Over” screens, there was a nostalgic reminder of a time when the arcade was still in vogue. “To me, arcades provide a different sort of tactile experience, a physical experience,” says Adam Pratt, who opened the doors to Game Grid in 2008. “In an arcade, you almost feel like you’re sitting in a racing machine of some kind. Or a tank.” … read more
The Zion Curtain Falls Once Again: Brad Collins Returns to...
After ending his radio show Behind the Zion Curtain in 1991 and closing Raunch Records in 1997, Brad Collins became absent in Utah’s punk scene. Other record stores and radio shows carried on the spirit of the store and the show, but both became legendary parts of Utah’s underground lore. When Raunch Records reopened in December 2009, a void left in the Salt Lake punk scene was filled, but many old-school punk rockers still longed for the return of Behind The Zion Curtain. … read more
Fighting Misconceptions: Hilary Madsen and Male Victims
Hilary Madsen is a licensed domestic violence counselor and certified anger management instructor who works with men and women in domestically violent relationships, and specializes in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. Last April, Madsen opened her own private practice (Hope, Health & Healing Counseling Services) because she “continually saw that there were no services for male victims,” she says. … read more
Skate Date
A few years back, I had the opportunity to interview legendary skateboarder Duane Peters. We discussed the finer things in life and how, even as you age, if you’re a “lifer,” skateboarding is always there. I was thinking about this particular conversation the other day and realized that my longest committed relationship has been with skateboarding. I’ve made “friends” with other things along the way, but skateboarding has always been my number-one crush. … read more
Photo Feature: Will Tuddenham
Can you imagine seeing someone rocking a Jazz t-shirt outside of Utah? Do they even exist? I’d seriously love to see the sales numbers for Jazz merch beyond Mormon borders. What the hell does a kid think when he sees Will Tuddenham flying a bright green and yellow logo on his chest when he’s snowboarding? If I was a kid in this day and age, the first thing I’d think was that this was just another ironic t-shirt. But there’s no irony here. … read more
Falling Forward: Clayton Butler
We’ve all had that dream as we are drifting off to sleep where we are falling. Suddenly, you kick awake and you are sitting there in your room, alone and afraid. Clayton Butler loves that dream. He embraces it so much that he has spent the better part of the past five years trying to recreate that sensation in real life. A reserved young man who works hard for a living, you’d never know that Butler spends his weekends hurling himself off tall objects and massive cliffs. … read more
Secret Snow Flying Machines: The Story Behind WuBanger Skis
Somewhere, a huge factory is spitting out thousands of skis. The materials are obtained for rock bottom prices, the designs are flawed, and Laverne and Shirley carelessly inspect the product before flaking off in song and dance. After one day on your new setup, you realize the skis suck, but now you’re screwed—the skis are used and can’t be returned. There goes a thousand bucks—FUCK! Enter WuBanger Skis. … read more