Issues: Exclusive
Erika Wennerstrom: A Glorious Bastard
Aside from having one of the best band names in the business, The Heartless Bastards are fronted by Erika Wennerstrom, a singer/songwriter who digs into deeply emotional territory and belts it out with a wail that’s somewhere between Janis Joplin and Marianne Faithfull. … read more
Saturday’s Voyeur 2012 @ Salt Lake Acting Company 07.27
This is my fourth or fifth year in a row checking out the Salt Lake Acting Company’s yearly satire on Utah living and politics, and after sitting through another Jell-O shot filled night, I was not disappointed. This year, they took a slightly different approach than previous years when they have focused almost entirely on headlines from the year. We found ourselves following the narrative of Nephi Jensen, a lowly LDS accounts auditor, as he comes to grips with his relationship wants, his work needs and his religious must-do’s. Nephi is joined by other LDS office building employees, members of Quorum of the 12 and even Mr. Mitt Romney himself. … read more
Heartless Bastards, Little Hurricane @ Urban 08.10
Despite a few technical difficulties before they started, the Bastards played with an unwavering intensity. They came to perform. … read more
Summer Shovin’: Hot Wheelers vs Molly Morbids 08.11
Last Saturday the Derby Depot was packed as WRD’s Hot Wheelers warmed up on the track against Spanish Fork’s Happy Valley Derby Darlins’ Molly Morbids in shocking pink. As the fans continued to swarm in, tensions ran higher and higher. … read more
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival @ Golden Gate Park,...
My Saturday officially began with Portugal. The Man, who put on a fun, spunky show, perfect for the early afternoon. There were some sound issues at first, but they managed to power through and got everyone up and dancing for the first time that day. We left a bit early to head to MiM0SA, who turned out to be the biggest surprise of the weekend. The stage was packed. Last year, he would not have had half the size of that crowd, and he performed like a champ. He’s a local boy, and his mom was in the crowd, so it was pretty evident that he was throwing down everything he had, and it was excellent. … read more
Napalm Flesh: As I Lay Dying Interview
It’s over a decade into their career, and As I Lay Dying is still charging the front lines of the metal scene with no sign of slowing. With this new decade in their careers on the horizon, they ready the release of new album Awakened with fresh eyes and inspiration from new sources. We were granted a surprise with drummer Jordan Mancino and bassist/vocalist Josh Gilbert during their first stint on the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Fest tour to get the details on this badass group of true believers. … read more
Iron & Wine, Kathleen Edwards @ Twilight Concert Series 08.16
Beam took the stage with his acoustic guitar and started his 20-song set. He pleased his longtime fans with a good mix of old and new, and solo and accompanied. What impressed me most was his superb vocals. Sure, they are great on CD, but Beam’s voice really thrives in a live setting, attesting to his natural talent. … read more
Strung Out @ Bar Deluxe 08.17
It always seems like a bit of a publicity stunt to see a band rehash old material for a special run—It can come off as exploitative. However, I wholeheartedly embraced when Strung Out came back by with their mid-to-late-’90s albums, Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues and Twisted by Design. So did all my friends from the same era. Almost every song elicited a huge applause, and the good ol-fashioned mosh pit was full of slam dancers practicing the ancient art of controlled collisions. … read more
A Train Runs Through It: JCRD Welcomes Choice City to...
I knew relatively little about Choice City before heading north to watch them take on the Junction City Trainwrecks. Still a somewhat small league, they travel with two-thirds of their skaters. Knowing this now, I can see why Choice City runs such tight strategies. When it comes to travel teams, just having the time to practice with each other can make or break a winning streak. … read more
HVDD: Rollin Rebellion vs. Sirens of Steel 8.25
When I finally found my destination, walking into the old Food 4 Less that houses The Hive, headquarters for the Happy Valley Derby Darlins, I saw how they made themselves a nice little niche in the community. … read more