SLUG Contributor Limelight
December 3, 2020
Contributor Limelight: Austin Beck-Doss
As a Contributing Writer, Copy Editor and Editorial Intern, Austin Beck-Doss shines at SLUG through his careful eye and substantive editorial intuition. As witty as it is incisive and profound, Beck-Doss’ writing oozes a humanistic edge and finds creative, accessible ways to highlight the people at the heart of his stories. This month, check out his feature on Pam Pendersen of Central Book Exchange (pg. 36) and his entry on Cut Worms’ Nobody Lives Here Anymore in our group list of the Top Albums of 2020 (pg. 28). Whether behind the scenes or out on the front lines, SLUG is thrilled and honored to have Austin Beck-Doss as a consistent and reliable force on our Editorial team.
Articles by contributor
Local Music Singles Roundup: June 2024
Another month, another six phenomenal singles from Salt Lake’s best local bands, from Elowyn’s debut ballad “The Fool” to Zodiac Killer’s “Torn In Two.” … read more
Review: St. Vincent – All Born Screaming
After a thorough listen of St. Vincent’s All Born Screaming, the burning figure on the cover appears as the phoenix, rather than the doomed. … read more
Localized: The Medicine Company
Still riding the high of a recent sold-out show at The State Room, MedCo is in the process of developing a new album defined by “heavy psych-rock, doom metal and a darker sound.” … read more
Localized: Graveljaw Keaton
Armed with a hollow body Gibson and a stripped-down pedal board, Graveljaw Keaton creates looping melodies as layered and expansive as a smokey sunrise over Mount Olympus. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: March 2024
The weather is upside down and it’s not letting up anytime soon, but SLUG is here to supply dreamy alt-rock and pure raging punk. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: January 2024
January’s Local Music Singles Roundup is the perfect selection to hammer out those New Year’s resolutions or curl up on the couch and mourn your youth—whatever you’re in the mood for. … read more
Top 5 Folk/Americana Albums of 2023 to Make New Friends...
These five albums demonstrate that discovery has a leg up on invention. We don’t need to abandon what we love to make something new. … read more
Local Review: Federal Heights – Federal Heights
The fate of Federal Heights is predetermined to create satisfying, sincere artistry—their recent self-titled album proves it. Some people simply can’t help but write good songs. … read more
Review: Ty Segall – “Hello, Hi”
Ty Segall = Crosby, Stills & Nash + Pantera … read more
Review: Parquet Courts – Sympathy for Life
Parquet Courts Sympathy For Life Rough Trade Street: 10.22 Parquet Courts = Dead Kennedys + Talking Heads + Primal Scream Much of Parquet Courts’ newest album, Sympathy For Life, was written while co-Frontman Andrew Savage was in Italy—tripping on acid and lifting weights during the day and working on new songs at night. Meanwhile, co-Frontman
Local Review: Icarus Phoenix – No tree can grow to...
Icarus Phoenix = Coconut Records + Spoon + Silver Jews … read more
The Pho3nix Child: Craft Lake City Performer
The Pho3nix Child makes music affirming that all of life’s struggles are unique opportunities for growth. … read more
Jacob T. Skeen: Craft Lake City Performer
For Jacob T. Skeen, the music-making process has two key phases: experimenting freely then capturing the unadulterated results. … read more
Book Review: Utah!
Utah! Levi Rogers Atmosphere Press Street 04.20 Levi Rogers’ debut novel, Utah!, follows a young family as they road trip and stumble through the book’s namesake state. As his characters meticulously explore the geography and culture of Utah, Rogers probes the consciousness of contemporary America. Set in the near future, Utah! completes its simultaneous tour
Wasatch Adaptive Sports Rides On
Wasatch Adaptive Sports’ ultimate aim is to be a force of support for anyone in the adaptive recreation community. … read more
Review: serpentwithfeet – DEACON
serpentwithfeet = Bilal + Frank Ocean … read more
Tinkering With Love: Utah-Made Bath Products From Ya Mon Soaks
John Hewett founded Ya Mon Soaks for one very important reason: “My wife and I dig each other [and] we wanted to start a business together.” … read more
Independence Through Communal Living at The Family Support Center LifeStart...
At the Family Support Center’s LifeStart Village, single-parent families can move from homelessness into a nurturing community. … read more
Tradition as a Template: An Interview with Quinton Barnes
Quinton Barnes’ As a Motherfucker is music you can dance to, with a remarkable penchant for emotional honesty. … read more
Stylish Smiles: Tooth Art with Middony Roman and Alyssa Vigil
Belonging to an ancient tradition of self-expression, Tooth Gem Art is rapidly becoming a popular modern practice. … read more
Top 5 Alternative Folk (Ish) Albums of 2020: Cut Worms...
Cut Worms = The Everly Brothers + George Harrison … read more
A Little of a Lot at Central Book Exchange
Community-building and heart-to-heart interactions that take place within the store are the all-important essence of Central Book Exchange. … read more
Local Review: Rifamos – Rifamos
Rifamos = Shannon & the Clams + Ennio Morricone … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: November 2020
As an addition to SLUG’s coverage of EPs and albums, find here reviews on new singles from artists strewn throughout the Beehive State. … read more
Review: Adrianne Lenker – songs
Adrianne Lenker = Elliott Smith + Angel Olsen + Mimicking Birds … read more
Review: Dawes – Good Luck With Whatever
Dawes = The Eagles + Tom Petty + Warren Zevo … read more
#SAVEUTAHBARS: Change the Laws, Save the Bars
#SAVEUTAHBARS is a timely movement to make the necessary changes and preserve a burgeoning and economically important industry. … read more
Local Review: Palace of Buddies – Idle Tremors
Palace of Buddies = Yeasayaer + Hippo Campus … read more
Review: numün – voyage au soleil
numün = Gamelan Dharma Swara + Brian Eno … read more
SLUG Picnic: Flamenco Del Lago
Katie Sheen-Abbott founded the nonprofit Flamenco Del Lago, which offers intricate and colorful dance classes in various styles for ages 6–70-plus. … read more
SLUG Picnic: Aarushi & Amishi
Performing at the next SLUG Picnic event, Aarushi and Amishi Rohaj merge Western and Indian culture together through their Bollypop music stylings. … read more
Mary Ann Jensen: Craft Lake City Kid Row Artisans
When an idea leads to success, creatives like Mary Ann Jensen invest that success back into the pursuit of more creativity. … read more
Animal Club Jewelry: Craft Lake City Kid Row Artisans
Because Hudson Smith’s creations are wearable, each piece allows the wearer to express their own favorite animal choices to the world. … read more
Hy Amenero: Craft Lake City Artisan
Hy Amenero’s works have a surrealistic and deathly quality—subjects include hollow-eyed, furry humanoids and the floating skeletal heads of birds of prey. … read more
Queerations: Craft Lake City Artisan
Quirkiness is the brightly colored basis of Psy Robison’s Queerations, and the brand holds nothing back in their pursuit of kitsch. … read more
The Front Climbing Club Expands With a New “Community Hub”
The Front Climbing Club beckons its congregation with three homey mixed-use facilities: Come for the climbing, stay for the community. … read more
Chris Owens: Devoted Bboy From Utah
Chris Owens is Creative Director of 1520 Arts, a nonprofit dedicated to maintaining and growing the presence of hip-hop culture in Utah. … read more
Review: Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
Phoebe Bridgers = John Prine + Jessica Lea Mayfield … read more
Review: KENDRA AMALIE/RYLEY WALKER – Papaya in a Hound’s Tooth
Yes, Kendra Amalie and Ryley Walker’s Papaya in a Hound’s Mouth is disorienting, but even more so, it is downright invigorating. … read more
Defender of Darkness: Christine Kenyon’s Night-Sky Advocacy
Increasingly, photographer Christine Kenyon’s advocacy work through the Save a Star Foundation has become a focal point of her life. … read more
Review: Nick Hakim – WILL THIS MAKE ME GOOD
Nick Hakim = Marvin Gaye + Anderson .Paak + Silk Rhodes … read more
Local Review: cupid come – Lizard Hive
cupid come = My Bloody Valentine + Nine Inch Nails … read more
Local Review: Say Hey – EVERYTHING // EVERYONE
Say Hey = The Growlers + Wavves … read more
Review: Mute Duo – Lapse in Passage
Mute Duo = Antonio Sánchez + Amen Dunes … read more
Review: Jennah Barry – Holiday
Jennah Barry = Jewel + Joseph – Lana Del Rey … read more
Review: Kalbells — Mothertime
Kalbells = LCD Soundsystem + Aurora + Jamila Woods … read more
Salty & Stupid: Ultra-Endurance in Utah’s West Desert
Salty & Stupid hosts the Stupid Pony, an ultra-endurance bicycle race in Utah’s arid West Desert. … read more
Review: Blake Mills – Mutable Set
On Mutable Set, dissatisfaction exists alongside invigorating optimism, allowing Blake Mills to explore the open spectrum of emotional experience. … read more
Book Review: High Drama
John Burgman’s new book High Drama is an extensive survey of the history of American competition climbing fit for climbing fanatics and non-climbers alike. … read more
Rally Around the Wasatch: the Save Our Canyons 18th Annual...
In 1978, wilderness in Utah was realized, and so was the organization’s annual fund-raising benefit: the Save Our Canyons Lone Peak Celebration. … read more
Jerrin Wagstaff – Miscellaneous Debris
Jerrin Wagstaff’s Miscellaneous Debris offers a thoughtful response to today’s part-problem, part-blessing of choosing wisely from an overflowing pot. … read more
Community, Merriment and Climbing at the Deadpoint Competition
The Deadpoint climbing competition at The Front Climbing Gym included costumes, tacos, dance parties and, of course, good old-fashioned bouldering. … read more