SLUG Contributor Limelight
May 21, 2008
Contributor Limelight: James Bennett
James Bennett's collection of Man or Astroman 7"s could bring any vinyl junkie to tears. Together, these 75 pieces make up the most comprehensive Astroman record collection in the world. When James is not busy as High Councilman in his LDS stake, he spends his time scouring convenience stores for banana Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Hip Hop chips amd teaching French or working at a local grocer. Bennett is a walking musical encyclopedia, whose vast knowledge of the Misfits will be passed down to his new baby boy, Atticus. Congratulations James and Heidi!
Articles by contributor
Reviews: Vertical Scratchers – Daughter of Everything
Vertical Scratchers are a two-piece band made up of ex-Brainiac and Enon guitarist John Schmersal and former Triclops! drummer Christian Beaulieu. This is the debut album for the duo, and it stands as a testament to the heartwarming, poetic rock direction that Merge Records seems to be embracing with their new releases. … read more
Review: VIDEO – The Entertainers
Video = The Wax Museums + Bad Sports + The Dead Weather … read more
Review: Ultra Bidé – DNA vs DNA-c
Ultra Bidé have long been a source of aggressive music that could be described as noise rock mixed with artsy post-hardcore. … read more
Review: The Last – Danger
The lineup is solid—when you pair the Nolte brothers with the powerhouse punk rhythm section of Karl Alvarez and Bill Stevenson, you end up with the sort of alchemy that is both pop-sensible and face-melting. Mike Nolte adds a garage-y organ to traditional pop punk hooks and layered backing vocals to give the songs a 1960s feel. … read more
Review: The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams
It’s a straightforward rock n’ roll record with a punk vibe and a 1970s rock aftertaste. This is partly due to the addition of guitarist Steve Selvidge, and partly because the session was overseen by producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush). … read more
Review: Swami John Reis and the Blind Shake – Modern...
Swami John Reis and the Blind Shake = The Ventures + The Gorgons + Link Wray … read more
Review: Sterile Jets – Liquor Store
Sterile Jets = Future of the Left + Mclusky + Sonic Youth … read more
Review: S.O.A. – First Demo 12/29/80
State of Alert (S.O.A.) is one of the unsung heroes of the Washington, D.C. hardcore scene. They were a flash in the pan, existing for less than a year before disbanding in the summer of 1981. Led by a 19-year-old Henry Rollins, they recorded eight songs.
… read more
Review: Richard Thompson – Still
Richard Thompson = Eric Clapton – ripping off American Bluesmen + Van Morrison … read more
Review: Reatards – Grown Up, Fucked Up
Reatards = the Oblivians + The Rip Offs + The Wongs … read more
Review: Poor Lily – Vuxola
Musicianship this tight is rarely used to make street punk music, but alas, here we are. Poor Lily aren’t exactly a street punk band, but the general snottiness of the record certainly follows that lead, and mixes this vibe with equal doses of ’80s hardcore and ’90s post-rock. … read more
Review: Peer Group – Rhetoric and Hands
The recent release of these Peer Group recordings was a long time coming. These songs were recorded in December of 1981 in southern California, making it contemporary to bands like Black Flag and Redd Kross. … read more
Review: Peelander-Z – Metalander-Z
I never know if Peelander-Z is fucking with us, or if they’re serious. For a Japanese band peddling its own brand of action comic punk, the reality is they’re both serious AND they’re fucking with us. … read more
Review: OFF! – Wasted Years
In 2010, when footage of OFF! first started showing up online, fans of old California hardcore music lost their minds. Was Keith Morris actually fronting a punk rock super-group that could savagely jam 17 songs into less than 20 minutes? He was, and they could—it was incredible. Skip forward four years, and here we are with OFF!’s third full-length release. … read more
Review: Mike Watt – “Ring Spiel” Tour ’95
Mike Watt = Minutemen + fIREHOSE + Saccharine Trust … read more
Review: Man… or Astro-man? – Defcon 5…4…3…2…1
This album marks the first time since 1997’s Made From Technetium that Alabama’s favorite sci-fi/surf combo has put out a record with original guitarist Star Crunch. … read more
Review: Kool Stuff Katie – Self-Titled
This is a fun band. The minimalist musical duo from Portland, Ore., makes incredibly light and upbeat music that hemorrhages positivity. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it bubbly, but the brightly tinged pop punk sound fills a void that I didn’t even notice was there. … read more
Review: Kill Everyone Now! – Self-Titled
Kill Everyone Now! is a guitar/drum duo that currently calls São Paulo, Brazil home (though they do have an SLC connection). This six-song EP clocks in at about 20 minutes and it powers through from start to finish. … read more
Review: Kevin Seconds – Off Stockton
Kevin Seconds has been making quality music since the late ‘70s. If you know him, it’s most likely from his work with Reno’s hardcore outfit 7Seconds. … read more
Review: il Sogno del Marinaio – Canto Secondo
Italian for “the sailor’s dream,” il Sogno del Marinaio is a post-punk trio featuring legendary bass player Mike Watt—celebrated for his work with the Minutemen and for his recent stint in the reformed Iggy Pop and the Stooges. … read more
Local Review: Terrance Danger Hailstorm – No Danger b/w Hurricane
Terrance Danger Hailstorm No Danger b/w Hurricane Self-Released Street 05.07 Terrance DH = the Stench + Magstatic + a hipper, friendlier and less evil Danzig Terrance Danger Hailstorm has been a staple on the SLC music scene for a number of years now, as a member of the Stench, Magstatic and the Bad Yodelers. For
Local Review: Band of Annuals – Live Warehouse EP
Band of Annuals Live Warehouse EP Self Released Street: 11.01 BOA = Neil Young + Emmylou Harris + that dreaded country twang It’s rare these days that a record can actually exude warmth. Live Warehouse EP does exactly that. From the first song, “Thought I’d Have Learned,” to the final “Blood on my Shirt,” these seven
Local Review: Band of Annuals – Let Me Live
Band of Annuals Let Me Live Self-Released Street: 05.08 BOA = Hank Williams + Bob Dylan + Magnolia Electric Company When the Band of Annuals released their live disc last fall, I wrote that it was the best alt-country record to ever come out of Salt Lake. It now seems the new album sets an
Review: Frantix – My Dad’s A Fuckin’ Alcoholic
Frantix was an early ’80s band from Colorado that blended their own take on hardcore music with standard ’80s rock. They released two 7” records during their run, and this CD collects all of that music with live tracks and unreleased demos into one place. … read more
Review: Emperors Of Wyoming – Self-Titled
Emperors of Wyoming Self-Titled Liaison Music Street: 03.25 EOW = Tom Petty + The Byrds + George Jones This is an interesting record. It is essentially a re-release of a record that came out in Europe a few years back. The American version adds a few more songs and remixes everything. People are paying attention
Review: Dead Ending – DE II
This second EP by Dead Ending pairs Aritcles of Faith’s Vic Bondi’s grinding voice with an all-star cast of punk musicians. The end result is a furious, aggressive and lightning-quick batch of songs that straddle the line between 80s hardcore and modern punk. … read more
Review: Deathfix – Self-Titled
Let’s face it—no one’s favorite member of Fugazi is Brendan Canty. Hell, even the guy’s mother probably prefers Guy Picciotto. Yet here we are with the self-titled release by Canty’s glam band, Deathfix. And glam is the correct description, even if the music tends to deal with weightier subject matter than anything Slade ever put out. … read more
Review: The Hold Steady – Thrashing Thru the Passion
The Hold Steady = Lifter Puller + E Street Band + The Uptown Controllers … read more
Review: FITTED – First Fits
FITTED = Wire + Minutemen + Fearless Leader … read more
Food Review: Caputo’s Market and Deli
Caputo’s Market and Deli is an absolute Downtown institution and is a great example of the staying power of a quality, centrally located lunch spot. … read more
Fresh, Local, Creative Eats: Roots Café
Roots Café is a creative place to enjoy fresh, locally sourced food. As a breakfast and lunch place by design, their menu is simple and affordable. … read more
Pupusas Piled High: El Viroleño
I am really happy that I gave El Viroleño a try. Do not be dissuaded by the industrial neighborhood location or the plastic tablecloths. … read more
’Mexo Mouth Water: Alamexo Mexican Kitchen
As Alamexo’s restaurant concept isn’t specific to one region of Mexico, they are able to paint a broad stroke with their selection of entrées. … read more
In Memoriam: Anthony Bourdain
I’m not sure if a word exists to describe the combination of anger, shock and genuine sadness I felt when I heard that Anthony Bourdain had taken his own life. To say that it was a surprise or a tragedy does not give it enough weight. It was heartbreaking and unexpected. … read more
Shahrazad: Halal? Is It Meat You’re Looking For?
I feel like I have only scratched the surface of what Shahrazad has to offer. I still need to try the lamb and the goat—the word on the street is that they are among the best in the valley. Honestly, I could eat there every day and feel completely happy never straying from the chicken skewers and hummus. … read more
Local Reviews: Tolchock Trio
As difficult as it is for an outsider to pin down exactly what Tolchock Trio sounds like, it is comforting to know that a similar problem may exist among the band itself. The liner notes mention that this album, the third full length by a band that doesn’t take the number three too seriously, has been in the works since the summer of 2006 (bordering on geologic time for local music). … read more
Local Reviews: Hew Mun
I’ve heard music like this described before as sculpture, and that really seems to fit this release. Though I do not mean a solid, statuesque figure�this is something far more abstract, almost void of shape, yet still symmetrical and meticulously crafted from every imaginable source of raw material. … read more
Local Reviews: Aye Aye
Salt Lake has been overrun lately by blues-influenced, mostly acoustic musicians�a visit to any coffee shop on gallery stroll will confirm this. It makes it that much more refreshing to find someone who experiments with the genre and successfully turns it on its ear. Aye Aye does just exactly this. … read more
Celeste Ristorante: Authentic Italian Fare
I look forward to many return visits to Celeste Ristorante. There is so much more that I am eager to try, from the housemade salads and antipasti to the myriad pasta combinations and the selections of fish, beef and even wild boar. … read more
Beltex Meats: From Nose to Tail to Your Kitchen
Beltex Meats owner and head butcher Philip Grubisa takes a whole-animal approach to butchery, and presents a unique meat shop offering to our community. … read more
Local Reviews: Eyes and Ears
This two-song EP is the twentieth release by local SLC label 8ctopus Records, and the first one to be put out on seven-inch vinyl. As with other discs released by label owner Eli Morrison (Vile Blue Shades, the Wolfs, Pink Lightnin’, etc.), there is a certain amount of built-in rarity with this one—it is limited to 250 copies. … read more
Pizza Nono
Pizza Nono—whose name is taken from the Italian word for “nine”—is located in a refurbished insurance office building in the heart of 9th and 9th. As the focus of the restaurant is to craft quality pizza made from fresh ingredients, the menu is limited to a few well-crafted selections. … read more
Follow the Flame: Apollo Burger
Apollo Burger has succeeded in its quest to give Utah families quality food and quick service, all at an affordable price. I take comfort in knowing that, as they continue to expand and push forward, there will be quality hamburger restaurants in Salt Lake for generations to come. … read more
From Scratch
I’ve always considered the Gallivan Center to be a jewel of Salt Lake City open space—a tucked-away, quiet oasis in an otherwise business-as-usual urban block. The increasingly busy space has led to a cluster of restaurants and eateries popping up along the small avenue that winds its way along the south end of the Gallivan Center. Of these food destinations, From Scratch is numbered among the best. … read more
Chubby’s Mexican Restaurant
Much as I’d love to keep Chubby’s all to myself, it is definitely worthy of your time. For us in Rose Park, it is a neighborhood treasure. The food is consistently good, and the staff is both friendly and attentive. … read more
Review: Fred Armisen presents: Complicated Drumming Technique: Jens Hannemann
Fred Armisen presents: Complicated Drumming Technique: Jens Hannemann Drag City Street: 10.23 This instructional DVD showcases the drumming prowess of Jens Hannemann, a Fred Armisen parody of a euro-trash Neil Peart-wannabe (complete with Eddie Vedder hair, a sleeveless sci-fi t-shirt and a soul patch.) Live clips of Hannemann’s mock jazz band are interspersed with song
Review: Damned to Heaven
Damned to Heaven Thomas Elliott and Pawel Gula Street: 2007 This film started making the festival circuit last year and will soon be released on DVD. It follows the story of several former FLDS members and the hunt for their fugitive leader Warren Jeffs. Interviews with members and audio clips from sermons given by Jeffs
Review: The Midnight Special: Legendary Performances
The Midnight Special: Legendary Performances Guthy-Renker Street 08.01 One of the more spectacular music shows to ever run on late-night television was the Midnight Special. Bankrolled by Burt Sugarman, and running through most of the 70s and into the early 80s, the Midnight Special was the closest think that we in the US ever had
Review: 131st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
131st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show USA Network Street 05.15 Dog shows are an awesome commentary on modern society. They showcase the extreme end of spending too much time and money on animals. Still, dog shows are cool as hell to watch, and the Westminster Kennel Club show is maybe the top event of its
Tyrannosaurus Rx: A Conversation With Indie-Rock’s Most Prominent Pharmacists
It’s hard to accurately describe in print the music that Ted Leo and the Pharmacists produce. Leo, the band’s spokesman and chief songwriter, draws inspiration from many different sources, including classic punk, folk rock and even Celtic music. Having cut his musical teeth in East Coast bands Citizen’s Arrest, Animal Crackers and Chisel, Leo emerged
Becoming a Stooge: an Interview with Mike Watt
At first glance, it would appear that Watt is the Shemp character in the reformed Stooges. Playing alongside original members Iggy Pop and the Asheton brothers, it would seem that Watt is just one more hired hand in a long line of rock band reunifications. But scratch the surface a little and you’ll find that Watt has a long history of playing Stooges songs (sometimes with Stooges members)—a history that predates any talks of a reunion. … read more
Review: Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses DVD Collector’s Box Chrome Dreams Street 01.30 This box set consists of two separate British-made documentaries – Axl Rose-The Prettiest Star, and Guns N Roses- Sex N’ Drugs N’ Rock N’ Roll. Both films are completely unauthorized, and neither of them feature any GNR music or recent band interviews. The box set
Localized: Iceburn
Iceburn was active from the late 80s into the early 2000s, with band members and influences changing almost as often as the seasons. … read more
Localized: Clear
The date of the SLUG 18th Anniversary show is almost 11 years to the day from when CLEAR played their first show in February 1996. … read more
You Have the Right to Clean Water: The Battle Cry...
Changing the world is a long and drawn-out process. When those in power refuse to build a better society, this duty falls on everyday folks like you and me. … read more
Hook & Ladder Co.
When a young Van Turner opened his hamburger restaurant on Salt Lake’s West side, I doubt that he thought he’d still be at it 44 years later. Yet, there he remains—a mainstay of his Glendale neighborhood. And it really is his neighborhood. The former city councilman has spent most of his life running Hook & Ladder Co. and the adjacent Firehouse Floral and Gifts. … read more
The Color of Noise
The Color Of Noise does an incredibly thorough job of laying out the origins and life span of Tom Hazelmyer and Amphetamine Reptile Records. … read more
Local Reviews: The Jingoes
I remember seeing the Jingoes open for Mike Watt a few years back at Bar Deluxe. What I liked about them continues to make me nod my head as I listen today. This is a seriously great band. … read more
Richard Thompson @ State Room 08.13 with Morgan Snow
From his folk rock work in the 1960s with the Fairport Convention to his dozens of acoustic and electric solo records in the years since, Richard Thompson has been a driving force in guitar-based rock for his entire career. … read more
Review: DB Longboards – Pioneer Bamboo Fiberglass 40 & Urban...
No need to pay for a taxi or get a DUI—rest your feet and worries on the flexible camber of the Urban Native 38 by DB Longboards … read more
Review: SOULVATION: the Best of Northern Soul
SOULVATION: the Best of Northern Soul Wienerworld Street 01.07 SOULVATION is a re-issue of a collection that was originally called “The weird and wonderful world of Northern Soul.” It is an attempt to chronicle the “northern soul” movement, a variety of mid-tempo, heavy-beat soul music popular in northern England in the late 1960s. Many of the
The Truth behind Mormon Psychedelia: an interview with David Zandonatti
This summer marked the fortieth anniversary of the Monterey International Pop Festival—the multi-day music event that launched the harder side of the psychedelic rock movement, and ushered in the Summer of Love. As people found a voice that embraced added social, sexual and political freedom, they also began to see value in music that could
Interview With Glenn Danzig
Interview with Glenn Danzig, Great Salt Air Pavilion, November 6, 2007 On a brief tour promoting the new Lost Tracks CD, Danzig made a stop in Salt Lake City. They played at the Great Salt Air pavilion—a concert hall built on the banks of the lake. Originally, the Salt Air was a sort of Coney
Mike Watt @ Bar Deluxe
If the concept of sincerity were to take human form, it would have a hard time being anything other than San Pedro’s Mike Watt. A onetime member of the Minutemen, fIREHOSE and most recently The Stooges (whose reforming he really should take credit for), Watt has never been able to do anything half way. … read more
The Richard Thompson Band: The State Room: October 4, 2010
If you haven’t heard of Richard Thompson, it’s not your fault. The man has a storied musical career, but people don’t always pay attention to history—not even when they should. … read more
The Hold Steady @ In the Venue
The Hold Steady had played Salt Lake City on their two previous tours, both times packing the Urban Lounge to near (or even past) capacity. So much had changed since then. Would they even try to recapture the old magic, or would this be a completely new direction for this Brooklyn-by-way-of-Minnesota group of musicians? Any lingering concerns were quickly put to rest when guitarist Tad Kubler ripped into the first song. … read more
Black Heart Procession @ Urban Lounge 12.11
With a band like the Black Heart Procession, you don’t always know what to expect. I’ve seen their membership swell from three people to as many as five, and I have always been impressed by how much effort goes into getting the details of their stage show perfect. Tonight was no different—the band was spot on. … read more
OFF!, Retox @ Club Sound
I got there just in time for Retox, a national touring band from southern California. Retox is a four-piece grindcore band that features Justin Pearson (of Struggle and the Locust fame) and Gabe Serbian (of the Locust, and also Cattle Decapitation). … read more
Andre Williams and The Goldstars, The Rubes @ The Garage...
Almost exactly a year ago, Andre Williams was in Salt Lake City to play two nights at the Garage on Beck Street. He set the place ablaze—literally. The patio and back section of the bar caught on fire at some point between the first and second nights, but it wasn’t really Williams’ fault. It did result in a frazzled fanbase and a mad scramble to find a proper venue for the second performance. So now, on the anniversary of the fire that almost ended the Garage, and in one of the most brazen acts of tempting fate that I’ve ever witnessed, Andre Williams took the rebuilt patio stage behind the bar and poured out his soul. And the crowd at the Garage was ready to receive him. … read more
Review: Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven
Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven The First Annual Camp Out Live MVD Visual Street: 01.30 Concert films are usually a let down. Reunion tours are also generally a drag, especially when fans that spent their whole adolescence singing along with a band have to witness their older and uninspired heroes fuck up the chorus to
Review: The Best of Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters
The Best of Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters Sid and Mary Krafft Time Life Street: 05.01 The 1980s were hard times for TV variety shows. The genre was big in the early years of television, as carnies and vaudevillians made the jump from the stage to the small screen. Several decades later we were
Review: The HEE HAW Collection featuring George Strait
The HEE HAW Collection featuring George Strait Frank Peppiatt Time Life Street: 05.01 If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if a bunch of inbred jackasses from Arkansas had their own variety show, then look no further than this HEE HAW DVD. One more in a series of Time Life releases, this 1983
Childish Wisdom: An Interview with Billy Childish
Some people are just inexhaustibly creative. Billy Childish is one of those people. He is maybe the most prolific man in the history of rock music. Starting his career in the late 1970s with the Pop Rivits, Childish went on to play in several English bands, including Thee Headcoats, The Mighty Caesars, Thee Milkshakes and
Review: You’re Gonna Miss Me: A Film About Roky Erickson
You’re Gonna Miss Me: A Film About Roky Erickson Keven McAlester Palm Pictures Street 07.10 At this point, Roky Erickson is almost as famous for his heroin and LSD binges as he is for his mid-60s work with the 13th Floor Elevators. When the Texas-based psychedelic band relocated to the west coast, Erickson didn’t adapt
Review: Billy Childish is Dead: a film by Graham Bendel
Billy Childish is Dead: a film by Graham Bendel Cherry Red Films Street: 2005 This is a full-length documentary film that sets out to offer insight into the life and art of Billy Childish. The film’s director followed Childish around for several months, through art openings, band performances, poetry readings and down time at home. The
Review: Crusin’ Hits of the 60’s
Crusin’ Hits of the 60’s MVD Visual Street 06.07 I guess I’ve always known that minor pop stars from the 60s were active well into the 1980s, but I don’t think that point really hit home until I saw video proof. Recorded live at the Rock n’ Roll Palace in Orlando, Florida, this multi-star concert
The Genius of Billy Childish: with thee Headcoats & thee...
The Genius of Billy Childish: with thee Headcoats & thee Milkshakes Cherry Red Films Street: 2004 This concert video chronicles shows from two separate Billy Childish bands that were recorded nine years apart. The first section is an April ’84 performance by thee Milkshakes at the Nothing But Trash festival in Nottingham, England. The second
Rocket from the Crypt
If you can resist the talent of John Reis then you are a stronger soul than I, and I don’t want to know you. … read more
Henry Owings: The Last Magazine Publisher
It has been a hell of a couple of years for independent media. … read more
Bettie Page Tribute
Where the old adage that gentlemen prefer blonds is by no means a universal truth, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at vintage Hollywood. For every raven-haired actress that resembled Elizabeth Taylor, there was a Marilyn Monroe, a Veronica Lake and a Faye Dunaway sporting their golden locks for legions of admirers. … read more
The Hold Steady: A Positive Rage
At first listen, The Hold Steady sound suspiciously like a really good bar band. They write the kind of songs that attract those instinctively drawn to stories about drinking and getting loaded with friends. … read more
Food Review: Road Island Diner
Diners have always held a special place in my heart. Greasy food, handmade desserts and dim lighting—the trifecta of honest road-side eating—have long made me a fan of this style of restaurant. As essential as the food is though, the setting can be even more important. A great burger or a fantastic breakfast special can easily be overshadowed by chintzy décor or a poorly trained wait staff. The opposite can also be true. The right surroundings can make even average food seem immortal. It is in the combination of great food and an incredible atmosphere that the Road Island Diner really shines. … read more
Jay Henderson
Jay Henderson knows what it means to pay for studio time. An accomplished musician and member of local roots-rock heroes Band of Annuals, Henderson has spent his share of time both inside and outside the recording booth. “I’ve always been a huge fan of music—writing, recording, producing, the works,” he says. … read more
Atipical
Elegant and simple, Tipica is a project that marries the vision of chef Adam Kreisel with the best ingredients Caputo’s Market has to offer. The pasta is made from locally milled flour, the tomatoes are grown in Cache Valley and the bread is baked right in the neighborhood. … read more
Book Reviews – November 2009
Books reviewed this month are Hakuin’s Precious Mirror Cave, Last Shop Standing and The Night In Question … read more
Food Review: Salt Lake Burgers – December 2009
Hires Big H 700 East 400 South (801) 364-4583 www.hiresbigh.com Crown Burgers 377 East 200 South (801) 532-1155 Acme Burger Company 200 West 275 South (801) 257-5700 www.acmeburgercompany.com Mormons don’t have many normal vices. The stringent lifestyle removes alcohol, tobacco and drugs from the mix, and you’d be surprised how little fun gambling and whoring
National CD Reviews – December 2009
This month’s national reviews feature releases from Asobi Seksu, Beak>, Dead To Me, Evangelista, The Mary Onettes, The Prodigy, The Rakes, Skeletonwitch, Slayer and many more. … read more
Food Review: Bayleaf Cafe – March 2010
Months ago, I started hearing whisperings of a local soul food restaurant that served chicken and waffles. Where the pairing of fried chicken and a syrup-covered breakfast waffle may seem a little strange to the uninitiated, this eclectic comfort food combination has been standard fare on the menus of traditional African-American restaurants for decades. To experience chicken and waffles in all of its glory, I had to consider the context, I would have to try the dish in the middle of the night, after an evening of dancing and soul music. … read more
No Reservations: Anthony Bourdain in SLC
Anthony Bourdain knows his way around a kitchen. Currently using a string of spoken word gigs to work out some new material, the chef-turned-author-turned-television personality will grace our fair city in mid-June. SLUG recently had the chance to ask Tony about his planned visit to Salt Lake, his history of punk rock fandom and his perceived influence on the food industry. While we had him on the horn, we also asked him what he thought about several traditional Mormon dishes. … read more
Food Review: Chow Truck – May 2010
Speaking of stalking, I’ve been stalking the Chow Truck for the past few months. The Chow Truck is a little bit like a bright yellow, wheeled version of the island on the show LOST—it’s considered sacred by some, and it has the ability to move around at will. I started seeing the massive catering truck long before I had the courage to approach it and prior to understanding that there was a website detailing where it would be and when it would be there. … read more
10 Years of Stoneground
At this point, the location of Stoneground really shouldn’t be a secret. But since it’s tucked away downtown on the second floor of an older building, one that overlooks the Salt Lake Library and a Trax station, it is easy to drive straight by without ever seeing the large rust-colored sign. In June, Stoneground celebrated its tenth anniversary. And while this is an incredible feat for any restaurant, it is even more impressive when you consider the eatery’s humble beginnings and the adversity it has faced over the past decade. … read more
Food Review: Bruges
Over a year ago, Belgian restaurateur Pierre Vandamme took the success of his Downtown Farmer’s Market waffle cart and parlayed it into a permanent brick-and-mortar food destination just south of the Gateway Mall. The shop’s attention to detail, use of quality ingredients and kitschy Bruggelingen décor coalesce into a uniquely Belgian eating experience. … read more
Grove Market & Deli: Tasty Two Pound Sandwich
Given the glut of superstores and convenience markets that litter the landscape these days, it is easy to forget that American towns were once built on the backs of family-run food markets. As family businesses have focused on adapting their enterprises to the needs of their clientele, some have managed to stay relevant and keep a solid customer base. One of these success stories is Grove Market & Deli. … read more
Vinyl Collecting: A Beginner’s Guide
I honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t surrounded by vinyl records. As soon as I had enough money to hit a proper record store, I was there, standing on a box in order to reach the back of the used record bin. Almost a quarter century later, it’s still an obsession of mine. Since record collecting is not an exact science, there are no concrete rules. But there are some things to consider before you jump into it. … read more
The Indie Cred Test
Henry Owings may be the highest profile music fan in the world. Yet somehow, he has managed to parlay his fandom into being on the forefront of many ridiculously important music and book projects as of late. Owings has been the guiding force behind three Chunklet books and his latest, the self-published The Indie Cred Test is written in the style of a standardized exam, with its final goal being a complete assessment of just how cool the reader is. … read more
Fallen Fruit of Utah: Bounty, Beauty and Community
Fallen Fruit is an artistic collaboration among three California-based artists: David Burns, Matias Viegener and Austin Young. The trio’s original art project was to create maps of publicly accessible fruit—places in and around Los Angeles where fruit trees grow on or over public property. The same three artists have collaborated on a Salt Lake-based exhibit called Fallen Fruit of Utah. … read more
Gabor Brothers: Tempting Italian in Davis County
It takes a lot to get me out of Salt Lake City. I only end up in Davis County on the rare occasion that I miss my freeway exit. Recently, though, what started off as a late season trip to a pumpkin patch near Farmington ended up with me cruising Main Street in Layton around lunch time. What I found at Gabor Brothers was nothing short of mouth-watering, and has left me trying to find other reasons to end up in Layton for lunch. … read more
OFF!, NASA Space Universe, Thunderfist @ The Loading Dock 04.16
In 2010, when footage of OFF! first started showing up online, fans of old California hardcore music lost their minds. Was it really possible that Keith Morris was fronting a punk rock super-group that could cram 16 songs into less than 20 minutes? It was possible, and it was actually happening. This was welcome news to fans of hardcore young and old—mostly because it meant that Morris had a reason to tour again, and once he hit the road, there was a solid chance that he’d play your town. … read more
The Garage: Roadhouse Comfort Food
I was impressed by so many things at The Garage: The staff were prompt and courteous and the food and drinks will have you coming back. … read more
Johnniebeefs: The Taste of Summer
Johnniebeefs 6913 S. 1300 E. Cottonwood Heights, Utah 801.352.0372 Monday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday: Closed As long as I can remember, my summers have been punctuated by outdoor cookouts—and this has usually meant sausages and hotdogs. As such, I’ve got a soft spot for a well-prepared dog, even if it isn’t
Fresh Cuts Daily: Sushi Groove
Sushi Groove is a mellow place. Located across from the Visual Art Institute on Highland Drive, the small, laid-back space provides an intimate dining experience. When you’re greeted by the graffiti-style artwork on the wall, you know immediately that you’re not in a pretentious sushi shop. The dining room seems designed to set the guests’ mind at ease, and it is successful at doing exactly that. … read more
Finding My Pioneer Roots
I had wanted to be involved with the annual Beer Issue since its conception, but there was always one glaring problem: I don’t drink beer. As SLUG Magazine’s Highest Ranking Mormon ™, I was limited in what I could contribute. I had always been obsessed with the process of making beer (much like early Mormons were until that whole “Word of Wisdom” thing came along) and was intrigued by the culture of local home brewing. As I looked into it, I realized that, with an increase in home beer production, there was also an increase in the number of brewers that wanted to share the experience with their kids—albeit in a non-alcoholic way. Thus, I found my calling: I would brew my own root beer. … read more
Eva’s Bakery: French Authenticity in the Heart of Salt Lake
Over the past few years, one of my favorite Downtown restaurants has been Eva. The small-plates restaurant serves a diverse selection of foods in portions manageable enough so that you can order half a dozen things and still not break the bank. Imagine my excitement when I, as SLUG Magazine’s Resident French Master TM, became aware that Eva Chef/Owner Charlie Perry had plans to open a French-style bakery just a few blocks away, Eva’s Bakery. … read more
The Pie: Utah’s Pizza Institution
When I transferred from Arizona State up to the University of Utah in 2001, one of the first things I did was seek out good pizza. The shock of living in a new place left me in need of comfort, and pizza had always been my go-to comfort food. Everyone I asked had exactly the same answer: a basement restaurant that had long been the favorite of U of U students and staff—The Pie Pizzeria. … read more
The Lamb Of Main Street: Lamb’s Grill
There’s no question that Lamb’s Grill is a Utah institution. I’m proud to report that it is still going strong. One thing is certain: If they handle breakfast and lunch with the same charm and elegance that they do with dinner, people will still be writing about Lamb’s Grill 96 years from now.
Massive Nights: An Interview with Tad Kubler of the Hold...
This past March, The Hold Steady released their sixth studio album, a 10-track scorcher titled Teeth Dreams. Since then, they’ve embarked on a globe-spanning tour that will make a stop at our own Urban Lounge in mid-July. SLUG Magazine caught up with lead guitarist and founding member Tad Kubler to talk about the new record, recent lineup changes and to ask about what’s influencing them these days. … read more
Pipa: Asian Small Plates on the West Side
After living in the heart of Downtown for over a decade, recent circumstances allowed me to buy a house in the northwestern Salt Lake neighborhood of Rose Park. It’s an older neighborhood with deep roots, and with the arrival of the light rail along the North Temple corridor, rumors of a renaissance for the Rose Park and Fair Park neighborhoods have begun to stir, and a recent trip to the Rancho Market plaza on 900 West led me to the unassuming façade of Pipa. … read more