SLUG Contributor Limelight
October 18, 2011
Contributor Limelight: Kia McGinnis
At the ripe age of 19, Kia McGinnis keeps you in the loop by compiling the Daily Calender section of the mag, searching high and low for all the happenings in Salt Lake and beyond. Kia is also a talented poet and writer - she has just become one of SLUG's intrepid Monkeys with Computers. When she isn't beng awesome in the SLUG office, you might find Kia working the door at Kilby Court, pursuing her education in photojournalism at SLCC, or curled up on her couch watching Dragon Ball Z with her amazing bulldog Claire.
Articles by contributor
Emmylou Harris @ Red Butte Garden 09.30 w/ Marisa Anderson...
Renowned singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris and acoustic act Marisa Anderson & William Tyler were welcomed to the Red Butte Garden stage. … read more
Wilco and Sleater-Kinney @ Red Butte Garden 08.08 w/ NNAMDï
Red Butte Garden concerts are back in full swing, making a triumphant return after a long, COVID-imposed hiatus. … read more
Opening Weekend at Red Butte: Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell and...
For many, this Red Butte concert may be the first community event they have been able to attend since the beginning of the pandemic. … read more
Local Review: Worst Horse – Worst Horse
Worst Horse = Yeasayer + Grouper … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: April 2021
Spring is just around the corner, so start it off by bumping along with your local-music community and shake off that winter slump. … read more
Making a Photograph with Ed Rosenberger
The title “photographer” is more of a verb than a noun for Ed Rosenberger. It’s a lifelong commitment to learning. … read more
Reviews: Rodrigo Amarante – Cavalo
The feel of this album is enchanting and ethereal. Portrayed through several songs being sung in Portuguese, it is also present in the richness and vibrancy of Amarante’s songwriting. … read more
Reviews: Mavis – Start Over
This is an album that would be easy to skip over unless you were looking, since its spine is unassuming strummy guitar and modest, youthful vocals. … read more
Review: Young Hare – Unbreak My Heart
A typewritten note on a torn sheet of paper was included with my copy of this CD, which said, “This really means a lot to me.” … read more
Reviews: Bill Baird – Spring Break of the Soul
A musical scrapbooker, Baird crafts and stitches together synth, folk, ambient, rock and just about any other genre you could think of. … read more
Review: Wordsmith – The Blue Collar Recital
His flow is clean with simple drumbeats and keys, looped with soulful samples that bump the tracks to an almost gospel status. The “day in a life” approach makes The Blue Collar Recital personal and powerful without being over the top. … read more
Review: Widowspeak – All Yours
Widowspeak = Mazzy Star + Fleetwood Mac … read more
Review: Waxahatchee – Out in the Storm
Waxahatchee = Cat Power + Frankie Cosmos + Lucy Dacus … read more
Review: Widowspeak – Expect the Best
Widowspeak = Fleetwood Mac + Chris Isaak + Daughter … read more
Review: Widowspeak – The Swamps EP
It doesn’t seem to be a coincidence that The Swamps’ release date is just a few days before Halloween. Spiderwebbed banjo layered with Molly Hamilton’s blustery, beautiful vocals and crisp, distant guitar riffs make this a quintessential fall release. … read more
Review: Ultimate Painting – Green Lanes
Ultimate Painting = The Beach Boys + Beach Fossils … read more
Review: Veronica Falls
If you pop this record in right now, you’ll get excited for spring. Pleasant Brit-pop bass lines hold hands with pretty vocal harmonies, making the album breezy and warm. Most of the songs have a kickback, nostalgic feel—probably due to the simple, repetitive lyrics, but no complaints here. … read more
Review: The Wonder Revolution – Wow
The Wonder Revolution = múm + Seabear … read more
Review: Tracy Shedd – Arizona
All 13 tracks are quiet vocals over strummy, uncomplicated acoustic guitar and vapid, romantic lyrics. Cat Power sets the bar pretty high in my mind for the genre of “chicks with guitars and pretty voices,” and while Shedd fits the criteria, her approach lacks any sort of edge or defining quality. … read more
Review: The Uncluded – Hokey Fright
Hip hop meets nursery rhymes with this collab from Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson. … read more
Review: The Head and the Heart – Let’s Be Still
Let’s Be Still is a step away from spontaneous songwriting, intending to be a thoughtful, more mature sequel. In reality, most of the tracks seem overthought and lack musical interest. … read more
Review: The Grouch & Eligh – The Tortoise & The...
Hip-hop fans: Place this high on your listening priority. The Grouch & Eligh got their start the DIY way, and have been able to keep a steady fanbase without being attached to a label. … read more
Review: Swagatha Christie
Swagatha is a 20-something blonde who has “swag” tattooed on her knuckles and writes about her white-girl antics. Miss Christie set out on her The Creep Van Tour 2012 last summer, with a stoner/skateboard crew who handed out “Free Sex” stickers at shows. … read more
Review: Snowbird – moon
Snowbird = Seabear + Daughter … read more
Review: Rocket 3 – Burn
Rocket 3 = Karen O + The Dum Dum Girls … read more
Review: Rich Quick – Sad Songz
This white boy from New Jersey lays down upbeat, borderline hip-pop with groovy samples. Quick has charisma in his musicianship, offering an approachability that is at his advantage. … read more
Review: Mutual Benefit – Skip a Sinking Stone
Mutual Benefit = Father John Misty + Radical Face
… read more
Review: Matthew Squires and the Learning Disorders – Where The...
Matthew Squires and the Learning Disorders = Okkervil River + The Morning Benders … read more
Review: Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Stranger Things Vol....
Stranger Things Vol. 1 = Baths + Debussy … read more
Review: Knxwledge – Hud Dreems
Knxwledge = Flying Lotus + J Dilla … read more
Review: Julien Baker – Turn Out the Lights
Julien Baker = Daughter + Paramore … read more
Review: Jhamasa Corinthian – Retro Love Arcade
Jhamasa Corinthian = Kelis + Big Boi … read more
Local Reviews: Sinthesis
You’d think that a fusion of hip hop and blues would be a musical trainwreck, but Phaust and Phingaz, who make up Sinthesis, blend the two genres nicely––especially considering they wrote and recorded Horseshoes & Handgrenades in a little over a week. … read more
Review: Gold Fields
I want to enjoy this Aussie dance-rock, but something about it reminds me a little too much of being 15 and angst-ily blasting Panic! At The Disco. My teenage insecurities aside, the fast rock chords combined with perky electro-beats and male pop vocals that are the basis of Gold Fields are pretty decent—if not boy-band quality. … read more
Local Review: Umbels – Self-Titled
Umbels = Incubus’ “Aqueous Transmission” + Modest Mouse’s “Lounge” … read more
Local Review: Strong Words – There Is A River, There...
Strong Words = Pedro The Lion + Tegan & Sara … read more
Local Review: Strong Words – Come Clean
If you’ve been paying attention to rad local bands in Salt Lake, you’ve probably heard Cathy Foy shredding drums in Future of the Ghost or The Circulars. Mixed and recorded by Andrew Goldring, Come Clean is Foy’s latest project—a work of thoughtful, honest musicianship with Foy on guitar and vocals. … read more
Local Review: TelePathiQ – Dark Room EP
In just three songs, TelePathiQ packs enough intensity for a full-length album. Booming drums are silhouetted by classical riffs of piano and paired with female vocals. … read more
Local Review: Stop Karen – neither here nor there
Stop Karen’s neither here nor there is a succinct, six-track album that is cheerful and heartening, though not lacking in depth nor lyrical prowess. Upbeat ukulele is the musical focal point, woven into clear vocals that create a folk-grunge-pop feeling that lies somewhere in between twang, punk and ballad. … read more
Local Review: Sen Wisher – Glow
Sen Wisher = James Blake + Youth Lagoon … read more
Local Review: Scenic Byway – The Shape of the Earth
Scenic Byway = Macklemore + Phantogram … read more
Local Review: Replica Mine – Three Noble Truths
This album is split into three parts: Existence, Cause and Cessation. Incorporating both industrial and earthy sounds, Adam Harmon creates a rich and eclectic texture. The vocals have the grungy, distorted edge of the early ’90s, which contrast the earthy tones of the guitar and bass. … read more
Local Review: Marijean – Shades of Green
Marijean= Sun Kil Moon x (Nick Drake – vocals) + Daniel Johnston … read more
Local Review: m.duby – Tha Come UP
A self-described “musical genius and hip-hop aficionado,” m.duby has no lack of confidence as an aspiring artist in a city with a fairly small hip-hop scene—he’s even started his own label. … read more
Local Review: m.duby – Bird In The Cage
m.duby is back at it on the local hip-hop scene, Bird In The Cage being his second release. It takes a more relaxed, adult direction than his first, Tha Come UP, with less emphasis on parties and heartbreak and more on becoming a better person and pushing forward. … read more
Local Review: Jay Citrus & Esscarrgo – Alone With Two...
Jay Citrus = Cyprus Hill + Snoop Dog … read more
Local Review: James Junius – moth,wing,dream
A fluttery work of ambience, moth,wing,dream, evokes images of a flickering light in a cabin or a midnight walk through a cemetery. It could be a soundtrack for a horror film with its hushed chords and sci-folk vocals. “Lake Days” is composed in the style of Morrissey, with simple synth guitar and repetitive, gloomy lyricism.
… read more
Local Review: her luminaria – The Dawn Is Your Enemy
her luminaria is quietly emerging into the SLC music scene with a beautiful collision of Midwestern grit and soft synth. … read more
Local Review: Color Animal/Magic Mint – 7” Split EP
Color Animal = Kishi Bashi + Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
… read more
Local Review: Batty Blue – Ekphrasis
Batty Blue Ekphrasis Self-Released Street: 01.17 Batty Blue = Amelie soundtrack + Laura Marling There’s an oversaturation of folk bands in Provo, but this album is charming and off-beat enough from the typically clean-cut music of Happy Valley to stand alone. It rubs into you nicely— like a good sweater from the D.I. Soft accordion is
Local Review: Anthony Pena – Apology
The inside cover of this album says, “With my sincerest heart, I am so sorry for who I was.” The music that follows is apologetic and cathartic, yet full of yearning. “Junius” combines upbeat vocal harmonies and emotional bursts of guitar with the lyrics “I never thought I would die right next to you.” … read more
Local Review: Andy Vigilante – Situation Comedy
Andy Vigilante = Bo Burnham + Astronautalis … read more
Review: Frankie Cosmos – Fit Me In
Frankie Cosmos = Pure Bathing Culture + Lady Lamb … read more
Review: Frankie Cosmos – Next Thing
Frankie Cosmos = Camera Obscura + Lady Lamb
… read more
Review: Florist – Holdly
Florists = Kimya Dawson + Karen O & The Kids
… read more
Review: Fear of Men – Fall Forever
Fear of Men = Veronica Falls + Sinead O’Connor
… read more
Review: El mató a un policía motorizado – La Dinastia...
If you don’t typically listen to music in Spanish, don’t fret—this music transcends language barriers. La Dinastía Scorpio is the first American release for these creative indie-rockers, who have toured festivals in the U.S. … read more
Review: Elisa Ambrogio – The Immoralist
Elisa Ambrogio = Mirah + Kimya Dawson … read more
Review: Desaparecidos – Payola
Desaparecidos = Against Me! + Cursive … read more
Review: Deradoorian – The Expanding Flower Planet
Deradoorian = tUnE-yArDs + St. Vincent … read more
Review: Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and...
Courtney Barnett = The Violent Femmes + The Yeah Yeah Yeahs … read more
Review: Cass McCombs – Mangy Love
Cass McCombs = Bill Callahan + Kurt Vile … read more
Review: Brian Jonestown Massacre – Revelation
Brian Jonestown Massacre Revelation A Records Street: 05.20 Brian Jonestown Massacre = The Beatles “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” + Sonic Youth After close to 30 years of playing together, BJM has become ubiquitous with psych rock– although they’ve never been afraid to dabble in other genres, such as punk, shoegaze, folk and blues.
Review: Beth Thornley – Septagon
It’ll sucker- punch you in the heart when you least expect it, and that’s powerful. Thornley writes clean songs, simple and to the point with pop-ballad lyrics. The four tracks that make up Septagon may be made-for-TV, but they’re still bona fide. … read more
Review: Angel Olsen – My Woman
Angel Olsen = Patsy Cline + Stevie Nicks … read more
Review: 1, 2, 3 – Big Weather
Inspired by the Tohoku tsunami in Japan, Big Weather is a 20-song concept album about natural disasters. Capitalizing on the theme of water, 1, 2, 3 use surf rock as their base, then add layers of psych and vinyl. … read more
Trishelle Jeffery: Comics That Cultivate Connection
Whether multi-panel stories or single-frame snapshots, Trishelle Jeffery’s pieces capture an insightful, memory-like stream of consciousness. … read more
Inclusion Experience Project: Why Utah leaders need to value vulnerabilty
As Utah continues to boom, Inclusion Experience Project will carry on responding to the need for comprehensive, compassionate training in the community. … read more
Magical Realism with Claire Taylor
As a book artist, Claire Taylor combines “creative nonfiction, illustration and biology” as she examines the intersections between humans and nature. … read more
Art Un-Lectured at Project Open’s Club House
The Art-Unlectured event gathered artists and organizers to connect, share and “support the shit out of each other.” … read more
Art | Arts | LGBTQ+ | Local Events
Place-Making with Rachel Hodson
Rachel Hodson’s impressive body of interiors, many of which happen to be located on the same block, are a collective sweet spot of historic renewal. … read more
Writers for Migrant Justice @ The Arts Hub 09.05
The Writers for Migrant Justice event is a nationwide day of protest reading and fundraising, with 45 cities (and counting) participating across the country. … read more
Mean Mugs Pottery: CLC Artisan
Much more than just a drinking vessel, each Mean Mugs Pottery mug is handmade with recycled materials from start to finish. … read more
Heavy Lifting: Works by Molly Morin
Molly Morin’s works are grounded in the sport and spirit of weightlifting but suspended in the relevance of humans maneuvering through their internalized circuitry. … read more
Paramore with Foster the People and Jay Som @ USANA...
“All we have to do for the next two hours is worry about nothing,” Hayley Williams of Paramore assures the bustling stadium. She’s wearing sheer blue tights, a red unitard and a très chic beret on her head. … read more
BYU Museum of Art’s Gems Featuring: Nina Katchadourian’s Curiouser
Curiouser by Nina Katchadourian is the magnum opus of the BYU Museum of Art’s summer spread, and the supporting acts in the building are well-rounded and paint a surprisingly political picture for Utah County. … read more
To Infinity: An Interview with Wren Ross
For her upcoming exhibition at the Utah Museum Of Contemporary Art (UMOCA), Wren Ross has been continually looking upward for inspiration. The celestial—specifically, the study of archeoastronomy—has moved Ross to create artistic renditions of maps and atlases. … read more
Paisley Rekdal: Mapping Literary Utah
Paisley Rekdal, creator of Mapping SLC and Utah’s current Poet Laureate, is in many ways a gatekeeper between literature and gripping relics of time. … read more
Angel Olsen @ The Depot 10.17
In a way, seeing Angel Olsen is such a treat because she reminds us to show up for ourselves, to sing our own songs clearly and without pretense. … read more
Real Whole Human: An Interview with Mitski
If Mitski were a camera, she’d shoot disposable flash portraits of average moments, then hand a print to you months or years later and completely break your heart. … read more
Julien Baker @ Kilby Court 08.09
Julien Baker doesn’t command attention so much as she transforms—the moment her mouth opens, she becomes a living journal of her tormented past. … read more
trashpaca: CLC Vintage Vendor
A self-proclaimed trashy romantic, Abraham von Waffles describes his vintage finds this way: “My aesthetic is somewhere between Coraline, Miyazaki and Wes Anderson, with a heavy helping of Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite). … read more
Copperhive Vintage: CLC Vintage Vendor
Jacqueline describes their aesthetic as “a kind of romance between mid-century, kitsch and oddities.” Copperhive got its start organically: When the Whitmores found that their personal collection was growing too large to contain. … read more
Lillie Jayne: CLC Artisan
Lillie Jayne began on March 14, 2017, and features colorful, quirky embroidered designs such as cactuses, hang loose signs and even a balloon animal dog. … read more
Art Revival: Pierpont Gallery Stroll
Tucked behind the iconic Crane building right in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, Pierpont Avenue is a thriving public block with a colorful and historic past. During the next monthly Pierpont Gallery Stroll, visit Erica Smith’s collaborative jewelry space and Eric Waddington’s new Fringe Gallery. … read more
Little Dragon: Sweet Escape
Little Dragon head out an extensive tour and will be bringing their freshest hits to Salt Lake City’s popular Twilight Concert Series on July 20. … read more
Binge-Worthy Journalism: Serial Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder @ Eccles...
At their Binge-Worthy Journalism talk in Park City’s Eccles Center for the Performing Arts, Koenig noted, “We thought it would be great if we could get 300,000 downloads.” They may have undersold themselves slightly, as they reached that number about three days after release. … read more
Showing Up in SLC Community Events: March and April 2017
If you follow SLUG’s Daily Calendar, then you already know that there’s always something happening in Salt Lake—whether it be music, art or the community rallying behind a cause. As spring approaches, there are are many events organized for those who wish to use their voice and become more involved with their community. … read more
Cass McCombs: Be Mangy
Cass McCombs is in another state, speaking about his latest album through an iPhone speaker. His voice is soft and deliberate in a way that calls for reverence, though he’s hardly on a pedestal. From passionate cynicism to selfless wisdom about music and people and life, he delivers an encouraging, informal sermon. … read more
Katie Bjorling: Florals and More
Like many other artists before her, Bjorling draws deeply from nature and allows it to be her guiding force in each creation she puts forth. In this way, it’s as if the world is painting itself through her—all she has to do is pick up her brush. … read more
Wye Oak: On Making a Not-Album
Wye Oak surged through self-imposed restrictions and are able to freely create together. Releasing Shriek put the duo in a state of mind where anything is possible—a breakthrough that may be the reason for calling Tweens a “not-album,” as it lies outside the preconceived ideas of a typical record. … read more
Localized: Dine Krew
It’s not unusual for a group of teenagers to spend long stretches of time in their parents’ basement, eating ramen noodles and staring at some sort of a screen while vaguely recognizable jams bump in the background. Generally, these hangouts don’t equate to much other than high scores on Mario Kart, but Dine Krew took their adolescent experiments and ideas and painted that shit gold, so to speak. … read more
Make Space Zine: We Are All Allowed
For the Riot Grrrls and the girls who look up to Patti Smith. For the girls who want to learn bass and scream into a microphone. For the girls with cameras, paintbrushes and tattoo guns sick of having to justify doing what they love to a white-cis-male dominated industry. … read more
Angel Olsen: Total Human Being
Angel Olsen possesses a prowess and mystique onstage that can make her seem otherworldly, but just as much as she is a performer, she is herself. … read more
Local Reviews: Palace of Buddies
Salt Lake is lucky to be home to these experimental, shoe-gazing badasses. Taking a turn from their first album, which was more rock based, Summertimes has an electro-pop, retro feel—heavy on seductive bass lines and salivating keyboard. … read more
Local Reviews: Lake Mary
I picture this band being a group of gangly, quiet 17-year-olds. Their five song acoustic EP evokes youthful and tender feelings, while at the same time feels a bit underdeveloped. … read more
Local Reviews: Fictionist
You may recall that Fictionist had a flirtation with Rolling Stone Magazine and made it to the third round of their cover contest. This is their first release since said 15 minutes of fame, and their third total. While listening, I perceived swells of darkness against opposing waves of hope—there’s no doubt that this EP is an emotionally driven work of rock n’ roll. … read more
Local Reviews: Burning Olympus
Words Taken From Books caught me off guard in a good way. These five songs are lustrous and captivating, with a spacey, dream-rock vibe and just enough grunginess. Vocalist Devin Powell is successfully emotive and visceral, while the band handles the rest with lo-fi texture and intriguing rock patterns. … read more
Local Review: Dine Krew
Salt Lake seems to be spouting out a steady stream of promising, uprising hip hop artists lately—Dine Krew included. We-E.T.’s presents unassuming, mellow beats and slow, satisfying flow, with short tracks that place emphasis on transitions. … read more
Parchment and Pallet: CLC Vintage Vendor
Parchment and Pallet etsy.com/shop/ParchmentAndPallet “Be still, my heart,” I thought as I saw Jacqueline and Logan Whitmore bustling around their baby blue, 1950s Shasta trailer, making sure each item was nestled just right. Parchment and Pallet collect classic American retro items, mostly from the ’40s to the ’70s. You could find all sorts of gems
Salt Valley Vintage: CLC Vintage Vendor
Salt Valley Vintage etsy.com/shop/SaltValleyVintage Stepping into Jane Stringham’s apartment—which doubles as her work space—is like stepping into an episode of Mad Men. She has an eye for aesthetics that are clean, effortless and simultaneously charming, rich and, dare I say, groovy. Case in point: Hanging on her wall is a 1960s floral dress in
Grieves & Budo @ Kilby 10.15
Grieves & Budo picked up some worthy fame while touring with Atmosphere and being a part of Warped Tour. With the show they put on here in Salt Lake, it’s no wonder. As they played ‘’Pack It Up,” I could see hearts in most everyone’s eyes as they sang along—‘’Ooo, I got a feeling you could be my baby.’’ For being a skinny kid with less than perfect teeth, Grieves has the means to get serious booty. … read more
Priory @ Kilby Court 11.21
You gotta hand it to these hipsters. And when I say hipsters, I mean the Portland dwelling, bearded, easy-going, most likely stoned kind. Yes, Priory fits said cliche, but let’s not be too hasty to judge. The dudes of Priory stood out enough amongst the masses to land a tour, hop in a bus and live the musician’s dream. … read more
Twin Sister and Ava Luna @ Kilby 02.11
I’m one of those people who can have one song by an artist in my music library and still call myself a fan—Twin Sister being a solid example of that. Once upon a time, I came across their track, “Lady Daydream,” and was obsessed with it for approximately one day. It was with that in mind and an altogether hazy idea of what they might actually sound like live that I stumbled into this show. … read more
Snowbird Speed Dating 02.14
If you’re anything like me, then you think speed dating is for the sad, lonely and desperate––or for BYU students. Alas, I decided to hush my preconceptions and try out Snowbird’s Valentine’s Day version of speed dating. The resort offered $40 all day passes for singles and set aside a chairlift on the Peruvian run with a line for the ladies and a line for the dudes. … read more
The Shins, The Head and The Heart, Blind Pilot @...
What’s better than getting to see The Shins? Getting to see two bands you’ve been solidly obsessed with for ages beforehand, making for a holy trifecta of folk pop. This Red Butte show sold out like crazy despite $50 tickets, so clearly I wasn’t alone in recognizing the glory of this lineup. … read more
Dirty Projectors @ In the Venue 07.21
Here’s a fun fact: In The Venue opened doors a full hour before any music started, so show attendees got plenty of time to stand around looking hip or whatever. There were a lot of chicks wearing glasses and mom jean cut-offs, which made me think about how funny Portlandia is, and I was hoping that this show proved to be worth it, because I could be at home watching hilarious hipster satire. As fate had it, the evening redeemed itself and I was even able to celebrate at the end with Mexican food. … read more
Aesop Rock @ In the Venue 07.23
Before the king himself took the stage, a team of intimidating bouncers pushed people around until there was a path for him to walk through. It was hot as balls in the room and bumping with fans. Finally, the trio—Aesop, DJ Big Wiz and Rob Sonic—appeared and everyone got their hands in the fucking air. … read more
The xx @ The Complex 10.16 with 2:54
The xx have been a consistent favorite on the ol’ iPod since approximately 2008, when I happened upon their video for “VCR,” which at the time had a meager amount of views. Since then, they have exploded ferociously into the hip music hemisphere and when it became public knowledge that they would be playing here in Salt Lake, I couldn’t go anywhere in the city without hearing their name dropped. … read more
Local Reviews: Mark Dago
There is something to be said for brevity in the music world: What’s the point of an album that drags on just for the sake of stroking the band members’ egos? Dago impressively bundles everything he needs to in about 20 minutes with this sophomore project, in which he ties together electronic sounds from old school video games (“Little Mac’s Jogging Theme”, anyone?) and a unique stream of beats. … read more
Widowspeak: An Eerie Treat
Molly Hamilton and Rob Thomas are cinematographers of music, intentionally webbing together songs that evoke reminiscing. Inspired by the gloomy dark of the Northwest and the nostalgic imagery of the old American west, Widowspeak could be described as “cowboy grunge,” not so much literally, but in the sentiment. … read more
Phantogram @ The Depot 10.13 with Future Islands
You want to get lost in Sarah’s sultry and enchanting voice, but Josh Carter’s guitar demands enough attention that you end up with an ideal dyad. “Running From The Cops” makes you want to cut up some carpet with its dirty bass, while “Turn It Off” wraps itself around you like smoke from a fire. If you close your eyes, they’ll launch you somewhere into space and you’ll be in no hurry to get back. … read more
Widowspeak @ Urban Lounge 10.26 with Big Wild Things, Pure...
Having been described as “cowboy grunge,” Widowspeak quilt together classic Americana with darker rock and roll touches. Their Northwest background seems to add a very ’90s texture to their music. It was a bit alarming to me that there were only 30 people at most there to witness what was sure to be a glorious set. I overcompensated my excitement with cranberry vodkas and spilled one all over the floor during the first opener, Big Wild Things. … read more
Neutral Milk Hotel @ The Depot 04.01 with Elf Power
The symphonic effect of the full band seems to be a testament to the length of time that they have been making music together. Maybe after so many hours, weeks and months of this, they transcend as a group into music nirvana. Their music crosses into the familiar and timeless effortlessly, like a classic novel that anyone can pick up and connect with. The relationship Jeff has with his songs is incredibly intimate, and when he shares them with an audience their vulnerability is illustrious and historic. … read more
Cunninlynguists @ Urban Lounge 04.17 with Dumb Luck, Nemo Achida,...
There’s nothing like arriving painfully early to the Urban Lounge on a Thursday. It’s dark, covered in the sticky residue of alcohol and/or sweat and sort of sad—like a teenage boy’s basement bedroom. I roosted in one of the decrepit booths and listened to an hour of sound check and A Tribe Called Quest being played at a shittily loud volume. Being a white girl from the suburbs, I take a certain pride in my love for Tribe. I felt like screaming to the three male strangers in the room, “THIS IS MY JAM, FUCKERS!” … read more
Run On Sentence: Feelings & Freedom
Folk is, by definition, the carrying of culture. Dustin Hamman of Run On Sentence instinctively understands this—whether he’s at a hot springs ranch or a film festival, he internalizes experiences to translate into his music. His storytelling is second nature. … read more
Conor Oberst @ Red Butte Gardens 09.14 With Jonathan Wilson
It’s likely that when you think of Conor Oberst, you think of Bright Eyes. His latest album and second solo release, Upside Down Mountain, suggests that his growth as an artist is still a working priority. … read more
An Interview with Brooke LaChance
Mary Brooke LaChance does not look like someone battling Stage IV Melanoma. She is young and strikingly beautiful, with softly glowing skin and a sweet smile. … read more
Tacos and Graffiti: An Interview with Anthony Ortega
For as long as he can remember, Ortega has been dabbling in art. Whether it was ceramics or spray paint, he has always had his hands covered in something. … read more
SLUG Swings SXSW
Being handed a press pass for SXSW made me feel like a 12-year-old in a candy store with an unlimited credit card. Believe me, whatever you’ve heard about Austin being the place to see music is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. … read more
SLUG Swings SXSW Day Two
Attending a festival such as SXSW requires a level of patience and strategy not intended for the weak of heart. For my second day, I dedicated the majority of my time to an event put on by The House of Vans at the local indoor/outdoor venue The Mohawk. … read more
SLUG Swings SXSW Day Three
Let me start off with a sincere wish—that Salt Lake City can grow into its still budding music scene and take some serious lessons from Austin. The 801 has got the community-oriented mindset that it takes to foster musicians, and our venues are only getting better, but something we are severely lacking is concert etiquette. … read more
SLUG Swings SXSW Day Four
As the exhaustion of walking around town, non-stop eating and non-stop shows began to hit me, I felt mighty fine about spending my time at the same establishment as the night before. … read more
SLUG Swings SXSW: Weekend
The last of my time in Austin called for a hefty dose of local love. Traveling solo is far superior to traveling in a group in many ways, but I didn’t mind coming across the company of some familiar faces to wrap up a week of talking to myself. … read more
Local Reviews: Daisy & The Moonshines
This band has three things that make them dangerously worthwhile: class, soul and groove. It would be difficult to listen to their music and not feel engaged in some way or another—whether it be to the visceral, bluesy feel (such as in the song “50’s Kill Off!”) or the genuine lyrics that thread the album together. … read more
Local Reviews: Golden Sun
This self-titled indie rock EP is fierce as fuck, paving the way for a full-fledged album in the future and establishing an above-average, awesome sound. A casual listener might not realize that these dudes are young—both in age and in their time together as a band, releasing their first album in July 2011. … read more
Local Reviews: Quiet The Titan
This is definitely a high school band, but if you take the pubescent-sounding vocals with a grain of salt, you’ve got the skeletons of a fairly impressive debut garage rock album. Using acoustic guitar intros, Weezer-ish bass progressions and youthful lyrics to their advantage, these teens manage some great jams that seem to be echoing the successful indie Provo/Velour scene. … read more
All-Ages Localized
Right here in the saltiest city, we’re swimming with young, local talent—and Spy Hop Productions has booked an all-ages Localized showcase for April, featuring three local bands comprised of talented under-agers. Indie synth-pop from Solarsuit and math rock from Anthropology will be present, as well as opening band Creature Double Feature. Swing by Kilby Court on April 26 and $5 will get you a killer glimpse at some up-and-coming bands. … read more
Urban Flea Market: Salt Lake’s Sunday Gem
If you’re guilty of spending glaze-eyed hours perusing Etsy and Pinterest, the time has come to attend the real-life, local version of online shopping—and you won’t even have to hashtag vintage. The Urban Flea Market—held one Sunday a month, May through October from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.—has everything from antique goods to bohemian clothing,
Nothing Is Too Big: An Interview With Grieves
Grieves is pale, skinny and unapologetic. He is aware that he draws comparisons to Macklemore. He pays no attention to what assumptions Pitchfork makes about the originality of his rap or how many stars they slap on his album. This could come across as cockiness, but the truth is that his rhymes are rooted in soil too deep to be bothered by shallow judgments—hip-hop is as much about letting go as it is pushing forward
Localized: Better Taste Bureau
If hip-hop in Salt Lake is something you’ve never experienced, look no further than April’s Localized, sponsored by Uinta Brewing Co., KRCL 90.9 FM and Spilt Ink SLC. This month’s lineup is solid through and through, starting with Swell Merchants and the Dine Krew, who will lay some groovy tracks down to get you hyped for Better Taste Bureau. You might just find yourself jumping up and down to their fresh flow. As always, $5 gets you in, so load up the van and get down to Urban Lounge, Saturday, April 18 at 10 p.m.
Moving on Up: an Interview with Speedy Ortiz
As their name may suggest, Speedy Ortiz are cruising right along. They’re young, screamingly talented, touring the world, playing festivals like SXSW alongside their personal heroes, recording and releasing a new album—all while maintaining an effortless aura of unpretentious coolness.
Localized: Great Interstate and Strong Words
Urban Lounge will be hosting some of our salty city’s finest musicians on Oct. 10 for Localized, sponsored by Uinta Brewing Co., KRCL 90.9FM and Spilt Ink SLC. The evening will be kicking off with indie jams from Grass, followed by the dreamy, thoughtful rock of Strong Words and the introspective, spacey songs of Great Interstate. It’s only $5, so flip off your Netflix and head on over. … read more
Localized: Koala Temple
This month’s Localized features experimental wizard rockers Koala Temple and the cinematic poetry of existential ’70s punk weirdos Pentagraham Crackers. Drum and guitar duo Dog Sweat open. As always, $5 will get you in to Urban Lounge on Aug. 15 for a night of rock n’ roll, Salt Lake City style. Sponsored by Fat Tire, Spilt Ink SLC and KRCL 90.9FM! … read more
Articles by contributor
Magical Realism with Claire Taylor
As a book artist, Claire Taylor combines “creative nonfiction, illustration and biology” as she examines the intersections between humans and nature. … read more