SLUG Contributor Limelight
January 5, 2022
Contributor Limelight: Russ Holsten
Russ Holsten has been one of SLUG’s most consistent and dedicated music writers since 2016. A versatile writer, Holsten shines most in the nearly 100 music reviews he’s written since joining. As comfortable with punk and alt-rock as he is pop, noise, metal or country, Holsten has long provided a driving force behind SLUG’s music coverage, and we can’t wait for what’s come!
Articles by contributor
Local Review: Whisperhawk – Kosmos Burger
Kosmos Burger by Whisperhawk is a six song EP that is a lollapalooza of surf rock and slightly psychedelic rock-buzz with a punk pop snarl. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: July 2024
Hot local (music) singles are in your area! You’re sure to find your (musical) match for a seasonal fling here in this roundup of our favorite new tracks by Utah artists. … read more
Local Review: frick. – frick.
At first listen of frick.’s debut album, I asked myself, “What are these cats so angry at?,” before I quickly realized I’m angry at the exact same things, too. … read more
Local Review: The Apathetics – Last Rites
What do all punk rockers do when they reach middle age? They give up all the rage and embrace the misery. … 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
Local Review: No Such Animal – The Entertainer
No Such Animal moves like a wrecking ball into the future with hints of late ’80s hard-rock reinvention, ’90s aggressive progressiveness and early ’00s power-pop walls of sound. … read more
Set in Stone: An Interview with Nick Jost of Baroness
With Baizley’s deep, blistering lyrics, Gleason’s insane guitar playing and the best rhythm section in hard music composed of Jost and Thomson, Baroness will never go gentle into that good night. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: October 2023
All Hollow’s Eve is creeping in on us foolish mortals once again. SLUG is ditching the tricks and dishing out some raving treats in the October edition of our Local Music Singles Roundup! … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: September 2023
Whether you’re into funk, indie rock or anything in between, SLUG Mag has got you covered with September’s roundup. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: July 2023
As we enter into the peak of the Utah summer heat, chill out and cool off with six selections from July’s Local Music Singles Roundup! … read more
Local Review: Pixie And The Partygrass Boys – The Chicken...
Pixie And The Partygrass Boys = Thelma Houston + Charlie Daniels + Nitty Gritty Dirt Band … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: June 2023
Kick back and relax poolside with this month’s singles from incredibly talented local artists—you’ve earned it. … read more
Local Review: Icky Rogers – Chasing Saturday
Icky Rogers = De La Soul + Alice Coltrane + Morcheeba … read more
Local Review: ECHOES FROM THE VALLEY
Featuring over a dozen bands from the early ’00s, ECHOES FROM THE VALLEY compilation is equal part lost aughts treasures and equal part fresh bangers for 2023. … read more
Gold Mining the DC Scene with On Repeat Recordings
On Repeat Recordings began as a means for revisiting and reamplifying the artists from this era through reissues of their rarely heard records. … read more
Local Review: The Snarlin’ Yarns – It Never Ends
The Snarlin’ Yarns = John Doe + The Knitters + X … read more
Review: Shana Cleveland – Manzanita
Shana Cleveland = Cat Stevens + Alice Coltrane + Richard Brautigan … read more
Invasion of the Death Valley Girls
Being in orbit with Death Valley Girls’ Bonnie Bloomgarden is like swimming in the super infinite with a galactic white witch that transcends space and time. … read more
Review: Beauty Pill – Blue Period
Beauty Pill = Pixies + Dry Cleaning + La Luz … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: December 2022
SLUG Magazine has your December tunes covered with six new songs by turns shocking and seasonal to give all your winter activities a perfect snowy soundtrack. … read more
Review: ONO – Kate Cincinnati
Kate Cincinnati is a masterpiece composed by P. Michael Grego (keyboards, electronics and percussion), Ric Graham (mostly horns and guitar) and travis (vocals). … read more
Review: Scout Gillett – no roof no floor
Scout Gillett = Sharon Van Etten + a slight Kate Bush … read more
Review: Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork
Dry Cleaning = Wire + Peter Buck + Kim Gordon … read more
Review: Dream, Ivory – About a Boy
Dream, Ivory = The Everly Brothers + Slowdive + PUP … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: October 2022
Take a listen to these fang-tastic local singles from Blair Street, Icky Rogers, Jazzy Olivo, The Plastic Cherries and more eerie-sistible artists. … read more
Review: Coby Sey – Conduit
Coby Sey = Tricky + Morcheeba + Marvin Gaye … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: September 2022
These six new tracks accompany all of the moods heading into the new season: a blanket burrito and a cup of tea OR a brisk walk outside with a friend. … read more
Review: Cinema Hearts – Your Ideal
Cinema Hearts = Ronnie Spector + Liz Phair + Shannon and the Clams … read more
Full Circle with Joshua James
Joshua James has a touch of magic and warmth about him. His self sufficient soul makes him the perfect person to headline the 14th Annual DIY Fest. … read more
Review: Katie Alice Greer – Barbarism
Katie Alice Greer = PJ Harvey + Nitzer Ebb + Earthling-era David Bowie … read more
Review: Scout Island – Laurentian Voyage
Scout Island = Peter Buck + early/mid-era New Order + The Church … read more
Review: Diatom Deli – Time~Lapse Nature
Diatom Deli = Marina Allen + Tirzah … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: May 2022
Get your fix with our Local Music Singles Roundup! Take a ride with these six musicians as they celebrate their new releases and gear up to be wheel blown away. … read more
Review: Oceanator – Nothing’s Ever Fine
Oceanator = Skunk Anansie + Jeff Rosenstock + Ocatavia E. Butler … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: April 2022
Our Beer Issue Local Music Singles Roundup offers six new lager-than-life singles to listen to—we’re sure at least one of them will make your heart malt. … read more
Review: SASAMI – Squeeze
SASAMI = Trent Reznor + Aimee Mann … read more
Review: Guerilla Toss – Famously Alive
Guerilla Toss = Grateful Dead + Talking Heads + Pond … read more
Review: A Place to Bury Strangers – See Through You
A Place To Bury Strangers = Danielle Ash + Brian Jonestown Massacre … read more
Review: Boris – W
Boris = Nine Inch Nails + Grouper … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: January 2022
Another month means another edition of SLUG’s Local Music Singles Roundup, so spring into the new year with these fresh new bops. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: December 2021
With this month’s Local Music Singles Roundup, you put your headphones on and, as these songs begin to fill your ears, you close your eyes … … read more
Top Five Folk/Traditional Albums that Kick Up New Dust: Adia...
Adia Victoria = R.L. Burnside + Erykah Badu + Terrence Trent D’arby … read more
Review: Marissa Nadler – The Path of the Clouds
Marissa Nadler = Chelsea Wolfe + Lingua Ignota … read more
Local Review: Pixie And The Partygrass Boys – Snake Creek
Pixie And The Partygrass Boys = Sturgill Simpson + The Knitters … read more
Local Review: Crook & The Bluff – MONOLITHS
Crook & The Bluff = The Blasters + John Doe + Rush … read more
Crucialfest: Year 10
This year, local hard rock/metal festival Crucialfest will celebrate its 10th anniversary with Crucialfest 10, Aug. 26–29. … read more
Review: Liz Phair – Soberish
Liz Phair = Karen Carpenter + Steely Dan + Sufjan Stevens … read more
Review: Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee
Japanese Breakfast = Mannequin Pussy + Kate Bush … read more
Review: black midi – Cavalcade
black midi = Frank Zappa And The Mother’s Of Invention + Flying Lotus + Charlie Parker … read more
Review: Juliana Hatfield – Blood
Juliana Hatfield = Olivia Newton John + Tool … read more
Local Review: The Zissous – She Devil
The Zissous = The Darts + The Coathangers … read more
Review: Nancy Sinatra – Start Walkin’ 1965 – 1976
Nancy Sinatra = Bobbie Gentry + Lana Del Rey … read more
Review: Boris With Merzbow – 2R0I2P0
Boris With Merzbow = Pink Floyd + The Melvins … read more
Local Review: Joel Willes – Ambition and Glory
Joel Willes = King Dude + Amigo The Devil + Hiss Golden Messenger … read more
Review: J.E. Sunde – 9 Songs About Love
J.E. Sunde = Paul Simon + Buck Meek + Elliot Smith … read more
Review: Winkie – Come to My Party
Winkie describe their music as the sound of drowning, imagery reflected on the cover of their second full-length album. Come To My Party is an invitation. It’s definitely not an invitation to a party with balloons and frosted cakes with kids from school giving you hastily bought presents from the thrift store. This party is more like a meat grinder with strobe lights. … read more
Review: The Julie Ruin – Hit Reset
The Julie Ruin = The Ventures + Perfect Pussy + John Lydon
Review: The Gotobeds Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic
The Gotobeds = Swell Maps + Wire + Pavement
… read more
Review: The Flaming Lips – Oczy Mlody
Flaming Lips = Sun Ra + all weirdness since … read more
Review: The Breeders – All Nerve
The Breeders + The Amps + Throwing Muses + Little Trouble Girl … read more
Review: The Brian Jonestown Massacre – The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Brian Jonestown Massacre = BJM ‘90s + BJM 2000s … read more
Review: Superchunk – What A Time To Be Alive
Superchunk What A Time To Be Alive Merge Records Street: 02.16 Superchunk = Slushpuppies + Pavement Superchunk formed in the college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1989. They never truly left. For the last 29 years, this influential band has kept their heads just under the radar. Superchunk were an indie band before
Review: Swearin’ – Falling into the Sun
Swearin’ = Belly + Pavement / Superchunk … read more
Review: Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
Sharon Van Etten = PJ Harvey + Patti Smith + Julien Baker … read more
Review: Shana Cleveland: Night of the Worm Moon
Shana Cleveland = Alice Coltrane + Sun Ra + Octavia E. Butler … read more
Review: Pissed Jeans – Why Love Now
Pissed Jeans = Motörhead + KEN mode + Lydia Lunch … read more
Review: Protomartyr – Consolation E.P.
Protomartyr = Preoccupations + MC5 … read more
Review: Nomad Stones – Self-titled
Nomad Stones = Dinosaur Jr. + Black Flag … read more
Review: NOFX – First Ditch Effort
NOFX = Fat Mike + A Hepatitis Bathtub + 30 years … read more
Review: Mike and the Melvins – Three Men And A...
Mike and the Melvins = godheadSilo + Melvins circa 1999 + Melvins circa 2016
… read more
Review: Lush – Blind Spot
Lush = Pale Saints + Ride + Slowdive … read more
Review: LUH – Spiritual Songs For Lovers To Sing
LUH = WU LYF + Spiritualized + Fugazi … read more
Review: Lydia Loveless – REAL
Lydia Loveless = Lindi Ortega + Maria Mckee / Lone Justice … read more
Review: Lucifer – Lucifer II
Lucifer = Black Sabbath + Stevie Nicks + Blue Oyster Cult … read more
Review: Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen = The Angel with a Golden Voice … read more
Review: La Luz – Floating Features
La Luz = Dick Dale and His Del-tones + Shannon And The Clams … read more
Review: Lost Under Heaven – Love Hates What You Become
Lost Under Heaven = WU LYF + The Eurythmics … read more
Review: Le Butcherettes – bi/MENTAL
Le Butcherettes = Siouxsie Siouz + Patti Smith … read more
Review: Juliana Hatfield – weird
Juliana Hatfield = Olivia Newton John + Liz Phair + Matthew Sweet … read more
Review: Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions – Until the...
Hope Sandoval And The Warm Inventions = The Sunday’s + Lana Del Rey + Mazzy Star … read more
Review: J Mascis – Elastic Days
J Mascis = Neil Young + Pavement + Kurt Vile … read more
Review: Jeff Tweedy – Warm
Jeff Tweedy = Merle Haggard + Paul Westerberg … read more
Local Review: Paul Jacobsen And The Madison Arm
Paul Jacobsen And The Madison Arm = Patterson Hood + Hiss Golden Messenger … read more
Review: Thurston Moore – By the Fire
Thurston Moore = Wire + Mission Of Burma … read more
Review: Angel Olsen – Whole New Mess
Angel Olsen = Marianne Faithful + Patsy Cline + Roy Orbison … read more
Review: The Lemon Twigs – Songs for the General Public
The Lemon Twigs = The Xanadu Soundtrack + Todd Rundgren … read more
Review: Hælos – Full Circle
Hælos = Massive Attack + Portishead + Morcheeba … read more
Local Review: Valentine & The Regard – A History of...
Valentine & The Regard = Television + The Replacements … read more
Local Review: The Vistanauts – Apollo Down
The Vistanauts = Julian Cope + Ziggy Stardust … read more
Local Review: Suburban Hell-Kill – In a Perfect World
Suburban Hell Kill = DRI + Off! … read more
Local Review: Tassellhoff – Turbo Hippie
Tassellhoff = A Danielle Ash guitar + Unplugged-Era Nirvana … read more
Local Review: Sex Room – InSnaketicide
Sex Room = Love And Rockets + Ramones + early Nirvana … read more
Local Review: Sentou – Towelette
Sentou = Washed Out + Mister Brightside … read more
Local Review: Johnny Betts – There Are No “A” Sides
Johnny Betts unfolds stories like sermons (with the preaching sucked out), using figures from Christian mythology in his lyrics. “There Are No ‘A’ Sides” contains love, loss, God and stories from the good book. Homegrown and emerging, Betts is a soon-to-be favorite. … read more
Local Review: Jake Haws – Good Grief
Jake Haws = Charlie Brown + James Taylor … read more
Local Review: Glume – Redefined Displeasures
Glume = Joy Division + a whisper of Angelo Badalamenti … read more
Local Review: Fat Candice – Self-titled
Fat Candice = Thin Lizzy + Screaming Trees … read more
Local Review: Fat Candice – Fat Candice(Stars)
They are masters at yanking at your music-memory strings and then shifting what’s familiar, turning it inside out, and making that sound their own. … read more
Review: Marissa Nadler, Stephen Brodsky – Droneflower
The songs on Droneflower play out like unpredictable pendulum swings. Some songs slither out soft-like and acoustic headed toward a metal grind that never comes, while others sound like raking gravel that Nadler barely tries to soften out. … read more
Local Review: Tayler Lacey – Street Corners
Tayler Lacey = Jason Isbell + James Taylor … read more
Local Review: Salem Witch Doctors – You Guys Should Play...
Salem Witch Doctors = Robert Johnson + The Violent Femmes … read more
Local Review: Jaron Yancey – Keep You in Mind
Jaron Yancey = Amigo The Devil + Justin Townes Earle … read more
Review: The Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger
The Raconteurs = The Eagles + The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion … read more
Local Review: Mother Lights – Night Magic
The instrumentation on Night Magic allows the perfect support for Mother Lights’ powerful words that makes this quiet album loud and clear. … read more
Local Review: The Painted Roses – The Sad Man
The Painted Roses = Hank Williams + Hiss Golden Messenger … read more
Local Music Review: Jake Burch – I
Jacob Burch = Maxwell + Jeff Buckley … read more
Review: Cold Beaches – Drifter
Cold Beaches = The Sundays + La Luz … read more
Review: Frog Eyes – Violet Psalms
Frog Eyes = Swan Lake + Destroyer … read more
Review: Ed Schrader’s Music Beat – Riddles
Ed Schrader’s Music Beat = Morphine + Rat Film … read more
Review: Diarrhea Planet – Turn To Gold
Diarrhea Planet = Dokken + The Plimsouls + The Eagles
… read more
Review: Cherry Glazerr – Stuffed & Ready
Cherry Glazerr = Lush + Kathleen Hannah … read more
Review: Blood Orange – Freetown Sound
Blood Orange = Prince + Stevie Wonder … read more
Review: Bambara – Shadow On Everything
Bambara = Swans + The Birthday Party … read more
Review: Arbor Labor Union – I Hear You
Arbor Labor Union = Neil Young and Crazy Horse + Queens of the Stone Age
… read more
Kevin Morby – Oh My God
Kevin Morby = Leonard Cohen + The Beatles + Bob Dylan’s Jesus phase … read more
Review: Chelsea Wolfe – Birth of Violence
Chelsea Wolfe = Lana Del Ray + Emma Ruth Rundle + Black Sabbath … read more
Review: The Paranoyds – Carnage Bargain
The Paranoyds = Moon Zappa + X + The Julie Ruin … read more
Local Review: Of The Valley – Roses
Of The Valley = Idles + Blink 182 … read more
Review: FACS – Void Moments
FACS = Protomartyr + Boy Harsher … read more
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood: An Interview with The...
The Paranoyds live act is kinetic and explosive. The best way to describe it would be to compare them to flame throwers in a Quentin Tarantino movie. … read more
Hurting and Healing: An interview with Le Butcherettes’ Teri Gender...
Teri Gender Bender spoke with me on a lazy afternoon about such topics as: her band, Le Butcherettes and their phenomenal new album bi/MENTAL. … read more
Review: The Lemon Twigs – Go To School
The Lemon Twigs = Meatloaf + The Who + Curious George … read more
Celebrating 10 Years of Record Store Day
Vinyl has found a revival, and with that revival, vinyl saved the independent record store. Come out and support Record Store Day on April 22, and visit recordstoreday.com for more info. … read more
Melissa Collins: The Life of a Luthier
Melissa Collins is a local luthier that practices her art out of her home workshop. She specializes in the making of the viola, cello and violin. Collins moved to Salt Lake City in 2010 to enroll in the The Violin Making School Of America, a renowned luthier school in the heart of our city. This
Kid Curry Spirits and the Wild West
In 1904, Harvey “Kid Curry” Logan, an American outlaw who ran with the wildest of the wild. 112 years later, the Wild Bunch has reformed in West Valley City to create Kid Curry Vodka: a vodka with the spirit of the West, the earthy mineral base of Rocky Mountain, and a luxury taste. … read more
Behind My Damage: An Interview with Keith Morris
My Damage: The Story Of A Punk Rock Survivor, by Keith Morris and Jim Ruland, is the story of a Southern California surf rat caked in city grime and the cool ocean breeze … … read more
Bad Brad Wheeler: Dealin’ The Blues
Bad Brad Wheeler is one of the most respected and beloved members of our community. Aged 44, Wheeler is host and producer of the Little Bit Louder Now weekday-afternoon KRCL show. … read more
Review: NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories
NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories wears you out. The book is absurd and disgusting and all the reasons I loved it. These lovable idiots get pushed through a meat grinder and somehow, some way, come out alive, whole and somewhat clean on the other end. … read more
John Moreland: Staying High On Tulsa Heat
I don’t fear getting lumped into that. I don’t care—people can lump me into whatever they want. It’s not going to change what I do. I don’t think country is the most accurate thing to call my music, but it doesn’t bother me if that’s what people will call me. … read more