Month: June 2014
Mike Brown’s State of the Union Address, but for Juggalos
First and foremost, I need to preface this article with the fact that I, Mike Brown, am not a Juggalo. I know a lot of you don’t believe me when I say that, but it’s a fact. I’m more of an ambassador that can speak their ridiculous and not-so-cryptic language. As I’ve stated before, I am their Jane Goodall and they are my chimps. … read more
Princess Kennedy: Damn These Heels!
In addition to Pride, one great party I did this year was a big Pride weekend kick-off with the Utah Film Center and Damn These Heels!, their official LGBTQ and A (IDK what half of those mean) film festival. We brought out my ghoulfriend Peaches Christ, Drag Queen of the Macabre and filmmaker extraordinaire. Anyone who reads my rants knows that I am super invested in the Film Center. … read more
A Little Help From My Friends
The idea for Aldine Presents: With A Little Help From My Friends actually sprung from another event. In August 2010, several bands from the old Salt Lake punk scene staged the Zion Curtain Family Reunion with Massacre Guys and others at the Rim Rock Inn near Torrey, Utah. … read more
Kilby Court Celebrates 15 Years of Musical Charm
The hidden gem of a venue that is Kilby Court has long been hailed as the heart of Salt Lake music culture. Most of us can remember our first expedition there: the sharpness of Salt Lake’s Granary District, all industrial gray and rusted, the expansive asphalt of 700 South flanked by long-abandoned businesses—unused train tracks ripping up 400 West, ragged plants the only signs of existence. What awaits music devotees at the end of Kilby Ct. is one the longest-running independent all ages venue in the U.S. July 18 marks a celebration of the 15th anniversary of the beloved venue. … read more
The Heaven We’ve Got: Slumberland at 25
Vinyl records and great tunes are a few of Mike Schulman’s favorite things. Slumberland Records (SLR), the label that Schulman and his friends started in 1989 around those things, has grown into one of the most beloved labels of the “pure, perfect pop” community. SLUG chatted with Schulman about indie pop culture, favorite records and running an independent label for 25 years. … read more
SLUG Holiday Comix – July 2014
Happy Birthday, Karl Malone! … read more
Northern Exposure: The 15th Annual Summer of Death Skate Contest...
SLUG’s Summer of Death contests have served as a springboard for countless Utah skaters. This summer’s first installment of SLUG’s 15th annual Summer of Death series took place at Ogden’s Crossroads Skatepark on Go Skateboarding Day on June 21. Split pants and busted shoes abounded, as the contestants in the amateur and open divisions vied for First Place. Lucky Stables and Austin Ramirez won the amateur and open, respectively. After First, Second and Third place titles were awarded, local band Sunchaser played their signature multi-layered dirge while people kept ripping through the park. … read more
Cosvestite out of the Closet: A Word on Comic Jonny...
Comic Jonny Brandin may want to consider me for his biographer someday, because I find him to be so. Damn. Fascinating. Hailing from Las Vegas, Brandin got his start performing puppet theater before, during and after local punk shows. That last sentence encapsulates what SLUG and our city’s art scene is all about, so let that soak in for a while. He moved to Salt Lake in 2005, and has been working the comedy circuit ever since. He worships Andy Kaufman, The Kids in the Hall and Upright Citizens Brigade, and likes to humbly remind people he doesn’t embarrass easily. … read more
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
The Hunter: UZALA Track Down Aficionados Across the Globe
I had been listening to UZALA’s recordings online for three days by the time I was speaking on the phone with guitarist and vocalist Chad Remains to get the resolute details of his experience with this band, a proxy for doom. While traversing a sunny community garden, I could feel the weight of introspection speaking to me. Not unlike the physical scene I was part of, Remains was warm but with a shroud of gloom. In preparation for their upcoming Bar Deluxe show on July 14, I grilled him with some questions about his perspective on the last five years as a band. … read more