Year: 2016
Review: The Bronze
If you’ve ever wondered what the world would be like if Olympic champion gymnast Mary Lou Retton returned to her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia, and acted like an egotistical maniac for years after her career was finished, then director Bryan Buckley and married writing team Melissa and Winston Rauch have the filthy dark comedy you’ve been craving. … read more
Review: London Has Fallen
Three years ago, director Antoine Fuqua and Gerard Butler surprised the masses with Olympus Has Fallen, so this critic was excited about the follow-up. However, once it was revealed that Fuqua refused to direct this sequel because he didn’t like the script, director Fredrik Bond left due to creative differences, and the original release date was in October 2015, my critic sense started tingling, and my hopes diminished. My instincts were correct. … read more
National Music Reviews April 2016
April showers bring so many national music reviews. … read more
Local Music Reviews April 2016
April holds Record Store Day and rad local albums—every year! … read more
Kingdom of Heaven: The Church of Latter-day … Drag?
Jenifer Nii’s original musical, Kingdom of Heaven, explores the universal journey of self-discovery when a Mormon housewife discovers a direction that could forever alter her life and the lives of those around her: becoming a drag king. Plan-B Theatre Company will premiere this unique production on March 31. … read more
DZ Deathrays: Return to the U.S.
After three years, DZ Deathrays have returned to the United States. For the last eight years, the Australian duo of Shane Parsons and Simon Ridley have showcased their dance-punk anthems around the world. Their shows have a wild and loud reputation, and their music attracts all kinds of listeners from hardcore enthusiasts to EDM artists. … read more
Review: Razer Nabu Watch
At first glance, the Nabu smart watch offers a variety of attractive features. Foremost, the bold design of the watch is undeniably eye-catching. At the very least, it would be impossible for such a watch to go unnoticed, either by others or the watch’s wearing. The point is that the watch constantly reminds the owner that they ought to be exercising, or at least preparing to do so. What appears to be an advantage—the watch’s obstreperousness—soon turns out, however, to be a liability. … read more
Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Curse of Strahd
If you’re in the mood to seriously shake up your D&D group or just want a chance to explore one of the greatest pre-made worlds in the history of the game, Curse of Strahd is your jam, and you owe it to yourself—and your players—to pick it up and give it a try. … read more
Leæther Strip: Addressing The Human Elements
On April 2, Claus Larsen and The Zoth Ommog tour will be making a stop at Metro in Salt Lake City, and we could not be more grateful to have him visiting our city. Larsen has been a part of the industrial and underground music community for almost three decades, and is always on the move. … read more
Discussing Mongrels with Stephen Graham Jones
“Mongrels is about a kid, on the run, making his family up as he goes, like Lilo & Stitch kinda stuff” he says. “And for me that was kinda autobiographical until I grew up. … The family in this novel [was] my family.” … read more
The Practice of Suspense and Faith: URTC’s Doubt: A Parable
Suspicion is a feeling universal to humans. It sinks in slowly, starting with a single moment of doubt. Once suspicion arises within us, it is nearly impossible to close our doors to it until we have what we’ve been looking for: the truth. Doubt, written by John Patrick Shanley, throws its audience into the world of suspicion and mystery by setting us into the St. Nicholas Catholic Church and School in The Bronx, New York. … read more
A Radically Relevant Declaration: Chatting with The Pop Group’s Mark...
On Feb.19, the Pop Group rereleased their phenomenal 1980 album, For How Long Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?, and the 1979 single, We are Prostitutes on their own Y Label, distributed through Rough Trade. These releases boast some of the best of The Pop Group’s signature expression of antagonistic post-punk that is influenced by funk, jazz and dub. … read more
