Authors: Gavin Hoffman
Bang the Drum Loudly: An Interview with The Melvins’ Dale...
For almost thirty years—and roughly as many bassists—The Melvins have been disgusting mainstream music listeners and blowing the faces off of their fanbase, combining the best elements of punk rock, doom/heavy metal and noise into one sonic haymaker. Drummer Dale Crover, with the band since 1984, handled a telephone call from yours truly in anticipation of the band’s Oct. 4 show in Salt Lake City. … read more
Burt’s Tiki Lounge
Jeremy Sundeaus—or “Jerm” as most folks know him—has been involved in the local and national music scenes since before most mall-punks were born. He can often be found slinging drinks, loading the stage at our own Burt’s Tiki Lounge, occupying said stage with his current doom act Muckraker, and also bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Prince of Darkness with the extremely awesome and underrated Black Sabbath tribute band Irony Man. … read more
Valen: Burzum’s Varg Vikernes talks Focus, Frustration and Fallen
Few names in metal music—or music as a whole—generate as much vitriol as Burzum or its sole member, Varg Vikernes. The Norwegian recording artist has been referred to as the most hated and most dangerous man in metal music. What follows is an e-mail conversation with Vikernes on the eve of the North American release of his latest effort, Fallen. … read more
CLC Artist: Jorge Arellano
“I started doing stencil art with my friends,” says Arellano. “At that time, we didn’t have an option to do silk screening, so spray painting was the easiest thing to do, and the easiest way to spray paint on clothes was to use a stencil.” Upon moving to Salt Lake, Arellano abandoned stencil art for many years until he created a few pieces for his band All Systems Fail. He began creating stencil art again, quite secretively, but his talent and love for the art couldn’t be hidden forever. … read more
Silva Illustrations: Sharpies, Self-Portraits and Suicidal Tendencies
James Silva has been a presence in the Salt Lake City punk and hardcore scenes since before time began, or so it seems. Following a stint as a tattoo artist, Silva’s impatience got the best of him, and he traded in his tattooing equipment for … Sharpies—as in the tried-and-true, everybody’s-got-one, black markers. To most, that would seem like one hell of a downgrade, but to Silva, and those who have seen what he can do with a Sharpie, it was one of the best decisions he ever made. … read more
Bobby Joe Ebola and the Children MacNuggits
Upon first hearing of a band that calls themselves Bobby Joe Ebola and the Children MacNuggits, one might find it somewhat difficult to discern just what the hell type of music these weirdos actually play. Describing themselves as a “satiric folk rock band,” the duo has been active for going on 16 years, and on October 7, the two-piece will return to Salt Lake City. … read more
Come On Die Young
Springing from the heat of Phoenix, Ariz., Come On Die Young is a band seemingly on the verge of shaking up what most people know as “punk rock.” With members who have been playing music of all types for more than half of their lives, and a guitarist whose roots lie in Salt Lake City, the band combines elements of traditional punk rock, powerviolence, metal and late-‘90s beard rock. … read more
Suedehead: The Rhythm and The Groove
Formed just over a year ago, Southern California’s soul-pop pushers Suedehead are all about positivity … and dancing. “Our only real goal is to be productive and try and play good music,” says vocalist/guitarist Davey Warsop. “That’s what gets us off. That’s what matters.” If the band’s first three vinyl EPs—released on their own International Soul Rebel Society imprint—are any indication, they are certainly living up to Warsop’s stated goal. … read more
Local Reviews: All Systems Fail/@patia No
After waiting for roughly a year and a half, this split LP has finally dropped, and boy howdy, it’s a fucking doozy. Seven songs apiece from SLC’s most under-appreciated band, All Systems Fail, and Venezuelan anarchists @patia No. The ASF side showcases songs that have been live favorites for a couple of years at least, and they sound absolutely brutal on this slab. … read more
National CD Reviews – January 2012
New and recent releases from The Cure, The Devil’s Blood, Errors, Kepi Ghoulie, Laura Gibson, Majestic Downfall, Mickey Moonlight, The Slackers, Tim “Love” Lee and many more are reviewed. … read more