Authors: James Bennett
The Truth behind Mormon Psychedelia: an interview with David Zandonatti
This summer marked the fortieth anniversary of the Monterey International Pop Festival—the multi-day music event that launched the harder side of the psychedelic rock movement, and ushered in the Summer of Love. As people found a voice that embraced added social, sexual and political freedom, they also began to see value in music that could
Mike Watt @ Bar Deluxe
If the concept of sincerity were to take human form, it would have a hard time being anything other than San Pedro’s Mike Watt. A onetime member of the Minutemen, fIREHOSE and most recently The Stooges (whose reforming he really should take credit for), Watt has never been able to do anything half way. … read more
The Richard Thompson Band: The State Room: October 4, 2010
If you haven’t heard of Richard Thompson, it’s not your fault. The man has a storied musical career, but people don’t always pay attention to history—not even when they should. … read more
The Hold Steady @ In the Venue
The Hold Steady had played Salt Lake City on their two previous tours, both times packing the Urban Lounge to near (or even past) capacity. So much had changed since then. Would they even try to recapture the old magic, or would this be a completely new direction for this Brooklyn-by-way-of-Minnesota group of musicians? Any lingering concerns were quickly put to rest when guitarist Tad Kubler ripped into the first song. … read more
Black Heart Procession @ Urban Lounge 12.11
With a band like the Black Heart Procession, you don’t always know what to expect. I’ve seen their membership swell from three people to as many as five, and I have always been impressed by how much effort goes into getting the details of their stage show perfect. Tonight was no different—the band was spot on. … read more
OFF!, Retox @ Club Sound
I got there just in time for Retox, a national touring band from southern California. Retox is a four-piece grindcore band that features Justin Pearson (of Struggle and the Locust fame) and Gabe Serbian (of the Locust, and also Cattle Decapitation). … read more
Andre Williams and The Goldstars, The Rubes @ The Garage...
Almost exactly a year ago, Andre Williams was in Salt Lake City to play two nights at the Garage on Beck Street. He set the place ablaze—literally. The patio and back section of the bar caught on fire at some point between the first and second nights, but it wasn’t really Williams’ fault. It did result in a frazzled fanbase and a mad scramble to find a proper venue for the second performance. So now, on the anniversary of the fire that almost ended the Garage, and in one of the most brazen acts of tempting fate that I’ve ever witnessed, Andre Williams took the rebuilt patio stage behind the bar and poured out his soul. And the crowd at the Garage was ready to receive him. … read more
Review: Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven
Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven The First Annual Camp Out Live MVD Visual Street: 01.30 Concert films are usually a let down. Reunion tours are also generally a drag, especially when fans that spent their whole adolescence singing along with a band have to witness their older and uninspired heroes fuck up the chorus to
Review: The Best of Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters
The Best of Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters Sid and Mary Krafft Time Life Street: 05.01 The 1980s were hard times for TV variety shows. The genre was big in the early years of television, as carnies and vaudevillians made the jump from the stage to the small screen. Several decades later we were