Authors: Nate Housley
Cold Cave @ Urban Lounge on 04.13
Going into the Cold Cave show, I had a vague idea of what to expect. Having heard a preview of Cherish the Light Years, the band’s excellent sophomore album, I anticipated the band being awkward and quasi-emo like the John Hughes movies the album shares a sensibility with. It turns out this was way off, evident from the moment they walked onstage wearing all black. … read more
Here We Go Magic @ Urban Lounge 05.04
Having recently reviewed Here We Go Magic’s proggy The January EP, I went into this show wondering a couple things: would they be able to reproduce the EP’s intricacies live, and more importantly, would it be any fun? The show ended up surprising me pleasantly, making my original concerns irrelevant. … read more
Active Child, Chad Valley, Night Sweats @ Urban Lounge 09.20
Seeing three great bands on a Tuesday night in an intimate setting is nothing to complain about as a music fan, but each of these bands deserved a larger stage. … read more
The War On Drugs: An Interview with Adam Granduciel
After talking with The War on Drugs’ Adam Granduciel for about half an hour over the phone, I was left thinking, “Wow, what a nice guy.” The questions of mine that I’m sure he’s asked in every interview didn’t annoy him, he didn’t grouse about people handing him their demos, and he even invited me to play guitar with his band for one song when they come to Salt Lake (I’m taking him up on it). … read more
Whirr: Loudest Band in the World
Whirr is the loudest band in the world. Or, at least, they aspire to be. “We want to be the loudest band in the world,” singer and guitarist Nick Bassett says. “Mogwai, Swans, My Bloody Valentine, Manowar––that’s kindergarten. We blow them out of the water.” … read more
Localized Righteous Audio Werks, Seven Feathers Rainwater
This month’s Localized features the dub reggae band Righteous Audio Werks and the exploratory soundscapes of Seven Feathers Rainwater, along with openers It Foot, It Ears. Come check it out on Friday, Jan. 14 at Urban Lounge for only $5. … read more
Making Some Paper Noise: Potter Press at Alt Press Fest
Paper Noise, a zine published by husband and wife duo Nick and Erin Potter, is the latest manifestation of the adventurous, collaborative spirit behind their Potter Press. Starting from the traditional DIY aesthetic of a zine, but adding more sophisticated design and printmaking techniques, Paper Noise is a showcase for writers and artists who submit works inspired by mixtapes Nick curates. … read more
Parade: Prism of Experience
Watching the trailer for Parade, the first feature-length film from writer-director Brandon Cahoon, one gets a sense that something unspoken is behind the spare dialogue, stark scenery and no-frills cinematography, animating the film in a magical way. Talking with Cahoon, I learned that intersecting with the film’s coming-of-age story is the patience of a mature filmmaker, the generosity of a small town and the mystery and melancholy of the desert. … read more
Top 5: Yuck
You’d be hard-pressed to find a review of Yuck’s self-titled debut in which the reviewer doesn’t mention the band’s admiration for ’90s indie rock. Fine. I just did it. But dwelling on Yuck’s meticulous sound doesn’t fully explain why this record was so beloved this year. After all, it’s not like they are the only ones who’ve been copping Dinosaur, Jr’s sound lately. … read more
Local Reviews: David Williams
This is the soundtrack that finally completed the film Parade, written in 2005 and shown in festivals in 2008. Writer and director Brandon Cahoon had been looking for just the right music to go with his film, and having heard David Williams’ music at Slowtrain, commissioned him to write the score. … read more
Local Reviews: Long Distance Operator
Long Distance Operator mine the twilight years of hard rock before it devolved into butt rock. This is a good thing for those of us who happen to like proto-butt rock, and Long Distance Operator hit their metallic stride on the excellent “Torches.” … read more
Local Reviews: Various Artists
Culled from live recordings from the third installment of the summer series of the same name, Music at Main showcases the breadth of good music in Salt Lake City. … read more
