Music
Nerd Alert: Literary Death Match Makes Its Rounds at The...
Founder of the Literary Death Match, Adrian Todd Zuniga, has transformed the idea that literary readings are reserved for the high brow and dull by creating a reading competition that pits local authors against each other to face head to head. The State Room was an excellent choice of venue with ample seating and ease of visibility, and as the booze flowed, the authors took their stance in the corners to meet their opponents. Four authors, three judges, two rounds and an epic finale. Let’s get ready to rumble! … read more
Widowspeak @ Urban Lounge 10.26 with Big Wild Things, Pure...
Having been described as “cowboy grunge,” Widowspeak quilt together classic Americana with darker rock and roll touches. Their Northwest background seems to add a very ’90s texture to their music. It was a bit alarming to me that there were only 30 people at most there to witness what was sure to be a glorious set. I overcompensated my excitement with cranberry vodkas and spilled one all over the floor during the first opener, Big Wild Things. … read more
Fuzz, CCR Headcleaner, Night Beats, Max Pain & the Groovies...
The first time I saw Ty Segall was in 2011 at the FYF Festival in Los Angeles, and I got the feeling, immediately, that he would be one to watch in the lo-fi indie rock realm. Besides his instinct for hummable yet suitably ramshackle melodies and chord structures, he just takes a lot of obvious enjoyment in playing music, as opposed to so many twee, aloof or effete hipster bands lately. He really gets into it physically—soaked in sweat (how many bands even break a sweat anymore?). … read more
KMFDM, Chant @ Park City Live 10.22
I have been a fan of industrial music pioneers KMFDM for quite some time, and I had never seen them live before. I could hardly contain my excitement. I was not going to miss this show for anything. I picked up my friend and headed up the canyon to Park City Live. CHANT was their special guest. I had not heard their music before, but my music friends informed me they put on a great show. I was stoked to see a line stretching nearly half a block, and I thought to myself, “Finally, a great turnout.” … read more
Melt-Banana @ Urban Lounge 10.20 with Baby Gurl, Kinski
Melt-Banana uses technology, from guitar effects to synthesized drum tracks, in such a way that you aren’t aware of it as technology. Rock n’ roll was originally a live medium, and Onuki’s stage presence is riveting as she wields the game controller, using it to control the frenetic rhythms of the music, as stage prop, as mere toy, or all three? This is the music of the future, I thought as I watched her—technology becoming part of the body, almost. … read more
King Khan and the Shrines @ Urban Lounge 10.18 with...
In no time at all, Urban Lounge has transformed into the basement of the Delta’s toga party in the basement of Animal House. Beer is flying, I’m pretty sure there’s some gyrating going on, and there is someone hanging like a monkey from the rafters. This is like the best wedding reception anyone’s ever been to, after the bride and groom have gone and only the wedding band and drunk uncles remain. … read more
Red Fang, Gaytheist, Helms Alee @ Urban Lounge 10.15
Red Fang walked onstage, dressed in their finest tuxedo T-shirts, the occasion being the release date of their new album, Whales & Leeches. These guys look like the epitome of metal heads: Everyone has tattoos, long hair and glorious beards. … read more
Untitled: Red Spectral, Jesse Walker, Mi5terE @ Salt Haus 10.11
Untitled’s debut, six-hour event, produced by Canvas and Unified Chaos, was a night filled with some of the hardest minimal house and techno sounds provided by some local talent you need to keep on your radar. … read more
Anberlin, The Maine, Lydia, From Indian Lakes @ In The...
Anberlin performed to a full house at In The Venue in Salt Lake City on Oct. 15. The performance was part of a co-headlining tour with The Maine, with tour support by Lydia and From Indian Lakes. Anberlin was here on June 28 for their acoustic tour, and commanded a very healthy crowd. How many bands can manage to return three and a half months later to find an equally robust crowd waiting for them again? … read more
Zeds Dead @ The Great Saltair 10.12 with Krewella and...
Josie has an afro with a mind of its own, bouncing up and down as she tells the crowd to jump. Samples of “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio and “Get Low” by Lil Jon get the crowd hyped in between drops. As Candyland end their set, I start thinking to myself, “Why did I ever stop going to these?” … read more
Phantogram @ The Depot 10.13 with Future Islands
You want to get lost in Sarah’s sultry and enchanting voice, but Josh Carter’s guitar demands enough attention that you end up with an ideal dyad. “Running From The Cops” makes you want to cut up some carpet with its dirty bass, while “Turn It Off” wraps itself around you like smoke from a fire. If you close your eyes, they’ll launch you somewhere into space and you’ll be in no hurry to get back. … read more
Judith Hill @ Energy Solutions Arena 10.11 with Josh Groban
It was a Friday night, and while everyone in Salt Lake City of my demographic was preparing to spend the night out dancing at Urban or sipping cocktails at Bodega, I was headed to the long lines that branched out from the entrances to the Energy Solutions Arena—with my mom—to see Josh Groban. … read more
