Music
Mad Max & The Wild Ones: the New Normal
The standard order of things is that, when we find rock n’ roll, we use it to piss off our parents—not to start a family rockabilly band with Dad playing upright bass and Little Brother taking on lead vocals at the age of 4. But “standard” and “normal” are not words that anyone would use to describe the Maxwell family, nor Mad Max & The Wild Ones. … read more
Tolchock Trio: 2000–2013
Tolchock Trio, the group best known for being a performing contradiction by playing as a quartet, are finally calling it quits, three years after everyone already thought they did. However, they did accomplish two things most bands never do: They made more than two albums and stayed together longer than 18 months … So that’s something. … read more
Disillusion Tour 2013: O’Brother Takes the Spotlight
Atlanta-based experimental rock band O’Brother has gained an amazing amount of traction in a short time, releasing their first EP, The Death of Day, with the current lineup in 2009, and their first full-length, Garden Window, in 2011. Touring with bands as big as Manchester Orchestra, Thrice and even Alice In Chains, these guys are finally taking on a headlining tour of their own in support of their sophomore release, the excellent Disillusion. … read more
Songcraft at the CLC DIY Fest
It may be presumed that the Craft Lake City DIY Festival on Aug. 9 and 10 is limited to showcasing handmade crafts to hold and take home. However, joining the surplus of local artisans and DIY Engineers are 50 local musicians and performers who will show off their talents in the form of instrumentation. … read more
Baroness: Unbroken Remains
On Aug. 15, 2012, Baroness’ tour bus plunged 30 feet from atop a viaduct near Bath, England, injuring all nine passengers. Miraculously, everyone on the bus survived, though no one emerged unscathed. Despite this accident, frontman John Baizley moves forward, saying, “In an effort to move past that and get to somewhere a bit more rewarding than pitiful, our goal is, quite simply put, to be known as a good live touring band.” … read more
Winter Kills: The Rebirth of DevilDriver
Vocalist Dez Fafara has been a staple of the heavy music scene for going on 20 years now, and the man is a prolific music-making machine. He is the head of nu-metal giants Coal Chamber (who have just returned from a hiatus most fans thought would be permanent), as well as helming DevilDriver, the “California Groove Machine” of melodic death metal that defies boundaries and expectations, and contributing to a myriad of other projects with members of bands from all over the heavy music spectrum. SLUG sat down with Fafara as he runs his latest press gauntlet in support of DevilDriver’s upcoming release, Winter Kills, to talk about this new rebirth for his band and discover his unique inspirations and challenges as an artist. … read more
My Quality Minutes with Alison Moyet
It was wonderful news when Alison Moyet announced she was going to release a new album (the minutes) this year, and an even bigger surprise when it charted so highly in the UK charts (at Number Five, her second-highest-charting studio album there since 1987’s Raindancing to be precise)—a remarkable feat for any artist, especially one who hasn’t released new material in seven years and more specifically—in what remains a sexist industry—a woman. … read more
An Interview with Wire @ Pitchfork Music Fest
With their new album, Change Becomes Us, Wire revisits unrecorded material from the late-’70s, and reworks it into something new and exciting. I spoke with members Colin Newman, Graham Lewis and Matthew Simms about the new album, debunking oddball political accusations and playing Pitchfork Music Festival for the first time. … read more
An Interview with Adam Ant
Adam Ant recently released his ninth album, Adam Ant Is The Blueblack Hussar in Marrying The Gunner’s Daughter, and is setting to start another tour of the U.S. After a 17 year hiatus from the music industry, Ant’s record is not only a new beginning as an artist, but a new approach to the business side of the music industry. … read more
Music + Beer = Family = The UBC Music Squad
If you’ve never met Utah Brewers Cooperative Business Manager Cindi Robinson, then you have never seen such a passion for local music. From tabling at shows for animal-activism promotion to organizing bake sales for bands to raise money to go on tour, Robinson now continues her superlative enthusiasm for the local music scene on a day-to-day basis at UBC, as she has surrounded herself with notable local musicians by hiring them to work for the brewery. … read more
The Weekenders: A Raw Diet of Rock n’ Roll
I think Salt Lake has a handful of original rock acts and everyone is doing something a little different. I feel there is synergy to the scene and many of the acts complement each other. … read more
Muscle Hawk: One Man’s Thrash is Another Man’s Treasure
The Arts Festival is one of our favorite shows to play. We get to reach every age group and make them all dance together. It’s beautiful to look out at the crowd and see 7 year olds trying out breakdance moves right next to a group of 60+ year olds bustin’ out some old-school jigs. … read more