Music
Old 97’s, Nikki Lane @ Urban Lounge 05.15
Something was in the water on Thursday night at the Urban Lounge, and by water, I mean beer, and by beer, I mean whisky. Promises of fierce hangovers were made throughout that night and I’m sure those promises were made good on when it came to the dawn of many clouded Urban Lounge patrons. Despite the hardcore implications of the rock scene, it is in fact the country scene that dominates the guzzling of booze with its seasoned accomplices. Now the pairing of the Nikki Lane and the Old 97’s isn’t exactly modern country, but they allude to a former country back when Waylon Jennings was getting drug raided onstage and Loretta Lynn was passing out on Johnny Cash’s lap. … read more
Floor, Thrones, Hot Victory @ Bar Deluxe 05.14
Wednesday night brought a small but resilient clutch of metal fans back to Bar Deluxe for one more musical beating. I was surprised at the comparatively small turnout, though it was, after all, a weeknight. I arrived early enough to catch the first band, Portland’s Hot Victory. At a glance, Hot Victory, a drums/electronics duo, confirmed what many may have suspected for some time now … … read more
Danny Brown @ The Complex 05.13 with ZelooperZ, DopeThought
Danny Brown: “So guess who’s a little bitch?”
Crowd: “That’s you!”
Danny Brown: “You must suck a lot of dick.”
Crowd: “That’s true!” … read more
WIlliam Fitzsimmons @ The State Room 05.13 with Ben Sollee
I left feeling relaxed and emotionally renewed. I can’t remember the last time I felt so many different feelings over such a short amount of time, and I can’t think of any other situation where I would actually be happy about experiencing such a vast array of emotions. All I have to say is this: William Fitzsimmons will make you experience complex feelings you didn’t even know existed, and I mean that in the best possible way. … read more
Closing the Distance: Interview with Daniel Graves of Aesthetic Perfection
“Either you change and people hate you for it or you stay the same and they hate you for it—there is no pleasing everyone so all you can do is try to be honest with yourself,” Graves says. … read more
Jonah Matranga @ Urban Arts Gallery 05.12 with The Precinct
There seems to be two types of artists in the world. There are artists who are dedicated to the advancement of their particular craft and spend their time becoming masters in their given field, and then there are those passion-based artists who find all art interesting and treat its pursuits like a series of discoveries. … read more
Review: Conan – Blood Eagle
Conan’s second LP, Blood Eagle, is as deliberate and brutal as its namesake—a method of execution mentioned in Norse legends. … read more
Musical Humanism: Channeling the Catharsis with William Fitzsimmons
It doesn’t take a genius to recognize that William Fitzsimmons has a solid grasp on what it means to be a human being. In fact, he’s dedicated most of his life so far to exploring the human condition. Drawing from his personal life and experiences helping others has rendered him capable of understanding and communicating deeply personal lyrics in a way that is not only unique but collectively relatable. … read more
Mastodon @ The Depot 05.04 with Gojira, Kvelertak
I sure do love hitting up tours with great bands I’ve never seen live before, and such was the case for a rare Sunday night show at The Depot to catch Kvelertak, Gojira, and the mighty Mastodon. A fucking strong tour, excellent sets from all involved—overall a fantastic night of metal. … read more
Radioactivity @ Diabolical Records 05.05 with Suspicious Beasts, Murder Mystery...
I have again found myself at Diabolical/ Albatross Records. Again I am here to check out some of the coolest rock n’ roll gigs Salt Lake has to offer, as well as to tempt the lightening of my wallet. This place usually attracts a steady contingent of regulars, and tonight is no different. … read more
Can You Dig La Peste? Interview with Peter Dayton
La Peste was perhaps one of the most underrated bands from the first wave of punk (1976-82). Though the single “Better Off Dead” has been long out of print, making it a rarity, it is being given new life. “Better Off Dead” is well worth any rock n’ roll fans’ attention, as it is a perfect example of the raw energy that punk unleashed on the unsuspecting world in the 1970s. … read more
Sea Wolf (solo) @ Urban Lounge 04.30 with Sayde Price
Church was funny and honest. By the end of the show, good vibes were shared by all. … read more
