Music
Bonobo @ The Complex 10.31 with Real Magic
Everyone’s eyes, glassy from drink or smoke, are all affixed to the stage again, a pale blue light accentuating their impatience to see the main attraction: Bonobo. Soon enough, there is movement on the far right of the stage and a man in a tiger mask makes his way onto the stage and takes his place at another DJ booth that sits higher center stage, above the drum set, the other DJ booth, keyboard and wind instruments. Simon Green, the mind behind Bonobo and the person behind the tiger mask, begins to adjust his equipment and music is being built in front of our very eyes. … read more
Our Beat Is Heavenly: Interview with John Peña
Heavenly Beat is the sort of band name that sticks to a project perfectly. John Peña’s Balearic indie pop arrangements balance classical guitar, steel drums, harmonica and mellotron to make lush, serene, heavenly songs. … read more
From Dylan to Modernity: An interview with of Montreal’s Kevin...
“Every creative decision I make happens organically and I don’t question it. I don’t think, ‘Is this good for my career or bad for my career? It’s whatever I’m just naturally interested in and just sort of driven to do, in a way. I don’t really question it,” says Barnes. It is Barnes’ avid interest in the world and lack of musical inhibition that has allowed of Montreal to experiment with a spectrum of different sounds and ideas that would make most musicians jealous. It is this kind of unbridled passion for life and music that makes of Montreal so unique. … read more
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
Local Review: Turned to Stone – The Memory I’ve Become
This is a beautiful EP by one of the valley’s most exciting melodic death metal acts, in the opinion of this humble critic. … read more
Local Review: SubRosa – More Constant Than the Gods
Haunting in their beauty, SubRosa are simply one of the best bands in dark and heavy music. More Constant Than the Gods follows the highly celebrated No Help For the Mighty Ones, and carries on the same level of excellence found on that album. … read more
Local Review: Replica Mine – A Ghost In The Womb
Part 1: Acceptance begins softly and sweetly, with a simple guitar riff and some breathy vocals. Things quickly evolve with electronic details and effects that give a definite ’80s synthpop kind of feel. … read more
Local Review: The Obliterate Plague – The Wrath of Cthulhu
The Salt Lake City death metal band that’s always persistent and consistently good has finally officially recorded some tunes for the masses. Founding members Alexander Jorgenson and Alex Gomez have picked a collection of tracks from the band’s earlier era that never got any proper recording treatment and gave them the deluxe workup in an oh-so-good way. … read more
Local Review: Mortigi Tempo – Bob Your Head Suzie
Bob Your Head Suzie begins heavy, with overdriven guitar bass and what sounds like pounded, low-end piano on a track called “Air Raid” that has vocals so buried it comes off as instrumental. … read more
Local Review: Eli Whitney – We’ve Got Questions If You’ve...
Surprisingly dynamic, blending hard rock with a Lostprophets-esque post-hardcore sound, Eli Whitney’s debut album rocks. … read more
Local Review: Dethrone the Sovereign – Autocracy Dismantled
This local prog-metal outfit is one to watch out for. They display maturity in every inch of their presentation, from songwriting and recording/producing to oft-neglected areas such as packaging and art direction. … read more
Local Review: Desert Empire – Like Home
After seven interminable years of anticipation and a recent name change (originally Velvet City), Desert Empire have released a heavily progressive first album that veritably blew me away. Intricate, rolling drum patterns, matched with a mix of soft and sonorous upper–register piano riffs create an aquatic theme like a deep–ocean odyssey. … read more
