Music
Local Reviews: South of Ramona
Aside from the cheesy 25-second intro that kicks off this five-song EP, this record is made up of some pretty good tracks from the local four-piece group. Although the first couple of songs, “Carnival Court (Step Inside)” and “Purple Sky,” feature a punk reggae vibe, the remaining tunes are different in style. … read more
Local Reviews: Parlor Trix
This four-piece rap outfit from Salt Lake is ambitious—they acknowledge they are less about the hooks and more about lyricism. This release finds three MCs trading verses over beats by DJ Drix.While the energy and devotion to hip hop culture are evident, it’s hard to see at first what sets these guys apart, aside from being local. … read more
Local Reviews: Michael Gross and The Statuettes
With a perfectly titled album, this rock outfit sonically takes you somewhere warm on the coast. Thanks to their mostly feel-good rhythms, electric guitar riffs and arena-style vocals, this is one of Salt Lake’s most widely appealing bands. … read more
Local Reviews: Matthew and The Hope
Matthew and The Hope wasn’t my kind of jam. Matthew claims to sound like Joshua James or Ray LaMontague, but I see his vocal styles as akin to back-of-the-throat singers from neo-grunge (think Scott Stapp or Gavin Rossdale). That being said, Matthew Bashaw has solid vocal skills, but the man needs someone to back him up if he is going to pull off the alternative country sound. … read more
Local Reviews: Katherine Nelson
Born Brave is Katherine Nelson’s first album, and it is a really fucking beautiful debut. She’s had plenty of experience to build on, having performed with The Nashville Tribute Band, among others, as well as having some acting experience playing Emma Smith in several films involving the Mormon icon. … read more
Local Reviews: John-Ross Boyce and His Troubles
Deliciously raw and gritty, Black Shuck/Old Crow is a really great album—a sort of stoner-gypsy-folk-rock mash-up. Wailing guitar riffs and rich, flowing vocals define the 14-song collection and, while the moods and tempos do vary, the album maintains a pretty consistent blues-based vibe that plucks at your heart-strings—kinda even tugs on your skin a little. … read more
Local Reviews: JRapp
Jon Rappaport’s debut EP is a rhythmic, warmly melodic, complexly layered record that really shows off his skills as a producer. It’s evident that he has great instincts for composition from the fact that each track becomes a journey, bringing the listener along. … read more
Local Reviews: Dustbloom/Huldra
Ah, the split album—it’s a perfect way to showcase new bands and display the diversity of a musical community. This split features three songs apiece and a collaborative track from two of Salt Lake’s most exciting bands in the world of aggressive music. … read more
Local Reviews: 2WENTYTHRE3
The thing about this 2WENTYTHRE3 is that it’s really pretty good for what it is. From the little information I could find about Jared Smith, a Utahn, he’s taking himself pretty seriously and trying earnestly to turn in a solid effort for his sound and his branding, and it’s easy to tell that he is working very hard at both. … read more
Local Reviews: Deny Your Faith
The first track from Deny Your Faith’s Taste the Infection, “Pierce the Vein,” happens to be the worst cut of the release. The rest of Taste of Infection is populated by thrashy riffing, some punchy breakdowns and more than enough guitar soloing. Add some great jam-rocking moments and it’s all a damn fine release. … read more
Emancipator @ Urban 03.22 with Odezsa, Little People
The intro to “Nevergreen” swirled incandescently out of the speakers. As the beats broke into the body of the song, spotlights flashed a mean color of salmon, and the alternating triangles on the back drop unexpectedly became a projection screen. … read more
A Night at a Swingin’ Utters Show
When a band like Swingin’ Utters comes to town, it’s interesting to see how it turns out for a group that has been around for 20 plus years and has played numerous shows in our fair city. The Utters have had great momentum lately, releasing two full-length records in less than three years, touring regularly and generally putting themselves back on the map after an extended period of rest. I had a chance to speak with guitarist Darius Koski briefly before the show. … read more
