Music
The Soft Moon Interview
Raised under the blistering sun of California’s Mojave Desert, Luis Vasquez creates shape-like sounds under a design of minimal darkwave. Vasquez began The Soft Moon as a process of expelling memories of a rotten upbringing. After a decade of working as a graphic designer and playing in various punk inspired bands, snarling post-punk and industrial synthpop felt like the perfect mode of expression. … read more
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Sallie Ford and...
When I first saw Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside perform in Portland, I was hooked, and I selfishly wanted them to become more popular, hoping that would mean tour dates that included Salt Lake on the route. This is the second time they’ve visited Salt Lake (that I know of, at least), and hopefully not the last! Sallie embodies the sounds of a wicked vintage diva, from throwing it back to surf rock influences, to using the upright bass (an element I especially dig), to belting sassy lyrics with crude themes. … read more
Alabama Shakes @ Saltair 03.08
I’ve been a fan of Alabama Shakes for shy of a year and even though I love their album, I was expecting a canned performance, appealing to a broad audience, sticking only to their album and no jam seasons. I was wrong. The Alabama Shakes have one of the tightest rhythm sections I’ve seen in quite some time—without their quick stops and interplay, the vocals of Brittany Howard would not have a platform to launch from. … read more
Matt & Kim @ The Complex with Passion Pit
Matt & Kim pounded onto the stage to “Harlem Shake” as the horde of witnesses released a guttural snarl, and commenced grinding their asses on the floor. Matt Johnson flailed a water bottle into the the scuffle while he and Kim Schifino (his “partner in crime and in sex”) thrashed their appendages to and fro. … read more
Joey Arias and Kristian Hoffman @ Urban Lounge 02.28 with...
Called the “demigod of the demimonde” by Time Out New York, Joey Arias has made a career out of following the twists and turns of drag and performance culture since 1976, when he drove from L.A. to New York with dreams of performing. … read more
Art | Art and Fashion | LGBTQ+ | Show Reviews
Youth Lagoon @ Kilby Court 02.28 with Night Sweats
When I first saw Trevor Powers aka Youth Lagoon play, it was last year at the Urban Lounge. At the time, he was a quiet performer with only his drum machine and keyboard and one guitarist. That was a beautiful performance. … read more
Review: Continents – Idle Hands
Continents = The Plot In You + The Ghost Inside … read more
Review: The Cave Singers – Naomi
The Cave Singers = Deer Tick + Delta Spirit … read more
Review: The Cannanes – Small Batch
The Cannanes = Jem + Honeybunch … read more
Review: Burnt Books – Self-titled
Burnt Books = His Hero is Gone + Fuck The Facts + Kazu Makino … read more
Review: Baptists – Bushcraft
Baptists = Skitsystem + Disfear + From Ashes Rise … read more
National Music Reviews 3/13
New and recent releases from Baptists, The Cave Singers, Gliss, The Growlers, Off With Their Heads, Portal, Psychic Ills, Rotting Christ, Suuns, This Town Needs Guns and many, many more are reviewed. … read more
