Merchandise: Interview with Dave Vassalotti

Merchandise: Interview with Dave Vassalotti
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Tampa, Florida’s Merchandise have spent the majority of their time together agitating all entrenched notions of punk, pop, noise and rock n’ roll. With albums Children of Desire and Totale Nite, the group developed a knack for writing sonically diverse, engrossing songs—songs on which Dave Vassalotti’s and Carson Cox’s songwriting dazzles like a Morrissey-fronted Jesus and Mary Chain covering The Replacements. … read more

Voltaire @ Area 51 with Ego Likeness

Voltaire @ Area 51 with Ego Likeness
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Eighteen years ago, when I first moved to Salt Lake City, I was immediately introduced to and accepted by the Goth community (more specifically, those that referred to the small, Sugar House club called Confetti, as home). … read more

Indulging in Industrial with En Esch

Indulging in Industrial with En Esch
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With over three decades of music making, former KMFDM member En Esch has had an interesting, historical and prosperous career. SLUG Magazine had the chance to chat with him and hear some of the things that keep him inspired, and his intriguing, historical tales—the sort that would leave any industrial music fan yearning to hear more.  … read more

Jane Chu: Grant Me the Strength to Work in the Arts

Jane Chu: Grant Me the Strength to Work in the...
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Working in the arts is very rewarding and a little scary, similar to the creative process itself. Not all the people who work in the arts would consider themselves artists. Crafting the message, beating the drum, waving the flag, has become a craft in itself.  … read more

 
 
The Adarna @ Kilby 07.17 with Berlin Breaks and The Departure

The Adarna @ Kilby 07.17 with Berlin Breaks and The...
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Hailing from Seattle, The Adarna is a band that is holding to the tradition that has fallen by the wayside for most of the musicians lured toward the brass ring on television—the tradition of writing great rock music, touring and playing anywhere and everywhere that can hold an audience and a tireless work ethic that would kill most lesser musicians.  … read more

The English Beat @ The Depot 05.21 with The Interrupters, Show Me Island

The English Beat @ The Depot 05.21 with The Interrupters,...
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Tonight is not the first time I’ve seen the English Beat and I’m certain it won’t be the last. Last year I covered their gig and I’m sure tonight’s show will not be a disappointment. I arrive at the Depot just in time to catch the Show Me Island set. … read more

Play @ Photo Collective Studios 05.01

Play @ Photo Collective Studios 05.01
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Throughout Play—an evening of dance performance, multimedia installation and license to discover—I found myself wanting to chorus a resounding “Yes!” to all of it: to women in collaboration, to dance, to the intersection of more art forms than one, to open-minded spaces, to inspired interaction. … read more

Savory Salt Lake: Put It in Your Mouth and Squeeze

Savory Salt Lake: Put It in Your Mouth and Squeeze
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Listening to experts like Eva’s Charlie Perry walk you through the culinary tapestry of their featured cuisine is one of the most enjoyable parts of Savory Salt Lake. The way words like “grated Manchego cheese” or “braised beef shoulder” roll off their tongue betray the reverence that these chefs have toward their product. … read more

A Wanderlust Invasion: Chatting with Zex’s Jo Capitalicide

A Wanderlust Invasion: Chatting with Zex’s Jo Capitalicide
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If you thought punk was choking on its last breath, you would be very mistaken. At this very moment, there is an invasion blazing its way through the United States, and it’s centered around punk quartet Zex. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Zex has begun making radical waves in the punk community through the release of their debut album, Fight For Yourself. … read more

unReal @ Red Butte 06.23

unReal @ Red Butte 06.23
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unReal premiered on June 23 at Red Butte Gardens. Under a half moon in a desert sky, the crowd gathered. American rock music from The Weekenders drifted on the wind across the Red Butte Garden Amphitheater as the sun dipped below the horizon. The Salt Lake City premiere of Teton Gravity Research (TGR) and Anthill