With their debut appearance at Bar Deluxe scarcely one hot week behind them, and the sounds of a July 4 gig still ringing the ears of the newly schooled, local act The Saintanne came back atcha, Salt Lake, one more time, Saturday night at 10 o’clock, on the blacktop out behind Black Chandelier. SLUG was there, where the fuck was you? … read more
Smoking Popes @ In the Venue 07.12
Snatched up by a major label in the wake of Green Day’s mainstream breakthrough, The Smoking Popes are one of the great under-appreciated punk bands of the ‘90s. They took the basic blueprint of Lookout! Records pop punk and filtered it through the romantic and soulful vocals of crooners like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, creating a sound that is truly their own. … read more
Napalm Flesh – I’m not old, I just don’t get your music.
Napalm Flesh has been busy lately. In the last few weeks I’ve listened to more pop music than anything metal, but for good reason: I’ve been attempting to understanding my teen daughter’s musical tastes. Also included this week is a rather short rundown of shows and some CD reviews from the likes of Dying Fetus, Corpsessed, Sepultura, Exhumed and Draconian. … read more
Kate Bush Director’s Cut: The Thrill And The Hurting
Imagine my surprise several months ago to find that s new album entitled Director’s Cut was forthcoming from Kate Bush. I was extremely intrigued to learn that this new release was a reworking of eleven previously released Kate Bush songs. Bush has retained her favorite parts of these tracks and completely re-recorded the drums and vocals so they more reflect her original vision. … read more
Dead But Dreaming: Rockstar Mayhem Festival 2011
The day started early, but already the summer sun was scorching the thousands of eager fans lined up outside the gates. The Main Stage was still being drilled and hammered together, so I followed the river of black shirts down a grassy knoll and to the huge side field where the Revolver and Jagermeister stages had been set up, one at each end, ringed by the merch booths of every band on the tour. … read more
Cerebral Ballzy @ The Complex 07.20
Nothing is worse than a poorly promoted show. It breaks my heart to see a touring band playing to a sparse crowd whose members are more interested in playing Words with Friends on their iPhones than they are with what is happening on stage. … read more
Battles@ Urban Lounge 07.20
While the crowd surged and bounced and shouted, Battles delivered a solid and fascinating mixture of electro-jam and arty experimentalism, like an organic Daft Punk minus the helmets. The music drew from widely varied sounds and influences. I heard Cuban rhythms, reggae and ska licks, Philip Glass minimalism, James Bond heroism and early Oingo Boingo excitability. … read more
Blitzen Trapper @ Urban Lounge 07.19
Against my better judgment, I decided to go to the Blitzen Trapper show at Urban Lounge Tuesday, July 19. … read more
Bitter and Then Some: All Pigs Must Die
This week we have an interview with Kevin Baker of All Pigs Must Die, who are releasing their full-length debut via Southern Lord on August 16. Also included is a rundown of this week’s metal happenings around Salt Lake, a stream of the new singles collection from screamo pioneers Pg.99 and extended reviews of new albums from Ringworm and Harm’s Way by Dylan Chadwick. … read more
The Fling @ Bar X 08.01
This last Monday, July 25, I headed down to Bar X on Second South to shoot photos of a band I had never heard of up until several hours before on Hype Machine: The Fling. … read more
Mountain Mayhem Black and White Picnic Scrimmage @ Derby Depot 07.30
Hosted by Wasatch Roller Derby, the picnic commenced at their home, the Derby Depot, on Saturday July 30. Wasatch has been hosting these picnic scrimmages twice a year since 2009. … read more
Dead But Dreaming: Machine Head interview
The heat is on, darkhearts—summer is sweltering all around us, but your faithful hostess has braved the inferno to bring you news from the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. I was given the honor to sit down with Machine Head drummer Dave McClain and find out how they’ve kept their heads and fists held high during their twenty years. We also have our weekly event listings and some exclusive reviews. … read more
