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
A Perfect Circle, Red Bacteria Vacuum @ Kingsbury Hall 08.01
I don’t know why I’m always thrown off seeing a rock show in a venue such as Kingsbury Hall or the Capitol Theatre. Something about the glitz and glamour in contrast to the dingy concert tees and occasional bout of body odor throws my concert sensors off for some reason. … read more
Negasonic Teenage Warblog – Ugly and Dirty: a few words with Sourvein
SLUG’s weekly metal blog is proud to welcome our new blogger Dylan Chadwick with his debut interview with Cape Fear, NC sludge metal crew Sourvein. We’ve got a couple shows happening this week as well. Also on tap are CD reviews for Fleshgod Apocalypse, Pestilence, Today is the Day (amazing!), Toxic Holocaust and Vale of Pnath. … read more
Erasure Tomorrow’s World: The Sound of the Future, Today
I was graciously given a review copy of their brand new album, entitled Tomorrow’s World. It has been an interesting juxtaposition to hear these early recordings compared to their brand new music for 2011 … read more
Napalm Flesh: Burning up with Karma to Burn
If it’s your heart’s desire to soak in some great guitar riffing, bass pummeling and groovy rhythms, this is the week to do so. West Virginia’s long standing instrumental (and at times not-so-instrumental) band Karma to Burn are hitting Burt’s on Aug. 23. I had the chance to chat with bassist Rich Mullins for your reading pleasure. Also on tap for the blog are exclusive CD reviews of Moab, Powerwolf, Revocation and Squash Bowels. … read more
