On a warm and muggy Wednesday night, I had the opportunity to cover the first night of Crucialfest 3 at the Wood Shed. While technically starting at Kilby Court earlier that day, I was stoked to get in and get some of that sweet Crucialfest vibe. If you’ve never heard of Crucialfest, now is a good time to catch up before next year. A huge, local festival, getting bigger and bigger every year, Crucialfest is literally a crucial part of the Utah music scene in a big way. Taking place over several days and several different venues, with mostly local acts peppered with a few touring bands, it’s a great way to dive in and get a grab bag of new tunes.
Crucialfest Day Two @ Killby Court 06.27
On the second day of Crucialfest 3, the music gods looked upon Kilby Court and decided, “This is where the rock shall be.” A little slice of all-ages paradise, Kilby Court is a great venue tucked away in the back of an alley. The only downside is a serious lack of air conditioning, but fantastic lighting and sound makes up for it. Besides, it’s the summer—if you’re not sweating, then you’re not trying hard enough. One of the most fun things about Kilby Court that doesn’t really translate to a lot of venues is also the easygoing, casual vibe. “Casual” is the best way to describe Kilby all the way around, with the open garage door in back and courtyard full of stickers with a firepit flanked by park benches. Not a half bad way to catch some tunes and make some new friends. … read more
WRD: Salt Flat Fallouts vs. Black Diamond Divas 06.29
The headliner of the night was a showdown between Wasatch’s Salt Flat Fallouts and the Black Diamond Divas, in their last home game before the championship bout, so to say the least, I felt it was going to be a bloody (hopefully only figuratively) free-for-all to find out who truly was going to be the top dog this season. … read more
Crucialfest Day Four @ Shred Shed and Wasted Space 06.29
It’s Year Three, Day Four of SLC’s amazing musical orgasm CrucialFest, and I step off the Trax stop at Courthouse to get myself some delicious pizza and beer from The Pie Hole before the festivities start. Heat’s in the triple digits, and I pity the poor fools even more who chose Warped Tour over CF. … read more
An Interview with Adam Ant
Adam Ant recently released his ninth album, Adam Ant Is The Blueblack Hussar in Marrying The Gunner’s Daughter, and is setting to start another tour of the U.S. After a 17 year hiatus from the music industry, Ant’s record is not only a new beginning as an artist, but a new approach to the business side of the music industry. … read more
Talking With Teach
Walking into The Beerhive I pass an oversized Harley, dressed with a full fairing and enough storage for any length of a trip. I know it belongs to Ralph “Teach” Elrod, the man I’m here to meet. Shortly after joining the Salt Lake City motorcycle club in the late ’60s, Elrod took on the role as club president for the Barons MC. In his recently released book, Kick Start: Memories of an Outlaw Biker, Elrod shares stories of his time as president and gives a glimpse of an outlaw motorcycle culture independent of the Hell’s Angels. Walking in, I see Elrod at the bar. His club patch draws my attention and saves me from the awkward uncertainty of introductions with someone I’ve never met. … read more
Middle Eastern Cooking @ Caputo’s 06.09
An intimate group of about ten people gathered in the deli of Caputo’s Market downtown on a Tuesday night, hungry and eager to learn. … read more
Elementé Celebrates 25 Years
Known for scores of stylish retro furniture, unbeatable prices, and a place to rest your tired dogs, Elementé has been an anchor on Pierpont Avenue for 25 years. … read more
Junction City Trainwrecks vs. Colorado Rock’n Rollers 07.13
Using a good dual offense and defense strategy, applying the “hit it and quit it” tactic, and taking advantage of every power jam, the Trainwrecks’ lead over Colorado kept increasing. … read more
The Lone Bellow @ Red Butte 07.14
The late afternoon summer light illuminating the red rocks of the desert combined with the lavish garden complemented the performance that this Brooklyn-based trio had to show us. … read more
Rodrigo y Gabriela @ Red Butte 07.12 with Alex Wilson
Famed guitarists Rodrigo y Gabriela graced SLC for the first time in their more than decade long history. The venue could not have been more perfect for this genre of music: Latin-inspired rock n’ roll and powerful Spanish guitar riffs. … read more
Damn These Heels! Festival Coverage 07.12-14
Last weekend, the Utah Film Center hosted its 10th Annual Damn These Heels! Film Festival, a series dedicated to screening films with LGBT-centered elements. This year, the UFC screened 21 films, had a handful of panel discussions and threw a bit of a party on Friday night to kick things off the right way. … read more
