It was amazing to watch Nightmares on Wax’s George Evelyn manipulate everyone with tempo and instrument–bringing everyone to near exhaustion with pounding drums and lulling them from near collapse with beautiful workings of technical sound-smithing. Evelyn, however, never showed any sign of slowing down, as his set had remained solid through its entirety, leaving Urban Lounge in a wake of electronic bliss and technical prowess. … read more
Just Jonny: An Interview with Social Distortion’s Jonny “Two Bags” Wickersham
“So many different things about me manifest themselves on the record, whether it be through lyrics or whatever.” Jonny “Two Bags” Wickersham has put together an eclectic record that plays like a musical autobiography of a guy that has made music his entire life. … read more
Saga Outerwear Presents Odesza and High Counsel @ Urban Lounge 03.22
Every once in a while, I tend to get to a point where my body needs to release itself through dance, so I’m often convinced to venture out of my little shell to break free and let go. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Odesza for quite a while now, knowing that it’d probably be the perfect cure to loosen me up, and I was far from let down with that expectation. … read more
Ring Rats Anonymous: UCW TV TAPING (12th Anniversary Show) @ UCW Arena 03.22
Twelve years ago, Stevie Slick started this company in his basement. It was previously NWA-affiliated, sports an ultra loyal fanbase and ranks as THE pre-eminent promotion for quality pro-wrestling in Utah. Moving to Utah was a culture shock on all fronts. I’m not talking about Mormonism, snowboarding and the super-dry climate … I didn’t know where to find the wrestling! Don’t worry though. All that changed once I found UCW-Zero. Long live it! Long live independent wrestling! … read more
Reading Through the Refraction: Black Lips Talk Touring and New Releases
Raising hell since the late ’90s, the foursome of the Black Lips has always made music-making look effortless. They’ve pushed the boundaries of production and sound with their seventh studio album release, Underneath the Rainbow—a melodic mixture of gritty rock n’ roll, tangy lyrical wit and a dash of sticky-sweet Southern soul that drips off the tongue like molasses. SLUG was able to hash things out with bassist Jared Swilley to discuss life on the road, battle plans and bucket lists. … read more
Bellator 114 in Salt Lake City 03.28
Thousands of MMA fans will enter the Maverick Center Friday, March 28 to see MMA icon Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, the middleweight title fight with Alexander Shlemenko versus Brennan Ward and Rad Martinez’s final professional fight against Edson Berto, along with several other promising match-ups. … read more
Ellie Goulding @ BUKU Music & Art Project 03.21
Ellie’s stage presence was wild and almost theatrical as she bounced in between belting out high notes to the few thousand people on the ground and pounding on the drums with equal passion. Whether you’re listening to Ellie from a pair of headphones trying to get lost in a beautiful place or in a live setting, you’ll have the same feeling of isolated bliss. … read more
Treefort Music Festival 03.20-23
Just five hours to the north, through the enchanted land of highway juniper, roadside rivers, and abounding Perkins restaurants, a little festival was born. … read more
SLUG Mag Gets Too BUKU
There’s just something about New Orleans. I think it might be the Cajun spice in the Gumbo, but the city just exuberates this attitude that I can’t explain. In a conversation with a local cab driver on my way to the BUKU Music & Arts Project, I mentioned that the city almost feels like a separate country. … read more
The Glitch Mob @ BUKU Music & Arts Project 03.22
Following the release of their latest album, Love Death Immortality, just last month, the Los Angeles-based group took their tour to BUKU for a performance that left everyone in awe. … read more
Cult Leader – Nothing For Us Here
Salt Lake City’s own Cult Leader have been signed to Deathwish Inc. Nothing For Us Here is their debut EP, and it’s streaming from SLUGMag.com exclusively, until Friday, April 4! Tell all your friends that if they want Cult Leader, SLUG Mag is the place to look, and check out our April cover story on Cult Leader. Physical copies of the magazine can by found anyplace cool in Utah on Friday, April 4, and be sure to catch Cult Leader’s EP-release show at The Shred Shed on the same day. … read more
The Sounds @ In The Venue 03.29 with Blondfire, Strange Talk
There are a lot of “rock” bands around these days but, to be honest, rock and roll bands—groups that live, eat, drink and breathe the very meaning of rock and roll—they are an endangered species. Enter stage right, all the way from Sweden, The Sounds and their brash, loud, rowdy lead singer Maja Ivarsson. Clad in a short black cocktail dress, with a cigarette in her mouth and a pint in her hand, Ivarsson was an absolute wrecking ball from the moment she stepped on stage. … read more
