This year I was once again presented with the opportunity to check out the festival, this time, with a much older and wiser young lady to accompany me. I am glad to say that we did feel the warm embrace of my fellow parents, and Alice, a bond with her own, slightly larger and less stinky peers, as we set out to enjoy free pizza and a new world of cinematic exposure for kids in SLC that has no rival. … read more
The five factions might as well be the houses in the Harry Potter universe. I swear Tris’ faction was going to be declared, “Hufflepuff!” Kate Winslet’s character reminds me so much of Donald Sutherland’s in The Hunger Games it’s unnerving. Finally, the whole training to become warriors with sparing and mock battles is too close for comfort with Ender’s Game. So, with all of these similarities, I am now referring to this film as “Harry Potter and Ender’s Hunger Game.” … read more
After successfully reviving the franchise with the 2011 release of “The Muppets,” director James Bobin returns with his cavalcade of felt-covered misfits in a sequel that they guarantee is not as good as the original. Seriously, it’s mentioned in the opening music number. … read more
Diabolical/Albatross Records has carved out a much needed niche in Salt Lake City for the hip weirdoes to congregate. Not only does this shop have a top selection of records, but they put on some of the better gigs in town. Obviously I am no stranger to this hive of scum and villainy, but my reason for being here on this particular evening was something of divine inspiration. I was here on a mission from god to see The Rich Hands. … read more
Having just completed a tour that included a stop at SXSW, Mr. Gnome graced this salty, allergy cloud of a city with an aerobic and intimate show at Urban Lounge. … read more
The bout started off great, with some amazing blocking from the Morbids. In only the first five minutes, the score was 15 to 36 for the Morbids. … read more
Being an Against Me! fan is exhausting. Against Me!’s mix of “fuck society” politics, self-examination and stripped-down revolt against punk paradigms filled the hole in my punk heart. Then they signed to a major label and I felt betrayed. I’ve since grown up a little (I hope) and realized that a band can do whatever they want and it has absolutely nothing to do with me. … read more
12 Minutes Max has long been a staple in the dance and performance world. It’s the signature program of Seattle’s famous On the Boards and now, Paul Reynolds has brought it to Salt Lake City’s downtown public library. This past Sunday at two in the afternoon, a respectable crowd––faces familiar to me from our city’s film, dance and visual art communities––filed into the auditorium at the library. … read more
It was as packed as maybe I have ever seen inside. Velour actually had to keep a few people out because the show was completely sold out and the venue at capacity. Only minutes into We Are The Strike’s performance, it was easy to see why. … read more
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
“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
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
