After six hours of intense combat, Polt became the Midwest Pro Am champion, and the audience funneled out into the crowded convention hall. It is a rare occasion that Salt Lake is graced with gaming royalty, and an even better moment when our locals get to take a shot at beating them live. … read more
FanX 2014: Day Three–Gaining Closure
The third and final day of FanX brought with it a sense of bittersweet excitement. Fans knew that today was the day that the convention was planning on bringing out the big guns, but they also knew that after the doors of the Salt Palace closed for the evening, they would have to make the long, somber journey back to the real world—at least until September’s convention rolls around, that is. … read more
FanX 2014: Chris Hoffman talks Salt City Strangers
Unbeknownst to many comic book fans, the city of Salt Lake has its own band of superheroes who strive to defend our unique, Utahan way of life. Created by Chris Hoffman, Josh Butterfield and Jeremy Gates, the Salt City Strangers is a comic book series that chronicles the adventures of Utah’s own super-powered team of do-gooders. … read more
FanX 2014: Nilbog is Goblin Spelled Backwards — Darren Ewing, Deborah Reed, Jason Steadman on Troll 2
In 1990, a ragtag Italian production team came to Utah to make a horror movie about a family that gets in over its head when their wholesome vacation plans get ruined by a pack of vegetarian goblins. The result was one of the most fantastic celluloid train wrecks in cinematic history. Despite the fact that Troll 2 has one of the lowest ratings on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB, it continues to unite movie fans all over the world with its unique brand of awesome awfulness. … read more
The Blue Aces @ Velour 04.18 with June Cat, Ocean Commotion
Finally, it was time for the show’s centerpiece. Let’s get something straight, right off the bat. The Blue Aces are what rock and roll is about. No joke. They are, to borrow a term from the streets, “Da Truth!” After a few minutes of set up, the lights went down and drummer, Alisa Ramirez, started into the opening beats of “Heartbreaker” as the crowd went crazy. … read more
Until The Violence Stops: Rape Recovery Benefit Show 04.18
In light of April being sexual assault awareness month, the best of Salt Lake City came together to help raise money for the Rape Recovery Center. Westminster College partly produced and financed the event, which was held at their the newly built dorm building, Westminster on the Draw, while organizations like Westminster’s V-Day Club and local businesses such as Raunch and Diabolical Records were sponsors. Local bands Barbaloot Suitz, Genre Zero, Bombshell Academy, Wildcat Strike and Juana Ghani took to the stage for the concert portion of the event. … read more
Donovan Blanc: Taking the Tongue-In-Cheek out of Pop Music
“We wanted to be as sincere as we possibly could. Everything seems to be a nod to something, or a joke, in music these days. Everything has to be a thing from some kind of era. Writers are always comparing this band or singer to that guy. That sort of culture has robbed new music of any genuine identity.” … read more
Sleeper Agent @ Kilby Court 04.19 with Holychild, Pagiins
All the passion that fuels everything onstage comes from everything offstage. Here I was amongst fast food workers, grocery store clerks and every other kind of nametag-wearing professional, feeling like a warm blanket of humanity was wrapped around my shoulders. Rock is insanity but it comes from the emotions of people. Sleeper Agent, Holychild and Pagiins didn’t need any flashing lights to bring people to Kilby Court that Saturday; just the steady thump of a driving beat and the type of howl that brings all the dark’s delightful creatures. … read more
Phantogram @ In The Venue 04.16 with TEEN
“FAAAACK!” I scream as I trip over the exact same invisible stair I tripped over when we arrived. I recuperate instantly and we escape outside. Walking down 600 West to our car, we discuss the last few hours and come to a couple agreements: Phantogram is awesome but a little over the top, and TEEN is, like, the coolest new band right now. … read more
Cunninlynguists @ Urban Lounge 04.17 with Dumb Luck, Nemo Achida, Sadistik, J-Live
There’s nothing like arriving painfully early to the Urban Lounge on a Thursday. It’s dark, covered in the sticky residue of alcohol and/or sweat and sort of sad—like a teenage boy’s basement bedroom. I roosted in one of the decrepit booths and listened to an hour of sound check and A Tribe Called Quest being played at a shittily loud volume. Being a white girl from the suburbs, I take a certain pride in my love for Tribe. I felt like screaming to the three male strangers in the room, “THIS IS MY JAM, FUCKERS!” … read more
Circle Takes The Square @ Shred Shed 04.18 with Visitors, Worst Friends and Clark!
Nothing is better than the month of April—the weather is warm, the patio furniture is out and the bands roll in. Friday was no exception to this situation, as Circle Takes the Square stomped into Utah that evening. … read more
4th Annual High Times US Cannabis Cup in Denver, Colorado
Away from the enticements of “FREE DABS!” in the recreational smoking area and the allure of glowing marijuana buds, bathed under a vivid purple grow light in the indoor industry section, I found myself standing in the doorway of Forum 1 at the Denver Mart—a poorly lit reception hall. A small riser sat at the front—upon it a folding table with matching chairs—and in front of that there were several rows of chairs to accommodate the attendees of the seminars for High Times Cannabis Cup weekend. … read more
