Brady Larson: The Come Up Kid

Posted on February 26, 2013 (February 2, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

“It was a Lamar—it was the sickest board ever,” said no one, ever. Unless, perhaps, you’re Brady Larson and you’re speaking of the beginning of a decade-long love affair with snowboarding. Larson’s love story begins the same as many of ours—a 9-year-old on Christmas morning, a budget snowboard from Sports Authority and beginner lessons at Brighton. And, like many of us, his love started to grow as he became a weekend warrior through middle school and high school. … read more

Niche Snowboards: Snowboarding’s Green Thumb

Posted on February 26, 2013 (February 2, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

Niche Snowboards founder Dustin Morrell knew that without presenting a totally new niche on the table, their dream would be short-lived. “There wasn’t a 100-percent eco-friendly company from the ground up with focus on everything that you do,” says Ana Van Pelt, Niche’s creative director. So in 2009, Salt Lake City got a little bit greener. “Simply put, we make boards that have a positive impact on the planet and snowboard industry,” Van Pelt says. … read more

Photo Feature: Jon Hart

Posted on February 26, 2013 (February 2, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

In rural Utah, where I grew up, winter meant a nearly three month skating hiatus. There were no parking garages or indoor ramps to skate. We would just hope the church parking lot dried up enough to pull out our flat bars and boxes, and we’d skate the snow gaps. Shoveling a spot to skate in sub-freezing weather shows dedication, and Bolts of Thunder founder Jon Hart is one of the most dedicated people I know. … read more

Princess Kennedy: Inversion Intervension

Posted on February 27, 2013 (February 2, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

My dearest SLUG readers, I fear this could be my last column, as I am writing from my deathbed. I feel like I’m dying from slowly being poisoned by our past two months of The Inversion. March has finally arrived and with it comes a cleaner, clearer city, but the pollution still lingers in my body––I can feel it! I don’t know about you, but I seem to always forget about it during the 10-month period we’re Inversion-free. I have no doubt the effects linger long after. … read more

Mike Brown’s Monthly Dirt: Amateur Night

Posted on February 27, 2013 (February 2, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

There are certain holidays that are pretty much catered to the boozing and bar industry. But there’s one designated drinking day that seems to suck the stupid out of people more than all of them: St. Patrick’s Day. Maybe it’s because I fancy a drink a tad bit more than the average American male, but I don’t need a holiday to tell me to drink. I probably got more hammered on Flag Day than I did on all of these “holidays” combined, and I don’t even know when Flag Day is. … read more

Beautiful Godzilla: Home Sweet Home

Posted on February 27, 2013 (February 2, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

Every winter, but especially after a particularly wet one like this year, I promise myself it’ll be my last in Salt Lake. I really love this city––I just can’t handle pedaling or driving through all this extremity-numbing precipitation. What inevitably keeps me here is the fact that I can navigate my way around this godforsaken desert without Siri holding my hand. A city doesn’t become home until you can confidently give a stranger accurate directions to the nearest, local strip club. … read more

Gallery Stroll: Art for the Young and the Young Artist

Posted on February 27, 2013 (December 22, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

It’s not hard to find good art in Utah. Here are two of my picks of Utah’s art offerings. … read more

Local Review: Settle Down/Sure Sign of the Nail

Posted on March 21, 2013 (February 2, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

settle-down-sure-sign-of-the-nail-split-ep

This split single is a fantastic introduction to two of Salt Lake’s finest bands, and the songs they’ve chosen have a great emotional contrast. Sure Sign of the Nail opens with “Flora and Fauna,” a slow, ambient, tranquil trip with a thick bass line, overlaid with beautiful humming guitar and deep vocals that remind me of some primitive, Gregorian chant, rattling the deep parts of your chest with its dark beauty. … read more

Local Review: Ben Best & Karl Jørgensen

Posted on March 19, 2013 (January 24, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

Ben Best & Karl Jørgensen are a local experimental duo with an appreciation for analog recording techniques, having recently released a nicely packaged cassette of their self-titled album. This volume of music contains a sonically warm series of untitled audio explorations that are almost aquatic in tone. … read more

Local Review: KonSICKwence & Skip Sanders

Posted on March 19, 2013 (February 2, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

Utah hip hop just keeps getting better. I mean it. I know many of these kids have been around for a minute, but they’re hitting their strides. Utah. Jazz. is just that—full of dusky, distant piano samples over bass-heavy boom bap. … read more

Local Review: A Lily Gray

Posted on March 19, 2013 (February 2, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

A Lily Gray has released a solid and highly enjoyable EP with The Fall. The album is ethereal and emotive, a bit more complex than most standard rock, but not quite stepping into any “progressive” territory, and has a strong foundation in the complementary sound of the music with singer David Lynn’s unique and far-reaching, clean vocals. … read more

Local Review: Mooninite/RS2090

Posted on March 19, 2013 (August 8, 2022) by Alton Barnhart

Mooninite/RS2090 - Self-titled Split album artwork

Side A, Mooninite’s side, treads lightly in familiar ambient territory, owing much to the sampled instrumentation of Boards of Canada and the swirling arpeggios fancied by fellow compatriot OK Ikumi. The beats are slightly off, staggering with a seasick lurch. RS2090’s side is all absurdist rhythm patterns, pitch-shifted lecture notes, squiggly synths, bottom-scraping low-end and an angular, almost geometric approach to composition. … read more