E3 2015: The Nature of the Beast – Day One

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

E3 2015 is currently underway in sunny California and I’m extremely excited to attend this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity (for me, anyways). I’m no slouch to video games—I’ve been playing since the Atari days—I’m just not as up to snuff as everybody else here seems to be, which kind of made me feel like a filthy casual. … read more

Dear Dickheads – September 2013 (2)

I am the guitarist/singer for a local Ogden metal band. Over the last few weeks here someone has taken offense to our t shirts with a slogan that says “AT LEAST I’M NOT MORMON”. This sad pathetic person has spammed several Facebook pages under a fake account and even tried to get us booted off shows claiming they would boycott the venue. … read more

Zombiecock @ Kilby Court 06.13 with Wolf Blitzer, Breaux, CVPITVLS

Zombiecock

Shows where the primary musical entertainment is provided by bands that have a hardcore or punk sound tend to be some of my favorites. Although I am a fan of both musical styles, I have found in the past that the reason these types of shows hold such a special place in my heart is due to the fact that the energy and overall performances of these groups are usually at the highest levels. The Zombiecock show at Kilby Court was no exception. … read more

Localized: JAWWZZ!!

This month’s Localized is a cross-section of SLC punk: the visceral, dissonant hardcore punk of openers Foster Body, the surf-soaked party punk of JAWWZZ!! and the acerbic, bittersweet pop punk of Problem Daughter. The convergence of punk dexterity happens Nov. 8 at the Urban Lounge at 9 p.m., emceed by Ischa B. and sponsored by Bohemian Brewery. It’s $5 to get in if you’re 21+. If you’re not, watch it online at gigviz.com. … read more

Red Butte Wheels of Soul: A Spirited Performance

The sun beat down the treeless lawn of Red Butte Gardens more forcefully than the incoherent drums over the speaker. Patrons quickly ate their grapes and cheese—trying to savor the last bit of moisture left over from the tupperware. Wine and beer flowed unhindered as any possible respite from the sun was explored. … read more

Halloween is Ruined: Performance Life with Klaus von Austerlitz

Klaus often blends scary and kawaii imagery for a confrontational look.

Halloween is ruined. Its most treasured sensibilities are under attack. Goths have turned the occult into ridiculous camp and queers have turned ridiculous camp into a cult. So, if Oct. 31 is the only day of the 365 that you’d think of dressing yourself up outrageously, you might be a lamebrain. For local performance artist Klaus von Austerlitz, every costume is a performance, and every performance a carefully constructed vessel of artistry and social critique.  … read more

Donning the Yellow Face: People Productions @ Sugar Space Warehouse Theatre

Yellow Face

Hollywood’s whitewashing is as blatant as ever—consider anything from Mickey Rooney’s racist depiction of Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s to the recent casting of Emma Stone in Cameron Crowe’s Aloha as a character of quarter-Chinese, quarter-Hawaiian descent. The same whitewashing can be said for the theatre. … read more