There’s nothing worse than having to give a local band � which represents you and your local musical community � a bad write-up. Nevertheless, nobody wins when a band continues on, ignorant of their lack of talent. Lewis is the epitome of the-pop punk sound a la Blink 182. Maybe they thought they’d fill the void for all the Blink fans who can’t get over Blink being gone. … read more
Local Reviews: Stag Hare
This album is nearly 42 minutes long � but feels like 10. Starting off slowly with an almost-tribal melody, Ahspen easily could have been the soundtrack to The Martian Chronicles, because all 42 minutes in this piece are an instrumentation of beautiful bliss that seem to follow an internal storyline. … read more
Local Reviews: The Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle/Stag Hare
I once watched a performer maintain a tricky, tempo-swaying drum roll using a stick in one hand and a rubber ball in the other. I was completely mesmerized by the performance, but letdown by the recording and unable to convince any who heard it how magnificent it had been. This is my beef with 90 percent of so-called noise music: you have to see it to appreciate it, otherwise, if you expect anyone to listen, you damned well better make the aural side really interesting. … read more
Local Reviews: Top Dead Celebrity
The opening track “Illuminati” on Top Dead Celebrity’s self-titled album made me hope this would be a dynamic instrumental band, and then right towards the end of the well-laced opening track they speed it up, give it the Kyuss kick and the hammer drops. … read more
Local Reviews: Monorchist
You have to give respect to Monorchist. This band drops straight-up garage rock that is so unpretentious and unpolished that it sounds like you’re right in the middle of one of their band practices. Hating on it is next to impossible. … read more
Local Reviews: Negative Charge
Although Negative Charge have been together (in some form or another) since 2005, it’s probably a good thing that they waited until now to release their debut album. After opening for many decent punk bands here in SLC (Street Brats, Lower Class Brats, Funeral Dress, GBH, The Casualties, etc.) and a plethora of lineup changes, Negative Charge finally seem to have perfected their sound. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Of Fathers and Sons
It’s difficult to know even where to start with Sundance’s “World Cinema Documentary” selection Of Fathers and Sons. It’s clear, however, that it’s an incredibly essential film, and it touches on an array of issues. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
For me, and for many viewers, Won’t You Be My Neighbor is a nostalgic trip into what made Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood such a memorable and prolific television program, and also a testament to how much imagination and care Fred Rogers put into his show, as well as his life. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Lords of Chaos
Admittedly, what I know about the Norwegian Black Metal scene I owe to Last Podcast on the Left—I basically knew what to expect from the plot of Sundance film Lords of Chaos. However, there was no way to prepare for the brutal way the story is presented through the eyes of Euronymous (Rory Culkin). … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Queen of Fear
Alone in her mansion, famous Argentine theater actress Robertina (Valeria Bertuccelli) grows increasingly anxious in the days leading up to her much anticipated, one-woman show in The Queen of Fear. … read more
Sundance Film Festival: Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
“Come inside my mind,” says Robin Williams, in his own distinctive voice as the film opens with a scene from a different time—an interview where Williams uses an impromptu performance as the answer to a question about whether he can think faster than most people. … read more
Local Reviews: Accidente
Exotic Payday sounds like a moon-shined Paul Bunyan careening around the lumberyard with a hatchet recently sharpened on the ol’ whetstone�in other words, heavy, ungainly and dangerous. Is it wrong for me to think Mr. Peter Makowski is just cuter than ever as he gargles, spits, retches, spews rabies-laden saliva and shreds his throat into Austin pork barbecue to get across his tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic, red-hot-burning angst? … read more
