Shley Kinser’s first event as a SLUG marketing teamster was back in 2013 at our infamous 24th Anniversary tattoo parlor: Folks lined up for free SLUG tattoos from six local tattoo studios. Since then, she has lent SLUG her savvy skills at various marketing events. … read more
In 2008, the world was introduced to Cloverfield, a first-person, found-footage production that set viewers in the middle of a monster attack. Now, producer J.J. Abrams suggests that we revisit the cinematic universe in a different location. … read more
If you’ve ever wondered what the world would be like if Olympic champion gymnast Mary Lou Retton returned to her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia, and acted like an egotistical maniac for years after her career was finished, then director Bryan Buckley and married writing team Melissa and Winston Rauch have the filthy dark comedy you’ve been craving. … read more
Birthquake! is a local band of brothers, the Whittaker brothers to be exact, who managed to capture the bliss of life on this exuberant little slice of pure joy known as the Be Excellent To Each Other EP. This release is what smiles sound like. … read more
Charles Ellsworth is a storyteller. If his music doesn’t keep you listening (and it should), his vivid lyrics will stop your hand from skipping anything on this EP. Ellsworth’s vocals remind me of Matt Berninger, laced with the blues and 1960s country. … read more
Leave it to a true punk band to record a cheap EP in a small unfiltered space. The fast-paced trio threw this five-track album together in a day, all performed and recorded in the Raunch Records back room. … read more
In an effort to strike out on his own, Kiliona Palauni broke away from his popular and well-established group A Cassandra Utterance and immediately hit the studio in mid-2010 to craft this pop/soul tour de force. Not at all afraid to experiment, Kiliona touches base with early ‘80s synth and early ‘90s hip hop beats while guests drop rhymes. … read more
Salt Lake City’s bullet-belted loudmouths claim to be the dirty rotten bastard offspring of spike-studded punk rock and rollicking thrash metal. The effort is earnest (and generally enjoyable) and their cheeky disdain of all things “PC” elicits a laugh or two (who isn’t up for the occasional dick joke?), but they don’t always straddle the line seamlessly. … read more
Three years ago, director Antoine Fuqua and Gerard Butler surprised the masses with Olympus Has Fallen, so this critic was excited about the follow-up. However, once it was revealed that Fuqua refused to direct this sequel because he didn’t like the script, director Fredrik Bond left due to creative differences, and the original release date was in October 2015, my critic sense started tingling, and my hopes diminished. My instincts were correct. … read more
April showers bring so many national music reviews. … read more
April holds Record Store Day and rad local albums—every year! … read more
Jenifer Nii’s original musical, Kingdom of Heaven, explores the universal journey of self-discovery when a Mormon housewife discovers a direction that could forever alter her life and the lives of those around her: becoming a drag king. Plan-B Theatre Company will premiere this unique production on March 31. … read more
