Concert Review: August 1992

Live with Wire Train and Spent Poets
Club DV8 –July 1

DV8 certainly packs in the crowds for shows. No matter what you may think of the club or its reputation, it’s still a great place to see shows because, A: You can sit down and see from just about anywhere in the club, and B: You can go upstairs if you’re of age and avoid the mosh and grind of the crowd.

San Francisco’s Spent Poets played on all those fabulous stereotypes of the city on the bay, from their psychedelic, Beatlesque, drug-tripping music to their ass-grabbing, crotch-feeling stage antics. These guys really put on a show and revved up the audience for the entire evening. Playing songs about “smoking pot and listening to the Beatles backwards” (“Grassheads”), Satan (“The Black Pope”) and their own send off to teen rap stars (“Kriss Kross’ll Make You Jump”), Spent Poets stole the show before it was properly underway.

Wire Train gave us another view of S.F., arms akimbo and dancing around like white James Browns. The first half of their set consisted of early ‘80s New Wave-ish stuff, an LA local radio airplay favorite, but the band finally found their groove and raved down to the end of their show. Wire Train has taken Manchester Rave and incorporated it into their ‘60s Bob Dylan-covering background, coming up with some funky tunes with slow grooves.

This was my first experience with Live but they seem to have quite a following from their MTV tour dates and radio play. They even took time out to play “unplugged” for the audience and to test out some new material as well. The band is a bit overboard on the anthemic-type songs that brought U2 to superstardom, and they lack some of the genuine oppressive background to pull off a whole set of banner-waving music. But they really threw themselves into their set, and seemed to connect with much of the audience. Maybe age will help mature them and develop the spiritual qualities that underlie their record.

The Wolfgang Press
Machines of Loving Grace
The Bar and Grill – July 18

Joining up with The Wolfgang Press three days before they hit Salt Lake after an opening stint with deathrock god Peter Murphy, Machines Of Loving Grace were back onstage at the Bar & Grill, having recently been here with Swans. These techno-funksters had the crowd groovin’ and moshing throughout their set to such hits as their recent “Burn Like Brilliant Trash,” etc., and their lead singer spent a lot of time wandering amidst the audience, dancing and thrashing in one of Salt Lake’s legendary and expected mosh pits. The band seemed to feed on the energy of the crowd and enjoyed their warm reception on returning to Salt Lake.

Hailing from Tucson, Arizona, Machines Of Loving Grace pride themselves on being cut off from the music “scene” and feel this helps them write music that is trademark stuff—It’s not bad but it smacks of

Nine Inch Nails.

After a bit of sound problem and some rewiring of the circuitry to accommodate them, The Wolfgang Press took the stage at the Bar & Grill and laid down the hippest groove to be heard here on this side of the Atlantic. Concentrating on their funkier stuff from the last two records the band played a non-stop (except for some technical difficulties later in the show) dance party for an eager audience. Working their way through faves such as “Kansas,” “Time,” “Sweatbox,” “Shut That Door,” “Mama Told Me Not To Come” and the recent “A Girl Like You,” the Press delivered all the promise of their discography in a live setting. Aided by three additional members, the stage was overcrowded and the band was frustrated but they gave their all to the music and came out looking and sounding incredible.

Mick Allen is definitely something to see, singing and grooving to the music in his black suit. He also showed a lot of concern for the audience who, in return, gave total approval to the band’s show, just enjoying the fact that the legendary Wolfgang Press had finally arrived in Utah. Anything else was icing on the cake.

Look for the Wolfgang Press again in the fall as they return to America on the second leg of their tour.

All You Can Eat
Doghouse
Amphouse Mother
Bar and Grill –July 9

I don’t know what it is with the people in Salt Lake. Everyone bitches about this or that, there is never anywhere to play, and SLUG is only good for toilet paper. Part of the reason people bitch is because they don’t have the balls to support the scene, but in all reality, they are the ones losing out because on Thursday, July 9th, I and about 13 other people witnessed Doghouse. Amphouse Mother and All You Can Eat.

Doghouse played for about eight people. This three piece didn’t seem to let that fact hold them back. I wasn’t too sure about their style. They seem too much like Concrete Blonde, but still a good band who do have talent.

Next was Amphouse Mother—also a three piece who seemed to have just appeared on the Salt Lake scene lately. This band is one that has a good mixture of sound, from rock n’ roll to cheesy blues to some jazz influence. Definitely a good bar band.

Last on the bill was All You Can Eat from San Francisco. They played a real short set, one that left me wanting more. This band is the essential punk band, fast and aggressive. The four band members are great to watch. Thierr stage presence is hilarious. Too bad there are a lot of people who missed this show. This was one that was definitely worth the $4 cover charge. For all you who didn’t make it to the show, don’t worry because they have a 7″ out. It’s punk, it’s fast and it’s aggressive. Go to Raunch and make Brad order it. It is worth it.

Rollins Band with Tool
DV8 –July 6th

July 6th brought the most aggressive and energetic show that will have ever been seen in Salt Lake City.

Tool went on first. This band is by far the most insane band I have ever had the opportunity to witness. The fit of rage that surrounds this band is astounding. I can still hear Maynard scream “Fuck you!” and see the constant bodies in motion in the pit. What can I say? Tool captured the crowd from the first song and didn’t let them go until the last note faded out of the amps.

Next up was the one and only Rollins Band. They came on with more intensity than a freight train. Their first song “Low Self Opinion” was loud and powerful, and it stayed that way the rest of the night. They played all the favorites off End of Silence and a few off of Product of Power. Of course there were trouble makers in the crowd, but what would a Rollins show be without trouble makers? But, to everyone’s pleasure, two roadies in underwear took care of the situation. This was surely an eventful occasion when Salt Lake saw The End of Silence. 

Check out more from the SLUG Archives:
Concert Review: June 1992
Concert Review: Soul Asylum