Authors: Dan Vesper
Action Bronson @ The Complex 01.30 with Party Supplies
Eventually, Bronson did get most of the crowd back on his side. As to be expected, he crushed it, but it was a short set. “Get the fuck outta here / I do this shit straight off the couch,” he boasted, in his thick Queens accent, over a sea of bobbing heads and waving arms. … read more
Deafheaven @ Bar Deluxe 02.15 with Subrosa
A cocksure Deafheaven took the stage and proceeded to obliterate shit, but not without some comedy. The vocalist, George Clark, is exceptionally charismatic, but he’s also humorously intense and clearly spends a lot of time on his hair. He wore leather gloves and a tight-fitted long-sleeve shirt that showed off his muscles. … read more
MOBB DEEP @ URBAN LOUNGE 04.24 WITH DJ JUGGY, CIG...
These words were hurled at me from a man about to kick my teeth in. At the time it seemed sudden. With a little hindsight, though, I think the whole night led up to this very intense moment of truth. The stars were aligned, as it were, and the whole evening started simply enough: with the best Old Fashioned of my life. … read more
Danny Brown @ The Complex 05.13 with ZelooperZ, DopeThought
Danny Brown: “So guess who’s a little bitch?”
Crowd: “That’s you!”
Danny Brown: “You must suck a lot of dick.”
Crowd: “That’s true!” … read more
CHiT CHAT WiFF RiFF RAFF
SLUG: If you were playing basketball with President Obama and you had the opportunity to dunk on him, would you hesitate to do it out of respect for the office?
RiFF RAFF: I would super dunk 370
… read more
Black Flag @ The Complex 07.28 with HOR
You might be surprised to hear that Black Flag is still kicking around—I certainly was. … read more
Swans @ Urban Lounge 09.01 with Carla Bozulich
To describe Swans’ live set is nearly impossible—but I’ll try. Simply put, it was the most violently loud performance I’ve ever seen—and I’ve experienced Motorhead. … read more
Joey Bada$$ @ The Complex 10.08 with Vince Staples, CJ...
Hip-hop shows at The Complex are a feast for the senses. I like to drink it in like it’s a chilled glass of Alizé. Weed smoke and grocery store body spray form an atmosphere as thick as any inversion in February. Brawny men in wife beaters strut their stuff. Tattoos tell stories. … read more
Elevated Minds Festival @ The Complex 10.09
The second annual Elevated Minds Festival was a showcase of some of the best hip-hop Utah has to offer along with a litany of golden-age rap superstars, including Keith Murray, Slick Rick and KRS-One. … read more
Closing the Sale with Swell Merchants
When Nico told me he was a rapper, I asked him for some music. Honestly, I didn’t expect a whole lot—you never know—but the moment I threw Swell Merchants into my car stereo, I knew it was something special. … read more