Music
Castle’s Crucialfest 5 Conquest
Castle’s eerie aesthetic lures you into a blackened moor, your only comfort, a cloak pulled tightly around your body. The bravery in your heart gradually diminishes as the candlelight of your lantern fades into the night. The moon glides from behind a cloud revealing a looming castle in the distance.
Moving on Up: an Interview with Speedy Ortiz
As their name may suggest, Speedy Ortiz are cruising right along. They’re young, screamingly talented, touring the world, playing festivals like SXSW alongside their personal heroes, recording and releasing a new album—all while maintaining an effortless aura of unpretentious coolness.
The Wanderer’s Tradition: An Interview with Bombino
Omara Moctar, known internationally as the Nigerien psych-rock hero Bombino, is the local and living legend of a small tribe in the country of Niger. While on his international tour, Salt Lake will have the good fortune of seeing him at no charge at The Salt Lake County Building on May 15–17 for The 30th Annual Living Traditions Festival this summer. Recently, SLUG was able to interview Moctar about his music and his message.
Localized: Porch to Porch
Porch to Porch are an upbeat, folky bluegrass ensemble with fast-picking fingers and a wailing harmonica. They live by their motto, “For the love of music,” which harmonica player and designer Willus Branham penciled into their band logo five years ago. They’re a big, happy, whiskey-drinkin’ family who dedicates their Wild Western project to spreading good vibes, jamming and going right into the crowd. … read more
Localized: Six Feet in the Pine
This month’s Localized is going to be one hell of a musical showdown. Porch to Porch will heat up the stage with their wild riffs, foot-tapping harmonica and bending elbows. The night will end in a Western frenzy by Six Feet in the Pine, who aren’t your average church-goin’ folk, though they’re serious cowboys, strummers and pluckers. Stop by Urban Lounge May 15 at 10 p.m. for just $5.
De/Vision: Binary Stargazers of German Synth-pop
In the history of music written by radio DJs, synthpop met its demise soon after Kurt Cobain shoved his Fender down the throats of the masses. Certainly the most popular of acts like Depeche Mode still filled their arenas as Erasure and the Pet Shop Boys packed theaters. … read more
Local H: An Honest Chat with Scott Lucas
Scott Lucas of Local H thumped the music scene on the head in the mid-’90s with raw, catchy tunes that rocked your world and perhaps made you rethink your selfish, bitch-ass attitude. Now he’s coming to Utah at the Urban Lounge on May 18 to remind listeners that Mondays can still be a hell of a time. … read more
Author & Punisher: Mechanically Engineering Music
When he was a teen, metal bands like Melvins and Sepultura triggered something in Tristan Shone. He was aggressive and he liked that style. Some other bands that have influenced him are Godflesh, Neurosis, Aphex Twin and Ed Rush & Optical. … read more
Viv Albertine of The Slits: A Not-So-Typical Rebellion
Viv Albertine—the former guitarist for the post punk band, The Slits—has just had her memoir, Clothes, Clothes Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. released through Thomas Dunne Books. It is a uniquely humble and provocative story that covers her perspective on a revolutionary era of punk rock music and culture that is usually dominated by a largely male narrative. … read more
Leon Bridges: Soul Music and its Simple Formula
Bridges was signed to Columbia Records in December of last year on the strength of two singles posted to Soundcloud that had only been up for three months, and just last month Bridges took SXSW by storm, winning their prestigious Grulke Prize for Developing US Act. … read more