Music
The Opiates- Hollywood Under The Knife & Rainy Days and...
A long time in the making, the Opiates full-length debut, Hollywood Under The Knife, was worth every single second of wait time. With a world-weary truth—the album’s mostly female protagonists emerge song by song with their faults and weaknesses laid bare for the listener. As the album works its magic and emblazons itself upon the listener’s brain, this ultra-sophisticated concept album triumphs as one of this year’s finest releases. … read more
National CD Reviews – November 2011
New and recent releases from Coliseum, David Lynch, Dum Dum Girls, Hella, John Doe, Mike Patton, Owen, Russian Circles, Skinny Puppy, This is Hell, Tori Amos, Tycho, Zola Jesus, and many more are reviewed. … read more
Carphax Files @ Metro Bar
Around 100 local members of the Salt Lake industrial scene poured into the glitzy Club Metro on Wednesday night for a free, one-hour long performance by COP International artist Carphax Files, and they were not disappointed. Carphax Files is an explosion of unholy rage at the political machine, but underpinned by a sensitivity to the plight of the people. A new Carphax Files t-shirt declares that they are the 99%. … read more
Neon Indian @ Urban Lounge
We walked in the cool evening taking sips from a vitamin water bottle filled with cheap wine. We killed the last few drops as we hit the door of the already packed Urban Lounge to catch the most talked about show of October. Everyone bouncing and smiling as we were swallowed up by the sea of people on the floor. The mass of bodies was moving to the crests and troughs of a wave of sound from some kind of future island in the sun. … read more
National CD Reviews – October 2011
New releases from Absu, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Beirut, Ceremony, Gringo Star. HTRK, Juno Reactor, Modeselektor, Night Birds, The Pine Hill Haints, Rocket From the Tombs, Sleep 8 Over, Trapped Under Ice, and many more are reviewed. … read more
Electric Six, Mark Mallman @ Urban 10.01
After the openers had been swept away and the stage hosed off, the night finally got started. A surprising number of men in their mid-to-late forties suddenly swept over to the dance floor, many wearing freshly purchased “Electric Six” t-shirts from the merch table. … read more
Low, The Moth & The Flame @ Velour 09.23
Velour was packed; I’ve only seen so many people in this venue at one of Velour’s high-energy shows. I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised at how many people were there––it was Low––but it also seemed like a lot of people were there because locals The Moth & The Flame opened the show. … read more
Heart Pharmacy @ Bar Deluxe 09.17
On Sept. 17 Ali Sarijlou’s one-man show known as Heart Pharmacy stopped at Bar Deluxe. Although Sarijlou is currently based out of San Diego, he has Salt Lake City roots and a big local following of Ali and his music. … read more
Colour Revolt, colourmusic, The Love Capades @ Kilby 09.16
I love attending shows at Kilby, and I’m always surprised when they’re under attended. This is a totally homegrown, all-ages venue near downtown with lots of national and local talent coming through all of the time. Get the fuck off your couches and go to shows at Kilby, kids! … read more
Agnostic Front, Naysayer, The Mongoloids @ Burt’s 09.13
I never think it’s a good idea to have a hardcore show at a bar. It’s not some condescending “principles” thing either, because everyone should get their rocks off how they want … it just doesn’t seem like a smart business move. Hardcore is a youth-oriented genre with lots of teenage fans, and it seems silly to eliminate such a large (paying!) segment from enjoying the music. … read more