04/30/08
Okay, technically it's a Roger Waters pig, but same difference. And the pig, lost since the Coachella music festival in Palm Springs over the weekend, was not found in good shape, I'm afraid. Here's a little Pink Floyd for ya: |
04/29/08
That's right, hippie-folk: two of your faves in one fat show slated for June 24 at The Depot, 400 W. South Temple. Tickets go on sale Saturday at Smith's Tix outlets. Weir, of course, is the Grateful Dead's non-Jerry guitarist and singer; Govt Mule is the band led by Warren Haynes, hardest working man in jam-band business. 
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04/29/08
Musical theater has never been a favorite of mine. It was always hard for me to suspend my disbelief enough to buy into the idea of characters bursting into song on a whim; I always preferred my theater—whether dramatic or comedic, new or old—straightforward and relatively song-free. I should have known Mel Brooks would prove the exception to that silly self-imposed "no musicals" rule. 
The Pioneer Memorial Theater's season-end production of Brooks' The Producers is easily the biggest show I've ever seen at the U's theater, between its ever-changing, explosive sets and a seeming cast of thousands filling the stage for nearly...
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04/29/08
As one of the few music writers with an ongoing disdain for Pink Floyd and the band's brand of prog-rock, I have to admit that this press release I just got in my email box is one of the funniest things I've ever read. Check it: "COACHELLA organizers are offering $10,000 and four (4) festival tickets for life in exchange for the safe return of the two-story inflatable pig that broke loose during Roger Waters’ set on the final night (Sunday, April 27) of the 2008 COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL. The pig escaped and floated into the desert sky just prior to the intermission between Roger Waters’ back-to-back sets--marking the only back-to-back COACHELLA sets by one artist in the critically acclaimed festival’s history.
Anyone with information...
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04/28/08
No doubt you've heard Carl Orff's Carmina Burana at some point in your life. If you're a classical music fan, perhaps you listen to it at home, or have seen it performed. Or, if you're more of a rock music fan like me, you'd probably recognize it from The Doors film, myriad TV commercials and feature previews, or for its dramatic use in the Gen-X adolescent-dude staple Excalibur. I dropped by the Utah Symphony's performance of Carmina Burana Friday, not knowing anything more about the piece than its dramatic, bombastic opening and closing sections (the part lunkheads like me are most familiar with). Between, unbeknownst to me, Carmina Burana tells an hour-long story of spring, love and the fickleness...
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04/25/08
Last night I hit the Rewind show at the Rose Wagner; it's Ririe-Woodbury's last show of the year, and was my first true experience of modern dance. And I'm sold! Sort of. I'm not sure what makes a modern dance recital "good" or "bad," but I was intrigued throughout the two performances I watched (I'll admit here to leaving at intermission to catch the Jazz playoff game. Yeah, that was a mistake). The first, Anatomies, was choreographed by new Ririe-Woodbury artistic director Charlotte Boye-Christensen, and featured a series of movements based around the anatomical drawings of Renaissance physician Andreas Vesalius, and featured an original score by Danish composer Jens Horsving. His music was jarring...
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04/24/08
Here ya go. It was sent out to Red Butte Garden members today, apparently: "We Know You Have Been Waiting...
...And Here it is—The Complete Line-up for the 2008 Outdoor Concert Series!
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Friday, July 11th
Jonny Lang with special guest Dusty Rhodes and the River Band
Tuesday, July 15th
Emmylou Harris with special guests Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein
Sunday, July 20th
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi-Soul Stew Revival with special guest Scrapomatic
Tuesday, July 22nd
Los Lonely Boys & Los Lobos–"The Brotherhood Tour"
Wednesday, July 30th
Alejandro Escovedo...
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04/24/08
That's hardly a proper headline to express my genuine excitement about heading to the Ririe-Woodbury Rewind show tonight at the Rose Wagner (138 W. Broadway in Salt Lake City), but it came to mind when I saw that Ratt singer Stephen Pearcy is headlining at Club Vegas Saturday. We'll get to how excited I am about THAT show in tomorrow's blog. In the meantime, a little pimping for Rewind. Not that anyone should listen to me when it comes to anything dance-related—this will be my first Ririe-Woodbury show, only 22 years after I first moved to Utah—but having read up a little on what's happening in the show, I'm down.
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04/23/08
A bevy of activities tonight, so let's not futz around. - At Bar Deluxe, 666 South State St., catch the roots-rock/alt-country of Scott Biram, with Portland swamp-blues duo Hillstomp opening (locals the Utah County Swillers are also on the bill). I love any band that busts out a washboard now and again (where have you gone Chickasaw Mud Puppies?), and Hillstomp pulls it off. And look at this groovy photo of the guys: 
- At Kilby Court, 741 South 330 West, you can catch a little spoken word-meets-hip-hop...
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04/22/08
It's safe to break out your old tie-dye t-shirts tonight, and feel free to add the Birks and patchouli, too—Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra are playing The Depot. The band is known for uncanny recreations of entire Dead shows of the past, so get ready for a couple sets plus an encore. 
Also tonight, catch former Anthrax singer Joey Belladonna at Club Vegas, Minus the Bear at In the Venue and Zakir Hussain at Peery's Egyptian Theater.
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04/21/08
Hey y'all— Hope you all took advantage of the weekend to get out a bit. Myself? I watched the SLC marathon for a spell Saturday morning at the end of my block, where the runners were straggling a bit due to the windy conditions, and the fact I live about 20 miles into the race. I was content drinking coffee and recovering from a little Bar X, Johnny's on Second, Ken Sanders Rare Books gallery stroll stop the night before. And what's up tonight? Aside from the Utah Jazz/Houston Rockets playoff game, of course. Well, the Salt Lake City Film Center is hosting a free screening of Nuit de la Verite (Night of Truth) as part of its New Face of Africa Film Series. The film is...
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04/18/08
Hey gang—one more concert on-sale you should be aware of. The good folks organizin' the Utah Arts Festival are hosting a kick-off concert of sorts to celebrate the Summer Solstice, and none other than acoustic-pickin' folk-rock goddess Ani DiFranco is playing the thing. Tickets are $28, on sale now, for the June 21 show at Library Square. Go to the Utah Arts Festival Web site for tickets and more info. 
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04/18/08
You might not know the name Danny Federici, but his glorious keyboard sound is one of the more distinctive aspects of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. He died Thursday after a three-year battle with melanoma. Here's a decent AP story about the man. 
Pop in a little Springsteen in memory today if you get the chance; that organ solo on "Hungry Heart" is a fine example of Federici's work. And to hear his influence, check out the keyboard sound on The Hold Steady's Boys and Girls in America album. That band's piano man, Franz Nicolay, is clearly a...
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04/17/08
CNN has posted a Top 10 list that fake Utahn Mitt Romney delivered at last night's Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C. Whoever wrote it for him got some good zingers in. Check it out: "Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave his 'Top 10 Reasons for Dropping Out of the Race':
10. There weren't as many Osmonds as I thought.
9. I got tired of corkscrew landings under sniper fire.
8. As a lifelong hunter, I didn't want to miss the start of the varmint season.
7. There wasn’t room for two Christian leaders.
6. I was upset that no one had bothered to search my passport files.
5. I needed an excuse to get fat, grow a beard and win the Nobel prize.
4. I took a...
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04/16/08
Yes, ladies and gents, the mighty Mötley Crüe is going back on tour, and they are stopping at West Valley City's Usana Amphitheatre, 5200 South 6200 West, July 29 as the headliner of the first-ever "Crüe Fest." Also on board for the show: Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx A.M. and Trapt—none of whom can hold a candle to the old dudes at the top of the bill. Tickets go on sale Saturday at noon at Smith's Tix outlets, or you can get 'em now at TheRockvine.com.
The Crüe is touring in support of Saint of Los Angeles, the first album of new material by the...
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04/15/08
Here's the lineup, announced today, for next season at the Pioneer Memorial Theatre: My Fair Lady, Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 Noises Off, Oct. 31 to Nov. 15 The Light in the Piazza, Dec. 5 to Dec. 20 The Yellow Leaf, Jan. 9 to Jan. 24, 2009 Romeo & Juliet, Feb. 13 to Feb. 28, 2009 Dial 'M' for Murder, March 20 to Apr. 4, 2009 Miss Saigon, May 1 to May 16, 2009 Various types of packages are available through the Pioneer Theatre Company; call 801-581-6961, visit the theater's Web site or stop by in person at the Pioneer, 300 South 1400 East in Salt Lake City.
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04/15/08
Okay, the New Amsterdams' 40 minutes on stage at The Depot last night didn't REALLY save my life, but it did provide a serious lift for a cranky dude on a Monday night. Several reasons why: 1. Leader Matt Pryor, formerly of Get-Up Kids, has a wily way with pop-song construction, never losing his knack for hooks whether he's playing a solo acoustic lament or energy-charged rocker. Extra credit for giving a shout-out to Kilby Court and recognizing that there actually were New Amsterdams fans in The Depot, that was slowly filling up with Big Head Todd and the Monsters fans during the NA set. 2. The band's lead guitar player, who, after much research, I still can't confirm is named Dustin Kinsey, completely shredded. His textured playing...
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04/14/08
Ola gang— While I spent my weekend soaking in as much sun as possible, many Salt Lakers (and Beyonders) donned their darkest clothes and joined the celebration that is the current, and allegedly final, Ministry tour. Among them—my Salt Lake mag coworker Anne Cummings Anderson: England native, industrial-music veteran and ace photographer. She even got to meet and photograph the band after the show, meaning Anne was hanging with this guy, Ministry mad genius Al Jourgensen: 
No, that's not one of Anne's shots—just a publicity photo. While I harang her into sending one of her photos my way, check out her quick review of Friday's show at In the...
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04/14/08
One of the advantages of being a music fan in Salt Lake City—if you want to call it an "advantage"—is that we don't have nearly as many nights where you have to choose one great concert over another—a problem the fans in Portland or San Francisco face every day. Tonight, though, happens to be one of those nights, particularly if you have disparate taste in music, as I do. Let's start at The Depot, where long-time Utah faves Big Head Todd and the Monsters are headlining a gig. The Colorado-based band are on the road supporting its latest album, All the Love You Need, another in a long line of fine blues-rock excursions by Todd Mohr and Co. It's the band's first album of new material since 2004, and in a...
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04/11/08
I've had the good fortune of seeing Ministry several times through the years, stretching all the way back to the old Speedway Cafe in the late-'80s, through a Phoenix Lollapalooza stop in 1992, and several times in smaller venues since. Madman leader Al Jorgensen has never been less than enthralling, and there's something about the band's industrial crunch that always pleases my inner headbanger. It's sad to hear the current Ministry jaunt, the cleverly named C-U-LA-Tour, will be the band's last hurrah. Here's hoping that Al and his assorted sidekicks go out KISS-style, meaning they keep coming around every couple years for future "final" tours. In case they don't, though, get yourself to In the Venue tonight by 6 p.m.; it's...
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04/10/08
I joined the Yonder Mountain String Band fans who turned the Colorado-based band's gig into a sold-out ruckus at Harry O's last night, probably my first jaunt to that venerable venue (besides Sundance-related gigs) in more than a year. And I must say, while I once complained incessantly about the quality of the fan experience at Harry O's, it seems to have improved greatly. Granted, I got to skip the loooooong line, thanks to being on the Yonder Mountain guest list to check out the show, but I'm talking about the experience once you're inside. Past shows I've gone to have featured over-aggressive bouncers, slow bartenders and horrendous drink prices. The drink prices haven't changed—two shots...
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04/09/08
Word at the Weather Channel is that there is nearly a 100 percent chance of precipitation in Park City today, including a few inches of snow. Is that going to keep me from rolling up the interstate to catch Yonder Mountain String Band tonight at Harry O's? Hell no! 
While the band isn't the traditional bluegrass that I love the most, they ARE a darn fine substitute while I wait for the Del McCoury Band to come around again. The instrumentation is a sweet blend of guitar, banjo, mandolin and standup bass, and there's no denying the danceability—I guarantee you there will be hundreds of...
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04/08/08
Virtually every day now that we're officially in spring, a new concert announcement lands in my email box for something big coming our way this summer. Just yesterday I got the announcements that James Taylor is playing Aug. 4 at Usana Amphitheatre, and Snoop Dogg and 311 are playing the same joint on June 30. Tickets for both go on sale this Saturday through Smith's Tix outlets. And the Tim McGraw and Journey/Heart/Cheap Trick shows at Usana just went on sale this past Saturday. Also coming our way is a return engagement by Flogging Molly, the Irish rockers whose latest album debuted at No. 3 on the sales charts. Their July 19 show (the same night as The Police and Elvis Costello at Usana) goes on...
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04/07/08
I know many of you will be joining me tonight in planting yourself in front of the TV for the men's college basketball national championship game between Memphis and Kansas. You might want to consider a jaunt to Squatter's, since the microbrewery is one of many watering holes across the country celebrating the anniversary of prohibition's end. That means 75-cent pints all day, people. If hoops isn't your thing, consider a jaunt to the Grand Theatre at the Salt Lake Community College campus, where vibraphonist and multiple Grammy nominee Stefon Harris headlines a show at 7:30 p.m. originally slated for the Sheraton (it's...
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04/04/08
A bevy of options this weekend, giving you ample reason to brave the LDS conference crowds downtown. Here we go: - Tonight at the Salt Lake Acting Company, its the regional premiere of The Clean House, a comedy that had its world premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre and was produced at New York's Lincoln Center in 2006. Playwright Sarah Ruhl set the show in a disfunctonal household in Connecticut, "not far from the cit and not far from the sea." The play runs through April 27; check back here for a review on Monday. 
- Tonight at the South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, 6876 S. Highland Dr., the Intermountain Acousic...
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04/03/08
Salt Lake magazine editor Jeremy Pugh went to the second night of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater's stint at Kingsbury Hall last night. Here's his report: Alvin Ailey: American Dance Theater concluded a two-night run at Kingsbury Hall Wednesday night to another full-throated standing ovation. Yessiree. Utahns love us some dance.
Being married to one such dance lover, I've been to a lot of dance performances, some excruciating, some breathtaking. But with no formal understanding of dance, I usually base my assessment on plain old guts and my wife's face, which was beaming after last night's performance.
Also, for the record, I remember that Alvin Ailey guy from "Sesame Street."
The opening performance of the night...
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04/03/08
I honestly giggled at the mere mention of the Kids in the Hall tour stopping at Kingsbury Hall May 13. As a long-time fan of the Canadian comedy troupe, and pretty much everything the members of the quintet have done ever since, I'm geeking out. Heavily. The press release says the Kids—Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson—will be doing all-new material. But don't fret Chicken Lady and Head Crusher fans; the new stuff will feature those familiar characters, and more, in all-new skits. Tickets for the show are $39.75 and go on sale Friday morning at 10 a.m. at Kingsbury Hall or through Kingtix.com.
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04/02/08
Okay theater fans, you can start preparing for the arrival of Wicked. The Broadway smash is finally making its way to Utah as part of the Broadway Across America 2008-09 season. But you'll have to wait a full year before checking in with the two little girls who grow up to be the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch; Wicked runs April 8 to May 3 at the Capitol Theatre. 
Among the other shows on slate for next season: The Rat Pack Live at the Sands (Oct. 7-12), Ain't Misbehavin' (Feb. 17-22, 2009) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (June 9-14, 2009). Current season ticket holders can buy tickets for...
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04/02/08
Wouldn't that be a swell set-up for a joke at some Catskills retreat circa 1955? No? Ah, well, it still serves as a fine set-up for what's going on around and about town tonight. Let's start in Park City, though, where one-time teen-punk buzz-band The Donnas continues their never-quite-lived-up-to-the-hype career with a headlining gig at Harry O's. 
Years after being hailed as the "new Ramones" by far too many breathless rock critics, The Donnas have gone from indie darlings to major-label washouts back to being on an indie label again. Judging by the picture above, I'm guessing they are...
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04/01/08
Just got an email from the Powers That Be announcing that the Snoop Dogg/311 "Unity Tour" is stopping at West Valley City's Usana Amphitheater on June 30. Mark your calendars, kiddies, but leave the children at home; it's safe to say the stench of marijuana will be omnipresent at that show. Check with Smith's Tix for ticket on-sales dates and times. 
As for tonight, you have the chance to check out one of the best singer/songwriters in all of Texas, and that's sayin' something. Bob Schneider is a prolific Austin musician who has won the Austin Music Awards' Artist of the...
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