Out and About with A&E Editor Dan Nailen
Lounge ActFebruary 2008
02/28/08Meat Puppets rule! And tonight they rule in Salt Lake City!
Any other time Built to Spillhas come to Salt Lake City, I've focused all my energy on pimping thestellar Boise band to anyone within earshot. Doug Martsch is one of thebest songwriters and guitar players to evolve out of '90s indie-rock,and they always manage to throw down some memorable shows on theirregular trips to Salt Lake. No doubt they'll do the same tonight at The Depot, where they are headlining. (Doug, just please keep the 20-minute epic jams to a minimum, eh?) Check out the sweet beard on Doug: |
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02/28/08Concert Review: Built to Spill and Meat Puppets
Last night's show at The Depot is a prime example of two bands have VERY different nights on stage. One the one hand, you have the middle-aged dudes in the Meat Puppets,reunited after a 10-year hiatus necessary because bass-playing CrisKirkwood was too smacked-out to play or tour. While once they wereheadliners, the Meat Puppets are now out there opening for a band agood decade their junior. Their new album, Rise to Your Knees,arrived on an tiny indie label last year, they currently have no onedoing publicity for the tour, and guitarist Kurt Kirkwood's kid Elmo ismanning the merch table. Posted at 04:50 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Kirsten Dunst loves Orem
Okay, that might be a little strong, but the current resident of the Cirque rehab joint at Sundancedid have an outing into Provo's northern neighbor a couple days back.And the Superman and Bring It On star seems like a down-to-Earth gal,judging by the fact she used her free time to hit a Target and a Taco Bell between cigarettes. |
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02/28/08Quick hits on a Monday night
I'm currently wallowing in the glory of winning not one, but TWOOscar pools last night—one at work and one at a house party. Not badconsidering I've only seen two of the "Best Picture" nominees so far.Thanks to these wins, I have a half a sandwich and $16 burning a holein my pocket. Whoo-hoo! A couple of odds and ends worth your perusal tonight: - Funk-rockers 311 have a sold-out show at The Depot tonight. Scalpers will undoubtedly be out front if you REALLY need to see this gig. - Over at the Paladium,bluegrass jam-band Hot Buttered Rum co-headlines with The Waybacks fora show that should make for some fine dancing among the patchouli andBirkenstock set. Posted at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Your Weekend Guide to Fun and Frolic
Some weekends seem designed for rest and relaxation, while othersvirtually beg you to get out of the house. This weekend is tugging allof us out and about with a bevy of worthy excursions for your perusal.Check it out: - Friday at Kingsbury Hall,the acclaimed Harlem Gospel Choir is performing at 7:30 p.m. You mightremember the choir from its appearance in the U2 ego-trip known as Rattle and Hum. Great gospel, and a great way to help celebrate Black History Month. |
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02/28/08Concert Review—Drive-By Truckers in Salt Lake City
Long-time Drive-By Truckers fans know a few things going into every show. The band will play at least until the venue's closing time. Therewill be at least one bottle of Jack Daniel's passed among the bandmembers during the show. And Patterson Hood, one of the band's threesongwriters and guitarists, will produce at least one memorablemid-song rant.
All of these things were true of the Truckers' first Salt Lake Cityshow in several years (Park City's Suede hosted them three or fourtimes recently). Hood, band... Posted at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08America’s Greatest Rock Band, Tonight in SLC!
Regular readers will often see me refer to both the Drive-By Truckers and the Supersuckersas "the greatest rock and roll band in the world." And you mightwonder, "How can this be so, Dan? TWO bands can't both be thegreatest." Well, it all depends on which one I'm about to see, andtonight it's the mighty Truckers, touring in support of their stellarnew album, Brighter Than Creation's Dark. |
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02/28/08DVD review—Kurt Cobain: About a Son
Today marks the DVD release of director AJ Schnack's Kurt Cobain: About a Son, an enthralling-if-frustrating look at the dead Nirvana frontman and much-proclaimed "voice of Generation X."
Like documentaries on John Lennon and Tupac Shakur, this one isnarrated by Cobain himself, using more than 25 hours of interviewstaped by writer Michael Azerrad for his book Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana (a must-read for Nirvana fans and amateur rock historians). While it's eerie to hear Cobain tell his own story as the... Posted at 04:45 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Maceo meets Shakespeare, sorta
There's no need to worry about whether or not Salt Lake music fans would take to the new Paladium;Maceo Parker proved Friday that if you put the right guy on stage, thepeople will gladly track down a new club and fill the joint.
Not only did Parker's always-fresh mix of soul, funk, R&B andhip-hop attract a full house; it nearly overran the Paladium'sbartending and waitstaff.... Posted at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Ain’t It Funky Now? Maceo Parker, Merle Haggard and Bill Shakespeare
You can feel the funk this fine Friday, can't you? Not thedown-in-the-dumps funk brought on by ugly gray days and months ofsub-freezing temperatures. I'm talking the kind of funk that generatesserious heat in your feet (and other fun areas of the human anatomy). It's the kind of funk that sax legend Maceo Parker pass through his fingers and lungs to the world, as he will tonight at The Paladium, with Lake Effect opening. |
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02/28/08A near-private gig with English Beat and RX Bandits; Marilyn Manson for Valentine’s
Last night I was one of 50 or so people to brave the hazardous streets of Salt Lake to hit the English Beat/RX Bandits show at The Paladium. Too bad more people didn't make the trip, because the show wasworthy. Neither band let the sparse crowd—which seemed even smaller dueto the vast space of The Paladium—affect their performance, and that'salways testament to a great band. At least half the crowd seemed there for openers RX Bandits, a SoCalcrew of ska-loving punks whose sound has evolved over the past decadeto include metal riffing and some jammy excursions. I could have livedwithout some of the noodling, but when the band locked in on areggae-fied groove, or a straightforward rock approach, it was goodstuff. The... Posted at 04:42 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08The Police coming to SLC; Elvis Costello opening!
Here's a press release I received this morning about the Police showthat will go down at West Valley City's Usana Amphitheater on July 19: "In 2007, The Police thrilled millions of fans around the globe.Their much heralded tour, which has sold over 2.5 million tickets,garnered numerous accolades including: Major Tour of The Year(Pollstar), as well as “Tour of the Year” and “Top Selling Tour of2007” (Billboard Magazine). Announced today, The Police will return to North America this summerto play their final area appearances in a... Posted at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Galactic, English Beat play tonight; Gary Colemen finds some Utah lovin’
First things first: congrats to Utah County resident Gary Coleman—better known as Arnold on '70s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes—for his marriage, revealed today, to local gal Shannon Price, who he met on the set of Mormon movie Church Ball.
Coleman is one of the few child stars of the '70s and early '80s whodidn't end up addicted to drugs, incarcerated or dead. Granted, he didend up in a Kid Rock video, but there are worse things. And... Posted at 04:40 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Label love, tonight’s shows and album releases
Trying to figure out what to call a band's music is tricky business for music writers. Take a band like Wilco, which you could accurately describe as rock,country, alt-country, folk, even electronic on certain songs. Thesedays, every genre has a few sub-categories, too. Nothing is just rockanymore. It's alt-rock, indie-rock, punk-rock, folk-rock or some otherpermeation. One of my favorite labels is pyschobilly, a subgenre of rockabillythat is apparently mentally and emotionally unstable. Not to mention,played very fast, as is the case with one of tonight's Salt Lakemusical highlights, The Meteors, playing at Burt's Tiki Lounge. Posted at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Grammy groans
In my former life as The Salt Lake Tribune's pop music writer, I was forced annually to "cover" the Grammy awardsby watching the TV broadcast and doing some quick analysis. I will nowdo the same analysis on last night's Grammy awards, without havingactually watched the three-and-a-half -hour snoozefest: You can tell what a bad year it was in pop, rock and country music when a jazzalbum wins the "Album of the Year" award. Congrats to Herbie Hancock, atrue legend, and to the six or so people that have actually heard hisalbum of Joni Mitchell covers. (Here's Posted at 04:38 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Skin in Flames enthralling, not for the squeamish
It's safe to say that the Hollywood adaptation of Skin in Flames won't be coming along any time soon. The provocative play, currently running at the Salt Lake Acting Company,is cleverly staged, generally well-acted and enthralling to watch,thanks to its politically, sexually and violently charged script. Butit is anything but the feel-good hit of the season.
Written by Spanish playwright Guillem Clua and translated by DJ Sanders, Skin in Flamesintertwines two... Posted at 04:37 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08A big gay weekend, and then some
A bevy of activities for y'all to consider this weekend. Let's get it on: - Tonight marks the beginning of the Winter Pride Festival,a muti-faceted event hosted by the Utah Pride Center and the Queer UtahAquatic Club that promises "10 gay days of non-stop fabulous fun foreveryone." The gay and lesbian community always throws the bestparties, so check out the schedule of events and go make nice, whetheryou're gay, straight or simply curious. - Today marks the beginning of the Northface Masters, a downhill snowboarding competition... Posted at 04:37 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Operas, Punks and Poets–Oh My!
A few quick hits for y'all, spanning the state: - Tonight and tomorrow our friends in St. George can get a little culture in with Tosca,the very same opera I attended in Salt Lake a couple weeks back.Non-opera types, don't be afraid; the impressive music is enough tokeep you interested as the story develops, and there is plenty ofintrigue, violence and action for the Rambo fans out there. The show plays at 7 p.m. at the Cox Performing Arts Center. - Up in Ogden tonight, at the legendary (and truly strange)Kamikaze's, young Arizona rockers Down by Fire are headlining a show insupport of their debut album, Reignition. |
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02/28/08Cowboys, blizzards and one Darling show
Ola gang— Sorry about the delay posting a blog today. I'm in recovery after aweekend hanging out at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. Letme tell ya—there's nothing like playing cowboy for a weekend to wear aguy out. The constant deluge of cocktails at every poetry reading andconcert was the only thing that kept me from feeling really inadequateamong so many fine, highly waxed mustaches. And the blizzard that hitElko Saturday night and Sunday made for an excessively long trek homelast night. I'll fill you in on the cowboy weekend later. For now, I want togive a heads up to all the smooth-jazz fans out there about a showhappening this weekend. I know you're out there; I can hear youbreathing while Kenny G plays in the background. This... Posted at 04:35 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Free flicks on Fat Tuesday
A couple of worthwhile activities tonight, for those of you whowon't be obsessively watching the Super Tuesday results rolling in fromacross the country. Speaking of which, I got an email from the YoungDemocrats of Utah, and they'll be hosting a Super Tuesday party tonightat Cannella's for those of you who are left-leaning. Tonight at the Post Theatre (110 S. Fort Douglas Blvd., just east of the U campus, the Salt Lake City Film Centeris hosting a documentary, Reserved to Fight, made by BYU filmmakers andtracking the struggles of four Utah-based Iraq War vets as they returnhome from the war zone. The filmmakers and the featured soldiers willbe on hand for a Q&A following the screening. Posted at 04:35 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08A Trucker, a Sheik and a Liar walk into a bar…
Nice set-up for a joke or "adult film," eh? But no, it's what wehave going this weekend in Salt Lake City nightlife. And since I'mleaving for weekend in lovely, wintry Elko, Nevada ASAP, I figured I'dgive y'all the skinny on what's up around town before I bail. Due to the sheer volume of stuff, I'm going to break it down genre-style. To wit: MUSIC Tons of good tunes going down, people, starting tonight with the electric, eclectic Liars at The Urban Lounge, and our own electro-blues explosion, Pink Lightnin', playing at Burt's Tiki Lounge. Either show is a fine way to start your weekend: loud, raucous, a little... Posted at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Grateful Dead return to Salt Lake City
Okay, not really. But we'll go ahead and call Dark Star Orchestrathe next best thing. The group tours the country recreating entireGrateful Dead concerts of the past, song for song, making for one ofthe more clever tributes that any tribute band I've heard of has comeup with.
Dark Star Orchestra will play The Depot April 22; tickets are $22 in advance, on sale Saturday at Smith's Tix... Posted at 04:32 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Miss Utah gets the shaft; Franti kills; KUT amazes
Those of you who were following the efforts of Utahsoldier-turned-beauty queen Jill Stevens as she went for the Miss USAcrown were left disappointed when the pageant folk picked amore-traditional contestant, Miss Michigan. Check out the Salt Lake Tribune's report on Saturday's final pageant, part of the paper's relentless series of stories on Stevens' efforts.
I... Posted at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Michael Franti hits Salt Lake (in a good way)
Sorry for the delay in getting this posted; technical difficultieskept me shut down for a spell this morning. But we're alive and kickingnow. This is one guarantee I can make to you faithful readers of thishere bloggy blog: Any time Michael Franti and Spearhead are playing twoshows in one weekend in Salt Lake City, that's going to be thehighlight of my entertainment tips.
That's the way it is this weekend, with Franti and Co. slated to play tonight and Saturday at Posted at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Free Sundancing Tonight
OK, it's not a free screening or anything, but the annual Music onMain event is tonight on Park City's lower Main Street from 6:30 p.m.to 9 p.m. Among the acts performing are Meridian West, Gold Streetsand, best of all, Ozark mountain boys Ha Ha Tonka, straight outtaSpringfield, Missouri.
Yes, it's cold up in Park City, but no worse than here in the SLC,and you can always pop into a Main Street bar or restaurant to warmyourself for a few. If you're worried about parking, I'd recommendditching your car at Kimball Junction, somewhere... Posted at 04:30 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Sundance continues; My Top 10 Sundance Concerts
Tonight I'm planning on braving the cold and celebrities in ParkCity to catch a show by The Aggrolites, a fine reggae/ska act that hasplayed at Burt's Tiki Lounge in the past.
A great concert is pretty much all that can drag me to Sundancethis year. I'll catch the worthy films when they hit video or the bigscreen, but the concerts that arrive in Park City during the Festivalare often one-of-a-kind events. Tonight's show with the Aggrolites... Posted at 04:29 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08New Drive-By Truckers well worth your time and money
There are several reasons to be skeptical going into the new Drive-By Truckers album, Brighter Than Creation's Dark, in stores today.
For one, singer-guitarist Jason Isbell — part of the band'sthree-headed writing machine the past seven years — left the band in2007, and he had been the source of some of the band's best songs thepast couple of releases. For another, the Truckers have always been oneof those legendarily great live bands that sometimes scuffles tocapture the energy and vibe of... Posted at 04:28 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Exiting the Subbacultcha
The "subbacultcha" is the Pixies' term for the indie-rock scene andall its affiliated coffee shops, galleries and small-time movie houses,and it's where I spend most of my day-to-day life, but Monday I steppedit up for my very first opera experience, taking in the Utah Opera's Tosca at the Capitol Theatre.
If you know me, you know musical theater is not my favorite thing inthe world. There have certainly been sporadic exceptions to that rule—Hedwig and the... Posted at 04:27 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08As Promised-John Legend at Sundance Report
From Salt Lake magazine editor Jeremy Pugh, a guest commentary: Ah Sundance, it's almost too much to bear. For us locals it's liketrying to crash a party we'll never be invited to. I know, I know. Iwas one of the lucky few with a wristband for John Legend's show at theStar Bar, so what am I complaining about (apart from the teemingcrowds, extreme cold and rude bouncers)? After an hour-and-a-half in the cold and a touch-and-go mob sceneoutside, we shed our coats and headed inside to avail ourselves of thebar. Things started looking up when I heard the drinks were on thegig's sponsor, Lexus, and by the time the show started, I'd earned acoveted seat on the wall and made pals with this guy: Posted at 04:26 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/0850 Cent, Paris Hilton and John Legend Party PC-style
That's PC in reference to Park City, home of the SundanceFilm Fest, not PC in the politically correct sense. That kind of goeswithout saying, I suppose, when Paris and 50 Cent are involved. I could regale you with tales of the party scene in Park City, but Iblissfully ignored it all weekend in favor of a fine EddieSpaghetti/Bronco show Friday night, followed by quality friends andfootball time. Instead, Salt Lake mag editor Jeremy Pugh will share areport from a party featuring John Legend on Saturday night -- staytuned for that. |
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02/28/08Sundance Top 10, Plus Your Weekend Tips
The morning papers all had stories about the American Film Institute's upcoming series of "Top 10" lists, a format that we're not above stealing here at Lounge Act central. Starting this summer, the AFIlists covering genres like Westerns, action, sci-fi and horror willarrive on TV to spark water-cooler debates across the country. At leastthat's the idea, and that's why the next issue of Salt Lake magazinewill feature a collection of lists compiled by yours truly that sum upsome of the genre highlights in Utah's past as a prime location forfeature film-making. In the spirit of that coming feature, and in celebration of the... Posted at 04:24 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Your Sundance Warm-Up
With the Sundance Film Festival opening tomorrow night, I wouldnormally advise you to stay home tonight and gather your energy for a10-day burst of craziness, Hollywood-style. Not so this year, because for the first time in nearly a decade, Idon't have to deal with the festival except on my own terms. And sinceI didn't get credentialed up as a member of the media this year, thoseterms are are sparse. So let's start the weekend a little early, shall we? Tonight at the new Paladium club in Salt Lake, catch the reggae legend Pato Banton doing his thing. |
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02/28/08U2 plays Park City’s Ciseros Saturday; Sundance starts today
I can vouch for the second half of that headline. Sundance does,indeed, start today. That U2 stuff is just the best rumor I've heard sofar about this year's night-time party scene.
The U2 3-D movie does open Saturday night, and I'm sure therewill be a party to celebrate that opening, so you never know: Bono andthe boys might does some songs somewhere in Park City Saturday night.The other good rumor... Posted at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Iraq, Rock and a Hard Knock
Hope y'all had a great weekend. Mine started in fine form, but wentdownhill from Friday onward. Surely it gets better starting today,though. First up, a little review of the new Pioneer Theatre Company production, The Vertical Hour, which opened Friday and runs through January 26.
The Vertical Hour, written by noted British playwright David Hare (Oscar-nominated for his screenplay of The Hours),is a dialogue-heavy dissection of two characters' attitudes... Posted at 04:21 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Out with the old, in with the new
As previously reported here, the folks who run Suede at Kimball Junction are now doing business in Salt Lake City at the new Paladium. With that turn of events, the former space known as Suede is now called The Playground, and it is having a grand opening of its own in a couple of weeks. What all this means for tonight's Pat Green show, originallyscheduled for Suede, is not good news for fans of the Texas troubador.His show is canceled. But don't be surprised if he rolls through thePaladium some time in the next little while. |
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02/28/08Richard Dutcher’s Falling: Hardly a “Mormon movie”
Many of you know writer/director Richard Dutcher as a pioneer in the"Mormon cinema" movement, thanks to his creation of films like God's Army and Brigham City. Dutcher rather infamously went "inactive" in the Mormon Church sincewe last heard from him, and next week—Jan. 18 to be exact—marks therelease of his first feature, Falling, since that cataclysmic-to-some turn of events.
Not surprisingly, given Dutcher's recent bio, Falling is thestory of a man slowly... Posted at 04:12 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08311, Big Head Todd coming to The Depot
This Saturday, you can get your tickets for a couple of shows coming to Salt Lake City this winter and spring. Noon at Smith's Tix, get your ducats for the Feb. 25 311 concert or for the April 14 Big Head Todd and the Monsters show, both slated for the Depot. Both bands are long-time faves in Utah, so sell-outs would not be shocking.
originally published 2008-01-08 Posted at 04:11 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Hear, Hear for Facial Hair
Did you see David Letterman or Conan O'Brien last night, their firstshows in months due to the writers strike in Hollywood? I didn't — I'mstill too tuckered out from New Year's to stay up late — but I did runacross photos of the hosts this morning that made me giggle, thanks totheir "strike beards."Check out Dave and Conan: As an advocate and participant in everything from "vacationbeards" to "Lent beards," "wedding beards" to "bachelor party beards,"I... Posted at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Santas, Broncos and Death By Salt 3
I know y'all are going to join me at Lumpy's Downtown tonight at 7 p.m. for the Santa Pub Crawl.
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02/28/08I’m Not There-I was there
Finally saw the kinda, sorta Bob Dylan biography I'm Not There last night, and I can certainly recommend director Todd Haynes' latest, with just a few reservations. The music, of course, is outstanding throughout, whether it's Dylanhimself or a slew of modern acts doing covers of his tunes. My MorningJacket's Jim James actually appears in the movie, as does Sonic Youth'sKim Gordon, among a bevy of high-profile "real" actors like JulianneMoore, Heath Ledger and Cate Blanchett, who gets to sink her teeth intoDylan's snotty... Posted at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08A New Palladium is Coming to Town
If memory serves—and I was in college at the time, so that's a shakyproposition—there was a music venue in Sugarhouse in the late'80s/early '90s called The Palladium, where I was lucky enough to seesome really great shows: The Pixies with Bob Mould, Squeeze, the MightyLemon Drops, among others. That building has long since been torn down, like many of the coolspots in Sugarhouse. But there is a new Palladium about to rise in SaltLake City, in the neighborhood of 600 North and 400 West, that has megeeked up. The good people at Suede,the club at Kimball Junction, are partnering up with a fellow who has alease on a big warehouse to create a new music venue capable of holding1,000 folks, or 700 if it's a seated show,... Posted at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Winter Wonderland
Nope, not talking about this morning's icy streets. I'm talking thekiller version of "Winter Wonderland" that Dean Martin is crooning inmy ears right now. I'm getting revved for the holidays, because thisweekend marks the first of at least two Santa Pub Crawls in Salt LakeCity. A schism a couple years back when Babs DeLay retired as the Kingof the Crawl led to two crawls last year, taking two different routes.So it is this year. Tonight's crawlstarts at O'Shucks at 7:30 p.m., before heading to Murphy's and Monk'slater. Check it out if you're downtown, but don't show up in jeans anda Santa hat and think you're joining the festivities. Half-baked Santasrisk a holiday beat-down.... Posted at 04:06 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Honky-tonkers, polygamists and alchemists — oh my!
My first experiences with "the theater," aside from "acting" in afew high school plays, came as a student at the U, where I took a classmy freshman year called "Plays and Playwrights." Attending plays at thePioneer Memorial Theatrewas required, and it was there that I first got to see several big,ornate productions. Being a typical Gen-X, no-attention-span-havin'teenager, my response was something asinine - "The plays are likemovies, but live!" - when I talked to friends about the theater-goingexperience. But those positive first impressions of that particularfine-arts form have lingered, and I'm a sucker for just about any kindof live theater when I can motivate myself to hit a play instead of... Posted at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Jimmy Carter Comes to Town; Brothers Grimm in PC
Here's an odd bit of Utah-related news, with the Wonder Years dude discussing the birth of his first child while he was directing the forgettable Daddy Day Camp in Park City last year. I spent Friday night at In the Venueat the killer Flogging Molly show, where at least 1,000 folks or so gotan Irish jig on to the punk-meets-traditional Irish band based in L.A.
The band is consistently rock-solid each time I've seen them, andthere's always something extra-festive about a crowd at an... Posted at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Holiday Gift Guide, Part 1
If you're like me, you haven't really started buying the Christmaspresents for your friends and loved ones yet. What? It's just me!?!Doh! Well, I have given it some thought. And being a music geek of the highest order, much of what I'm thinking of involves tunes of some sort. Here are a few things that have come across my desk from variousrecord labels and music-biz publicists that might help you cross somefolks off your gift list. Easily the coolest thing that's landed in my office stocking is the set of The Johnny Cash Christmas Specialsfrom 1976 and 1977, just out on DVD. Not only do you get a fat batch ofthe Man in Black singing holiday chestnuts with his wife June Carter;guests from country music's golden age join Cash on both... Posted at 04:02 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Juno—Believe Some of the Hype
Last night I got to partake in a preview screening of Juno,a new semi-dramatic comedy that is getting mega-hype thanks to both itsunblinking look at teen life and all its travails (pregnancies, brokenhomes, broken hearts — you know, the usual), and the unusual backgroundof screenwriter Diablo Cody (still-young former stripper who turned herexperiences on stage into a book, Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper, before penning Juno. |
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02/28/08Geek-Chic Continues Unabated — Ira Glass in SLC
Sunday afternoon I joined a couple thousand people at Kingsbury Hall at the U for a live appearance by Ira Glass, host of NPR's This American Lifeprogram. Nearly 2,000 people spending a sunny, perfect Sunday afternoonin a darkened theater to listen to a radio host do his thing live, instead of over the airwaves — and people say no one listens to public radio.
I'm a fan of Glass's show, on the rare occasion I listen to radio atall anymore, but had never seen him live. Thankfully, his mixture... Posted at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Billy Joel brings the good vibes; I get old in one night
I'm pretty sure I've never felt older than I did at the Billy Joel concert at EnergySolutions Arena last night. It wasn't Billy's fault, although the deluge of hits he playedduring the first half of the concert — songs like opener "Angry YoungMan," "My Life," "The Entertainer" and "Vienna" — were all releasedlong before I was old enough to know anything about music.
The crowd was certainly part of my instant aging. I've gone tohundreds of shows through the past 20 years,... Posted at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Rockabilly Riot, Christian punks and more this weekend
November exits with a bang this weekend, and I am totally geeked up for Friday night's show at the Sun and Moon Cafein Emigration Canyon. The show features the old-school rockabillysounds of Seattle's Roy Kay Trio, with locals Radio Rhythm Makersopening the show. It starts at 6 p.m., costs $13 and requires areservation — call 801-583-8331 to join the party.
Also on Friday:
Posted at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Why Tonight’s Billy Joel Show Will be Better Than Last Time
For me, the reason is clear: Elton John won't be there to waste half the show at EnergySolutions Arena. That's right, I said it. I'm probably in the vast minority of critical thought, but I'd muchrather listen to Joel tackle his back catalog than John these days.
Both Joel and John were already massively popular before I ever gotinto music. When my adolescence and the advent of MTV coincided, Joelhad the good sense to put his then-wife Christie Brinkley in... Posted at 03:48 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Yes, I’m Late
The morning has been a might hectic, so I'm slow to get to the ol'blog. My apologies for all you folks patiently waiting for me to dropsome suggestions for tonight. While it's a relatively quiet day in terms of nightlife, there are a few options for you. -At Kilby Court, Die Mannequin performs. -Anonymous 4 is playing at the University of Utah as part if its Virtuoso Series. -Billion Dollar Baby is being performed at the Salt Lake Acting Company. |
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02/28/08Bang Your Head in Memory; Willie Loves Dogs; Epic Xmas
I can't say that Quiet Riot was ever a favorite band, but I alwaysgave the L.A. quartet props for being the first "metal" band to have aNo. 1 album, way back when I was about 11 years old with Metal Health.I liked a couple of their songs, and I once saw them at Franklin CoveyField, along with Slaughter, Night Ranger and Ted Nugent in what was,collectively, the most ridiculous concert I ever went to for my job asa rock critic. Anyway, Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow died yesterday in Las Vegas of unknown causes. And instead of a moment of silence, we shall now partake in a moment of rawk in tribute. Posted at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08TOOL Schools; Santa Hits the South Valley
Hidey-ho, friends. I trust y'all survived the long weekend in onepiece, if a little worse for wear. That's certainly the case in myworld. The combination of utter gluttony on Turkey Day, the Utes losingto the school down south in football and the TOOL concert Saturdaynight has me feeling like someone took a pipe to my legs and back. Andto suggest that the neurons in my brain aren't exactly firing on allcylinders this fine Monday morning, well, that would be anunderstatement. Tool ruled, in case you haven't heard. The band's sold-out concertSaturday at West Valley City's E Center was a lot like its show inAugust of 2006, but the light show was super-sized throughout, withlasers, smoke-blowers and video screens in constant motion for thebetter part of two... Posted at 03:46 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Gobble, Gobble; TOOL comes to town
Most of my favorite Thanksgiving memories involved childhood art projects like this:
But check out this beauty. I never got so creative as a kid. But who is Darth Curry? Did I miss a Star Wars chapter?
This will most likely be the last post before the lovely loooooongweekend. And it's sure to be a wild one for this... Posted at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Ho, Ho Ho! — Am I still allowed to say that?
I actually heard an argument on some talk radio station the otherday that suggested that since befuddled loudmouth Don Imus' infamous"nappy-headed hos" comment about the Rutgers women's hoops team got himfired, Santa Claus shouldn't be allowed to say "ho, ho, ho!" whenworking in the malls, so close to children. This was what the Imus defenders were arguing, because"political correctness has gone too far" when a cranky old radio hostisn't allowed to make racist comments on the air. My liberal friends love Santa Claus, though, so I doubt the old guy will really have to worry about toning down his hos. But I digress; this was just a circuitous route to my point — I am already stokedon Christmas, and... Posted at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Singing and Dancing with the B-52s and Johan Gutenberg
Anyone who knows me knows that I have little time for musicaltheater. I love a good play — drama, comedy, a mixture of the two — butI have problems having dialogue sung at me instead of stated simply. There are exceptions, but they are rare. I can think of one off the top of my head — Hedwig and the Angry Inch — but if you come at me with Les Miserables or West Side Story, I'm falling asleep by the end of the first act. So you can imagine how happy I am to report that the Plan B Theatre Company's new production, Gutenberg! The Musical!, is a blast even for a musical curmudgeon like myself. Posted at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Santa versus Satan; Or, AC/DC done Christmas-style
One of the nice parts of NOT being a full-time pop-music writeranymore is the fact that I no longer get deluged with a couple hundredChristmas music collections every fall. There were always a couple ofkeepers in the bunch, and I'll admit I like Christmas music more nowthan before I had that job. But still, most Xmas music is crap, unlessit's something classic like Bing and Bowie. Today, though, I got a few sets in the mail that will surely becomepart of my permanent Christmas music collection. In fact, I'm listeningto one right now: "Hell's Bells of Christmas: The Holiday Tribute toAC/DC. |
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02/28/08B-52s, Art Stroll and More This Weekend
I'm moving a little slow this morning, mentally at least, aftergetting my skank on at The English Beat show last night. It was prettypacked at The Depot,and band leader Dave Wakeling was his typical jovial self, chatting upthe crowd between killer takes on songs like "I Confess," "BestFriend," "Twist and Crawl" and General Public's "Tenderness." A niceaddition to the show is Wakeling's fund-raising for Smile Train, agroup that provides operations on cleft palates around the world.During "Tenderness" each night, Wakeling invites the crowd to throwcash on stage for Smile Train, and this year he's managed to raiseabout $25,000 with this lo-fi approach. Good on him. And here's... Posted at 03:42 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08New Obsessions with Old Things
Thanks to my older sister's great taste in music, I was exposed to alot of tunes at an early age that set me up for life as a fan. When shewent to college and started listening to what was then called "collegerock" — R.E.M., U2, The Replacements, punk stuff like Black Flag andHüsker Dü — I was in junior high, and I benefited greatly from herdiverse tastes. And by sheer stroke of cosmic luck, my parents werefans of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash (dad) and Elvis Presley and BuddyHolly (mom). All those artists have been in semi-regular rotation in my life fora good 20 years or more. And another, courtesy again of my sister, isThe English Beat, performing tonight at The Depot. Posted at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Celine Dion, Matchbox Twenty coming to town; New albums; Tonight’s tips
My email box was blowing up with concert announcements last night, so let me pass them on to you. This Saturday, you can buy tickets for Matchbox Twenty's March 6 show at West Valley City's E Center; Alanis Morissette and Mute Math will open the show.
Also Saturday, you can buy tickets for Celine Dion's show on — get this — Nov. 21, 2008, more than a year away! Posted at 03:40 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Marie Osmond still kickin’; Jay-Z back rappin’; Tonight’s tips
I don't follow "Dancing with the Stars" like most people do, bywatching the program and spending all day on blogs and Web sitesdiscussing it. But after the death of Osmond clan grand poobah George,I'm now following Marie Osmond's effort to beat Scary Spice, Kelly fromBeverly Hills 90210 and the guy married to Ashley Judd. And I'm happy to report — or at least pass on CNN's report — that Marie is still alive on the show. But what is with the cowboy get-up? |
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02/28/08Igor, Ozzy and Zombie: Will I burn after this weekend?
You know you've had a pretty decent weekend when the most sane, safeand sober thing you did was hit an Ozzy Osbourne/Rob Zombie concert.
It's safe to say I was in the non-drinking minority last night at the E Center;the place was packed and watching my fellow headbangers buying theirbrew two at a time for hours got me thinking the venue was a10,000-person DUI-in-waiting if the West Valley cops were on their gameon a Sunday night. I wish I'd been partying at the same furious rate... Posted at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!; Your Weekend Tips
There is an insanely long list of worthy entertainment pursuits thisweekend, which those of you sturdy enough to make through this entirepost will soon discover. And I probably won't even mention manycontinuing productions (like PTC's Doubt and Ballet West's Three Musketeers).But I'd be remiss not to hail what I consider the official (accordingto me) headliner of all that is going on in Utah this weekend. That would be Ozzy Osbourne. |
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02/28/08Blood Brothers Break Up
For fans of the Seattle-based noise-rockers, here's a message passed through the band's publicist: "Dear Friends, After 10 years of making music as The Blood Brothers, we have madethe collective decision that our time together has come to an end. Wefeel extremely fortunate to have spent such a deeply memorable andamazing part of our lives with each other. At this point, however, wefeel it's best that our futures move forward on separate paths. We'dlike to express our sincerest thanks and gratitude to all the bandswe've played with, individuals who have helped us make our records, andfans who have come to our shows and picked up our music throughout theyears. Your friendship, support and love hold such a profoundly specialplace in each of our... Posted at 03:37 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Old Crow Medicine Show — We Got Good News and Bad News
I first saw the folk/bluegrass/country-lovin' Old Crow Medicine Showfive or six years ago at the South By Southwest Music Conference. Theband stuck out from the crowd easily, because most quintets of20-somethings at SXSW are obsessed with volume, speed, naked aggressionand dressing in black. Seeing a bunch of guys pickin' on acousticinstruments, singing pre-WWII blues and jugband music of the Southstands out a lot more there than, say, at the Telluride BluegrassFestival.
I've been a... Posted at 03:36 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Wine, Film and Dancing with the Devil — All in a night’s workWine, Film and Dancing with the Devil — All in a night's work
I had a busy evening last night, gallivanting around the Salt Lake valley to a couple of highly disparate events. First I dropped by the party for Spy Hop's5th annual "Pitch Nic" premiere, which featured four short films shotby some of the kids in the youth movie-making program. On the up side,it was a fab party; the middle of the Broadway Theatre lobby was ropedinto a square that quickly filled with filmmakers' families andassorted Spy Hop supporters for some appetizers, beer and wine. On thedown side, it was nearly two hours into the bash before the films hitthe screen and I had other commitments. So I still haven't seen any of the flicks that premiered last night. I did, however, get to see the red-carpet... Posted at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Danzig Scares the Bejesus Out of SLC tonight; New CD Releases
Glenn Danzig has a long history of memorable shows in Salt Lake City, whether with The Misfits or the aptly named Danzig.
I still have a guitar pick from the 1989 Danzig show at the SpeedwayCafe. It was on a Friday the 13th and the tickets cost, naturally,$6.66. You really have to admire the guy's dedication to his dark lordof the underworld shtick. A couple of years later, I worked security ata show at the old Utah State Fair Park coliseum that had Danzigheadlining over Soundgarden and Corrosion of... Posted at 03:34 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Crashing Rocky Anderson’s Portrait Party; Tips for Tonight
Friday night I weaseled my way into the City-County Building, whereoutgoing Mayor Rocky Anderson hosted a wing-ding celebrating theunveiling of his official portrait. Painted by Galina Perova, it features Rocky, sans jacket, chillin'casually in his home office, surrounded by books and awards he'sreceived through the years. Here's a shot from Saturday's Salt Lake Tribune of Real Rocky next to Painting Rocky:
The party itself was a decent time, a nice... Posted at 03:33 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Ponys, Peacemakers and Priests — Oh My!
A couple days ago the good people at the Pioneer Theatre Company let me slip into a dress rehearsal of Doubt,the 2005 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama and Tony winner for "bestplay" that is opening at the Pioneer tonight. The Pioneer is one of thefirst regional theater groups in the country granted the rights tostage its own production, and even though what I saw was a rehearsal,the play seemed to be in fighting form. Here's the "official"description of the plot from the theater's Web site, for those of youwho don't know it: "Father Brendan Flynn is the charismatic pastor at St. Nicholas, aCatholic church in the Bronx, New York, in 1964. Sister Aloysius is theprincipal of the parish's... Posted at 03:32 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Viva La … Oops!
I'm not proud of it, but I'll readily admit to being a fan of the JackassTV show and movies. The appeal for me is in watching a bunch of buddiestorment and play pranks on each other more than the actual stupidstunts that make up much of the show. When Jackass ended its run on TV, I half-heartedly followed the spin-offs. Wild Boyz,featuring Steve-O and Chris Pontius globe-trotting to exotic locales towrestle gators or fish for sharks, never really worked for me. Viva La Bam,a "reality show" with likable skater Bam Margera and his parentsalternately destroying and building their Pennsylvania home, wasbetter. And one of the most-appealing parts was the insane behavior ofBam's uncle "Don Vito." Here's a picture of Bam and... Posted at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Spooky Times Tonight
Happy Halloween, gang. I carved myself a mean pumpkin last night,and I've got the band-aids on my fingers to prove it. Since I bought mypumpkin last minute, pickins were slim, but the misshapen gourd I endedup with inspired a nice homage to Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Lots of fun to be had tonight, besides scaring neighborhood kids asyou hand out candy. When it gets later, check out one of these worthyevents:
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02/28/08Queensryche tix on sale Saturday
All you "Operation: Mindcrime" fanatics get another chance toSeattle's finest example of '80s-era prog-metal when Queensrychereturns to The Depot Feb. 19. Tickets are $35 and go on sale Saturdayat noon at The Depot and all Smith's Tix outlets. Don Dokken opens the show.
originally published 2007-10-30 Posted at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Britney Spears, Duran Duran and The Eagles: What decade is it again?
Every Tuesday I like to pass on some info on the big albums hittingrecord stores and iTunes, and when I looked at this week's list, Iimmediately started having flashbacks. And not the fun kind. There are a few new albums by relatively new acts arriving today: aself-titled new album by retro-metalheads Avenged Sevenfold, R&Bup-and-comer Chris Brown's new "Exclusive" set, emo boys Saves the Daywith an album called "Under the Boards." Mainly, though, it's a battle of the formerly popular, trying to recapture some of the audience that left them behind long ago. At the top of that heap, naturally, is the "comeback" album by Britney Spears called "Blackout." Posted at 03:28 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08B-52s Salt Lake City gig is sold-out
Just got word from the folks at The Depot that the Nov. 17 show byAthens, Georgia's finest (besides R.E.M.) is sold-out. Should be agreat show.
originally published 2007-10-29 Posted at 03:27 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Public Enemy, Halloween and Me
You know you've had a good weekend when you're still feeling thephysical effects of your Friday and Saturday nights on Monday morning.That is the position I'm in today. My left shoulder is sore from the flu shot I got over the weekend.My right shoulder is sore from all the fist-pumping I did at the PublicEnemy show Friday night. And my back, neck and liver are sore from theragin' Halloween party I went to Saturday night/Sunday morning. Speaking of the Public Enemy show, what a blast it is to see "old"acts like the 20 years-and-running PE throw down a seriously energetic,kickin' gig. They were still going strong after two hours at Suede,and main man Chuck D was bouncing around the stage like a man half... Posted at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Bow to the Power of Public Enemy
Earlier this year I taught a class at Westminster College with The Salt Lake Tribune's Ellen Fagg, during which we tried to show the students the ins-n-outs of writing music criticism. I'm not sure how successful we were, but we did expose a group ofkids, mostly in their late teens and early 20s, to three albums ofhistoric and cultural significance that they probably never would havelistened to if left to their own devices. One was Lucinda Williams' "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road." Another wasBob Dylan's "Bringing It All Back Home." And the third was PublicEnemy's "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back." Posted at 03:25 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Raising the Roof with Michael Franti, Calvary Baptist Choir
I had the good fortune of checking out the U Department ofHumanities' "Raise the Roof! An Evening of Conscience 2007" last nightat the Capitol Theatre. The event was a fundraiser for various diversity-promotingscholarships to the U, but the true highlight was the incredible musicdelivered by Salt Lake City's own Calvary Baptist Choir. This 44-membergospel crew got the crowd on its feet early and often, stomping andclapping along with the energetic choir on stage. "Music is the medicine of the soul," said the Calvary Baptist ChurchPastor, France Davis. "We can communicate across lines because ofmusic." Amen. That's exactly how I ended up as a music writer for a majorpart of my life — the belief that music makes the world... Posted at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Franti, Rollins and Caribou — Oh My!
While much of the civilized world will be holed up tonight to watchGame 1 of the World Series (or not), some of us will be bouncing aroundtown trying to keep up with all the good stuff going on. I'll be starting my night at the Capitol Theater for an event called "Raise the Roof! A Celebration of Diversity," a show that will features performances by the Calvary Baptist Church Gospel Choir and the always incendiery Michael Franti. |
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02/28/08Carrie Underwood taking over the world; New music today
Among the slew of new albums hitting the record stores and iTunes shop today are two sets from former American Idol contestants with careers heading in dramatically different directions. In one corner, you have the bubbly blonde country-pop of CarrieUnderwood, whose debut album was one of the biggest sellers of 2006.She is currently on the cover of the new Entertainment Weekly and appears poised to sell a ton of her new set, "Carnival Ride." |
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02/28/08Return from Southern Utah; Aesop Rock tonight
Ola gang-- Pardon my tardiness on getting something up on the ol' bloggy blogthis morning. I had the good fortune of hanging out in and around Moabover the weekend and I'm a little slow to get back to the working life. It'd been years since I spent any time in Moab. Back in college,when it was still a teeny, tiny burg with hardly a hotel room and onlyone microbrewery, we'd drop into town while we were camping on theoutskirts. Now, it's grown so large that my friends and I generallyavoid Moab if we're looking for rest and relaxation, SouthernUtah-style. Thanks to a friend lending me his condo, and some other friendsrunning a half-marathon, I had a perfect excuse to visit Moab again andenjoy it for the mini-boomlet that it is. I made my way to... Posted at 03:21 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Lucky Dube R.I.P.
South African reggae star Lucky Dube, who's played at Park City's Suede a number of times the past few years, was killed in an apparent carjacking.
originally published 2007-10-19 Posted at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Workin’ for the Weekend
You're already thinking about the Loverboy song, aren't you? C'mon, admit it. Take a listen; you know you want to. Now, on to the serious business of this weekend. I'm running to Moabto watch a friend run some insanely long race and to hit a couple ofrestaurants for work. Yes, I AM working for the weekend, people.Hopefully, you don't have to, because look at all Utah has to offer:
Posted at 03:19 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Lindsay Lohan Parties in Park City, SLC (Allegedly)
You gotta love when the blogosphere blows up with tasty tidbits fromyour own back yard. This morning I arrived at the office to find one story about the Murray girl who was left broken-heartedwhen Lindsay Lohan stole her man in a Sundance rehab joint, and acouple of other stories about Lohan hitting the town immediately afterbeing released from rehab, once to the Hotel in Salt Lake City, and another time to an undisclosed club in Park City. Posted at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Get Your Pioneer Theatre Tix Today; Font Freaks Unite!
All you theater lovers will want to get on the phone, get on the Webor get on over to Pioneer Memorial Theatre today. Not only are ticketsto the mega-popular Mel Brooks' musical "The Producers" on sale; so areindividual tickets for the remainder of the 2007-08 season, including"Doubt," "The Foreigner," "The Vertical Hour," "A Midsummer Night'sDream" and "The Heiress."
I've never been one for musicals, as I've proclaimed in this spacebefore, but anything with Mel... Posted at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/28/08Lucero Thrills; New Album Releases
I made my way down to Club Sound last night for a show by Lucero, afine Memphis roots-rock band that seems to have a small butridiculously dedicated following here in Utah. Rarely have I seen aband sel |
Here's another couple of options for your weekend: 
