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SaltLakeUnderGround • Vol. 24 • Issue #292 • April 2013 • slugmag.comfacebook.com/SLUG.Mag @SLUGMag @SLUGMag youtube.com/user/SLUGMagazinePublisher: Eighteen Percent GrayEditor: Angela H. BrownManaging Editor: Esther MeroñoContributing Editor: Ricky VigilJunior Editor: Alexander OrtegaOffice Coordinator: Gavin SheehanCopy Editing Team: Rebecca Vernon, Ricky Vigil,Esther Meroño, Liz Phillips, Alexander Ortega, MaryEnge, Cody Kirkland, Johnathan Ford, Alex Cragun,Rachel Miller, Katie Bald, Hannah Christian, KatiePanzer, Sunny OliverCover Artist: Sean HenneferLead Designer: Joshua JoyeDesign Team: Eric Sapp, Eleanor Scholz, Bj Viehl,Jeremy RileyAd Designers: Kent Farrington, Sumerset Bivens,Christian Broadbent, Kelli Tompkins, Maggie Call,Eric Sapp, Brad Barker, Lindsey Morris, PadenBischoff, Maggie Zukowski, Thy DoanWebsite Design: Kate ColganOffice Interns: Carl Acheson, Robin SessionsIllustrators: Ryan Perkins, Phil Cannon, BenjiPierson, Maggie Zukowski, Sean Hennefer, RobinBanks, Timm Paxton, Dylan Chadwick, EleanorScholz, Jared Smith, Steve ThuesonPhotographers: Katie Panzer, Dave Brewer,Barrett Doran, Jesse Anderson, John Barkiple, ChadKirkland, Melissa Cohn, Megan Kennedy, MichaelSchwartz, Brent Rowland, Eric Scott Russell, AlexPastucha, Weston Colton, Jake Vivori, GavanNelson, Andy Wright, Gilbert Garcia, Paul Duane,Talyn Sherer, Robin Sessions, Ceza Dzawala, BenMelini, Martín RiveroVideographers: Slugger, Brian Baade, AndrewSchummer, Brock Grossl, Candida Duran, MatthewPothier, Audrey Newhouse, Perrylane Deker-Tate,Cole QuartuccioAd Sales: SLUG HQ 801.487.9221Angela Brown:sales@slugmag.comMike Brown:mikebrown@slugmag.comJohn Ford:johnford@slugmag.comMarketing Manager:Karamea PuririMarketing Team: Ischa B., Emily Burkhart,Sabrina Costello, Taylor Hunsaker, Kristina Sandi,Brooklyn Ottens, Angella Lucisano, Nicole Roccanova,Briana Buendia, Raffi Shahinian, VictoriaLoveless, Zac Freeman, Cassie AndersonSocial Media Coordinator: Catie WeimerDistribution Manager: Eric GranatoDistro: Eric Granato, Tommy Dolph, Tony Bassett,Joe Jewkes, Nancy Burkhart, Joyce Bennett, AdamOkeefe, Ryan Worwood, John Ford, Cody Kirkland,Nate Brooks, Matt Pothier, Phil CannonSenior Staff Writers: Mike Brown, MariahMann-Mellus, James Orme, Lance Saunders, BryerWharton, Peter Fryer, James Bennett, Ricky Vigil,Gavin Hoffman, Jon Robertson, Esther Meroño,Rebecca Vernon, Jimmy Martin, Ben Trentelman,Princess Kennedy, Sean Zimmerman-Wall, CodyHudson, Shawn Mayer, Courtney Blair, Dean O.Hillis, Chris Proctor, Alexander Ortega, Jeanette D.Moses, Madelyn Boudreaux, Gavin SheehanMonkeys with Computers: Brian Kubarycz,Some Cop Dude, Nate Housley, Dylan Chadwick,Megan Kennedy, Mame Wallace, Tom Winkley,Henry Glasheen, Kia McGinnis, John Ford, LaurenAshley Paul, Gregory Gerulat, Westin Porter, CodyKirkland, Timo H., Ryan Hall, Jory Carroll, IschaB., Alex Cragun, Kendal Gillett, Alex Springer,Nate Perkins, Brinley Froelich, Justin Gallegos,Scott Farley, Steve Richardson, LeAundra Jeffs,Steve Goemaat, Darcy Wouters-Russell, ChristianSchultz, Matt Brunk, Jordan Deveraux, Anna KateGedal, Jesse Thomas, Rebecca Frost, Mike Riedel,Tim Kronenberg, Amanda Rock, Randy Dankievitch,Davey Davis, Adam Fratto, Julia SachsSLUG Magazine’s Official Podcast:Soundwaves From The UndergroundHost: Dan NailenProducer: Gavin SheehanExecutive Producer: Angela H. BrownAssociate Producers: Ricky Vigil, Esther Meroño,Alexander Ortega, Dan NailenAbout the Cover: With a new album and a new film both being released this month, it’s clear that RobZombie is a master of many arts. Inspired by the cover art of Zombie’s new album, Venomous Rat RegenerationVendor, SLUG commissioned illustrator Sean Hennefer to create this tripped-out piece portrayingZombie perfecting yet another art form. Check out the story on pages 36-37.DISCLAIMER: SLUG Magazine does not necessarily maintain the same opinions as those found in our articles, interviewsor advertisements. If you are easily offended, please do not blame us. We are a carrier for the voice of the people and it isnot our fault if you don’t like people. Content is property of SLUG Magazine. Please do not use without permission, or wewill hunt you down and make you pay for your sins. Now that’s a promise.Contributor Limelight: Madelyn Boudreaux – Senior Staff WriterOur resident Goth aficionado,bred from the wetlands ofLouisiana, Madelyn has beenon our staff since 2009,reviewing everything dark anddismal that shuffles throughthe SLUG offices. Don’t let herpenchant for doom and gloomfool you, though––she’s alsoan avid foodie with a soft spotfor ethnic cuisine, and herwarm descriptions of the foodshe reviews always have usdrooling. Grab a napkin and check out her review of Plum Alley in this month’s issueto see for yourself. In addition to music and food reviews, Madelyn is also a talentedphotographer, an amateur naturalist, a beginner Magic: The Gathering player and,if you’re lucky, you might catch her DJing a goth-infused set here and there under thename d j . d r o w n. Oh yeah, did we mention she has a Masters in Public Folklore?Madelyn is one-of-a-kind, and we’re happy to claim her as SLUG staff!4 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 5

Dear Dickheads,I think its about time we addressed thepollution levels in Utah and along theWasatch Front by putting the governorand mayors up to confronting a serioushealth problem that they continue todance around with words instead ofactions.Why is it so impossible for our legislatorsto come up with a co-operative agreementbetween the State, County and Citiesthat will synchronize state county andlocal highway and road traffic signals toallow traffic to flow instead of lights stoppingtraffic when there is no cross-traffic.The simplest solution is to increase thefrequency of the stop and go lights orto put sensors on that change the lightswhen there is no traffic or little traffic Themajority of the lights now stop up to 40cars for only one or two cross traffic carsso people are sitting there wasting gasand time and creating pollution. We havethis same problem with the cross trafficand the light rail.Cities throughout the country seem tobe able to solve their traffic signalingdilemmas but we cant. It could also bebeneficial if UTA offered free passage onred days or on yellow days to encourageusage of TRAX and Front-Runner.Also Trax needs to coordinate their trainsignals in dense traffic areas to allowautos to go when there are no trains orby using shorter distance sensors of theapproaching train so that stopped trafficcan move instead of sitting, idling.How much longer can we allow ourrepresentatives to skirt the reality?Please help me to help them find asolution.A concerned Citizen,Cordell TaylorDear Cordell,We totally agree with you. Nowthat spring has sprung, it’s a loteasier to forget about the pollutionthat faces our city, especiallysince the toxic cloud isn’t quite sovisible above the downtown skyline.It’s pretty ridiculous that theelectronic signs hovering over thefreeway said, “For better air quality,reduce travel tomorrow.” Theymight as well have said, “Well,you fucked up by letting yourmega-SUV spew poisonous gasinto the air today … Maybe takeit easy tomorrow, if you wanna.”The fact that the pollution problemwas swept entirely under the rugduring Sundance and Slamdancelast January shows that thePowers That Be know there’s aproblem, but since there isn’t aneasy solution, they don’t want todeal with it. A group of doctorscalled Utah Physicians for HealthyEnvironment even delivered apetition to Governor Herbertdeclaring a health emergency andasking him to lower the speedlimit, ban wood burning, makemass transit free and reduce industrialactivities. As participantsin a democracy, it is our duty tocontact our legislators and tellthem that we would really prefernot to die, if entirely possible.Visit utah.gov to find out who representsyou, and from there youcan call and email them and voiceyour concerns. Just because thesun is shining and birds are tryingto have sex with bees (or such isour understanding), the pollutionproblem hasn’t really gone away.xoxo, SLUGFax, snail mail or email us your letters!Fax: 801.487.1359 • Mailing Address:Dear Dickheads c/o SLUG Mag351 Pierpont Ave. Ste. 4B SLC, UT 84101or dickheads@slugmag.com6 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 7

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LocalizedBy Jordan Deverauxtomjordan21@gmail.comThis month’s Localized features the dynamic lineup of Eons and Oxcross,with Yaktooth opening up. Drop what you’re doing on April 12 andcome check out these up-and-comers rage real hard at Urban Lounge.10 p.m., 21+, $5.Every member of Oxcross isdeeply rooted in the Salt Lakemusic scene—they are seasonedveterans. Every member has been in10-plus bands, and a couple of themhave been involved in more projectsthan that. They have seen trends comeand go and dabblers dip in, then selltheir equipment for something a bitmore sturdy than the sometimes-volatilelifestyle that is rock n’ roll. Yep, they’redefinite lifers, but in the good wordsof LeVar Burton, “You don’t have totake my word for it.”Oxcross is comprised of AndyPatterson on drums, Jeff Andersonon guitar, Taylor Williams onguitar and vocals and Dave Joneson bass. The band started about twoyears ago by what seem to be naturalcauses, as all of the band membersare associated with each other throughyears of musical involvement in SaltLake City. “We were all in hardcorebands back in the day, back in theearly ’90s,” Patterson says. Perhapsthe strongest force responsible for theincarnation of Oxcross, though, stemsfrom Patterson’s recording studio. Hesays, “I got to know Taylor a little moreby recording his other band, Glacial,which I ended up joining after a fewyears.” The same is true for Anderson,who says, “Andy has made most of therecords I have ever recorded in anyband I have ever been in.” When I askhow they landed on their band name,Williams says, “We initially wanted tocall it Ox, and then we found that thatwas taken, and my old bass player T2… knew that I was a Game of Thronesfan, and he just randomly textedme: ‘You should name your bandOxcross!’”They all have rich and interestingmusical backgrounds. Patterson andWilliams both played violin as their firstinstrument. They say they both learnedthe “Suzuki method.” Jones says of hisintroduction to music, “My parents …didn’t listen to music. At some point, Istarted buying punk rock CDs becauseI liked the covers.” Williams’ dad isa musician who plays traditional Irishmusic, and Williams says his dad “hasalways supported [him] in music.”Anderson also comes from a musicalbackground, and he says, “My dadraised me on a steady diet of fuckin’prog rock … My introduction to PearlJam was from my parents.”Patterson describes Oxcross’ liveshows as “blue collar” and jokinglyrefers to their style as “power bottom.”Williams says, “I’ll attempt to make afew poor jokes—I’ll probably beratethe audience a little bit.” They describetheir music as doom metal withmelody—Anderson says, “It’s doom tolisten to when you’re sitting in a patchof sunflowers.” They declared Williamsto be their primary songwriter, andPatterson says, “Generally, Taylor hasa song and shows it to us, and we playit. If it sucks, we will fix it.”Oxcross have yet to tour as a band,but they aren’t altogether ruling it out.Patterson says, “I’d like to tour—we’reall older and we have houses andsome of us have kids and stuff like that,so it makes it a little harder to dropeverything and go hit the road, but I’malways interested in playing in Denveror going out to California and playingshows.” They haven’t released anymusic to date, but they assured me thatthey were well into the making of it, andthey projected that they would finishtheir album within a couple of months.They are a busy bunch, too. With theexception of Williams, every memberof the band is currently involved inother musical endeavors outside ofOxcross: Jones plays in Dwellers,Old Timer and Laughter, Pattersonplays in Top Dead Celebrity, Døneand Subrosa, and Anderson plays inTop Dead Celebrity as well.After talking to Oxcross, I was remindedof the importance of persistence. Theseguys comprise large notches in thebackbone of not just the Salt Lake Citymetal scene, but the entire local musicscene. For being such giants in themusic community, it doesn’t take muchto satisfy them—Patterson says of theband’s plans, “If there was some bigband that, for some reason, [when]the planets aligned, wanted to takeus on tour … we would cross thatbridge when we got there, but as faras expectations, we don’t really haveany. We just play shows and put outrecords and hope people like it.” Theywere also kind enough to edify me ingeneral pop cultural matters: Pattersonsays “… that the lost sound of the ’80sis saxophone and fretless bass,” that“Gwen Stefani is an American,”and that Williams “ain’t no hollerbackgirl,” in either definition of the word.Photo: Russel DanielsJeff Anderson (top), (L-R) Dave Jones, TaylorWilliams and Andy Patterson make doom with ahuggable allure in Oxcross.10 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 11Morbid, interstellar andsorrowfully good: Eonswill comfort you whenyou’re blue, guide you through theelectric dimensions of your brainand entertain you with their troubledand highly personal narrative. Eonsharness misery, feed it acid andinject it into a particle accelerator.What’s more, they are a bunch ofgoofballs. They jestingly told methat their ultimate goal was “DisneyRecords,” and that they want to starttouring with the Jonas Brothersand One Direction. After meetingthese fellas, I wager they’ll do it.The group took form about 10 monthsago as a three-piece outfit consistingof bassist Scott Wardle, guitaristMatt Wiley and their first drummer,whom they recently replaced withtheir current drummer, TaylorOrton. After a short period ofjamming as a three-piece, they addedsecond guitarist Chase Covingtonand singer Tylor Blackburn, andbegan playing shows.Nobody in the band quite knewhow to describe their music. Wileytook the lead, saying, “It’s like …spacey post-hardcore. When thisband started, we all kind of had thementality to just do whatever camenatural … In this band, it was, ‘Havesome beers and play some riffs.’”While this sounds like a sure-fire wayto blunder, it doesn’t seem to show intheir songs. Almost everyone in theband has been playing music for 10-plus years, a detail that is reflected inthe structurally complex songs of theirfirst EP, The Weight Of Tragedy, whichwas released last September.The fact that none of them have anyserious musical training seems tobelie the rhythmically jarring aspectof their tunes. The music isn’t the onlycompelling aspect of their songs.Blackburn spares no gruesomedetail when dealing with his subjectmatter—caterwauling every lyriclike a ghoul’s impassioned readingof a coroner’s mad diary. Blackburnsays of his writing process, “How itusually works … Matt will come upwith a riff idea and him and Scottwill work on it together, and thenthey’ll bring it to a band practice… The song is almost done before Ireally start writing. I think it’s, at leastfor me, more appropriate to feel thetone of the song without lyrics andthink of what that reminds me of, andthen write.”Last October, Eons went on aNorthwest tour with local bandDespite Despair. They were elatedto tell me that they “got to play withTrial, which is fuckin’ rad,” saysCovington. This was their first tour asa band, and they sighed when tellingme that “it was too short.” Whileon tour, they played hippie havenArcada, Calif. I shuddered at thethought of a hardcore band playingfor a gaggle of hippies, but theredidn’t seem to be any friction. Wardlesays, “It was probably the funnestshow … We went from playing with abunch of straight edge bands, whichwere rather mellow … [and when] weshowed up [in Arcada], people werejust smoking blunts, drinking beers.”They played with a band calledOodles of Heroin, and Wardleannounced to the crowd, “Hey, myname is Scott, and tonight you’re allmy friends.” Someone replied, “Hey,Scott!” and threw him a beer.When the topic turned to playinglocal shows, they spoke endearinglyabout the area: “The good thingabout Utah is there’s a good scene,”Wiley says. When I asked them whatlocal bands they enjoy playing with,they responded with a list too vast forthe scope of this article, but Blackburnsays, “I’ve never really played with alocal band that I didn’t enjoy playingwith.” They put a lot into their liveperformances, and Blackburn saysthey try to capture “the idea ofthe song,” and describes their liveshows as “full of energy” and “crowdinvolv[ing].” Covington says, “It’sawesome when everyone’s like ‘Yes!’and excited, and the energy is up.”One of the raddest things about thisband is their sense of camaraderie.In spite of each member occupyinga unique slice of the band, they allseemed to be on the same page.When I asked them what they dowhen they hang out together, theyreplied in near synchronicity, “Drinkbeers and play music.” They planon cutting a full-length album soon.Wardle says, “We’re really justwriting enough that we can playdifferent sets rather than what’son the EP … We got some newstuff rollin’ which is awesome—itfeels really good.” Their goalsinclude touring, playing Europe andAustralia, and at the top of the listis “having fun and enjoying everysecond of it,” Wiley says.You can find Eons’ music onBandcamp at eons801.bandcamp.com. After you check out Eons atUrban Lounge on April 12, check outWiley and Orton’s other projects:Starvist and Still Sea, respectively.(L-R) Taylor Orton, Tylor Blackburn, Matt Wiley,Chase Covington and Scott Wardle build off of riffsthat launch them into sonic outer space.Photo: Russel Daniels

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Five-Spice NiceMadelyn Boudreaux / madelyn@gothics.orgAfter the rockin’ success of The Copper Onion, it came as no surprise when chef/ownerRyan Lowder and his superb staff branched out and around the corner with anotherrestaurant. Plum Alley serves Southeast-Asian Fusion based on the same locally sourced,seasonal, simple and homey (yet excellent) cooking ethics. The restaurant has experienceda little upheaval in personnel and menu shifting as they found their stride, but it’s onlygotten better at each turn.Named for Salt Lake City’s long-ago demolished Chinatown, Plum Alley offers a hip yetundeniably elegant setting for equally hip and elegant food. The entire joint oozes with thatperfect urban combination of industrial-rustic design topped off with just the right amountof shine, color and light—exposed wood and wire mesh with colorful paper lanterns andmirrors that reflect the light from the long, south-facing windows along Broadway. There’sseating at the bar and at small, two-person tables along the windows, but large communaltables take up much of the restaurant. While eating with strangers is not the norm in Utah,it is, apparently, not so unusual on the East Coast, where Lowder worked for many years.Plum Alley111 E. Broadway, Ste. 190801.355.0543plumalley.comLunch: Monday–Friday11:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.Dinner: Sunday–Thursday5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.Friday & Saturday5:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.While the hours at Plum Alley can be tricky, with no lunch served on the weekends (whichthrows me about half the time, but I just end up at their sister restaurant instead), they areopen for weekday lunches featuring some dinner favorites, as well as $10 lunch specials:a choice of side with an entrée or small plate, such as the stir-fried house noodles or chilledchicken rice bowl with yellow curry.My favorite of these dishes is the Steamed Buns ($8 as a plate) with sweet, cincalok-glazedpork belly. The meat is perfectly seared, and the fat quite literally melts on your tongue. Thesteamed buns are a delicious, flat, round bread, and the dish is served up like two smallAsian tacos, with a vinegar, mint, coriander, peanut and radish garnish that tops the bunsperfectly. Paired with the griddled cauliflower, which is seared but still crunchy and toppedwith aioli, pickled mustard greens and toasted sesame seeds ($5 à la carte) or the spicy,caramelized, palm sugar–sweetened green beans ($6), it’s a perfect lunch.For a heartier lunch or for dinner, don’t miss the P.A. Ramen ($13), a large portion of soupbuilt around a pork stock that is cooked for 20 hours, with thick noodles, bits of pulledpork, egg and the most delicious pieces of pork belly I’ve ever encountered (and givenhow much pork belly I’ve had at Lowder’s restaurants, that’s saying something!). The stockis thick with flavor. If you don’t finish it, take it home and have it the next day—it’s fartoo good to waste. Vegetarians can also get an equally tasty version of the ramen with aroasted mushroom stock ($11).The menu always includes a few specials that change over time—prices vary, but generallyinclude a salad, a small plate and an entrée. During one visit, the specials included Manilaclams in a coconut broth with bread, and a stew of house-made sausage and tofu. Ourscame extra spicy, as we asked for, but they can keep the spice level down at request. Ihaven’t given in to my desire to lick my plate yet, but with these, it was a close call. Luckily,our server whisked the bowls away before I started gnawing on them.While some people report unfavorably on the service, I’ve never had anything less thangood service at both lunch and dinner—the entire staff is fantastic. They are attentive andwitty, and they really know their stuff. Admittedly, I’ve been eating at both Plum Alley andThe Copper Onion since their respective opening days, but the staff doesn’t always knowme, so it’s not just me—they really are good.The Pork Belly Steamed Buns at PlumAlley are perfectly seared and quiteliterally melt on your tongue.Photo: Michael SchwartzDesserts typically include one or two house-made ice creams or sorbets ($1 at lunch, $2 atdinner for a larger portion) and the Five-Spice Donuts ($6), several large donut holes rolledin sugar and five-spice (cinnamon, clove and others) with a side of truly amazing coconutjam. Ice cream flavors vary, but I had both a sweet and exotic Coconut Honey, and analmost dry Dark Chocolate Pistachio that I am still dreaming about.If you don’t have time for dinner, Plum Alley is still perfect for a drink before you catcha film at the Broadway Theater. The Sloe Gin Fizzle ($8) is a fruity one-two punch that isan excellent choice with a spicy dinner. The Cinnamon Pinch ($8) has to be tried to beunderstood: Gin, orange juice and cinnamon with a hint of basil; it is a dryer cocktail thatis very sophisticated and unexpected. My personal favorite cocktail is the exotic Thai Tiger($8) with its coconut water, citrus and red chili simple syrup—it reminds me of Froot Loops,but far more alluring! They also offer an excellent selection of whiskey and, of course,wines. For the non-drinkers (or lunch!), try a Fentiman’s Rose Lemonade or CherrytreeCola ($4).Plum Alley will be closed for a few days in the spring for remodeling, and it will reopenwith a club license, which will allow later hours and an even more impressive bar. Expectthe hours to change, but don’t expect the excellent food and drinks to go away—this flowerof a restaurant is only going to keep improving.14 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 15

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(L-R) Joe Galloway, Joren Carlson,Caine Wenner and Ethan Lakecomprise Anthropology.ight here in the saltiest city, we’re swimming with young, local talent—and Spy Hop Productions has booked an all-ages Localized showcasefor April, featuring three local bands comprised of talented under-agers. Spy Hop is an awesome resource for fine fledglings, offering a variety ofRresources for young people interested in the digital arts, including a recording studio and a music blog called 801 Sessions that features new artistsevery month. Indie synth-pop from Solarsuit and math rock from Anthropology will be present, as well as opening band Creature Double Feature.Swing by Kilby Court on April 26 and $5 will get you a killer glimpse at some up-and-coming bands.(L-R) Ethan England, Luke Barton,Logan Nelson, Matt Spurrier andBilly Brown of Solarsuit.Photo: Melissa CohnWhile most high school dudes are busy trying to getchicks and maintain status, the members of Solarsuitspend every spare second they get from schooland homework writing, practicing, marketing orscheming. “We don’t get much sleep anymore,” saysguitarist/vocalist Logan Nelson. Trying to breakinto the realm of successful music isn’t easy, but Solarsuitare fighting to be recognized and to prove thatbeing 17 won’t stop them. As their fanbase slowlycreeps upward on the Internet and as they continueto make connections, their bright-eyed dedication isbeginning to pay off. In 2012, Solarsuit got to openfor Imagine Dragons at In The Venue. Nelsonteaches music lessons with Robby Connolly fromFictionist and guitarist Luke Barton plays inLuna Lune with his older sister. Despite all the tiesto big names in Provo, Solarsuit is a Salt Lake bandwho claim Kilby as their home.Most bands get started after some friends have funjamming with each other, but Solarsuit seemed tohave serious intentions from the start. After somebrief member shuffling and name changing (formerlyQ&A), they launched into songwriting and showbooking.They started as an indie-rock project andhave now eased into indie synth-pop, with an addedguitar and keys. While their age obviously sets themapart from others in their genre, musically, theymake their sound fresh by emphasizing both guitarparts and pushing the synth forward. The result is amature, clean sound that is endearing and approachable.Solarsuit are influenced by Coldplay, BombayBicycle Club and Radiohead. You can hearthese influences in their music along with their uniquetouches. They have several high-quality, professionalvideos available, and are working on recording theirfirst EP, which will drop in May.In their video “Sleep Talking,” you can see Solarsuitplay an acoustic house show. The feel is open, honestand a bit on the tender side. “That’s how we make alot of our songs, just being loose and hanging out,”keyboardist Matt Spurrier says. They’re set up in ahalf circle, in a living room with big, open windows.Nelson and Barton are on guitar, Billy Brown ondrums, Spurrier on keys and Ethan England onbass, with everyone pitching in for harmonies withNelson’s lead vocals. Playing acoustic leaves morevulnerability, and through the course of this video, Solarsuitleaves no room for doubt that this is what theylove to do. In another video, they perform “FriendlyFires” live, and it’s hard not to appreciate how trulyhappy playing music makes these dudes. As Brownputs it, “We play music because—what would we doif we didn’t play music?”“There’s not a ton of bands that come out of highschool ready to do something else. Maroon 5 isPhoto: Robin Sessionsthe only one I can think of, but I don’t love them verymuch,” Nelson says. These dudes are striving to notbe labeled a “high school band.” Even though theirfanbase is largely in their age group, they try toreach out to all groups of people. “If an 80-year-oldman digs us and thinks we’re catchy, then that’s awesome,”says NelsonWhen asked about fame, all five members bust outa huge smile and nod to each other. “We all want it.It would be a totally awesome, surreal experience.There’s doors that are opening for us. There’s somethinghere that’s working,” Nelson says, speaking forthe group. Solarsuit are active in pursuing their ambitiousgoals and dreams—including getting played onAltNation radio, getting signed to a record label andwinning a Grammy within two years. Nelson says, “Ifyou push yourself to reach really hard goals, I thinkyou’ll achieve more.”“I love the way playing music feels,” England sayswith a smile. Barton adds, “I think it’s really cool tomake music that people want to hear.”For right now, they’re focusing and playing as manyshows as they can, cranking out songs and gaininga stronger fanbase. Plan on hearing all new songsat Localized, and be sure to look up their tunes onReverbnation—their music speaks for all theirhard work.The band that is now Anthropology got its start afew years back when the members were in middleschool, as a pop/rock, generic, radio-friendly musicjam. Eventually, they grew bored and wanted to gofor something a little more innovative. Now at age17, they have combined both their friendship andtheir collective musical backgrounds together, andended up with a groovy math rock sound. EthanLake (guitar) has a classical background and lovesjazz and cello, while other members are more influencedby other math rock bands, such as Piglet,whose song “Anthropology Anthology” inspired theband’s name.Growing from a sparse, simple sound to a more full,intricate one came with time and practice. As JoeGalloway (bass) puts it, “Our musical maturationhas followed our maturation as people. Also, masturbation.”Lake adds, “I wouldn’t have listened tous when we started, but now I’d give us a chance.”Caine Wenner was recently added as a secondguitar player, bolstering their shred capabilities.Anthropology are all about putting on a memorableshow, and they have a few things up their sleeve forLocalized. “A bigger budget for the Zurcher’s partystore is in order. We like to be as boisterous andexuberant as we can,” Wenner says. Using propsand costumery is not necessarily a gimmick, but away to get both the band members and the crowdstoked and ready to dance. This is a band thatthrives off of a bustling crowd and hopes that theirfans walk away having had a genuinely great time.These guys don’t see age as a disadvantage to theirmusic. “Some people assume we’re going to be badbecause of our age, then they come to our showand we prove them wrong,” says Galloway. “It’sgratifying to see new faces at shows. We’re alwayshoping that it’s not just our friends and our parentswho show up. Birthquake commended us and thatwas the biggest thing for us.”Anthropology aren’t claiming to be anything thathasn’t been done before and aren’t out for fameor fortune—rather, they’re looking for a good timein sharing their music. “We started playing notbecause we wanted to be a band, just because wewanted to play music. We play a lot of Smash Bros.and just hang out together,” says Joren Carlson(drums).“There are 10,000 four-chord rock bandsin Salt Lake alone, so when someone comes alongand does something even a little different, it makesit worthwhile.”Galloway says, “The friendship we have has verystrongly influenced our music. We’ve all sharedmusic with each other as we’ve been growing up.”It’s clear that they have their own (sarcastic) senseof humor that plays into their music and makes it funand exuberant. “Dude, I’m just in it for the women,”Lake says.Their music is rhythmically complex and light-feelingdespite its heavy guitar and drums. Self-describedas a “semi-OK, three-piece instrumental band,”Anthropology are both smart and humble. Inspiredby local band Palace of Buddies as well as Antarcticand This Town Needs Guns, their songsare danceable, jazzy, classical, experimental andeven a tiny bit metal. Playing music without vocalsgives them room to showcase their instrumentalprowess. “We like to confuse a bunch of genres thatmake things interesting,” says Galloway. With titlessuch as, “The Gates of Mordor” and “You Shall NotPass,” it’s a given that these guys are on the nerdyside, which adds an amusing element to their work.The band is working on getting some recordedworks together, but don’t seem to worry too heavilyabout future plans. “We don’t even care if we sellany CDs, just as long as it sounds good. Honestlyour main goal is to beat Gradius III,” Caine says.There’s definitely a place for music that is madesimply for enjoyment, and Anthropology get that.Think back to what you were doing when you were17 and give these kids some credit for their creativity,motivation and time. Music is a common pursuit,but it takes a unique group of people to be able tosucceed in it. Both Solarsuit and Anthropology havemanaged to move past unfair judgments about thequality of their music based upon their age andhave gained respect doing so. Let’s hear it for SaltLake, local venues and ambitious youth.18 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 19

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123SLUG Messes with Texas45 7(1) Pissed Jeans’ vocalist Matt Korvette, guitarist Bradley Fry and bassist Randy Huth building their punk sound. (2) Patrick Boyer of local indie rock bandDesert Noises blew us away with his rock n’ roll riffs. (3) In a rare acoustic set, Diamond Rings sang his heart out to a crowd that slowly fell in love.(4) Casey Joseph, bassist for psychedelic band Stardeath and White Dwarfs, illuminated by a rosey hue under a rooftop tent at the ACM Showcase. (5) Callof the Void’s Steve Vanica pouring out some sludge and grindcore. (6) A combination of Austin’s My Education and SLC’s own Theta Naught, Sound Massfeatured 12 talented musicians onstage playing a wide range of instruments. (7) Finnish crust punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät put on a fist-pumping setcomplete with a strip tease by vocalist Kari Aalto.6SXSW2013Call of the VoidRed 7 03.16Chaos in Tejas & RelapseRecords Official SXSW ShowcaseCall of the Void = Gaza +Early GravesEntering Red 7 in Austin, Texas for theChaos in Tejas & Relapse Records OfficialSXSW Showcase, it was apparent thatCall of the Void was given the perfectvenue to help the crowd mirror its name.They used a combination of crust, sludgeand infested grindcore to help drive thevile red substance forcefully througheverybody’s veins. Onstage, Call of theVoid was armed with Sunn, Orange,Verellen, Peavey and Ampeg amps, andAtlas cabs made out of Denver, Colo. asthe keystone to deliver every range ofdecibel to hurt ears. Although drummerGordon Koch said he doesn’t usemetronomes in an interview with Blow theScene, after seeing their live performanceonstage, it’s clear that guitarist PatrickAlberts is a human metronome, swayingback and forth across both sides ofthe stage while moving in time with themusic. Call of the Void’s new album hasjust been released on Relapse Recordsand was recorded by SLC’s Andy Patterson,featuring artwork by our ownAnthony Lucero, formerly of Gaza(RIP). –Joshua JoyeCrooked BangsBeerland 03.16Jolly Dream Records / Tic TacTotally ShowcaseCrooked Bangs = Misfits x(Bratmobile – riot grrrl + JuliaKristeva) + Sylvie Vartan xBauhausAlthough Crooked Bangs are a threepieceoutfit out of Austin, Texas, theiroverall sound transcended the sum ofits parts. Drummer Phil Gonzalez’ssolid rock n’ roll beats set the stage forguitarist Samantha Wendel’s distinctstyle: Something I noticed under the redBeerland lights was that, within her simplechord progressions, she often involvedchord structures that went beyond powerchords, which added a sense of melodyto her vicious strumming as she hunchedover in a brooding dance. FrontwomanLeda Ginestra stole the show with hervolatile singing—her contralto voice wouldcoast until it began to shake and warble,and she would then shoot shrill barks intothe venue. Her stage presence was thatof a possessed woman—she would staredemonically as she sang or paused inbetween vocals, then her eyes would popPHOTO CREDIT: AHB = Esther Meroño = Alexander Ortega = Joshua Joye =22 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 23Once again, SLUG hit South by Southwest (SXSW), the music festival thatengulfed the city of Austin, Texas, for its 27th year. During the five-dayadventure, we fearlessly messed with Texas and stayed hip to the musicacts that dazzled our eyes and ears and munched on our hearts amid crackpipes, grilled cow hearts, topless bike cabbies and a rollerblading alien.out. Toward the end of their set, Ginestra’sshrieks became more frequent and hergaze more piercing, and she wouldcollapse to the floor as if the dark, rockn’ roll melodies she sang in French senther into convulsions. Catchy and ghastly,Crooked Bangs played sexy, vintageFrench garage-punk that chomped up myheart. –Alexander OrtegaDiamond RingsVEVO TV Control Room03.15VEVO ShowcaseDiamond Rings = (Ian Curtis +Elvis Presley) vocals + (DavidBowie + Morrissey + VanillaIce) aestheticArriving at the venue to see DiamondRings, a gender-bending electronic popartist from Toronto, I fully expected towalk in on a black stage covered inrainbow lights, a fog machine and JohnO’Regan in a futuristic, shoulder-paddedensemble and some lipstick. Instead,a pretty normal-looking dude wearing allblack was perched on a stool at the edgeof the stage cradling an acoustic guitar.As soon as his low, sultry voice camethrough the mic over some simple guitarstrums, I set up camp. O’Regan kept hiseyes closed during his entire first song,opening them with an “Oh, there youall are!” which set the precedent for hiscandid and relaxed demeanor betweensongs, speckled with funny quips like,“Tonight’s show is laser free.” The setlistincluded two of my favorites from his latestalbum, Free Dimensional: “RunawayLove”––chewy bubble-gum pop; and “PutMe On”––a darker, Soft Cell–”TaintedLove”-esque track. By the end of his set,the crowd was wrapped close and tight,doe-eyed, knees weak and demandingan encore—which, in a rare SXSW moment,was kindly performed. (The Depot,04.10 with OMD). –Esther MeroñoHowlThe Dirty Dog 03.14Metalsucks ShowcaseHowl = (Amon Amarth x HighOn Fire) / ElitistHaving never heard Howl, I was totallyshaken up by the earthquake they createdlive. Vocalist Vincent Hausmanhad the whole Dirty Dog bar clenchingtheir hands and pumping their fists ashe gesticulated about the stage in wolfsnarlyroars, like a hype man for war.The dimly lit venue fostered exuberantsparks and explosions of energy as Howlworked through their songs that includedrhythmic builds that slammed into hearty,chuggy sections. For being a new additionto the band, which Hausman pointedout, bassist Jesse Riley worked his fivestringaxe to help fill out the room withdeep tones. Howl aren’t particularly fast,but their sense of rhythm—in large partcreated by guitarists Josh Durocher-Jones and Jonathan Hall—carriedtheir songs for me to head bang enthusiastically,and their sheer intensity wasunderpinned by drummer Timmy St.Amour’s solid double-kick strikes, whichdeftly transitioned the band into differenttime signatures. The guitarists usedmelody sparsely, so when they movedbeyond solely playing riffs, their catchyhooks lent the songs a vibrancy that transcendedrun-of-the-mill metal. Hausman’sstage presence, moreover, propelled thisheavy band along with guttural euphony.Ultimately, I felt like a barbarian thewhole time. –Alexander OrtegaPertti Kurikan NimipäivätHeadhunters Patio 03.14Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät =Rudimentry Peni + Aus-Rotten+ DisorderI find something therapeutic about goingto a punk show in a dingy, dirty dive.I like watching the crowd swill cheapbeer and fist-pump in the pit to a bandthat “just doesn’t give a fuck.” I bet PerttiKurikan Nimipäivät, the crust punk bandfrom Finland, would agree. Comprised offour adult males with developmental disabilities,Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät playedloud and fast, like it was the last show oftheir lives. They all looked like they werein their mid-50s, some playing their instrumentsbetter than others. At one point, thebass player was completely off-rhythm,but he powered through like it was no bigdeal. In true crust punk style, the band’snamesake and guitarist, Pertti Kurikan,played several songs with his back to theaudience. Halfway through, singer KariAalto stripped down to his underwear.He tried to go further, but their managersuddenly appeared and coaxed him tostop. His low, rough vocals had a goodhardcore-style rumble. He wrapped themic cord around his eyes and channeledGG Allin. Before I knew it, Aalto wason the floor screaming undecipherableFinnish lyrics while the band played theirlast song. –Angela H. BrownSound MassSalvage Vanguard Theater/The Hideout 03.14SXSW Official ShowcaseSound Mass = (My Education+ Theta Naught) x A night atthe symphonyLooking through set times for Austinbasedpost-rockers My Education, Iaccidentally stumbled across SoundMass, their side project with none otherthan Salt Lake legends Theta Naught.Watching them set up was an experiencein itself: 12 musicians playingeverything from the usual band setup toan electric cello, a vibraphone and aviola, combined with two drum sets thatsat facing each other. The onslaught ofmusic started slow and steady, layeringflawlessly as more instruments joined in,the musicians watching and listening toeach other as they built the song––SoundMass, indeed. I was so blown away, Iended up at their second show of theday, which proved to be just as stimulatingvisually as it was aurally. At the Vanguard,a projection screen in back of theband showed moving patterns, but thistime, those were projected straight on theband, and as my eardrums melted awayfrom the wall of sound, so did the musician’sfaces. I was later told that a lot ofwhat they do is improvised, as they’respread out across the country and haveminimal practice time. Keep an ear to theground for Sound Mass as performancesare rare and far between––I must’vepicked up a lucky penny somewhere inAustin. –Esther MeroñoStardeath and WhiteDwarfs512 Rooftop 03.12ACM ShowcaseStardeath and White Dwarfs= The Brian Jonestown Massacre- Anton Newcombe +Spaceman 3 +Velvet Underground– Lou Reed + magicmushroomsOklahoma psychedelia experts Stardeathand White Dwarfs are best known fortheir collaborations with The FlamingLips, first covering Pink Floyd’s classicalbum, Dark Side of The Moon in 2009,and later in 2012, taking on KingCrimson’s In the Court of the CrimsonKing. These Midwest rockers aren’t just aglorified backing band: They’re chimericalsongwriters in their own right. I wasfortunate enough to preview their newestoriginal material onstage during their secondSXSW performance. They jammedfor over an hour under a white tentcrowded with around 100 fans. Severalcustom-built lighting triangles topped theband’s amps and cabinets, syncopatingat all the right moments. Purple lightsreflected off the tent’s low ceiling, castinga pink hue across audience’s faces. Asmoke machine added to the surrealatmosphere, enhancing the visuals andproviding a smoky screen for the band tohide behind. Their 60-minute set flew by,and before I knew it, the audience and Iwere screaming for an encore. Stardeathand White Dwarfs obliged, closing outthe night with The Stone Roses’ “IWanna Be Adored.” Let’s hope the nextalbum Stardeath and White Dwarfs coverwill be The Stone Roses’ self-titled record.–Angela H. BrownCONTINUED

3145726(1) Beliefs’ Josh Korody bringing out some shoegaze. (2) Merchandise’s vocalist Carson Cox with Dave Vassalotti playing an instrumental break.(3) Mlny Parsonz is a crooner in Atlanta, Ga. band Royal Thunder. (4) French pop, darkwave and punk rock never sounded as good as it did with (L-R)Samantha Wendel, Phil Gonzalez and Leda Ginestra of Crooked Bangs. (5) Amplified Heat played garage rock laden with licks n’ solos at the HeadhuntersClub. (6) Gypsyhawk’s Southern rock brand of metal was made for daisy dukes and shakin’. (7) Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth fame brought his fresh newband, Chelsea Light Moving, to the Thrasher Death Match stage for some serious shredding. (8) Greek band Imam Baildi were energetic and fun, sportinga traditional bazouki player among the usual instruments.8PHOTO CREDIT: AHB = Esther Meroño = Alexander Ortega = Joshua Joye =24 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 25

Kennedy may not find herself on reality TV anytime soon, butshe fits right in with TV queens (L-R) Detox andHoney Mahogany.Photo: Marques Daniels PhotographyDRAG RACINGBy Princess Kennedy • theprincesskennedy@yahoo.comEvery Monday night, RuPaul hosts a TV showthat airs on the Logo Channel, a TV network(or netwerq) that is geared toward the pinkside of the cable viewer, and is all gay, allday! Trust me when I say our programs are wayracier than yours, the raciest being RuPaul’s aptlynamed Drag Race. The reality/contest show is,for all intents and purposes, “America’s Next TopTranny.” DR’s basic premise is using skill and wit tooutsmart the competition, then at the end, someoneis voted off––’cept it be real gay. For instance, Rustarts the show with a video “shemail” to let thecontesting queens (14 to start) know what the day’smini challenge is––the last episode I saw, it wasto put makeup on in the dark. The winner choosesteams for the day’s big challenge, which dominatesthe rest of the episode, and is your basic “who’ssmarter, better and,” in this series, “cuntier.” Pastchallenges include photo shoots, standup comedyand singing––and queens, you better listen to Ru’stag line: “Don’t fuck it up!”So, they do the challenge, hilarity ensues, welaugh, we cry, we cheer and hiss, then the gurlswalk a runway and are judged on the outcomeof their labors. The judges are usually the A-listof the B-list celebrities: Chaz Bono (who cameout of Cher’s vagina), noted contestant AlaskaThunder Fuck, Latoya Jackson, JulietteLewis, Chloë Sevigny and more, who all playtheir respective reality show duties of being overlycritical and bitchy. They narrow it down to two girlswho “lip sync for their lives” till the winner is told,“shanty, you stay” and the one who “fucked it up’’is told to “sashay away.” It’s very dramatic, andat the risk of receiving a mail bomb, very TyraBanks.I am asked frequently if I’ve thought of auditioning,and the answer is simply, FUCK NO! This couldpossibly be my worst nightmare. First off, I don’teven have the drag queen aesthetic––being able topaint and contour your face like that is really an art,one I truly am in awe of. The hair a mile high, thepadding, the costumes––these ladies spend a lot oftime and effort on themselves, and quite frankly, ittakes me two hours to get ready: one to sit aroundbitching about how I don’t wanna get ready andone to hurry, throw something on and get out thedoor.Then there’s the competitive side that brings out theworst in some people. Don’t get me wrong, I live tocatfight with the best of them, but there are a couplequeens on this show who fight nonstop. I can’t helpbut zone out after two minutes. To sit around andlisten to that, day in and day out––a bitch would gopostal. Also, sitting in front of a panel pointing outmy flaws would send me running and crying out ofthe room. Lastly, I have some sort of mental problemthat prohibits me from lip syncing, so doing that incompetition is out of the question.Even though I would not do it, I get why somewould and, in fact, one of my friends in SanFrancisco did. Honey Mahogany is a fellowperformer who runs in my circle of friends. She isa stunning beauty and singer who rules the gayscene––I was ever amazed at the hundreds ofinvites I got from her on a monthly basis for someevent or another, so it came as no surprise whenthe news broke she was on the upcoming season ofDrag Race. Out of loyalty, I recruited all my friendsto Team Honey, and we faithfully headed down toTry-Angles at about 900 S. and 300 W. to cheerher on. She was fabulous and looked gorgeous,and unfortunately, didn’t last long. The odds stackedagainst her one too many times, and through nofault but misfortune, she sashayed away and theworld didn’t get to actually see the superstar.Honey hosts a club in the heart of the Castro districtevery Monday called Mahogany Mondays, whereshe and a guest host will show the week’s episode,then during commercial, chat about what we’vejust seen and give anecdotes and “isms” about herexperiences on the show. I went to interview herand find out all about the lady behind the diva. Iactually most enjoyed being in her presence andgoing out after for a gin-soaked good time, runninginto one of the other contestants, Detox, andhaving a good ol’ fashioned girls’ night out withprobably the nicest queen I’ve ever met. It was thenthat I realized she is the girl who has it all: beauty,talent and brains, and just because she’s not realityTV material doesn’t mean that Honey Mahoganywon’t become a household name.What I admire most about Honey and all the otherqueens on the show is they are taking a risk andputting themselves out there, and to that I say, “Youbetter werq!” Come see who wins every Monday atTry-Angles. Go to itshoney.com to learn more aboutMs. Honey and see her music video.26 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 27

Mike Brown’sMonthly DirtBabies!By Mike BrownTwitter: @FuckmikebrownAfter every Father’s Day weekend, I roll out of bedand warily check my mailbox. Bill, bill, junk, bill,porno mag, bill, junk and bill: nothing exciting orout of the norm, but a sigh of relief and a little waveof happiness drapes over me. Why? Because therewere no Father’s Day cards lumped in there with allthe other crap.In fact, here’s a good Father’s Day prank to pull onyour slutty buddies: Forge a bunch of Father’s Daycards and exploit them for alimony. You would haveto make the handwriting all pretty like a girl’s, andnot all chicken-scratchy like mine, and you couldjust steal some baby pictures off of a Google imagesearch, and simply say you’ll accept alimony paymentsin cash to a random PO Box.Much like I described losing friends to mortgagesand marriages in my February article, I have lost afriend or two to a baby. I don’t get bitter towardsbabies for not being able to kick it with my buddiesthe same way I would be mad about them choosinghousework or their wives over me, though. Mostly becausethey choose to get locked into a mortgage witha great APR and decide to get married. Most of myfriends who create another human with their respectivepenises didn’t really choose it. The kid was like a50-car pileup on an icy I-15 freeway: an accident.Accidents happen in life. You can’t get mad at themor avoid them. Cars crash, people trip and fall, myfavorite pair of pants gets diarrhea-ed, meth labsexplode and condoms break. I guess that’s whywhenever I hear one of my friends slipped one pastthe goalie, I have the same reaction as if I had justheard they fell off a cliff: “Oh, fuck!”I wonder what the statistic is for planned spawningversus sexual mishaps? Even big Mormon familiesseem to always have that one youngest kid who’s,like, seven years younger than the rest of theirsiblings. I’m surprised Republicans haven’t sponsoreda study on accidental births, reason being it wouldstrengthen a lot of stupid political stances in my opinion.I can hear Orrin Hatch saying now, “Oh, youwant free healthcare? Well, you weren’t supposed tobe born anyway, so go get fucked!” [Editor’s Note:SLUG is not responsible for the political validity ofthis statement.]fucking accidents. I mean, seriously, I hear thatraising kids is hard work and goddamn expensive—who, for fuck’s sake, would plan on that? [Editor’sNote: According to a Google search, Mike Brown’sstatistic is actually accurate, as 49 percent of pregnanciesare unplanned.]Babies are usually pretty warm and cute, though.So, if you like warm and cute and expensive things,I could understand wanting to have one. If not, use acondom! Walk into Planned Parenthood and get onbirth control!Do people still stash their kids in a giant Easter eggbasket and doorbell ditch an orphanage or convent?That could be a great pro-abortion ad campaign.Instead of the coat hanger with the little cross outsign, a slogan saying something like, “There areonly so many doorsteps that will take your baby offyour hands without filing criminal charges. Chooseabortion instead!”All this aside, though, the older I get, the more I thinkI could or should have kids. When I was younger, Ithought that I never wanted little Mike Browns. I don’tknow why I feel this way—it’s not like I’m a girl andmy biological time-bomb clock is ticking. I could putmy sperm in my freezer and use it when I’m 70 if Ifeel like it.Nowadays, the thought of a couple little MikeBrowns running around pissing people off warms myheart a little bit. Since owning my cat, Jet Pack,I’m sure I can handle the responsibilities of havinga baby. I think I’ve got the basics down, which aredon’t drop them and don’t shake them. I’m sure Ican Google how to do everything else if I have anyquestions, or ask one of my Mormon sisters—they’veall had tons of babies.As far as I can tell, all babies really do is poop themselves,cry, drool, eat applesauce, giggle and sleepwhenever they want. It sounds just like what I put upwith living with Mike Abu. I can totally handle this.Whenever a baby does any of these things, I justhave to make a silly face at it and it will stop, right?And I’m great at making silly faces. This is going tobe too easy for me.The hardest part of having a baby, for me, is findinga chick who is willing to have my baby. All the shit Ihave to do leading up to actually making a baby hasgot to be way harder than actually raising the baby.Like going on dates (ugggh!) and falling in love andall that shit? For me, a baby will probably just haveto wait, because, at the rate I’m going, this couldtake a while.Photo: Jake VivoriMy gut feeling tells me that more than half of all babieswere accidents: not unwanted, but unplanned.That’s right, I believe that half of all humanity areThis photo of Mike Brown and a borrowed baby is sure toencourage abstinence … and a call to the DCFS.28 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 29

Photo: John BarkipleStill Standing StrongIt’s a rainy Sunday afternoon, and JeremyChatelain, Chad “Chubba” Smithand James Holder are sitting around atable, drinking coffee and swapping stories.The three of them are in full youth-revival mode,trying to remember details of things that happenednearly a quarter of a century ago.“I Googled ‘Insight’ and ‘straight edge’ theother day,” says Chatelain. “There’s some oldhardcore fanzine entry that comes up called‘straight edgers are dicks.’ It goes on to listall these bands and the reasons why they’redicks––and we’re on there.”Smith and Holder laugh, but are a little bitshocked at the same time. Chatelain gets excitedto tell the story and continues, saying,“It’s like, ‘Anybody ever heard of this stupidfucking band Insight from Utah? They camethrough New York City to play ABC No Rio,didn’t walk in the club until right before theyplayed, borrowed gear from Supertouchand didn’t even stick around to watch them. Dicks.’” Smith and Holder rememberthe exact show in question and everything that happened that day.“We had to park our van like seven blocks away!” says Holder.Along with singer Mark Olsen and bassist Doug Wright—who live in Californiaand New York, respectively, and were not present for the interview—guitarists Chatelain and Holder and drummer Smith make up Salt Lake’s firststraight edge band, Insight. They were only together for a brief period, from1988 to 1990, but were instrumental in shaping the hardcore scene in SaltLake City. They’re reuniting for two shows this month—the band’s first reunionin nearly 25 years.(L-R) Insight members Chad “Chubba” Smith, James Holderand Jeremy Chatelain are responsible for the birth of theSalt Lake hardcore music scene in the early ’90s, along withbandmates Mark Olsen and Doug Wright (not pictured).By Trevor Haletrevorhale@gmail.comThe conversation keeps going, discussing the seedy parts of cities and reminiscingabout being woken up from a nap by huge strangers reaching intothe van at a rest stop. It’s fun to listen to, but it’s even more fun to watch oldfriends interact. These three are clearly enjoying each other’s company again,and even though they’ve all played in bands together since, Insight is the onethat sticks out. The stories go on and the laughs continue as they talk about theband that they all cut their teeth in that gave them their first taste of somethingbigger than local fame.“Fast and loud” was the mantra of Insight, and they took influence fromhardcore bands of the era like Youth of Today, Minor Threat and 7 Seconds.They rapidly built a following by playing as often as they could. Showsat The Speedway Café and The Word got bigger and bigger, and their unique,crossover sound enabled them to fit with pretty much any hardcore band onthe stage. “It was a thirst for volume and a thirst for playing really, really fast,”says Holder. “Our half stacks were always turned all the way up.”Being the first outspoken straight edge band in Salt Lake, Insight were gainingpopularity in the early ’90s—not just in Salt Lake City, but all over the countryas well. Eventually, their debut 7”, Standing Strong, was re-released by VictoryRecords as What Will It Take in March of 1990, and they hit the roadwith lofty goals and the world at their fingertips. It was short lived, though, andthe band never made it past that one, six-song EP and a handful of compilationtracks.When Wright got married and had a kid straight out of high school, he putfamily first and wasn’t able to tour any longer. Real life came calling and threwa wrench in what had been a great thing. These five friends had grown up togetherover the course of a record and numerous tours with some of the biggesthardcore bands of the era. No one really wanted to continue on without the30 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 31

nowhere. The role of Otis in the films playedby the relatively obscure Bill Mosely or thehell-bent on revenge Sheriff Wydell (WilliamForsythe) would likely not have had the sameimpact if portrayed by other actors.For The Lords of Salem, Zombie got somehorror greats as well as some relativeunknowns. These include Patrica Quinn(The Rocky Horror Picture Show), DeeWallace—known for her role in E.T.—andCritters actress Judy Geeson as the modernwitch coven trio of Salem.Board up the windows.Grab your broomstick.Stash the ammo. Thereis an imminent Zombieinvasion coming.The conflict between the devil and all that isconsidered good is never-ending. Musician andfilmmaker Rob Zombie has become a modernmedia icon by writing and performing music andfilms exploiting that conflict—horror is his muse.Zombie is planning a spring invasion that willfeature a new studio album, a feature film and anaccompanying novel.The album, Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor,and the film, The Lords of Salem, have keptthe heavy metal star busy. Producing two bigprojects at the same time is a hefty task. Zombiesays that in the past, his method was to make analbum and go on tour, then focus exclusively onfilmmaking. Recently, he’s been trying to do bothsimultaneously. “I wanted to do both becauseI was finding people seem to have shorter andshorter memories. When I would shut down themusic for two years to do a movie, it felt like everytime I fired [the music] back up, it was harder,” hesays. “The momentum becomes greater when youkeep it going.”Zombie didn’t have much to say about VenomousRat Regeneration Vendor, which will be releasedApril 23 on T-Boy/UMe Records. “Whenyou create these things, you don’t know how todescribe them ... You’re so close on your ownsometimes,” he says.The first person other than the band to hear thealbum was his wife, Sheri Moon Zombie—afamiliar face to fans of Zombie’s films, as she’splayed significant roles in all of his movies, and isthe lead in Lords of Salem. Zombie said his wife’sreaction to the new record was straightforward.Moon Zombie detailed it as an updated version ofclassic White Zombie tunes—a nice mix of thebest of the old and the new. “I trust her opinion,so I guess that’s how I would describe it,” he says.Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor has ananthemic and catchy quality to it. Lyrically andmusically, Zombie is good at driving his upbeatand evil tunes into the skulls of his fans. The lyricalstyle of highly repetitive choruses combined withheadbang beats and guitar riffs appeal to hismany fans. Zombie talked about the mixed reviewsof his last albums since his hugely successful 1998solo debut, Hellbilly Deluxe. “I think about thesethings a lot—I think about my own career, and Iwatch other people’s careers,” he says. “Thingsalways go in cycles. You see it all the time for noapparent reason, whether it’s U2 or Ozzy. I’vehad those kind of moments where people havesort of ignored these records and suddenly theyfocus on this [new] record. That doesn’t mean theother records are better or worse. Things just sortof go like that.”Zombie has always managed to make hisinfluences noted from his love of classic monstermovies to the ’70s-style exploitation flicks or’80s hack n’ slash, gore and tits gratuity. TheLords of Salem pays homage to different sourceswhile retaining Zombie’s knack for beingoriginal. The film’s strengths are its interestingcharacters, visuals, notable absence of any CGIanimation and a stunning soundtrack crafted byZombie’s guitarist, John 5.The film—written, directed and produced byZombie—is his third original movie and fifthoverall. Not only is it dark, but it hits heavy onmany notes of differing horror staples includingwitches, Satanism, the occult, drug addiction,music, American history and religion.“It’s very different from the other films [I’ve made],but, truthfully, loving it or hating it has been thereaction to every single movie,” Zombie says. “I’vealways thought those are the only two reactionsyou can strive for—I certainly don’t want to strivefor someone going, ‘Eh, it was all right.’ I’d ratherBy Bryer Wharton • bryer@slugmag.comhave somebody say, ‘This is my favorite movie ofall time,’ or ‘This is the biggest piece of crap I’veever had to sit through.’”The Lords of Salem follows radio DJ HeidiHawthorne, a recovering drug addict rebuildingher life. A strange vinyl record personallyaddressed to her comes from a band describedonly as “The Lords.” When the record is played,its effects wreak havoc on Heidi physicallyand, more so, emotionally. A hidden historybecomes uncovered. Heidi is a descendant ofNathaniel Hawthorne, who burned a coven ofwitches alive in 1600s Salem. The witches puta curse on the women of Salem, specifically thedescendants of Hawthorne.“Two things change with [Heidi]: Her apartmentstarts off lit a certain way and meticulouslyclean—one of the ways she deals with heraddiction [is through her] OCD personality, soeverything has to be perfect and her clothes areall brightly colored, and as the movie progresses,the apartment gets more misplaced-looking untilit’s completely destroyed, and her clothes do,too—they get darker and drabber as the moviecontinues. I didn’t want to make it too obvious, butI wanted it to be enough,” says Zombie.Possibly the strongest moments of The Lords ofSalem come from its cast. Great actresses takeon lead and key roles. The obvious reason forthe women in lead roles is the film’s context of thewitches of Salem in the 1600s, burned at the stakeputting a curse on the women of Salem, Mass.The context of femininity in true Satanism and theoccult is also a factor—it’s a strong theme in thevery real worldviews of the true subject matter.Casting has always been a crucial part of Zombie’sfilmmaking process. Main characters in The Devil’sRejects and House of 1000 Corpses who madehuge impacts in the films seemed to come out ofGeeson has many screen moments thatwill hit the viewer hard in unexpected anduncomfortable ways. 1600s witch covenleader Margret Morgan, played by MegFoster (They Live), is initially portrayed inflashbacks of the 1600s and creeps her wayinto modern-day Salem in different forms,providing not only a creepy performance,but also some scary visuals with her unique,natural eye color. Sheri Moon Zombie in thelead, a fan/critic love-or-hate actress, gives,easily, her best film performance.“This movie in particular, even more than myother ones, I’m trying to make things that lastso that if you watch it a second time, you go,‘Wait a minute, I didn’t notice that thing wasover there.’ Sometimes you see a movie andit can be really entertaining, but it feels like,‘I pretty much got it—I don’t ever need to seethat movie again,’” says Zombie.When it comes to modern horror in film, therearen’t many masters. It feels like the filmmakerswho impact us in horror make movies that leadus to question the supernatural, or films that letus make sense of the horror and complexitiesof life. A movie quote from the 1963 version ofThe Haunting also plays as the intro of a classicWhite Zombie song, “Super-Charger Heaven”:“Look, I know the supernatural is something thatisn’t supposed to happen, but it does happen.”It’s the appeal of horror films. “Everything Iwrite becomes personal to me. In a sense,every character I create is me in a different wayor somebody I know,” says Zombie.The Lords of Salem is scheduled for releaseApril 19. Zombie and author B.K. Evensonwrote the literary adaptation of The Lords ofSalem—which, in essence, is the director’s cutof the theatrical film. The novel is availablenow through Grand Central Publishing.As far as Zombie’s music, it stands alone.Zombie remains a major influence in rockand heavy metal music. White Zombiecame to the limelight when the metal of the’80s was dying and grunge rock was beingborn—nu-metal would soon follow. Zombie’smusical impact (from band to solo artist) withthe audience stems from the feeling that hisstyle is an antithesis of grunge rock, but alsonot quite metal, giving it a less niche-drivenaudience. There’s a reason you can buy aT-shirt that says Rob Mother Fucking Zombiewith disfigured images of the rocker. You don’thave to like his music or movies, but there is noescaping the fact Zombie’s not going away—and his impact has already taken root.Illustration: Sean Hennefer36 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 37

By the time you read this, spring will be in full swing, the days will be longer and sunnier, andUtah’s coldest winter in recent history will be just a memory. However, this photo was taken Feb.16. It was the first time temperatures had climbed to nearly 50 degrees in months. It was the firsttime Brodie had skated in two weeks, the first time this rail had ever been skated, and it was thefirst time he had done this trick on a round rail. It’s always a pleasure to shoot with you, Brodie.Brodie Penrod––Backside 180 Nosegrind––American Fork, UTBy Weston Coltonwestoncolton.com38 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 39

POUNDING THE PAVEMENTBy Steven GoemaatA DAY WITH KWAMI ADZITSOstgoemaat@gmail.comCalm, cool and collected: That’s thebest way to describe Kwami Adzitso.He’s a humble dude just looking tohave the most fun he can, doing whathe loves––and that is skateboarding.Kwami is the kind of kid who wouldget as hyped on nollie heel flipping aten stair as he would on half cabbinga parking block. If it involves skating,Kwami is there, and chances are, hewill be rifling off tricks one after another.With sponsorships including AkompliceClothing, Haberdasher Clothing, BCSurf and Sport and ADO Lifestyle,Kwami is well on his way to coming upin the industry and making a name forhimself. I got a chance to sit down withKwami and talk skateboarding. Fromthe past to the present, and with somespeculation on the future, Kwami and Icovered it all.SLUG: Where are you from and whydid you start skateboarding?Kwami: I was born in Ghana, Africaand lived there till I was 11. I came tothe U.S. in 2001 and lived in Buffalo,N.Y. for just under a year till I movedto Kearns, Utah, where I have beenever since. My homie Matt, whowas a little bit older, would alwaysbe cruising around our apartments ona skateboard. I never even saw onebefore, so one day I was like, “Yo, whatis that?” and he let me try it out. Laterthat week, my mom got me a boardfrom Kmart and that was it.SLUG: How was it growing up andliving in Ghana?Kwami: I don’t remember much frommy childhood, but I got the chanceto go back there in 2010, and it wascrazy. There are houses up and downthe street with people selling food andthings out front all the time. There’s notreally a city or anything like that––it isstill very tribal. Luckily, education is onething that is in place and pushed uponchildren. I still have a lot of family there.Kwami Adzitso, nollie heel.Photo: Weston ColtonSLUG: Is your family your biggestmotivation right now?Kwami: Yes, I want to take skatingto the point where I can help myfamily. I want to one day be able totake skateboarding to Ghana andshow everyone what it is all about.They don’t have much over there, andskating would be a great thing for thecommunity. I own land there, and oneday I am going to put a skate parkthere. I’ll have anyone and everyonecome through: If you’re down for thecause, you’re coming to skate my park!SLUG: You recently put out a clip onthe Akomplice website. How’d you gethooked up with them?Kwami: John Morse, the teammanager, hit me up on Instagram andsaid, “Hey man, I like what you’redoing, and I like your style. Send ussome videos and if we like it, we’ll send40 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 41

Kwami Adzitso is determined to make a better lifefor everyone around him through skateboarding.Photo: Weston ColtonKwami Adzitso, backside 180.Photo: Weston Coltonyou some stuff.” Since then, they’ve been hooking it up,keeping me fresh!SLUG: Who do you skate with?Kwami: My boy Sergio, Rickey Chavez andMitchell Shultz—that’s my filmer.SLUG: What is your favorite part about living in SaltLake?Kwami: I love the diversity. There are so manydifferent kinds of people here and so many differentcultures. It’s crazy, all the people that you can meethere that are from all different backgrounds.Kwami: I want to get through school and eventuallymove to Cali and just skate all of the time. I’mmajoring in business management and I want toown my own company one day. Just like guys likeTerry Kennedy and Stevie Williams, I want to be abusinessman and a skater.SLUG: You were recently in the Element: Make It Countcontest down in Arizona. How was your experience?Kwami: It was so much fun. We didn’t place (thedudes I was with or myself), but I was psyched on myskating, and I got some tricks I wanted to. The park,Caesar Chavez Plaza, was amazing. It was like theStreet League features, just smaller, but so much fun. Igot to meet the winner, too, Deshawn Jordan, andthat kid rips.SLUG: Do you plan to keep on with the contest scene?Kwami: Definitely. I want to do every contest I canand travel and just get my name out there. Judges liketo see familiar faces at contests, and it is a good wayto meet other people in the industry. My next contest isthe Phoenix Am this month.SLUG: Besides contests, what else motivates you topush yourself skateboarding?Kwami: DGK [Skateboards]. I follow that team andlove what those guys do: guys like Keelan Dadd,Lenny Rivas, Stevie Williams, Marquise Henryand all those dudes. Kayo It’s Official is my all-timefavorite video, so it’d just be sick to be a part of thatone day.SLUG: What’s your dream skate session in Salt Lake?Kwami: Ho damn! Probably Keelan Dadd, StevieWilliams, Lenny Rivas, Deshawn Jordan, my boySergio, my boy Rickey and myself all skating Park Cityskate park. That’d be a dope session right there!SLUG: What are some tricks you are working on rightnow?Kwami: Nollie tre-flips and nollie-heel crooks. Nollieheelflips are one of my favorite tricks, so I got to step itup and throw it into a crooked grind now.SLUG: What does the future hold for you as far asvideo parts?Kwami: Well, I’d like to get a part done for thebeginning of the summer, and another for the end of thesummer. BC has asked me for a part, and Akomplicesaid that if I make a part, they would help me promoteit, so I am hyped on that. I’m taking a trip to Cali thissummer to San Clemente and maybe hit up San Diegoto do some skating. I put out a part from Herriman SkatePark not too long ago for the homies to watch and keepeveryone excited.SLUG: What are some of your other plans forthe future?SLUG: Any last words or anyone you would like tothank?Kwami: Definitely! First, I’d like to thank my bighomie, John Morse, for hooking it up with Akomplice.All my sponsors for keeping me laced up. I’d like tothank my girlfriend for supporting me and having myback with everything. My homie Sergio, Mitch, my boyJulian “Juicy J” and my family for supporting mewith everything!With some serious goals to shoot for and thedetermination to put in the hard work to get him there,Kwami is one of the most focused skaters I have evertalked to. His ability on a skateboard speaks for itselfand his fun-loving personality leaves an imprint on thepeople whom he comes in contact with. It is inspiringto see how much he cares about what he is doing andthe people whom he wants to affect in the long run.People like Kwami are what drive the skate communitytoward constant progression. You can check outKwami’s videos on YouTube at iFilmSLC’s channel, hiscommercial for Akomplice at akomplice-clothing.comand follow him on Instagram and Twitter at Kwami_Flexx. You can also catch Kwami cruising the meanstreets of SLC any given day—or temperature—ofthe week.42 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 43

WinterWizardryWickednessBy Tim Kronenberg / tkronenberg@msn.comPhoto: Katie PanzerIt was well before sunrise on the morning of Saturday, March 16, whenthe SLUG crew met up at the office and prepared to embark on theirextensively planned journey into the Great White North, otherwise knownas the land of Ogden. The nerds had taken their stand at Brighton andleft triumphant. Their calculated maneuvers, however, were no match forthe beast that The SLUG Games was about to unleash upon the realm ofSnowbasin Resort for the first time in history. The beast would come to beknown as Winter Wizardry Presented by Scion.The wizards had declared battle. All that was left now was the hunt for aworthy proving ground in which these youthful skiers and snowboarderscould compete. Snowbasin’s Terrain Park Manager Tim Eastley wasappointed the important task, and along with his terrain park staff, Eastleywas able to construct a world-class arena on-hill and slightly offset fromSnowbasin’s Earl’s Lodge. Local artist Dusk painted the spellbinding funboxes, and wizard-manufacturer Tommy Dolph created an army ofsorcerers to stand as sentries along the course. In the mix of the wizardswere two 25-foot down boxes, a gap to 20-foot wizard wand, a cheesewedge box jump and a 30-foot kicker for good measure. The highlight,of course, would have to be either the quarter pipe feature, located at thebottom of the course, with multiple plans for attack, or the plaza feature,which is a 100-percent replica of the famous Burlington High Schoolstair-set in Vermont. This gargantuan feature brags one flat-to-closeout railfollowed by an immediate 15- to 20-foot drop. To the right of the flat rail isan accompanying 10-flat-10-stairset featuring one down-flat-down kinkedrail to the far right, and its twin anchored to the wall as a “creeper” ledgeon the far left. This is all mumbo-jumbo in “people talk,” but in the worldof immortal wizards and action sports, something this big can only bedescribed as “high-risk.”As 11 o’clock crept up, SLUG staffers and park crewalike helped put the finishing touches on the alreadystunning course, Uinta Brewing poured fresh draftsof potion and shot games of corn hole, RAMP Sportsoffered free ski and snowboard demos and Park City’sSwitchback Sports offered free wand waxes for theshreddy masses. Scion and Yelp also joined in withthe rest of the tent village to offer hot chocolate anda few handouts to kick off the games with a bang.However, no one could have possibly predicted themagnitude of the blood shedding and rail-shreddingonslaught that was about to ensue.Men’s Ski Open: (L-R) 2nd Zachary Jenkins, 1st Rich Frogh, 3rd Matt Newton.Ken Russell sneaking up on the creeper.Photo: Katie PanzerWarm-ups came shortly after final touches weretweaked, and faster than DJ Slap N’ Tickle (akaJeremy Riley) could take his place atop the 20-foottall quarter pipe/podium to blast his retrograde-’80sdancepop-gangsterbeats, they were off! This was alsoabout the same time that resident wizard and SLUGGames Events Coordinator Mike Brown stepped upon the podium to take a better look just in time to beflown over, as rider Ken Russell gap-to-cardboardwizardtapped over the QP and judges underhead.By high noon, snowboard judges Matty Ryan,Blake Payne, Lena Nance and ski judges IanWade, Blake Nyman and Molly Morris were inplace waiting for the show while emcees BJ Emeryand myself laid down the law of the land. It wasdecided that every heat of competitors, four in all,Mike Brown The Purple chargingwand his wand on a Scion on a Scion car.Mike Brown The Purple charginghis car.Women’s Ski Open: 1st Tara Woodward.44 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 45Photo: Jesse AndersonPhoto: Katie Panzer

would get half an hour each to hike the incline-intensive course with finalsconsisting of the five best riders from each of their respected divisions, allgoing together for the last half hour.Shortly following the riders’ meeting, skiers and snowboarders from the17-and-under division began their half hour with stick slides on boxesand ended with all sorts of hip transfers and rodeos over and aroundthe QP while still holding back their best tricks for finals. Snowbasin’shardworking park crew was at the ready just as the young bucks finishedtheir heat and cleaned up features while the open division made theirway to the top of the hill. Returning champion Tara Woodward, theonly female skier of the day, showed judges that she came to Snowbasineven more prepared to destroy the enemy with her style than she was atBrighton in January. Was it just by chance that no other women showedup to ski that day, or were Woodward’s first place-earning switch landingsthe intimidation factor? Not even Saruman’s sharp, gusty winds, whichcarried away event tents throughout the day, could hold back the tirelesssouls, especially Zeke Greer’s multiple kinked gap-to-down rail hucksas he and everyone else got to know the arena better and better eachrun. At stake were prizes from Saga Outerwear, RAMP Sports, Milosport,Mica Watches, Nope Snowboards, Salty Peaks, Crossroads Boardshop,Discrete Headwear and Ogden’s very own Lucky Slice Pizzeria.Two o’clock came by in less than no time, meaning that the broken-incourse was finally ready for the best of the best to put all their chips on thetable one last time. With the First Place podium titles still up for grabs, thecontest’s survivors turned up the heat and started putting in work. To makeit easier, Snowbasin’s park crew even gave hikers lifts to the top of thehill, making for faster runs and more opportunities for wicked tricks. SkierRich Frogh was one of the first point-earning finalists when he switchgap to skier-slided the competition’s only down rail to 270 out. This wouldultimately win Frogh one set of RAMP Skis for best ski trick. Not to beoutdone by skiers, Ken Russell was back at it, sliding 50-50s to 360s outfrom the flat-closeout rail to drop. Toward the end, Russell even got closeto landing a double backflip over the QP. It was definitely more than hisdreadlocks that would win him a brand new Nope Snowboard and thehonor of best trick. These tricks were only a few of the otherwise attemptedhardway-front-270s on the kinked rail, hang ups on the closeout andbashes on the boxes, which ultimately led to leaky nostrils, dislocations,shattered bones and bad-ass war stories.Rich Frogh over the SLUG letters and onlookers.Photo: cezarynaWhen BJ Emery’s voice boomed over the speakers one last time, weknew that our champions were ready to be revealed. As no surprise tothe men’s snowboard division, Ken Russell proved to be reigning champfor his overall consistency and fluidity. Nipping at Russell’s heels wasnone other than Zeke Greer, who more than earned Second Place, andAlex Paxson who finished in third. Our women snowboarders startedand finished their day knowing that they were the only, and lucky, three.All Shauna Russell had to do before she won first place was to beslicker than her other two adversaries, Mandie Kaneko and AnnaGussendorf, who landed Second and Third Places, respectively. ChaseSwanson’s name was the first to be called out for the 17-and-underdudes, snatching up a Third Place win. Slightly up the chain of commandwas Max Greeley taking up Second, followed by Trevor Otterston,the First Place flyer.Photo: cezarynaDylan Harsell, gap to FS boardslide onthe kink.Ryan and Chris from SwitchbackSports giving free wax jobs.Photo: Ben MeliniWith skiers eagerly awaiting to hear their names be called, Emery shiftedhis attention to the plank walkers. Frogh would come to be the judges’ideal choice for a First Place win. Close behind was Zachary Jenkinsand Matt Newton, who were ecstatic to take home the titles of secondand third. The 17-and-under skiers were especially tricky to judge,considering that there were so many of them and that some of them werehitting rails on tele skis. As the day came to a close, Milan Peyrin wascrowned First Place for his determination. Jackson Jenkins followed inSecond Place, and Parker Caldwell took away Third.As The SLUG Games Winter Wizardry Presented by Scion came to asuccessful end, winners climbed to their victory on the QP, where MikeBrown The Purple handed out bedazzled trophy wands and awaitedChristmas-esque, mall-style photos (minus the Santa and plus onewizardous Utah Jazz fan) with those deemed worthy of making a podiumappearance. Our long list of generous sponsors also made sure to leaveus with enough freebies to give everyone a fighting chance at walkingaway gifted, thus creating a spiraling product toss hurricane for the books.If this year’s contest passed you by, fear not, the beast will be back nextyear fully rested with more surprises already being planned!Women’s Snow Open: (L-R) 1stShauna Russell, 2nd MandieKaneko, 3rd Anna Gussendorf (notpictured).Photo: Katie PanzerMen’s Snow Open: (L-R) 2ndZeke Greer, 1st Ken Russel, 3rdAlex Paxson.Photo: Katie Panzer46 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 47

Arnette SunglassesDropout/Witch Doctorarnette.comI bumped into a friend who complimented me on mynew sunglasses, a pair of aqua Arnette Dropouts withgrey lenses, which sparked a conversation in whichwe agreed on the following personal eyewear rules:1) We can’t wear $5 sunglasses from the gas station.2) Seeing the world through high-quality, UV protectedlenses is important to us. 3) “Expensive” sunglasses areworth every penny. 4) High-quality eyewear doesn’tget lost as often as cheap eyewear. Arnette sunglassesmeet these standards, and are not tawdry whatsoever.The next day, I decided to try out another style fromArnette’s new eyewear line, the Witch Doctor. Theseshades have more of a square shape, as opposed tothe square-yet-rounded edges of the Dropouts. Bothdesigns are available in several flashy colors, andI love my Dropouts in bright aqua with a crackedpattern on top. A girl needs variety to accommodateher wardrobe, though, and I was happy to have theWitch Doctors in basic black with a high-gloss coatingand grey lenses. These witchy shades look high-fashionwhen paired with red lipstick and hair pulled back. Thisis why I love the new line of sunglasses coming out ofArnette: They’re high-quality, fashionable sunglassesthat I can wear on the street or the mountain. Arnette’spride in craftsmanship and design shows, as each pairis made in Italy. The Dropout and the Witch Doctorinclude a set of interchangeable temples, in case I wantto switch up the look of my sunnies or trade templeswith a friend while drunk at the bar. –Augusta AdamsBravenBraven 650braven.comThe Braven 650 instantly became my new favoriteway to listen to music. Although the Braven doesn’thave as much bass as I was hoping for, it provides aclear, crisp sound at any volume level. However, theBraven is not just a speaker: It also charges your phoneand can be daisy-chained with another speaker to upyour listening pleasure—I even used it as a mini ampto prepare for my first DJ night a few weeks ago. Thebutton features make listening a breeze. You can holddown the volume buttons to skip a song, and press thephone button to pause/play songs. You can also pressthe phone button (and utilize the built-in noise-cancelingmicrophone) to answer incoming calls. The slim designand carrying bag make it easy to take on the go. Itook my new little friend on a recent road trip, and itwas the perfect sound system to have in the hotel room.The 20-hour battery life is amazing. I listened to musicfor almost two weeks before I had to charge it again.Did I mention Braven is a local company, based out ofProvo? I heart local! Braven offers five different stylesof speakers, including a waterproof, outdoor speaker.With a price range of $120 to $190, dependingon the features you prefer, the Braven is fairly pricedcompared to similar wireless speakers, and definitelyworth it. –Karamea PuririGoal ZeroGuide 10 Plus Adventure Kitgoalzero.comNever before has the power of the sun been so easyto harness. This compact solar panel and batterycharger enables adventurers of all types to capturethe sun’s energy to power electronic devices and savethe planet. Bluffdale, Utah–based Goal Zero has amission to provide the outdoor world with simple,efficient devices to keep people off the grid. The kitincludes the renowned Nomad 7 foldable solar panel,Guide 10 battery charger with four AAA batteries, andmultiple accessory cables for different applications.The adventure kit enables users to charge small deviceslike smart phones in one hour. It can also boost yourtablet, GPS or camera battery life. The Guide 10 evenhas a small LED that will run for 150 hours on a singlecharge. A backup USB cable is included to charge thebattery pack when the clouds are too thick. Travelingwith the compact kit is great since it only takes upabout as much room as a notebook. The zipperedmesh pocket on the back holds all accessories andhas enough room for a few other items. It has savedmy electronics in a pinch and makes me feel goodthat I am using alternative energy. Goal Zero also hasstrong initiatives in developing countries to proliferatesustainable power and spearhead humanitarian effortsduring disaster relief situations. –Sean Zimmerman-WallXotovoKaptur 270xotovo.comOf all the glorified hunks of plastic in this world, theKaptur 270, made by Salt Lake company Xotovo, isthe one you won’t realize you needed until you watchtwo hours worth of “Harlem Shake” videos on YouTube.When I ripped this baby out of its package, it wasmerely to provide a stand for my iPhone so I coulddo some hands-free Skype sessions with the fam, butnow it’s opened me up to a whole new level of digitalprostitution. After popping your iPhone out of its case,just slide it into one side of the Kaptur 270, move italong its 270-degree axis to get the angle you want,press record, and start your sex-cam session! TheKaptur 270 even has a thread so you can attach it toa tripod, for those aspiring to enter the “homemade”category on PornHub. I will warn you, however, thatwhen I say “hunk of plastic,” I mean it. I broke thekickstand off almost immediately from pushing it out toofar, and if this were left on the floor, even a bare footwould smash it to pieces. The $40 they want for this ispretty ridiculous—I wouldn’t spend more than $10, andthat’s just because a roll of tape and a used book arearound $5, and I’d be saving $5 worth of time. So, ifyou can find it somewhere cheap, the Kaptur 270 willbring a new “steadiness” to iPhone creations, but if youdon’t have Kim Kardashian’s ass, it’s probably notworth it. –Esther MeroñoZensahSmart Touch Running Gloveszensah.comI must have been a chain smoker when I was a toddlerand blacked it out, because, even well into spring, thecirculation in my hands is awful, as they are alwayscold and on the precipice of pain in comparison to therest of my body—that is, up until I got my Zensah SmartTouch Running Gloves. Like my Polarmax base layers,these gloves provide a second layer of insulated skinfor my hands, but with the added bonus of being ableto operate my iPhone: The tips of the thumb, index andbird fingers are made of a silvery, smooth fabric thatemulates the fleshy contact of real fingers, which camein handy when I was at a light on my bicycle in thesnow and wanted to switch to All Pigs Must Die fromOff With Their Heads when the slow song camearound, to keep my momentum. One criticism I haveis that the glove fits fine on my fingers, but the thumbportion is too long for my thumb, which would be fine,except it limits the efficiency of smart-phone use. This,however, might be because I have carny hands (I don’tthink I smell like cabbage, though). Another greatfeature that these gloves have are the suede-like backsof the thumbs, which serve as great pre-snot wipers. Iclip these bad boys together with their buckles so theydon’t get lost in my abysmal backpack, and the gripon the palms is great for gripping my handlebars orstacking SLUG Mags. –Alexander Ortega48 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 49

Take a Look, It’s in a BookBy Esther Meroño • esther@slugmag.comWhen I was in third grade, I had threecareer paths in mind for my future: tobe a writer like Barbara Park, to bea ballerina so I could wear tutus all dayor to be a dinosaur-hunting version ofIndiana Jones. This column is no Skinnybonesor Kid in the Red Jacket, but Isquirt soy milk out of my nose at leastonce every couple of months thinkingabout my jokes. I also volunteered atthe old Natural History Museum for alittle while scraping dirt off dinosaurbones, and I bet you wouldn’t knowfrom looking at me that I swap mypants for a fluffy pink skirt every nightwhen I’m home alone. So, I’d say I’vefulfilled all of my childhood dreamsin some form or another (though itturns out that all the guys who looklike Disney princes are assholes). Ofcourse, unless I wanted to stay in aperpetual state of “undeclared,” orspend my 20s racking up a varietyof useless undergrad degrees, I hadto pick one direction to really focuson, so being an astute (and sociallyanxious) 8-year-old, I picked writing. Inorder to become a good writer, in mostprofessionals’ opinions, you have tobe a good reader––and reading everysingle Goosebumps book doesn’t count.I read A LOT as a kid. Probably halfof my friends at that age were bribedby my mother to get me outside toplay, ‘cause if I had it my way, I’d stayinside and read (and snack #fbg4lyfe)all day.The thing about … well, anything … isthat once people start telling you thatyou’ve been doing it wrong, that youhave to do it their way and you HAVEto do it or you’re not gonna pass, youdon’t really want to do it anymore. Istopped reading for fun about a yearinto my English bachelor’s. Oddlyenough, it wasn’t until I started bikingthat I felt OK enough with reading inmy free time to drop the TV remoteand run my eyes through a couple ofparagraphs here and there. It all beganwith the Bike Snob NYC blog. I wasworking as the door girl at Brewvies––which essentially meant I’d stare downmy nose at kids my age and demand tosee their IDs in between writing collegepapers––and picked up on readingthe latest Bike Snob post during myshift. He was the main influence of thiscolumn, obviously, though I only chose“Beautiful Godzilla” as the title because“Feminist Bicycle Rants” was alreadytaken by some anarchists in Brooklyn.At the time, the man behind the snarky,lighthearted posts was a mystery toall, but he became my top “celebrity”to run into one day, followed closelybehind by Tina Fey and the blondedistrict attorney in Law and Order: SVU.Fortunately for both parts of my fantasy,Bike Snob wrote one of the mostforthright and comprehensive guides tocycling, a self-titled book that combinesthe wit and cynicism of his blog (andall the best references and inside jokes)with a really down-to-earth approachon bikes and bicycling. As a result ofthis piece of literature, the identity ofBike Snob was released (How else washe going to tour and sign autographs?)and Eben Weiss was uncovered asthe man behind the curtain. This willmake it so much easier to stalk him.Bike Snob still writes a daily blogpost, and though I don’t follow it asreligiously as I did a few years ago,it still holds up. He has also sincewritten another book, The EnlightenedCyclist, which delves into more of thephilosophy and spirituality of cycling.You’d think he’d juiced cycling culturecompletely dry at this point––I definitelystruggle to find content, and I onlyhave to write this once a month––butit’s fresh and funny as ever. Even ifyou’re not THAT into bikes, and someof the references go over your head, Idefinitely recommend checking it out atbikesnobnyc.blogspot.com (You knowit’s gonna be good ‘cause he hasn’teven bothered to purchase a domain).I’ve read a handful of bike books sincethen, and though they’re informative,they’re pretty lackluster when comparedto Bike Snob. I suggest buyingboth books, whether you’re thinkingabout purchasing a bike, or have beenhustling on two wheels all your life. Youcan order both over at chroniclebooks.com/bikesnob. The weather should benice enough by now that you can fill abackpack full of snacks and books, andride your bike to the park to camp outfor an afternoon. I’m looking to starta new chapter of the Pagemasterzbook club, so hit me up if you wantto read.50 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 51Illustration: Ryan Perkins

our conscience. I believe thattype of firearm violence can begreatly reduced. There havebeen 60-plus mass shootingsin this country in the past 30years. One sixth of them (andthe worst), have occurred inthe past five years.Illustration: Sean HenneferDear Cop,According to the FBI Criminal JusticeInformation Services, 6,200 individualswere killed by handguns in 2001,which accounts for 72% of the totalof gun-related deaths for that type ofweapon. The other weapon types includerifles (4%), shotguns (4%), otherguns (1%) and undisclosed (18%).The Obama administration and otherpoliticians have focused primarily onlimiting accessibility to high-poweredrifles and large-capacity magazines,which clearly does not speak to themajority of gun-related deaths inour country.What is the point in reapplying aban on assault weapons or outlawingmagazines that have the capacity tocarry more than 10 rounds of ammunition,when approximately 3 out of 4deaths are the result of handguns?I would offer that the rise ofmass shootings, coupled witheach shooting competing to bemore horrendous than the last,corresponds with the constantmedia, social networking,instant mobile update, TMZ societywe now live in. There arepsychos out there who will doanything—like mass shootingsof little children—to becomeimmortalized. The point ofany ban should be to focus oneliminating any impetus or motivationto commit these horrificacts. Banning assault weaponsor high capacity magazineswill not do that, as your statisticclearly shows.The insane nutjobs tell us whythey commit these acts. TheyFacebook it, write manifestosand release YouTube videos.The commonality is they wantto be celebrated or remembered.What better way toaccomplish this than killing alot of first graders?Some solutions I’d like to offerin place of banning assaultweapons and high-capacitymagazines:1. Media should cease tocover, report, discuss, comment,refer or infer, anythingabout mass shootings. Anytype of media that glorifiesa psycho mass killer shouldcease to exist.52 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 53–Jimmy MartinSir James:I think your inference thatthere is no point is correct.How would an assault rifle/magazine ban stop firearmdeaths? I think the politicos’ intention,by even considering it,is to promote the appearancethat they’re doing somethingand are not impotent.Firearm violence, as an effectof criminal acts such as gangwarfare, robbery, drugs,domestic violence, etc. hasalways been a part of Americanculture. I don’t believe thattype of firearm violence canbe stopped. The issue of anassault weapon/magazine bancomes up every time there’sa mass shooting that shocks2. We should stop buying orplaying any video game thatimmortalizes mass killing.3. No one should be allowed toown or sell a firearm without abackground check. We shoulddo everything within ourcontrol to make it as difficult aspossible for a psycho killer toget a gun.4. We should have armed andtrained security officers, cops,ex-cops, military, ex-military,even teachers in every softtarget like malls, markets,schools, whatever, as a firstline of defense, until the psychoschoose new targets. Whenthey do, we protect themas well.Have a question for the cop?Email askacop@slugmag.com!

Back to the Basic: GalleryStrolling at UMOCABy Mariah Mellusmariah@slugmag.comI like to think of myself as an efficientperson. Truthfully, I get a little thrill fromcramming my schedule to see howmuch I can get done in one hour or oneday. When it comes to gallery strolling,I want to see as much brilliant art aspossible in the amount of time I haveallotted. So, when a gallery or museumoffers a variety of outstanding exhibitshappening simultaneously, that venuemakes it to the top of my hit list.UMOCA, located at 20 S. West Temple,has been the foundation for contemporaryart in Utah since 1931. With fourgallery spaces featuring international,national and local art, you’re likely tosee something that inspires, delights ortouches you—usually a little of each.It’s safe to say that manners andetiquette are not this generation’sstrong suit. Technology keeps us overlyconnected with the world, so muchthat we forget to connect with thosestanding right next to us. For the recentdOCUMENTA13 exhibit in Kassel,Germany, artist Ana Prvacki wascommissioned to create a series ofpublic service announcements, now atthe UMOCA in an exhibit titled NeutralizeNegative Feelings, March 1 – April27. These PSAs were meant to helpone navigate awkward social situationssuch as spinach in one’s teeth, or theamount of personal space a personshould be given, but the message isalways one of respect and politeness.Prvacki incorporated etiquette counselorVartouhi Keshishyan and comedygroup The Intecollectuals, whichmakes for credible, yet witty skits. ThePSAs, played on a flat screen, areaccompanied by embroidered linens, amore traditional approach to remindingone of how to behave. The messageremains the same, but the tools fordelivering it have evolved. For thosewith embroidery or quilting skills whocrave the old sewing circle, UMOCAwill host the Friday night Embroideryand Etiquette Club March 1 – April 27from 6-8 p.m. Come stitch and bitchwith a new etiquette topic each week.For more details on the club, contactEmily King atemily.king@utahmoca.org.It doesn’t get more basic than an 8.5x 11–inch piece of paper, found inabundance in every office in the world.When Ignacio Uriarte sat day inand day out in an office, though, thisbusiness administrator found his artisticexpression. Binaries, open March 1– June 15, takes the very basic officesupplies––paper, rulers, markers and“Marinated Film,” by JenniferWest, part of the Analogitalexhibit at UMOCA. ImageCourtesy the artist, Marc FoxxGallery, Los Angeles andVilma Gold, London.type size––and creates a dynamicand thought-provoking exhibit. Cleanlines, great depth and very clever, Ihighly recommend popping in to seethis show. Highlights include a largeA4 paper installation entitled “DoubleRhombus” ––82 x 18.2 inches of plain,white paper folded to create depth, motionand color. “Ascending Type” takestype size from a 32 to 1024, evoking afeeling of place and size while offeringinfinite options within type size. In “FourGeometry Sets,” a wall of ultrachromeprints reflects various shapes andshades made from layering and arrangingeveryday rulers.From calm and clean, to chaotic andsporadic, the Analogital exhibit ––Jan.18 – April 20—could have used a triggerwarning: “This exhibit could invokeseizures, or, at the very least, a mindnumbingheadache.” If you thought thedial-up modem was annoying, wait untilyou hear Mark Leckey’s refrigeratorvoice tell you about his many featureswhile traveling through space and timevia a green screen, and I can’t evenbegin to explain why 14 televisions in aback room were showing snippets of aMeatloaf concert. As with our moderncommunication, we wade through thestatic to find what we want or need.I was treated to a taste of my past ina piece titled “I Shot Andy Warhol.”Viewers play original Nintendo gameHogan’s Alley, but all the charactersare replaced with images of AndyWarhol. Analogital explores whereimagination and technology meet andhow that intersection might shape thefuture. My future has dinner plans, soI’m off with my total gallery time at onehour and 15 minutes. Who says youdon’t have time for a stroll?By Mike Riedelmikey@slugmag.comAny beer that you manage to get yourhands on has its own little sliver ofhistory to go along with it. I’m not talkingabout beers being made with thebrewer’s “beard yeast” or some crazedfringe zymurgist deciding to throw yaktesticles into his latest stout—I’m talkingabout culturally significant reasons whyone region’s beer is so much differentthan anothers. Looking back on Lentenseason (the six weeks leading up toEaster), I thought it would be appropriateto review some beers that wereoriginally designed especially for Lent.Bockbiers are some of Germany’sbigger beers, and they rank among theheaviest, maltiest and smoothest brewsin the world. German monks madethese beers primarily for their own consumptionto help them get through thefasting that accompanied Lent. So highin calories are bockbiers that they couldsustain a band of lonely, smelly monksall the way to Easter Sunday. Now wedrink them just because they’re so fuckingmalty and delicious. Here are somefine local examples.The DevastatorDouble BockBrewery/Brand:Wasatch/Utah BrewersCooperativeABV: 8.0%Serving Style: 12 oz. BottleDescription: The Devastator poursdark bronze with orange highlights.Take a whiff and your sniffer gets ahuge dose of earthy, dark fruits, overripefigs and strawberries, with justa bit of nutty bread underneath. As ithits your pie-hole, the taste mimics thenose with some highly earthy, overripedark fruit notes coming on early and astrong, heavy dose of figs, prunes anda bit of red berry. A dose of crusty maltprovides a nice bed underneath. Hopsare perceptible toward the long finish.Overview: This is a worthy exampleof a beer style that can range from“sucks” to “fruitcake”––a great, local,year-round lager.Double SkullDoppelbock LagerBrewery/Brand: EpicBrewing Co.ABV: 9.0%Serving Style: 22 oz. BottleDescription: This beer looks nice. Ithas a hazy, reddish-brown color with anice, dense, cream-colored head. Thenose is of grainy chocolate and toastedcaramel malts with some floral hops.After the Devastator, I was expectingmore chewy, dark fruits, but my tonguewas happy for a nice change of pace.The taste starts with sweet, grainychocolate and toffee malts with a littledark fruit rounding out the front end.Some grassy and floral hops comethrough in the end, leading to a dry,boozy finish.Overview: As it warms, some nice,leathery notes come out. This is a lesstraditional example, but it will help turnthat six-pack you’re sporting into a keg,toot-sweet!Cherny BockBrewery/Brand:Bohemian BreweryABV: 4.0%Serving Style: On Tap, CansDescription: This lager is muchdarker than the others, and it has ablack, ruby hue with a fine cap of tanhead. As soon as my nose got insidethe glass there was lot of dark fruit, aswell as some toffee and caramel malt. Ifyou like your beer boozy, you’re likelyto be a little disappointed. If you’reall about flavor, you’re going to go“Squeeeee!” The flavor is similar to thenose, with toffee, caramel, cocoa anda lot of dark fruit. There is also a nice,dry nuttiness in the finish.Overview: For such a light beer, ithas a full, round taste that can competewith its much more boozy and cloyingcounterparts. I’d say that this is moreof a hybrid of a Schwarzbier and aBock—a “Schwartzbock”? You can getit damn near everywhere, anytime.I have many more daily beer musingsin my arsenal. Check out the Utah BeerBlog (utahbeer.blogspot.com) for more ofmy bullshit.54 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 55Cheers!

If it doesn’t hurt your eyes, then your mind isn’tbending hard enough.The BridgeTy Taylor and MarioCastañeda/The QuantumAstrophysicists GuildReviewed On: PC (Exclusive)Street: 02.22The Bridge is a puzzle game aboutspinning in circles. Technically there’smore, as there are obstacles andgoals, and a story that spells outsomething about M.C. Escher andNewton to give meaning to yourspinning, but the game is more orless centered around spinning incircles, back and forth and aroundand around again. Think of it likethose little plastic mazes with thesilver ball bearings that you have toguide to the goal by tilting the wholething. The Bridge is exactly like that,except you guide your character,instead of a ball bearing, to a door.It also does a brilliant job of exposingjust how tedious those mazes arewhen you have to do them over andover. There are a couple of gimmicksto spice things up, like rewindingtime to reverse mistakes or, eventually,inverting gravity, but they’restill gimmicks solved by spinningin circles, one way or the other. It’sboring from a gameplay perspective,despite being fairly gorgeous—theart style is the real winner here. Eachlevel takes place on an Escherinspired,hand-sketched tableau thatis almost worth the effort, but the artquickly gets ignored while solvingthe puzzle. The publicly declaredinfluences of puzzle-platformer Braidare obvious, particularly in theminimalistic and obtuse storytellingas well as the oddly placed rewindmechanic, but The Bridge is not asdeep or anywhere near as fascinatingas Braid. I wish it was more thana game about spinning in circles, asbeautifully crafted as those circlesare, but it’s not. If you really, reallylike puzzle games or anything withan “indie” label, then give it a shot.There are worse ways to spend $15,but then again you could just playBraid. –Matt BrunkDmC: Devil May CryNinja Theory/CapcomReviewed On:Xbox 360Also On: PS3, PCStreet: 01.15DmC: Devil May Cry does so manythings right, it’s sad to think that itmay become one of the best gamesof 2013 you’ve never played.Generally, a game being “reimagined”is gamer code for “turned intosomething awful that doesn’t meet myexpectations.” In the case of DmC,this couldn’t be further from the truth.The story sets the tone for the entireseries, while defining the relationshipbetween Vergil and Dante. Sure, afew details have been changed fromthe initial canon, but the artful waythe game is displayed more thanmakes up for some slight changesto a story that only a devout sectof gamers truly know. The combatsystem in this game is flawless,and that’s not a word I use lightly.Bayonetta is the closest a game hasever come to masterful hack n’ slashmechanics, and DmC has taken itone step further. Effortless switchingbetween weapons during attacksmakes the juggling possibilitiesendless, and a practice room givesyou time to develop skills that areheavily needed for the enhanceddifficulties. If you simply want story,even the toughest initial difficulty willallow you to quickly move to the end.If you’re up to testing your skills orpunishing yourself, try the additionaldifficulties—I dare you to finish theentire game without taking a hit.–Thomas WinkleyFrom the Forest: A Searchfor the Hidden Roots of OurFairytalesSara MaitlandCounterpointStreet: 10.30.12When we think of fairytales, princesses,witches and forests almost always cometo mind. British writer Sara Maitlandexplores the roots of 12 BrothersGrimm tales through a year spentvisiting a dozen British forests—from theForest of Dean to the leftovers of oncegreatwoods (admirably photographedby Maitland’s son, Adam Lee). TheGrimms’ tales, Maitland suggests, havebeen pruned and de-contextualized—made pious and child-safe—much likethe woods. Maitland explores damagedone by modernity to the forests andto children shielded from the real andimagined dangers and gifts of thoseforests. By keeping children “safe” fromforests, we limit their imagination andability to overcome danger, distancingthem from Europeans’ culturalroots and, I’d propose, our arborealevolutionary roots as well. Each chapterends with an alternative (but not dark orsubversive) retelling of a classic tale thatillustrates the chapter’s point. This is alush, enjoyable read for fairytale lovers,naturalists and anyone who can losethemselves in the magic of the woods.While the chapters are occasionallyrepetitive, reading this made me long torun under the trees, and, even more so,to visit the conserved forests Maitlanddescribes so evocatively.–Madelyn BoudreauxPower Chord: One Man’sEar-Splitting Quest to FindHis Guitar HeroesThomas Scott McKenzieIt BooksStreet: 07.31.12Power Chord is the journey of ThomasScott McKenzie to find out what exactlydrives the guitar heroes he has lovedand looked up to for so many years.Now, ’80s hair metal is not a musicgenre that I’m an expert in, but theamount of information that McKenziepossesses about guitarists and theiraxes of choice is truly amazing. FromSGs to Telecasters to Les Pauls, McKenziecovers all kinds of guitars and whatthey mean to him and his heroes. Hisjourney is not only to figure out whatdrives these guitar gods, but also a personaljourney to find out how hard hewill work to get a chance to interviewsome of his heroes. Along with gettingthe low-down on his favorite guitarists,McKenzie also gets some pointers fromlegends like Bruce Kulick, StaceyBlades and Steve Vai. Armed witha guitar in hand and an openness tolearning, Mckenzie signs up for Rockn’ Roll Fantasy Camp. His experienceculminates with a performance at theWhisky a Go Go standing next to oneof his biggest idols of all time, AceFrehley of KISS. From bedroom airguitar to playing a legendary stage,Power Chord covers it all! –SteveGoemaatRandy RhoadsSteven Rosen and Andrew KleinVelocityStreet: 06.29.12Much of rock n’ roll mythology is builton artistic partnerships. John andPaul, Eddie and David Lee, Sid andJohnny. So when a coke-nosed OzzyOsborne leaves Black Sabbathfor a solo career to reinvent himself asan ‘80s shock-rock icon and somehowstumbles upon a flashy, hot-to-trot guitarprodigy from the deep South—it’s averitable fairytale. To understand thezeitgeist of solo Ozzy, one simplyMUST understand the pomp, talent andundisputed innovation of his first guitarplayer, Randy Rhoads. Classicallytrained and cutting teen teeth in theAmerican hair metal circuit, Rhoadslent a glitz—an electricity—to the heavymetal landscape, sending a surgethrough Sabbath’s doom-scapes andushering in a new era. The book lovinglybrings friends, lovers, bandmatesand associates together to tell the storyof one of history’s guitar gods in a personaland unflinching tribute to his lifeand legacy, which was cut tragicallyshort in a plane accident in 1982. Withnearly 400 pages of pictures, quotes,artifacts and anecdotes, it’s the mostcomprehensive look at the man’s lifeto date—sure to satisfy every degreeof fandom—and is a great writtencompanion to a glass of lemonade andan afternoon spent spinning Blizzard ofOzz. –Dylan Chadwick56 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 57

The Place Beyondthe PinesFocus FeaturesIn Theaters: 03.29At first glance, it appears Ryan Goslingis continuing the adventures of hischaracter from 2011’s Drive, but suchis not the case in Derek Cianfrance’sgenerational drama that follows the lifeand crimes of an ensemble cast set inSchenectady, N.Y. As a stunt motorcyclistfor a dumpy traveling carnival, Luke(Gosling) never had too much responsibilityon his plate, but once he learns ofhis child with Romina (Eva Mendes),everything changes. In order to providefor his family, Luke turns to robbingbanks, but is soon on the run from aneager rookie police officer (BradleyCooper). Cianfrance’s three-coursedrama loses all of his greatness as soonas the curtains close on the first storyline.From there, we are submergedin a been-there-done-that corruptpolice scandal plot with Ray Liottaand then offered a high school drugscenario with teenagers for dessert.The initial 45-minutes are so engaging,character-driven and suspenseful, that itcompletely overshadows the majority ofthe 140-minute running time, which isentirely too long on its own for this typeof endeavor. It appears Cianfrance isfocusing on how our sins carry weightbeyond our own life expectancy, but,in this case, the greatest sin of all is notfocusing the entire film on Gosling andcompany, since it’s the meatiest part ofthe tale. –Jimmy MartinRoom 237IFC FilmsIn Theaters: 03.29In preparation for my screening ofRodney Ascher’s experimentalcinematic exploration into the mysterioustheories and underlying messageswithin the 1980 horror film The Shining,I re-watched Stanley Kubrick’sclassic only hours before and kept myeyelids peeled for anything abnormal.There are definitely many bizarre occurrenceswithin Kubrick’s film, but whatcould Ascher and his friends clue me inon that I hadn’t already seen for myself?It turns out they revealed a lot andnothing all at once. Ascher combinesfive extremely different points of viewssurrounding the Jack Nicholson cultphenomenon, and what is unleashedare multiple speculations that proposeKubrick’s supposed views on the NativeAmerican massacres, his involvementwith NASA’s fake moon landing anda barrage of wild proclamations thatare too weird to give a second thought.While Ascher does document somecredible discoveries with his presumptions,the primary force of entertainmentcomes from an assembly of filmaficionados who clearly have too muchtime on their hands and turn insignificantcontinuity errors (i.e. a chairdisappearing in a scene) into an end-ofthe-world assertion. For the numberof times you’ll be fascinated with theprobable theories presented, you’llalso wonder just how long the ghost ofStanley Kubrick will wait to materializein order to slap some sense into thesemeandering movie message molesters.–Jimmy MartinRules for SchoolKino Classics InternationalOn DVD: 01.15Rules for School is a series of 15orphaned short films with surprisinglygood sound and video quality from theearly to mid ’50s. Originally used inclassrooms to teach discipline and mannersto kids, these shorts can provide atleast two hours of entertainment—rangingfrom silly to hilarious to frustrating,depending upon different levels of sobriety.The three most prominent—“TakeYour Choice,” “Mike Makes His Mark,”and “Noontime Nonsense”––featuresome of the worst teenage actors andraddest hair I’ve ever seen. In “TakeYour Choice,” Jeff and his pompadourare taught that “acting as if you owna charmed life,” i.e. flirting with abrunette while warming up a nondescriptliquid in chemistry class withoutwearing safety goggles, will make yougo almost blind. Mike literally makeshis mark in “Mike Makes His Mark” bydrawing a black mark on the entranceof the school. The black mark tormentsMike’s conscience as he gets help fromhis mildly hot teacher, Mrs. Dewey, andhe finally confesses to the vandalism.What’s awesome is that the entirefaculty meets to decide Mike’s fateover cigarettes in the teachers’ lounge.“Noontime Nonsense” is disappointinglynot what the name implies at all.The greased up Jerry Lindsey gets realmad when his girl is almost struck by a“side-street sharp-shooter” in a sled. Heconfronts Bob, the joy rider, and the studentcouncil about it in the parking lotand everyone miraculously decides tostop driving like idiots. I highly recommendwatching these shorts under theinfluence of whatever’s clever. You mayeven learn some manners or something.–Darcy Wouters-RussellSpring BreakersAnnapurna PicturesIn Theaters: 03.22If you’ve ever had the pleasure orannoyance (however you see it) ofexperiencing Trash Humpers, JulienDonkey-Boy or Gummo, you are alreadywell aware of the peculiar style of filmmakingthat comes from the eccentricHarmony Korine. His latest project,Spring Breakers, is the twisted tale offour small-town girls (Selena Gomez,Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Bensonand Rachel Korine) lookingto escape their monotonous lives byvacationing in Florida with copiousamounts of alcohol and drugs. Afterbeing arrested, the group is bailed outby an egotistical drug dealer (JamesFranco) who’s looking to expandhis operations and grow his empire.Korine reiterates, repeats and reuseshis footage and dialogue to a point ofabsolute absurdity. It’s as though heshot 30 minutes of usable footage, thenstretched it into 90 minutes, and made itfeel like 120 minutes. It’s clear Gomezand Hudgens are attempting to shedtheir Disney-clad coating in order tomove on with their acting careers, butneither deliver a performance worthyof advancement to the next level. Theonly excuse to watch this excruciatingundertaking is Franco’s portrayal of arapping predator, but it’s still not worththe price of your local theater’s admission.Korine certainly has a cult followingthat supports everything he delivers,but, even utilizing his most notable castto date, he won’t be converting themasses to drink his Kool-Aid anytimesoon. –Jimmy MartinUpstream ColorERBPIn Theaters: 04.05It’s going to take me a few more viewingsof this film to fully grasp what thehell is going on and what it all means,but let’s try this: Larvae infect a plant,kids harvest and process the blue duston the infected plant and they make adrink out of it, which gives them mental,physical and spiritual connection. Afilm-industry woman (Amy Seimetz)is kidnapped and force-fed a larva.It allows the kidnapper to control herby making her copy Walden page forpage—he makes her transfer all hermoney to his bank account. He releasesher and she wakes up in her car on theside of the road with no memory of thepast few days (or weeks?) and driveshome, only to find evidence of thekidnapping in her house. The womanmeets a man (Shane Carruth) on thesubway—he knows they have somesort of connection and they strike up arelationship. A pig farmer notices thattwo of his pigs are behaving strangely.With his hands to the pigs, he walks ina parallel world. He records the soundsof nature, composes a symphonyand throws its pages in the river—thesame fate that awaits the burlap sackof screaming piglets. The acting,cinematography and sound design areexceptional. Though there is an obviousgod metaphor going on, much of thefilm remains open for deciphering. Mybrow was furrowed with confusion as Iworked to make sense of the connectionsbetween everyone and everythingbut, in the end, it was worth it. It wasexhilarating. –Cody Kirkland58 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 59

Cathy FoyQuiet as the HourSelf-ReleasedStreet: 02.15Cathy Foy = Neutral MilkHotel + Helium + Rilo Kiley“I can carry my own weight, I cancarry my own sins, away,” CathyFoy delicately sings on “I Became aFlash” from her sophomore release,Quiet as the Hour. Most of us areaccustomed to seeing Foy behind adrum set playing for scene makerssuch as Hang Time, Future ofthe Ghost, Bluebird Radio, TheAwful Truth, The Downers andmore. On Quiet, Foy showcases anewfound confidence in songwritingand performance. Each track is full ofbeauty, reflection and intimate lyrics,which unfold naturally in perfect synchrony.There’s something hauntinglydeep within tracks like “ThousandLines,” and in “I Won’t Say a Word (ItWasn’t Forever),” in which the pianoechoes with so much emotion. “LongTime Winter Snow” offers a richnessin instrumentation with an improvisational,shivering guitar solo midwaythrough. Bravo, Ms. Foy––Quiet AsThe Hour is a compelling piece ofwork that deserves multiple listens.–Miss ModularDesert NoisesMountain SeaNorthplatte RecordsStreet: 10.18.11Desert Noises = JoshuaJames + Fleet Foxes + Bandof HorsesIf I had to pick one local album toshare with a friend from out of state,Mountain Sea would probably be it.To me, it represents the real qualityfolk-inspired rock n’roll that comesfrom Utah. Its sound is big enough tofill wide-open spaces and its feelingis intimate enough for a good pair ofheadphones. The vocals throughoutare strong and are reminiscent ofFleet Foxes in style and harmony. Boththe vocals and instruments turn out alot of energy that is hard to not get excitedabout. It also helps that many ofthe songs are so catchy. I had “OakTree” and “Bible Study” stuck in myhead for weeks after listening for thefirst time. Most songs are very beatdriven with great drumwork, but theband also knows how to slow it downand does it quite nicely on “SmokeBreathing Monsters” and “Tell MeYou Love Me.” Mountain Sea is quitea great album from the home-grown,Utah Valley boys of Desert Noises.–Jesse ThomasEyes OpenDemoSelf-ReleasedStreet: 12.10.12Eyes Open= Pearl Jam +Stone Temple PilotsThe EP is short but sweet, consistingof just three four-minute-plus rockballadstyle songs that flow in and outof each other easily. They are pretty,nicely executed, neatly produced,and clearly reflect the influences (suchas U2 and Foo Fighters) that theband members have listed on theback of the album sleeve. The vocalsare rich, full and can definitely beput on a shelf with Eddie Vedder.Overall it has a very vintage ‘90s feelto it. Listen up and enjoy! –Ischa B.Fever DreamsAs Above, So BelowSelf-ReleasedStreet: 09.17.12Fever Dreams = Full of Hell +Dead in the Dirt + GazaEven though they’re from St. George,I’m pretty sure that anytime FeverDreams play a show in their hometown,we’d be able to hear ‘em allthe way up in Salt Lake. This is dirty,mean, evil shit. Fever Dreams’ style ofcrusty, blackened hardcore wouldn’tbe out of place on the A389 orSouthern Lord Records rosters,as they aptly channel both chaotic energy(“Shallow Skin,” “Cultmonger”)and deep, dark, dirgey despair (“Below,”“Last Leg”). If you like Nails,Weekend Nachos, Young andin the Way, or any other bands thatmake you want to set fire to humanityas a whole, then you need to adoptAs Above, So Below as your ownpersonal soundtrack. –Ricky VigilHuldraMonuments, MonolithsSelf-ReleasedStreet: 01.12Huldra = Isis + Neurosis +RosettaAfter an EP and a split with fellowlocals Dustbloom, Huldra havefinally released a proper full-length,and it’s a beast. It’s bigger. It’s louder.It’s more intense. It’s simply more ofeverything Huldra does well. Theopening moments of “Monuments”are filled with a guttural growl fromMatt Brotherton, setting the moodfor the album as more of an attackthan the build/crescendo/crashtypical of similar bands. The key andsynth work of Scott Wasilewski is,as always, a highlight, particularlyon “Twisted Tongues and GnarledRoots.” Atmosphere and a senseof weight are crucial to this style ofmetal, and these dudes fucking nailit throughout the record—saying thatthey are “polished” underplays howheavy this album is, but the performancesfrom each band member areincredibly tight. To top it off, Monuments,Monoliths was engineered,mixed and mastered beautifully byAndy Patterson. This is the kindof music that bores deep into yourheart—it will lift you, and throw you,and pick you up again, but it’s a hellof a ride. –Ricky VigilJohnny UtahJohnny 3:16Self-ReleasedStreet: 12.15.12Johnny Utah = Dipset +Kanye WestJohnny 3:16 is a massive collaborativeeffort with over 15 emcees andproducers lending Johnny Utah ahand on the album, including wellknownlocals Linus Stubbs, YogaFlame Kane and Brisk One. Thewide variety of beats keeps your earsfrom glazing over after the third track.Linus Stubbs provides funky, headnodding,boom-bap styles that soundright at home behind Johnny’s vocalsas Mixter Mike and Yoga FlameKane’s epic, swagger-fueled anthems.Johnny’s raps imply more talent thanjust the ability to rhyme on time—heuses clever zings and word play,coupled with a raspy, in-your-face delivery.What I appreciate most aboutthis album is the fact that I can’t pickone single factor that I appreciate themost. –Chris ProctorLate Night AlumniThe Beat Becomes A SoundUltra RecordsStreet: 02.12Late Night Alumni = SneakerPimps + HooverphonicIn the fast-paced world of electronica,it isn’t surprising that this is LNA’sfourth album since their 2005 debut,but rather, it is pleasantly shocking tohear how sleek it sounds, especiallyfor an SLC-based outfit. Arguably,this is because well-known DJ andlocal-adopted son Ryan Raddon(aka Kaskade) is the mastermindbehind the sound, but vocalist BeckyJean Williams—whose little-girlcooing is perfect for this genre—morethan holds her own. “Ring A Bell” hasan immediate infectiousness that isfurther highlighted on lead single60 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 61

“Shine,” which builds from menacingkeys right into those hypnoticvocals. What makes LNA’s soundmore unique than many in the genreis their willingness to include guitarsand other instrumentation alongsidethe synths. This goes a long way inmaking these tunes more memorable,like on the more chilled-out tracks“Summer Lies” and “Sun Space.”–Dean O. HillisLes SagesBlood HarmonyDeep Elm RecordsStreet: 02.26Les Sages = Death Cab ForCutie + The Format xLocal NativesThe idea of Les Sages’ third albumsounds better than the outcome. It’sa baroque form of rock with a slightmariachi influence. The music itselfsounds great, but there’s a sense offreedom lacking in the songs. Thestorytelling lyrics are intense, but thepercussion-driven arrangements seemto inhibit the energy created by JoeLarson’s vocals. From “Chauffeur deCorbillard”: “Driver of the hearse, doyou know the worth of the body in thebox?” The song features subtle acousticriffs, but the bells and hand-beatendrums carry the song. The incorporationof some electric guitar or guitarsolos alone would bring the songs tolife. It’s a very creative way to makemusic, but perhaps they could have abit more fun. However, they brilliantlyuse the piano and harmonies to buildemotion on “Cicatrice du Soldat,” myfavorite on the album.–Justin GallegosMathew Quen NanesNostalgiaSelf-ReleasedStreet: 03.05Mathew Quen Nanes =Chuck Ragan + Eddie Vedder+ Ryan AdamsRight in that new folk/punk singersongwriterniche with a country touch,Nanes can put a tune together. Thisthree-song EP shows a lot of potential.It’s different from a lot of the materialI would compare it to, which is a verygood thing. His voice is strong andhas a big presence, even when it’sdistorted a little too much on “Portland,”the edgiest of the offerings onNostalgia. The opening song, “Drive,”is well done, with just acoustic andvocals for the most part. Smartlyplaced electric guitar and tambourineswoop in for just the bridge and outagain, just as quickly as it came.Nanes has a great base here to buildfuture work on, and, as long as itcontinues to go in this direction, I’ll behappy to hear it. –James OrmeNight SweatsRed EPSelf-ReleasedStreet: 01.25Night Sweats = Bauhaus xJoy Division + Iggy PopUsually, an EP will comprise a fewsongs representing a short bodyof work by a band. In the case ofNight Sweats’ Red EP, four songsmake up over 30 minutes of darkyet poppy electronic indie music.These underground darlings werefeatured in SLUG’s Localized back inDecember 2010, and have gracedthe stage for a decade as membersof several other, popular local bands,such as The Red Bennies. I keepseeing references to them on myFacebook feed. Red makes it quicklyobvious why they’re on every tongueand fingertip. Scott Selfridge’svocals channel Ian Curtis––everyindie rocker’s favorite proto-gothsuicide––like a motherfucker. Liberaldoses of Bauhaus-ian droning basson “Keys to the Fortress” and “BodyTalk” meet frenetic drums reminiscentof The Chameleons UK and evenmore frenetic strains of electro-gumpop-meets-Iggy-Popon “Car CarCommercial” for a combination thatprobably shouldn’t work, but reallydoes. Complex, dark and layereddoesn’t always mean brooding!–Madelyn BoudreauxThe Rose PhantomAbandonSelf-ReleasedStreet: 12.21.12The Rose Phantom = DepecheMode + HIM x AlphavilleThe latest release by Salt Lake’s ownTed Newsom (Sleep Slid iN,Melodramus, revideolized),Abandon represents a new directionas Newsom turned his back on hisother projects to focus two years’time on the Rose Phantom personaand work. Marrying lush dramaticsand intricate electronica, the album’s10 tracks of careful and succinctindustrial-tinged darkwave would notbe out of place in a goth club or inan alternative radio station’s rotation.The bitter and beautiful opener, “AllI Want,” is a goth-rock slow burner,while “Here It Is” could be a newDuran Duran/Depeche Mode collaboration.Samples and tape loopsplay a role, but are mysterious andinvocative, never annoying or repetitive.My favorite track, “Into the Day,”recalls A-Ha and Clan of Xymoxequally—an interesting melding. Attimes, Newsom stretches his voice alittle too far at the low registers, buthis vocals are clear and gorgeous,emotional and spacious. Abandonis a beautiful work, and hopefully apromise of more to come. Find TheRose Phantom online at therosephantom.com.–Madelyn BoudreauxSalt Lake SpitfiresChaos Baby EPSelf-ReleasedStreet: 08.03.12Salt Lake Spitfires = Metallica- metal + The Dead Boys +Tough TittieSalt Lake Spitfires aptly synthesizethrash guitars and mid-tempo punkrock right off the bat with “Mountain”in the Chaos Baby EP, and pin downexactly what it would be like at a rockn’ roll show in the ’70s. The Spitfiressucceed in varying their songs yetretaining their own sonic signature:“Shiny Things” bounces with staccatoguitar notes akin to Thunderfist,and “Release the Dopamine” startswith a deep-voiced monster thatsounds like a Jabba the Hutt versionof the voice in Bad Religion’s “Deliriumof Disorder,” and then buildsinto a dance beat and a Ramonesquote, “Guess I better tell ’em/I ain’tgot no cerebellum.” “Sick Puppy”calls to mind the wistful guitar workof Blue Öyster Cult as the late MichaelE. Cline croons like Stiv Bators.The title-track closer ensconcescatchy guitar work and just the righttouch of grime in Cline’s vocals. I’msad I never got to see Cline perform,but I’m excited to see the Spitfires intheir new incarnation! –AlexanderOrtegaSearching For CeliaWhite FlagSelf-ReleasedStreet: 02.09Searching For Celia =Glowworm + ColdplayI reeeeally enjoy Searching ForCelia’s sound. I love strings, and Ilove them even more when they’remoody, frantic and excitable. I lovethem most of all when their undeniablyclassical sound is mixed into amodern interpretation, paired withelectric guitars, bass and heartydrums. This album is a wonderfulventure into the instrumental ambientarena, and the excellent electronicdetailing and production really pull itall together. It’s absolutely gorgeous.Even without any vocals at all, thisranks as one of my top local albumsI’ve ever reviewed. I love it, and Ihighly recommend it. –Ischa B.SinthesisHorseshoes & HandgrenadesSelf ReleasedStreet: 09.14.12Sinthesis = Sage Francis +The Black KeysYou’d think that a fusion of hip hopand blues would be a musical trainwreck,but Phaust and Phingaz,who make up Sinthesis, blend the twogenres nicely––especially consideringthey wrote and recorded Horseshoes& Handgrenades in a little over aweek. Pulsating, sharp and spaciouskeys/drums are the skeleton of thisalbum, with gritty vocals that arehalf rap, half blues rock. The tracks(especially “Lips”) come across prettyraw and no-bullshit, as they wererecorded live. “She’s Got It” is themost successful marriage of flow andblues, with thick, upbeat bass pairedwith slews of rap. Sinthesis are SaltLake born and raised––“All Day, AllNight” gives a local shout-out in thelyrics: “You’d have better luck cookin’up meth in Ogden.” While parts ofthis album definitely feel experimentaland tentative, overall it’s a well done,brave undertaking. –Kia McGinnisWake Up NebulaNever Fall In love With BirdsSelf-ReleasedStreet: 02.12Wake Up Nebula = MetroStation / Shiny Toy GunsEmo-electro has had its ups anddowns in terms of popularity—maybethere are still some die-hards out therestill listening to Playradioplay!.There always seems to be somewhatof a whiny, perhaps nerdy voice atopthe synthesized melodies. I’m not surewhat part of me this music appealsto, but somehow it does. The starrymelodies bounce with ease amidsubtle guitar riffs. Wake Up Nebula’sproduction is so clean and dreamy,it feels like hi-fi bedroom pop. “Inthe Key of Teal” is a prime exampleof this band’s excellent formula forelectronic pop music. “Alarms”showcases the bands lyrical wit andsarcasm over a moodier tempo. Ifyou miss your electro-pop days, givethis album a listen at wakeupnebula.bandcamp.com. –Justin GallegosMore reviews at SLUGMag.com.62 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 63

Alkaline TrioMy Shame Is TrueHeart & Skull RecordsStreet: 04.02Alkaline Trio = Face To Face +The DamnedAfter 17 years and album afteralbum, it’s likely that you’ve heardof Alkaline Trio, and you know whatyou’re getting into on My Shame IsTrue. Matt Skiba steals your heartwith catchy and irresistible versechorus-versesong structures and thehookiest guitar lines in the business,Dan Andriano croons velvety goodness,and despite an appearance byRise Against’s Tim McIlrath on “I,Pessimist,” My Shame Is True doesn’tdo much to shake things up. This isn’tgoing to change your mind if youhate them already, but 15 secondsinto “She Lied to The FBI,” I fell inlove with Alkaline Trio all over again.It may be more of a mainstream andradio-friendly form of punk rock, butMy Shame Is True is another AlkalineTrio album in every way, and I’mgleefully singing along to everychorus. –Matt BrunkAnd So I Watch YouFrom AfarAll Hail Bright FuturesSargent HouseStreet: 03.15ASIWYFA = Fang Island +Marnie Stern - Zach Hill +Birthquake!The Belfast, Ireland trio, And So IWatch You From Afar, returns withtheir technicolor warpaint-smudgedand candy-coated Slayer riffspunching gaping holes into rainbowbleedingamplifiers. What I amsaying is that ASIWYFA’s third albumis massive—like Rush for the ADHDgeneration. All Hail Bright Futures hasno dark corners—it is all go all thetime. Even at its heaviest, it pusheseverything neon-bright and celebratoryto the forefront, leaving ampleheadroom for gang-shouted choruses,brass and woodwind accompaniments,handclaps, steel drums andRory Frier’s endless riffing. All HailBright Futures is a musically tightand deeply moving soundtrack toALL YOUR BEST MOMENTS ALL ATONCE. ASIWYFA only write in allcaps and only drink to celebrate,WHICH IS EVERY MOMENT ANDRIGHT NOW! –Ryan HallBleachedRide Your HeartDead OceansStreet: 04.02Bleached = Ramones+ Go Go’sThey’re like Vivian Girls, but morepolished and with better singing, likeBest Coast, but punk rock. Jenniferand Jessica Clavin, formerly ofthe all-girl punk band Mika Miko,join with Jonathan Safley andSara Jean Stevens to form LA’sBleached. This is simple, three-chordgarage-pop full of sunny vocal melodiesand catchy hooks. Blonde hair,jean jackets and plastic sunglassesare required for listening—that’s kindof the band’s uniform, too. Thoughthey’ve released a few 7”s on variouslabels, this is the first full-length fromBleached, and “Looking For A Fight”and “Waiting By The Telephone”stand out the most. There’s enoughpunk energy left over from Mika Mikoto bolster the garage vibe, and, eventhough there’s a guy in the band,Bleached still keeps it plenty girly. –Cody KirklandCy DuneNo RecognizeFamily Tree RecordsStreet: 02.13Cy Dune = Happy Birthday +Black Lips + Smith WesternsNo Recognize jumps right intoaction with heavy but bright guitar(think King Tuff guitar tone) hittingrhythmic chords and hammer-ons thatbecome the backbone of the openingtrack, “Where the Wild Things.” If Iwere listening to the vinyl, the secondtrack, “Move the Room,” would bethe first song completely masticatedby the needle. It holds the same,high-energy rhythm as “Where theWild Things,” but the distorted vocalsof Seth Olinsky, Cy Dune’s solemember, linger on the final syllableof each line, slowing the song’s feeland creating a seamless transitioninto the calmer realm of the EP’smid portion. The electric folk feel of“No Recognize” and “Resentment,”hold my interest while becoming theperfect breather before kicking the energyback up for the reversed drumsand mild screams of the final track,“Yellin’.” –Steve RichardsonHigh Priest of SaturnSelf-TitledSvart RecordsStreet: 03.22High Priest of Saturn = TheWounded Kings – ElectricWizardA classic case of stoner doom bynumbers, High Priest of Saturnimitate all the basic components oftheir chosen genre, but fail to addanything substantial or unique to themix. Highly hailed with comparisonsto Black Sabbath and ElectricWizard, the band’s self-titled debutonly resembles these bands by themost generous comparison. WhereBlack Sabbath’s blues riffing addeda raw, groovy element to their sound,HPOS’s drones on with mimetic stonermelodies. Electric Wizard cultivateda dark, gritty atmosphere of abrasivenoise and monumentally heavy riffs,but this album’s mediocre sludge riffssound weak and overproduced, andseem to adhere to the false doctrineof “slower = heavier.” Content to gothrough the motions in their perpetuallyuninspired ritual, HPOS hoversaround a forgettable standard of“meets expectations,” and barelyelicits a yawn in response.–Henry GlasheenIron ReaganWorse Than DeadMagic Bullet Records/A389RecordsStreet: 03.19Iron Reagan = MunicipalWaste + Nuclear Assault +Cro-MagsIron Reagan will initially be recognizedfor its membership, whichcounts two members of MunicipalWaste and two members of DarkestHour in its ranks, but this should beeclipsed by their music. Iron Reagan’sdebut summons 19 tracks of ‘80sstyle crossover thrash that coverssignificantly more substantial lyricalground than Municipal Waste andmaintains the brevity and machinegun assault of the best of hardcore.Particular standouts include “The DebtCollector” about the fakakta medicalsystem in the U.S., and “I Predict theDeath of Harold Camping,” whichskewers the Christian parishionerwith all things doomsday. No songoverstays its welcome, with tempochanges, well timed solos, and gangvocals preventing monotony from settingin. Worse Than Dead is a worthyaddition to the halls of crossover.–Peter FryerMetal MotherIonikaPost Primal RecordsStreet: 04.16Metal Mother = Fever Ray +Austra + Claire BoucherA project of Oakland native TaaraTati’s confident musicianship anddark-wave occultism, Metal Mother’ssecond album, Ionika, will surelymake waves in that burgeoning ethereal-witchy-gothic-pop,post-Internetscene you either love or hate by now.Inspired by her Celtic ancestry, Druidfantasy and altpop sirens Björk andKate Bush, Tati’s recorded an albumfull of magnificent, dark goth-poptunes. “Mind_off” opens the albumwith Tati’s deft vocal maneuvers,pulsating synths that build up tomoments of bombastic drum rhythmsand anthemic choruses. I did doubletakes on some tracks though, like theGrimes-sounding “Hungers” and“Windexx’d,” which features pitchbendingvocals and tin drums in thestyle of Purity Ring. In “Omens,”Tati is a dead ringer for KarinDreijer Andersson. But the magicin Metal Mother’s sound is not in itssimilarities, rather it’s in the album’sperfect production, its range of gothicdarknesses and its avant-pop sensibilities.–Christian SchultzMwahahaSelf-TitledPlug Research64 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 65

Street: 03.26Mwahaha = The Faint + TV onthe RadioMwahaha’s self-titled debut is a full-onelectro-psych, pretentious jam sessionthat left me feeling adrift and unsatisfied.The album starts out on a prettysolid foundation, with complex layersof progressive synth and vocal harmonies,but seems to get lost on its ownchaotic trip. “Swimmer,” the openingtrack, is driven by a heavy, deep bassline and drum beat frosted with RossPeacock’s subdued, falsetto vocals.Though the track lacks any noticeableclimax, it offers a sweet, electro-popoutro that juxtaposes nicely with theheavy synth harmonics that open thetrack. From there, the album graduallygrows more and more ambient andhypnotic, maintaining the subduedand melancholic harmonies reminiscentof She Wants Revenge in thesong “Sleep Deep” before going intoa near-11-minute, fuzzed-out spacejourney that tries desperately to evokeemotions that I just couldn’t muster.–Darcy Wouters-RussellNick Cave & the BadSeedsPush the Sky AwayBad Seed Ltd.Street: 02.19Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds =Leonard Cohen + Cave/EllissoundtracksPush the Sky Away initially accompaniedNocturama on my list of NickCave disappointments. Upon repeatedlistening, it seems that much of mydisappointment had to do with expectationsfor—or interest in—somethingdifferent. Blame Grinderman. Thelyrics, at times, could be stronger, byCave standards, though only a fewlines are repellant—mostly the firstverse from “Mermaids.” Musically,the album is often quite pretty andtextured with the use of tape loopsand rumbling bass, comparable attimes to Cave’s soundtrack compositionswith fellow Bad Seed, WarrenEllis. Nick Launay’s production iswonderfully warm and makes superbuse of the soundstage, creating an intimatespace for the listener to absorbone of Cave’s quieter works, one thatgrows in appeal over several listens.While I feel that a bit more time couldhave been spent in the revision stage,Push the Sky Away is very good, andworth hearing, as an established BadSeeds fan or newcomer. –T.H.the present day. I guess that makesthem the new punks on the scene,but I just hear well-crafted, originalmusic that happens to have bluegrasselements. Down Side Up is not ahuge departure from their first record,Guts n’ Teeth, even with Fat Mikesitting in the producer’s chair thistime. There’s no filler on this record,but the little ditty of a tune “Beyondthe Moon” stands out because of itshumor with lyrics like, “Don’t want tolose my mind like Gary Busey did,once upon a time he was the same asyou and me.” Autoharp player AnnieDetemple gives the record aninteresting dynamic with backing vocalsand is very impressive when shetakes the lead on “Up Side Down.”Old Man Markley is going to makepeople genuinely love bluegrass.–James Ormeharp. It’s just as dainty as it is ghostly:The subjects Arnalds sings about arenot as light as her fairy voice mighthave you assume. I related to thesentiments expressed in “Numbersand Names,” as she explores thenature of growing older. No matteryour musical preference, this albumis worth listening to for her dreamyvoice alone. –Brinley FroelichPhosphorescentMuchachoDead OceansStreet: 03.19Phosphorescent = Band ofHorses + Bon Iver + DireStraitsPhosphorescent’s latest album,Muchacho, is laden with lazy, whiningsteel guitar, strolling piano, trumpetpieces, string sets and lyrics aboutthe trials and tribulations of love.The instrumental work on this albumis where Matthew Houck reallyflexes his songwriter muscle. The mixof country twang and haunting ambiencecreates a chilling sound thatmakes more of a statement than thevocal work. Houck really does havea way with words, but his deliveryjust isn’t right. With too much reverbon his voice, his powerful words arelost in their own echoes and becomeperipheral, which is a damn shame,because his actual lyrics are beautiful.Check out the track “The QuotidianBeasts”—it’s a prime representation ofthe album as a whole. –Carl AchesonThee Oh SeesFloating CoffinCastle Face RecordsStreet: 04.16Thee Oh Sees = The Fresh &Onlys + Wavvesprior stylings—which helps shoehornprevious fans into the album. Furtheron, the thrumming and pivoting“Strawberry 1 + 2” has a distinguishabletexture that brushes shoulderswith the likes of early-era SmashingPumpkins. The locomotive rhythmand jagged guitar work in “MazeFancier,” would appease even themost strict art rock fan. Really, whoneeds iTunes Genius when you canjust shuffle Thee Oh Sees?–Gregory GerulatThey Might Be GiantsNanobotsIdlewild Street: 03.05TMBG = Jonathan Coulton +Moxy Früvous - nerdcoreThey Might Be Giants have had arocky history over the past decadewhen it comes to their adult albums.Their 2011 album, Join Us, was OKat best, nowhere near 2007’s TheElse, which left a lot of potential forNanobots to be really awesome.Right from the start with “You’re OnFire,” this album kicks off well witha rocking beat and familiar hornsin the background with a catchychorus—the very essence of anyfine TMBG track. This whole albumshows the duo going back to whatthey do best, short and memorabletracks with a hint of humor, harkeningto the feel of their Lincoln/Flood erawith songs like “Lost My Mind” and“Tesla.” There’s even a nod to theirclassic track “Fingertips” with severalshort songs peppered throughout the25-track album. For TMBG fans, thisis a welcome return to their originalquirky style. –Gavin SheehanUlrich SchnaussA Long Way To FallDominoStreet: 02.12Ulrich Schnauss = Keep ShellyIn Athens + Boards of Canada+ TychoA Long Way To Fall is the fourth studiorelease from German producer UlrichSchnauss. This time around, Schnaussdropped the synthesized shoegazeand embraced new age. The albumconcentrates on delicate, etherealmelodies that weave in and out ofhuman subconscious. Distorted swirlsdissolve into darkness on the ambient“I Take Comfort In Your Ignorance.”“The Weight of Darkening Skies” offersa pleasant progression of sweepingatmospheric synthesizers andevocative beats. Unique, organic texturesline the industrial album closer,“A Ritual in Time and Death.” A LongWay To Fall is a subtle album—expectno instant gratifications or adrenalinerushes. –Courtney BlairOld WoundsFrom Where We Came IsWhere We’ll RestGlory Kid LTDStreet: 2.20Old Wounds = Converge +DisembodiedThere is a certain, special je ne saisquoi about the sound that JerseybasedOld Wounds deliver. It’s notnew or groundbreaking, nor is ita completely tried-and-true homageto some old hardcore sound.Devastatingly simple, it is heavymusic stripped to its rotted bonesand delivered without pretense orgimmick. The high-pitched monotonescreams are not something I normallyenjoy as a rule, and yet here it works,and it works damn well, especiallyas it’s traded off with darker growlsthroughout. There’s a lot of dirtiness tothe production in the grinding and thesquealing feedback, mixing well withthe discordant chemistry of the pissedoff,violent lyrics and aggressive songstructures. Expect some really darksludge on tracks like “Void”, coagulatingan already suffocating energy.This album doesn’t let you rest—youalmost feel a post-fight catharsis afterit’s over. I enjoyed the fuck out ofit, and I’m stoked to see what theydeliver next. –Megan KennedyÓlöf ArnaldsSudden ElevationOne Little Indian RecordsStreet: 03.13Ólöf Arnalds = JoannaNewsom + BjörkÓlöf Arnalds comes from the land ofice and Sigur Rós, and although thisis her third album, Sudden Elevation isthe first to be sung entirely in English.The album was written mostly duringa two-week stint in the fall in a seasidecabin, which gives it a cohesivefeeling from start to finish. The entiretyof the album feels like floating inthe clouds, probably due to the pre-These days, it seems John Dwyeronly knows life from within the wallsof his abundant pet projects. Hisdabbling with Thee Oh Sees causedOld Man Markleythe band to beget 12 albums sinceDown Side Up2004—virtually nominating DwyerFat Wreck Chordsas the Nikolai Tesla of contemporaryStreet: 03.05garage/psyche. On that note,Old Man Markley = CactusFloating Coffins carries the torch fromAttack + The Vandals + Larryprevious albums in terms of brillianceand His Flaskwhile harboring a few newbornOMM play fast-paced bluegrass thatnuances. The opening track, “I Come Find more reviews atthey approach like people living inFrom The Mountain,” is the only track slugmag.com.dominant use of the charango and the that is solidly indicative of the band’s66 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 67

Get your event listed for free in print, online and on our iPhone app! Sign up for a free SLUG Calendar account at SLUGMag.com/Calendar.Friday, April 5Gooding, Lucid 8, Outside Infinity, Mad Calibre- Bar DeluxeDaniel Day Trio - BayouSpindrift, Gram Rabbit, Max Pain & TheGroovies - BrewskisTough Tittie, Monkey Knife Fight, Bastard John- Burt’sThe Dirty Heads, Shiny Toy Guns, Mini Matilda,Oh No Fiasco - ComplexL.E.D., Felguk, Dirtyphonics - ComplexTrailerpark Rebels - Deer Hunter PubThe Airborne Toxic Event - DepotPark City Follies (through April 13)- Egyptian TheatreSamuel Smith Band - GarageAmerican Hitmen - Green PigSteven Roth - Hog WallowSpaceGhostPurrp - KilbyBlue-X, Breaus, Brute Force, A Lily Gray- Liquid Joe’sThe Merchant Royal, Cyber Cowboy & theFlying Coffee Beans, The Former King - MuseChris Bender - PoplarOne Way Life, The Sinisters, The Dark Jive- Shred ShedLittle Green Cars, Bullets & Belles - State RoomSample Tracks - Sugar SpaceSpiritualized - UrbanMimi Knowles, James Devine, Sam King - VelourErasmus, Among the Ashes, Call Me TheDreamer - Why SoundMinx - WoodshedSaturday, April 6HVDD: Sirens Of Steele vs. Daughters OfAnarchy - 784 E. Chappel Dr. - Spanish ForkTragic Black, Redemption, Dead Romantics- Bar DeluxeClash Of The Titans - MC Battles - Burt’sSamuel Smith Band, Pour Horse - ComplexCommon Kings, Fiji - ComplexWRD: Uinta Madness Roller Derby vs. CapitalCity Skull Crushers - Derby DepotSpindrift - GarageVision - Green PigSon Of Ian - Hog WallowThe Rocket Summer, Joe Brooks - In The VenueZangiev, Fever Dreams, Lionhead, Oh Othello- Jazzy’sAllred, The Minor Birds, Kat Jones - KilbyGood Honest Effort, Jupiter - MuseMatthew & The Hope - PoplarElephant Revival, Ali Sperry & The FamilyVacation - State RoomSample Tracks - Sugar SpaceDubwise - UrbanSeptember Say Goodbye, RacecaR RacecaR -Why SoundP. Chill - WoodshedSunday, April 7Brown Shoe, The Shuttles - Bar DeluxeWRD: Wasatch Junior Roller Derby MightyMinions - Derby DepotMy Iron Lung, Vales, Eons, Settle Down, Temples- Shred ShedMonday, April 8Ribbons, DJ Robo Rob - Burt’sIcarus The Owl, Hello Oblivion - Jazzy’sKids These Days - KilbyThe Humor Games/Salt LakeSteamer, Salt Lake Comedy Fest- Midvale Main TheatreRival Summers - Shred ShedCharlie Parr, Puddle Mountain Ramblers, TonyHoliday Band - UrbanTuesday, April 9Jazz Jaguars - Burt’sHell Jam - Devil’s DaughterImprov Home Evening, Salt LakeComedy Fest - Off Broadway TheatreThe Atom Age, Problem Daughter - Shred ShedParlotones, Dinner And A Suit, Cameron- State RoomAcid Mothers Temple, Tjutjuna, Rainbow Black- UrbanWednesday, April 10Happy Birthday, Benji Pierson!Motortrain, Jackie Pervo - Burt’sOMD - DepotJames Douglas Show - Green PigVertical Overtone, Of Earth Inside, The MerchantRoyal, ON3 - Liquid Joe’sA Day To Remember, Of Mice and Men - SaltairSecond To Last - Shred ShedDash Rip Rock, Utah County Swillers- State RoomChamber Music Series - UMFAPurity Ring, Blue Hawaii - UrbanAlliandria Hansen - Why SoundOne Mic Stand, Salt Lake Comedy Fest -Wiseguys West ValleyThursday, April 11The Tontons, Beachmen, Lady Murasaki- Bar DeluxeSalt Lake Comedy Film Festival- Broadway TheatrePrizehog, Cornered by Zombies - Burt’sWretched, Soilwork, Jeff Loomis, Blackguard- Club SoundSoul Asylum - DepotMark Chaney - GarageMarinade - Green PigHoney Pine - Hog WallowBad Religion, The Bronx, Polar Bear Club- In The VenueHey Marseilles, Formal - KilbyPaul Clonts, Ben Simon, Kevin Edwards,Mike Dixon - MuseVacation Club, CRYS - Salt HausShell Corporation, Eli Whitney - Shred ShedSunset District - Sugar SpaceThe Saintanne, Horsha On The Moon,Spirit Master, Teddy Bangs - UrbanPonderosa - VelourFolk Hogan, Albino Father, Horsha On TheMoon - WoodshedFriday, April 12Happy Birthday, Jory Carroll!Wasnatch, Chris Aguilar - A Bar Named SueNumbs, Bassmint Pros - ABG’sSalt City Sirens - Bar DeluxeDouble Helix - BayouTanglewood - BrewskisThe Cliterinas, Fitch Head 801, S.T.O., JailhouseRockers - Burt’sMatt Bradshaw - Green PigStonefed - Hog WallowRoadkill Ghost Choir, Whiskey Tooth - Jazzy’sWilliam Beckett, Jillette Johnson, Grey Fiction- KilbyBest of, Salt Lake Comedy Fest- Murray TheatreMissing Method, The Problems, Velocirapture,Intra-Venus & The Cosmonauts - MuseTerence Hansen - PoplarTech N9ne, Brotha Lynch Hung, Krizz Kaliko,Kutt Calhoun, Ritz, Ces Cru - SaltairInsight, Cool Your Jets, Døne- Shred ShedWheeler Brothers - State RoomSunset District - Sugar SpaceSLUG Localized: Oxcross, Eons, Yaktooth- UrbanParlor Hawk, The National Parks, The MightySequoyah - VelourChildren Of The North, Military Genius,Anna James - Why SoundSaturday, April 13Matt Bashaw & The Hope - A Bar Named SueIlluminations: Fused Glass - Art AccessFred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center BenefitShow - Bar DeluxeMr. Lucky Blues - BayouNeff Beach Bash - BrightonAntique Scream, Oldtimer, Year Of The Wolf- Burt’sBoyce Avenue - Club SoundAwkward Fest 2013 - ComplexWRD: Black Diamond Divas vs Salt Flat Fallouts- Derby DepotJuana Ghani - GarageTerrence Hansen Trio - Green PigLazy Lester - Hog WallowSuicidal Tendencies, Wake The Dead, Havok- In The VenueAura Surreal, Matthew Sean & The Band- Jazzy’sLorin Cook & Friends - Johnny’sYazzi - KilbyBack Chat, Donner Partyhouse, Officer Jenny- MuseDirty South - Park City LiveWinter Pop-Up Farmers Market - Pierpont PlaceJim Derrickson - PoplarBullet For My Valentine, Halestorm,Stars In Stereo - SaltairHurris & Gig, Solarsuit, Lung Lane, Q&A- Shred ShedUtah Jynx vs. Tacoma Trauma - Taylorsville HighInsight, Eagle Twin, Pleasure Thieves- UrbanSeasons Extreme, The Blue Aces, The Fellows- VelourTill We Stop Breathing - Why SoundSunday, April 14Happy Birthday, Kelli Tompkins!Future - ComplexWRD: Wasatch Junior Roller Derby MinionTerrors - Derby DepotSonic Angels, Teddy Bangs, Chalk - Shred ShedMonday, April 15Wounded Giant, Chainwhip, Atrophy - Burt’sGWAR, Warbeast, Wilson - ComplexAngel Olsen, Villages, The Awful Truth - KilbyZoogma - UrbanTuesday, April 16Bloodgeon - Bar DeluxeSorcery, Infitum Obscure, Deathblow - Burt’sC2C - DepotHell Jam - Devil’s DaughterJayMay, Kayoko - KilbySeeker, Forty Winters, Pyxis, Arsenal OfDestruction, JFK - Shred ShedHe’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Desert Noises- State RoomChris Staples, Coyote Vision Group, ShadowPuppet, Color Animal - UrbanWednesday, April 17Like Woe, Jason Dickerson, Circulars- Bar DeluxeHudson Falcons, Bens Sinister, LASN - Burt’sValerie Larsen - KilbyMelodians - Liquid Joe’sBend Sinister, Desmond Mar! - Shred ShedColin Hay, Vikki Thorn - State RoomMyka 9, Medusa, Burnell Washburn - UrbanCaitlin Connoly - VelourCWMA’s: Opening Party DJ Spinoff - ZestThursday, April 18CWMA’s: Emerson Kennedy, Concise Kilgore,Burnell Washburn, Dope Thought - 5 MonkeysVoodoo Glow Skulls, Left Alone, Elephant Riders,Riva Rebels - Bar DeluxeMark Chaney & The Garge Allstars - GarageKaity & The Raccoons - Jazzy’sMountain West Mafia, Captain Nerk,I Am A-Rodge - KilbyEspirito De Fogo - Rose WagnerBlack Mountain - UrbanJoshua James - VelourThere Is No Mountain, Little Barefoot,Erik & Becca - Why SoundFriday, April 19American Hitmen - A Bar Named SueJoe Buck Yourself, Viva Le Vox - ABG’sJail City Rockers, Heartbreak Beats, Blue MoonBombers - Bar DeluxeA.M. Bump - BayouCindy Bean - Blonde GrizzlyCodi Jordan Band - BrewskisTwiztid, Potluck, hed p.e., Glasses Malone- ComplexMachine Gun Kelly - DepotThe Pour Horse - GarageSon Of Ian - Green PigMarinade - Hog WallowLydia, From Indian Lakes, Sweet Talker- In The VenueWATSKY - KilbyAdjacent To Nothing, ECS, Truce, Small TownTrap, Friend Of Mine - Liquid Joe’sEDP - MuseHectic Hobo - PoplarEspirito De Fogo - Rose WagnerExcision - SaltairMillionaires, Ashland High, Beneath The Sun,Lancifer - Shred ShedJoshua Payne Orchestra, DavidWilliams, The Weekenders, Pablo Blaqk,Jay William Henderson - State RoomJoshua James, Isaac Russell - UrbanBlind Actuaries, Red Yeti - VelourCorey Christiansen - Why SoundKnow Your Roots - WoodshedSaturday, April 20HVDD: Molly Morbids vs. Durango Colorado- 784 E. Chappel Dr. - Spanish ForkCodi Jordan Band, Natural Heights- A Bar Named SueCusses, Night Sweats, The Saintanne, Yaktooth- Bar DeluxeTim Kidder Trio - BayouThe Insurgence, Bobby Joe Ebola & The ChildrenMacNuggits, Victims Willing, Chainwhip - Burt’sLoss Of Existence, Blues 66 - Carol’s Cove IITalib Kweli, Mobb Deep, Phora, Clear SoulForces, Chicharones, Common Market- Gallivan CenterJoe Buck Yourself, Viva Le Vox - GarageWildcat Strike, Golden Sun, Breakers,Beachmen - Graywhale TaylorsvilleKettlefish - Green PigThe Rugs - Hog WallowMarinade - Johnny’sAndrew Maguire’s Art Project - KilbyBaby Ghosts, The Hung Ups, Riva Rebels, EliWhitney, Police Academy - MuseDilated Peoples - Park City LiveMatthew & The Hope - PoplarEspirito De Fogo - Rose WagnerStories Of Ambition - Shred ShedHell’s Belles - State RoomBen Verdery - Sugar SpaceThe Gift of Gab, DJ Flash & Flare, DJ Juggy,Scenic Byway, Zigga, Dumb Luck - UrbanSeve Vs. Evan, Deadtooth - VelourTanner McDowell, Riley Traveller, PaulChristiansen - Why SoundCWMA’s: Mideau, Bullets & Belles, Juana Ghani- WoodshedSunday, April 21Early Graves, Rile - Shred ShedCaptured By Robots, Red Bennies, Ready TheRockets - UrbanMonday, April 22Happy Birthday, Megan Kennedy!Jon Davidson, Allison Martin, Jesus Or Genome- Burt’sALT-J - ComplexWirelefant, We Are Mirrors, Whiskey Tooth- Jazzy’sJames McCartney, Benny Merchant, Jay WilliamHenderson - KilbyIdle Hands, A Midnight Drive, Apollo- Shred ShedBunny Gang feat. Nathen Maxwell of FloggingMolly - UrbanMideau - VelourTuesday, April 23HVDD: Recruitment Night! - 784 E. ChappelDr. - Spanish ForkCobalt Cranes, Chalk, Fossil Arms - Bar DeluxeBlighter, Down On Knees I’m Weak, Soulrot- Burt’sHell Jam - Devil’s DaughterEight Bells, SubRosa - Shred ShedThe Old World, The Watches, Amassing MassiveMass, Trevor Price - UrbanWednesday, April 24Warner Drive, Mouth Of A Lion - Burt’sZakk Wylde - DepotBuilding With Legs - KilbySpirit Family Reunion - State RoomStanton Warriors, The Loki & Steez Show, TinkFu - UrbanAan, Lake Island - VelourThursday, April 25Balance Of Power, Eyes Of Damnation, Hooga,Jackass Bone - Bar DeluxeLebaron - Burt’sCWMA’s: Spirit Master, Marinade, Holy WaterBuffalo - ComplexFace To Face - DepotMark Chaney & The Garge Allstars - GarageEaston Corbin - In The VenueLo-Fi Riot, Kingston Winter, The Hooligans BrassBand - KilbyThe Men, Night Sweats, Super 78, Foster Body- Salt HausBeachmen, Lady Murasaki, Lynden Williams- UrbanNo Sleep - VelourCWMA’s: 2nd Week DJ Spinoff - ZestFriday, April 26Wiskeyfish - A Bar Named SueHillfolk Noir, Millie & The Moths - ABG’sSnake Rattle Rattle Snake, The Red On Black- Bar DeluxeChalula - BayouMighty High - BrewskisVampyrates, All Systems Fail - Burt’sFlesh-N-Bone, The DuctTape Gang, Tre Duce Ent,Gifted Ent, Diggla Family, Jesse James - ComplexRoy Kay Trio, Matt Codina & The Glyders,Rare Record Hop - GarageTito Kennedy - Green PigPour Horse - Hog WallowThe Shakers, Dixie Slim & The Cour Du Rois- Jazzy’sSLUG All-Ages Localized: Anthropology,Solarsuit, Creature Double Feature- KilbyThe Stranger Beside Me, Consumed By Silence,Stories Of Ambition, Only Clouds Above, Eyesof Damnation - Liquid Joe’sBat Manors, Wandering Woods, KathleenFrewin, Coral Bones - MuseJim Derrickson - PoplarBombshell Academy - Shred ShedPaul Kelly - State RoomCWMA’s: Hang Time, Night Sweats, SecretAbilities - UrbanL’anarchsite - Why SoundFunk & Gonzo - WoodshedSaturday, April 27Happy Birthday, Katie Panzer!Happy Birthday, Rebecca Frost!DJ Stackhouse, Sista Matic, Shaleeki- Bar DeluxeSturgeon General, Dead Sound - Burt’sHe Is We, Dylan Jacobsen - ComplexLorin Walker Madsen - Deer Hunter PubJames Blake, Falty DL - DepotOld Death Whisper - GarageThe Pillar - Green PigSenses Fail - In The VenueMatthew & The Hope - Johnny’sThe Hoot Hoots, Cliffs, Hang Time, Beachmen- KilbyCWMA’s: Golden Sun, Polytype, Book OnTapeworm - MuseTerence Hansen - PoplarBest Friends Animal Society Benefit:Bone Dance, Day Hymns, Cherem,Speak Out - Salt HausThe Elements, Atheist, B-Side, Cigarillo Burna,Dine Krew - Shred ShedCWMA’s: Matteo, L’Anarchiste, Fictionist- State RoomBonobo, El Ten Eleven - UrbanBassMint Pros, Broken Silence, ReactanceMethod - Why SoundSunday, April 28David Sedaris - Capitol TheaterMindless Self Indulgence - In The VenueThat1Guy & The Magic Pipe, Captain AhabsMotorcycle Club - State RoomMonday, April 29Happy Birthday, Gavin Sheehan!Happy Birthday, Bryan Kubarycz!Happy Birthday, Chris Proctor!Happy Birthday, Steve Richardson!Tennis System, Visioneer - Bar DeluxeBarb Wire Dolls, NoNoYesYes, The Jingoes,Secret Abilities - Burt’sTransit, Seahaven, Young Statues - Club SoundRodriguez - ComplexThe 213’s - UrbanTuesday, April 30Maoli, Makisi - Bar DeluxeJazz Jaguars - Burt’sHell Jam - Devil’s DaughterTouché, Night Sweats, Koala Temple - KilbyPrezident Brown, Reggae Angels - Park City LiveKDC, La Verkin - Shred ShedHar Mar Superstar - UrbanWednesday, May 1Git Some - Burt’sAlex Clare - DepotKvelertak, Cancer Bats, Black Tusk - In The VenueSimple Treasures Mother’s Day Boutique- Legacy Events CenterKatchafire - Park City LiveQuantic - UrbanThursday, May 2Grave Babies, Night Sweats, The Saintanne- Bar DeluxeLich King, Visigoth, Deathblow, Chainwhip- Burt’sSOJA - DepotJoe McQueen Quartet - GaragePowerman 5000 - In The VenueSuper Water Sympathy, Jupiter - MuseTodd Snider, Great American Taxi - State RoomAesop Rock, Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz - UrbanFriday, May 3Pick up the new issue of SLUG anyplacecool!Juana Ghani - A Bar Named SueHill Folk Noir, Hectic Hobo - Bar DeluxeMarinade - BrewskisLose It! - Burt’sAndre Nickatina, Roach Gigz, Mumbles- ComplexJohnny Outlaw & The Johnson Creek Stranglers- GarageRavings Of A Madman - Shred ShedA Behanding In Spokane - Sugar SpaceDubwise - UrbanCall Me The Dreamer - Why SoundMinx - Woodshed68 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 69

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