slugmag.com 1 2 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 3 SaltLakeUnderGround • Vol. 23 • Issue #288 • Dec. 2012 • slugmag.com Publisher: Eighteen Percent Gray Marketing Manager: Karamea Puriri Editor: Angela H. Brown Marketing Team: Ischa B., Stephanie Bus- Managing Editor: Esther Meroño chardt, Emily Burkhart, Sabrina Costello, Tay- Contributing Editor: Ricky Vigil lor Hunsaker, Tom Espinoza, Kristina Sandi, Junior Editor: Alexander Ortega Brooklyn Ottens, Angella Lucisano, Nicole Office Coordinator:Gavin Sheehan Roccanova, Briana Buendia, Raffi Shahinian, Copy Editing Team: Rebecca Vernon, Victoria Loveless, Cassie Anderson Ricky Vigil, Esther Meroño, Liz Phillips, Rio Social Media Coordinator: Catie Weimer Connelly, Alexander Ortega, Mary Enge, Cody Kirkland, Johnathan Ford, Eleanor Distribution Manager: Eric Granato Scholz, Alex Cragun, Rachel Miller, Dave Distro: Eric Granato, Tommy Dolph, Tony Stuart, Katie Bald, Katie Panzer Bassett, Joe Jewkes, Nancy Burkhart, Joyce Bennett, Adam Okeefe, Ryan Worwood, Cover Photo: Dave Brewer John Ford, Cody Kirkland, Nate Brooks, Matt Cover Design: Joshua Joye Pothier, Phill Cannon Lead Designer: Joshua Joye Design Team: Eric Sapp, Eleanor Scholz Senior Staff Writers: Mike Brown, Mariah Design Intern: Jeremy Riley Mann-Mellus, James Orme, Lance Saunders, Ad Designers: Kent Farrington, Sumerset Bryer Wharton, Peter Fryer, James Bennett, Bivens, Christian Broadbent, Kelli Tompkins, Ricky Vigil, Gavin Hoffman, Jon Robertson, Es- Maggie Call, Eric Sapp, Brad Barker, Lindsey ther Meroño, Rebecca Vernon, Jimmy Martin, Morris, Paden Bischoff, Maggie Zukowski, Ben Trentelman, Tyler Makmell, Princess Ken- Thy Doan nedy, Sean Zimmerman-Wall, Cody Hudson, Website Design: Kate Colgan Shawn Mayer, Rio Connelly, Courtney Blair, Office Interns: Carl Acheson, Alex Cragun Dean O. Hillis, Jessie Wood, Chris Proctor, Al- Illustrators: Ryan Perkins, Phil Cannon, exander Ortega, Jeanette D. Moses, Madelyn Benji Pierson, Maggie Zukowski, Sean Boudreaux, Gavin Sheehan Hennefer, Robin Banks, Timm Paxton, Dylan Monkeys with Computers: Brian Kubary- Chadwick, Eleanor Scholz, Jared Smith cz, Some Cop Dude, Nate Housley, Dylan Photographers: Katie Panzer, Dave Chadwick, Megan Kennedy, Mame Wallace, Brewer, Barrett Doran, Jesse Anderson, John Tom Winkley, Henry Glasheen, Kia McGinnis, Barkiple, Chad Kirkland, Melissa Cohn, Johnny Logan, Lauren Ashley Paul, Gregory Megan Kennedy, Michael Schwartz, Brent Gerulat, Westin Porter, Cody Kirkland, Timo Rowland, Eric Scott Russell, Alex Pastucha, H., Ryan Hall, Jory Carroll, Ischa B., Alex Weston Colton, Jake Vivori, Gavan Nelson, Cragun, Kendal Gillett, Alex Springer, Nate Andy Wright, Gilbert Garcia Perkins, Brinley Froelich, Justin Gallegos, Scott Videographers: Mary Catrow, Slugger, Farley, Steve Richardson, LeAundra Jeffs, Brian Baade, Andrew Schummer, Brock Steve Goemaat, Darcy Wouters-Russell, Chris- Grossl, Candida Duran, Matthew Pothier, tian Schultz, Blake Leszczynski, Matt Brunk, Audrey Newhouse, Cole Quartuccio, Jordan Devereaux, Anna Kate Gedal, Jesse Perrylane Deker-Tate Thomas, Rebecca Frost, Trevor Hale

Ad Sales: SLUG HQ 801.487.9221 SLUG Magazine’s Official Podcast: Angela Brown: Soundwaves From The Underground [email protected] Host: Dan Nailen Mike Brown: Producer: Gavin Sheehan [email protected] Executive Producer: Angela H. Brown John Ford: Associate Producers: Ricky Vigil, Esther [email protected] Meroño, Alexander Ortega, Dan Nailen

About the Cover: SLUG photographer Dave Brewer got into the thick of UCW-Zero action to distill UCW superstar Martin Casaus giving Derrick Jannetty a run for his money. Casaus was caught rasslin’ dirty with merciless boot-choking on the ropes—read the full story by Dylan Chadwick on page 38! DISCLAIMER: SLUG Magazine does not necessarily maintain the same opinions as those found in our articles, interviews or advertisements. If you are easily offended, please do not blame us. We are a carrier for the voice of the people and it is not our fault if you don’t like people. Content is property of SLUG Magazine. Please do not use without permission, or we will hunt you down and make you pay for your sins. Now that’s a promise. Contributor Limelight: Dan Nailen – Soundwaves From The Underground Podcast Host Dan Nailen recently added his baritone enthusiasm to SLUG’s podcast, Soundwaves From The Underground, as the new host. Nailen is no stranger to Utah media, having formerly been a writer for the Salt Lake Tribune for over eight years, as well as the arts and entertainment editor for Salt Lake Magazine and managing editor of Salt Lake City Weekly. These days, Nailen has stepped away from his publishing and editorial roles and has taken on the role of Communications and Marketing Manager for the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, where he writes and edits most of the press releases, brochures and catalogs that come from the business school. You can also find him around town going to whatever plays and shows he can get to for his own blog, SLCene. com, and as a freelance writer for Salt Lake Magazine. When he’s not pounding away on a keyboard or recording an episode, Nailen enjoys fine whiskey over a book, usually reading up on the culture of the American West. He roots for the Jazz, but bets on college football, and occasionally plays pub quiz trivia with his team, Chicks, Dicks & Stevie Nicks. Download the show every week to hear our host do his thing! 4 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 5 Dear Dickheads, lowest unemployment rate of all the states, so I sincerely think I am recently unemployed and been you really aren’t trying hard on the job hunt for a few weeks. Like enough—so, really, stop acting so most of your readers, I am in my entitled. Given your anti-pater- mid-twenties, and have had difficulty nalistic musings about your post- obtaining a job. I am contributing much 20-something elders, you are of this lack of employment on the part clearly a bleeding-heart liberal, of age-ism. On two separate occasions, so let me break this down for I’ve had potential employers generalize you: You’re never going to make me as a Millennial and their apparent any money. Ever. So, what’re a traits. According to the Baby-Boomer few weeks of unemployment? masturbatory aid, 60 Minutes, Mil- Basically, all that’s left for you, lennials are: lazy, ignorant, entitled, twentynothing, is to sell out to opinionated, materialistic and live in the Man at a call center or trade an “everyone wins” fantasy. To every in your liberal arts degree for Baby-Boomer and Gen Xer out there a business degree and hate that feels this way, I say, “fuck you.” yourself for the rest of your life. What did the Boomers do, but give up It seems like you do already, so on changing the world and embrace it should be easy. You could also cocaine-polyester parties? What did the rack up six—nah, fuck it, let’s moody boohoo Gen Xers do except give make it seven figures of debt in America Paul Ryan and... I think that is an endeavor to get through den- it. I’ve worked a job since the age of tal school and attempt to open 16, paid my way through college and up a reputable practice and bend struggled through all of my successes common folks over if you want and failures. I’m highly qualified and to break even someday. You paid these mindless dicks won’t look past my your way through school? You age. I find it disconcerting to be thrown need more debt—you don’t have into the lot of rare trust-fund children and enough street cred, buddy! Milk lazy assholes, when I myself work hard. your freedom and stop whin- How do I combat this ing—you could be like those crust generational stigma? punks with the huge backpacks by the library. Then you’ll REALLY Signed, have street cred, and I’m sure Not a twentysomthing fuck-up. Mom will let you crash in your old room once you get too cold. Dear twenty-fuck-face—or Besides, you’re young: You can whatever, always go retire in Portland. According to the Bureau of Labor xoxo, Statistics, Utah has the sixth- SLUG Mag FAX, SNAIL MAIL OR EMAIL US YOUR LETTERS! Fax: 801.487.1359 • Mailing Address: Dear Dickheads c/o SLUG Mag 351 Pierpont Ave. Ste. 4B SLC, UT 84101 or [email protected]

6 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 7 8 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 9 lbino Father originally spawned from the head shit.” He states that he brings the “loud” to the band, late-’80s, shoegaze dance beat. A of Matt Hoenes as a solo project made up of whereas Gordon brings the “pretty.” Until this sum- simple, multi-track recordings on his home computer, mer, Hoenes was the sole composer of all of Albino A humble and eclectic group of musicians who bring annually recording covers of Christmas songs he would Father’s songs, and throughout the past few years, a diverse musical background to the table, Albino give as cheap gifts for the holidays. Originally released has been teaching Green and Gordon the songs and Father avoid confining themselves to just one musical exclusively on the Internet, Hoenes’ solo project official- performing them live as a full band. Gordon says of genre. “I think someone told us we were psychedelic, ly became a band this summer, incorporating longtime their early performances as Albino Father that they so we just started saying that,” says Gordon. Green friends and former bandmates: guitarist BJ Gordon, didn’t really care what Hoenes was teaching them defines them as “playing what they enjoy,” stating drummer Kris Green and Color Animal’s Andrew to play—they would play whatever they wanted on- that, “If there are other bands that are doing the same Shaw on bass. stage, and as loud as possible. thing, give us their names.” Shaw recalls, after mov- ing to Salt Lake, how pleased he was by the diversity Nearly a decade ago, Hoenes and Green began “I’m not much of a lyricist. I’m not much of a song- in the local music scene. “In Nebraska, you’re either writing music together in Hoenes’ basement. Gordon writer. I’m not much of a musician, either,” Hoenes a punk band or a cover band. I’m neither of those and Hoenes were introduced through Green, and the says jokingly of his songwriting ability, with song things. I had no place there,” he says, referencing his three went on to form the instrumental group, Dark topics including cats, YouTube comments, drugs first experience in Salt Lake being a Black Sabbath White—which Gordon describes as, “big, epic and and creeps doing creepy things. “Most of them are cover band opening for a solo-female acoustic act. bad.” Hoenes has been writing and recording songs a hodgepodge of different ideas. There are themes, Albino Father want to play shows with bands of all alone under the name Albino Father for the past 10 but [the songs] don’t make any sense.” Hoenes’ cur- genres, and hope to keep the live experience of Salt years, and began performing Albino Father’s songs rent releases, AGE and Blanket, differ incredibly in Lake’s music scene diverse. Gordon says half-jokingly, as a solo acoustic act six years ago, displaying his style, though they were recorded just months apart. “Do you guys want to play reggae night?” adaptability as a songwriter. Hoenes describes one AGE, released Sept. 2011 and named after the most of his first solo shows opening for Shaw’s previous frequently used chords on that album, A-G-E, bor- Albino Father are starting to record together for the band, The Adonis, at Burt’s, as “terrifying.” Hoenes rows a mid-’60s British mod, psychedelic and Ameri- first time as a band, with Hoenes handing over some says he has since overcome his fear of perform- can blues sound reminiscent of The Who circa My of the songwriting to the rest of the group. Hoenes ing live and has played Albino Father’s songs with Generation. The versatility in song structure allows says, “Now I come to the band with the skeleton of Green, former bassist Laurie Geving and Gordon for modest, clear and well-placed guitar solos that the song and they add the organs.” They have a tenta- for the past few years. are carried by simple, programmed drums, all glued tive release date set for their first album together for together by a warm, bluesy bass tone. Hoenes’s re- spring 2013, which they joke will most likely turn into Gordon, Green and Hoenes, who were born and verb-heavy, spoken vocals are at times comparable fall 2013. Having only toured as Dark White to the raised in Salt Lake, met proud Nebraskan Shaw to Stephen Malkmus from Pavement, and mix far-off and exotic land of Murray City, Hoenes says he (L-R) Pastor McCaff, Timmy Jame, through mutual friends six years ago. Upon the well with the energy packed behind the programmed would love to tour the West Coast with Albino Father exit of Geving, Shaw (having been a part of the lo- drums—one can only imagine they must explode in the coming year. Expect a lot of loudness and some Mack and Brent Cool trade out laser

Photo: Gavan Nelson cal music scene since moving to Salt Lake in ’03), with Green killing his drum kit live. Blanket, released variation of a mumbled “fuck you” or other insults from pointers for Pez dispensers in all their drew on years of experience performing live and a just six months earlier, weighs in heavy on tone and the slightly off-center Hoenes, and definitely check out own psychedelic rock glory. broad musical taste to comfortably settle in as Al- lyrical content. The opening track, “Devil You Are” this humble, loud and hard-working band. bino Father’s new bassist. Green says, “The reason pays homage to a Jack White influence in both I became a drummer is because I like fucking hitting dark lyrics and guitar tone while being carried by a Cool—not out of necessity for a fourth member, but playing music as a powerful, freeing force that unites Localized out of the natural evolution the band has taken over all kinds of people. “I’ve been playing guitar since I the past two years, adding the right elements to the was 13—that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” he says. (L-R) Andrew Shaw, Kris Green, BJ By Darcy Wouters-Russell ­ band at the right time. If rock n’ roll were a universally recognized religion, Gordon and Matt Hoenes each craft [email protected] Spirit Master would be the second coming of the Mes- musical parts that synergize to form siah. Again, the word “passion” comes to mind when It is also impossible to talk about Spirit Master without music that transcends genre. This month’s Localized features two of Salt Lake’s talking about the LDS church, as most of the members talking about rock n’ roll with these guys: Mack and most humble, eclectic and loud bands playing of the band have Mormon roots, and two of the mem- Jame say that rock n’ roll is the only thing they truly undefinable music that they love and that flows un- bers have served LDS missions. The band uses the believe in and that it has exponentially changed hu- filtered. On Saturday, Dec. 14, come worship rock image of a martini glass, whose stem continues past its manity in such a short amount of time, and will con- n’ roll at Urban Lounge with two bands who truly Demo tinue to do so, though Mack says, “A lot of people are believe in the power of music without pretense or base to form an inverted cross, on their record, addicted to bad music, much like being addicted to ego, and transcend to a new level of musical con- Album EP, and at live shows. “There’s no way I would Photos: Gavan Nelson sciousness for only $5. Rainbow Black opens. be as into music if it weren’t for the Church being so McDonalds.” musical—whether it’s singing in church or the pioneers singing across the plains, there’s always music in your Spirit Master’s first big break, opening for The Flam- It’s impossible to talk about Spirit Master without us- head,” says the ethnically Mormon-identified Mack of ing Lips in fall 2011, was an extremely enlightening ing the word “passion” over and over. Originally a his extensive Mormon history and upbringing. “I am experience for the band, and it proved the power of two-piece consisting of Mack and Pastor McCaff Mormon, through and through, though I don’t believe simply asking for something. After cleaning 3,000 switching between drums, bass and vocals, Spirit in any God any human has ever talked about.” Being batteries for laser pointers for the audience to play Master have evolved from said passion into a collec- raised Mormon certainly hasn’t hindered Mack—in with during the Lips’ performance at Saltair, Spirit tive of musicians with an expanse of musical influence, fact, it has fueled Mack’s intense passion for express- Master have developed a relationship with Lips front- who truly just want to play rock n’ roll. ing himself through music, though he says his dad man Wayne Coyne. The incredible reception by hates rock n’ roll. Jame says his family has always the audience and the joy surrounding Spirit Master’s Mack and McCaff met while Mack was in high school, been supportive of his musical career and that his dad performance made Jame’s mouth hurt from smiling. with a seven-year age difference between them. “I’ve lives vicariously through him, bragging about his son’s Master recorded a short documentary about this en- always looked up to McCaff,” Mack says of his long- talent. Mack says that so many Mormon bands do lightening experience that can be found on the band’s time friend and bandmate. “He’s my hero.” After the everything in their power to give off the appearance Facebook page. breakup of their first band,Mathematics Etc., Mc- of not being Mormon, when they should just own it. Caff and Mack performed two shows as Spirit Mas- “Being Mormon could either mean you are the CEO of The band hasn’t gained any national recognition yet, ter before their Number One fan and mutual friend, JetBlue or you’re a kid who wants to trip balls and play but are eager to tour. Jame says, “Ideas are in place— guitarist Timmy Jame, joined. Jame, who also plays music with your friends,” he says. there are other ways of being productive besides tour- in The Devil Whale, divides his time between both ing.” In lieu of being on tour already, the band fulfills bands when not teaching guitar lessons. Having only Like most musicians who genuinely love playing music their need to perform through constant practicing. Ad- seen Spirit Master once (“stoned as God,” according for the sake of playing music, Spirit Master do not ditionally, Spirit Master plan to release their second to Mack), Jame was the only person not scared of identify themselves as any particular genre—borrow- album, Concept Album EP, before applying to SXSW in the band, referring to the duo as the “perfect stoner ing elements from legends of rock n’ roll, blues, coun- early spring. Expect loud, unpredictable musical tan- band.” The trio then added Jame’s former Band of try and rockabilly musicians such as King Crimson, gents that you can get lost in, and come witness the Annuals bandmate, pedal steel guitarist Brent Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. Jame refers to resurrection of true rock n’ roll. 10 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 11 mixed with a slightly creamy and spicy sauce. For an extra dollar, you can get them topped with a quail egg. I decided to go egg-free with mine, and the results were great. The meat was tender and sweet, and the sauce added the perfect degree of saltiness.

Moving on to the sushi rolls, I wanted to continue my urge to try new things. The first roll to come out was their signature Groove Roll ($9.95). The Groove Roll combines spicy albacore, crunchy tempura bits and avocado. These three ingredients are wrapped in rice and seaweed, and topped with generously thick-sliced marlin, mango and eel sauce. Holy hell was this good. The delicate flavor of the avocado was not overpowered by the other tastes competing for my attention, and it paired well texturally with the crunch of the tempura and the firmness of the fish. The sliced marlin on top was my favorite part of the roll, and I hope to return soon to give this one another try.

The next two rolls, the Coco Loco and the Fried Vegi, came out at the same time. Coco Loco ($11.95) is made with coconut-fried shrimp and avocado topped with spicy tuna, albacore, mango, cilantro and a roasted pepper sauce. This one packed a little more heat than I thought it would, but it wasn’t too spicy. The spicy tuna and the tart, citrus-based serrano ponzu added more flavor than heat, and they tied the savory-themed roll together well. The coconut shrimp was the dominant flavor, and that’s how it should have been. The Fried Vegi ($6.50) was the only roll we ordered from the extensive vegetarian- friendly part of the menu. This one came stuffed with cream cheese, avocado, green onion and asparagus. It was then tempura-battered and fried and topped with a drizzle of spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce. This would be the perfect gateway roll for a sushi novice. The selection of vegetables blended well with the warm cream cheese,

r ze an P The sliced marlin on top of the Groove Roll tie : Ka Photo makes it a delicious signature dish.

www.tempestcouture.com and the fact that the entire thing was fried made it that much better. One of my dinner mates found the spicy mayo a little off-putting, but I think it was exactly what the roll needed to taste complete.

Speaking of fried, you really shouldn’t leave Sushi Groove without ordering the Cookie Challenge ($7.95). This curious dessert item consists of the tempting combination of tempura-fried Oreos and coconut By James Bennett tempura-fried Nutter Butters—you get a pair of each. [email protected] They are served alongside two scoops of the house- made ice cream (we opted for vanilla and Nutella), a Artisan or a city whose only port is the shrinking, briny sliced banana and a thick fudge sauce. While hardly 2910 S. remnants of an ancient sea, Salt Lake City certainly a “challenge” to eat, be sure to leave room in your Fashion F has a lot of home-grown sushi restaurants. stomach and your budget to order this. The fryer does Highland Dr. Fortunately, it seems like most of them excel in their little to distort the flavor or the texture of the cookies, various brands of sushi making. For those who dare make but the added layer of breading elevates the eating SLC, UT 84106 a meal of raw fish in the middle of the Great Basin Desert, experience to a new plane. The banana is a nice and here’s a spot worth your dining dollar. necessary touch. Its freshness cuts the richness of the & crisp cookies and, when eaten with a chunk of Nutter 801-467-7420 Sushi Groove is a mellow place. Located across from the Butter, brings a quasi-Elvis “goldmine” sandwich vibe Accessories Visual Art Institute on Highland Drive, the small, laid-back to the dessert (Elvis was keen on grilled peanut butter Sushigrooveutah.com space provides an intimate dining experience. When and banana sandwiches). It is definitely worth a try. you’re greeted by the graffiti-style artwork on the wall, you Men & Women know immediately that you’re not in a pretentious sushi While Sushi Groove is primarily a sushi destination, don’t Monday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. shop. The dining room seems designed to set the guests’ let your one picky friend keep you from giving it a shot. mind at ease, and it is successful at doing exactly that. For those looking for more than just sushi, they also offer 801.486.1188 a variety of rice bowls ($8.95-$10.95), teriyaki combo Tuesday-Thursday I started my meal with an appetizer. The starter portion plates ($10.95-$12.95) and have even recently added of their menu offers an assortment of pretty standard a kids’ menu. They also have a good selection of soft 1305 South 900 East 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Japanese fare like miso soup, edamame and pork or drinks, juices, tea and, of course, a beer, wine and sake Salt Lake City, Sushi Groove vegetable gyoza. They also had a few items that were menu. In all, combines friendly service, Utah 84105 Friday-Saturday foreign to me. I opted for the unfamiliar and ordered great prices and a truly fun venue. Be sure to put this gem 11 a.m.-close a plate of Mussels ($4.95). Their mussels come in a set of a restaurant on your list of places to try. of four. They are served chopped and on the half shell,

12 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 13 14 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 15 TTurn off the TV, TTurn oon the GGV! Photo: Chad Kirkland By Ischa B. / [email protected]

Welcome to GigViz, the live- (L-R) Sean Cochrane, Mark Hoffman and Mike Sartain included audiences from far streaming “virtual venue,” away tuning in to catch a live bringing the show to your are the trio behind GigViz. show they would otherwise screen in real time! There is miss due to that whole “time no better birthplace than SLC, and space” thing. Here in home to a thriving music and Utah, though, more potential art scene. Sean Cochrane, for success lies in another Therein lies the magic: The idea is not to take the founder of GigViz, began formulating the hugely under-served market: the youth who are away from the venues or the live experience, project a little under a year ago. It was an not even able to get in the doors of bars, even but simply to add to that by providing the invitation from a friend in Santa Monica to see if they really did just want to see the show. The means for people who cannot make it out a live show that ignited this mission. Unable to laws make it too hard to cater to them, so they to the venue in person. The improvements in attend due to the show’s location, Cochrane get left out. technology continue to help boost the potential started thinking that there should be a way as well, as 4G networks expand the capacity for him to experience the show, despite the The time has come for GigViz, hero to the and quality of the stream from the venue to your miles between them. “In this day and age, it’s people, the youth, the young mothers, the stuck- home. pretty easy to get live video streaming ... and I at-homes. It’s online, it’s free and it’s just up to thought, ‘Well, hell, I can do that!’” you to tune in to the show. Having built the platform from scratch,

Cochrane always planned for the business to Just a couple of months later, in February 2012, “Turn off the TV, turn on the GV,” says Sartain. have no ceiling and limitless potential. “I set this local favorites Royal Bliss were the first to That sweet little sentiment is being used as the all up from the beginning ... so we can scale to test-run the experiment and, since then, with company’s slogan. GigViz works with some of whatever size audience we can get,” he says the help of Mark Hoffman (operations) and the best venues in town, ensuring that the shows of the technology involved. “I didn’t want to just Mike Sartain (artist relations), GigViz has being streamed are shows people want to see. put it on a little server in my basement.” already netted nearly 2,000 users from all over For now, they are streaming shows from Urban

the world. Fans are tuning in from over 50 Lounge, The State Room, The Depot, Wiseguys, Out for “world conquerization,” as Hoffman countries, from Australia to the UK, to check out Liquid Joe’s and The Garage. Anywhere else jokes, GigViz is certainly nothing to laugh at. the live shows of their favorite bands streaming interested in letting GigViz get more eyes and The growth plan is huge, involving everything from our fair town. GigViz is already showing ears on the show need only shoot them an from iPhone apps (available within the next six its enormous value. The opportunity now exists email, and they will start working on getting months) to the ability to stream through third- via GigViz for local bands to have their live GigViz into that venue as well. If a band is party devices such as Xbox and Apple TV. The show seen by an international audience, and playing one of the venues they currently work company is still young and looking for creative the potential to gain new fans from this shared with, they can just shoot an email over to see if ways to create revenue, including pay-per- virtual venue is a huge boon to our community GigViz is available to make their set visible to view options and streaming advertisements. of musicians. The bigger GigViz gets, the the online masses. “Hopefully, we can both get some expansion bigger the opportunity for our local artists, with and get some revenue to keep us going,” more and more fans from around the world Go to gigviz.com to contact them and, while Cochrane says. “[We want to] make this our tuning in to check out who’s playing. you’re there, check out archives of past shows, job ... We’re passionate about this,” Sartain featuring a recorded sampling of one or two says. As of now, there are no fees for the While the technology to stream isn’t new or songs from all of the shows that were streamed venues, bands or users and, therefore, no unusual, the idea to stream live shows without live. Or check out the calendar to see what revenue—passion is what is carrying the project adding production value is unique to GigViz. upcoming shows are on the agenda. You can forward. No other virtual venue endeavor is quite as also chat live with other fans from around the faithful to the truly live show. “We always say, world as you watch the show, all for free. The success of GigViz, so far, has largely ‘Go to the venue if you can,’” says Cochrane.

16 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 17 SLUG MAG’S STAFF PICKS TOP 5 ALBUMS OF The Atom Age

The Hottest Thing ger. Brendan Frye’s sax is That’s Cool easily the standout element of The Atom Age’s sound, Asian Man Records as he gives an extra gallon Street: 05.29 of rocket fuel to the band’s The Atom Age = already frantically fast num- Rocket From the Crypt bers (“Cut, Paste, Kill” and + Riverboat Gamblers “Nothing Ever Changes”), + New Bomb Turks but is an equally effective attitude enhancer in slower 2012 There is definitely something songs such as “I’ve Been to be said for brand loyalty Thinking” (featuring an ex- when it comes to punk rock cellently screamed vocal per- record labels—Asian Man Whether you’re a Pitchfork diehard or a Metalsucks formance by Peter Niven) Records helped kick-start the and “Eaten Alive.” There is connoisseur, there’s no doubt that some drool-worthy albums success of Alkaline Trio, an inherent coolness to The hit the sound waves this year! Take in SLUG contributors’ Top The Lawrence Arms and Atom Age’s music, evoking Five albums to make sure you didn’t miss a beat from the rad Less Than Jake, recently the spirit of Speedo and the releases of 2012, and catch eight avid audiophiles digging revitalized the careers of strychnine-fueled chaos of deep into some of their favorite releases from artists such as The Queers and Jesse The Sonics—this is straight Crystal Castles, The Atom Age, White Lung and local Michaels of Operation up rock n’ roll channeled Ivy, and is the current home outfits Eagle Twin and Baby Ghosts. through punk rock energy. of unique and influential The album closes with the bands such as Bomb the organ-driven duo of “Dead Music Industry! and An- Wrong,” a slow creeper of drew Jackson Jihad. a tune, and the title track, Given the label’s pedigree, it where the organ, sax, was easy to give The Atom Carl Acheson – Robin Banks – speed and Ryan Perras’ Age a chance—and I’m voice meld to form one of Office Intern Illustrator glad that I did. The second the catchiest, coolest songs 1. TNGHT – Self-Titled 1. Grimes – Visions full-length album from this released this year. This re- 2. Frank Ocean – 2. Allo Darlin’ – Europe Berkeley, Calif. quintet blows ally is the hottest thing that’s Channel Orange 3. The White Wires – WWIII the doors right open with cool—pick up a copy and let “Dig the Future,” blistering 3. Municipal Waste/Toxic 4. Full Sun – Bare Floor it blast your ass straight into with punk rock fury and Holocaust – Toxic Waste 5. Standard Fare – Out of the future. –Ricky Vigil garage rock swag- 4. Captain Murphy – Duality Sight, Out of Town 5. Odd Future – The OF Tape, Vol. 2 Brad Barker – Ad Designer Ischa B. – Writer/ 1. Draize Method – Marketing Rep Now More Than Never 1. MiNX – Mixtape Collection 2. Placebo – B3 EP 2. Uncle Scam – Fly Free 3. Sigur Rós – Valtari 3. P!nk – The Truth about Love 4. Patti Smith – Banga 4. Fiona Apple – 5. Aimee Mann – Charmer The Idler Wheel 5. Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas John Barkiple – Photographer Katie Bald – 1. Amanda Palmer & The Copy Editor Grand Theft Orchestra – 1. One Direction – Theatre Is Evil Take Me Home 2. Jake Shimabukuro – 2. Marina and the Diamonds – Grand Ukulele Electra Heart 3. Old Crow Medicine Show – 3. G.O.O.D. Music – Carry Me Back Cruel Summer 4. The Avett Brothers – 4. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die The Carpenter 5. Rihanna – Unapologetic 5. Prince Royce – Phase II

18 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 19 James Bennett – Mike Brown – Thy Doan – Writer Ad Sales/Writer Ad Designer 1. John K. Samson – Provincial 1. The xx – Coexist 1. El-P – Cancer 4 Cure 2. Man or Astro–Man? – Astro 2. Metric – Synthetica 2. Swagatha Christie – Analog Series: Vol. 1 & 2 Crystal Castles Baby Ghosts Babel 3. Mumford & Sons – Creep Van Tour 2012 3. Buck Owens – Coloring 4. Ladyhawke – Anxiety 3. Ty Segall – Slaughterhouse Let’s Always Hang Out the anime cover showing Book EP 5. The Lumineers – The Lum- III the lo-fi, sloshy sounds on 4. Thunderfist – Self-Titled this is no ordinary band. The 4. fIREHOSE – lowFLOWs: The Hannah Christian – ineers tape, and married them with Together, Okay? 5. Aesop Rock – Skelethon Universal album seems to have two Columbia Anthology (‘91 – ‘93) electro madness. Each track Self-Released Copy Editor Street: 11.12 personalities. The first being 5. Craig Finn – Clear Heart Full pulls from every color of the Street: 03.19 the sing-along pop side with 1. Death Grips – Crystal Castles = A spectrum, and your brain Eyes Baby Ghosts = Yeah tracks like “German Ghost Matt Brunk – The Money Store Candida Duran – Place to Bury Strang- shuts down because you can- Yeah Yeahs + The Cat” and “The Ghost of Your Writer 2. Between the Buried and Videographer ers + Grimes not comprehend what is hap- Germs + Be Your Personality,” that feature har- Me – The Parallax 2: Future pening, but you keep moving. 1. Highlight Bomb – Finals 1. OK Ikumi – I remember the first time I Own Pet monizing and occasional Paden Bischoff – Sequence From the starchy hip hop beat 2. Make Do And Mend – Alpine Sequences heard Crystal Castles. I was dueling vocals, teamed up 3. Anti–Flag – of “Pale Flesh” that has been Ad Designer 2. Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror traveling through the Inter- Baby Ghosts are one of with guitars and drums that Everything You Ever Loved pulled through wires and 1. Converge – The General Strike 3. Ty Segall – Twins net, lost in the back pages of those surprise bands who sound like they dragged the 3. Danko Jones – twisted into an epileptic video All We Love We Leave Behind 4. Grimes – Visions 4. Best Coast – The Only Place Myspace, and there they were. were kind of overlooked garage walls to the studio Rock and Roll Is Black and Blue game, to the obnoxious noise No Absolutes in 5. Hot Chip – In Our Heads “Alice Practice” began play- when they arrived in 2010, to get that rough echo into 2. Gaza – 4. My Ticket Home – 5. The Mighty Sequoyah – of “Insulin” that you struggle to ing, and I was hooked. Eight but slowly grew on audi- every song. The second side Human Suffering To Create A Cure Sunken Houses listen to, but listen to again, III years later, they have contin- ences as they got around is the anxious punk person- 3. Aesop Rock – Skelethon 5. Silverstein – Short Songs is nothing short of a space trek ued to launch me into another and played all-ages gigs in ality, pounding on the door 4. Old Man Gloom – NO Rio Connelly – soundtrack. “Telepath” begins realm every time I put them on. Provo and Salt Lake City. The in tracks like “Ghost Next 5. Baroness – Yellow & Green the descent of the journey, Writer/Copy Editor Scott Farley – Crystal Castles’ third release, aggressive pop-punk rockers Door” and “The Ghosts of leading you into “Mercenary.” Maggie Call – 1. Lazerbeak – Lava Bangers III is no different. Ethan Kath are one of those groups that, My Crappy-Ass Friends,” Writer which takes you through ex- 2. Fang Island – Major begins with a heart-heavy si- quite frankly, we may not de- where the band hits you with Ad Designer 1. Silversun Pickups – panded wormholes, locking Courtney Blair – 3. Atheist – ren—your chest caves as your serve yet in the music scene. a wall of sound, instantly 1. Beach House – Bloom Neck of the Woods in a sense of euphoria, and Writer Thanks for the Burgers ears ache to understand what They’re happy and full of making you want to bounce 2. Skrillex – Bangarang 2. Dinosaur Jr. – I Bet on Sky down into the end of III. But Kin Natives is coming. You feel yourself energy, they enjoy playing off the walls, and, hopefully, 1. iamamiwhoami – 3. Mumford & Sons – Babel 4. Bright Moments – 3. Propagandhi – Failed States just like “I Am Made of Chalk” stepping onto a spaceship, gigs and making a crowd making the younger crowds 2. Cat Power – Sun 4. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti 5. P.O.S. – We Don’t Even Live 4. Minus the Bear – at the end of II, “Child I Will and, before you know it, you freak out, they actually love want to start their own band. 3. Bat For Lashes – – Mature Themes Here Infinity Overhead Hurt You” slows down just are counting down, beat by playing their music, and they This album was wrongfully The Haunted Man enough to release you. Your 5. Grizzly Bear – Shields 5. Circa Survive – Violent beat, three, two, one … blast- don’t view it as a chore! If overshadowed by a ton of 4. Wild Nothing – Nocturne heartbeat slows, and a rush of Waves off. Vocalist Alice Glass’s sig- the universe of Scott Pilgrim great releases on the local 5. Kendra Morris – Banshee blood flows into your head. As Melissa Cohn – nature, scathing voice yells, “I vs. the World existed in real scene, and surely deserves you pull your headphones off, am the plague,” and you suc- life, Baby Ghosts would fit a second look from anyone Phil Cannon Photographer you realize that you are not cumb to the darkness that they in comfortably among the who loves the occasional – Illustrator 1. The Gaslight Anthem – John Ford – actually locked in an insane Madelyn breathe. There’s a gloomy ec- colorful rockers and 8-bit pop-punk album. 1. Torche – Harmonicraft Handwritten asylum … and then you put Ad Sales/Writer/ stasy about this album, similar insanity, which is what made –Gavin Sheehan Boudreaux – Koloss 2. Minus the Bear – your headphones on and do it 2. Meshuggah – Copy Editor to their previous albums, their debut album such Writer 3. Willis Earl Beal – Infinity Overhead all over again. a treat this year, with 1. Amanda Palmer & The I and II. Kath recorded 1. The Presets – Pacifica Acousmatic Sorcery 3. Circa Survive – –Karamea Puriri Violent Waves Grand Theft Orchestra – 2. Wovenhand – 4. Mirel Wagner – Theatre Is Evil The Laughing Stalk Mirel Wagner 4. P.O.S. – We Don’t Even Live Here 2. Torche – Harmonicraft 3. Julian Tulip’s Licorice – 5. Divine Fits – A Thing Called 3. Jack White – Blunderbuss The Umbrella Party Divine Fits 5. Foxy Shazam – The Church of Rock and Roll 4. Royal Republic – 4. The Rose Phantom – Save The Nation Abandon 5. Muse – The 2nd Law 5. Crime & the City Solution Jory Carroll – Weston Colton – – A History of Crime (Berlin Writer 1987–1991) 1. Heartless Bastards – Arrow Photographer Brinley Froelich – 2. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp 1. First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar 2. Twin Shadow – Confess Writer 3. Jack White – Blunderbuss 1. Laurel Halo – Quarantine Angela Brown – 4. Beach House – Bloom 3. The Presets – Pacifica 4. Santigold – Master of My 2. Cat Power – Sun Editor 5. Dr. Dog – Be the Void 3. Heartless Bastards – Arrow 1. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti Make–Believe 5. Tanlines – Mixed Emotion 4. Peaking Lights – Lucifer – Mature Themes 5. Grimes – Visions 2. Swans – The Seer Dylan Chadwick – 3. A Place To Bury Strangers – Writer Worship Alex Cragun – 1. The Rival Mob – 4. Liars – WIXIW Mob Justice Tape Writer/Copy Editor The Feather 5. Eagle Twin – 2. Shipwrecked – 1. Gaza – No Absolutes in Tipped the Serpent’s Scale The Last Pagans Human Suffering 3. Testament – 2. Zulus – Zulus Dark Roots of Earth 3. Swans – The Seer 4. Nothing – 4. Hellshovel – Downward Years to Come Hated by the Sun 5. World War 4 – Demo 2012 5. The xx – Coexist 20 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 21 Peter Fryer – Writer 1. Japandroids – Celebration Rock Henry Glasheen – Eagle Twin 2. Christian Mistress – Possession Writer 1. Aura Noir – Out to Die The Feather Tipped the “Paradise was always made 3. Dawnbringer – 2. Visigoth – Final Spell EP Serpent’s Scale from snakes, this thing that Into the Lair of the Sun God cannot die, bleeds through 3. Merlins Beard – Voodoo Southern Lord 4. Enabler – All Hail the Void history and molts a million 4. Gypsyhawk – Street: 08.28 5. OM – Advaitic Songs faces of agony,” Densley Revelry & Resilience Eagle Twin = Yat-Kha utters in “Snake Hymn,” my + Dale Crover + favorite (and the longest) 5. Odium Totus – Nullam Enemymine song on the record. Densley’s Justin Gallegos – Congue Nihil musical darkness builds, In 2009, SLC’s Eagle Twin breaks and slithers over the Writer released their debut album, The steady pounding of Tyler 1. The Ripe – Into Your Ears Eric Granato Unkindness of Crows. The work Smith’s perfectly tracked 2. Purity Ring – Shrines was exquisite, and immediately drums. Smith’s unbridled 3. Animal Collective – – Distribution demanded the attention of yet consistent, heavy hitting Centipede Hz international doom and sludge proves his talent and why he Manager 4. James & Evander – audiophiles. The fable of the remains one of my favorite 1. Aesop Rock – Skelethon crow continues in this year’s drummers. The double-vinyl Bummer Pop 2. Brother Ali – Mourning in release, The Feather Tipped the version includes a bonus 5. Zulu Pearls – No Heroes, No America and Dreaming in Color Serpent’s Scale. Guitarist and track on Side D: “Ghosts Honeymoons 3. The Raveonettes – vocalist Gentry Densely is of Eden,” recorded live in a master storyteller, guiding Hamburg, Germany in 2010. Observator listeners through his dark, The LP version also boasts an Anna Gedal – 4. Dusk Raps – mythical narrative with low, uncropped version of the cover Throw Away the Key throaty vocals. On some art designed locally by Brian Writer 5. P.O.S. – We Don’t Even Live tracks, he sings the part of Taylor of Copper Palate 1. G.O.O.D. Music – Here the narrator (“Horn, Snake, Press. Gatefold art includes Cruel Summer the work of Densley and his Horn”), while in others, he 2. The Lumineers – sings in first person (“Ballad of brother, Tyler Densley. The Job Cain Pt. 1,” “Ballad of Job final track, “Epilogue, Crow’s The Lumineers Timo H. – Writer Cain Pt. 2”), detailing Crow’s Theology,” states, “Crow 3. Heartless Bastards – Arrow 1. Swans – The Seer battle against the sun and realized there were two gods/ 4. Santigold – 2. The Gaslamp Killer – Crow’s metamorphosis into a One of them much bigger than Master of My Make–Believe Breakthrough snake. Lengthy instrumentals the other/Loving his enemies 5. Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, 3. Wendy Rene – drone with heavy, down- and/Having all the weapons tuned guitar riffs, providing a …” I hope that there are M.A.A.D. City After Laughter Comes Tears: perfect musical landscape for more chapters in this already Complete Stax & Volt Singles + listeners to digest the intense epic tale and that Eagle Twin Rarities 1964–1965 thoughtfulness that the will reveal them soon. Steve Goemaat – 4. Flying Lotus – – Angela H. Brown album’s lyrics provoke. Writer Until the Quiet Comes 1. Nas – Life Is Good 5. Pye Corner Audio – Sleep 2. With the Punches – Games Seams & Stiches 3. The Ghost Inside – Get What You Give Ryan Hall – Writer 4.Minus the Bear – 1. Spoek Mathambo – Father Infinity Overhead Creeper 5. Converge – All We Love We 2. Evian Christ – Kings and Leave Behind Them EP 3. Padang Food Tigers – Ready Country Nimbus Gregory Gerulat – 4. OMBRE – Believe You Me Writer 5. Busdriver – Beaus$Eros 1. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Reissues 2. Alabama Shakes – Boys & Sean Hennefer – Girls Illustrator 3. Ty Segall Band – Slaughter- 1. Every Time I Die – Ex Lives house 2. Converge – 4. Frankie Rose – Interstellar All We Love We Leave Behind 5. Pallbearer – Sorrow and 3. Blur – 21 Extinction 4. Rufus Wainwright – Out Of The Game 5. Gallows – Gallows

22 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 23 Dean O Hillis – Perrylane Writer Deker-Tate – Jeanette Moses – 1. Saint Etienne – Videographer Words and Music By... Joshua Joye – 1. Marcus D – Writer 2. Madonna – MDNA Evoken Japandroids 1. Diamond Rugs – Self-Titled Lead Designer Melancholy Hopeful 3. The Mynabirds – Generals 2. Allah-Las – Self-Titled 1. The Jon Spencer Blues 2. Linkin Park – Living Things 4. Suzanne Vega – Close–Up and also have little noise fect, and there is no filler. 3. Ty Segall – Twins Explosion – Meat and Bone Atra Mors Celebration Rock 3. Substantial – Vol. 4, Songs of Family deviations and palpitations Amid the eight songs is a 4. Nick Waterhouse – 2. Old Man Gloom – No Profound Lore Polyvinyl Records Home Is Where The Art Is 5. Aimee Mann – Charmer that latch like leeches to flesh cover of Gun Club’s “For Time’s All Gone 3. A Place to Bury Strangers – Street: 07.31 Street: 06.05 4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with catchy riff creations and The Love of Ivy,” which is 5. Teen Daze – All Of Us, Worship Evoken = Esoteric + Japandroids = Cloud – The Heist melodic elements that crawl noticeably different than the Together 4. Godspeed You! Black Mournful Congrega- Nothings + Titus An- 5. Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid Gavin Hoffman – into the nooks of your mind rest of the album. “For The Emperor – tion + Disembowel- dronicus M.A.A.D City like bad memories. Listeners Love of Ivy” is more aggres- Writer Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! ment not fond of the genre may The album starts off with sive and angrier than any 1. Burzum – Umskiptar 5. Eagle Twin – The Feather Dan Nailen – “I will diminish those centu- denounce the idea of pur- fireworks, which are, while other song on this album—it 2. Burning Witch – LP Box Set Tipped the Serpent’s Scale Blake Leszczynski Soundwaves From ries and persecute those with posely listening to the blight corny, perfectly representa- reminds me a bit of “Heart 3. The Decemberists – We All and grand depression of this quiet desperation,” bleeds a tive of what’s to come. Cel- Sweats” from their last al- – Writer The Underground Raise Our Voices to the Air band. The notion that the grumbled death roar from ebration Rock is the musical bum. Both songs feel out 1. The Milk – 4. Swans – The Seer artists who comprise Evoken Podcast Host Megan Kennedy the title track off Evoken’s equivalent of getting shit- of place, but not in a bad Tales From the Thames Delta 5. Chelsea Wolfe – Unknown truly and undoubtedly feel 1. Justin Townes Earle – fifth album. Not only do the faced with your friends and way, almost like a welcome 2. Jack White – Blunderbuss Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic – Writer/ this sense of pain makes for Nothing’s Gonna Change The gloomy lyrics set the tone of talking about past success- break from the optimism, 3. The Heavy – Songs Photographer a good counter-argument Way You Feel About Me Now the album with the starting es or ex-girlfriends, end- and when you return to the The Glorious Dead 1. As I Lay Dying – Awakened against such reluctance. Not 2. Corin Tucker Band – song, but the music does as ing the night with drunken happiness and nostalgia, it 4. Fiona Apple – 2. Gaza – No Absolutes In everyone wants to inflict self- Kill My Blues well. The record may be en- optimism about the future. is comforting. Japandroids The Idler Wheel... Nate Housley – Human Suffering harm, but there are those mo- 3. Dinosaur Jr. – I Bet On Sky joyed as a sonic deviance or Somewhere between post- are the perfect two-piece: 5. Plan B – ill Manors 3. Lamb of God – Resolution as a physical sedative. Atra ments when you let the dark 4. Japandroids – Writer rock and pop-punk, they dense and sparse simulta- 1. Beach House – Bloom 4. Between The Buried Mors’ biggest success as an in. Feel the crumbling of the Celebration Rock are never trying too hard neously. The album closes And Me – Parallax II: Future album is its gutsy equality world—Evoken allow you an 5. My Darling Clementine – 2. Death Grips – to be cool—it all seems with “Continuous Thunder,” The Money Store Sequence of atmospheric, obliterating outlet to meander through Kia McGinnis – How Do You Plead? the dark rivers and abysmal genuine. There have been which slows the pace for 3. Godspeed You! Black 5. The Contortionist – Intristic doom and brain-stem-carv- Writer cracks of what we call home. some improvements since the only time on the release, Emperor – ing memorability. You will 1. Aesop Rock – Skelethon The hope-crushing effect that Post-Nothing (which was still offering feelings of angst Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! grasp onto every gloomy, 2. Perfume Genius – Gavan Nelson – Evoken easily push—without an incredible album): Every- while remaining hopeful, punishing note and crushing Put Your Back N 2 It 4. Frank Ocean – Chad Kirkland – asking—onto listeners isn’t thing is slightly clearer and and it leaves you slightly Photographer Channel Orange guitar, coupled with a ridicu- 3. Dr. Dog – Be The Void 1. Damien Jurado – Maraqopa Photographer lously loud drum sound— just for a rainy day. Live in more prominent, a bit less less excited than the pre- 5. Converge – All We Love We 4. Dark Dark Dark – 2. Thollem/Parker/Cline – 1. Liars – WIXIW which helps drive home that harmony with the darkness, jumbled. With eight songs ceding songs. Though it Leave Behind Who Needs Who The Gowanus Session 2. Miike Snow – Happy To You blissfully painful effect. The and you will better under- in 35 minutes, Celebration ends on a more sorrowful 5. Golden Sun – Self-Titled EP 3. Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music 3. Heartless Bastards – Arrow songs on Atra Mors have that stand the light. Rock is probably closer to note, it is still hopeful—like Past, Present, Future 4. Grimes – Visions gut-check feel, as “Grim –Bryer Wharton an EP than an album, but the majority of the album, 4. Lite – I Bet On Sky Cody Hudson – 5. Odd Future – The OF Tape, Eloquence” displays, all 35 minutes are per- it is hopefully romantic. 5. Dinosaur Jr. – Writer Vol. 2 –Cody Hudson Mariah Mellus – 1. Japandroids – Writer Celebration Rock 1. The Shins – Port of Morrow Adam Okeefe – 2. Youth Lagoon – Cody Kirkland 2. Passion Pit – Gossamer Distro Driver Year of Hibernation – Writer/Copy 3. Grizzly Bear – Shields 1. Of Monsters and Men – 3. How To Dress Well – 4. The Lumineers – Self-Titled My Head Is an Animal Total Loss Editor/Distro 5. Tennis – Young and Old 2. Jack White – Blunderbuss 1. Liars – WIXIW 4. Ty Segall Band – 3. Taylor Swift – Red Slaughterhouse 2. Alabama Shakes – 4. Perfume Genius – Boys & Girls 5. Schoolboy Q – Habits and Esther Meroño – Put Your Back N 2 It 3. Smile – A Flash In The Night Contradictions Managing Editor 5. Japandroids – 4. Heartless Bastards – Arrow 1. Purity Ring – Shrines 5. Ty Segall Band – Slaugh- Celebration Rock 2. Santigold – terhouse LeAundra Jeffs – Master of My Make-Believe Writer 3. Chromatics – Kill For Love James Orme – 1. Brother Ali – Mourning in Brian Kubarycz – 4. Niki & The Dove – Instinct Writer America and Dreaming in Color 5. The xx – Coexist Writer 1. J.D McPherson – 2. Why? – Mumps, etc. Signs & Signifiers 3. iamamiwhoami – Kin 1. The Suicycles – Love, Light, and Life 2. Blind Rage & Violence – 4. Shearwater – Animal Joy The End of Rock and Roll 5. Grizzly Bear – Shields 2. Gaza – No Absolutes in Human Suffering 3. The Modern Sounds – 3. Swans – The Seer Sing and Play for You 4. Witch Mountain – 4. Hank Williams – Cauldron of the Wild The Lost Concerts 5. Torche – Harmonicraft 5. Wanda Jackson – Unfin- ished Business 24 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 25 Alexander Ortega – Junior Editor 1. White Lung – Sorry 2. Baroness – Yellow & Green Steve Richardson – 3. Japandroids – Purity Ring Celebration Rock Writer 1. Ty Segall Band – Slaughter- 4. Converge – Shrines breathy witch house elements house initially draw the listener in All We Love We Leave Behind 4AD 2. Cheap Time – Wallpaper with exterior superficiality, a 5. Of Monsters And Men – My Street: 07.24 Head Is An Animal Music few more close listens reveal 3. King Tuff – Self-Titled Purity Ring = Unison + a poetic push-and-pull be- 4. Screaming Females – Ugly Grimes + (Passion Pit tween the instrumentals and – Michael Angelakos) 5. Cloud Nothings – Attack On songwriting that beg for de- Liz Phillips – + Anatomy 101 Memory construction. James’ mouthfuls of death and decay (“They’ll Copy Editor Purity Ring’s debut album weave their own souls into the 1. Aesop Rock – Skelethon showed promise long before frame to grow their foliage in/ 2. Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror 4AD picked up the Canadian Darcy Russell – They’ll sew their own hands 3. PSY – PSY 6 synth-pop duo for an inter- Writer into their beds to keep them 4. Allah–las – Self-Titled national release. Sweet and 1. Liars – WIXIW crawlers out”) and her use of Coexist weightless, “Ungirthed” flut- 5. The xx – nature to illustrate her dark 2. Melvins – Freak Puke tered onto the Web in early themes (“The crawling ani- 3. Jack White – Blunderbuss 2011, followed by the darker mals will seek all things warm, 4. Alabama Shakes – nuances emerging from the Karamea Puriri all things moist”) create a Boys & Girls minor-key implementation in – Marketing meaty heartbeat successfully Shields “Belispeak.” Then, the ethere- 5. Grizzly Bear – thriving inside the fabricated Coordinator al and imaginative “Obedear” epidermis of music. Shrines 1. Flying Lotus – came into the limelight, and, is an electric current running Until the Quiet Comes finally, the playfully physical Christian Schultz – through the veins of a regener- single “Fineshrine” popped 2. Crystal Castles – III ated corpse: It is a drop of life- Writer up before we were awarded 3. Niki & The Dove – Instinct building DNA trapped inside 1. Grimes – Visions the full-length. Shrines is a 4. S O H N – The Wheel EP a grip of hardened amber: It Shrines beautiful contradiction of icy, 5. Caves – When You Were 2. Purity Ring – is a floating micro-organism synthetic start-and-stops cre- Partying, I Was Dying 3. Trust – TRST replicating in the cracked riv- ated by Corin Roddick, and 4. Blood Diamonds – Phone er beds of Mars. If you can’t the sugar-dipped ghost vocals Sex seem to hear the sound of a of Megan James dissect- 5. Crystal Castles – III bloody, cut-out heart wrapped Nate Perkins ing through the cold mass of in tin foil, Shrines will still find chimes with awkward, gut- – Writer a way to implant—it’s a damn wrenching lyrics. Though the 1. Solid Attitude – BB Gun catchy album. Gavin Sheehan – choppy hip hop beats, Picnic –Esther Meroño 2. Youthbitch – Soundwaves From dubstep wobbles and Don’t Fuck This Up The Underground 3. Broken Spells – Self-Titled Lead Producer/ 4. Natural Child – For the Love of The Game Office Coordinator 5. Thee Oh Sees – Putrifiers II 1. Thunderfist – Self-Titled 2. Folk Hogan – Band Of Mighty Souls Chris Proctor – 3. Book On Tape Worm – All The World’s A Stage Writer 4. Baby Ghosts – Let’s Always 1. Chilly Gonzales – Hang Out Together, Okay? Solo Piano 2 5. The Suicycles – Love, Light, 2. Flying Lotus – and Life Until the Quiet Comes 3. JJ Doom – Key to the Kuffs 4. Hot Chip – In Our Heads Alex Springer – 5. Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself Writer 1. Heartless Bastards – Arrow 2. First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar 3. The Shins – Port of Morrow 4. The New Electric Sound – Self-Titled 5. Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits

26 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 27 Dave Stuart – Copy Editor 1. Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu 2. Ty Segall Band – Mame Wallace – White Lung Slaughterhouse 3. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die Writer Sorry for William’s evanescent, high- 4. Santigold – 1. Mac Miller and Pharrell – Deranged Records on-the neck guitar work. “The Master of My Make-Believe Pink Slime Bad Way” awakens my street Street: 05.29 2. Boys Noize – punk proclivities as a reviewer, 5. Dr. Dog – Be the Void White Lung = Pretty as William’s single-line hooks Out of the Black Girls Make Graves + and the all-girl gang vocals 3. The Partysquad – Helen Hill with Viola- atop Anne-Marie Vassi- Jesse Thomas – Badman Rave EP tors + The Avengers + lou’s spot-on D-beat lend the 4. Flying Lotus – Complete Control piece a catchy character amid Writer Until the Quiet Comes its bellicosity. And, boy, do I 1. Andrew Bird – 5. Swedish House Mafia – Where much new punk music love “Glue.” William’s contrast Break It Yourself Until Now is conflated with hardcore, between choppy finger-muting 2. Beach House – Bloom and harmonics that lapse into stoner metal, indie, folk or 3. Kishi Bashi – 151a pop-punk, White Lung have tonal chaos underpin the ten- managed to pick up where sion that Way creates with the 4. Grizzly Bear – Shields Catie Weimer – mid-aughts bands left off, to pre-chorus: “One day you’ll 5. Mount Eerie – Clear Moon push a straight-up punk sound see/That her fat head will Social Media into a different realm without eat me.” Vassilou bolsters the Coordinator chorus with frequent strikes to interlacing their tunes with Rebecca Vernon – 1. Japandroids – conventions from other genres her crash cymbals as William on their sophomore release, provides apt counterpoint to Copy Editor Celebration Rock Sorry. Opener “Take the Mir- Way’s melody, which carries 1. Swans – The Seer 2. Chelsea Wolfe – Unknown ror” exhibits frontwoman Mish the full-bodied declaration, 2. Worm Ouroboros – Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Way’s robust sing-yelling style “You’re a dead horse riding/ Songs But I’m out for you/Fill my Come the Thaw that often flourishes into ag- 3. Wreck and Reference – gressively feminine vocal soar- pistol pocket/Melt her down 3. Gaza – No Absolutes in No Youth ing. Three tracks into Sorry, to glue.” With oblique lan- Human Suffering guitarist Kenneth William’s guage throughout the album, 4. Eagle Twin – The Feather 4. Nihill – Verdonkermaan melodic guitar lines and Way’s Way’s lyrics stand on their Tipped the Serpent’s Scale 5. Converge – All We Love We own with odd, dark imagery screams in “Thick Lip” demon- 5. Eraserhead – A Suicide, Part Leave Behind strate that White Lung aren’t and accounts of interpersonal just a batch of good-looking struggles. Minimal in its time- One hipsters, but have some well span yet hearty in its content, honed aggression to deliver. Way’s moody cadences and Bryer Wharton – With nary a track over 2:15, the instruments’ surefooted ex- Ricky Vigil – Writer White Lung proffer a sense of cursions into iridescent melo- progressive song structures, as dies cradled by solid rhythms Contributing Editor 1. Prong – Carved into Stone with “I Rot,” where Grady render Sorry as veritably 1. Converge – 2. Ahab – The Giant “post-,” a much-needed punk Mackintosh’s driving, All We Love We Leave Behind 3. Sigh – In Somniphobia clear-cut bass lines Shavasana. 4. Evoken – Atra Mors function as an anchor –Alexander Ortega 2. Japandroids – Celebration Rock 5. Katatonia – Dead End Kings 3. Black Breath – Sentenced to Life Sean Zimmerman- 4. The Atom Age – The Hottest Thing That’s Cool Wall – Writer 5. Eagle Twin – The Feather 1. Brother Ali – Mourning in Tipped the Serpent’s Scale America and Dreaming in Color 2. Best Coast – The Only Place 3. Tenacious D – Jake Vivori – Rize of the Fenix 4. Imagine Dragons – Photographer Night Visions 1. Memphis May Fire – 5. Grizzly Bear – Shields Challenger 2. White Panda – Bambooyah! 3. The Word Alive – Life Cycles Jessie Wood – 4. Nas – Life Is Good 5. Purity Ring – Shrines Writer 1. Burial – Street Halo 2. The xx – Coexist 3. Justin Martin – Ghettos & Gardens 4. Grizzly Bear – Shields 5. Scuba – Personality

28 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 29 30 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 31 There’s nothing more adorable than a tranny with a puppy.

Photo: joseaguzmancolon.com PLEASEPLEASE FEEDFEED THETHE

ANIMALSANIMALSBy Princess Kennedy • [email protected]

What do you think of my photo this month? It’s by my and this led me on a hunt to seek out an alternative. What’s more is that this and all the cute little guys on good friend Jose A Guzman Colon, who has spent Turns out you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting the farm know their names and come running, wagging the past couple years taking photos of A-list drag and one of Utah’s many heartfelt facilities for our furry their tails when I arrive at the farm and call them. tranny queens, so I was highly honored when I got a and feathered friends. We have so many shelters Ponies, ostriches, emus, llamas, chickens, cows: You call one weekend in San Fran to come sit. I figured this and rescues to choose from, that are always filled to name it, they have it, and I am proud to say that every would be the perfect opportunity to get a holiday snap capacity and never have enough volunteers. Monday, you will find me strapped in my overalls, for my Xmas card, column, posts, what have you, and leopard-print galoshes and braids, feeding, loving, did it à la socialite with the cute, little toy dog. Look at I wanted to find something a little more than just your frolicking and covered in pig shit! Visualize that one. the face on that little fella—could you just die? Alas, average cleaning kennels/dog walking, so I decided to this is not my Maltese/Bichon Frise (Chester), but my hit up the Ching Farm Rescue and Sanctuary. Founded Holidays bring out our need, as humans, to help the City-By-The-Bay roomie’s, Mr. Anthony. in 1998 by Mike and Faith Ching, the sole purpose less fortunate, and our first thought is to help our fellow of this farm is to give a home to our unwanted, broken, humans at this time. I want to plant a little seed and I would love a pet––the companionship, the displaced and retired farm creatures. I called my friend challenge you this season to think about our four-legged unconditional love. Unfortunately, my lifestyle is one Larayn Clegg––master vegan chef at Zest and selfless and fowl friends who need your help. There are many that lends to not afford such a luxury. I always said that animal activist––to see where to begin. opportunities at Ching to enrich your life, help make I can’t have pets till I can keep my plants alive––I can’t a serious difference and fill your soul. Aside from just throw them away and get new ones at the Farmers Being the clever devil that she is, she suggested I take a volunteering on the farm, you can donate equipment Market. Damned if I’ve kept my flora among the living tour of the farm with her to see the wonderful things that and money for feed and sponsorships. What would for nigh on two years now, and still no fauna. The the farm does and meet the cast of characters—both be a better present this year than buying (sponsoring) trouble is, I am never home. Whether it be to another human and otherwise—who make up this barnyard your kid a Shetland pony that they can feed and love, state or social obligation, I can’t justify either being the vignette. In doing so, she knew I’d be hooked. making a difference in a life that really needs them? person that has to bring the animal with them—torturing Isn’t that what the holidays are all about? the poor thing by bringing it to the club—or simple With over 200 animals at the sanctuary, each has a neglect (because I can’t keep a schedule for myself, story as touching as any, from Thelma and Louise, Visit the website, chingsanctuary.org, to get a better let alone another living, dependent creature). Luckily, the GIANT sows found in the middle of nowhere idea of what the farm needs/does, and take a look I know this, and our shelters are too full because of escaping from certain death, to Clementine the Tom at all the beautiful pictures of the animals that inhabit these sad scenarios. If you are up for a pet, wait about turkey, Kati Large, the retired Clydesdale and, my it. Better yet, take a trip to Ching Farm and see how two months after Santa comes and go to the Park City favorite, the most adorable little billy goat, Donald, it works. Faith and her fabulous, full-time farmhands shelter––you’ll have your pick of the créme de la créme who was born with the goat equivalent of the umbilical (Crystal, Will, Jordan) and all their furry/feathered of specialty breeds. cord around his neck. This precious little guy is a friends are anxiously waiting to see you! bit slow, with an underbite and a limp, and I find I started to think of how I could curb such cravings, him standing and staring at walls a lot. Without the Moo-ry Christmas and maaa-ny happy New sanctuary, he would have just been a monetary loss. Year returns. 32 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 33 Mike Brown’s Monthly Dirt

write about for the month of December, the My Bucket List opportunity to check off one of the tasks on By Mike Brown my bucket list unexpectedly presented itself. I [email protected] got to meet Jerry Sloan and John Stock- ton. If you know me at all, you know how Whenever there is a prediction that the world much I adore and respect these men—two of is ending, like what evangelical fuckstick the toughest motherfuckers to walk the planet. Harold Camping was pulling last year, I rarely think about my bucket list—otherwise It started when marketing rep Beverly Sta- known as “some shit I want to do before I chowiak, who also acts as my agent for my die.” Instead, I start smoking again and ruin official beer sponsor, Budweiser: The King of any potentially great relationship I have with Beers, called me and asked if I would like to a female. This year, since the end of the world attend a speech Karl Malone was going to is supposed to come right before the holidays, give. Duh, yes. My first question for her was, I’m definitely not Christmas shopping “Is Stockton going to be there?” She for anyone. wasn’t sure.

While researching for this article, I decided Turns out the speech was in honor of John and to put my actual list on paper and hang it up Karl getting inducted into the Utah Sports Hall with some check marks, like what the yellow of Fame, along with three other dork athletes Photo: Beverly Stachowiak ninja lady did in Kill Bill when she had to from BYU. I had no idea such an organiza- Jerry Sloan appreciates Mike Brown’s beat up and murder all those other ninjas. I tion existed, but whatever. I was at a table flawless fashion sense. realized then that my bucket list is relatively adjacent to Coach Corbin and about 30 short, which could mean one of two things: feet away from Orrin Hatch’s table, which But given that everyone who bought a table I’m either extremely unambitious or was where Karl Malone was sitting. I thought, there was either a super rich season ticket extremely content. “What the fuck?” until I realized that they both holder or sponsored by a big cooperation that really like the NRA. Needless to say, I hope makes the Delta Center money (I refuse to call I’ll leave the boring stuff on my bucket list I’m never in the same room with our creepy the house that Stockton and Malone built the out of this article, like learning how to surf (I senator ever again in my life. “Energy Solutions Arena”), all the players had know that sounds kind of lame, but it’s still on to be really nice to everyone. my list) and writing a book or drinking 100 After the boring speeches, I made Beverly Budweisers in 100 hours. I’ll also leave off all hold my phone and follow me around as I This being known, I made it a point not to the sexual stuff—I’m sure you don’t want to tracked down Jerry Sloan and the elusive John take up a lot of John’s time. All I wanted was read an article about me trying to bone three Stockton to get a picture. I didn’t need any a picture and a firm, respectable handshake. Eastern European chicks at the same time on autographs—pictures are the new autographs. I got both. I also got pictures with Jeff Hor- the roof of the new Tabernacle. I even made an effort to dress like Jerry a la nacek because he is the favorite player of early ’90s: a cheap, shitty suit with a Utah many of my family members, and I wanted I will, however, include that I really want to Jazz tie that Abu got me at the DI a while to rub it in their faces a bit, and some sweet beat the shit out of the drummer of The Brian back. Top button undone, just like Sloan used screen shots with Karl, who, for the record, Jonestown Massacre at some point in my to do, which I truly believe helped him put was super nice to me. life. Reason being: They played a show at some extra vibrato into the times he would After I beat up The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Urban Lounge a few years back while I was call a ref a cock-sucking motherfucker in the the only other thing left on my bucket list is to working there, and he was trying desperately middle of Jazz games. Sloan acknowledged sit courtside at a Jazz playoff game. I would to fuck my girlfriend-at-the-time, saying shit that he liked my tie, which I can only interpret say NBA Championship game, but I’m real- to the other junked-out band members like, “I as his appreciation of my tremendous sense istic with my life. So, if anyone can make this can’t wait to fuck the shit out of her, that girl is of fashion. ready to go!” within earshot of me. happen or wants to give up courtside tickets Then we tracked down Stockton as he was for the night before the world blows up or the Besides beating up overrated hipster scum- trying to leave early. Stockton is notorious for polar icecaps melt and drown all of us in our fuck band members, most other things on my shunning the general public and being a dick little pathetic sorrows, I’ll buy you a beer bucket list are basketball related, mainly Utah to fans. When you are the all-time steals and or something. Jazz related. Right after I picked my topic to assists leader, I think that’s completely OK. 34 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 35 36 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 37 Bronson bounces from the ropes to execute a full-on crossbody attack upon Zack James. Photo: davebrewerphoto.com Photo: davebrewerphoto.com

By Dylan Chadwick Lacey Ryan lifts Sierra [email protected] Rose into a mean suplex. “Wrestling gives people an outlet,” says star Ultra Photo: davebrewerphoto.com Championship Wrestling (UCW) wrestler Martin Casaus. “They can forget about any other crap that’s worrying them and just yell at us for a while. It makes me feel good.” And yell they do, like a brawling chorus. They shout, growl and cheer with an unbridled gusto, while a real-deal muscular spandex soap opera, a bloody dayglo boot party, the early 2000s. In this case, it wasn’t says Slick. Though pro-wrestling is a a “heel” (that’s rasslin’ speak for “bad sizes vary depending on work and Pitbull Jason Jaxon flaunts his unfolds before their widening eyes. A full roster of colorful deconstructing toasters or collecting popular pastime in the Southern states, guy”), and the once introverted Casaus school schedules, but Slick works hard personalities parade their wares to these wrestling diehards, stamps, but bashing each other across even into Texas and New Mexico, Salt was able to come into his own. “Batman is to bring in nationally recognized icons Tag Team Champions belt in full rookie and veteran, Mos Eisley cantina personified. They folding tables in the backyard. “If there’s Lake City offers so many entertainment only as good as the Joker is bad,” Casaus (Marty Jannetty and Trish Stratus ostentation as he enters the arena. heckle greasy villains, cheer swaggering heroes and hurl one thing I know about teenagers, it’s that if options in such a small area that UCW says with a chuckle. “Being a bad guy isn’t to name a few) to work with his students obscenities at refs, enraptured by wrestling on the uppermost you tell them not to do something, they’ll find has had to fight and claw their way to really my personality, but it got me out of my and share their insider industry knowledge. a way to do it behind your back anyway,” prominence. The heart and dedication of own little bubble.” Students get hands-on experience and an notch, too. They know what’s up, that UCW offers the highest UCW hosts at least one show every other week, and he says. With that mindset, he constructed a the organization shines through, though. opportunity to hone their physical skills quality in-ring product around. They know a UCW match sometimes more, one of their most successful events fully functional wrestling ring in his basement, It’s evident in the hushed reverence with Working with Slick’s UCW promotion as well as their characters. Take Jason comes packed with more high-flying luchadores, grappling being the 10-year anniversary held back in March 2012. complete with ropes and turnbuckles, and which fans gather at the match and the instilled Casaus with the technical wrestling Bravo, for example. By day, he stocks muscle-heads, catty back-and-forths, sneering marauders They’ve got their own YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/ vowed to foster a supervised atmosphere for way they explode on a suplex, curse at skills to take his game to a national stage, produce at a Costco in Murray, but by night, and singlet colors than a Jim Helwig promo on loop. They NWAUCWZERO, and by the spring, they’ll have a weekly them to go about their matches. a ref-count and stomp their feet at the even appearing on WWE’s network TV he trots onto a wrestling ring in kelly green know UCW is the real deal. television program through a station called Top of Utah sight of such fast-paced visual artistry. program, Tough Enough, which took aspiring trunks, wrangling unsuspecting baby-faces TV, which broadcasts throughout northern Utah. They’ve The ring cultivated a spate of homebrew Even more telling is the gritty reality, the wrestlers and promised to give one a full- (rasslin’ speak for “good guys”) in arm bars. It’s not just about the violence for the dedicated wrestling got merchandising, color commentary and most of all, matches and led the boys to host their own in-your-face feeling of “now!” and the on WWE contract, airing its fifth season With a background in theater and choir, fans (aka marks). They’re hip to the pre-written storylines they’ve got a devoted core group of fans. and the choreographed fights. What shakes them to their events for neighbors, writing storylines and visceral exuberance that freely transcends on April 4, 2011. An injury sidelined him Jason gravitated toward wrestling later in filming them. Slick eventually hooked up with the radon glow of a television screen or from the show on Episode Seven, but gave his life in a time of upheaval. “Sometimes I gooey centers is the spectacle and the grandiosity woven So here it is, a room roughly the size of a small airplane an amateur wrestling promoter who invited isolation of a nosebleed seat. In-ring thuds him the opportunity to come back to UCW, practice my promos in the mirror,” he says, into pro-wrestling’s very makeup. Watching these UCW hangar, decorated by banners and strobe lights. A ring his sons to come train with him, and the send shockwaves through our folding obtain co-ownership with Slick and share his “to keep my character alive.” Ultimately, matches is channeling the brazen living-room theater punctuates the center of a concrete floor, and 50 devoted partnership led to a fundraiser at an Ogden chairs, refs and wrestlers alike bristle at upper-echelon wrestling experience with the he loves giving the crowd a good show, of The Iron Shiek spitting on an American flag, Jake fans perched on metal folding chairs fill the air with chatter. high school, which looked to be Slick’s first their cutting hisses, and they smell the company that started him off. and for him, it involves walking out to a “The Snake” Roberts taunting Macho Man with a They’re throwing fists and elbows, stopping only periodically break in wrestling. Poor promotion and a low sweat and blood, sweeter than a bowl deafening torrent of boos and catcalls. 15-foot, de-venomed cobra. Mick Foley jamming a soiled to funnel a Coke or dip a nacho, wholly captivated in this turnout dampened his spirits temporarily, but of steamed crawdaddies. It is a full-on Through it all, UCW has grown tremendously gym sock down Vince McMahon’s throat, Bret Hart’s exhilarating moment, this dazzling conflation of “sport” and disenchantment gave way to resolve as he sensory experience: No wimps allowed. in the last decade. “We were flying by the Sierra Rose, a student en route to Montreal screwjob and Rowdy Roddy Piper bashing a “entertainment.” There’s all manner of faces in the crowd: decided he could do a much better job on his seat of our pants when we first started,” becoming a paralegal, takes a similar coconut across Jimmy “Super Fly” Snuka’s snarling young-uns, college students, professionals, retirees. A own. With that experience, he set up his own It’s this sort of independent zeitgeist, says Slick, “but now we’re held in very high approach in UCW. Being wowed by mug. It’s these images all wound together in an undulating defeated heel slinks off to the locker room and a triumphant wrestling school and promotion, and UCW along with the grassroots zeal of fliering, regard in the wrestling world. Guys that train WWE Divas like Lita and Trish Stratus in pastiche of neon and canvas, spit and vinegar, sport and face hoists the championship belt above his shaven head. was born in 2002. Though fresh-faced rookies local ads and word of mouth, which here can hold their own against anybody her youth inspired her to start putting her show, that works their very souls into corybantic frenzy. This is the way it should be, good triumphing over evil with in the early days of the biz, they quickly helped establish the company and beckon … and have!” Some of Slick’s students have neighbors in headlocks on the front lawn. That’s what’s taking hold of them every other Saturday, a flashy struggle to ease it down. These are raw Saturday learned the ropes and rose to prominence as aspiring wrestlers to come a-knockin, like appeared on RAW episodes, and Slick’s “My parents are supportive,” she says. “I’m wringing their inhibitions into a chokehold and spitting them nights. Dewey-eyed and charged to the hilt, it’s the spirit of a well connected wrestling force in the area, Martin Casaus. A tireless high school been able to work with such wrestling still Daddy’s little girl.” Though soft spoken into the wayside. To borrow from Jim Ross, that’s what’s youth, free for the taking. All hail UCW. putting “an ass every six inches.” enlisting interested parties, outside talent and athlete-turned-stockbroker with a business luminaries as Ric Flair, Triple H and Vince on the outside, in the ring, she plays a a relentless grassroots approach to spread degree and a devout wrestling fan since McMahon himself. narcissistic wrongdoer, pulling every dirty For information, check UCW’s website at UCWzero.com, awareness in the community. youth, Casaus called Slick to begin trick she can (even choking) to take down Local flavor isn’t lost on the fans either. UCW is a Utah born and for high-octane fun, check out the matches scheduled training and instantly found his niche. For $1,500 a year, students can enroll in opponents. “I like pissing people off,” she and bred organization, which spawned from company for Dec. 15 and Dec. 29. CEO Stevie Slick’s devotion to his own kids’ interests in It’s never been easy for them, though. “Utah Impressed by his workhorse attitude, UCW’s wrestling school if they can commit to says with a grin. 38 SaltLakeUnderGround doesn’t really have a wrestling culture,” Slick began personally promoting him as training three to four nights a week. The class slugmag.com 39 40 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 41 Often overlooked is the Private best bet: Even the most low-level rent- Investigator skillset that snowboarders a-cop gets Christmas and New Year’s (and skateboarders) develop to put Day off. I’ve had success here on both PHOTO themselves in the dangerous situations of those days––all you need is snow and they often find themselves in. The Salt the will power to take it mellow with the Lake Public Library, for example, is pretty bottle on the night before. Good luck much the Disneyland of spots in this with that second one, because as most FEATURE town, but it can also be compared to P.I.s will tell you, the secret to a good Fort Knox for its security. To get a session stakeout is always plenty of booze. here, you need to put those P.I. skills to By Andy Wright • andywrightphoto.com work and stake out the building. Soon it Parker Duke – frontside 5-0 – becomes apparent that holidays are your Salt Lake City, Utah

42 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 43 Austin Breinholt drilling splitboards for hook and clip assembly Voilé and the Splitboard: Pioneers of the Backcountry

By Chris Proctor [email protected]

Chris Fryer routing splitboards. Photos: Eric Scott Russell

Since the dawn of skiing, human beings have been looking for newer and better ways to get far into the untouched backcountry. Machines like snowmobiles and helicopters have been the dominant means for years, but the high price tag and risks involved have kept backcountry access to a minimum. In 1991, Brett Kobernik brought an idea to Mark Wariakois, founder Assembling and fit-testing splitboard crampons. of Voilé, to combine the snowshoe and the snowboard into a single revolutionary tool for our bindings, and if a snowboard company of accessing the backcountry, which many are accessing and shredding the thousands of acres any size anywhere on the planet wants to buy finding is much more appealing than towing of snow not found within the boundaries of our hardware, we’d sell it to them. It benefits a snowmobile up to the hill or paying the big any ski resorts. That tool is known today as the everyone when you collaborate,” says Grissom. bucks for a ride in a helicopter. “I think the splitboard. sport is not only here to stay, but we’re going to This led to a level of growth within the company see a ton of innovation in the technology in the Voilé (pronounced vo-lay) was founded in Salt that allowed them to double the size of their near future,” says Grissom. For the 2012/2013 Lake City in 1980 and originally started making production, as well as design and manufacture season, Voilé has a variety of men’s and skis only. They’ve been making and shipping their their own bindings specifically for their boards. women’s directional and true-twin splitboards, own product out of their humble warehouse on They also make an attachment for the binding all with varying types of rocker technology. the west side of the valley ever since. Sales and mounts that allows the rider to mount any regular Grissom took me on a walk-through tour of their marketing manager Dave Grissom has been snowboard binding to the splitboard once they facility, and I was able to see just how their with the company for 12 years, and has seen the reach the top. For the journey upwards, the splitboard hardware has evolved over the years. evolution of the splitboard from the beginning. rider applies a pair of nylon mohair skins to the With the recent explosion of splitboarding into “We designed everything from scratch. We bottom of each side of the splitboard, then clips the market, there’s no doubt Voilé will continue eventually were able to design a reliable in to a pair of telemark style bindings. Often to improve upon the technology that they have hardware system that worked, but you still had to referred to as “touring” mode, the splitboard pioneered. “We’ve grown 10 times the size cut your snowboard in half,” says Grissom. allows the rider to walk easily on top of the since we started, and a good portion of our snow instead of trudging through waist- or neck- sales comes from splitboards and splitboard It wasn’t until 1994 that they began selling their deep powder. Once the rider has reached the hardware,” Grissom says. “Everything about splitboards wholesale to dealers. Burton came up destination, the two sides clamp together and our company is the backcountry.” with a competing hardware system that regularly the bindings are mounted, allowing the rider failed and soon turned to Voilé, as did many to shred sideways on the powder, which we all With all the potential for endless lines of other snowboard companies, in order to get their know is the best way. untouched powder that splitboarding brings, it’s hands on the best known splitboard technology. companies like Voilé that make this an exciting Today, Voilé sells their hardware to Rome, K2, “Untracked powder is the appeal, and if people time to be involved in the sport. Their skis and Never Summer, Unity and many others as well want to make turns on fresh lines, you’ve got to splitboards can be found in retail shops around as producing their own line of splitboards. “We earn those turns,” says Grissom. Splitboarding Utah and online at voile.com. do 100 percent of the design and sourcing of offers a fun, tough and eco-friendly means of 44 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 45 biking. His involvement on the professional downhill mountain bike racing circuit led him to several victories and some not-so-pleasant A Tale of Two Shops: crashes. He crossed paths with a young Tim Lewin and the two became close friends. “I was inspired by O.C.’s drive,” says Lewin.

O’Connor served a stint at Snowbird’s Christy Sports. He developed a keen sense for helping people find comfortable snow footwear and eventually developed a sizable client base. His regulars convinced him that he had the Twin skills to open his own business and that they would support it. Moving down the canyon to the current location in 2010, Inkline Foot Science was born. “I opened up this shop with Peaks nothing but a bike toolbox full of supplies. Everything I have now is off of generated revenue,” says O’Connor.

Inkline now boasts custom equipment, a full line of performance boots, and Lib Tech and Hart skis. O’Connor can be found in the shop & nearly seven days a week, and he has trained Photos: Katie Panzer a staff of apprentices to aid him in fittings. Walk-ins are welcome, but an appointment is recommend if you want to sit down with Chris O’Connor, owner of Inkline Foot Science, Tim Lewin, owner of Twin Peaks Rental and Repair, hanging the master. For 2012-2013, the two shops Inkline has turned boot fitting into an art form. out at the shop with his dogs, Clark and Nilla. will continue to share their agreement of exchanging biz. O.C. sends his tunes to Lewin, and Lewin sends his fits to O.C. Teamwork truly makes the dream work, and it The smell of hot wax permeates the air walking through the door out the minute details most people don’t think the past three years. A ski flick plays on the will be exciting to see what these guys come Foot of Twin Peaks. A pair of well mannered dogs greet customers as about. “The zoning in Cottonwood Heights monitor, and the maestro sits in his rolling up with in the coming years. In the meantime, they hear the grinder wailing away on some forlorn base in the was difficult to get around,” says Lewin. chair crouched over a client’s feet. “By doing don’t forget to wave as they fly by you on the back. “Welcome to Twin Peaks, have a seat on the couches and we Through diligent efforts, and his friends this, you are going to have more power and hill donning their handiwork. will be right with you,” says owner Tim Lewin. It is immediately ushering him along, he was able to settle the more confidence,” says O’Connor to the clear that this isn’t the typical repair shop. Beautiful, hand-painted score and open up the shop in the latter half young ski instructor he’s fitting. His demeanor Science mountain murals grace the walls and a clean-cut floor space houses of 2011. “It has been a good feeling to serve is chill and I can tell by his tone that he has everything from skis, boards and skins, to locally made poles and the local community. I am a tuning geek, and done this for years. Slipping the boot off the bindings. Comfortable seating and ski movies on the TV create a it is nice to have a ski shop built around a client’s foot, he meanders to the workshop and relaxed atmosphere that is a far cry from the cattle-yard-style shops tune shop,” says Lewin. In addition to state-of- begins to whittle away layers of plastic. The at most ski areas. “We wanted to create a high-end tuning shop the-art machinery capable of producing world back area is filled with machinery resembling with more of a homey feel. That was really lacking here,” says championship-level tuning, there is also a full medieval torture devices, yet it is super clean By Sean Zimmerman-Wall Lewin. The ambiance of the shop certainly portrays the attitude fleet of rental and demo skis and boards. His and well kept. Helping someone find joy in of the owner. This laid back 31-year-old made his way from the commitment to providing a unique experience putting on a boot is no easy proposition. [email protected] towering peaks of Baltimore, Maryland to settle in the multifarious for his clientele incorporates local companies Taking a rigid, plastic shell resembling a terrain of Utah. His previous life as a professional downhill like Panda Poles and Wubanger skis. bear trap and contriving something close mountain bike racer gave him an appreciation for soft landings, Additionally, he sells gear from Amplid and to comfortable can be time consuming and and he fit right into the lifestyle. During his first few seasons, he Arva, smaller Euro companies that produce tedious. Molding a proper foot bed is also managed the Cliff Sports tune shop at Snowbird and spent his reliable products for snow riders. There is no an integral step in the process of developing uffice it to say that the ski and snowboard scene in Utah is days lapping the Tram and his evenings slaving away in a closet end to the amount of fun and flexibility these the interface between man and board. “This vibrant. Fourteen resorts throughout the state provide ample surrounded by noisy and potentially dangerous machinery. He guys can achieve with their space, and it is thing cost me $7,000, but I have never had opportunities to shred, four of which are nestled right in wanted something more. worth a visit just for the conversation. Twin one of these foot beds come back on me,” the bosom of the central Wasatch. Riders from around the Peaks is conveniently located between Big and says O’Connor of his futuristic Conform’able valleyS find their way into the mountains each season to discover Eventually, his prowess as a ski tech landed him a job with Little Cottonwood Canyons at 3436 E. 7800 machine. The device resembles two blue pure bliss as they careen down slopes covered in white gold. A Montana. This top-of-the-line equipment manufacturer from S., just off Bengal Boulevard near the Smith’s. pillows filled with sand and is used to get an diverse landscape provides the perfect backdrop for athletes to Switzerland builds tuning machinery that is utilized by professional accurate footprint. From there, he can make hone their skills, and at the end of the day, they lie back and dream shops the world over. Lewin began his tenure with Montana as Properly tuned gear is wonderful. However, small modifications in an un-weighted stance of doing it all over again tomorrow. But it isn’t enough to just get a traveling technician who kept the machines operating at peak controlling those slippery wooden to provide the best support structure possible. out and do it day after day—your equipment needs to be able to performance. Before long, his reputation gave him enough clout to conveyances can be another story. Enter “Any gravity-fed sport is going to need these. keep up, too. A core shot here, a blown edge there, or a pesky hot approach them with a new idea. Several years in the making, he Chris O’Connor (O.C.), owner of Inkline It keeps the foot the same throughout activity Chris O’Connor of Inkline Foot spot on your ankle as you make your way across the hill can ruin had formulated a business plan to open his own store, complete Foot Science. Tucked into a tidy corner on and prevents sprawl,” says O’Connor. Science opens up a customer’s 2929 E. 3300 S., this shop is simple and your afternoon. Between Twin Peaks Rentals and Repair and Inkline with a Montana-furnished tune shop and a sales floor that catered boot to grind away hotspots. Foot Science, these shops have you covered from the ground up. to the core rider. They accepted the idea and let him run full speed unassuming. On the walls hang autographed Growing up in Texas gave O’Connor little Literally. ahead. The next year enabled him to set up the logistics and work pictures of all the pros O’Connor has fit over chance to ski, but he found a passion for

46 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 47 Skateboarding After Illustration: Sean Hennefer Do It For Fun, Or Dont Do It At All

By Gavin Hoffman [email protected]

n April of 2012, I decided to give skateboarding another go. I had made a conscious decision I to abandon the sport in the late ’90s in favor of pursuing music after skating almost non-stop, beginning in the late ’80s. Skateboarding never Getting older doesn’t mean you have to give up really left my heart, though, and I felt the time had skateboarding—it just might be harder to land kickflips. come to get out and have fun on a skateboard again. Simply picking up the latest Thrasher, Low Card or Juice magazine and pushing around on a cruiser board as I have done for the past few levels would show up, hang out, skate and have Skating has changed quite a bit since I was a years just wasn’t cutting it anymore. an all-around good time. “It’s been a good year youngster. Skaters now tend to go as big and for ‘old man sesh,’ for sure,” says Dave. Even fast as possible, favoring style over technicality, I was in heaven from April through mid-May— coming off of four knee surgeries, Dave is just as and Steve’s so-called “novelty tricks”—like no- skateboarding three or four times a week, and, die-hard as I remembered him, skating as often complies and bonelesses, as well as their many although I was absolutely no good at it, I was as possible, and skating everything from curbs variations—have made a big comeback from having fun. Then my world crashed and burned. to ramps. I only made it to one session at Steve’s their 1980s heyday. Pro skaters who influenced In late May of this year, I was informed that I had ramp this year, but I was able to attend a few me, such as Jason Lee, Mike Vallely, an injury that would require surgery, and while “Church of Skatan” Sunday skate sessions at Rose Mark Gonzales and Rodney Mullen, recovering from said surgery, I herniated three Park with those guys, and I made up for missing are still around in some way or another, but discs in my lower back. Even before I was injured, Wednesdays at Steve’s by attempting to host my there is now an entire generation of new kids, I was having small but nagging feelings about not own “old man skate night” at Liberty Park, which like Nyjah Huston and David Gonzalez, being “good enough” at skating. I had questions simply consisted of anywhere from two to eight who do absolutely unbelievable things with a and doubts that literally kept me awake at night. of us old farts doing nothing but cruising laps skateboard. Although I’m just an old dude who around the outside of the park. Travis Nelson can’t land a kickflip, these guys still inspire me Toward the end of the summer, I became re- and I have been intermittently doing this for the to get out on my board. Bombing the parks and acquainted with Steve Fisher, Dave Tyler and last three years, and I decided to try to expand simply doing kickturns in the bowls or manuals Matt Jones, old friends of mine whom I had the activity and invite anyone who wanted to over the boxes is the extent of my ability, and mostly lost touch with over the years. These guys show up and roll. even though the younger kids vibe me and most supported my endeavors and helped me realize likely snicker at me when my back is turned, I’m what skateboarding was, and what it should have Steve, Dave and Matty are all roughly my age, perfectly happy doing what I do. After all, I skate always been about: fun. and all three are married with children. Still, all for myself, not to impress others. three find the time and have the desire to skate Matty had been away from skateboarding as as much as they can. “I’m not able to do a bunch I hope to be able to attend and host more “old man long as I had, if not longer, and when I found out of the tricks I used to be able to do,” says Steve, skate nights” when good weather returns, and, he had taken it back up, it was all the motivation I “but I’ve kind of become comfortable with ‘novelty provided my body uses the winter to heal itself needed to give it one more go (provided my body tricks.’ They’re just plain fun.” Echoing Steve’s properly, I’ll be able to not only skate more, but would cooperate). Steve and Dave, even though sentiment, I sometimes have problems pulling expand on my abilities and, in essence, continue neither had ever fully given up skating, provided off even the most rudimentary tricks, and I had to relive my youthful skateboarding days. Steve, inspiration and support, much as they had given up skating before concrete parks began Matty and Dave are all hugely inspirational to earlier in my life. Steve has a mini-ramp in his popping up all over the valley, so I’d never had me, and all three of them helped me answer the backyard, and, as I found out just a bit too late, the opportunity to skate concrete transition or the questions that had been with me all summer and was having “old man skate nights” at his place desire to skate ramps, and thus I was thrust into into the fall, and I remind myself of their advice on Wednesdays where older folks of varying skill skating terrain that was entirely unfamiliar to me. every time I step on my skateboard: Do it for fun, or don’t do it at all.

48 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 49 When I think about what draws what makes them interesting and me to certain skaters, the two fun to watch is the creativity in biggest factors are style and what they skate and how good PHOTO trick selection. That’s what they look doing it. That is what makes the greats stand out. Just makes Jovi so fun to shoot. He look at Gonz, Gino, Puleo has an East Coast style and a and Dill. These guys have done knack for interesting spots. This FEATURE their share of gnarly skating, but is a perfect example. By Weston Colton • westoncolton.com Jovi Bathemess – Switch Wall Ride – Salt Lake City, Utah

50 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 51 52 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 53 Go With the Flow: Tyson Bowerbank

Tyson Bowerbank is growing up and blowing up. Photo: Jake Vivori

By Steve Goemaat [email protected]

Over the past couple years, skateboarding has progressed to a level of insanity, being pushed mostly by the up-and-coming youth. Nyjah Huston has been throwing back-lips down handrails since he was 11, Chaz Ortiz makes double flip feebles look effortless, andTom Schaar recently pulled the first 1080 on a skateboard ever. If you’re thinking, “Who on Earth is Tom Schaar?” that’s normal, because he is 12. Having first set foot on a skateboard at the age of 8, Tyson Bowerbank is a prime example of the up-and- coming. With a resume including Fuel TV, ESPN and a repertoire of high-profile amateur contest finals, Bowerbank has some pretty high credentials. Now, at the age of 18, Bowerbank is a solid, humble skater who just loves being on a skateboard. With a bag of tricks that most kids only have behind an Xbox controller, this baby-faced Sandy native is on a tear of a come-up and shows no signs of slowing down.

Bowerbank has been on a skateboard for just about a decade now, and continues to progress every day. “One day, I started messing with a skateboard at my mom’s friend’s house and, eventually, I got my own. I liked it from the start. I would just ride around in circles at the house,” says Bowerbank. He started entering contests at age 10, competing in the Phoenix Am and making it into the Dew Tour’s amateur Gatorade Free Flow tour when he was 11 years old. Bowerbank is far from being strictly a contest skater, though. “My motivation comes from my friends more than anything,” he says. “Skating with the homies is what pushes me. It’s motivating to see one of your friends stomp something tight, and it makes me want to stomp something right back.” This mentality really showed as I witnessed him stomp banger after banger at Fairmont, skating with his friends and fellow Sk801 homies.

Bowerbank has the raw ability to send a huge stalefish out of a more than fair-sized transition, and the board control to get a back three kick flip over a relatively crusty Fairmont step-up that is not for the meek. With skills like this, it’s no wonder Bowerbank is backed by companies like Monster, Bones, BC Surf & Sport and Darkstar, who brought Tyson on the team with an experience that

Photo: Jake Vivori Adam Dyet Tyson Bowerbank, BS 5-0. will be hard to forget. “At first, [ ] just asked me for all of my

54 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 55 Photo: Jake Vivori Tyson Bowerbank, impossible sequence at Liberty Park.

When it comes to life away from skating, my footage and then showed it to Chet [Thomas], Bowerbank likes hanging out with his family, friends and they started hooking me up with boards. With the and girlfriend. Growing up and living through these help of my parents, they surprised me at my house to Salt Lake winters, Bowerbank enjoys snowboarding bring me on the team, and I got a big cake smashed when he can up at Brighton Ski Resort. Unfortunately, in my face from pretty much the whole team,” says he has reached the age where a season pass gets Bowerbank. “Skating with the team is rad. We all just a little more costly, and he’s not sure what the get super hyped on each other and everyone is always upcoming winter season will hold for him, besides throwing down.” traveling to sunny California on more skate trips. With all of these things going on, Bowerbank is also Skateboarding has also given Bowerbank the chance on his last semester of online schooling. Brains and to travel to places like Tampa, Fla. for the popular board control—I told you these kids were getting Tampa Am, as well as skate trips to California. good! “California is definitely my favorite place to skate,” he says. “There are so many street spots and there’s As far as the future is concerned, Bowerbank’s is a always good weather.” Bowerbank even got to take his bright one. “I’d like to put out another video part and skateboarding international this summer. “Monster sent just keep filming and shooting photos for magazines,” me on a trip to Paris for a contest. That was definitely he says. “I also want to move to California when I the highlight trip of my summer,” he says. That’s pretty graduate.” He doesn’t plan to stop the contest circuit, amazing considering that, besides a bunch of good either. “I’m down with whatever. I just want to take times with my friends, skateboarding has taken me to advantage of whatever opportunities skateboarding places like hospitals, back seats of police cars, and throws at me. I’m just going with the flow and having the bottom of more than a couple Hop Risings to ease a good time!” With the motivation of his friends, whatever body part I banged up that day. Bowerbank family and fellow team riders, Bowerbank is ahead of is still a Utah native, through and through, regardless of his time and seems to only move forward. his travels, and you can see him at his favorite spots at SoJo and Sandy Park when the weather’s nice. With many great years of skateboarding ahead of him, Tyson Bowerbank is a name to know. When With the SK801 video just dropping along with the asked whom he thanks most for his success, he had release of the Darkstar video, Bowerbank had a pretty to bring up good old Mom and Dad. “My parents busy summer. His full part for the Sk801 video will be have backed me 110 percent my whole life with available online Dec. 1, but until then, grab an extra skateboarding and everything I do. They drove me pair of underwear and check out Darkstar’s Forward to all of the contests and have done a ton for me. I Slash promo video online at darkstarskate.com. With owe a lot to them. I also want to thank my sponsors eight and a half minutes of straight hammers, this as well.” promo takes a couple watches to really sink in, and may leave you having to scrape your jaw off of the If you are living in a cave in the middle of the keyboard, with Bowerbank throwing some aerial woods, with no access to the World Wide Web to maneuvers that most people need bindings to pull catch Bowerbank’s edits, you can catch him ripping off, and putting down some favorites. “Back 3s are some parks around the Salt Lake area. Make sure Photo: Jake Vivori probably my favorite trick,” says Bowerbank. “Back big to keep your head up because this kid is only going spins are super fun, too.” bigger. Tyson Bowerbank, stalefish. 56 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 57 Logitech There is an on-off switch, volume control button and a HD Pro Webcam C920 center button that controls everything else. This center button allows you to answer, end calls and switch tracks logitech.com if you are listening to music. You can also answer, end You’ve finally taken that big step and decided to start and make outgoing calls via voice control. I have been a webcam business with your girlfriend. Better yet, keeping one in my truck to pop in when I get behind you want to show off how fabulous you are to the the wheel, and with five hours of talk time off of one wonderful Interwebs for free, or maybe you just need to charge, I only charge it once a week. Plantronics has take some duck-face photos and your built-in cam isn’t many options for hands-free calling, but you get what cutting it. Whatever reason you think of to purchase you pay for here—the M165 has dual microphones that a webcam (I wasn’t aware people did), the Logitech cancel noise and wind. The cheaper sets have choppy C920 is well worth its price tag. The Carl Zeiss optics call quality, pick up almost every little sound and only and 15-megapixel camera make you look better than come with a single eartip whereas the M165 has small, anyone else’s built-in iSight. Setup is 99 percent hassle- medium and large eartip options and the clearest sound free—I know unwrapping that USB cable can seem like a you can get—if you don’t mind looking like a douchebag headache, but that is truthfully the longest part of setting while safely making calls and driving. Shell out a little up. The easy-to-use mount pops on top of your screen, or extra cash for a high-end model. –Eric Granato it is set up for a tripod mount, so your Google hangouts will be legit. I didn’t think there was much use for an external webcam, but the C920 made it hard to argue Tilley against its value. You won’t regret spending $100 on TWC 1 Woodland Cap and TPC Tilley Pub Cap this one, and you’ll look better online than that slut from tilley.com gender studies. –Thomas Winkley Being somebody who abhors getting up early, I rely heavily on hats to make up for the hair-combing that I’ve Logitech forgone once my hair grows out a bit—hats that not only Ultimate Ears Custom Earplugs create the illusion that I’m stylish, but also hats that will keep my ears warm when I’m riding my bike as well. ultimateears.logitech.com Tilley accomplishes these “feats for hats”—not only have I It’s pretty safe to say that not everyone loves foam received multiple compliments on my charcoal Woodland ethics. What attracts me most to LUSH is their stance on earplugs. Aside from the bulky form that you need to Cap, but the wool of the flip-down flap keeps my head animal testing: No way, José! As someone who strives fumble with just to fit in your ear, the expansion can be sides nice and toasty. The wool of the exterior is rain- to live a vegan lifestyle, I’ve found that the hardest part, uncomfortable, and so can the noise to the point where and snow-resistant, so I should have no trouble careening other than finding a cheese substitute we can all agree you can barely hear the music. But in an era of music through the streets this winter, and I surmise that I may on, is buying affordable, vegan-friendly bath and body where every show is cranked to 11 no matter where take it up on the mountain with me to do some riding. you go, earplugs are a necessity to keep your hearing, products. After trying a handful of LUSH’s delectable which is why it was so awesome to see that Logitech’s treats, all made from fresh, organic and vegan (note Ultimate Ears makes custom earplugs! Using the same that some of their products are only vegetarian-friendly) process as that of their ear monitors, UE takes a mold of ingredients, I’m hooked. My favorites were the Dirty your ear canal (which you need to do separately with an Spearmint Soap, Buffy Body Butter and Veganese Hair audiologist) and forms a mold to fit you perfectly. Unlike Conditioner, all of which I plan to buy up again as the monitors, these are made from a soft plastic, so they’ll soon as I’m out, along with some of these delicious bend and conform to your ear much easier. These plugs bath bombs I keep hearing about. My skin, hair and come with tuned filters, which marginalize the sound so conscience have never felt cleaner. –Esther Meroño you can hear everything without the disorienting and deafening effects. I tested these babies out at a Gaza Plantronics show standing right next to the amps onstage, and these Marque 2 M165 Bluetooth Headset shrank the hardcore barrage to the equivalent of a stereo Plantronics.com in the bathroom. There are three versions: one for mild No matter how you feel about it, wearing a bluetooth ambient noise, one for concerts, and a third if you need earpiece makes you look like a douche who thinks he is to kill all the noise around you (like construction work). super important, but these little robot brain leeches are The $170 price tag may make some people hesitant to handy as hell, and Plantronics has finally made one that purchase, but after you add up all the $5 pairs you’ve is not only sleek, but stylish, with a gloss-black finish. At lost or thrown away because they’re caked in earwax, it about an inch long and a quarter inch tall, you will be The hat does appear a bit bulky when I put the flaps up, may be worth the investment. –Gavin Sheehan hard pressed to find one that is anymore low profile. but I would sooner attribute this to having a small noggin than any stitching/proportional errors. I also received LUSH Cosmetics the Pub Cap (also charcoal), which seemed a bit floppy Various Bath & Body Products atop my head. When I let SLUG Distro Manager Eric lushusa.com Granato try this puppy on, though, the hat transformed I like feeling clean and smelling nice as much as the into one tough cap that aptly complements his long, next gal, but even my boyfriend was appalled when he blonde, flowing locks. He looks like he could be in one found out I was using $1 shampoo as body wash. That of the gangs in A Clockwork Orange with that sucker on. all changed when the international LUSH Cosmetics He has also indicated that it, too, keeps his head warm. made its way to City Creek, and the beautiful Brighton Tilley hats are insured against any sort of peril that may Metz brought me a bag of goodies. This company is far affront it within the first two years of ownership, and if removed from the conservative, capitalist conglomerate there is any flaw or tic about your hat that you dislike, that owns the space, and I definitely suggest watching Tilley will refund the full price or replace it with another, the “We Believe” video on their website for a more more suitable hat. –Alexander Ortega thorough understanding of their business model and 58 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 59 60 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 61 62 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 63 Another year down and another Top Top 5 Worst Actors: 3. The Three Stooges 3. “Shut your fucking child 5 List for the film aficionados! Where 1. Tyler Perry (Alex Cross) 4. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island mouth.” (Looper) do we begin? We unfortunately lost Michael Clarke Duncan and 2. Adam Sandler (That’s My 5. Hotel Transylvania 4. “Good work, zombie Tony Scott and are saddened to Boy) arm.” (The Cabin in the Woods) watch Clint Eastwood talk to empty 3. Nicolas Cage (Ghost Rider: Top 5 Reasons to Reverse 5. “Ma-Ma is not the law. I chairs. Doesn’t seem fair to me. Joss Spirit of Vengeance) the Vasectomy: am the law.” (Dredd) Whedon finally got his shot at the big leagues, and board games have 4. Chris Diamantopoulos, 1. Wreck-It Ralph become an inspiration for summer Will Sasso, Sean Hayes (The 2. Frankenweenie Top 5 Pleasant blockbusters. It certainly does sound Three Stooges) 3. Brave Surprises: like the end of times. Since we only 4. ParaNorman 1. The Cabin in the Woods have a small amount of time left before 5. Oliver Cooper (Project X) the volcanoes start erupting across the 5. The Pirates! Band of Misfits 2. Rock of Ages planet, here’s the list of 2012’s best Top 5 Worst Actresses: 3. Premium Rush and worst movie offerings … thus far! 1. Tyler Perry (Madea’s Witness Top 5 Films Adapted 4. Magic Mike –Jimmy Martin Protection) from Novels: 5. 21 Jump Street Top 5 Best Films: 2. Kristen Stewart (The Twilight 1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower 1. The Avengers Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2) 2. Cloud Atlas Top 5 Disappointments: 2. Looper 3. Ashley Greene 3. John Carter 1. Dark Shadows 3. Lincoln (The Apparition) 4. The Hunger Games 2. Taken 2 4. Argo 4. Rihanna (Battleship) 5. Being Flynn 3. Sinister 5. Skyfall 5. Cameron Diaz (What to 4. Red Tails Expect When You’re Expecting) Top 5 Remaining Pop- 5. The Raven Top 5 Worst Films: corn Movies of 2012: 1. That’s My Boy Top 5 Best Remakes/ 1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Top 5 Worldwide 2. House at the End of the Street Sequels/Prequels/Re- Journey Money Makers (as of 3. Project X boots: 2. This is 40 11.27.12): 4. Act of Valor 1. Dredd 3. Zero Dark Thirty 5. Alex Cross 2. The Amazing Spider-Man 4. Jack Reacher 3. Prometheus 5. Monsters, Inc. 3D Top 5 Documentaries: 4. The Dark Knight Rises 1. Indie Game: The Movie 5. Wrath of the Titans Top 5 Remaining Po- 2. The Imposter tential Award-Winning 3. The Queen of Versailles Top 5 Worst Remakes/ Films of 2012: 4. Something From Nothing: The Sequels/Prequels/Re- 1. Django Unchained Art of Rap boots: 2. Killing Them Softly 5. Jiro Dreams of Sushi 1. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3. Les Misérables 2. Paranormal Activity 4 4. Hyde Park on Hudson Top 5 Best Actors: 3. American Reunion 5. Promised Land 1. Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) 4. The Expendables 2 5. Red Dawn 2. Anthony Hopkins (Hitchcock) Top 5 Most Anticipated 3. John Hawkes (The Sessions) Films of 2013: 4. Joaquin Phoenix (The Top 5 Films to Surface Post-Sundance: 1. A Good Day to Die Hard Master) (02.14) 1. The Raid: Redemption 1. The Avengers 5. Jack Black (Bernie) 2. Iron Man 3 (05.03) 2. Sleepwalk With Me ($1,511,757,910) 3. Star Trek Into Darkness (05.17) 3. Safety Not Guaranteed 2. The Dark Knight Rises Top 5 Best Actresses: 4. Pacific Rim (07.11) 4. The Sessions ($1,080,688,473) 1. Helen Mirren (Hitchcock) 5. Elysium (08.09) 2. Salma Hayek (Savages) 5. How to Survive a Plague 3. Ice Age: Continental Drift ($872,416,979) 3. Helen Hunt (The Sessions) Top 5 Movie Quotes: 4. Sally Field (Lincoln) Top 5 Reasons to Never 4. Skyfall ($794,300,577) Have Kids: 1. “Puny god.” (The Avengers) 5. The Amazing Spider-Man 5. Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts 2. “Argo fuck yourself.” 1. Ice Age: Continental Drift ($752,216,557) of the Southern Wild) (Argo) 2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days 64 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 65 By Tyler Makmell [email protected]

This year is now coming to a close, and the mound of empty bottles surround- ing my Mayan Apocalypse countdown clock is nothing short of impressive. When looking back on this year, in regard to Utah beer, I’m ... glad. We’ve had a good run. We’ve seen new breweries arise, more community involvement with craft brewing and enough high-point beer to ram down the fucking esophagus of that asshole who “only drinks real beer.” If those change-ups weren’t enough to convince you of an impending doom, allow this finishing with more hops. The taste is to be the icing on the cake: This is my similar, with a decent bitterness round- last issue. Now, I know my two readers ing on the palate. There is a sweet malt out there are heartbroken. So, Nana balance and crisp-pine bitterness that and UteBeerFan87, thank you for all dries on the tongue. your support over the years, I know I’ll be missed. All that sappy shit aside, Overview: To help commemorate the let’s get to the fucking point: BEER! First, 75th Anniversary of Alta Ski Area’s we have the boys over at Bohemian opening, the Utah Brewers Coopera- breaking out of their shell, a celebra- tive brewed up a fancy new brew for tion of a 75th Anniversary by way of all you Altaholics out there. This new, booze and, finally, a preview of what’s decked-out labeling is well worth the to come from one of SLUG’s own, Rio purchase alone, but if you’re actually Connelly, and the details of a new drinking for that “whole flavor thing,” brewery soon to open. Enjoy! this will to do the job, too. Its malty backbone is balanced out with a resin- Fall Festbier ous hop aroma and flavor, ideal for Brewery/Brand: some pre-slope boozin’. (No worries Bohemian Brewery boarders, I took a six pack on a test run, and it’ll suit you, too.) Abv: 4.0% Serving Style: On-Tap Darth Lager (Name Pending) Description: On tap at the brewery, this festbier pours dark amber in color Brewery/Brand: Avenues with ruby highlight and a nice, pillowy, Proper Restaurant & Publick House tan head. The aroma is filled with dark Abv: 4.0% fruit on the first whiff, followed by toast, Serving Style: Coming Soon chocolate and some caramel. The taste Description: Out of this super-secret is similar, with a medley of fruit and growler, this lager pours deep amber toast off the get-go, and a bold, malty to light brown in color with a soft tan finish that still goes down smoothly. head. The aroma is initially malty sweet, with hints of toast and a bready Overview: Beer review aside, I feel malt undertone. The taste is clean with this is a good time to honor the passing a mellow toasted malt character, and of Joe Petras, (owner of Bohemian finishes off into a soft caramel dryness Brewery). Petras was a pioneer in the on the palate. Utah craft brew industry and a friend to the craft brewing community. Joe, you Overview: This is a rare treat–– will be missed, and I’ll be sure to have APRPH gifted SLUG a prototype brew a couple pilsners for you—prost! Onto that will tentatively be available on the beer, this festbier is a malty beast draft when they open. The projected perfect for this time of year. It is full- opening date is sometime in late bodied and just right for the colder air. January of 2013, give or take some Thanks, Bohemian, for keeping fudge room (no pun intended, as they us surprised. are right next door to Hatch Family Chocolates). Provided Utah does not do Alta 75 its best to try and give a new business Brewery/Brand: a rough time, this gastro-brew pub is on Utah Brewers Cooperative its way to something great. This easy sipping, Munich-styled lager with dark Abv: 4.0% Serving Style : 12 oz Bottle Muscovado sugar is a clean drinker and packed with flavor. I can already Description: Shredding out of the foresee it as a perfect staple beer in bottle, this pale ale pours a soft, amber their lineup. Cheers guys, and congrats color with a small, fizzy head. The to the new endeavor. aromatics are American-hop dominant, with pine-like notes in the beginning, leading into some light caramels and 66 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 67 Allred their M.O., but damn if the title track’s Irun Toh Self-Titled oozin’ ahhs don’t make you wanna Where Reality Sleeps Self-Released dust off your copy of Apocalypse Self-Released Dudes and cavort into a sweaty rock Street: 08.14 Street: 09.05 n’ roll orgy. The flipside’s “Priestess” Allred = Lawson + Yellow- Irun Toh = (Wolfmother + channels Scott Hill-era Fu Manchu, Black Sabbath) x Cream card + City And Colour but drenches it in the cocksure crotch- In comparison to their last album, chowder of ‘90s britpop, making Allred’s latest release is quite subdued. songs about crappy work days, STDs, You won’t find any reverb on the lead suicides and lost loves high-octane, guitar, and the vocals at a lower tone “stuck in yer head fer days” numbers. are more effective. Past and present Only two songs, but plenty of replay considered, I do like this band’s guitar value—astronomically recommended. work. The lead guitar provides an Let’s hope this is a teaser for a future atmospheric sound on “Come Back” full-length. –Dylan Chadwick and, when coupled with the violin on “In Slow Motion,” the same effect is Dine Krew accomplished. The songs as a whole its atmospheric minimalism and lo-fi We-E.T.’s sound like a long love letter. Although folk signatures, but isn’t praiseworthy the lyrics sound honest, they tend to be Self-Released enough to warrant Pink Moon or Horn overdone. Considering the repeated Street: 04.12 of Plenty comparisons. Nonethe- emotions and John Allred’s vocals, Dine Krew = Mos Def + The less, their direction is great and their the album plays like a boy band’s Avalanches aptitude is vast, which may convince attempt at a soft rock album or modern Salt Lake seems to be spouting out a me to check up on them if they release Where Reality Sleeps is a smorgasbord alternative country. I even thought steady stream of promising, uprising another album (optimistically, a full- of heady guitar licks compiled haphaz- of Lady Antebellum’s “Need You hip hop artists lately—Dine Krew length one). For the moment, Bedroom ardly into an enigmatic debut compila- Now,” minus the female vocals, during included. We-E.T.’s presents unassum- Tapes Part 1 is a record that catches tion. The entire project is reminiscent of “Here.” Nonetheless, Allred continues ing, mellow beats and slow, satisfying our attention with a pistol in the first late-’60s/early-’70s heavy blues (with to make radio-worthy music. –Justin flow, with short tracks that place act, but neglects to fire it in the second a modern twist). Each track features Gallegos emphasis on transitions. Because this act. –Gregory Gerulat over-drawn guitar solos. “Ride With was self-recorded, it comes across as Me” instantly brings back memories of Led Zeppelin’s “Over the Hills and Danger Hailstorm amateurish at first listen, but I found Hot Club of Zion myself wanting to play it all the way Self-Titled Far Away.” The mad scientist behind You Got It b/w Priestess through, several times. The strong Self-Released the music is TJ Smith. His vocals can, Running Records point of this album is the super solid Street: 08.17 at times, sound forced or offhandedly Street: 10.16 wailing, but with the album being self- use of sampling, including old-school Hot Club of Zion = Django Danger Hailstorm = Nebula mixed and produced, I was pleasantly jazz clips and violin parts that cozy up Reinhardt and Stephane + The Dictators + Turbonegro surprised to find that it sounds tight nicely to the words and rhythms,“I’m Grappelli + Pokey Lafarge x Zeke Only Human” being especially cool. and full. “Three Seasons” is a perfect I swear, when I bring up the topic of The last track, “P.L.A.N.T.P.L.A.N.E.T.,” backing track for freeway road trips. jazz music, most people’s eyes glaze has a simple, happy-sounding melody In the end, a few of the songs persist over as if I’m trying to talk elevator and lyrics that make me want to catch incessantly and lack originality. How- music or something. I know most these cats live to see how their music ever, the ones that flourish taste like a people think they know what jazz is, translates onstage. –Kia McGinnis juicy slice of hearty, classic rock pie, but most do not. Case in point: Hot dusted with just a hint of in-vogue indie Club of Zion is one of the best jazz Euphoria Again crescendo. trios around. They play a gypsy style –LeAundra Jeffs Bedroom Tapes Part 1 of jazz, and even though the mention Self-Released of the genre brings to mind the great Lady & Gent Street Date: 08.20 Django Reinhardt, they still maintain To Death In Delta their own identity while paying proper Euphoria Again = José Self-Released homage. Hot Club of Zion let their González + an ounce of Phil Street: 04.27 playing do all the talking on eight Elverum Lady & Gent = The Avett out of nine tracks—the only tune with Euphoria Again is a minimalistic indie Brothers + The Folka Dots vocals is a particularly haunting ver- A two-fer slab of bouncy proto-punk folk group whose music is comparable This debut album from the five-piece sion of the traditional folk-blues song (or izzit pop metal?) from this local to a large, abstract art piece: It’s Provo group features a plethora of “St. James Infirmary.” While I wouldn’t quartet, You Got It ups the the band’s aesthetically engaging from afar, but pure folk music—lots of singing along mind more vocals in the future, the incessant ear for melody (ex members observing it closer doesn’t bring any with acoustic instruments. Made up of playing on this record is top-notch— of The Stench and Bad Yodellers additional gratification. With Bedroom brothers Garrett and Ben Williams, guitar and violin dance and intertwine can’t hurt) and ballsy chutzpah by driv- Tapes Part 1, the band constructs drony Jeff Adams, Dana Sorensen and over the top of pulsing, infectious bass ing itself over simple, thundering drums textures with lo-fi acoustics, which Chris White, Lady & Gent demon- lines. These cats play around Salt Lake and keeping the vocals front and results in an entrancing matte glow strate how the Americana genre is pretty regularly, so don’t miss out. center in the mix. Maybe campaign- over songs like “Ol Rudy.” The overall done. As with most folk bands, the –James Orme ing for a Turbojugend chapter ain’t album can easily ensnare you into songwriting is the main focus on this 68 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 69 Quiet The Titan = Kid death unites the three tracks that are, fully upbeat, bouncy song paired with Theodore + Minus the Bear musically, each their own. The femi- rich, soulful vocals performed by the nine sound of Tink Safeer’s backing female singers of the project. It’s a vocals gives the already danceable great way to start the album. Next “You’re Alive” a dash of ’60s pop. up is an angsty poem addressing the Decapitated slows to an end with a matters of perfect grades and the like, narrative sung from the perspective of followed by a beautiful, bluesy song a deceased lover accompanied only accompanied by the piano—and by acoustic guitar: “I Stopped Loving the variety doesn’t stop there. Other You Tonight” could be Deadbolt on pieces include a reading of a short open mic night. essay on dance, an electronic instru- –Steve Richardson mental, an interview with a politician, excerpts from youth-hosted Loud and Totem and Taboo Clear Radioactive episodes from KRCL record, with most of the songs being The Instruments We Used and, of course, a couple of tunes dominated by the lyrics, with a lack Self-Released from local musicians such as YYBS. of any soloing, aside from the occa- Street: 09.01 I didn’t even know YYBS is Spyhop sional harmonica break. The 10-song This is definitely a high school band, Totem and Taboo = The spawn, but I probably should have record spans nearly 45 minutes, and but if you take the pubescent-sounding Suicycles + Coheed and guessed—they rock. This is a fabulous each song typically follows the same vocals with a grain of salt, you’ve Cambria little taste of what Spyhop has in the mellow, acoustic style. The only traces got the skeletons of a fairly impres- works. These talented kids are all of a heavier sound come on the tune sive debut garage rock album. Using going somewhere, too, so be among “Hope To Hold,” where, toward the acoustic guitar intros, Weezer-ish the first to support them and the work end of the track, Williams gives a bass progressions and youthful lyrics Spyhop does with them by grabbing punk-esque shout of “One, two, three, to their advantage, these teens man- the sampler and checking it out for four.” Although this album could have age some great jams that seem to be yourself. –Ischa B. benefited from a bit more energetic echoing the successful indie Provo/ tunes to keep my ears engaged, it’s Velour scene. “Empty Hallways and The Young Electric a decent debut overall from the local Barren Floors” gives me faith that the Machines group. –Jory Carroll lead singer may grow into his voice Song Haus Music soon, and “Another Drive Home” is Street: 10.09 Little Sap Dungeon a thoroughly enjoyable song. The The Young Electric = (AFI x My slower, more tender tracks lose my Chemical Romance)/Social Seven Trumpets of Death Distortion Dungeon interest, but the more danceable jam Street: 10.01 tracks are totally worthwhile. Give Little Sap Dungeon = (Skinny these dudes some time to mature Puppy x Coil) + Ministry because they’ve got potential. –Kia From the ashes of The Suicycles, we Six years since their previous McGinnis are given Totem and Taboo. Former album, Kevin Cazier (Percep- frontman of the “dirty electronica- tion Cleanse Perception) and Secret Abilities rock”-branded Suicycles, Camden Christopher Alvarado (Twilight Decapitated Chamberlain, along with others Transmissions, Roses and Exile, Self-Released in the band, have teamed up with Harsh Reality) are back with Street: 08.31 some newcomers to deliver a new seven (no, eight! There’s a hidden Secret Abilities = Groovie sound that is certainly dark and one!) tracks, marrying their dismal Ghoulies + The Briefs + The proggy. The instrumentals come off dystopian visions to harsh yet beauti- Gories clean and calculated, and delicate, ful, heavy post-punk industrial noise. dual-female harmonizing vocals often Layered with the expected samples— give a pleasing contrast to the dark inspiring activists, crazy neo-fascists, riffs and basslines. The lyrics are It takes about 150 seconds for this conspiracy buffs, an iPhone alarm also dark and often self-deprecating, album to establish itself as one of and so on—there’s nothing surpris- if you’re into that. One of the most the tightest, most well produced ing here, but that doesn’t mean it’s noticeable strengths of the album is local efforts this year. It’s a seam- boring. With visions of apocalypse the consistency of the songs—they less transition between the opener, and the seemingly inevitable decay seem to all play a part in the greater “Patterns & Processes,” which subtly of our society, each song rings with whole. The short, seven-song length incorporates elements of its succes- a new doom. The songs, with their leaves us to wonder how soon we will sor on the album, “Machines,” that weighty themes, don’t seem intended be hearing more from the group. But, sets the feeling for the remainder for the dance floor, but some (“With if The Suicycles’ frequent blitz attack of The Young Electric’s debut effort an Iron Fist” and the stand-out track, with new tracks gives any indication, as more of a complete pack- “Meet Your Maker”) could find a it shouldn’t be long. age rather than an assortment of home there. Others like “The Fade” –Jesse Thomas randomly distributed tracks. No, it is and “Eradication of Dreams” drone not without its faults, particularly the with palpable dread. If not the most Although the eight minutes of De- Various Artists clunky fourth track,“Crave,” which original album, this extremely limited- capitated don’t seem to last, Secret Beat the Heat: A Loud and Clear never gets off the ground, despite edition CD (only 100 were made) Abilities get straight to the point with Sampler its chaotic ending. But, for the most nevertheless is a strong contender, a triad of harmonious voices singing, Spyhop Productions part, what we have here is a blast of well worth a listen for rivetheads “Well … well … well …” If Joey Street: 07.27 an album, even though most of the and a must-have for fans. –Madelyn Ramone wrote a blues song for The Beat the Heat = Vampire lyrical content is a bit of a downer. Boudreaux Cramps, it might sound something Weekend + Christina The main highlights are “Hospital,” like “Decapitated.” Secret Abilities’ Aguilera + KRCL Radioactive which features a jumpy bass line and lead singer, Davin Abegg, even The sampler begins with a fantastic Quiet The Titan impressive harmonies from Drew adds a few inhaled gasps in the style track by Mystique, a local amalgam We’re Doing Alright Hamnett, and of course “Golden,” of Cramps vocalist Lux Interior of young musicians from varied back- Self-Released one of 2012’s best songs. –Blake between lyrics like, “My baby, baby grounds who came together under the Street: 07.04 Leszczynski she decapitated me.” The subject of guidance of Spyhop. It is a delight- 70 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 71 Dragonette Hostage Calm knack for punching you in the kidneys ear for country rock melodies and Bodyparts Please Remain Calm while easing the pain with dirge and psychedelic soul. Universal Run for Cover Records doomy tempo changes. Those tempo –Justin Gallegos Street: 09.22 Street: 10.09 changes are what Incantation does Dragonette = The Scissor Sisters + Hostage Calm = Saves the Day + best—they pique interest in the album Philistines Little Boots Beach Boys + Ted Leo so you don’t want to stop. Brutal Therewolves! It’s a crime that this group hasn’t 2010’s self-titled release by Hostage death metal’s got nothing—stick to Self-Released made a dent in the States yet. Sure, Calm was a real left turn for those classic American death metal. Street: 10.16 everyone was singing along to the who were introduced to the band –Bryer Wharton Philistines = The Cure + Martina Sorbara (Dragonette’s through their prior album, Lens. It was Sonic Youth lead singer) and Martin Solveig as if Dag Nasty had really gotten Indian Handcrafts Can you get carpal tunnel in your an- collaboration “Hello,” but that’s not into the Beach Boys and decided to kle if you tap your feet for too long? Civil Disobedience for Losers Because this is some catchy shit, and near enough for a band that should do that instead. On Please Remain Sargeant House have destroyed the pop charts the Calm, all hardcore roots are erased, Street: 10.30 I don’t think I can stop. “Keep your minute that its first album dropped replaced by occasional glimpses of Indian Handcrafts = The Sword + head up, you fucking sellout!” yells five years ago. With their third effort, pop-punk through the ‘60s/‘70s pop Tweak Bird the song “Keep It Simple.” It’s a fitting Sorbara and friends again prove that sound and multiple instrumentation. I On their sophomore release, Indian mission statement of sorts for a band they are making some of the best believe taking musical risks and play- Handcrafts invite you to a celebration who keeps it extremely simple, with pop music around. Sure, songs like ing outside their genre was a good in which they blow up a supergi- pop brilliance and twangy guitars “Giddy Up” are over the top, but for move for the band, but I’ve struggled ant star. This two-piece outfit makes smothered in tasteful crooning reminis- every one of those, there are many with critiquing this album, mostly enough noise to make a banshee cent of a disturbingly cheery Robert like “Untouchable,” which features because my opinion of it depends run for her earplugs. Aside from the Smith. Owing plenty to their indie- Sorbara trying to tempt some chump heavily on context. If you looked at comparisons to acts such as Electric rock ancestors, Philistines aren’t the to fall into her sexual trap. “Why Hostage Calm as a hardcore band Wizard, Black Mountain and most original band, but it’s hard to don’t you get out and save yourself, that left most of that part of itself be- Queens of the Stone Age, Civil fault them for that. Like my old flannel because you know what I’ll do if I’m hind and has significantly expanded Disobedience for Losers is as volatile shirt in the back of the closet, it’s cozy allowed,” she sings, in her slinky its sound (and recording production), as it is heavy. The song “The Jerk” and warm and I don’t regret it for a way that is impossible to deny, much the album is rather accomplished, if is eerily reminiscent of Moistboyz second. –Matt Brunk like this album (and Dragonette) as a uneven in parts. If looked at through in its creepy melody and ironic, whole. –Blake Leszcyznski an indie/pop lens, then there are screwball lyrics. “Terminal Horse,” the Sleep Maps strikes against it in how closely por- shortest track on the album, sounds Medals E. D. Sedgwick tions of Please Remain Calm still align as if Gibby Haynes hijacked Lost Future Music We Wear White with pop-punk and the band’s genre Lemmy and steered him into a pit of Street: 11.13 Sleep Maps = Nine Inch Nails + Dischord roots. Ultimately, it may just be per- spinning gears. My favorite track is Russian Circles Street: 11.20 fect: too punk for indie, too pop/indie “Bruce Lee,” which starts out with the E. D. Sedgwick = The White for punk, making it that rare album banging of a gong, then flows along With a theme as deeply political as Stripes + Gang of Four + Sharon that stands apart—which is never a with chants in reference to the great that which this EP is based around— Jones bad place to be. martial artist’s death, all the while returning soldiers participating in What started as Justin Moyer –Peter Fryer grooving along the hills that Tony medal-throwing gatherings, and the of El Guapo’s solo side project Iommi once burned. This is a very government/media’s attempts to alter-ego is now an actual band and, Incantation fun and interesting record. –Jordan discredit them—Ben Kaplan/Sleep from what I can tell, much less of a Deveraux Maps must have known the risk of joke. Now, rather than dressing like Vanquish in Vengeance appearing too heavy-handed with his Listenable Edie Sedgwick and singing about Street: 11.27 Night Moves message and subject matter. Instead, Robert Downey Jr., Moyer wears Incantation = Autopsy + he deftly balances between the a white suit and fronts an all-girl back- Colored Emotions musical impact of Medals’ post-rock Immolation + Disma Domino Records ing band that plays funky dance-rock The death metal world can never Street: 10.16 compositions and emotional weight songs about sex, unstable boats, have enough Incantation albums. Night Moves = Neil Young/Bon inherent in the samples of soldiers’ retro-fetishism, young love and mari- Vanquish in Vengeance marks the Iver + Sleepy Sun speeches regarding their experiences juana. We Wear White, the sixth full- band’s ninth studio record and, seri- Not long after pressing play on this in the Vietnam War, countering the length under the Edie/E.D. Sedgwick ously, they’re all worth owning. Peeps gem, I found myself at the mercy of rhetoric of politicians promoting the name, is the most accessible yet, but of activity by way of EPs and splits af- John Pelant’s guitar. It’s everything war. The heavy drums and atmo- still retains enough of the weirdness to ter the blistering boil of pus that was from a desert-rock god commanding spheric guitars of opening track “The make one question what the fuck this 2006’s Primordial Domination have my attention to a psychedelic lounge Final Weapon” set the mood for an band is all about. Listen to “Dirty” for kept fans of American death metal causing me to drift away—if only album making great use of tension some hot singing, “Mina” for some sustained, but not satisfied, until this this was country music’s future. What and noise, as well as space and sweet teenage angst, and “Rockin’ beast hit the streets. The record easily Night Moves has created is a unique melody. “The Heavens Gaze Empty” the Boat” to get down and dirty. Al- has some of Incantation’s best produc- form of country-fused electric rock moves in waves, between quietly though I’m usually too square to “get” tion work, while maintaining the raw, that’s all their own. Imagine Empire melodic guitar and pounding drums this kind of music, this is a fun record, nerve-scraping, gritty sounds the band of the Sun stripped down to less that collide with distorted guitars and and I probably just take everything has become known for. “Transcend electronics, with heavier guitar. This steady bass. This music is often as too seriously, anyway. into Absolute Dissolution” is a album should satisfy all indie-rock dark as the thematic narrative that –Cody Kirkland supreme showcase of Incantation’s fans out there who also have an shaped it. –T.H. 72 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 73 74 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 75 Roggenbuck, Matthew Donahoo - Brewvies DJ Reach - Park City Live Hang Time, Tolchock Trio - Urban Shred Shed Detroit Wild City - City Library Winter Solstice - Red Butte EVE SLC: Night 1 - Various Venues Holiday Bazaar - Skinworks Zappa Plays Zappa - Depot Peter Breinholt Christmas, This Bird of Wretched Bones, Mountain Woman - Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type - Plan-B: Radio Hour - Rose Wagner Dawning - Rose Wagner Why Sound SLAC Exigent Records Showcase - Shred Shed Brandi Carlile - State Room Wednesday, December 19 Rylee McDonald - Tin Angel Sunday, December 30 Tombstone Coyote - Tin Angel DJ Chris Sheilds - Downstairs Griz - Urban Joshua Payne Orchestra - Bar X Art Talk with Jason Metcalf - UMOCA A Christmas Carol On The Air - DJ Anthony Motto - Zest Geek Show Movie Night - Brewvies SLUG Localized: Spirit Master, Egyptian Theatre Aaron Rashaw, Otter Creek - Garage Albino Father, Rainbow Black - Matthew E. White, Seth Brown, Boots To Sunday, December 23 EVE SLC: Night 2 - Various Venues Urban The Moon - Kilby Joshua Payne Orchestra - Bar X We Shot The Moon, VanLadyLove - Big Shiny Geek Show Pub Quiz - Kurt Bestor - Egyptian Theatre Monday, December 31 Get your event listed for free in print, online and our iPhone app! Sign up for a free SLUG Calendar account at SLUGMag.com/Calendar Velour Lucky 13 Morgan Snow & John Davis - Garage D. Ryan - A Bar Named Sue Friday, December 7 DJ Battleship - Copper Club Winter Battle Of The Bands: Finals! - Family Writes - SLCC Community Writing Scotty Haze Band, Roadtrip Romance, Jesus Or Genome - Poplar Matthew & The Hope - Green Pig DJ Godina - Bar X Pick up the new issue of SLUG- Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Dee-1, Velour Center Andy Rice - Why Sound DJ Matty Mo - Willie’s Film Buff Night - Brewvies Anyplace cool! Xperienceto - Depot Bronze Museam, Sock Puppet - Rose Gold, Filth Lords, Street Jesus - Hope Sinkers - Woodshed Monday, December 24 Maimed For Life, The Wild Ones, The Formerly People - A Bar Named Sue DJ Scooter - Downstairs Why Sound Urban DJ Flash & Flare - Zest Thursday, December 20 Happy Birthday, Ben Trentelman! Gnawing Suspicion, Salt Lake Spitfires The Pour Horse, The Chickens - ABG’s Sleepy Hollow - Egyptian Theatre Oh Be Clever - Woodshed Happy Birthday, Jesse Anderson! DJ Godina - Bar X - Burt’s Debussy, Ravel - Abravanel Old Death Whisper, Morgan Snow & DJ Craig Robin - Zest Wednesday, December 12 Saturday, December 15 Happy Birthday, Liz Phillips! Film Buff Night - Brewvies Nathan Scott - Depot Nutcracker Show - Blonde Grizzly John Davis - Garage Lo-Pan, Dwellers, Huldra - Burt’s Kurt Bestor - Abravanel Hall Happy Birthday, Thy Doan! Kurt Bestor - Egyptian Theatre NYE Party: DJ Mom Jeans, Miss DJ Lux Max Pain & The Groovies - Brewskis The Brumbies - Green Pig Sunday, December 9 DJ Chris Sheilds - Downstairs Tim Kidder Trio - Bayou David Williams - Bar X - Downstairs Danger Hailstorm, Oxcross, Top Dead Black Berry Bush - Hog Wallow Joshua Payne Orchestra - Bar X Whitey Morgan & The 78’s - Garage The Coverdogs - Brewskis Sounds Like Teen Spirit - Brewskis Tuesday, December 25 An Evening with Kristin Chenoweth - Celebrity - Burt’s Santa Paws - Hotel Monaco DJ Chris Shields - Downstairs Talia Keys, Gemini Mind - Hog Wallow Minerva - Burt’s The Family Stone - City Library Kurt Bestor - Egyptian Theatre Eccles Center Kyau & Albert, Seven Lions, Cold Bank Kaity & The Raccoons - Jazzy’s Treehouse, Storming Stages & Stereos, Big Shiny Geek Show Pub Quiz - Everything Is Terrible - The Coffee Pit DJ Danny Boy - Downstairs The Gamma Rays - Green Pig - Complex Tony Holiday - Johnny’s Gust Attack, Commodore Azalea - Kilby Lucky 13 Anberlin, Blondfire - Complex Live Jazz - Garage Wednesday, December 26 Chickano - Jazzy’s Holy Water Buffalo - Copper Club Holy Water Buffalo, The North Valley, Wovenhand, INVDRS, Light Black - Chance Lewis, Apt, Create Dwellers, DJ Battleship - Copper Club Show Me Island, Redrick Sultan, Donny & Marie - Abravanel Hall Golden Sun, Brolly - Jazzy’s Punch Brothers, The Milk Carton Kids The 2:13’s, Lily E Gray - Kilby Urban Pat Maine, Yze, Dusk, Free Speech Late Night Alumni, Becky Jean Williams, Problem Daughter, Eli Whitney - Kilby Riva Rebels - Burt’s DJ Bad Boy Brian - Johnny’s - Depot Syndicate - Muse John Hancock - Depot Acoustic Showcase - Muse DJ Chris Sheilds - Downstairs Daisy & The Moonshines, The North Miss DJ Lux - Downstairs Jesus Or Genome - Poplar Parsons Dance Company - Eccles Center Filth Lords, Worst Friends, Eraser - Ashlee K. - Hog Wallow Valley - Kilby Sleepy Hollow - Egyptian Theatre Maker, Turnover, Major League, Ugly Valley Boys - Garage Shred Shed Big Shiny Geek Show Pub Quiz - Black & White Masquerade Ball - Candy’s Riverhouse, Hopeless Jack & Travelers Cold, Eli Whitney - Shred Shed Matthew & The Hope - Green Pig Rythm Combo - Tin Angel Lucky 13 Park City Live The Handsome Devil - Garage David Williams - Tin Angel Candy’s River House - Hog Wallow Wildcat Strike, PTO, DJ Matty Mo Jesus Or Genome - Poplar Flux Pavilion, Cookie Monsta, Lucky Hell Caminos - Green Pig A Day Of Yoga - Trolley Square Marinade - Johnny’s - Urban DJ Matty Mo - Willie’s Date, Brown & Gammon, Torro Torro - Eric McFadden - Hog Wallow Daisy & The Moonshines, Wildcat Gaza, Code Orange Kids, Full Of Hell, Pirate & Punk Xmas Party - Willie’s Finale Grande - Zest Saltair The Statuettes, Massive Mass Of Strike, Charles Ellsworth & The Dirty Reviver - Kilby Joshua Payne Orchestra, The Numbs Coco Montoya - State Room Masses, Merchant Royal - Kilby Thirty, Pablo Blaqk - Urban Tereance Hansen - Poplar - Zest Thursday, December 27 People Under The Stairs, Chase One Tech Portraits - Leonardo DJ Matty Mo - Willie’s Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count David O. Flash n’ Flare - 5 Monkeys 2 - Urban Funk Fu, UniPhi, Slowride - Liquid Joe’s DJ RIA, Finale Grande - Zest - Red Butte Friday, December 21 Donny & Marie - Abravanel Hall EVE SLC: Final Night - Various Venues No Bragging Rights, Alters, Forever Ririe-Woodbury: Three - Rose Wagner Herban Empire - A Bar Named Sue David Williams - Bar X Came Calling, Skiesdie In Wonderland Thursday, December 13 Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Saltair Jonathan Warren & The Billy Goats, The Year Of The Wolf - Burt’s Tuesday, January 1 - Mojos Happy Birthday, Jon Robertson! Cuddleslut, Police Academy, Secret Low Keys - ABG’s DJ Danny Boy - Downstairs Happy New Year! Bring Your Gifts - Murray Theatre Kurt Bestor - Abravanel Hall Abilities, Drunk As Shit - Shred Shed Holiday Celebration - Abravanel Hall Live Jazz - Garage The Porch - Muse David Williams - Bar X Justin Townes Earle, Trixie Whitley - A.M. Bump - Bayou Mister Richter - Kilby Wednesday, January 2 The Porch Storytelling - Muse Zombiecock - Burt’s State Room BassMint Pros - Brewskis Jacuzzihidive, Tom Srvo, Roboclip - Happy Birthday, Sumerset Brett Eldridge - Outlaw Saloon DJ Danny Boy - Downstairs Stephen Valdean - Tin Angel Wayne The Train Hancock, The Utah Urban Bivens! Paa Kow’s By All Means Band - Steven Roth - Hog Wallow Sing With Maria: Sound Of Music - County Swillers - Burt’s Detox, Matt Monson - Zest DJ Chris Sheilds - Downstairs Park City Live Addison Escape Device - Kilby Tower Theatre Snoop Dogg, Pac Div - Depot Big Shiny Geek Show Pub Quiz - What It Is - Poplar Lindenfield, Kathleen Frewin, Officer People’s Market: Holiday Market - Samuel Smith Band - Garage Friday, December 28 Lucky 13 Dan Waldis - Rose Wagner Jenny, OkayOkay - Muse Trolley Square Marinade - Green Pig The Fingers - A Bar Named Sue Jesus Or Genome - Poplar Grits Green & Winged Foot Ririe-Woodbury: Three - Rose Wagner Seasons Beating Series The Pour Horse - Hog Wallow Arm Pigs, Mara Loca - ABG’s Hearts & Hands - Shred Shed Entertainment - Sand Trap Sure Sign Of The Nail, Baby Gurl, - UCW-Zero Arena Isaiahthe3rd, ScienZe, King I Divine - Donny & Marie - Abravanel DJ Matty Mo - Willie’s The Hung Ups, Problem Daughter, Starvist - Shred Shed Cocktail Party - Urban Kilby Chalula - Bayou Money Penny, Antics - Shred Shed Brandi Carlile - State Room Velour’s Christmas Special Showcase Royal Bliss - Liquid Joe’s The Bastard Redheads - Brewskis Thursday, January 3 David Hildago, Alejandro Escovedo - Lady Murasaki, Beachmen, Nate Padley - Velour Adventure Club, Anton - Park City Live The Rubes, Tolchock Trio - Garage Happy Birthday, Cody Kirkland! State Room - Urban Men’s Acappella Chorus of Cache Jill Derrickson - Poplar Terence Hansen Trio - Green Pig David Williams - Bar X Rylee McDonald - Tin Angel Dtox, Matt Monson - Zest Valley, Alarmingly Charming - This Bird of Dawning - Rose Wagner Marinade - Hog Wallow Salty Horror Night - Brewvies First Friday: Triple Candie - UMOCA Why Sound Stranger Beside Me, Stories Of Jim Derrickson - Poplar DJ Danny Boy - Downstairs Dubwise - Urban Friday, December 14 BBO - Woodshed Ambition, The Glass House, Mouth The Howlin’ Rails - Shred Shed Joe McQueen - Garage Salt Lake Gallery Stroll - Various Whiskey Fish - A Bar Named Sue Justin Rinker, Trevor Imani - Zest Runner - Shred Shed Andy Frasco, The Congress - State Room Galleries 7th Street Blues Band - ABG’s Pat Maine, Emerson Kennedy, DJ Samba Fogo - Urban Friday, January 4 Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll - Various Everything is Terrible - 12.15 at The Coffee Pit Kurt Bestor - Abravanel Hall Sunday, December 16 Battleship, Taken Root - Urban Park City’s Last Friday Gallery Stroll - Happy Birthday, Gregory Galleries Double Helix - Bayou Happy Birthday, Jessie Wood Marinade - Woodshed Various Galleries Gerulat! Provo Gallery Stroll - Various Galleries Intro to Classical Drawing, Tech Red Shot Pony - Brewskis Joshua Payne Orchestra - Bar X DJ Flash & Flare, Nightfreq - Zest Tr3ason, Smoke Hollow - Why Sound Pick up the new issue of SLUG Winter Battle Of The Bands: Season Portraits, Open Sketch - Leonardo Monday, December 10 Dying Fetus, Cerebral Bore, Gravetown, Jerry Joseph - Burt’s Funk N’ Gonzo - Woodshed anyplace cool! Extreme, Stacy Stringham, Velocirapture, Tom Butler - Mo’s Happy Birthday, Ryan Hall! Dead Vessel - Burt’s Kate MacLeod - Garage Saturday, December 22 DJ Flash & Flare - Zest Water Music - Abravanel Hall Cahoots - Velour SKA NIGHT! The Anchorage (EP Happy Birthday, Nate Perkins! My Pet Dragon - Copper Club Winter Land Aerial Showcase - Holiday Celebration - Abravanel Hall Quinn Brown Band - Brewskis DJ Flash & Flare - Zest Release), The Opskamatrists (ID), Happy Birthday, Christian Coleman & The Blue Zen Band Sugar Space Tough Tittie - Burt’s Saturday, December 29 Bil Dwyer, Moody McCarthy, Kathleen Bombshell Academy, The Sinisters - Muse Thomas Winkley! - Garage Sugar Plum Party - Capitol Theater Happy Birthday, Catie Weimer! McCann - Egyptian Theatre Saturday, December 8 DJ Skratchy - Park City Live DJ Godina - Bar X Unified - Green Pig Monday, December 17 DJ Battleship - Copper Club Donny & Marie - Abravanel Isaac Farr Trio - Green Pig Debussy & Ravel - Abravanel Hall Matthew & The Hope - Poplar Film Buff Night, Channel 801 - Brewvies Stonefed - Hog Wallow DJ Godina - Bar X Ugly Christmas Sweater Party - Fetish Ball: Uniforms - Area 51 The Weekenders, Holy Water Buffalo - Mr. Lucky Blues - Bayou Ring Around The Rose - Rose Wagner Moraless - Burt’s Fever Dreams, Value - Jazzy’s Film Buff Night - Brewvies Downstairs The Number Ones - Bayou Shred Shed Eric McFadden - Brewskis Exigent Records Showcase - Shred Shed Motionless In White, Chelsea Grin, Stick Euphoria - Kilby 20 - Burt’s Quixotic Fusion - Eccles Center The Breakfast Klub - Brewskis Bullets & Belles, Triggers & Slips - Outside Infinity, Dead Virgins, The Galen Young - Tin Angel To Your Guns, Crown The Empire, Upon Joe Moses, Ta Smallz, Riccy Rich, T-Rev, No Bragging Rights, Altars, Forever Utah County Swillers - Garage Draize Method, John Schuman - Burt’s State Room Glorious Bastards - Burt’s The Globe On Screen - Tower Theatre This Dawning - In The Venue Antoine Carter - Liquid Joe’s Came Calling - In The Venue The Gamma Rays - Green Pig DJ Battleship - Copper Club First Friday - UMOCA Go Huck Yourself - Canyons People’s Market: Holiday Market - Kyprios & The Chaperones, Phil 90s Television ‘Going Blonde’ Album The Rugs - Hog Wallow The Weekenders - Garage Provo Gallery Stroll - Various Galleries Eddie Palmieri-Brian Lynch Quartet - Trolley Square Maggio, Cavelight Captains - Urban Release Show - Muse Tuesday, December 18 Big Blue Ox - Johnny’s Green Leaf - Johnny’s Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll - Capitol Theater Tough Enough Challenge - UCW-Zero Ozomatli - Park City Live Happy Birthday, Eric Sapp! KonSICKwence, Omeed the Nag, Vagif, Koala Temple, Your Meteor, Creature Various Galleries Circus Dreams - City Library Arena Tuesday, December 11 Chris Bender - Poplar Happy Birthday, Alex Cragun! Aurotaorikal, Illwinded Powers, Jason Double Feature, Little Barefoot - Kilby Velour Slumber Party #4: Book On Tape NOFX, Teenage Bottlerocket, Elway - The Devil Whale, Hang Time, Birthquake Sadie Price, Jazz Jaguars - Burt’s Ririe-Woodbury: Three - Rose Wagner Happy Birthday, Joshua Joye! Thomas , Optamyst & Ivey, New Truth, Matthew & The Hope - Poplar Worm - Velour Complex - Urban Otter 501 - City Library One Way Life, Eons, Treehouse, Steve Incredibly Strange Movie Night - Device - Kilby Will Roney - Tin Angel 76 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 77 78 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 79 80 SaltLakeUnderGround