All Important Information, Text, Photos, Illustrations Need to Be Inside This Black Area

Home , Best Coast, Bipp, Birds in Row, Blue Cheer, Burger Records, Burial (musician)

All Important information, Text, Photos, Illustrations need to be inside this black area.

Image / Live Area 7.4” Width slugmag.com 3 SaltLakeUnderGround • Vol. 26 • Issue #324 • December 2015 • slugmag.com

CONTRIBUTOR LIMELIGHT: ABOUT THE COVER: Trent Call, who designed our typewriter logo, is Leading SLUG Mag’s readership through the gothic dys- also no stranger to SLUG’s cover. His topias of EBM and industrial music, Mistress Nancy has illustration for our ’15 Top 5 Albums Is- been SLUG’s trusted guide for all things dark and electronic sue takes worldly inspiration from the since August of 2013. Whether it be album reviews, inter- mandala, correlating five pentagonal views with the likes of Skinny Puppy, Haujobb and prisms and 15 surrounding circles—a Author & Punisher, or knockout performance reviews symbol of SLUG staff’s disparate yet of the Chamber Music Society, many have been charmed harmonious musical cosmos. To learn more about Call, visit swinj.com. under the Mistress’ spell. Nancy is also a valuable member of SLUG’s distro team. Willing goth supplicants can re- DISCLAIMER: SLUG Magazine does gale themselves at Temple, Mistress Nancy’s weekly gothic, not necessarily maintain the same industrial and dark ’80s DJ nights at Area 51. She’ll be opinions as those found in our leading a loyal following of bats to the beats of her “Top Mistress Nancy content. Content is property of SLUG 5 Darkwave Albums of 2015 that We’re Pretty Sure Were Senior Staff Writer, Distro Magazine—please do not use without Written by Robots” (pg. 35)! written permission.

Publisher: Eighteen Percent Gray Chad Pinckney, Nick Ketterer, SLUG HQ: 801.487.9221 Shawn Mayer, Stakerized!, Paul Mason Steve Goemaat, Steve Richardson, Events Coordinator: Ellen Young Editor: Angela H. Brown Thomas Winkley Design Intern: Jordan Brooks SLUG Games Intern: Katie Buda Managing Editor: Monkeys with Computers: Ad Designers: Brad Barker, Alexander Ortega Marketing Team: Aaron Jones, Adam Fratto, Brighton Metz, Christian Broadbent, Cassandra Loveless, Cassie Anderson, Alex Coulombe, Alex Blackburn, Editorial Assistant: Devin Wakefield, Dianna Totland, Claudia Trochez, Jono Martinez, Alex Cragun, Alex Gilvarry, Christian Schultz KJ Jackett, Maggie Zukowski, Kyelee Stephenson, Kylie Atkins, Alex Vermillion, Ali Shimkus, Nicholas Dowd, Nick Ketterer, Digital Content Coordinator: Lark Smith, Lindsay Clark, Andrea Silva, Ashley Lippert, Sumerset Bivens Henry Glasheen Miriah Barkle, Marina Quevedo, Austin Doty, Ben Tilton, Office Coordinator: Website Developer: Kate Colgan Shley Kinser, Skye Galley, Xena Jade Brian Udall, Carl Acheson, Chris Proctor, Connor Brady, Gavin Sheehan Illustrators: Brighton Metz, Distribution Manager: Darcy Mimms, Dylan Evans, Erin Brooklyn Ottens, Eric Granato Editorial Intern: Kathy Zhou Moore, Gregory Gerulat, D. Bradford Gambles, Eleora Nelson, Distro: Ali Shimkus, Jamie Stott, Jeanine Carmichael, Digital Content Assistant: Maggie Zukowski, Manuel Aguilar, Daniel Alexander, Eric Granato, Jeremy Cardenas, Jesse Hawlish, Julia Sachs Natalie Edwards, Paul Frame, Phil Eric Norris, Jesse Hawlish, John Ford, Kamryn Feigel, Kathy Zhou, Cannon, Robin Banks, Ryan Perkins, Digital Archive Assistant: Julia Sachs, Megan Kennedy, Kristal Starr, Kristyn Porter, Sean Hennefer, Timm Paxton Marina Quevedo Michael Sanchez, Nancy Perkins, Laurent Backman, Lizz Corrigan, Digital Interns: Ana Hardy, Photographers: Andy Fitzgerrell, Nate Housley, Ricky Vigil, Madi Smith, Mame Wallace, Shavauna Peterson Ben Melini, Bob Plumb, Tommy Dolph, Tony Bassett, Matt Brunk, Michael Sanchez, Chad Kirkland, Chris Gariety, Wesley Peterson, Xkot Toxsik Nate Housley, Nic Smith, Fact Checkers: Nic Smith, Chris Kiernan, Gilbert Cisneros, Nicole Stephenson, Rachel Jensen, Senior Staff Writers: Shawn Soward Gilbert Garcia, Jake Vivori, Randy Dankievitch, Alex Springer, Alexander Ortega, Jayson Ross Jessica Bundy, Rheanna Sonnichsen, Rob Hudak, Copy Editing Team: Alex Cragun, Allison Shephard, Amanda Rock, John Barkiple, Johnny Cowan, Ryan Michael Painter, Sara Bezdjian, Alexander Ortega, Allison Shephard, Ben Trentelman, Brian Kubarycz, Logan Sorenson, Martín Rivero, Seeth McGavien, Some Cop Dude, Christian Schultz, Henry Glasheen, Brinley Froelich, Bryer Wharton, Matt Brunk, Matthew Windsor, Stephan Wyatt, Taylor Hoffman, Timo Izzy Fernandez, John Ford, Christian Schultz, Cody Kirkland, Megan Kennedy, Melissa Cohn, H., Trevor Hale, Trey Sanders, Tyson Jordan Deveraux, Julia Sachs, Dean O Hillis, Eric U. Norris, Michael Lehmann, Michael Portanda, Call, Xena Jade, Zac Smith, Kathy Zhou, Laikwan Waigwa-Stone, Gavin Hoffman, Gavin Sheehan, Niels Jensen, Russel Daniels, Scott Zach Lambros Lindsey Parkinson, Maria Valenzuela, Henry Glasheen, James Bennett, Frederick, Talyn Sherer, Mary E. Duncan, Nic Smith, James Orme, Jimmy Martin, SLUG Magazine’s Official Weston Colton Nick Kuzmack, Shawn Soward, John Ford, Jordan Deveraux, Podcast: SLUG Soundwaves Traci Grant Videographers: Julia Sachs, Justin Gallegos, Producer: Gavin Sheehan Content Consultants: Andrew Schummer, Brock Grossl, Kia McGinnis, Lauren Ashley, Jon Christiansen, Matt Hoenes Lexie Floor, Nate Alley, Ryan Dearth, LeAundra Jeffs, Mariah Mann Mellus, Executive Producer: Slugger Megan Kennedy, Mike Brown, Angela H. Brown Cover Art: Trent Call Mike Riedel, Nancy Perkins, Community Development Associate Producers: Nick Kuzmack, Peter Fryer, Lead Graphic Designer: Executives/Advertising Sales: Alexander Ortega, Christian Schultz, Ricky Vigil, Ryan Hall, Scott Farley, Joshua Joye John Ford: [email protected] Henry Glasheen, John Ford, Sean Zimmerman-Wall, Graphic Design Team: Angela H. Brown: [email protected] Joshua Joye

@SLUGMag youtube.com/user/SLUGMagazine

4 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 5 everybody,” says Jay Whittaker, Utah transplant Joy Lane also recounts how I’m so frustrated throughout the week that a member of the Geek Show her passion for comedy began. “My first crush I just can’t wait to get up onstage and get Podcast and a favorite on was Johnny Carson,” she says. She would it out.” It’s great, he says, “because you’re panels at Salt Lake Comic smuggle a little black-and-white TV into her amongst a family that understands where Con. “I guarantee you’ll like room to watch him at night. Growing up on the you’re coming from.” All the com- all of us,” he says, mostly East Coast and visiting New York, a 12-year- ics seem to agree. “The best serious, while laughing. old Lane ran up to Carson and told him that part,” as Mower puts it, “is These jokers are skilled en- she loved him. “My mother rushed me away the variety we have and the tertainers, still hitting the and said, ‘How do you know that man?’ and people I’ve met.” With such beaten path of numerous I said, ‘That’s the man on TV every night,’ and variety, you’ll never know comedy superstars before she’s like, ‘Well, how do you watch him every what to expect. Stephenson them, week in and week out. There is night?’” She was busted, but obviously lived to says, “Come with no expec- something even more authentic when the tell the tale. Similarly, Dobbins happened to be tations. Leave your expec- comedy is grown out of our own backyard a Mormon home-schooled in Montana. “I didn’t tations elsewhere. Have an By Rachel Jensen [email protected] and our communal experiences. Mo’s Diner even hear stand-up until I was in my senior year open mind and follow along open-mic organizer and Comedy Carnivale in high school, and it was Brian Regan,” she with the story.” Their stories will become founder Christopher Stephenson has says. Dobbins is pretty sure that comedy didn’t new references in your stories, and who been making people laugh for 13 years even exist in Montana until that moment. “I didn’t knows? Maybe the next person to inspire December brings together eight of Utah’s forms through laughter. “If you go with other but also to cement culture. “When you see since he was a fresh-faced 18-year-old who know what stand-up comedy was, but this guy new generations of comics will be right here funniest comedians for the first stand-up people, there’s a sort of connection you can a comedy show, you’re fostering some- did his first show on a dare. He talks about was just talking about my life stuff.” in our own backyard. comedy Localized showcase. The absolutely make that you can’t with other things,” says thing creative and awesome in your com- being a huge Michael Jackson fan as FREE show is one night only at Urban Lounge Natashia Mower, the petite force of laugh- munity,” she says. a kid. “He’d always talk about escapism,” The passion of these entertainers is apparent You can check out some great local com- on Dec. 17, brought to you by Spilt Ink, ter who recently won a City Weekly Arty award he says. “Comedy, especially, is very relat- the moment they walk onstage. Comedy is hard edy podcasts—like Sketch Sandwich, Stupid High West Distillery, Uinta Brewing for “Best Stand-up Comedian” and has helped Even those who are regular performers can able. I want to do that for people.” work. You don’t have closed-door jam sessions, Questions with Jason Harvey and the Geek and KRCL 90.9 FM. launch new comedy shows in the state, including frequently be seen on the other side in the so each joke has to be perfectly crafted by Show Podcast—anytime on your favorite the weekly Funny Fridays at Sandy Station. She audience. Nicholas Smith, who started With the availability to stream a comedy performing it live, failing time after time until it platform like Stitcher or iTunes. To really get It’s a shame to find out that some people believes that sharing laughter and creating new out as a heavy metal musician, got into show at the click of a mouse, comedy as finally gets the desired response. The pure drive the feel for the talent of the comedy scene don’t know that Northern Utah has had experiences brings people to comedy shows. the stand-up game about three and a half a genre is picking up steam at a level that to keep getting onstage and perform is deeply at large, check out the weekly live shows a consistently thriving stand-up comedy “You’re enjoying something in the moment, to- years ago when he needed a new outlet. hasn’t been seen in years. Many of the rooted in a love for comedy as a genre and an featuring these wickedly funny comedians scene for well over a decade. Our great gether,” she says. Jason Harvey, who’s been Since that time, he has been a larger-than- comedians working stages now had to art form. Smith, who is often wildly irreverent and others around the state: Weekly shows little state has churned out some amazing bringing his brand of funny to Utah audiences life force on stages all over Utah, includ- uncover comedy in their own ways, as the onstage, loves the ability to have a chance to like Funny Fridays at Sandy Station feature comics over the years. Eight of the funni- for six years, digs a little deeper into this idea ing Dungeons and Comedy, which brings accessibility just wasn’t there for a long talk about dark (understatement) and demented a revolving arsenal of both local and out- est Utah comedians will share the stage of that connection. He says, “[It’s about] being together comedians who roll the 20-sided time. Melissa Merlot, a favorite on the (also an understatement) ideas. “It’s a great ve- of-town comedians, and monthly variety to not only entertain but also enlighten the able to connect through laughter and being able die in a side-splitting version of D&D. “I go Utah comedy circuit for over 10 years, hicle for my creative energies,” he says. “I love shows such as Dungeons and Comedy at masses on subjects ranging from awkward to laugh with your friends, just like you were to comedy shows because I genuinely love drew her inspiration from some of the putting out my strange ideas for others to sample Muse Music, You’ve Gotta Be Kidding Me dating to hilariously bad depression—and able to do when you were growing up—but the art form,” he says. “A live experience greats, like Tracy Ullman. She remem- and make connections with complete strangers. and Comedy and Other Opinions at 50 West all topics in between. Nothing is off limits you’re an adult and you still get to do it.” is very different from watching a perfor- bers being younger and in awe of how It can be really brutal and alienating, too, but Club & Cafe provide new content at multiple with these comics—not even an “orphan fu- mance on a screen. It’s much more visceral easy some comedians made their perfor- those times when I’m landing jokes and people locations from Provo to Ogden. neral”—and that’s admittedly how the best Anything can happen at a live show, and no two and exciting—anything could happen.” mances look. “I remember seeing Gary are willing to go on a strange, dark ride with me comedy is done. Tapping the best of the will ever be the same. No matter how polished Shandling hosting the Aspen Comedy fills me with religious ecstasy.” Come check out comedians Joy Lane, Jason best, these eight comedians are as unique the jokes are, the audience plays a huge part Local comedy shows may Festival.” As she recounts, the audience Harvey, Eileen Dobbins, Nicholas Smith, as the material they bring to the stage. in the experience. Eileen Dobbins, who runs not draw in arenas full was just horrible—a comedian’s worst The love for the stage among this ragtag group Natashia Mower and Christopher Stephen- You’ve Gotta be Kidding Me—a panel show that of fans—yet—but the ob- nightmare. “He was so obviously ticked of eight is abundantly clear. Stephenson recounts son with headliners Melissa Merlot and Jay If you have never been to a live comedy pits comedians and other entertainers against servations and humor of off, but he just turned everything into a the thrill he gets to keep him going: “The adrena- Whittaker for a free show Dec. 17 at the show, you have never had the full experi- each other in a battle of who can lie better with Utah’s comics are just as joke and made everybody laugh, and I line rush when you’re onstage and the audience Urban Lounge. Bring a friend and find out ence of the art form. Just like a live rock a straight face—says that “no two performances polished and funny as the thought that was so impressive.” is laughing so hard you have to stop,” he says, what really tickles their funny bone—you show, there is a connection between the are exactly alike.” She points out live comedy’s power players. “There’s “it’s like the best drug I’ve ever done.” In a simi- may learn a lot more about them than you comedian and the audience—a bond that role in helping to not only bring people together going to be something for lar sense, Whittaker says, “There are times that ever wanted to know.

Christopher Eileen Jason Jay Joy Melissa Natashia Nicholas Stephenson Dobbins Harvey Whittaker Lane Merlot Mower Smith Graveyard’s Truls Mörck: “You Can’t Invent Music Again”

By Kristyn Porter

[email protected] Photo courtesy of ACTION! PR

(L–R) Jonathan Ramm (guitar), Truls Mörck (bass), Axel Sjöberg (drums) and Joakim Nilsson (vocals, guitar) of Graveyard will ignite In The Venue on Dec. 9 with songs from their latest record, Innocence & Decadence.

ruls Mörck, former lead guitarist for Swedish place—life is a cryptic maze where you don’t know of equipment, a microphone that the band used to metal band Graveyard, had taken an eight- where you’re going.” This is indeed true of the al- record on the album Hisingen Blues. “The microphone T year break from playing with the band. His bum, yet for all its cryptic ideology, it also clearly you’re referring to is called a Neumann Mic,” Mörck return has ushered in a new era for Graveyard in hints at an existential philosophy. Many of the lyrics says. “It’s an old German microphone—we used it to the form of the band’s most recent album, Innocence on this album point toward a belief system that rejects record on this album, too.” & Decadence, a towering performance in the band’s labels while maintaining a foothold in everything and discography that hovers effortlessly over their previ- nothing. On the track “The Apple & The Tree,” Nils- Given the band’s propensity for historical and retro ous work. For their brief North American tour this son expresses, “So sick of people telling us who we equipment, one could objectively calculate that the month, which includes a performance at In The Venue are / I’m neither, I’m everything and in-between / band has also garnered what might be deemed a on Dec. 9, Mörck rejoins the band on bass, a change I’m nothing and I’m something that you’ve never ever retro sound. “A lot of people have been asking us if from his previous position as a guitarist. “It was a seen.” The duality of these themes is fascinating, and we’re a retro band,” Mörck says. “I think it’s inevi- long vacation,” he says. it piques interest about the band’s general worldview. table. You can’t really invent music again without re- “We are continually trying to create a mix between peating it one way or another. It’s always a question Innocence & Decadence is Graveyard’s fourth stu- telling a story and opening up our songs to question of how you choose your influences and the influences dio album and undoubtedly their tightest and most existence,” says Mörck. “It’s a linear theme. We are that you want to use. When you have a lot of listeners, focused effort to date. The album features myriad conscious about it—you can always use your experi- you use the opportunity to say something important.” tenacious bass rhythms redolent of Priestess circa ences and be a product of everything while staying a He pauses before quickly saying, “You think about 2006, layered with subtle references to proto-rock relatively free and creative person.” what is the most important thing to say to thousands of bands of the ’60s such as Blue Cheer. The riveting people listening.” Be one of many witnessing Grave- track “Cause & Defect” exhibits late-’60s and ear- Perhaps it is this distinct cocktail of an embrace-all yard on Dec. 9 at In The Venue with Earthless—their ly-’70s psych-metal-band vibes while retaining a vo- mindset and creative freedom that has led the band live show is a spectacular performance showcasing cal freshness that can only be attributed to Joakim to experiment more openly, particularly with the in- some of Sweden’s most talented musicians to date. Nilsson’s unapologetic, dirty-rock singing style. Yet struments that they used to record on Innocence & the album also dives fearlessly into a focused array of Decadence. The band recorded the album in a leg- bluesy, operatic ballads—particularly on the album’s endary Swedish studio from the ’60s, which was closing track, “Stay For a Song.” It’s a noticeably formerly an old cinema. “The guy who works there different album than their previous work—concise, is an old engineer who has been working there for bright and dripping with a dramatization that cata- 40 years,” Mörck says. “He’s totally into it—he even pults the listener down a circular connection of audi- lives there.” There’s a refreshing sense of honesty ble highways, much like a continuous M.C. Escher lurking behind his words, peppered with a notice- painting in which the viewer finds himself entrapped ably passionate undertone. “This studio we recorded within the maze. in was crammed with old, eccentric historical pieces of musical technology, and we ended up using a lot “We have an unexpected connection to Escher,” of weird stuff on the album. On the song ‘Can’t Walk says Mörck. “With the cover art for this album, we Out,’ we experimented with an old string machine wanted people to ask, ‘What is this? What can this called a Solina String Ensemble. This was a machine be?’ We wanted unexpected colors. We wanted it to that Iggy Pop and David Bowie used a lot during communicate a feeling of surprise. It fits well with the their German era.” I’m completely fascinated by the title of the album.” With the aesthetically disorienting, band’s preference to use older pieces of equipment. maze-like artwork of the cover, it’s obvious that the It hints at a type of nostalgia that hearkens back to a band is expressing a pointed message. “We’re all pre–Digital Age, an age that fills the void that human- trying to find our way through the world and some- kind’s obsession with all things digital has mercilessly times we get lost,” Mörck says. “It’s a very cryptic dug. Hence, I’m particularly interested in one piece

slugmag.com 9 10 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 11 Todd Photo : Todd Pollock

STILL FASTER THAN THE WORLD

// By Eric U. Norris • [email protected]

H2O return to Salt Lake City on Dec. 16 at The Complex.

New York hardcore youth crew skate punks H2O once references to bands that most avid punks will pick up fans informing them through social media, the band released an album called Go! From this album, the on. Examples include: “I looked up to you / said I was able to get the show moved to an all-ages venue slogan “H2O Go!” became a reprising statement of don’t want to grow up / out of step with the world!” before it was too late—it wouldn’t be a triumphant the band itself. H2O have been active since 1995 (“Father Figure”); and “I use my voice / when the return to SLC if H2O played a bar show. and, according to bassist Adam Blake, they “may people look the other way / got to inspire the youth of have slowed down a bit, but damn it, we are trying to today!” (“Use My Voice”). Outside of recording and touring, each member keep up!” They hit The Complex on Dec. 16. manages to keep busy in their personal lives. Blake is Of the new songs that H2O have been playing a trainer out in Southern California; Rusty Pistachio After seven years since the release of Nothing to Prove recently, Blake says that “Skate” has the biggest (guitar) runs a business where he makes custom jewelry; and keeping a voracious touring schedule since then, reaction, most likely due jointly to its music video and Toby (vocals) runs his own T-shirt company as well the band decided that it was time to release some new being released two months before the album and as his organization One Life, One Chance and is a music. “There comes a point when you play the same its rally of gang vocals: “The sweat! The pain! The full-time dad on top of that. Todd Morse (guitar) left songs so many times that they start to lose their shine,” scars! The scabs! Skate and destroy!” to get audiences H2O earlier this year just before they recorded the Blake says. “Unless you want to be a ‘nostalgia band,’ flared up. However, “Popage,” a direct tribute to the new album to continue his other musical endeavors— you need new music to justify your existence.” Like a Descendents, got some flack among fans—most being on the road with The Offspring and fronting production line, the music and lyrics gradually got likely caused by some younger listeners who felt his band Toddsplanet. “I guess the industry term pieced together by each band member until Oct. 6, betrayed after discovering that hardcore aficionado would be ‘musical differences,’” Blake says. “His heart when they had a finished product—their seventh full- vocalist Toby Morse enjoys listening to pop music. just wasn’t in it for this record, and he plays so much length studio album, Use Your Voice. However, Blake’s counterargument is almost verbatim that he wants to spread his wings and play different to the message in the lyrics: “You’re doing yourself an types of music.” No one argued with his reasoning, Clocking at only 22 minutes, Use Your Voice is emotional disservice by listening to only one genre, and Blake also stated that if he ever was to quit the incredible. “One of the things that I love about taking and pop songs have a certain spirit to them, and we band, he would be able to recognize that feeling the a long time to make a record is that it all feels exciting do find ourselves singing along to them even if we way Morse did. and new again. It never feels like work,” says Blake. can’t relate to the often simplistic lyrics,” he says. “We do care about it, and we want it to sound It’s been four years since H2O played in SLC—when awesome, but we don’t want it to sound like a bunch The band received some complaints on their Facebook they opened up for Blink-182 and My Chemical of guys going through the motions, and we like to think page when they announced that their SLC show would Romance at USANA Amphitheater—and it’s been that that spirit and energy is reflected in the music.” be at Urban Lounge, which, unbeknownst to the band, even longer since they played a headlining show here. That energy is evident—the songs are catchy, punchy, is a 21-plus venue. Holding true to the youth crew Since then, Blake says that they’ve felt obligated to and riddled with the PMA (positive mental attitude) ethos, playing all-ages shows is vital not only to the give the kids a club show and are only now able to mantra that is synonymous with the band itself. They band’s legacy but also to its growth—“As a rule, make good on that promise. H2O will be performing touch on skateboarding, guilty listening pleasures, we try to always play at all-age venues, especially Dec. 16 at The Complex, so all you punx, skaters, true love, fatherhood, the negativities of social in cities that we haven’t been to in a while,” says straightedgers and hardcore kids come out and media, being comfortable in your own skin and, of Blake. “It’s very important to us that our message is support one of the pillars of NYHC and see for yourself course, using your voice—with name-dropping and communicated to young kids.” With the aid of their if H2O is really still faster than the world. 12 SaltLakeUnderGround Hook & Laad oo. B d CC y tt

J d e ad rn m ern ese Be benn om [email protected] Photo: Talyn Sherer Photo: Talyn

1313 W. California Ave. (L–R) A fountain drink, a Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 bacon and mushroom burger 801.972.2336 and English chips comprise Mon–Sat, 11a.m.–8 p.m. Hook & Ladder’s famed hen a young Van Turner The inspiration for my next foray into the Closed Sunday opened his hamburger res- Shaun Special. menu came from me hitting up the restau- W taurant on Salt Lake’s West side, I rant during the lunch rush. As I labored over doubt that he thought he’d still be at it 44 years the idea of which burger I would get, I noticed later. Yet, there he remains—a mainstay of his Glen- that everyone in line before me had asked for Fish dale neighborhood. And it really is his neighborhood. and Chips. I did the same. The Fish and Chips combo The former city councilman has spent most of his life The Shaun Special ($9.99) is legendary because of ($7.29) comes with three battered and fried boneless running Hook & Ladder Co. and the adjacent Firehouse its size. It was recommended when I asked the server cod fillets, a small order of french fries, a buttered and Floral and Gifts. The neighborhood has changed, but the for her suggestion—and it sounded great: a half-pound grilled dinner roll and a large drink. Had I thought about restaurant has stayed consistent. As it has weathered the cheeseburger with sautéed mushrooms and bacon, it, I would have probably paid extra and had the Eng- decades on California Avenue, the number of options on paired with an order of English chips and a jumbo lish chips swapped in for the fries, but I was still happy the menu may have grown, but the old-fashioned flavor drink. I had my reservations, though. Mushrooms at with what I got. The golden fish pieces were flaky on and hometown feel of the place keeps its steady base of fast-food places can be an issue for me—there are few the inside and crisp on the outside, and the fries and customers coming back for more. things that I hate more than rubbery mushrooms from tartar sauce cut their richness considerably. The dinner a can. I was happy to learn that the restaurant used roll was a nice touch and made the combo feel more like I’ve always thought of Hook & Ladder as a hamburger fresh mushrooms in the kitchen—and what an addition a meal. If you like the Fish and Chips combo but want a restaurant. This is mostly true. Variations of the tradi- they made. The cheeseburger was huge, and the mush- little more food, they also offer a Seafood Special that tional homestyle burger make up a fair number of the rooms and bacon added a salty earthiness to it that includes everything you get in the first combo with the 21 different combo meals on the front side of their cur- really took it to a higher level than standard fast-food addition of 10 fried shrimp. It’s only $1.50 more and rent menu. Options for burger toppings include cheese, fare. The kicker, though, was that the burger came with could easily feed two people. freshly sautéed mushrooms, bacon and jalapeños. A a basket of English chips—battered and fried potato single, no-frills burger starts at $1.10 and goes up in chunks that Hook & Ladder gets from a local distributor. I’ve really enjoyed my visits to Hook & Ladder, and I price as the size of the patty and the choice of toppings Their normal fries are certainly more than adequate, take comfort in knowing that they offer so many things increase. More Utah-centric items like Pastrami burgers but these creamy chips, especially when paired with that I haven’t tried yet. This will keep me coming back and Granny burgers (topped with ham) are available their homemade fry sauce, are melt-in-your-mouth in- for more. One day, I’ll get around to sampling both their as well for $3.99 à la carte or as part of a combo for credible. They were a completely unexpected treat. The crispy and grilled chicken sandwiches, their tacos, fried $6.59. One of my favorite combo meals is #9 ($6.59), only downside of this choice is ending up completely pickles and impressive selection of shakes and other des- a big bacon burger that comes with fries and a large full long before you’re finished eating. If you still want serts. As one who lives and works on the West Side, I soda. In my experience, the burger is always served up to try it but it seems like too much food—and I honestly am constantly bombarded with strip mall casual dining hot and perfectly cooked, nestled carefully on the slightly had a tough time finishing it all—a standard mush- and myriad fast-food, chain-restaurant options—and I’m oversized bun. For this review, I wanted to sample more room- and bacon-topped burger can be had as part of always disappointed when I fall prey to them. It was of the menu. My first foray into other combos started with Combo #2 for a mere $6.89. good for me to be reminded that there are other op- one of their more notorious options: the Shaun Special. tions—better options. Hometown, humble burger joints that offer up “old fashioned taste with a fast pace.” 14 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 15 Pastoral Doom: An Interview with Wrekmeister Harmonies By Alex Gilvarry • [email protected]

“Night of Your Ascension,” the title track emotions that are tied in with that. I think from Wrekmeister Harmonies’ most re- that was represented with the heaviness cent album (released Nov. 13 on Thrill with the more metal aspects at the end.” Jockey Records), quietly opens with delicate, reverb-drenched female vocals In the second part of the album with the singing atop droning keys. Over the track “Run Priest Run,” the music takes on course of the 32-minute track, Wrekmeis- a similarly dark tone. “‘Run Priest Run’ ter Harmonies gradually take the listener deals with Father John Geoghan,” from these gentle and pastoral sounds into says Robinson. “He was a priest in Boston a full-on pummeling metal onslaught to where I grew up, who was responsible for close out the track. On Dec. 21, musical abusing 150 children over many years brainchild JR Robinson will bring Wrek- and nearly brought down the Archdio- meister Harmonies’ expansive musical cese of Boston, and abused the trust of a landscapes to Diabolical Records. SLUG lot of people. Eventually, he was brutally spoke with Robinson about Night of Your murdered in jail.” These two tracks are Wrekmeister Harmonies mastermind JR Rob- Ascension and its grand production. fairly typical of Wrekmeister Harmonies’ inson will bring a live-incarnation version of output, with their long-form droning and the project to Diabolical Records on Dec. 21. Prior to forming a band, Robinson was unsettling conclusions, but thematically, doing abstract installation art, which they move far beyond anything Robinson Wrekmeister Harmonies eventually grew had done previously. “Conceptually, this from. “I was doing a film installation at [album] is dealing with subject matter the Museum of Contemporary Art here in that is broader and has many more lay- Chicago, and I wanted to do a live score ers to the story,” he says. “Where in past for it,” Robinson says. “I wanted this really records it was about a single emotion or epic, long, sprawling, meditative piece was about a couple of emotions embod- that would be kind of disruptive at the end ied in one person, the scope of these two with some real heavy and intense music, pieces [on Night of Your Ascension] and so I just gathered up some musicians from the unifying theme of religion between the the very rich talent pool of Chicago to pull two is just so far beyond anything we’ve that off.” Since that initial installation, Rob- done previously.” inson has continued to grow the project Photos: Katie Hovland and turn it into the touring act that is cur- The arrangements that Robinson is able rently traveling the country. “When I first to put together with a small army of musi- started the project years ago, I was just cians move far beyond what most bands doing sound installations at museums all with solid lineups are able to achieve, or over the world, and then it just grew and what he could accomplish on his own. “I involved more and more people until it can’t play the cello, and I can’t play the say. That can be kind of chaotic, [and] what I like about having a large reached the point I’m at today with Night violin, but I know people who are really number of musicians instead of a band to work with is it allows me a lot of Your Ascension.” good at them,” says Robinson. “So what of freedom to do what I want.” Sometimes, however, the freedom that happens, generally, is I’ll get inspired by comes with this way of running things can come at a cost: “At the same The aforementioned build and change of something I read about or research and time, with this last record utilizing 30 people,” he says, “I’m not going the album’s eponymous first track can be I’ll come up with a sonic narrative for to do that again—that was really taxing. It can be complex and compli- haunting, even more so once we under- whatever that inspiration is and start re- cated getting 30 people to do anything because of people’s schedules stand the story behind the piece. “[It’s] cording how I think it should sound. Since and people’s locations, mindsets and attitudes, and a myriad of other about a composer from the [Renaissance], I know a lot of people, I’ll be like, ’Oh, this things. At the end of this thing, I felt like maybe I was losing my mind, Carlo Gesualdo, and the events that person or that person will be really great but I overcame that, and I’m really, really happy with how it came out.” transpired during his life,” says Robinson. for capturing what I want to capture.’” “At the beginning of the piece, I wanted to For practical reasons, this extensive lineup doesn’t make it on the road, explore the idea of his early life when he For Robinson, this broad approach with but Robinson has put together a lineup he is excited about, which was married to his wife and very happy a fairly rotating cast of musicians allows includes multi-instrumentalist Esther Shaw and Seattle doom metal and living in a beautiful, creative environ- him to accomplish what he sees as his band Bell Witch, who are also performing on the tour. You can catch ment. By the end, I wanted to introduce artistic vision. “If you’re in a band with Wrekmeister Harmonies and their expansive and beautiful brand of the idea of fear, suspicion, jealousy and four people, you’ve got four distinct per- music at Diabolical Records on Dec. 21. the extreme violence surrounding him mur- sonalities and four egos and four distinct dering his wife and her lover, and all the voices, and everyone wants to have their

slugmag.com 17 Tyler White is a man of few words. love it, they are gonna stick around and When asked to describe what kind of mo- be doing it forever,” says White. “Hope- torcycles he builds under the brand Bang fully, I’m one of those people. If you are Moto, he looks down, furrows his brow in into it because of a trend, it’s gonna come thought, then with firm resolve—as though and go, and you’ll move on to whatever finding the single perfect descriptor for pants come along next.” which he was searching—says a single word: “Radical.” He’s heavily customized White sees building and riding motorcy- the bikes that he and his wife ride, which cles as two separate things. “Bike-build- look like nothing else on the road. Luckily, ing is just an outlet for my creative side,” he is willing to share his talents with the says White. “It’s just fun building bikes general public. and making something that used to look old and decrepit look shiny and brand Salt Lake City seems to have a dispropor- new—to where you show it to somebody tionate abundance of excellent motorcy- and they are like, ‘No way! It came from cle builders for a city of its size, especially the ’70s and it is all shiny?’” White prefers considering that motorcycle-unfriendly to work on older motorcycles. “Simplicity snow and ice cover the roads for four is the difference,” says White. “I feel like, months a year. Utah’s abundant canyon on an old bike, you can just stare at it for roads may play a role, though our state’s about an hour and figure [it] out. With a many mountain trails could also contrib- newer bike, there’s just a lot going on.” By Tyson Call @clancycoop ute to the phenomenon. Bang Moto specializes in dual-sport motorcycles that are Although he has been customizing mo- legal to drive on the street but also feature torcycles since 2010, building things is upgraded suspension and tires that en- nothing new for White, who has worked able them to be taken off-road. “I was rid- with wood his whole life. “It really doesn’t ing my boss’s enduro bike one time, and matter if it’s a piece of wood or a piece of I was cruising up this canyon and was metal,” says White. “I just love to cut it up like, ‘Hey, there’s this dirt road—I can go and make something out of it. I like build- on it,’” says White. “That really captures ing things. I like seeing something go from me—to just get away and not see any- nothing to something really good-looking.” body on a trail for two hours and not run into anybody—that’s just awesome. To be When talking to White, it is clear that he out in the wilderness and be alone.” truly loves motorcycles and isn’t looking for attention. He is impressed by what oth- White’s builds blend raw functionality er people are building and humbly seeks with an understated and unique style. to contribute to Utah’s thriving motorcycle “The problem with enduro bikes is that culture. “I haven’t really run into anybody they look pretty dorky,” says White. “I where they are like, ‘Hey listen, dude: I guess my main goal is just to make the build bikes for a living, so I can’t tell you functionality of an enduro bike but also where to get things,’ or, ‘You are taking have the bike look great.” White showed food off my table,’” says White. “Every- his bikes at the motorcycle/art show Salty body is really stoked on bikes.” Bike Revival to great acclaim. It was easy to tell which were Bang Moto bikes from At this time, White doesn’t have a physi-

@clancycoop a distance—his builds are clean and tidy, cal storefront, choosing instead to work even though the machines he starts with as a freelance builder. He can do every- are usually more than 35 years old. “It thing from small stylistic and functional is always good when people don’t know modifications to full-scale restorations. “I Photos: what bike it is,” says White, “especially do a lot of fork swaps,” he says. “I’ll swap people who are into bikes. Sometimes out the front end for an inverted fork—put they just know the motor because that is re- modern suspension on it. I tend to put dual ally all you have to identify the bike with.” headlights on my bikes a lot. I think people notice that.” There is no set formula or Lately, many motorcycle manufacturers pricing for the services he offers, and he have been attempting to capitalize on doesn’t build all types of bikes. He prefers public interest in dirt-worthy, road-legal that someone who wants work done con- bikes. Italian manufacturer Ducati— tact him and tell him what they are looking whom some call the Ferrari of motorcy- for. “If it looks like it’s not really the type cles—recently surprised many by releas- of bike that I build, I’ll pass them along ing their own take on the genre, called to somebody who would be a better fit,” the Scrambler. says White. “If it is the perfect fit, then we’re gonna build a really cool bike.” Bang Moto builder Tyler White specializes White can be contacted for builds in customizing rad track bikes. through his website at bangmoto.com, where he sells parts and bikes. Find him Despite the trend of public interest seem- on Instagram at @bangmoto. ingly in White’s favor, he says that he just builds what he likes. “The people who are [interested in motorcycles] because they 18 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 19 SEEKERS OF LIGHT SUNN O))) RELEASE KANNON By Brian Kubarycz • [email protected] Photo: Peter Bester

For almost two decades, Sunn O))) have Artistic alliances are crucial to Sunn O))). steadily shifted the geography of heavy mu- “Our collaborators are chosen out of sic. In anticipation of their new album, Kan- mutual respect,” says Anderson. “In many non, SLUG spoke with the band’s guitarist, ways, they continue earlier projects.” As Greg Anderson, who is also the owner for teaming now with sculptor Angela of Southern Lord Records. Implicated Lafont Bolliger and photographer Es- within a network of collaborators, the telle Hanania to create Kannon’s cover, core of Sunn O))) are Anderson and bass- Anderson attributes these connections ist Stephen O’Malley. Both are veter- to Stephen O’Malley. “Stephen is an ans of numerous punk, metal and other- amazing designer and our visionary. The wise ear-altering bands and projects who graphics that you see, the T-shirts—that’s “have always marched to the beat of our all Stephen’s work, while I run the business own drummer,” Anderson says, “though with end of things. But everyone has a role, and, Sunn O))), we don’t even have a drummer.” aside from booking, we do everything ourselves.” There is an unstated but deeply felt ethic behind the sound of Sunn O))). “It’s the same with the Sunn O)))’s latest album, Kannon, A prominent feature of Kannon is a substantial music I release on Southern Lord,” says Anderson. exhibits a sense of structured drama. textual component. “Stephen and I always thought “It’s not fake. It’s not bullshit.” Despite his zeal for the liner notes to experimental jazz records made authenticity, Anderson insists that his is a no niche awesome companions to the music,” says Ander- label. He claims to be obsessed with music of all son. “We thought, ‘Why don’t we try that?’” In kinds, anything from jazz to country. “To focus on Kannon, the notes come in the form of an essay one specific sound, that’s not who I am, and the create music spontaneously and naturally and never by performance artist and theorist Aliza Shvarts. same could be said for all of Sunn O))),” he says. bend to any outside pressure or public expectations,” he “She wrote a feminist perspective of our group,” “Stephen and I, we’re seekers.” says. “What we do comes from a primal peer relation- says Anderson. “I was really blown away by that.” ship between Stephen and me.” By making this theoretical statement a prominent This quest is manifest in Sunn O)))’s forthcoming component of the total package, Sunn O))) seem set Kannon. While it maintains the band’s essential Anderson says that his other bands—most notably on transforming how listeners understand and dis- monolithic sound, the new album shines as a stone Goatsnake—do intend to please the crowd. “I fuck- cuss heavy music. For Anderson, the heavy music of many facets. The production is brighter and clean- ing love playing with them, but in a rock band like scene has too often functioned according to a set ly cut. Individual instruments are more discernable, that, you do want the audience to get into it,” he says. of unstated but understood “rules of metal.” “There and less lost within cavernous acoustic washes. Meanwhile, Sunn O))) have never sought any kind of are no rules,” he says, “and combining disparate Further, each of the album’s three tracks contains approval. Despite this indifference to appeal, Sunn O))) mediums goes hand in hand with that.” a greater number of musical events, some of them have not only endured but indeed amassed a sizeable reminiscent of limpid moments in Glenn Branca following. The band, to Anderson’s surprise, became While Anderson does see packaging Kannon symphonies. The overall effect is a heightened sense more successful than anything he or O’Malley had pre- with extensive liner notes as potentially didactic, of structured drama. Though he insists that such re- viously done. “I’m grateful for it, but we still adhere to he doesn’t consider that condescending. “Maybe sults were unintentional, Anderson readily accepts our early ideology, which has always been to do things those jazz artists understood that their music was the description: “Exactly,” he says. “Kannon stands on our own terms,” says Anderson. challenging and the public needed some guid- as a record whose force lies in its concision. At first, ance,” he says. To be sure, the amount of music what felt powerful to us was the sludge, the constant Sunn O)))’s albums, up to and including Black One, and information bombarding the public today can bludgeon and throb. As we matured, we discovered became ever more extraordinarily dark. With the fol- indeed be overwhelming. Commenting on this, An- power and heaviness in rifts of silence and bursts lowing release, Monoliths and Dimensions, the band derson says, “To me, it can be comforting to have of light. Stephen and I even joked about calling our began to embrace the light. Anderson hardly denies someone say, ‘Hey, let me give you a tour.’” current music life metal.” Laughter ensues. the enduring allure of darkness. “I’m totally attracted to it, and my favorite music remains the darker stuff,” Sunn O))) will begin their tour at the beginning of next From its inception, Anderson says, Sunn O))) jetti- he says, “but darkness has become an easy attraction. year. The band expects to reach Salt Lake in March soned traditional instrumentation, song structure and We hope this new turn to the light will, ironically, make or April. In the meantime, Kannon will be available any musical conventions designed to evoke a Sunn O))) even more powerful.” from Southern Lord on Dec. 4. specific reaction or entertain an audience. “We

slugmag.com 21 By Alex Springer • [email protected]

hether it’s driving out to a business park by the airport or a dimly lit parking lot in South Salt W Lake, I’ve chased down my share of food trucks. Indeed, part of a food truck’s appeal is hopping on Twitter to see where and when your favorite mobile food purveyors are going to be doing business, and then undergoing an epic pilgrimage to show your support. Now that Utah is entering a new level of food truck street cred (did you see that Provo’s Waffle Love almost won the grand prize on Food Network’s latest Great Food Truck Race?), it’s time to start accommodat- ing Utah’s wheeled meal-dealers. Photo: John Barkiple

To this end, Holladay residents Shelley and Mark Ol- sen have opened Soho Food Park in the heart of their beloved city. “We traveled around the country for the last five years just trying food trucks, and we realized (L–R) “Holladay residents Shelley and Mark Olsen have opened Soho that some of the best food in America is served on these Food Park in the heart of their beloved city.” trucks,” Shelley says. “We wanted to create a destination where no matter what night it was, there would always be a great lineup of food trucks.” With Shelley’s Despite the cold weather that’s upon us, Soho Food up was the Soho Special ($9) from Fiore Wood Fired background as a culinary student in France and her cur- Park will remain open during the winter—but that Pizza. It’s the type of pizza that one would typically rent role as a specialty food buyer and Mark’s origins in doesn’t mean that diners need to be uncomfortable. get in an Italian bistro—the thin crust perfectly cooked real estate development and architecture, the food park “We want to create the outdoor experience that you with just a little bit of char on the edge, gooey medal- was a natural marriage of their combined expertise. typically see at a resort,” Shelley says. Thirty percent lions of fresh mozzarella and crumbled sausage topped “We just felt like Holladay was struggling a little bit, and of the tablespace will be converted to accommodate with fresh basil leaves. The unexpected win of the visit that’s where the developer in me came out,” Mark says. pyramid heaters, and trucks will also be offering sig- came from Chop City SLC, whose Cuban Sandwich ($9) “It took nearly three years to change the ordinance to nature soups and stews to warm up those who come recently took home an award at this year’s state fair. It’s allow food trucks in Holladay. After that, we bought for dinner. In addition to their dining setup, the food got all of the crucial Cuban fare—roasted pork, ham, the property from the city, went through the approval park employs a full waitstaff that busses tables, keep- Swiss, mustard and pickle—but they add their own flair process and here we are.” ing things tidy in between guests. It’s also worth noting with a sharp and herbaceous cilantro chimichurri. It’s a that the colder weather is a great excuse to try some of meal of a sandwich, but we still had room for some of Soho Food Park opened in July of this year with huge, Mark’s signature hot chocolate—a creamy, comforting Q4U’s famous Ribs ($9 for three). These are big, beefy find-a-seat-if-you-can success. “The park has a full set blend of white chocolate, whipped cream and a drizzle and coated in Chef T’s nationally recognized sauce. of tables, but there was barely room for people to sit of raspberry syrup. on the curbs,” Mark says. With a lineup like theirs, Reflecting on our bounteous dinner, I realized that we it’s not difficult to see why—trucks like Chop City SLC, The ideal visit to the food park should happen with at effectively traversed a whole spectrum of food, all within Cubby’s Chicago Beef and the aforementioned Waffle least one companion. It’s not often that dinner comes 10 feet of one another—and that’s the real beauty of Love call the food park home. In a given week, it’s from so many different culinary backgrounds, and it’s Soho Food Park. It’s a place where vastly different culi- possible to sample around 30 of our local trucks, all of important to bring someone to share the experience. nary perspectives can occupy the same space while peo- which have been screened and approved by Shelley. I visited the food park with my wife, and our test run ple from all over the state sample each different menu. “To get invited to the food park, the trucks have to be of the evening’s lineup was spectacular. We started “To me, it comes down to having a nice diversity,” Shel- operated by people who are artists of their craft,” she with some Sweet Potato Fries and Chipotle Fry Sauce ley says. “We’ll have families come down here and get says. “Whether it’s ramen or a burger, I want them to ($3) from Cubby’s Chicago Beef. It’s a generous satchel something from each truck and sit down together—we’ve have passion about it. I want them to have pride in of crinkle-cut fries, but it was the dispensers filled with learned that people are just drawn to other people.” what they’re doing.” gourmet sauces that made our appetizer special. Next 22 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 23 Albino Father jerking and the almost overwhelming weight of doom-metal interpre- II tations. II stakes out its own place Self-Released in being undeniably anxious. The Street: 01.13 guitars seem to both crunch and Albino Father = groan over the top of ominous drum ’15All ImpoToprtant information, Text, Photos, CosmonautsIllustrations + need to be insidelines, which this echo black as if being a rplayedea. The Black Angels + down a long corridor (“Disap- A Place To Bury Strangers pear”). It makes uncomfortable riffs II starts with a buzz in your ear—as sound playful (“WTTV”) and old if briefly confronting some name- beats talk dirty (“The Milk Comes Image / Live Area 7.4” Width less, psychic itch that no amount In”). Drowning in reverb, Hoenes of thinking has ever been able uses indecipherability to elevate the to scratch. Suddenly, you realize album’s lack of resolve. You under- you’ve given this dormant thing stand him only in tones—the way a hefty saddle, and the son of a a memory might play after a night bitch is on a full gallop, taking you of debauchery. Perhaps, though, headlong into the melting desert of the real achievement of this album all things. There are weirder parts, is when it’s having fun—because it too, though. Led by primary song- makes you earn it. Though it’s some- writer Matt Hoenes, Salt Lake’s what of a theme, the track “Heavy seasoned psych rock outfit Albino Fucking,” especially, leaves you Father released II earlier this year, floating face-down in a swamp for and it remains one of the more sig- four solid minutes of weightless de- nificant contributions to our music spair until you actually become the community. To genre-pigeonhole swamp—wielding the energy of the them for just a moment, Albino very thing you thought had doomed Father have navigated a sound you. My advice: Pick this up at your within the psychedelic umbrella that earliest convenience. It’ll teach you evades both old-school era circle- how to deal. –Nic Smith

Paisley-Crushing Psych Albums

●● Albino Father – II ●● WAND – 1000 Days ●● Drenge – Undertow ●● Thee Oh Sees – Mutilator Defeated At Last ●● Various Artists – Death By Salt V Albums It’s the time of year when we look back at 2015 … to give you the gift of the lists you should’ve given your parents. Our Top 5 album lists with extended reviews will have you feeling better about that lump of coal in your stocking. If you didn’t eat your veggies, make up for it with the “Top 5 Organic Free-Range Local Albums.” If that tie grandma got you ain’t your steeze, stomp on it while listening to the album suggestions from the “Top 5 Paisley- Crushing Psych Albums.” All that and 13 more await in the pages ahead. Find more end-of-year Top 5 album reviews at slugmag.com, and follow SLUG on Twitter at @slugmag for more top SLUG music picks. 24 SaltLakeUnderGround Ceremony Wolfe witch hat these days, so King Dude found in Nick Cave’s classic album something special has to set these The Boatman’s Call, distilled by The The L-Shaped Man post-punk punks apart from the Songs of Flesh and Blood - Handsome Family’s dark bal- Matador Records pack: the guitar work of Anthony In The Key of Light lads. King Dude calls upon bipolar Street: 05.19 Anzalado and Andy Nelson. CTD / extremes, mixing rock n’ roll with soft Ameripolitan Albums that Ceremony = New Order + While vocalist Ross Farrar deliv- Not Just Religious Music pipe organ hymns that bleed out on Experimental Albums to Shitcan the Cowboy Hat and Death of Lovers + ers a dedicated (if by-the-numbers) Street: 06.30 a single note through the duration of All Important information, Text, Photos, Illustrations need to be inside this black area. All Important information, Text, Photos, IllustrationsSoundtrack need to beYour inside Faith this Crisis black area. Throw on the Scally Cap Cold Cave Joy Division–influenced perfor- King Dude = Johnny Cash “I Don’t Want To Dream Anymore.” mance, it’s the tension and sparse- Only after being slowly dragged ●● The Bellfuries Hardcore will never die, but it will + Chelsea Wolfe + – Workingman’s Bellfuries probably go through an annoying ness of the guitars that really dials in Nick Cave beneath atmospheric piano keys ●● King Woman – Doubt the album’s despair. Songs such as tangled in lightly brushed Gretsch ●● JD McPherson Morrissey phase. Camo cargo Graywhale employees see you mov- ●● Vales – Selt-Titled – Let the Good Times Roll “Bleeder” and “The Bridge” feel as guitar strings—with only song lyrics Image / Live Area 7.4” Width shorts will give way to raw denim, ing across hallowedImage audio / groundLive Area 7.4” Width ●● Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell ●● Pokey Lafarge fanzines will be exchanged for po- though they’re seconds away from and vocals keeping the mind from – Something in the Water exploding into the hyper-aggressive and hear your references to Chelsea dissipating into the ether—can the ●● Ruhe – Patriarchs etry chapbooks, and savage mosh Wolfe’s discography about death, ●● Legendary Shack Shakers warriors will turn their aggressive Ceremony of the past, while “Your album be fully understood. With a ●● Alex Cobb – Chantepleure – The Southern Surreal Life in France” and “The Party” blood and darkness. It’s impressive swift cut to “Holy Water,” the spirit bro ’tudes inward, examining the to find you straying so far from the ●● Charlie Thompson – Foothill Sessions complicated, shattered bro that is continue in the Wire-channeling of Ennio Morricone gushes out vein of 2012’s Zoo. For as much as norm of the sonic flock, but maybe sounds of slightly aggro spaghetti the self. Luckily, Ceremony are here it’s time to go beyond ... Don’t re- to provide a soundtrack for the con- longtime fans may dislike Ceremo- western ballads. With nothing left, ny’s newest iteration, they would sist—just succumb: Let King Dude King Dude kills the listener softly fusion, loss and pain. A long way take you deeper into darkness with from their powerviolence begin- be hard-pressed to deny the excel- with “You Know My Lord,” offering lence of “The Separation,” which high priest of gothic folk TJ Cow- an airy piano progression along nings, and a long way still from the gill’s haunting vocals that curdle (admittedly excellent) Black Flag is as effective of a breakup song with vocals of gravel strewn down a that punk rock has ever produced. souls with grief, death and despair. deep well. Pick up King Dude’s lat- worship of 2010’s Rohnert Park LP, “Death Won’t Take Me” sets the tone Ceremony channel the dark feels Hardcore try-hards might hate on est album, Songs of Flesh and Blood, The L-Shaped Man, but when that for the album with the slow, venom- at multiple Graywhale Entertain- of Ian Curtis and Co. on their ous sounds of Cowgill’s voice ooz- latest offering, The L-Shaped Man. cute girl with the chestpiece up- ment locations across the valley for grades to a dude without gigantic ing out raspy, snake-charmer lyrics the low price of $12.99 on CD and Post-punk hipsterism is so preva- set next to a Twin Peaks–style, eerie lent in 2015 that you can’t throw a holes punched through his ears, The $19.99 on vinyl. Ask how you can L-Shaped Man will be there to help piano key progression, choked to a get $1 off this album and all of King Trapped Under Ice 7” without higher octave. Songs of Flesh and hitting a girl wearing a Chelsea them measure the loss. –Ricky Vigil Dude’s future albums with a Killer- Blood is grounded by the sorrow whale Membership. –Joshua Joye

Hardcore Post-punk Albums that a Graywhale Albums of 2015 Employee Convinced You to Buy The Bellfuries a beautiful slice of Americana. “Just ●● King Dude – Songs of Flesh and King Woman was raised with. Doubt is Esfan- Remembering” is a soulful honky- ●● Ceremony – The L-Shaped Man Blood - In the Key of Light Workingman’s Bellfuries Doubt diari processing the strange and tonk ballad about the feeling of ●● Coliseum – Anxiety’s Kiss ● Insect Ark – Portal / Well oppressive events that molded the High Style ● The Flenser love at first sight and the immediate faith of her youth. Esfandiari’s im- Street: 08.21 ●● Heat Dust – Self-Titled ●● Kamasi Washington – The Epic Street: 02.17 understanding that you were meant passioned croon channels smoky The Bellfuries = The Smiths ●● Cult Leader – Lightless Walk ●● Steve Gunn and Black Twig Pickers King Woman = SubRosa + for someone. The band is a sublime hints of PJ Harvey that float over + The Everly Brothers + ● Title Fight – Hyperview – Seasonal Hire Planning for Burial + group of musicians led by Simeone’s ● feedback-drenched landscapes, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Mazzy Star voice and rhythm guitar. Mike ●● Dengue Fever – The Deepest Lake slow-motion thrash riffs and per- Boys Molnar’s lead guitar work conveys So, it turns out that your ex is a cussion tuned to the sick thud of a so much powerful emotion; Jeff When most people think of a rocka- close-minded, controlling DUDE punch thrown against a brick wall. Seaver on upright and electric bass billy band, the tropes of pompa- living in the halcyon days of an in- Breakups aren’t easy—neither are and Chris Sensat on drums make dours, flashy suits and songs about vented 1950s. We’ve been there. faith transitions. Doubt doesn’t up a terrific rhythm section that cre- hot rods are what spring to mind— Take some time. Mourn. Cauterize make it sound easy. It wallows ates the base for all these wonderful but it would be such a disservice to in fuzz and distortion and voices melodies to be built on. The Bellfuries the wound and move on. Easy, just call this rockabilly. From the on- regret in unease instead of clear- have been through many changes right? Not quite, as King Woman set, when you first hear Joey Sime- eyed intent, but it ultimately arrives over the years, starting out as a tra- so eloquently document in their one’s voice, it’s easy to tell that The ditional rockabilly/hillbilly drummer- crushing breakup album, Doubt. It on the other side, a little bit closer Bellfuries weren’t going to settle for less three piece, then somehow mor- is a bitter, soul-searching, caustic to self-actualization and a lot less anything mediocre on this record. phing into a pop, soul and rock n’ and ultimately cathartic debut that burdened. Doubt is a record that Workingman’s Bellfuries couldn’t be roll outfit with their second record, takes us through all of the anger, flings listeners, against their will, to any further away from one-dimen- Palmyra. This version—Bellfuries 3.0, sadness and empty self-liberation the bottom of a deep, deep well, sional—there’s a musical sophistica- if you will—seems to evolve into a of a breakup in 20 minutes of but it also lowers the rope to pull tion at play here that just blows the mix of the most brilliant parts of those drone-metal riffs, post-rock epic- us back out. The bright, blinking doors off of any of those precon- previous incarnations. The Bellfuries ness and funeral-slow percussion. noonday exit from any breakup— ceived notions. First, the songwriting have taken a major leap forward for The breakup that vocalist Kristina both literal and metaphorical—is is stellar—each song feels personal themselves and have dragged roots Esfandiari (formerly of Whirr … one of the most triumphant expe- and simultaneously relatable. The and rockin’ music along with them riences of your life. Doubt is the song “Beaumont Blues” tells the story like waaay formerly, so don’t even and proven that retro music can be soundtrack to both. –Ryan Hall of a young man’s life struggle against trip) narrates is not with a roman- brought to life in an interesting, elec- the small town he’s doomed to live tic partner but with a worldview trifying way. –James Orme in; the story ends in murder and is of the dogmatic Christianity she New Shack corded their entire album over the Internet while in separate countries Shadow Girl until they settled back into Provo. In Self-Released June, Shadow Girl finally saw the Street: 06.12 light of day and blew away many New Shack = Tiny Fireflies critics with the use of their har- Sock Hop n’ Roll Albums All Important information, Text, Photos, I+llust Annara Oftions The needNorth /to be insidemonic structure this blackand laid-back area. pop Phantogram lyrics. One of the biggest factors to their sound is that little of it is ●● Miscalculations It’s been a hell of a year for Utah pre-produced, as the band meshes – A View For Glass Eyes County, but probably not in the way most imagined the year would retro analog synth instruments with ●●IThemage Jackets / Li v–e Shadow Area 7.4 Of ”Sound Width go. In a city filled with people still dark-pop vocals to create fantastic ●● Radioactivity – Silent Kill bringing bass drums to the front of tunes you can dance to, as well as ●● La Luz – Weirdo Shrine the stage like Imagine Dragons be the mysterious stranger in the corner to. Shadow Girl doesn’t try ●● Baby Shakes – Starry Eyes ripoffs, a good portion of the scene felt vague and unimaginative, look- to hide in a sea of overly compli- ing more at creating a show than cated compositions or layers of actually producing fantastic music. processed studio magic to get the In fact, depending on the night you message across—this is a beauti- went out to watch a show, it looked ful album from start to finish that more like live theater than a con- wants to whisk you away to better, cert. In the middle of all those rose dreamier locations in your mind. a few acts that instantly connected Considering how a lot of the music with the audience, scoring points in Utah County this year missed the on their own as musicians first mark or fell flat, that’s a ride I’d be before they even hit local stages. more than willing to take multiple The biggest of the bunch had to times over. –Gavin Sheehan be New Shack, a synthpop duo made up of Catherine Leavy and Eric Robertson, who re-

Organic Free-Range Local Albums

●● New Shack – Shadow Girl post-punk heaviness that is both Miscalculations ●● The Love§trange unique and provoking. However, – I Liked It, No I Didn’t A View For Glass Eyes I must also point out that A View Rockstar Records For Glass Eyes characterizes ur- ●● Oceanear – Self-Titled Street: 01.10 ban alienation through a sound ●● Suburban Birds – Self-Titled Miscalculations = that is consistently high-tempo, yet The Pop Group + ●● Violettas – The Difficult Ones always feels cold and synthetic. Radioactivity + To me, this perfectly reflects the The Gaggers despair and depravity of a West- My overall appreciation for A ern civilization on the brink of los- View For Glass Eyes comes from ing its ability to be in touch with an outlook that is bleak but at- the remnants of feeling anything tempts to be optimistic in a world remotely human. It is like being consumed by an overwhelming aware of being on the beach, stench of death, senseless greed observing the end while still hav- and corruption. Miscalculations ing the necessary punk attitude to are a group composed of mem- defiantly take in a lasting breath. bers from celebrated groups like To be sure, A View For Glass Eyes Disco Lepers and The Gaggers, has no filler and is stunning from so it should not be a surprise that start to finish. Top numbers for a their sophomore album beautifully listener’s immediate consideration illustrates a sound that is simple yet are “Clairvoyant Stare,” “Pain As hauntingly brilliant. To the listener, A Language,” “Severing The Spine I would be remiss if I did not im- Of Confidence” and “Cutting mediately point out the definitive, Room Floor.” Any aversion to spin- razor-sharp riffs and distorted, ning this would invite controversy disembodied vocals that—com- and suggest a need to be commit- bined with a fast-paced, ener- ted. –Nick Kuzmack getic, electric feel—generates a

Nic Hessler ful acoustic-guitar passages. “All in the Night” compounds the acous- Soft Connections tic conceit with a dark, psycho- Captured Tracks emotional theme: “I just can’t seem Street: 03.17 to get you off my mind,” Hessler Nic Hessler = croons as a tom-y drumroll bolsters Dummest Fasterest √Primal Scream /A ll Importaan shimmeringt inform synthation, solo. T “Doex tYou, P hotos, Illustrations need to be inside this black area. Morrissey^The Kinks Ever” syncopates via a groovy bass Punk Albums line and a bouncy backbeat in its Nic Hessler’s Soft Connections ●● PEARS – Go To Prison stands as the pinnacle of 2015’s verses, which may lend to up-close- ●● Good Riddance – Peace in Our Time power pop offerings, both punch- and-personal dances with your ● Night Birds ing in a weightyImage teardrop / Li andve Arownea lover7.4 ”amid Width its playful tone, its ● diversifying this rock n’ roll form. coy smile. Throughout the record, – Mutiny at Muscle Beach From opener “Feel Again” to closer Kathryn Penquite’s high-pitched ●● Terror – The 25th Hour “Soft Connections,” Hessler takes female vocals peek through, and ●● Agnostic Front listeners on a bubblegum-clacking Avi Buffalo’s Sheridan Riley – The American Dream Died rollercoaster of lustful aches—and it sings a demure verse on “Into the hurts good. “Feel Again” demands Twilight,” which aurally simulates attention with a prominent, mid- the voice of Hessler’s other, for tempo beat, and its stretchy guitar whom he yearns. “(Please) Don’t slides yank heartstrings and cushion Break Me” pleads beyond its title, Hessler’s dreamboat singing. On and cumbia-esque rhythms broad- “Hearts, Repeating,” Hessler asserts cast its visceral desire. It’s “Soon that Soft Connections will continue to You’ll See, Kristine,” though—with pine for the proverbial lover, sing- its punchy riffs—where Hessler blos- ing, “With a kiss, ton of bliss and soms through his honest, despon- I’m gone,” wherein he punctuates dent sentimentality: “If you don’t that “gone” with an “ah-ah-ah-ah.” take me, I will understand.” Summer Even at its most saccharine, the love burns bright in this pop hearth, album varies, to process all that and it’s fresh with each spin, deserv- sugar. “Permanent” eases into wist- ing of your love. –Alexander Ortega

Teary-Eyed Power Pop Albums

●● Nic Hessler – Soft Connections PEARS riffs to melodious singing in con- junction with three-part harmonies. ●● Young Guv – Ripe 4 Luv Go To Prison “Victim To Be” is a dip into Quinn’s ● Warm Soda – Symbolic Dream ● Fat Wreck Chords psychosis on dealing with inner ●● EZTV – Calling Out Street: 07.24 madness, “Sycophant” touches on ●● Dick Diver – Melbourne, Florida PEARS = Gorilla Biscuits + being different in a conformist soci- Direct Hit! + early Thrice ety, and “Little Bags” delves into a After discovering PEARS at Punk bad drug trip and gives a nod to Rock Bowling earlier this year and where the name PEARS came from. playing their debut album, Go To “Grimespree” is the most out-of-left- Prison, on repeat for the majority of field track on the album—it closes the summer, they rapidly became with the most pounding guitar riffs one of my favorite new punk bands. and Quinn screaming in what Written and recorded in less than sounds like indecipherable terror, a week, Go To Prison is completely finishing with a reference to the solid from front to back—it’s fast Descendents. Apart from Quinn’s and feral one minute, sweet and unexpendable vocals, Brian Pre- harmonious another, and unsym- tus’ guitar work is immaculate, as pathetically sinister the next. Part no two riffs sounds the same. The is due to their raucous frontman, rhythm is on point—the drums are Zach Quinn, who penned the lyr- never overdone or out of place. ics as poetry while watching stop- PEARS’ debut album gained them motion and decided to turn them inconceivable recognition in such into hardcore songs. Every song a small amount of time and landed stands out on this record, and each them a spot on Fat Wreck Chords’ one is more aggro than the last. roster. This album stands complete- Clocking in at 53 seconds, the first ly on its own—there is no other track, “You’re Boring,” pounces like band that sounds quite like PEARS. a rabid dog, switching from bark- –Eric U. Norris ing vocals over scorching atonal Pissgrave like the vocalist of Revenge SNOG has a driving, catchy synth beat Suicide Euphoria tearing out his vocal chords. Just Compliance™ and a whistle that stays with me as because the band’s name and I go about my day. It will certainly Profound Lore Records Metropolis art suggest some crappy brutal give listeners a different perspec- Street: 08.07 Street: 10.16 death or slam album (when of- tive as they go through their daily Pissgrave = Angelcorpse SNOG = Black Lung + duties and put smiles on their faces Black Metal Albums that were + Disgorge (MEX) + fending people is all the rage) Psychic TV + Goldfrapp Synthpop Albums for All Important information, Text, Photos, Illustrations need to be inside this black area. All Importawithnt itsin fmeaningorma tion,and humor. Tex “Thet, P hotos, Illustrations need to be inside this black area. More Relevant than Deafheaven Conqueror doesn’t mean that it’s one of Joyriding in a Stolen UFO those albums—it’s noisy death SNOG has always been an art- Clockwork Man” has the pulsating, Enter Philly’s Pissgrave—with a metal with an old-school vibe. ist with a powerful message—and four-count beat that is great for the ●● Peste Noire – La Chaise-Dyable purposefully offensive name to The not-very-produced sound clearly, on this release, that mes- underground night clubs and is my ●● SOPHIE – PRODUCT ●● Forefather – Curse of the Cwelled grab attention and gruesome reminds me of when grind and sage is only getting louder. It ad- favorite on this one. I enjoyed the ●● Purity Ring – Another Eternity ●●IGhostmage Bath / Li v– eMoonlover Area 7.4” Width cover art to boot. When I was death weren’t so different—think dresses mass Iconsumption,mage / Li Bigve Areffectsea 7.4 that” Wwereidth mixed in; they ●● Conquer Monster – Metatransit Pharma, political corruption, corpo- were reminiscent of an old-fash- ● Horna – Hengen tulet the corruptible age of 15, my Bolt Thrower’s War Master on ● Hudson Mohawke – Lantern ● ioned wrong-number dial tone and ● mother would have very well crack. Upon repeated listening, rate control and even includes the ●● Melechesh – Enki a “pew pew” laser sound from an ●● Dan Deacon – Gliss Riffer thrown this album out based the great riffs and tremolo pick- dark, ugly sides of human greed. There is nothing held back, and it is old sci-fi film. “Rich Kuntz” has a on the cover art alone (a liqui- ing stick out, and the disfigured completely in your face during the dominant yet enjoyable Goldfrapp fied human corpse). If you think chaos of the record all comes to- entire album, and I applaud it. The style to it. This is an artist that al- that’s bad, look up the art for gether. That first riff in “Impaled messages may be abrasive to some, ways has me looking forward to the band’s demo. If my mother Vibration” and the timing and but those people would be the ones their next releases, and I am never heard the violent and chaotic lovely rhythm to “Mass Crema- they are directed at. They are elo- disappointed by what I hear. The “music” of Pissgrave, it would tion” and other great songs will quently delivered on creative, ex- experimental, electronic sounds be in the trash, too. Now that make you come back and get perimental and catchy music beds stimulate movement, and the blatant I’m 34, she would just shake her nauseous for the stench of that that stay true to the artists’ amazing, lyrics leave no topic untouched in head at me. At first listen, it’s bathtub corpse. It’s one of the electronic styles—which vary from the political and global realm. I love intensely noisy and feels rela- best debut albums of 2015. childlike poetry chants to extreme how SNOG addresses those things tively unstructured—just a wall- –Bryer Wharton experimental noise. There is no limit that are on everyone’s mind, with no of-noise-in-your-earhole sound. to the creativity here, and it is all holds barred. –Mistress Nancy The vocals are so far from the phenomenal. “Cheerful Hypocrisy” standard death growl—more

Extreme Metal Albums You Lost Darkwave Albums When Your Mom that We’re Pretty Sure were Cleaned the Basement Written by Robots touch with a stick specifically de- ●● Pissgrave – Suicide Euphoria ●● SNOG – Compliance™ Peste Noire repeat and glitch the same word or signed for stirring feces—perhaps ● Black Nail Cabaret SOPHIE La Chaise-Dyable ●● Broken Cross – Through Light to Night ● phrase throughout each song, while evidenced best with the fact that ● Abigail/Shitfucker – Harry Me Marry Me Bury Me Bite Me PRODUCT La Mesnie Herlequrin ● trap-like electronic melodies pound one of these guys owns an accor- – Bloody Your Lovely Pussy! Split 7” EP ●● Beborn Beton Numbers away at the eardrums. Because Street: 04.15 dion and isn’t afraid to use it. Forest – A Worthy Compensation Street: 11.27 Peste Noire = Diaspaquir ●● Serial Butcher PRODUCT marks an artistic creation noises, though usually cliché (maybe – Brute Force Lobotomy ●● High Functioning Flesh SOPHIE = Lazy Town + spanning a number of years (“Bipp/ + Forgotten Woods it’s the array of farm animals … or – Definite Structures ●● Lindemann – Skills in Pills Hudson Mohawke + Kitty Elle” was originally released as a Peste Noire began their career by gunshots), are followed here by a ●● Ego Likeness – When The Wolves Return + Rugrats theme song + single song back in 2013), it takes dropping some pretty influential folksy, twangy acoustic passage and Aqua the listener on a journey through black metal releases, and their sung vocals, which slowly turn raspy the evolution of the SOPHIE sound, Last year I managed to sneak SO- style resonates throughout the oft- and tortured, evoke an aura of their ending with the nostalgic “Just Like PHIE’s entire discography (a whole subversive (but oft so goddamned homeland on the opener “Avant le We Never Said Goodbye.” “Still two songs at the time) into my end- awesome) subgenre, an extremely putsch.” This leads into “Le dernier got that glint in your eye / Like you of-year list. A few months later, impressive feat considering their putch,” proper black metal that’s did the very first time / Oh, it’s like QT—the side project and market- both appropriate and unconven- we never said goodbye”—the same relatively late arrival on the scene. In ing experiment of SOPHIE and tional (they actually whistle at one vocalist who voiced the sounds in this “author’s” humble opinion, they Hayden Dunha—premiered at point, and it works). The triumphant “Bipp” recites over a beat that only have always militantly marched on SXSW, and I had fallen deep into “Le Diable existe” highlights their fu- ever builds throughout the entirety the less-traveled road of originality a pastel, pixelated wonderland rious and disquieting style perfectly of “Just Like We Never Said Good- and relevance with each of their al- of trap music and glitter. I didn’t with tasteful solos and growled sing- bye.” Ending where a traditional bums, splits and demos. When I look know how to handle it, so I dyed ing. Furious and disquieting, like I electronic song would drop into a back on albums that have managed my hair pink while listening to the said earlier … I’d say that succinctly bass line, it evokes a sense of long- to impress me, I notice that there’s iconic bubblegum pop sounds of summarizes La Chaise-Dyable if you ing in the listener in the same way a pattern of experimentation and “Hey QT” and gained a new ap- add in “awesome.” With this lat- the lyrics seem to long for an unre- distinctive musical elements with not preciation for ‘90s pop and pixel est release, these Frenchmen have quited love. What makes SOPHIE only each band, but more specifi- art. Always enigmatic, SOPHIE figured out what direction the wind such a phenomenon among elec- cally with each release. With this in manages to create an entirely was blowing, saw a hearty breeze tronic music is his ability to create mind, La Chaise-Dyable once again new conceptual sound that forces moving toward a mass of incorri- something that leaves the listener proves that Peste Noire have never the listener to question their taste. gible idiots who wanted the same wanting to know more, and no one been afraid of experimentation or in- Hard, abrasive techno and heavily album twice, and pissed right into it. seems to be satisfied and uninquisi- corporating stuff into their music that synthesized beats are paired with Alex Coulombe tive after just one listen. –Julia Sachs most bands (let alone fans) wouldn’t – squeaky, almost robotic voices that Twerps keen lyricism. From Frawley singing, “and it all keeps coming back Range Anxiety to you,” under the dig of a rollick- Merge Records ing, sugarcube-baited organ hook Street: 01.27 on “Back To You,” to McFarlane’s Twerps = Veronica Falls / “cause I don’t want to be a strang- The Mantles + Salad Boys Art Albums that Should be Sold All Importaer,”nt inon f“Stranger,”ormation, a coy T ecallxt and, Pho tos, Illustrationsat the need God t oHates be inside Robots this gallery black area. + Ultimate Painting response develops, tacking each Rocketing out from the fertile ace tune with a conversational fa- ●● Various Artists “Green Place” of Australian and miliarity. Frawley invokes the move- – I Can’t Give You The Life You Want ment’s granddaddies, warbling Dunedin jangle pop, Twerps’ Range ●● FKA twigs – M3LL155X Anxiety is the Ipartymage record / Li forv ea Arthroughea 7.4 the” Wtracksidth like a coy David ●● Jenny Hval – Apocalypse, girl twee Valhalla. Having sharpened Kilgour—or like on “Love at First their low-key, lo-fi sound for a Sight,” a sly Ray Davies. Proving ●● Holly Herndon – Platform gloss of fidelity, the Melbourne- to be a great foil to Frawley, McFar- ●● Marching Church based four-piece have crystalized lane’s tunes “Stranger,” “Shoulders” – The World Is Not Enough their Sarah Records–meets–Fly- and “Adrenaline” add a comforting ing Nun sound into the 13 cohe- anti-macho-ness to the Twerps’ mix. sive tracks of Range Anxiety. Burst- All the while, Gus Lord’s plodding ing with indie pop charm, the album bass and Alex McFarlane’s crisp is an afternoon-in-the-park picnic kit tighten things up. It’s a splendid feast of perfect pop proportion, indie pop concoction—a cohesive shifting listeners through various and engaging album of candied vo- moods of indie pop—pretty, con- cals, chiming guitars, ringing keys cise, honey-laced, shambling and and lyrics close to the heart. Pure, whimsical, all at the band’s jangle- perfect indie pop is hard to find, driven gait. Twerps’ Martin Fraw- and it’s even harder when legions of ley and Julia McFarlane push imitators crowd the field. Thankfully, and pull the lead vocals from track Twerps have just the right badge. to track, holding back any anxiety –Christian Schultz with serene pop sentiment and

Indie Pop Albums to Pin to Your Anorak Various Artists track is artful and challenging, ●● Twerps – Range Anxiety prompting and imbuing new dimen- ●● Flesh World I Can’t Give You The Life sions of lightlessness, saturating – The Wild Animals In My Life You Want listeners as it unfolds new layers of ●● Expert Alterations Blackest Ever Black evocative sound. Camella Lobo of Tropic of Cancer sets a haunting – You Can’t Always Be Liked Street: 06.15 ●● Joanna Gruesome – Peanut Butter tone with the sublime, slow-burning I Can’t Give You The Life opener, “I Woke Up And The Storm ●● Shopping – Why Choose You Want = Now I’m Just Was Over”—“I want all the world,” A Number: Soundtracks she sings, her voice hovering over 1994- 95 x ceaseless kick beats and sinking (Tropic of Cancer + into desire and disillusionment. 500 Tarquin Manek) Stamps bring a hollowed-out, DIY drone-punk aesthetic; Barnett + London-based label Blackest Ever Coloccia’s “Tracker” is a sinister Black celebrated its fifth anniversary and precise venture into eerie, ambi- this year as some of our go-to pur- ent electronica; and Exploring Je- veyors of goth, gloom, industrial and zebel intersperses laugh tracks with “the hard-edged experimental fringe disconcerting moans of pleasure and of post-punk.” Their accompanying spits of discomfort. Cut Hands of- 11-track compilation, I Can’t Give fers “Festival Of The Dead Ondo,” You The Life You Want, showcases a sped-up, almost manic version of the extent of the imprint’s impressive his 2014 album’s title track, a heavy output with previously unreleased industrial number rife with Haitian tracks from the label’s mainstays. percussive elements. Toward the Blackest Ever Black has close ties to album’s end is Tarcar’s gorgeous the LA-based Mount Analog, and “Eija,” which overlays a swirling and collectively, the compilation is a tes- fuzzed-out post-punk soundscape tament of sorts—a conceptual, sen- with Carla dal Forno’s shadowy, sory response—to the sprawling city detached vocals. Like “Eija,” I Can’t and its interminable intersections. Give You The Life You Want is a long, There’s a surprising but cohesive slow leap into the spell of a cavern- breadth to the compilation, which ous dreamscape—but it’s a witness is excellently curated and manages to the pockets of light along the way, to both unsettle and reassure. Each too. –Kathy Zhou slugmag.com 37

SNOW lazy ass and do some Cab 5s like Austin Cab Sweetin some do and ass lazy your off get so mountains, the in It’s snowing season. the start to way insane an was It opened. had it before Milly on over jump this winter, Brighton Last By Bob Plumb • [email protected] was kind enough to let us get a Cat and build build and a Cat get us let to enough kind was .

38 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 39 Dual Christmas!

By Mike Brown • [email protected]

To me, the true meaning of Christmas is getting presents. All of the Most likely, the Dual Christmas plays out like “Well, Dad said I could have some presents on other Baby Jesus stuff and loving thy neighbor and spending time this: Christmas Eve, you will be at Weekend Thanksgiving …” I got to use a snowboard when with the family? Shit, man, I can do that any other time of the year. I Dad’s, opening his presents from your inflated the season started instead of having to wait till don’t need some invisible Christmas spirit to do that stuff, and as far Christmas list. He most likely will one-up Mom Christmas Day by using this tactic. as I can tell, the Christmas spirit never used its credit card and waited presents-wise the first year after the divorce. in line at Toys “R” Us to get me a new Big Wheel when I was a kid. BUT, make sure you don’t get mad at Mom for Of course, each divorce situation can be different not stepping up. Divorced moms have long, from mine. You may need to derive different plans Nope, Santa did. That is, until (SPOILER ALERT!) my parents told long memories. And the next year after that, of attack for Dual Christmas, depending on your me that Santa wasn’t real. It was kind of like them finally having the you are almost guaranteed she will one-up situation. Maybe you don’t go for presents and go sex talk with me—awkward for them, that is, but I didn’t really care Dad, so, make sure you give her the longer straight for some cash. Either way, I hope you all that Santa had died or that a penis in a vagina made a baby. If I list next year. enjoy your Dual Christmases—twice the ginger- recall this sweet childhood memory correctly, my initial reaction was, bread, twice the eggnog and twice the presents. “Santa’s really you guys? Cool, do I still get presents?” Another cool advantage to Dual Christmas is Like I said, that’s what Christmas is really about. getting your presents early. All it takes is tell- This solidified my firm belief that Christmas is, first and foremost, ing your mom something along the lines of, about unwrapping boxes of delight and making a mess. When I found out that Jewish kids get, like, eight Christmases, I immediately wanted to leave the Mormon faith, at least just for December. But that was not an option. Fortunately for me, though, my parents got divorced—which ultimately meant that for a majority of my childhood, I got not one, but TWO Christmases!

That said, I would now like to offer some tips to kids from split-up homes—who grew up like I did—on how to maximize what I simply like to refer to as Dual Christmas. Getting double the presents might not make up for the crippling abandonment issues and deficiency in creating functional relationships later on in your life, but it doesn’t hurt.

First off, I would like to apologize to all the kids from single-parent or non-divorced homes that will never get to bask in the joys of cel- ebrating Dual Christmas. The Christmas spirit is urging me to say that someday—maybe someday—you can have kids and get divorced and pass on the beautiful tradition of giving them two Christmases. You see? There’s a silver lining to every shitstorm.

Now, I don’t know how many little kids read my articles, let alone kids who have to put up with the repetitive Weekend Dad routine. Regardless, we all know a kid in a divorced household(s) anyway, so let’s talk about the real issue at hand: how to maximize your present receiving. I inadvertently learned a few tricks growing up, and I feel that it’s my Christmas-spirit duty to share them. Because you know what’s better than one brand-new bike waiting under the tree? Two new bikes waiting under two different trees.

The first thing to realize, divorcee kids, is that your parents will most likely become competitive with each other during and after a divorce. They’ve just gotten done competing over who gets the house and the cars, or who’s the most competent in front of a judge, so don’t forget for a second that they will do this over again for your affection. This can be one of your greatest amounts of leverage for getting extra presents.

A great way to do this is to make two separate Christmas lists. Make sure you make one way longer than the other one, and give the longer list to Weekend Dad. Chances are, he’s feeling some amount of guilt for not being around as much, and this is great pull to get a few extra Xbox games in your stocking. Another thing to keep in mind is to look past Weekend Dad’s shitty apartment he’s forced to live in now. Although it lacks decorations and most likely has a 3-foot

plastic tree instead of a boisterous blue spruce, this only means that Illustration: Chris Bodily he may have more money to spend on you at the time. (Unless he’s Mike Brown knows the tricks of the trade for optimal giving your mom a shit ton of alimony—in that case, give the longer Christmas gift-receiving. Christmas list to your mom.) 40 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 41 SKATE

[email protected] By WestonColton By underway with the city to renovate park underway local kids and AVE ternoon—two were only three skaters there on a Sunday af - tourists and homeless people. In fact, there ledges. Instead, I found the park rife with of skaters doing endless lines on the granite surreal experience. I expected to see dozens Park in Philadelphia for the first time. It was a A few weeks ago, I was able to visit LOVE Paul from Philly – Kickflip Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . Plans are ever. #savelovepark enjoying one of the most iconic skate spots I’m that glad I was able to shoot a skater photo I’d dreamed to shoot at LOVE Park , it wasn’t going to work. While this isn’t the local skater I spoke to said it was looking like to stop the changes, but campaign to try and putting in grass. There is a petition by basically tearing out anything skateable

42 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 43 FREE FILM SCREENINGS

Dawes Audio Mojito, an unscented variety and more, By Mike Riedel known for their complex array of tropi- TUE WED there’s something for everyone from Overdrive pedal [email protected] cal fruit, citrus, berry, herbal, earthy DEC 1 DEC 16 Olio. And to tame larger, more wizardly and pine characteristics. The nose on dawesaudio.com beards and hipster-y moustaches, Olio 7PM 7PM Nearly every culture on the planet this beer has a spicy nuttiness and a I’m usually a one-guitarist-in-a-band type also offers beeswax-based, cedarwood- dedicates a specific cultural delicacy distinct fruitiness brought on by the Mo- of fellow, which I feel leads to optimal and rosemary-scented Beard Balm *Post film discussion Sneak Preview *Post-film Q&A with Sneak Preview or beverage to one of the four sea- saic hops. The taste starts with slightly with director Jeffrey SOLD filmmaker Jeremiah CAPTIVATED creativity. Thing is, in Filth Lords and Moustache Wax. Keep your Brown, producer Jane Directed by Jeffrey Brown Zagar moderated by Directed by Jeremiah Zagar sons. In North America, we borrow toasted caramel malt that gives way to Charles, and author 83 min | 2014 | USA | PG-13 Doug Fabrizio, host of 90 min | 2014 | USA | Not Rated (filthlords.bandcamp.com), if I’m playing beard happy and healthy with Olio. Patricia McCormick. RadioWest the aforementioned spicy/nutty flavors a riff high on the neck or a buttery lead –Christian Schultz from all of the cultures that make us Adapted from the bestseller, Sold The film explores how the media and is rounded out by somewhat bitter focuses on a 13-year-old sent to coverage of 1990 murder case and Nick Harris is doing his thing on who we are—and the one commonali- India by her family to work, only may have influenced the trial the bass, there’s a chunk of sonic space hops with hints of orange and pineap- Rose Wagner Olio Beard & Co. ty that has followed us over the oceans The City Library to be forced into prostitution. and sentencing. in The Filth Hole that demands to be ple in the end. The finish is slightly crisp 210 E 400 S 210 E 400 S Tattoo Oil and Balm and time is beer. It weaves itself into Salt Lake City Salt Lake City filled by sound waves other than those our holidays and celebrations and and prickly. Rio Connelly from ’s fast crash. Such olioskin.com connects us with our pasts. The most Overview: One of the great things a situation demands a good overdrive Let’s face it: There is a good chance TUE WED diverse beer time on the calendar is about beers like these is that they give pedal, and Dawes Audio’s got what the that most of you have some “sweet tats” upon us now. As we enter the winter you an education on how different hop DEC 5 DEC 16 doctor ordered. Mine came encased in that you paid good money for, and you solstice, you’re going to encounter black with a badass white Venom sticker. want them to look better than your bro’s blends can greatly alter not only the 11AM 7PM beers that range from dry and fruity to As far as the sound goes: It’s mean. It’s “sweet ink.” All stereotypes aside, most of bitterness of a beer, but, the perceived rich and chewy. Our beers this month fruitiness that comes from these wonder- *Post film Q&A with Tumbleweeds Year-Round *Post-film Q&A with Creativity In Focus powerful. Upon using the pedal, all of a us have body art that we love and paid director, moderated by filmmaker Jeremiah MR.TURNER CINDERELLA Zagar moderated by sudden, my Peavey Triple X tube amp/ good money for, and sometimes we want represent the diversity that brings us ful bittering flowers. Look for the batch RadioWest host Doug Directed by lyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilto Luske Directed by Mike Leigh Fabrizio 102 min | 2015 | USA | Not Rated Doug Fabrizio, host of 144 min | 2014 | UK | Rated R all together while adding that extra RadioWest Peavey cab bathed me in bright, colorful to use something other than Aquaphor on number on the side window of Random Disney’s classic animated Mr. Turner explores the last mids. From left to right, creator Chase it. Salt Lake Valley natives Olio have two spice that makes the holidays special. DIPA bottles. version of the beloved fairy tale quarter century of the life of Dawes includes three knobs: volume, products in their all-natural, personal-care tells the story of a gentle-hearted J.M.W. Turner, the great, yet The City Library Peery’s Egyptian eccentric British painter. gain and sag—sag being “a voltage line solely for tattooed skin. The Tattoo 210 E 400 S girl who attends the palace ball 2415 Washington Blvd switch that changes the breakup,” Balm is a solid, balm-like chapstick that Port O’ Call Session Holiday Ale Salt Lake City and meets Prince Charming. Ogden he says. It seems that high overtones melts on contact. A two-finger swipe of Brewery/Brand: Brewery/Brand: become more prominent by turning the this lavender-scented cream, and you Uinta Brewing Co. Red Rock Brewing Co. TUE THUR sag knob up. I’ve found that midway are halfway to seeing your oldest tattoo ABV: 9.4% ABV: 4.0% for each knob hits the sweet spot for look like it was done only a month ago. DEC 8 DEC 17 Serving Style: 750-ml. corked Serving Style: 500-ml. bottle my ideal tone—the gain boasts ferocity, The Tattoo Balm is also good for healing 11AM 7PM so paired with my Triple X’s already new tattoos—I used it on a Wu-Tang W, and caged bottle snarlicious distortion, fully cranked gain and it healed really clean and fast. If you *Post-film Q&A with Science Movie Night Damn These Heels Year-Round Description: This brand-new offering Dr. Krishna Sundar, can muddy the output, which isn’t a are more of a liquid person, Olio’s Tattoo medical director DOCTOR WHO : “Last Christmas” MEET ME IN ST.LOUIS of the Sleep-Wake Directed by Paul Wirshurst Directed by Ben Niles from Uinta pours a somewhat muddy, Center at the 61 min | 2014 | UK | Not Rated 113 min | 1944 | USA | Not Rated problem, by any means. I do wish that Oil is for you. The Oil is pretty much the University of Utah and caramel-brown color with a bubbly ring associate professor Clara is in for a Christmas Starring Judy Garland and the the power-supply input was on the same as the Balm, but it comes in a glass of Pulmonary, Critical of tan bubbles. The nose has a lot going Care, and Sleep Eve that she’ll never forget. directed by Vincente Minnelli, back end of the pedal for easier daisy- bottle that will break if it slips out of your Medicine. Reunited with the Doctor, she the cult classic spawned on—it’s earthy and woody with cara- chaining, but it’s small potatoes for lubed hands onto the bathroom tile, so be The City Library The City Library “Have Yourself a Merry Little 210 E 400 S faces what could possibly be 210 E 400 S the type of meat this pedal puts on the careful. All in all, both the oil and balm mel, oak wood, vanilla, caramelized Salt Lake City her last Christmas. Salt Lake City Christmas” and Liza Minnelli! table. Paired with my digital delay, my will ensure your investment looks its best. raisins and some vinous notes. The taste Granato Les Paul sounds sinister and pervasive. – is tart on the initial sip; it’s somewhat THUR (Christmas is almost here—hint-hint.) dry and tannic with warm red wine TUE –Alexander Ortega DEC 10 DEC 22 Dawes Audio grapes. Notes of burnt caramel, cocoa Overdrive Pedal and roast-y malts round out the back 7PM 7PM Olio Beard & Co. end. The finish is slightly boozy with a Beard Oil, Beard Balm and bit of oak and hop bitterness. *Post film Q&A with Creativity In Focus *Post film Q&A with Rock Docs director, moderated by IRIS director, moderated by JANIS: Little Girl Blue RadioWest host Doug Description: This new session ale Directed by Albert Maysles RadioWest host Doug Directed by Amy Berg Moustache Wax Overview: A fairly complex beer Fabrizio from RedRock pours a clear, golden-am- 83 min | 2014 | USA | PG-13 Fabrizio 103 min | 2015 | USA | Not Rated olioskin.com that is a bit of a departure from Uin- Albert Maysles final film follows Janis Joplin portrait, a woman ber color with a thin cap of sudsy foam If you’ve ever wondered how Santa’s ta’s normal seasonal releases, Port the 93-year-old style maven, Iris with a soulful voice who broke that fades to ringlets around the sides into the male-dominated music majestic beard got to be so majestic, it’s O’ Call is highly recommended. Buy Apfel, who has been on the New of my beer tulip. The nose smacks your Viridian center York fashion scene for decades. The City Library scene but grappled with inner probably because he uses essential oils a couple extra for cellaring—this is a 8030 S 1825 W 210 E 400 S demons and addictions. nostrils with spicy cinnamon, nutmeg, West Jordan Salt Lake City to keep it nice and healthy. Now, there beer that will definitely change over cloves and a touch of doughy malti- are a variety of beard oil companies the next few years. FREE FILM SCREENINGS: HOW DO WE DO IT? ness beneath. The taste starts out with TUE on the market in Utah, but none with Utah Film Center is able to provide as much variety as Olio Beard & Co. thin malts that transition into a holiday DEC 15 Olio makes their own blends of plant- Random Double IPA spice kick. Nutmeg and clove are quite free film screenings through 7PM based essential oils and unprocessed Batch #2 pronounced, then morph into a muted the generosity of sponsors and sea salts into oils that are nourishing bath of cinnamon spiciness. The finish members. You can become a Brewery/Brand: Winner: Audiance Women’s Stories for both skin and hair—without any is slightly piney with a hint of spruce. Award––2105 SXSW Film Festival, Audiance A BRAVE HEART: The Lizzie member of Utah Film Center for chemicals or animal-based additives. 2 Row Brewing Award––Traverse City Velasquez Story Overview: While this lacks the Film Festival Directed by Sara Hirsh Bordo Olio’s Frankincense Pine Oil kept a ABV: 8.5% 78 min | 2015 | USA | PG-13 only $60 a year ($5 a month) and “oomph” of its big brother, Griswald’s pleasant aroma of fresh pine under my Serving Style: 12-oz. bottle A documentary following the help keep film free! nose, and their Cedarwood imparted a Holiday Ale, this beer delivers a satisfy- inspiring journey of 58-pound ing zap of holiday spices that scream The City Library Lizzie from cyber-bullying victim www.utahfilmcenter.org/supportus grassy, woodsy fragrance to my happy Description: Random DIPA is 2 Row 210 E 400 S to anti-bullying activist. Salt Lake City beard. Slathering on a few drops of Brewing Co.’s only beer that experi- good cheer without the alcohol ham- the stuff after a morning shower had ments periodically with different hop mer. You’ll find this at most Harmon’s UTAH FILM CENTER IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY my beard and me feeling invigorated, blends, while always keeping the Grocery Stores. sans the Home Alone–Kevin Macalister original malt base. This #2 version has Cheers! scream. With additional aromas COMPLETE SCHEDULE AT WWW. UTAHFILMCENTER.ORG including Lavender-Rose, Bergamot, Mosaic and Simcoe hops, which are 44 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 45 ASK A COP Illustration: Brighton Metz

dear santa cop tickets. But remember—cities often have their own traffic-enduring the holidays i drive from many forcement squads who primar- places to others on christmas eve and ily write tickets. You could run christmas day. stress is usually high and into one who is required to write i admit to speeding to make engage- a dozen or more per day, and ments on time within reason. obviously those cities love that revenue. if the weathers bad i moderate my driving but usually it is not so bad. i am I’m hoping that the primary con- wondering how aggressive highway cern of any cops working traffic patrol is on cracking down on traffic enforcement around Christmas violations during this time. they usually is impaired drivers. For some have the reputation for being jerks com- reason—I don’t know if it’s de- pared to the regular city cops. are they pression, the holiday stress or affected by holiday cheer? they wear whatever life problems happen the same boots as santa claus. what during the holidays—people about cops in whatever given city? are imbibe (and medicate in other they more lenient during the holidays? i ways) then drive more than at just wanna be to aunt darlenes while the any other time of the year—ex- ham is warm. cept maybe St. Patrick’s day or Oktoberfest, and that’s just be- sincerely cause they’re drinking holidays. willy fred I did see a bulletin in the past Dear Darlene’s nephew, that indicated that the UHP was increasing enforcement of those I’ve never worked a traffic en- impeding the traffic flow. That forcement assignment and don’t means diamond and left-lane really understand the ticket-writ- dally-ers who don’t move over ing mindset, but here’s my take: as required by law (yes, slower A couple years ago, I got pulled traffic must move over—it’s the over in West Valley, and the cop law), but, it doesn’t sound like gave me a Christmas card in- you’re one of those people since stead of a ticket. That seemed you need to get to the ham while pretty Christmas-cheerful to me. it’s warm and all. What it does I know Salt Lake City coppers mean is that the trooper has a do something similar around the better chance of being on the holidays. impeder stop when you come screaming by, and that saves you Utah has elected to have a De- a ticket. partment of Public Safety, with one of the entities in that Depart- Also, Santa wears a nice engi- ment being the Highway Patrol. neer-type boot, not the super- In general, their entire existence high Chippewas that motor-traf- is traffic enforcement. There are fic cops wear. a few who do other types of cop jobs, but their primary “mission” You mentioned the weather— is to facilitate the traffic flow, well, it looks like we’re in for which means traffic enforcement. a decent winter, so slow down, Knowing that, think of the type avoid the imbibers and arrive of person who is attracted to a safely and ticket-free for your ticket-writing highway patrol job warm holiday dinner. and who is attracted to a regular cop job, whose primary mission –Cop is handling criminals and 911 calls. Obviously, you’re always going to get more enforcement Have a question for the Cop? cheer from a city or county cop Email him at than those tasked with writing [email protected] 46 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 47 88 Maps curated, but it only gives you a surface Rob Carney of the picture, an inch in a mural. If you follow Molly Crabapple online, Lost Horse Press you might know bits and pieces, but in Street: 10.15 The 33 prior. During this highly amusing story, form in these types of films. The best Drawing Blood, we get a chance to really dive into what makes her tick, what Hall strings together a fantastic jour- part of the film comes with the brief In Rob Carney’s fourth full-length po- Director: drives her art and why the lowbrow ney that celebrates Strummer’s legend- time spent with Michael Shannon etry collection, 88 Maps, we find the workers are the stars of her illustra- Patricia Riggen ary ingenuity and quirkiness while as a mysterious drug dealer with a two-time Utah Book Award Winner for tions, with the upper-class left as pigs Warner Bros. also emphasizing his profound effect message from the past, present and Poetry tackling the juxtaposition of the on the sidelines. Drawing Blood should In Theaters: 11.13 on those he meets—specifically those future. –Jimmy Martin naturalist and the consumerist with some in the Spanish rock bands Radio be required reading for everyone who Anyone alive in 2010 most likely re- certain amount of skill and some lesser Futura and 091, the latter having wants to leave a mark on a world that members the mining accident that oc- The Peanuts Movie amount of tact. The collection is split up had their LP Cementerio de automó- otherwise wants to erase their humanity. curred on Aug. 5, 2010, which buried Director: into five sections: Departures, Directions, viles produced by Strummer during his Drawing from the experience of being a 33 miners 2,300 feet underground No Return Address, Home Appraisals self-imposed exile. This documentary, Steve Martino woman, worker, performer, traveler and and trapped them down there for 69 and Arrival. Each examines (in its own though short, takes detailed accounts 20th Century Fox activist, Crabapple leads readers on a days. It’s only been five years since the modes/forms) the themes of wild versus from members of The Clash phase two In Theaters: 11.06 journey from underground sex worker incident, and we already have a fea- urban, the phenomenological versus (such as Nick Sheppard), members turned established artist, and later, a cru- ture film starring Antonio Banderas Ever since the trailer for The Peanuts the scientific and (as a kind of meta- of 091, Radio Futura and Strummer’s cial storyteller. While she acknowledges as Mario Sepúlveda and Lou Dia- Movie was released, I have been dying theme) the navigation of life versus— longtime girlfriend and mother of his her privilege during the Occupy pro- mond Phillips as Don Lucho. Per- to see the late Charles M. Schulz’s and including—death. We see Carney children Gaby Salter, who describe tests, she stays true to her roots, unable sonally, I remember staying up all night creations in 3D animation on the big too often give way to an unflattering his mental state at the time and give to forget or leave behind the ground she watching each miner being rescued screen. Upon first glance, you can im- cynicism concerning nature bleeding by viewers a fascinating look into a built herself from. I found myself intoxi- individually, so the latter half of this mediately tell that the entire cast and the hands of men, and rarely—though turbulent time in this legend’s life. cated by her stories, desperate to fin- recreation did not receive my full atten- crew were fans of Peanuts and wanted pleasingly—proclaim the triumphs and –Nick Kuzmack ish the book and absorb all her words tion—honestly, I wanted to go home. to preserve the look, tone and inno- beauty of nature. One could hope for a like a drunk squeezing into the bar The reason for sitting through the first cence of the 65-year-old franchise. pronounced reversal here, where nature struggle to survive. Among those indi- before last call. Seriously, go read this. half was to learn how they found the The Night Before Rumor has it the Schulz family chose Dalton Trumbo Bryan becomes the point of import and hope, viduals was ( –Brinley Froelich miners with absolutely no communica- Director: director Steve Martino after his beauti- Cranston), one of the film industry’s not the victim. In my favorite section, tion. That was something I didn’t see Jonathan Levine ful adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Horton top screenwriters. Refusing to succumb “No Return Address,” Carney’s cyni- Hears a Who. The two paralleling sto- cism takes the backseat, and we get a You Too Can Have A live on my television. The acting, while Columbia Pictures to peer pressure, Trumbo and the Hol- ries are as simplistic as it gets. Charlie glimpse of nature in its most inspiring Body Like Mine decent at times, is far too melodramat- In Theaters: 11.20 lywood 10 were sentenced to prison, ic for the most part. You can almost Brown is too shy to talk to the new girl but they fired back by working under- and devastating forms through pointed Alexandra Kleeman see the Oscar speech Banderas has At the stroke of midnight on Nov. 1, in town, and Snoopy, in his imagina- ground under pseudonyms. The stakes and poignant prose. 88 Maps (and Car- HarperCollins prepared hanging out of his pocket. the Halloween decorations are put tion, must stop his longtime nemesis, are raised when Trumbo garners ney) will ultimately have us understand Street: 08.15 Sorry, Desperado, I don’t think it’s hap- away and the Christmas lights come The Red Baron, and rescue his love, Academy Awards while still under the that life and nature are composed of the pening. There are also some question- out. Don’t ask about Thanksgiving— Fifi. That’s it, and it’s wonderful. Mar- blacklist and gains the attention of A- beautiful, invisible moments and mea- I started reading this book the day after I able casting decisions such as French Black Friday overtook it. With the tino transports viewers to a time when listers such as Kirk Douglas, Stan- surements—but patience is required to fractured my ribs, and I think the combi- actress Juliette Binoche portraying holidays underway, the obligatory kids didn’t have their faces buried into ley Kubrick and Otto Preminger. reach that revelation. –Z. Smith nation of the surrealism in Kleeman’s sto- María Segovia and delivering a Christmas movies make their way onto their tablets and video games and ac- From the director that brought us the ry and my slightly unhinged mental state horrendous Chilean accent. The story the silver screen, but all are not the tually went outside to play. There’s no Austin Powers trilogy and two films Drawing Blood (due to the pain) made me crazier than itself is spectacular and a modern-day classic, family-friendly type of en- fart jokes or dirty double entendres. in the Focker franchise, it’s a delight Molly Crabapple normal for a few days. This book is kind miracle, but (spoiler alert) since all 33 deavor. In the vein of cult favorites It’s wholesome, just like all of its pre- to see Jay Roach mature gracefully HarperCollins of out there in a lot of the best ways pos- Bad Santa A Very Harold & Peanuts miners are still alive today, I would like and decessors, and fans of will ab- as a filmmaker and deliver a project Street: 12.15 sible, but it never completely hits home have much rather seen a well-crafted Kumar Christmas, Jonathan Levine’s solutely adore it. The love and admira- with meaningful substance. It’s not for me, and I’m still puzzling to figure out documentary than a mediocre film that holiday adventure lets the children tion for this project reminds of the care shocking that Cranston could easily why. I think the main character’s sudden should have premiered on Lifetime. sleep all snug in their beds while the that was given to The Muppets in 2011, be nominated for his portrayal of the mental breakdown, two-thirds of the way –Jimmy Martin adults drink, smoke weed and get all which makes the experience even courageous yet stubborn workaholic, through the book, took me out of it since screwed up in their heads. Ever since more enjoyable. The only complaint since he is easily one of the greatest I hadn’t really expected it, but I can’t I Need A Dodge! Joe Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) lost comes in the form of the inclusion of actors of this generation. He is defi- give any concrete reason why I didn’t Strummer On The Run his parents in a car accident, he and Meghan Trainor’s “Better When I’m nitely an EGOT contender. Along with love this thing. I think, for the sake of his two best friends, Isaac (Seth Ro- Dancin’,” which completely deviates Cranston, Roach paves a solid founda- this review, I’ll blame my own temporary Director: Nick Hall gen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie), from the franchise’s classic jazz-like tion for his lead star with a fantastic insanity and suggest that if you want to Cadiz Music have made it an annual tradition to get score. It feels as though an executive ensemble cast that includes Diane read a female version of David Fos- On DVD: 10.16 annihilated on Christmas Eve, but, as from upstairs forced Martino’s hand to Lane, Louis C.K., Elle Fanning, ter Wallace, then you’re in the right adulthood and responsibilities arrive be more “hip” in order to appeal to all Nick Hall’s I Need A Dodge! is a bril- Alan Tudyk, John Goodman and place. Kleeman’s take on modern adver- for Ethan’s counterparts, the tradition the kids. –Jimmy Martin liant tale that documents the largely Helen Mirren. Trumbo’s behind-the- tising and female beauty standards rings is coming to an end. This drunken she- unexplored period of Joe Strummer’s scenes look at Hollywood is alluring true and was an unexpected look into a nanigan pays homage to just about escape to Spain during the fall of The Trumbo yet despicable with all the back-stab- world that, by virtue of my gender, I’ll every Christmas movie ever made. Clash. It starts out in 1997 when a Director: Jay Roach bing and double-crossing, so it looks never inhabit. –Alex Gilvarry Yes, there’s even a Sticky Bandits refer- Spanish radio station interviews Strum- Bleecker Street Media like much hasn’t changed since The ence from Home Alone 2. While there mer at the Glastonbury Festival. Dur- In Theaters: 11.25 Decade of Conformity. –Jimmy Martin are plenty of solid laughs throughout, ing the interview, he makes plea to there are also many cheap gags and It’s been nearly 70 years since sup- the Spanish people to look out for a dated pranks that make you hope the porters of communism were blacklisted Dodge car that he had bought and When you follow someone online, you Read more reviews at trio take the film’s message to heart from working in Hollywood, as well Read more reviews at misplaced in Madrid some 12 years can absorb all the media that they have and make this the last time they per- as across the country, and forced to slugmag.com slugmag.com 48 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 49 Street: 11.12.13 Mischief Brew + Folk Hogan Sex Room I See Your Nightmares = + Ramshackle Glory Naked on the Internet Lou Barlow + Lou Reed – Fullblone Records Sebastian Bach Street: 04.17 Zachary Smith is no relation to the Sex Room = Dillinger Four + Doctor of the same name from the old Reagan Youth TV show Lost In Space, but his musical persona still seems like some kind of cosmic castaway. A Lovely Occurrence is a collection of musical vignettes and soft-spoken ballads that really win you over like a little bouquet. Even if one or two of the songs might be about re- Afro Omega Fasba Fpel venge or regret, they seem more like rapturous reveries than nightmares. Heartache never sounded so ca- American Ital Book LXVII—Mobile Home –Stakerized! Rebel Sound Records thartic. Pulling away from noisy Manor aesthetics and gritty blues-fueled Street: 10.09 Self-Released Officer Jenny riffs, Brigham City’s Valentine & The Afro Omega = Taïro This 7” takes no time throwing you right Street: 09.12 ~*queen of cups*~ into its folksy yet exciting sound: “All Regard found the perfect medium to + Black Uhuru Fasba Fpel = Red Krayola + Self-Released Out of Perspective” starts with a waltz- express themes of anguish and de- Jazz Fusion + June of 44 + paced accordion, which is quickly spair through stripped-down instru- Street: 09.19 mentation and minimalistic songwrit- early Pink Floyd Officer Jenny = The Antlers joined by the three-chord persistence from the guitar that shifts into some ing suggestive of Jason Molina’s most Utah’s—and maybe the world’s—most + Sufjan Stevens + hard, fast, circle pit-inducing punk rock. A trio hailing from “Hillary” Clinton, vulnerable moments. “I Just Lie” takes prolific band and musical collective Craig Wedren “Straight-Bashing for Mormons” is a Utah (according to their Facebook on the ethos of 2 a.m. confessional from Sandy continues to exercise their fun little number that makes tongue-in- page), Sex Room calls attention to shared between two people who unceasing and unrelenting work ethic, cheek cracks at Governor Herbert the important topics of the day, such know how their story ends. Sparse releasing their 67th(!) “book” in the and his homophobic remarks. “Let’s Do as shitty radio music (“Fuck Music”) piano keys fill the space behind Mike sounding organic. Even with lyrics and slithery, lamenting electric guitar longest musical odyssey ever record- Brunch” kicks back into debauchery, and how big trucks usually equal a Maurer’s frail vocals. A song that that might be somber, like on “Giving creates a stable profile of the last 60 ed. Releasing epic jams weekly with and “Rats” settles down to the laid- small penis (“Big Trucks Big Dicks”). sounded more like a penned letter Damns,” the rippling, alien-like effects years of nostalgic Americana in one, a wide-range of guest musicians, Mo- back, swaying character that started Setting out to be as offensive as never sent, “Save Your Breath’s” flat- keep every song bright and warm. neat package. “A Packed Suitcase” bile Home Manor sails through space off this EP, bringing it full circle. A solid possible in three minutes or less in picked playing comes and goes like –Erin Moore is heavily minor and melancholic, a and time with musical sharpness and 7”, Scary Uncle Steve have presented a sort-of NOFX fashion, Sex Room the memories of a lover who cannot stifled mourning of love lost. “Arizona precision. The delight received by the some fun, catchy, simple yet abrasive have managed to churn out some be erased. The album’s most compel- Pines” features a swarming slide guitar listener stems from how well each mu- Berlin Breaks songs that channel everyone to join in good, old-fashioned, pulse-raising ling track, “I Don’t Wanna Know,” and alludes to the dark, hurtful cav- sician blends their abilities with each I’m not exaggerating when I say that on the party. –Eric U. Norris punk rock. Lo-fi production fuels the possesses pleasant cooing from Julie Empty Spaces ern within every human spirit. Heavy other, listening and feeling carefully Utah is blessed to have such a talented piss-and-vinegar feel of this album, Maurer while asking questions that, if Self-Released vocal harmonization builds into the as the narrative in each chapter drifts group of roots reggae artists on the and the chorus of “Officer Down” has answered, would render an undesir- Street: 09.17 chorus like a melancholy sermon. in a singular direction. Sprechgesang Second Nature scene. The grooves in American Ital me humming along every time I pass able response. Gave You My Heart is The relatable simplicity of this album vocals reminiscent of June of 44’s are rhythmically earthy, and the mix Berlin Breaks = Trapt + Tool Fawkes Hunt a cop. Naked on the Internet is defi- the brazen jewel in Valentine & The makes for an emotional journey. I laid Sean Meadows, Jaco Pastorius- of Bronté James and Elise James’ I’ve never seen Berlin Breaks play, but Self-Released nitely worth the risky Google search. Regard’s otherwise inexhaustible on my couch listening and weeping, ian bass funk and Josh Freese–like vocals is well-balanced and divine. if I had, I expect I would remember Street: 06.03 –Ali Shimkus catalog. –Stephan Wyatt and when it was over, I had a fuller drums, ranging from jazz to metal, “Climbing” is probably my favorite it as a loud concert. Empty Spaces is understanding of not only myself but of create both an aggressive atmosphere Art comes from a place of pain that, Second Nature = track—the verses compare climbing an album of music that’s meant to be Well Okay humanity as a whole. –LeAundra Jeffs and undying energy. With 100 albums when revisited, reopens wounds that Code Orange + Tom Bennett a mountain to being in a relationship played loud. With the exception of under their belt and no end in sight, this can never fully heal except through early Converge Homesick for a House Fire with a call-and-response chorus of the end of the album, the songs are The Man Who Shook the collective is resolved to continue their acceptance. In a stunning new EP, Self-Released “I’d do anything girl/Anything baby.” heavy and fast, which is something City of Vermin ~*queen of cups*~, Provo musician journey with no destination in mind. Trails of the Devil’s Hounds Street: 06.27 American Ital touches on everything Berlin Breaks do well. Flashes of metal 11/12/13 Stephen Cope faces their childhood Sweet Salt Records –Stephan Wyatt Well Okay = from embracing natural hair in “Con- erupt out of guitarist Brandon Wat- Self-Released demons in search of overcoming them. Street: 05.24 go I Dread” to resisting the negativ- son in “Beg,” breaking up heavily The Hold Steady + Street: 07.19.14 In striking contrast to the EP’s theme, Tom Bennett = ity and brainwashing in society in compressed chord progressions and Fever Dreams Andrew Jackson Jihad City of Vermin = Green Day melodious odes swell, swirl and stain “10 Revolutionaries.” The songwriting creative drum beats. Perhaps as a re- Caleb Followill + Life has Departed musical memories forever. Cope’s frag- Fans of locals Folk Hogan will like in American Ital is exquisite, and the sult of their loud playing style, Berlin + Blue October Woody Guthrie Self-Released ile delivery quavers and haunts, faintly Well Okay. While it’s not as party- band certainly has the chops to back it Breaks have a little trouble changing Homegrown City of Vermin have Street: 10.16.14 reminiscent of The Antlers’ Peter Sil- Smokey vocals atop greasy slide gui- centric as our rowdy folk heroes, they up. –Ali Shimkus energy level. ”Follow Me,” for exam- given us an acoustic-leaning grunge berman, especially in the album’s tar, this is a folky, bluesy good time. will nevertheless enjoy the steadfast ple, cycles between two levels of en- Fever Dreams = (Nails + album that is emotionally shaking and opening track, “Father Doted Over While I bristle at talk about spiritual speed and passion in this album. ergy without many builds or releases His Hero is Gone) / Botch Angel Magic sonically enveloping. In 11/12/13, the Me.” Cope’s imagery paints the pain- matters and storytelling in modern Semi-political and confessional, the of energy, which could add a lot to quiet-versus-loud dynamic is heavily at Since their last release, these boys ful portrait of abuse: “Father doted music, I felt that Bennett’s album is lyrics in this album will make your 2012-2015 the music. That aside, there’s some work—yet this dynamic is played out have been up to some wicked shit. over me/With a branch in hand/From good time to be had by all. A local heart sink with sadness, much like Self-Released rock-solid material in Empty Spaces! over darkly driving percussion (pro- After moving to Salt Lake, these gents the Birchwood tree.” In the midst of vio- activist, I first heard this local prodigy Ghost Mice and Paul Baribeau. Street: 08.06 –Alex Blackburn vided by Cameron Jorgensen), pumped out an album worth the atten- lence, sheer beauty emerges. The har- at a clean-air rally in 2013, and was With raw acoustic guitar and hollow Angel Magic = Com Truise + lushly layered post-punk guitars, tion of anyone in the mood for Her- monies resonate like voices from sooth- amazed at the coarse but sexy vocals Fast and full of drudge-muckery, harmonica, Homesick for a House Young Galaxy sweeping string arrangements, and an esy or Negative Approach. With ing ghosts in “Nothing Feels Real.” the man has. The album exhibit’s Ben- Charles Ellsworth Fawkes Hunt Fire is a tome about the blight of occasional ukulele (provided by Chris their Call of the Void–like intensity, The comforting sounds of the French is a hardcore album that Angel Magic harbor a pristine electro- Wildcat Chuck Charles nett’s well-traveled story and love for modern societal malaise. My only Jenson). But perhaps the most capti- the band blastbeats ears into seeping horn in “They Told Me Death Was you need. Another band in the Inter- pop sound that’s mood settling and traditional folk singing. Despite all the criticism would be that Adam Dom- Wandering Man Records vating feature of the album is the vocal cavities and shred vocal chords into a Not the End” help Cope face mortal- mountain Mecca of Grindcore, Second fine-tuned to feel smooth and consis- religious talk, I would highly recom- nie needs to turn down the reverb Street: 10.16 and lyrical work of Cortland John- pus-rife coleslaw. My favorite song on ity with sweet serenity. The lonely way Nature truly kills it on this album. “Ap- tent. This compilation of their works mend this. –Alex Cragun and practice his long vocal tones. Charles Ellsworth = son, which might be described as an the album is “Ovis,” simply because it a banjo can summon lurks throughout proach the Boner” is a spittle shower may sound familiar to those who’ve Other than that, this is a solid LP. adventure through ’90s and early ’00s got stuck in my brain for weeks. The “Semen Samples pt.1.” ~*q u e e n o f atop a mound of bass-y marrow. I frequented their local shows or visited Crook and the Bluff + Valentine & –Alex Cragun alternative-rock radio, tuned for mod- riffs are brutal, wet with sweat from a cups*~ is nothing short of a triumph. had this on repeat while I was doing their awesome track “Am I My Lover” Blaze Foley ern ears. My only issue with the album night of terror. Find it on bandcamp –Stephan Wyatt spreadsheets at work, and at one The Regard on Dirty Provo Vol. 1. That track is on Every one of Ellsworth’s albums sounds is its length (running nearly an hour) in and buy two copies, one for you and point, my coworker asked me what I this compilation as well, and is my Gave You My Heart like the backing track to a heart- combination with the seeming lack of one your niece who is always listening was silently headbanging to—it’s that Are you in a local band? favorite only for my having listened Scary Uncle Steve Feral Cat Records wrenching montage of a man crossing grand sonic-variation (for even a good to Foster The People. –Alex Cragun damn good. It’s a short album, but to it so much on Dirty Provo last year. Street: 10.24 Send us your album, and the U.S. in an old, rusted-out Chevro- thing can turn stale), yet even with that, Stuffed in the Crawl Space boy does it pack a punch. Buy and Every song is consistent with the last we’ll review it in print: let, sipping whiskey and wiping tears. 11/12/13 is not an album to slough Recidivest Records tattoo this filth on your hypothalamus. Valentine & The Regard = in feeling but still remains distinct. The I See Your Nightmares Husky vocals complement bluesy, off, but an auditory exercise worth Street: 05.13 –Alex Cragun Jason Molina + Will Oldham [email protected] wispy yet strong vocals of Lauren country rock n’ roll well. A careful bal- daring—a date worth taking. –Z. Smith A Lovely Occurrence Scary Uncle Steve = + Sparklehorse Smith keep the dreamy synthetics ance of twangy, folk acoustic guitar Self-Released 50 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 51 Baby Shakes Leaper in sound and song title. “Swoon- (ex-Wolf Eyes, Hair Police, The Ezra Furman er” presents layers of vocals in the Haunting) and wife Tara’s (also of Starry Eyes same fashion that MBV crafted theirs The Haunting) latest project, spans Perpetual Motion People Lil Chewy Records on the band’s seminal album, Loveless. from epic and grandiose to intimate Bella Union Street: 08.01 Josh Korody’s use of the whammy— and minimalist. Given Connelly’s pedi- Street: 07.07 Baby Shakes = The Boys + a style MBV guitarist Kevin Shields gree, Clay Rendering are melodic and Ezra Furman = Dr. Dog + The Undertones + made famous—is copiously used on restrained, moving from high-BPM, The Exploding Hearts + Peach Kelli Pop Leaper’s opening track, “Colour of post-industrial goth to doom rock. 90s Television Your Name.” At times, Jesse Crowe’s Cathartic instrumental tracks center Ezra Furman has liberated another re- voice beckons Rachel Goswell’s around the epic pull of synthesized cord with the same searing, frantic fer- choral muse in both material and spirit. strings and dirge-paced cadences or vor as his previous release, Day of the At other times, she cops Kim Gor- simple, minimalist piano lines with a Dog. This album’s primary focus is ac- don’s spoken delivery. Understated, dark sky of building dread in the upper- knowledging our generation’s rampant however, is Beliefs’ songwriting. Strip register drone and church-bell percus- mental illness and apathy. Tracks are the band of their reverb and distortion sion. Snowthorn builds from the ground jumpy and rush quickly from walking to pedals, and beneath the firmament lie up, creating paced and measured sprinting, leaving the listener swooning songs that could be played on acoustic mood pieces that could easily score an and drunk on inertia. “Lousy Connec- guitars and barroom pianos. Yet would episode of Game of Thrones (I’ve actu- tion” is a political and sarcastic doo- listeners still mistake them for a My ally never seen Game of Thrones). Such wop ditty overlaying a funky bass line Bloody Valentine cover band after all? solemnity is also reserved for Connel- and dense, woozy saxophones. Per- –Stephan Wyatt ly’s twinned, piercing guitar arpeggios petual Motion People is primarily about that ascend and circle minimal synth paradoxical boredom. Furman howls lines like worried fire. It’s easily one of Birds in Row of the hectic emotional quarantine that the most delivered-upon promises of coincides with international connectiv- Personal War 2015. –Ryan Hall If you make the dire mistake of passing Deathwish ity. “Hark! to the Music,” energized this up for something safer, I’m afraid and chirpy synths in tow, begs solace Street: 10.30 Coromandelles that it’ll be obvious that your head Birds in Row = Oathbreaker and inspiration in music in the face of needs to be examined. While many The Blood Brothers + Late Bloomers’ Bloomers a profoundly deceitful world. Out of are quite familiar with the cute, jangly Loma Prieta + Porch Party Records / the boredom, thankfully, this rock n’ bubblegum tunes of Peach Kelli Pop, Burger Records roll assemblage inspires creativity and avid listeners should perhaps take a In entertainment, personality is every- Street: 10.20 passion, rather than resting in ennui. thing. Just think of your favorite bands, closer look at Baby Shakes. They are a Coromandelles = Kurt Vile x –LeAundra Jeffs and there’s a good chance you know rock n’ roll outfit from New York who, Melody’s Echo Chamber x long ago, mastered bubblegum power who their lead singers are. French Cold Showers The Funs pop with a punk sensibility. Think of hardcore band Birds In Row are the them as the big sisters who paved the first band I’ve seen who successfully Coromandelles are one of the newest My Survival way for the contemporary version of buck this trend by obscuring their faces supergroups on the scene, fronted by Manic Static this genre that many comfortably cel- in band photos and going by single- Tijuana Panthers’ Dan Michicoff Street: 09.15 ebrate with other, cutesier acts. This letter monikers. They may not be the and backed by drummer Joe Plum- The Funs = Savages x Baby Shakes album has been long first band to try to hide behind their mer (Cold War Kids, The Shins, Pega Monstro music, but they are most successful that overdue, and you know what? Starry Modest Mouse). The resulting album Duo Jessee Rose Crane and Philip I‘ve seen, and none of this would mat- Eyes really delivers the goods. Starry is textured and leisurely, with power Jerome Lesicko switch off on guitar, ter if they weren’t so damn good. These Eyes is highly energetic, infectiously pop tendencies and mostly French drums and vocals as The Funs, and three dudes make a lot of great noise. poppy rock n’ roll fun with an essential lyrics. There’s plenty of energy that their recently released, fuzzed-out, This EP adds to a solid back catalog punky attitude, and has no filler. It’s a courses underneath the album’s cloudy thrashing double-LP is unabashed and and is also one of the best hardcore consistent “I’m still jumping and flailing overlay, with skittering drums, thick relentless. The pair hits loud and hard releases to come out this year. Ev- about” listen. –Nick Kuzmack bass lines and glistening guitar riffs. in My Survival, packing an unstop- ery single track on this EP is a total Each standalone track grooves along pable and whirling sense of movement scorcher, and the only thing I can find Beliefs cohesively enough, but a listen-through into each track. The Funs build heav- wrong with it is that it‘s not nearly long of the album feels jarring at times, ily off of a noisy post-punk foundation, Leaper enough. –Alex Gilvarry prompting some raised eyebrows here weaving dream-punk soundscapes Hand Drawn Dracula and there. “Mon Chermin” and “Jaq” Street: 11.13 from Lesicko’s blistering vocals set over Clay Rendering add a part rockabilly, psych and surf trudging guitar, and the tinny cymbal Beliefs = Slowdive + Snowthorn pop twang to Michicoff’s vocals. The underneath Crane’s surprisingly hon- My Bloody Valentine + tracks might have fit into a compila- Hospital Productions eyed, echoing voice. Tension builds Sonic Youth tion album alongside Charlotte and layers steadily as Crane and Le- Street: 11.05 Gainsbourg Toronto’s Beliefs’ new album, Leaper, , but the next song, “Late sicko swerve from gentle, fading har- Clay Rendering = Bloomers,” cuts the spell short, sound- stands as an ode to the classical shoe- Natural Snow Buildings + monies (“Out of Nothing”) to brash ing too punchy and hasty in compari- howls and riffing guitar (“Europa”) gaze era that generated the genre’s Blessure Grave + greatest bands: My Bloody Valentine son. Aside from the few transitional hic- to massive distortion and pummeling Vatican Shadow Late Bloomers’ Bloomers and Slowdive. The open love letter to cups, though, drums (“Not of You of Me”). Through- their influences is written throughout Clay Rendering, Mike Connelly’s makes for a plenty pleasant daydream. out My Survival, Crane and Lesicko –Kathy Zhou 52 SaltLakeUnderGround course with an immensely gratifying, The Muscadettes occasionally, I felt as though the band irresistible force. –Kathy Zhou should push their technicality a little Side B further, a killer guitar solo in “Bleed- GOLD PaperCup Music ing Trees” and the aptly named “Thun- Street: 11.06 der and Storm” were good proof of No Image The Muscadettes = what Sunder are capable of. Profound Lore Records Best Coast + Hinds –Alex Blackburn Street: 11.06 The Muscadettes definitely get pop GOLD = Esben and the Witch Tropic of Cancer + Savages + HAIM and are a primo example of solid surf rock. Their last album, called, yes, Side Stop Suffering GOLD’s sophomore album leaves a A, is a super fun, punchy pop album. Blackest Ever Black bitter taste of iron in your mouth. It’s This one is, too. Their lyrics are some- Street: 10.30 heavier both lyrically and rhythmically what predictable, like those in “West Tropic of Cancer = Phaeleh than their previous album, certainly Coast Daze,” with mentions of board- + Blouse bringing them closer to a certain riot walks and palm trees and cruising grrrl motif that’s been floating around down highways and California skies. and skanking in circles, and raucous Since Tropic of Cancer went from be- the musical ether. But while their ethos Some of their songs have some funky gems like “Violence,” “Skinhead War- ing a duo to a solo project in 2012, is blossoming into something substan- keyboard work, and sparkly, chiming rior” and “Punx & Skins ‘Football, the music has gone from a dynamic, tiated, their musicianship is still in chords à la Peach Kelli Pop. Even Oi! and Rock n Roll’” will have them Crystal Castles–esque sound to a budding form. A wailing, fuzzed-out though I’m at a point where most surf throwing themselves at each other. Oi! much more introverted, melancholic backdrop only changes when the song rock feels contrived, this album does is definitely alive in Glasgow, and the feeling. However, Stop Suffering is does. While charging into the black, have some notable features, and I think Royal Oi! stand fittingly at the top, hon- the most uniquely Tropic of Cancer re- the lead guitar and drums can’t seem for mega surf rock fans, it’s a good one ing their pride as Scots and as skinz. lease to date. The white-noise vocals to let go of each other throughout the to look into. –Erin Moore –Eric U. Norris and atmospheric, rhythmic blends album, which comes off as idiosyncrat- lend to a deeply emotive experience ic. On “D.I.R.,” Milena Eva smoothly Night Viper Small Black that slowly builds and evolves through- whispers, “Only death is real.” And Best Blues out each piece. Camella Lobo, the while they attempt to stare straight Self-Titled artist behind Tropic of Cancer, draws Svart Records Jagjaguwar into that prospect, they can’t shrug off Street: 10.16 a visceral landscape for her listeners, the comforts of the standardized song Street: 12.04 combining her darkwave sound with Small Black = Wild Nothing structure they used in their debut al- Night Viper = Metallica meditative and wistful elements. Un- bum. It’s a step in the right direction, + Meanstreak + Craft Spells + New Order fortunately, the EP is only three songs but some ingenuity wouldn’t be a bad long, but the full-length promises to Initially, I thought Night Viper’s debut With their third full-length release, thing next time around. –Brian Udall be incredible when it arrives in 2016. album had every aspect of classic Small Black grace us with an album –Ali Shimkus heavy metal that I love, but that faded about loss and trying to preserve Modern Pain rapidly with each listen. Sofie-Lee memories of a better time. The pairing Peace Delusions Johansson’s vocals remind me of of self-exposing lyrics and a dreamy, W-X electronic ambiance set the feel of this Bridge Nine the fantastic Bettina France from Self-Titled album and speak to the band want- Meanstreak at moments, especially Castle Face Street: 09.04 ing the listener to look back to fond Modern Pain = toward the middle of the album, but Street: 11.06 her pitch is all over the place. The vo- memories. Best Blues holds true to the Lightning Bolt + RABBITS band’s somewhat chaotic yet soothing W-X = Quasimoto x cal melodies have promising sections Soft Machine + until a sour note is thrown in, which fre- electronic sound, and are highlighted Trance Farmers quently happens throughout the album. by tracks like “Back At Belle’s” and “XX However, I do respect the band’s de- Century.” Best Blues is Small Black’s W-X is a new solo project from the cision to forego any sort of auto tune. best release to date for so many rea- prolific Tim Presley, who’s best The guitar tone is standard for classic sons, and sets such a unique ambi- known for his work as White Fence. heavy metal—think Kill ‘Em All–era ance. This Brooklyn-based synthpop The latter project might paint Presley Metallica—but lacks the individuality band should be in every indie lover’s as experimental, but nothing he’s pre- that would separate Night Viper from music library. –Connor Brady viously released is this unorthodox. the dime-a-dozen traditional heavy Rather than guitar solos and fuzz, metal bands. Their intonation struggles Sunder W-X delivers intelligent psych music greatly around the third track and nev- Self-Titled via synthesizers and percussion-driven er recovers. The bass guitar is hidden Tee Pee Records soundscapes. In a poem accompany- deep down in the thin, uninspired mix. Street: 10.30 ing W-X, John Dwyer (Castle Face I’d like to hear them a year from now. Sunder = Wolfmother x Records) refers to the album as “a –Madi Smitth headphone record at its primal best.” Pond The mostly instrumental compositions If you’re looking for a noise album to Royal Oi! Thick, thundering guitar, powerful feel like moodpieces, ranging from accompany your winter, look no fur- Bootboys and Hooligans rock organ, valiant vocals and as paranoia (“Running From The Dogs”) ther than Peace Delusions. Dystopian, Crowd Control Media, much energy as can be contained in to enlightenment (Sacri-Face”) and instrumental, fuzzy-banter blasting, it’s Last PunkRocker Records, digital format—that’s about what I ex- require attentive listening for maxi- all you’d want to help traverse the dirty Rebel Sound pected when I first read “French heavy mum pleasure. Presley also show’s ice. A heterogeneous mixture of short psych rock” adorning Sunder’s debut his knack for rap-leaning beats and Street: 11.16 and long songs, there is something for release page. Sharp guitar fills, even grooves with “The Lurk.” Although Royal Oi! = The Bad Engrish every deafened coinsurer of loudness. sharper drum fills, and rhythms crazy W-X focuses on instrumentals, it also When there are lead vocals, they shout x Angelic Upstarts enough to keep me on my toes made features some White Fence–esque down your throat and into your sinuses, Some badass skinhead music from Sunder a worthy album. Every song tracks to round things out. Closing eventually lodging themselves in your across the pond? Hell yes! This four- seems to cover a lot of ground—riff track, “Hermit Stomp,” stands as one frontal lobe. My favorite cuts from this piece shows some amazing vitality after riff, I was consistently surprised of Presley’s catchier songs and pro- album are “Leave Me Here” and “Ego with their Scottish street music, hitting to hear something new every mea- vides a friendly conclusion to his most Death”—they both exhibit a kinetic the pivotal points of the skinhead sure. Perhaps the most amazing thing challenging album. –Justin Gallegos energy that I’ve only seen in Harm’s ethos. “Bootboys and Hooligans,” “In about Sunder’s first release is how Way lately. You know you wanna buy My Heart” and “Skinhead Loyalty” akin it feels to a live performance— Read more reviews at this album. –Alex Cragun are mid-tempo anthems that will have listening through the whole album is all skins and hooligans locking arms like embarking upon a journey. While, slugmag.com 54 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 55 Get your event listed for free in our calendar! Sign up for a free SLUG Calendar account at slugmag.com/calendar. Friday, December 4 Sunday, December 6 Friday, December 11 Limits, Auxo, Spirit Tribe - Kilby Winter Solstice Celebration Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” Small Box Shop - Big Cartel Mark Curry - 50 West Gavin Ryan’s Percussion Recital - Red Butte - Abravanel Irony Man, Damn that Rooster and Gamelan Madu Kencana Patterson Hood - State Room Quincy Weigert, Darko, Teejay Monday, December 7 - ABG’s - Velour All-Star Christmas Special - Area 51 Bastille, RDKN, Brogan Kelby Deejay Julliette, TinkFu - Velour Small Box Shop - Big Cartel - Complex - Area 51 Tuesday, December 15 Kap Bros. - Brewskis The Lower Lights The Johnny Utahs - Brewskis Terror, Code Orange, Sunday, December 20 HEALTH, Pictureplane - Kingsbury Hall Julian Moon - Kilby Take Offense, Malfunction, Ballet West: Sugar Plum Parties - Complex “Christmas Past & Present” Danú - Kingsbury Blistered - Kilby - Capitol Theater Sparx, Dapper, Tinkfu - Libby Gardner Metro Station - MusicGarage David Wax Museum, - Hangar 51 John Borwn’s Body, Jared & The Mill, Brumby Marty O’Reilly - State Room Monday, December 21 Miles Out, DeelanZ, Funk & Gonzo - State Room - State Room Vinyl Tapestries, Hallovved, Telesomniac - Kilby Winter Battle Of The Bands: Snowgoons, N.B.S. GLife, Wednesday, December 16 Tarot Death Card - Kilby Longshot, Natural Causes Night 1 - Velour Dusk Raps, MC Ocelot - Urban H2O - Complex Michale Graves, - Liquid Joe’s Cleanse, Meditate & Move Sugar House Art Walk Gary Rea, Dominic Balli, The Cliterinas, Divisions, Charlatan, - We Are Yoga - Various Galleries Propaganda, Izzi Ray, Anything That Moves, DJ Shutter, Lisa Dank, Winter Battle Of The Bands: Brady Toops, Scott Erickson Sounds to Subvert - Metro Tony Berrow - Metro Tuesday, December 8 Night 5 - Velour - Depot Dungeons & Comedy Soulfly, Hooga, The Cold Year, Alex Metric - Elevate Tuesday, December 22 - Muse Music Crisis In Consciousness, The Dirty Cousins, Fidlar - Kilby Bugs Bunny at the Symphony Art Dog - Salt Lake Acting Co. Arsenic Addiction - Complex Middle Class Marvel JAWWZZ!!, Baby Ghosts, - Abravanel John Allred - Stereo Room The Lower Lights - Why Sound Big Baby, Muzzle Tung - Urban Ballet West: Sugar Plum Parties Slow Magic, Giraffage, - Kingsbury Hall Colonel Lingus - Woodshed Withered Bones, Tigerwine - Capitol Theater Lindsay Lowend - Urban Morrow Hill, Lazy Susan, - Why Sound Batty Blue, Kyle Linder, Provo Gallery Stroll Gone In Irons, Beachmen Saturday, December 12 Cephas, BANCHO - Kilby - Various Galleries - Metro Mark Curry - 50 West Thursday, December 17 Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll The English Beat, Mullet Hatchet - Brewskis Arrested Development Wednesday, December 23 - Various Galleries The Interrupters - State Room Ballet West: Sugar Plum Parties - 50 West Bugs Bunny at the Symphony Salt Lake Holiday Stroll The Wombats - Urban - Capitol Theater Mija - Elevate - Abravanel - Various Galleries Winter Battle Of The Bands: Atreyu, From Ashes To New, Mark Chaney & The Garage Ballet West: Sugar Plum Parties Morgan Thomas, Scott Ferrin & Night 2 - Velour The Beginning At Last All Stars - Garage - Capitol Theater The Smooth Operators, - Complex SLUG Localized: Standup In Color - Kilby Little Barefoot, Regal Beagle Wednesday, December 9 Salt Lake Men’s Choir Holiday Comedy Showcase - Why Sound I.L.A.M., Broke The MC Concert - First Baptist Church - Urban Saturday, December 26 Bar J Wranglers - Club X Hellbound Glory - Garage Ballet West: Sugar Plum Parties - Woods Cross High School Silversun Pickups, Foals Shwayze - In The Venue Friday, December 18 - Capitol Theater Monorchist, MiNX, - Complex Dawn Luxe, Kent Redford, Adam Cayton-Holland VNDMG, Balance, Sosay, Magda-Vega - Woodshed Graveyard - In The Venue Angela Nydegger, Silectro - 50 West Chris Wright - Urban The Lower Lights - Kilby Caroline Reese, Saturday, December 5 - Kingsbury Hall Holy Grail, Night Demon, Bird in the Trees, Sunday, December 27 Tissu: Grand Re-Opening Art Talk: Dan Mills - UMOCA Visigoth - Metro Brett Knickerbocker - ABG’s Geek Show Movie Night - 1779 S. 1100 E. Candy’s River House, RedSleeves, The Howl, Mt Eden, TinkFu, Soca, - Brewvies Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” The Weekenders, Our Lives in Indigo Chris Wells - Area 51 - Abravanel Crook & The Bluff - Urban - Muse Music Grits Green - Brewskis Monday, December 28 Small Box Shop - Big Cartel Winter Battle Of The Bands: W&W, Jack Novak The Clash MMA 16 Spirit Tribe, Zion Riot - Brewskis Night 3 - Velour - Park City Live - Eccles Ice Arena Baker Street Blues Band, Riksha - Hangar 51 Jeff Crosby And The Refugees, Vampires Everywhere, Breezeway - Kilby Nikki Lane, Clear Plastic Plates Thursday, December 10 Michelle Moonshine, Consider Me Dead, Set To Stun - Kilby Ballet West: The Nutcracker Bird in the Trees - State Room - MusicGarage Tuesday, December 29 Universes: Live From The Edge - Capitol Theater RISK! - Urban RL Grime - Park City Live First Daze - Kilby - Kingsbury Sweater Beats - Elevate Tsuruda, Hecka, Wulf Blitzer, Sights Declith Violet Chachki - Metro Beat Connection, Phantoms, Mr. Vandal, Gravy.tron - Urban - Woodshed Wednesday, December 30 D9, Seve vs. Evan, RKDN - Kilby Winter Battle Of The Bands: The Anchorage - Kilby Conquer Monster - Muse Music The Lower Lights Finals - Velour Saturday, December 19 Jason CoZmo “Christmas with - Kingsbury Hall Neva Sleep - Why Sound Adam Cayton-Holland Thursday, December 31 the Starz” - State Room Smoke Season, - 50 West Pick up the new issue of Ricky Miami Whiteout Party The Peach Kings, Sheriff Sunday, December 13 Home Alone: Feature Film with SLUG - Anyplace Cool! - Stereo Room - Metro Ballet West: Sugar Plum Parties the Utah Symphony - Abravanel Mortigi Tempo, The Troubles, Cash, Cans, and Open Hands Dr. Fresch & Ghastly - Sky - Capitol Theater Here Comes Santa Claus! Temples - ABG’s - The Fifth The Bee: True Stories from the J. Fernandez, Bat Manors, - Abravanel DJ Battleship - Brewskis Mushroomhead - The Royal Hive - Urban Strong Words - Kilby Metal Dogs - Brewskis Knife Party, Figure, Jantsen, Dirt Monkey - Urban Winter Battle Of The Bands: Ballet West: Sugar Plum Parties Infected Mushroom, 2015 Winter Market Night 4 - Velour Monday, December 14 - Capitol Theater Pegboard Nerds, Virtu - Saltair - Utah Cultural Celebration Nashville Pussy, The Whale, Little Barefoot, Small Lake City, Hot Buttered Rum, Center Thunderfist - Club X Soft Limbs - Kilby Head For The Hills - State Room

56 SaltLakeUnderGround slugmag.com 57 58 SaltLakeUnderGround