DEC. 2010 • VOL. 21 ISSUE # 264 • ALWAYS FREE • SLUGMAG.COM SaltLakeUnderGround 1 2 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 3 SaltLakeUnderGround • Vol. 21• Issue # 264 •December 2010 • slugmag.com

Publisher: Eighteen Percent Gray [email protected] Editor: Angela H. Brown Jemie Sprankle Managing Editor: [email protected] Jeanette D. Moses Shauna Brennan Editorial Assistant: Ricky Vigil [email protected] Action Sports Editor: Marketing: Ischa Buchanan, Jea- Adam Dorobiala nette D. Moses, Jessica Davis, Billy Copy Editing Team: Jeanette D. Ditzig, Hailee Jacobson, Stephanie Moses, Rebecca Vernon, Ricky Buschardt, Giselle Vickery, Veg Vollum, Vigil, Esther Meroño, Liz Phillips, Katie Josh Dussere, Chrissy Hawkins, Emily Panzer, Rio Connelly, Joe Maddock, Burkhart, Rachel Roller, Jeremy Riley. Alexander Ortega, Mary Enge, Kolbie SLUG GAMES Coordinators: Mike Stonehocker, Cody Kirkland, Hannah Brown, Jeanette D. Moses, Mike Reff, Christian. Sean Zimmerman-Wall, Adam Doro- Daily Calendar Coordinator: biala, Jeremy Riley, Katie Panzer, Jake Jessica Davis Vivori, Brett Allen, Chris Proctor, Dave [email protected] Brewer, Billy Ditzig. Social Networking Coordinator: Distribution Manager: Eric Granato Katie Rubio Distro: Eric Granato, Tommy Dolph, Cover Photo: “Drawn” by Jake Garn Tony Bassett, Joe Jewkes, Jesse See page 18 Hawlish, Nancy Burkhart, Adam Heath, Design Interns: Adam Dorobiala, Adam Okeefe, Manuel Aguilar, Chris Eric Sapp Proctor, David Frohlich. Ad Designers: Todd Powelson, Office Interns: Jessica Davis, Jeremy Kent Farrington, Sumerset Bivens, Riley, Chris Proctor. Jaleh Afshar, Lionel WIlliams, Christian Senior Staff Writers: Mike Brown, Broadbent, Kelli Tompkins, Maggie Mariah Mann-Mellus, James Orme, Poulton, Eric Sapp, Brad Barker, KJ, Lance Saunders, Jeanette D. Moses, Lindsey Morris, Paden Bischoff. Bryer Wharton, Peter Fryer, James Website Design: Kate O’Connor Bennett, Ricky Vigil, Adam Dorobiala, Illustrators: Jared Smith, Manuel Gavin Hoffman, Conor Dow, Jon Aguilar, Ryan Perkins, Phil Cannon Robertson, Rebecca Vernon, Ross Photographers: Ruby Johnson, Katie Solomon, Sam Milianta, Jimmy Martin, Panzer, Dave Brewer, Sam Milianta, Ben Trentelman, JP, Jesse Hawlish, Adam Dorobiala, Weston Colton, Tyler Makmell, Princess Kennedy. David DeAustin, David Newkirk, Bar- Monkeys with Computers: rett Doran, Adam Heath, Bob Plumb, Brian Kubarycz, Aaron Day, Shawn Michelle Emerson, Bryan Mayrose, Mayer, Cody Hudson, Mike Reff, Eric Jeremy Riley, Peter Anderson, Jesse Hess, Esther Meroño, Sean Zimmer- Anderson, Mitch Allen, John Carlisle. man Wall, Rio Connelly, Courtney Blair, Filmers: Andrew Schummer, Brian Tully Flynn, Kendall Johnson, Elliot Baade, Loren Tyrel, Mary Catrow, Secrist, Dean O. Hillis, Jemie Sprankle, Slugger. Jessie Wood, Ryan Hall, Chris Proctor, Ad Sales: SLUG HQ 801.487.9221 Bethany Fischer, Dr. Evil, Some Cop Angela Brown: Dude, Nate Perkins, Andrew Roy, [email protected] Alexander Ortega, Kyla Grant, Nate Mike Brown Housley, Madelyn Boudreaux. [email protected] Derby Correspondents: Paige Mike Cundick Snow, Diane Hartford, Emily Strobell.

DISCLAIMER: SLUG Magazine does not necessarily maintain the same opinions as those found in our articles, interviews or advertisements. If you are easily offended, please do not blame us. We are a carrier for the voice of the people and it is not our fault if you don’t like people. Content is property of SLUG Magazine. Please do not use without permission or we will hunt you down and make you pay for your sins. Now, that’s a promise. Contributor Limelight Shauna Brennan Sales Rep Though this bubbly beauty only joined the SLUG family in October, we’re already proud to call Shauna Brennan our own. Breaking hearts and bringing money to the SLUG bank account, Shauna’s natural sweetness makes her a great fit for the SLUG sales team. Shauna isn’t a total stranger to our world, as her handmade headbands, earrings and knickers (sold under her Feral Marigold brand) have been featured at Craft Lake City in both 2009 and 2010. When she’s not studying for her BS in Anthropology at the U, Shauna can be found admiring cute animals (most recently attending a Cat Show at the Fairgrounds with her mom) or enjoying cupcakes. You can find Feral Marigold goods at Ume Boutique in Ogden and Q Clothing. 4 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 5 Dear Dickheads, as it sounds in his writing. This is you get the idea) and a Mike Brown bitching out that horrible woman who your fault. SLUG editors let the Cop look-alike competition is absolutely wrote a letter about Queer Prom in When I sat down to write this letter, I from “Ask a Cop” verbally suck ludicrous. The fact that these events the November issue of SLUG. I went thought that I would be writing a let- Mike Brown’s dick before asking for are apparently well-attended makes to Queer Prom with my gay best ter telling Mike Brown, once and for his “advice” on a sticky issue. How me want to vomit. In the women’s friend, and I have never been to a all, how ridiculous his behavior and quaint. And the reply was as absurd bathroom at more fun, awesome and accepting his column are. On second thought, as ever. Urban Lounge. event in my life. I had so much fun however, I have no real problem with and everyone was so happy. The Mike Brown. My beef is with you, I even heard someone recently SLUG readers and staff, I’m begging best part was seeing all the gay, SLUG Magazine, and with your loyal insinuate that women fawn over Mike you. Stop inflating his ego. It can’t lesbian, and transgendered couples local readers. Brown, trying to get mentioned in be healthy for him, and it’s certainly being able to dance together, kiss, his column. Few things are more not healthy for me. I think I’m getting and hug each other without fear of Of course, Mike Brown, you and repulsive to me than the thought migraines from rolling my eyes at being leered at or reprimanded for your behavior and your column are of women throwing themselves at Mike Brown’s column and egotistical showing what they truly felt for each ridiculous and inappropriate. That’s grimy, chauvinist Mike Brown to get a behavior. Think I’m overreacting? other—love. It was a marvelous why people like your material. People pathetically local 15 minutes of fame. Go ahead and check this month’s event, and even as a heterosexual, like reading your column because column. I’m sure he’s as arrogant I was accepted and I made friends it is like being in 8th grade all over To Urban Lounge and its patrons I’d as ever. that night just as the Gay Pride Cen- again, but this time it’s cool to laugh like to say: Are you fucking kidding ter intended. with the weird, kinda smelly kid telling me? Hosting not one, or even two, –A Concerned Citizen disgusting, predictable jokes, rather but five “Mike Brown Fests”!? Letting So for bitching out the bitch, I com- than at him. anyone have one “Fest” dedi- Dear Citizen, mend you. Thank you, from not only cated to themselves is nuts. Letting I’m not sure what you were doing LGBT people, but the heterosexuals The problem, SLUG and SLUG read- someone like Mike Brown have free in 8th grade, but most of us here who accept, love and support them. ers, is that you keep encouraging the reign of a bar and create contests at SLUG were weird, smelly kids And if Janice Graham is reading this, fantasies of this pre-adolescent. Hav- such as “poo-ding” wrestling (girls trying to make each other laugh then go look up Sister Dottie S. Dixon ing met Mike Brown, I can honestly purportedly wrestled in chocolate with disgusting, predictable on YouTube!! Even if she is a char- say that his ego is as big in person pudding designed to look like...well jokes. Being the only kid with a acter played by a man, she’s a better poorly developed sense of humor Mormon than you will ever be. and mild hygiene problems is never fun, and there is no greater -submitted anonymously feeling in the world than discover- ing that there are people just as Dear Anonymous Reader, smelly and weird as you. That’s why we like Mike Brown. Even No sweat off our backs—belittling the SLUG cop likes Mike Brown. the people who think they are He’s the stinky weirdo in all of us, better than us is pretty much cool enough to gain the admira- what we do best here at SLUG tion of pleasant smelling normies, Magazine. As far as I’m con- but gross and rude enough that cerned, it can’t really be consid- he doesn’t have to be a part of ered “bitching out” or “talking their world. If he can get women shit” when it needs to be said. of ill repute to fawn over him and Creeping outside the entrance of somehow convince legitimate a youth-focused event like Queer business people to let him take Prom is no better than being the over their establishment every creep in the rape van offering few months, there’s no limit to underage girls free booze if they’ll the awesomeness he can ac- hang out with you. Plus, Kennedy complish. When he succeeds, it can be one sassy tranny and we makes us want to succeed. I’m loved seeing her get riled up over starting to think you might just be Janice’s letter. one of the many women whose love for Mike Brown has gone Thanks for giving us a case of the unrequited. There’s no shame feel goods. Stay awesome, keep in being lured in by his enticing reading and don’t stop writing. aroma, but you gotta realize that there are literally dozens of local xoxo, ladies on the Mike Brown waiting SLUG Mag list. The key is persistence—and a little bit of pudding wrestling Fax, snail mail or email us your never hurt anybody’s chances. letters! Fax: 801.487.1359 xoxo, Mailing Address: SLUG Mag Dear Dickheads c/o SLUG Mag 351 Pierpont Ave. Ste. 4B Dear Dickheads, SLC, UT 84101 I want to thank you so much for or [email protected] 6 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 7 You can love your ISP...but don't LOOOOVE your ISP.

CONNECTIONS / HOSTING / COLOCATION WWW.XMISSION.COM | 801.994.8836

8 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 9 Photo: Ruby Johnson Photo: Katie Panzer

bangs drums, Chris “Controller/Quiet Thunder” Murphy plays keys/percussion/guitar and Localized old Bowie track, utilizing a “tension and release”-style Terrence Warburton sports his standard guitar. By JP attack Day describes as a “mashup” and proof of DDT’s forging of new ground. [email protected] It seems like a night terror to wrangle those egos, not to mention a scheduling headache the other bands “I’ve gotten more intelligent and found a vehicle that Scott Selfridge – Vocals/Bass I recorded, their session was more polished than require, but these guys are pretty low-key. “There’s most local bands could ever hope to achieve at If there’s a better way to end a year than with a killer show, SLUG knows it not. We’re fucking slaying allows me to experience that sense of pioneering and Mike Drone – Synths not a single leader in the band,” Selfridge says. “It’s their peak live periods. A typical song begins with it with three amazing local groups for December’s Localized. The talent ranges from the acoustic to satisfaction from creative development that the other Stephen Chai – Keyboards/Saxophone really constructive and the music kinda follows our arpeggiators perfectly arrayed, four percussionists groups like Cosm and Iceburn allowed me to achieve Shane Asbridge – Drums the dark neo-new-wave and to the eclectically electric jazz. On December 10, John-Ross Boyce & personalities where we’re able to communicate really well-synchronized, Warburton’s delay in accord and a and experience.” Day says, “I experience that in this Chris Murphy – Keyboards/Percussion/Guitar well together so that when we have an idea we’re all His Troubles will open the show with Night Sweats and The Daniel Day Trio headlining an end-of- Terrence Warburton –­ Guitar thumping bass line held down via Selfridge Then out of decade show unlike any other. group too. We continue to challenge ourselves. And good enough at playing that we can execute it really nowhere, a mysterious effected horn sound emanated the whole mashup element is really edgy for a live fast and kill it, or promote it as may be. We all seem to Salt Lake City’s Night Sweats are rad. So rad that from Chai’s station, drawing attention to the saxophone ensemble to pursue.” be really emotional people so we’re kind of guided by he is bleating into a processor arrays’ microphone. the songs I recorded on my memo device, then our hearts with the music,” Selfridge says. though—Day remembers spending up to six hours in downloaded after a recent practice, are now on my Those small additions, each keyboardist, and the multi- Daniel Day – Drums The next LP is going to include elements of their a practice room studying and perfecting just one drum phone. And I listen to them for more than just research. instrumentalist contributions amount to several “holy David Bowen – Bass previously recorded work and this new, more avant- It seems like the band has as hard of a time as I do shit” moments. It’s a deep sound, a pulsing, vibrating stroke. However, according to Day, the exposure to “top- I only had time to catch four of their pieces and I with nailing down their “sound” in words. Chai started Mike Sasich – Guitar players” of the world inspired and still influences his style. garde, “live” take on the genre. Though he’s tight-lipped can’t wait until Localized to enjoy more. Salt Lake City rhythm they create: An organic/electronic-gasm. about the second album they’re recording, Day reveals humming in answer after I asked him that worst of “It humbled me and made me push myself to be the best hasn’t had a multi-talent band like this since Vile Blue all the questions in the music journalism canon. It’s a good indicator of how awesome a show will be they’ve laid down over 20 tracks at Kitefishing studios “I feel like we do have the sound already, now it’s a I could be. I still draw on that. If I get complacent or bored Shades was regularly gyrating and stumbling about “When we get done playing a show people either say that they’re really excited about fucking around with. matter of writing more,” Asbridge says of the future of when a bandleader begins the discussion about their or something I try to remember that environment and the valley. we sound like Morrissey or ‘you guys are like Joy Localized performance by promising “things that you’ve “We’re basically mimicking, or influenced by, what the their noise. Though the guys are gearing up to record put myself there and work my ass off,” Day says. Some Division’ or just that post-punk era,” Selfridge says. “I an EP late December/early January of 2010/2011 they never seen a band do.” Fireworks, maybe? Daniel Day might equate a drummer known for jazz and Berklee cutting-edge club DJs are doing with live mash-ups and The guys have been in so many incestuously local kind of think we sound like A Certain Ratio, which is won’t say, but the quixotic glint in his drummer’s eyes mixing tracks,” says Day. Think live mix-downs of jazz bands that Stephen Chai joked about his recently aren’t too interested in touring or making any money, training as being a stuck-up asshole, and those “some kind of like this new wave, dark, broodish, percussive apparently. They all have day jobs, ranging from call evokes a giddy feeling. of you” might be wrong. “We’re not pretentious or hung music and you might have an idea of where this group deceased band Mammoth, saying his other project, band that was kind of paralleling Joy Division—it has is headed with their 2011 release. Laserfang, “ate Mammoth’s soul and became centers to design firms to restaurants. Music is a up on anything—we don’t give a fuck. We just want to that dance feel, but borders gothic music, but it’s not creative outlet and one they’ve all been good at for The bar is set pretty high, but this in-demand group stronger.” reach people. We don’t care who they are, we just want as weird or identifiable. We could play a gothic show, many, many collective decades. It’s refreshing to see can say shit like that and back it up. They’re the fucking When asked about what he does in life, what keeps to share music,” Day says. but we’re nowhere near gothic music. We’re more of a a band in it just for the music, playing shows as they his spirit alive, “music” was the answer. Music in all its “I think we ate Vile Blue Shades’ soul,” Shane Daniel Day Trio (DDT). They’re booked almost every rock band,” Selfridge says. The band agrees that the come, and making amazing tracks in the meandering day of the week in—and out of—state. For an all- forms, from booking, arranging and planning. This cat “Noshane!” Asbridge says of Night Sweats. The sweaty goths would certainly hate them. Day has been sharing it in the valley since the 90s with sextet has been playing together in various projects for meantime. instrumental group they have real groupies, ones that local groups like Iceburn. He also did some time in NY is a genuine workhorse of the music business. This travel to see them. But why such interest in a trio, one is foreign to a lazy ass like me. But Day? “I still love years. “There’s like a half-degree of separation between Drone makes a point about the beauty in their work, in the avant-garde jazz scene. Though his styles might all of us,” says Chai. The band sounds like what ex-, and See the confluence of decades worth of experience oft-lumped into the jazz genre? Day is a part of that— it,” he said. “We stay challenged, I keep raising the describing songs in the working stages as being have morphed, Day still feels current. “There’s definitely current, members from local groups as varied as Red at this month’s Localized, December 10 at Urban though bassist David Bowen has been a solid asset bar for what we’re achieving on our live sets and our “really pretty.” He says, “Everything’s still dark, but we been a shift. I don’t really feel like this band isn’t forging Bennies, Tiny Lights, Giant, the aforementioned VBS Lounge (241 South 500 East). As usual, a pocket- during the group’s five-year existence, they now recently artistic direction. It’s continually being updated.” And have a lot of prettiness to our stuff. I think Scott nailed friendly $5 gets you into what will be one of the most ground just like the others were,” Day says. You can and various electronic acts might make. it—we’re all pretty emotional instrumentalists and that added guitarist Mike Sasich (¡Andale!, Thunderfist) hear it listening to their first album, Champions, filled the awesomeness to be unleashed Dec. 10 at Urban interesting Localized shows of the year, and the last who played on and engineered the DDT’s first album Lounge, “What will it be?” really shows in what we do. We don’t really try to sound of our amazing 2010 showcase of local talent. Help with covers (“Bizarre Love Triangle,” “Imagine,” “Heart All that inbreeding is as fucking radical as local fans like anything. We try to evoke an emotion.” Champions (2010). Shaped Box,” et cetera) and a few originals. It emanates want it to be. Scott Selfridge leads the group with us welcome a new year and celebrate the end of a a nice, relaxed feeling without putting you to sleep. “SLUG readers must attend the show to find out,” Day vocals/bass as he brings to bear his long experience in great decade for SLUG and SLC music with The Daniel After hearing a few of their songs, I concur with their Day Trio, Night Sweats and opening band John-Ross Day has a lengthy history in the local music scene and While listening to the trio live the music is much more says with a smile. the Bennies, Mike Drone pumps out percussion/synth, summations. Though only eight shows deep in their Boyce & His Troubles. paid his dues at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, dynamic, as Day melds a Lady Gaga song with an the aforementioned Chai plays keys/sax, Asbridge performance repertoire at the time of the practice which Day calls a “childhood dream.” It wasn’t easy 10 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 11 2LB. TASTY TWO POUND

Given the glut of SANDWICH superstores and convenience you really need another markets that litter the landscape these days, By James Bennett option? On a recent visit, I it is easy to forget that American towns were [email protected] went with my old sandwich once built on the backs of family- order mainstay: run food markets. Downtown areas The Deluxe ($8.99). were places where hardware stores, drug Grove Market & Deli The Deluxe starts with one of these infamous stores and fresh meat counters abounded. 1906 S. Main St. sandwich rolls. Layered between the halves of The buying habits of the last fifty or so years Salt Lake City bread are generous piles of turkey and ham, have led to the consolidation of most of the your choice of cheese and standard fixings small boutique stores and the almost total 801-467-8860 like lettuce, tomato and pickles. The pickles annihilation of the family-owned food market. are an especially good addition—providing the There are a few hold outs, though. As family requisite crunch and zing that nothing else really businesses have focused on adapting their can. In all the time I have been going to Grove, enterprises to the needs of their clientele, I’ve never been able to finish one of these on some have managed to stay relevant and my own. I normally split one with a friend and keep a solid customer base. One of these round out the meal with a bag of chips and a success stories is Grove Market & Deli. cold bottle of Big Red soda or Mexican Coke from the market side of the store. On a nice Grove has been a Salt Lake City staple since day, the picnic tables out front are the perfect 1947. Originally, it was a simple mom and setting for such a meal. If you end up there pop food store that serviced the neighborhood alone, you always have the option of ordering a around Main Street and 1900 South. It still fills half sandwich for a few dollars less. Even then, this role, offering a small selection of produce, you may need to tote part of it home. canned goods, basic grocery and drug store items and cold drinks. But as customers Another popular menu item is the Big John started flocking to larger format stores, Grove Combo ($10.49). This one is a meat lover’s had to do something to keep people coming dream. In addition to the turkey, ham and fixings back. The result was the development of a found on the Deluxe, you get stacks of pastrami, deli menu that would pull from, and showcase, Photo: Barrett Doran roast beef, salami, bologna and corned beef. the quality food items that were available I’ve never been hungry enough to order one of for purchase. This same desire to meet the these, but I suspect it is probably enough food to needs of a changing customer base led to the feed three people. Grove also offers single cold addition of specialty chocolates, quality glass- cut sandwiches, tuna and chicken salad, and bottled soda, a fine selection of tobacco and even a vegetarian option (tomato and avocado) an entire aisle of boutique-made hot sauces. that range in price from $7.39 to $8.99. They Today, Grove Market is celebrated as both a have also started selling meatball and pulled- sandwich shop and hot sauce mecca. It is pork sandwiches ($8.99) for those who prefer a certainly worth checking out. hot meal. As the weather turns chilly, I suspect that these will become increasingly popular Somehow, calling a sandwich from Grove options. The pulled-pork is cooked in-house and ‘large’ doesn’t really communicate what you’re is as tender as it is succulent. getting yourself into when you order. They are so immense that they border on being I love that a small scale market like Grove is obscene. This comes into focus when you still around. Not only is it a throwback to a time realize that the “ambassador rolls” they use when one’s food needs could be met right in the to make sandwiches are really just entire Grove’s delicious sandwiches are neighborhood, it is a testament to how simple loaves of French bread. For the fickle, they adaptation can allow a locally run sandwich also offer sliced bread varieties like rye, wheat served on an entire loaf of French shop to log more than 60 years of business. and pumpernickel. But come on, when one It also shows that, sometimes, quality and of the choices is a whole loaf of bread, do bread and clock in at two full lbs. quantity go hand in hand. 12 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 13 By Princess Kennedy Facebook.com/princess.kennedy

Dear Sandee Claws, All I want for kwanzukka is my own fucking radio show on KRCL. Please pass the word on to Jesus (aka Troy Williams). I have a feeling that I am one of at least a hundred douchebags to send off such a request. I’m sure that in the talentless pool, few stand out who would make awesome on-air contributions. What I’m finding in the close relationship I’ve been forging with the home-spun station, is that it’s what’s on the inside of the future hopeful and what he or she can contribute that is going to matter. Photo: John Carlisle I saw this when I first moved to SLC and immediately set my sights on infiltrating the sacred walls of the station. I have been spinning my magic of relentless ever- presence to let them see that someday, if they play their cards right, they could get me and this velvety soft voice I own to grace the air waves, and you know what? I think it’s working.

I’ve spent a few afternoons answering phones, doing PSAs and adding to the lovely bits they have, such as Album of the Day and Radio Active. Finally, they have opened the door just enough for me to wedge my stiletto in, and that is all this gurl needs before a total tranny takeover.

Over the past fifteen years, KRCL has thrown a huge holiday/listener appreciation party to mark each of their milestones—20, 25 and last year’s 30th birthday. My friend Kate Wheadon, who works as an underwriter, called to tell me that they decided to start throwing the fête every year. If there is one thing we gays are, it’s creative, so I was asked to help name the party. I came up with The Polar Jubilee.

The Polar Jubilee is on the same day as SLUG’s December release date (Dec. 03), so I shan’t go into too much detail. Just get your butt down to Salt Lake Hardware Building tonight by 7 p.m. to join in the festivites and catch a glimpse of the pièce de résistance of the evening: Bad Brad Wheeler’s Hanukkah Harmonica Army! If you miss it, then a simple visit to my FB page will have numerous photos (courtesy of davebrewerphotobooth.com) of guests with Circus Brown as Elvis Santa and yours truly as Ms. Tranny Clause.

Of course, music is the main focus of KRCL. I love knowing that every day I’m going to be opened up to something I’ve never heard before when I listen to the station. For the holidays, I can put it on and not stress about music for the entire day. Just this past Thanksgiving, I had friends in town that complimented me on the playlist I had chosen. They immediately became impressed by the fact it was our local community radio station and were overjoyed they could stream KRCL live online in their own city. That led me to my thought of a PSA for the station. “Most people Kennedy kicks Troy Williams (L) and Bad Brad Wheeler (R) off bypass the radio in lieu of their iPods, but KRCL is the station I listen to so I know the boards at the headquarters of her favorite what to put on my iPod.” community radio station, KRCL.

I started thinking of a world without KRCL. Without it, we would have a much less community-based fund drives that actually focus on bringing the community exciting Gay Pride, no voice (on the radio) for not only the GLBT community, but together, like Bad Brad’s Big Gay Car Wash, which is set to happen after winter countless other minority and leftist groups. No Summer Concert Series and no one ends. I’ll be there in my bikini eating Carl’s Jr. washing those dirty, dirty Trans-Ams. to feature local musicians. That’s a lie, we do have SLUG, but I feel strongly that one Overall, you will find that community input will be a heavy hitter in the months to depends on the other, and without either SLC would still be doing the Macarena come. thinking it was cool and honey, I don’t want to live in that world. It takes $125 an hour to run the station. Darling, that is one expensive whore! If you find yourself wondering what you can do for the station, the opportunities are Nevertheless, a whore that can do stuff for you that no other whore can is worth endless. They are in constant need of volunteers in so many different aspects— every penny. whether you’re available to answer phones during their semi annual fund drive, or to be an able body at one of their many events—it takes a village and you get I’ve come to the realization that my hopes and dreams of being a radio star are in to schmooze with some of the hottest and most knowledgeable talent in the field. the hands of you—the listener. This year for your charitable holiday donation, I want Hanging with Jamie G talking music while swooning over Bad Brad’s good looks you to write a big fat check to KRCL in my name, so that between the hours of 5 and sounds like the perfect day to me. 6 a.m. you might get the chance to hear me say:

They never forget at KRCL who the station is for—the listeners. 2011 will feature “This is Princess Kennedy and you’re listening to Tran-Sister Radio on KRCL—all the upcoming spots like Wake Up Call and Back Seat Driver, as well as more radio you need!” 14 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 15 By Mike Brown crazy crazy [email protected]

It’s no secret that I love my cat Jet Pack. I used to hate cats. I still hate most cats. Most Finally they let me have Jet Pack. I would never kill and eat a cat though. And I know that cats are selfish pretentious dicks. They think they know everything and can do whatever killing animals has got to be the hardest part of their job, I just don’t like being profiled the fuck they want. Sounds like most hipsters I know. I bet if cats listened to music their as a cat molester. Water under the bridge, I guess. record collections would totally suck. I have a lot of respect for what the employees of the Humane Society and No More But Jet Pack? Nope, he’s awesome and here’s why. He hates other cats, but likes Homeless Pets have to do. It makes me feel like all you fashion vegans can go eat a people. I hate it when cats are afraid of people. It’s so funny to watch Jet Pack go bowl of cow dicks until you volunteer there, or do what my buddy Dave (not his real outside and smack up one of my neighbor’s cats. He also shits outside. I don’t have to name) does and start a feral cat community. clean up a litter box, thus eliminating that weird cat smell. He drinks out of the toilet too, so practically all I need to do to take care of him is keep his Friskies bowl filled. When I was first told by my buddy Dave that he had 53 cats, I thought he was kidding. He invited me out to his property to check it out. I had to see this. I learned a lot about Jet Pack is basically the most low maintenance pet ever. And that’s important to me crazy cat people that day. Some of them aren’t old ladies. And some of them aren’t because I’m lazy. I can’t even have plants in my house because I can’t remember to crazy. water them. The last betta fish (named Gary Glitter) that my roommate and I Let’s get educational for a minute. I had no fucking idea what a feral cat tried to keep as a pet? Well, don’t ask was. And I think I’m pretty smart so most of you dumbasses reading how long that fish lasted. this probably don’t know either. A feral cat is a stray cat that has basically reverted back to rolling in packs. Undomesticated, these Funny thing is that I didn’t even bad boys don’t snuggle up on your lap or dance in commercials. want Jet Pack. My girlfriend at the They are like the badass gangsters of cats—raised on the time insisted on getting a cat. streets and tough as shit—minus the selling crack and pimping Dan Rose, legendary drunk to survive. Cats can’t hustle catnip to each other, but I think it and Fucktards guitarist, gave would be funny if they could. me the name before I got the cat. So I told my lady that we If you have the space like Dave does, here’s how could get a cat, but I got to you start a feral cat community. He’s been working name it and pick it out. She with No More Homeless Pets for over 10 years with said that it had to be black. a program called Trap, Neuter, Return. You Deal. can get a safe trap and snag a tomcat, which is a cat looking to fuck and So we went to the kitty prison making those god-awful noises with the intentions of just you hear around 1 a.m. Tomcats window shopping some pussy. are responsible for creating more I don’t know how anyone can go homeless kitties. The overall to that place and not come home concept behind the program is with a caged up pet. You’d have that it’s a lot healthier to spay a to be a total sociopath. Since I’m stray than try and feed it. only a partial sociopath, I started auditioning kitties to see who fit the Instead of domesticating it name Jet Pack. They have this little (because you probably can’t room there where you can take cats at this point), you can build the in for a quick conjugal visit. After feral stray a kitty condo and let it pulling about five or six cats live outside like a bad ass. Dave out of their cages, I finally had a bunch of kitty condos at found Jet Pack. All black, his cat commune—it took a lot furry and friendly. of work for him to get his whole colony contained—meaning I walked up to the counter spayed and neutered. and said, “Lady, I want this cat, do I have to sign I don’t have a high enough something or what?” The word count to explain how to lady at the counter was more than build a kitty condo. So if you hesitant to let a tattooed male walk are interested, you should away with an all black cat a couple go to utahpets.org or 1-866- weeks away from Halloween. UTAHPETS and tell them that She put me through a series you are not that crazy and want of questions testing my cat a bunch of feral cats in your yard. raising abilities such as, If I didn’t have an apartment, I’d “Have you ever had a cat? Do do it. And don’t you just want to you live in a house or apartment? be like me? What will you do if he jumps on the counter?” [Editors Note: If Mike Brown spent less time writing about I’m thinking, “Fuck you lady! Give his cat Jet Pack, he would me the fucking cat! I’m not going to have had room to explain kill and eat it and so what if I did? how to build a kitty condo.]

YOU guys are just going to kill it!” Illustration: Manuel Aguilar 16 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 17 About This Month’s Cover: Jaleh Afshar – Designer Shauna Brennan – 1. Four Tet – Ad Sales Rep There Is Love in You 1. Beach House – Teen Dream 2. LCD Soundsystem – 2. Sleigh Bells ­– Treats This Is Happening 3. Twin Shadow – Forget 3. How to Destroy Angels – 4. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest Self-Titled 5. Wavves ­– King of the Beach 4. We Are Scientists – Barbara 5. Sufjan Stevens – Dave Brewer – Photographer The Age of Adz 1. Sayde Price – Wilt All Rosy 2. Isaac Russell – SLUG Brett Allen – Isaac Russell E.P. SLUG Games Coordinator 3. Adam Haworth Stephens – 1. The Cool Kids – Tackle Bo We Live On Cliffs MAGAZINE 4. Tim Fite – 2. The Black Keys – Brothers 3. Die Antwoord –$O$ Under the Table Tennis 4. The Arcade Fire – 5. Various Artists – The Sound Strike Songs The Suburbs 5. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach Christian Broadbent – 2010 Tony Bassett – Delivery Driver Ad Designer 1. Autolux – Transit Transit 1. The Black Keys – Brothers “Drawn” by Jake Garn 2. Bad Religion – 2. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach The Dissent of Man 3. Spoon – Transference 3. Nikki and Rich – 4. Jimi Hendrix – Photographer Cat and Mouse Valleys of Neptune 4. Black Mountain – 5. The Dead Weather – Wilderness Heart Sea of Cowards Jake Garn TOP 5 5. Dag Nasty – Dag With Shawn Angela H. Brown – erases any line drawn Editor/Publisher James Bennett – Writer 1. Grinderman – Grinderman2 between fashion and art 1. The Hold Steady – 2. Meat Beat Manifesto – Heaven is Whenever To celebrate another year’s end, SLUG Answers Come in Dreams 2. The Weakerthans – Live At 3. Andre Williams – Jake Garn began shooting photos in the mid- handpicked 13 writers to spotlight one of “The The Burton Cummings Theatre That’s All I Need nineties while enrolled in a basic photography idea of their favorite releases of 2010 in an extended 3. V/A – KRCL Presents: class. In 2002, Garn purchased his first digital 4. Ceremony – Rohnert Park including review. Read on for Top 5 lists from SLUG’s Weird You Out: Volume 1 5. S.L.F.M. – Affaire / SLR camera and his photographic hobby turned the contributors and genre-spanning reviews of 4. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Infatuation Satisfaction into an obsession. Since then Garn’s images imagery artists like The Black Keys, Sleigh Bells, Acid – The Brutalist Bricks have brought him recognition both nationally of written Tiger and local artist SLFM. 5. The Fall – and internationally—most recently when his music into Your Future Our Clutter Mike Brown – Sales Rep./ work was featured in an episode from Project a photo Columnist Runway’s eighth season. Despite Garn’s critical shoot 1. Fucktards – acclaim, his photographic work remains a resonated with me. That night I sent an email to Paden Bischoff – Designer Christ Punchin’ Fun passionate part-time hobby by choice. “I shoot the styling team letting them know I wanted to shoot 1. Sage Francis – Li(f)e 2. El-P – for myself almost 90% of the time (meaning people looking like music notes.” Garn says, “A week 2. Middle Class Rut – No weaareallgoingtoburn I shoot for fun, not for money),” Garn says. Name No Color inhellmegamixxx3

later, on the day of the shoot, we had a rack full of “Leather” by Jake Garn He combines elements of high fashion and clothes and dozens of ideas from everyone, the only thing 3. Kylesa – Spiral Shadow 3 Lil Wayne – the avant-garde to create beautiful, whimsical left to do was to shoot our favorites.” 4. Dillinger Escape Plan – I Am Not a Human Being images that are instantly identifiable. His Check out more of Garn’s innovative work online: jakegarn.com Option Paralysis 4. Nephi Beh LLC – Care “E” 5. Torche – Songs for Singles innovative approach to his subject keeps his Oakey Vol. 1 work fresh. Special thanks to Jake Garn and his team: 5. The Black Keys – Brothers This month SLUG asked Garn and his award- Photography by Jake Garn Courtney Blair – Writer winning team of stylists to create our December Hair by Steven Robertson of Lunatic Fringe 1. Beach House – Teen Dream cover image according to theme: Top Five Makeup by Paula Dahlberg of Lunatic Fringe Albums of 2010. Together, they transformed 2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs Wardrobe Styling by Michelle Boucher 3. Sleigh Bells – Treats model Katherine Franco into a musical muse. Model: Katherine Franco Garn chose to depict her as an eighth note in 4. Twin Shadow – Forget Wardrobe for “Leather” Courtesy of Tempest Couture 5. The Radio Dept. – two photographic interpretations. (1305 S. 900 E. SLC, UT. • 801-486-1188, see their ad page 29) Clinging To A Scheme 18 SaltLakeUnderGround Ischa Buchanan – Marketing/Writer 1. Uncle Scam – Redneck Funeral ARIEL PINK’S ACID TIGER 2. The Soular System – HAUNTED GRAFFITI Fight the Future 3. Sara Bareilles – Rio Connelly – AUTOLUX Kaleidoscope Heart Writer/Copy Editor 4. Serj Tankian – 1. Dessa – Imperfect Harmonies A Badly Broken Code 5. Uncle Scam – XX 2. Menomena – Mines 3. Patter Stats – What Is This Beast? Emily Burkhart – Marketing 4. Fang Island – Self-Titled 1. The Black Keys – Brothers 5. Los Campesinos! – 2. The Goat & The Occasional Romance is Boring Others – The Goat Speaks 3. The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards Jessica Davis – 4. The Delta Spirit – Marketing/Intern History from Below 1. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti 5. MGMT – Congratulations – Before Today 2. Xiu Xiu – Dear God, I Hate Myself Stephanie Buschardt – 3. Ty Segall – Melted 4. Nobunny – First Blood Acid Tiger Marketing Coordinator 5. V/A – KRCL Presents: Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti Self-Titled 1. Kid Cudi – Man on the Deathwish Weird You Out: Volume 1 Autolux Before Today Moon II: The Legend of Street: 04.27 Transit Transit 4AD Mr. Rager TBD Records Street: 06.08 What initially strikes me about Acid Tiger is the unity it exudes 2. Crystal Castles – Tommy Dolph – Distro Driver Street: 08.03 between different forces in the world of underground rock music. Crystal Castles II 1. Daniel Johnston – From recent personal experience, stoner metal/sludge/doom Ariel Pink is a scary, bat-shit insane homeless man residing in an 3. Janelle Monae – The Story of an Artist Disc 1 seems to have exploded in Salt Lake, where local acts such as Being an Autolux fan takes patience. Their first LP, Future Perfect, old abandoned tunnel of reverb. His albums have always been 2. Daniel Johnston – Oldtimer, Dwellers and Laughter have made names for The ArchAndroid was an underground staple after its release in 2004. Four years speckled with moments of lucidity and genius, but good portions themselves and garnered attention to these sub-genres by playing 4. Ratatat – LP4 The Story of an Artist Disc 2 later they finally revealed the Kid A-esque “Audience No. 2” as were just homeless rambling. This time he was given a budget with touring acts like Black Tusk and Weedeater. Since Acid 5. Zion I – Atomic Clock 3. Daniel Johnston – a single, which served to satisfy my Autolove for a while. After and a producer, who took a cheesecloth and chinois and strained Tiger self-proclaims that they play a “progressive rock/punk The Story of an Artist Disc 3 two additional years of delays and more plays than I can count out all of the bad acid vibes. This is by far his most cohesive hybrid” on their Myspace, but sound akin to stoner metal, they 4. Daniel Johnston – generated on their Myspace player, Transit Transit saw the light of album, partially because it was actually recorded as a whole linguistically interrupt a current (and unfortunate) punk criteria, John Carlisle – Photographer which enables them to act as a sort of cultural black hole where The Story of an Artist Disc 4 day. It was as refreshing as eating a nice home cooked meal after and not compiled like the others, and it is impressive. Without 1. The National – High Violet all that has or ever been is free game to be mauled by the tiger. 5. Daniel Johnston – demonstrating some serious self-control to avoid a bag of cheddar all of the tape-hiss and crackling, Ariel really shines through, in No one SLUG equation suffices to pin down what Acid Tiger’s 2. Sharon Jones & the Dap- The Story of an Artist Disc 5 and sour cream chips that would have ruined my appetite. This a low-budget 80s movie kind of way. The album opens up with music is like. The intro to the opening track, “The Claw,” spurs Kings – I Learned the album is all about Carla Azar. She is one of a small number an airplane flying overhead in “Hot Body Rub,” a song that has our sonic dissociation from rock conventions—the tom drumming Hard Way of drummers who actually writes drum parts, rather than simply succeeded in giving me Vietnam War flashbacks. After the weird and Adam Wentworth’s rolling bass line juxtapose with an 3. Griffin House – The Learner Barrett Doran – Photographer blending into the rhythm section. The sullen, piano-driven “Spots” saxophones are done coaxing you in, you are treated to a cover unearthly guitar theme with mild amplification effects. I can’t get 1. Fang Island – Self-Titled 4. Sarah Borges and the is the perfect showcase of Azar’s original approach—about a of Rockin’ Ramrods’ 1966 garage-rock song “Bright Lit Blue over the dynamics of “Big Beat”: What starts out as a sludgy, 2. The Black Keys – Brothers third of the way through the song, an understated drumbeat Sky,” which is actually one of my favorite songs on the album. It is power chord-ridden rock song picks up into Motörhead-esque Broken Singles – Live Singles 3. How to Dress Well – really quite the production, with choir-like backing vocals during punk—complete with Lukas Previn’s guitar shredding and an 5. Armadillo Road – Self-Titled begins, transforming a great eerie track into a memorable and Love Remains totally original piece of music. The vocals on this album are well the chorus (not the usual creepy falsettos that are typical of Ariel otherworldly drum solo by drummer Ben Koller (Converge). 4. Vampire Weekend – Contra distributed, not just within each song, but between the band Pink). My other favorites from this album were actually included in “Death Wave” takes us on a vicious journey through many facets 5. Sufjan Stevens – Age of Adz of what rock music can be—vocalist J. Rattlesnake puts it Hannah Christian – members. Azar’s engagingly soft vocals lure the listener in, while far less satisfying forms in previous releases: “Round and Round” perfectly: “Forests burning, ice caps melting, oceans boiling …” Copy Editor bassist Eugene Goreshter and guitarist Greg Edwards take is the best example of something creepy being melted down to a Though the song deals with environmental issues, the destructive 1. Yeasayer – Odd Blood turns lulling us with their signature variable melodies. A few of perfect pop song (so perfect at times, I forget who I am listening Adam Dorobiala – imagery also correlates with Acid Tiger’s bulldozing through the 2. Beach House – Teen Dream the tracks on the album are true to some of the straightforward, to). “Beverly Kills” is either a love song or a statement about Action Sports Editor annals of rock and collecting the shards to construct themselves 3. Gogol Bordello – Trans– odd rock-work they did on Future Perfect, especially “Census,” freedom of press—either way, the Tarzan yells near the end get qua beast. This epic piece positions listeners to submissively take Continental Hustle 1. Nephi Beh LLC – “Supertoys” and “Kissproof.” They tread new ground with most me aroused. It’s a song that is a good example of garage-pop at a claw-paw to the face—“Feel It” melds rock n’ roll guitar with 4. Erykah Badu – New Care “E” Oakey Vol. 1 its finest. Ariel Pink has finally reached accessibility while keeping screamo-like vocals, then drags all in its path down to be slowly of the tracks, particularly on the charmingly repetitive “Headless Amerykah Part Two: 2. Nonnon, Nolens Volens, // devoured, feeling every fang rip through, as the lowered tempo Sky,” where they somehow make an unvarying guitar part sound his eccentricity intact. Before Today features more pop songs than Return of the Ankh induces acidic pleasure. Thus, the souls of rock’s past board the – Data Booty fresh for four minutes. But the opus of the album, “The Science ever, but it was still able to weird me out. ­–Cody Hudson boat to “Set Sail,” where the Jimmy Page-influenced intro lures 5. Broken Social Scene – 3. The Hood Internet X of Imaginary Solutions,” is everything I love about Autolux— Forgiveness Rock Record them to float into the escape of death, only to be thrown Anatomy Magazine – T atmospheric, quirky and truly beautiful in its artistry. I sincerely overboard into tiger shark-ridden waters, to be mauled he Great American Mixtape: adore this band. –Andrew Roy again, and again. —Alexander Ortega Side A 4. Ratatat – LP4 5. Palace of Buddies – Super Summer Sampler Mary Enge – Copy Editor Chrissy Hawkins – Marketing 1. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs 1. Band of Horses – 2. Beach House – Teen Dream Infinite Arms 3.The Black Keys – Brothers 2. Weezer – Hurley 4. Local Natives – 3. Taylor Swift – Speak Now Gorilla Manor 4. The Arcade Fire – BATHS 5. The Morning Benders – The Suburbs Big Echo 5. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More Bethany Fischer – Writer 1. Murs & 9th Wonder – ForNever Eric Hess – Writer 2. Trek Life – Everything 1. Lil Wayne ­– No Feelings Changed Nothing 2. Lil Wayne – 3. Sharon Jones & the I Am Not A Human Being Dap-Kings – I Learned the 3. Waka Flocka Flame – Hard Way Flockaveli 4. Aloe Blacc – Good Things 4. Kanye West – My Beautiful 5. Roc Marciano – Marcberg Dark Twisted Fantasy 5. B.O.B. – Adventures of Bobby Ray Eric Granato – Distro Manager 1. Hank III – Rebel Within 2. The Creepshow – Dean O Hillis – Writer They All Fall Down 1. The Mynabirds – What We 3. The Black Angels – Lose In The Fire We Gain In Baths Phosphene Dream The Flood Cerulean 4. Gogol Bordello – 2. Suzanne Vega – Close Up Anticon Trans-Continental Hustle Vol. 1, Love Songs Street: 07.06 5. Invdrs – Electric Church 3. Morrissey – Bona Drag 20th Anniversary Edition When Cerulean came out on Anticon earlier this year, critics 4. Andy Bell – Non-Stop were quick to lump the 21-year-old Californian’s debut into Kyla Grant – Writer 1. Judgement Day – 5. Saint Etienne – Tales From the burgeoning (and largely made up) chillwave microgenre. Peacocks/Pink Monsters Turnpike House Deluxe Edition Baths took offense to this—it is easy to see why. Instead of being 2. Film School – Fission ostensibly effects-driven and wrapped under a gauze of lo-fi 3. Your Skull My Closet – consumer electronics, Cerulean is all beats. Crisp, sparkling, Let’s Get Acquainted Gavin Hoffman – Writer low-end rumbling beats are looped with such complexity and 4. Middle Class Rut – 1. Burzum – Belus with such a dizzying array of auxiliary instrumentation and vocal No Name, No Color 2. Swans – My Father Will manipulation that they are easy to lose in the shuffle. But, as Baths’ 5. Marnie Stern – Self-Titled Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky September show at the Urban Lounge showed, he is clearly much 3. The National – High Violet more informed by standard 4-on-the-floor electronic music than by 4. Thou – Summit the idea of electronic music that many of his contemporaries draw Heck Fork Grief – Writer 5. The Body – And All the Waters of the Earth Turn to from. At the core of each song on Cerulean, besides an intricate 1. Comeback Kid – beat palate, are songs. These are songs that are written with Blood Symptoms + Cures verse-chorus arrangements and real, heartfelt emotion. “Plea” is 2. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach a love song addressed to a man, and given Will Wiesenfeld’s own sexuality and the song’s timeliness, “Plea” can be viewed as a 3. The Ocean – Heliocentric Nate Housley – Writer sort of post-Prop 8 anthem. Except it’s not. “Plea” is only political 4. Black Anvil – Triumvirate 1. Beach House – Teen Dream as a point of reference. While “Plea” is relatively easy to track 5. None More Black – Icons 2. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left emotionally, the rest of Cerulean bounces from the most exuberant Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty and wide-eyed to brooding and unsteady, usually all within the Ryan Hall – Writer 3. No Age – same song. Cerulean’s other near-perfect track is “Hall.” It starts 1. Clipd Beaks – To Realize Everything In Between with an acoustic guitar and vocal line that has been chopped and 2. Baths – Cerulean 4. Spoon – Transference edited past the point of recognition before a heavy galloping beat 3. Chris Rehm – 5. Crystal Castles – whisks the track into Wiesenfeld’s lengthy falsetto chorus that pulls Salivary Stones Crystal Castles II all of the disparate parts of the song under one roof. While hyper- 4. Daughters – Self-Titled kinetic and bright, the song broods with a quiet dissatisfaction at 5. A Faulty Chromosome – its core that defines Cerulean’s deep emotional core: a sizzlingly Craving to Be Coddled to Feel Cody Hudson – Writer bright blue. –Ryan Hall Fake Safe 1. Ty Segall – Melted 2. The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt 3. Thee Oh Sees – Warm Slime 4. Menomena – Mines 5. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today SaltLakeUnderGround 23 Hailee Jacobson – Marketing 1. The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards 2. The Black Keys – Brothers 3. Wolf Parade – Expo 86 4. Jonsi – Go 5. Vampire Weekend – Contra BEATS ANTIQUE

Ruby Johnson – Photographer Sam Milianta – 1. The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street Writer/Photographer 2. The Black Keys – Brothers 1. Black Mountain – 3. Paul McCartney & Wings – Wilderness Heart Band On The Run (reissue) 2. Nephi Beh LLC – 4. Bob Dylan – The Witmark Care “E” Oakey Vol. 1 Demos: 1962 - 64’ Bootleg 3. The Black Angels – Series Vol. 9 Phosphene Dream 5. Jimi Hendrix – 4. The Rolling Stones – Valleys of Neptune Exile on Main Street (reissue) 5. Thee Oh Sees –Warm Slime

Joshua Joye – Issue Designer 1. The Jon Spencer Blues Lindsey Morris – Designer 1. Dangers – Messy, Isn’t It? Explosion – Dirty Shirt Rock ‘n’ 2. Cloudkicker – Beacons Roll: The First Ten Years 3. This Will Destroy You – 2. Crocodiles – Sleep Forever Tunnel Blanket 3. Deadbolt – 4. The Album Leaf – Voodoo Moonshine A Chorus of Storytellers Beats Antique 4. The Black Angels – 5. Young Jazz Rebels – Slave Riot Blind Threshold Phosphene Dream Antique Records 5. Nephi Beh LLC – Care “E” Street: 09.14 Oakey Vol. 1 Jeanette D. Moses – Managing Editor Music sometimes described as “belly dance” can be immediately Cody Kirkland – Copy Editor 1. The Black Keys – Brothers off-putting to listeners bred on a steady diet of rock or dance. 1. Liars – Sisterworld 2. The Black Angels – Fortunately for fans of the unique, San Fransisco’s Beats Antique 2. Joshua Payne Orchestra – Phosphene Dream carry everything you need in their packs: touches of North African Raï, Bedouin melodies and healthy doses of dubstep. This isn’t Walk on the Wild Side 3. Spell Talk – Ghost Rider music to belly dance to, traditionally—it may be far too electronic /Break Up 4. Sharon Jones & for some dance troupes and that’s fine. Blind Threshold lends itself 3. Southerly – Champion of the The Dap-Kings – I Learned to breakdance moves more than any other form of old school Noisy Negativists The Hard Way technique. Dance talk aside, this album is laced with music you 4. LCD Soundsystem – 5. Laserfang – Mammoth can just sit and relax to as the styles of acts as diverse as Balkan This Is Happening Beat Box (BBB) and Flying Lotus cohabitate. A BBB hip 5. Phantogram – Eyelid Movies hop essence emerges in the only track with English vocals on Adam Okeefe – Distro Driver the album, LYNX’s “Rising Tide,” as a Fly Lo-style organic beat 1. Covenant – Modern Ruin cascades in the background. It’s moments like this when Beats Joe Maddock – Copy Editor 2. Decoded Feedback – Antique’s new-school world takes on traditional American styling: 1. White Denim – Aftermath “I will write you a song that sounds like a faded photograph Last Day Of Summer 3. Swans – My Father Will of your favorite night … You know you were born for more 2. Yeasayer – Odd Blood Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky than what machines provide,” croons LYNX. This post-modern 3. The National – High Violet 4. SLEEPCHAMBER – Stratocast juxtaposition of century-old song with hip hop makes for one of 4. Maps & Atlases – 5. Taylor Swift – Speak Now the best tracks of the year and shows what the band is about— Perch Patchwork distancing themselves from new, soulless providers like cameras 5. Menomena – Mines James Orme – Writer while simultaneously embracing memories created by technology. 1. Mad Sin – Burn and Rise Unfortunately, only that one song expresses the bands’ message 2. Kings Of Nuthin’ – in words I understand. Fortunately, however, the rest of the album Mariah Mellus – Writer speaks as only their instrumental music can, via a collision of Old Habits Die Hard 1. Belle and Sebastian – ancient dune-wanderer woodwinds and modern computer beeps. 3. Bad Religion – The Write About Love Beats Antique carried a spark of new fire in their backpack as they Dissent of Man 2. The Black Keys – Brothers traversed a desert of modern electronic gadgets at the end of the 4. Th’ Legendary Shack 3. The Morning Benders – decade and subsequently made one of the best albums of 2010. Shakers – Agridustrial –JP Big Echo 5. The Creepshow – 4. Spoon – Transference They All Fall Down 5. Black Mountain – Wilderness Heart

24 SaltLakeUnderGround THE BLACK KEYS MURS & MELECHESH NEPHI BEH LLC 9TH WONDER

The Black Keys Murs & 9th Wonder Melechesh Brothers Fornever Nonesuch Nephi Beh LLC SMC Recordings The Epigenesis Street: 05.18 Care E Oakey Vol. 1 Street: 04.13 Nuclear Blast Care E Oakey Inc. Street: 10.26 Street: 10.01 Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have crafted something Murs & 9th Wonder’s album Fornever was an exception to what rare and beautiful with the release of Brothers. It’s interesting I felt was a rather disappointing release year. The album was Melechesh, a Sumerian/Mesopotamian-themed black metal Karaoke is not only a great time, it’s an actual interactive song and engaging from beginning to end and actually seems to have exactly what I wanted: consistent. Murs is always stable with band that originated in Jerusalem in 1993 and relocated to the and dance party brought directly to your musical intake device captured the same raw energy that was so exhilarating on their his lyrical content, delivering quality product with every release. Netherlands in 1998, have always been a favorite artist of mine. by Nephi Beh LLC. Armed with nothing more than a couple of early albums. That isn’t to say Brothers is simply a rehashing of the With Murs, I don’t have to hope it’s going be good, ‘cause I know The Epigenesis is Melechesh’s fifth full-length album, and easily amps, a microphone, some ideas and a beat machine, Nephi bluesy rock n’ roll found on The Big Come Up or Thickfreakness. it will be. 9th Wonder’s soulful and freshly polished sounding their best. The record pushes hard on the boundaries of what black Beh has taken karaoke to the next level over the last few years Instead, it’s as if they’ve captured that grit, but polished it up a bit beats compliment Murs’ style. This album was a solid addition to metal is, going well beyond the typical blast and scream fare. The by allowing friends to make their own songs to be showcased on with what they learned working with Danger Mouse on Attack Murs’ library of albums. Another reason I fell hard for Fornever songwriting is concise and every note, chord, vocal passage and nights of Care E Oakey. Contributors have come up with songs & Release. Brothers brings us a Black Keys who are as creative as is because Murs has some real talent for catering lyrical content harrowing chant feels purposeful and thought out. Listening to ranging from drug use to horny werewolves, complete with slide ever, seem to have diversified their influences, perfected their song to ladies. Broads love a good indie rap artist who comes across The Epigenesis provokes an otherworldly and old-world feeling, projections to keep you on track during your performance. If you writing and, as a result, are pumping out some damn fine whiskey- more cute and emotional than pussy hungry and gangsta’. Songs like this album was created long before Christianity was even a have ever experienced a Care E Oakey night, you know why this soaked blues and psychedelic-inspired rock n’ roll. “Everlasting like “Vikki Veil,” “Asian Girl” and “I Used To Luv Her (Again)” thought. It’s full of mystical musical behavior and lyrics that push a album is by far one of the best albums released this year. The Light” opens the album in a style very uncharacteristic of the Keys, give the ladies a touch of nasty mashed up with sweet beats. The unique, ancient, lurking evil feeling throughout the record. “Grand subtlety of style in every song mixed with the down-to-earth lyrics most notably because of Auerbach’s falsetto vocals, an atypical undertones of soul singers hidden smartly in the beats create a Gathas Of Baal Sin” is a fantastic example of the brutality and contained in every track just beg for you to listen one more time. choice, but one with pristine execution. “Next Girl” takes things more laid back feel to the whole album, which flows perfectly the ability the record has to create imagery of mystical demons, “Beach Bod” is by far the most produced track on Care E Oakey back to the realm of familiarity—it sounds like your typical Keys with Murs’ technique and lyrical content. Songs about pancake sweeping winter and night-time freezing sand dunes. The album is Vol. 1 with vocal pairings in a duet style chorus, layers upon layers fair—blues-inspired rock about wayward women. “Howlin’ For houses, cigarette addiction and relationship troubles give a breath full of raw yet pristine guitar work and drumming that provides a of samples and lyrics that have been known to make the ladies You,” one of my initial favorite tracks on the album, has a Gary of fresh air to hip hop’s normal burned out content of bitches, combination of blasting and sometimes noxiously trance-like beats. swoon. One of the most memorable and amazing tracks contained Glitter-sounding backbeat and insanely catchy lyrics. “Ten Cent money and cars. My favorite track has to be “Let Me Talk,” a track Everything is backed by a Middle Eastern Sumerian atmosphere within the album is “Over and Over and Over” which gives reason Pistol” features vivid lyrics over layers of slowed down garage rock about fighting with a PMSing girlfriend. It’s hilarious when Suga that comes in a flurry of different instruments. “When Halos Of to the things we call relationships. This track has been one of my that give the song an eerie feeling. Ultimately, you won’t find any Free drops in on the end of the track with lines like, “Just you Candles Collide” is a magical and varied break from the chaotic favorites since it’s debut at Care E Oakey over a year ago, and filler on Brothers—this is the kind of album that grows better with and her in the car, you know she farted but she looking at you like and pounding metal rhythms The Epigenesis provides. The album it is beyond me why it hasn’t been released until earlier this year. each listen. Every song has a purpose and is just as strong as its you did it.” Cameos from Krupt, Sick Jacken and Verbs all is fully metal in its ability to get my blood pumping and heart Care E Oakey nights are always open to crowd involvement, counterparts. –Jeanette D. Moses complement the album as well. It’s a solid and fresh release that I pounding. It’s also just a full-on sound immersion experience that with only a few set songs like the ones on the CD, you have the can listen to all the way through without skipping a song. Nicely has the ability to take over every conscious thought you have and opportunity to create your own fantastic songs if you find a beat done Murs & 9th Wonder. —Bethany Fischer take you somewhere far from the normal confines of your life. that suits your fancy. I predict that if Nephi Beh could get signed to –Bryer Wharton a multi-national label, he would most definitely have the chance of making the album go gold if not platinum. Bravo good sir, bravo. —Adam Dorobiala Alex Ortega – Writer/Copy Editor 1. Acid Tiger – Self-Titled 2. Against Me! – White Crosses Chris Proctor – Writer/Intern 3. Spanish Gamble – 1. Junip – Fields PRETTY LIGHTS It’s All Coming Down 2. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left 4. Killbot – The Horror EP Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty 5. Small Town Sinners – The Dirty Thirty 3. Ratatat – LP4 4. Beach House – Teen Dream 5. Broken Bells – Self-Titled JP – Writer 1. Hooray For Earth – Momo 2. Beats Antique – Jon Robertson – Writer Blind Threshold 1. Deftones – Diamond Eyes 3. Glitch Mob – Drink the Sea 2. Baths – Cerulean 4. Efterklang – Magic Chairs 3. Big Boi – Sir Luscious Left 5. Nymph – Self-Titled Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty 4. Kele – The Boxer Katie Panzer – 5. Jacobi Wichita – Lambsie. Divey Photographer/Copy Editor 1. Yeasayer – Odd Blood 2. Chromeo – Business Casual Mike Reff – Writer/ SLUG 3. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach Games Coordinator 4. Hip White People – 1. Broken Bells – Self-Titled Affirmations 2. Bonobo – Black Sands Pretty Lights 5. Kid Cudi – Man on the 3. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach Making Up A Changing Mind, Spilling Over Every Side, Moon II: The Legend of 4. Caribou – Swim Glowing In The Darkest Night Mr. Rager 5. Crystal Castles – Crystal Prettylightsmusic.com Castles II Street: 03.02, 07.29, 10.22 Liz Phillips – Copy Editor 1. Crystal Castles – Jeremy Riley – Marketing/ Derek Vincent Smith of Pretty Lights made it his mission to Crystal Castles II SLUG Games Coordinator/ release three EPs this year. Each song on these three EPs are 2. Broken Bells – Self-Titled Action Sports Intern beautifully crafted, with intricate layers, complex breakdowns 3. Fang Island – Self-Titled 1. Spell Talk – Ghost Rider and groovy riffs that work together to create something to get 4. Beach House – Teen Dream genuinely excited about. Each EP stands on its own stylistically. 5. RJD2 – The Colossus 2. Justin Bieber – The first is a plunge into hard, emotive beats and wonked out My World 2.0 synths, as if Smith just jumps right into a tornado and is seeing 3. Mariah Carey – Merry what he can handle. The second is coming to terms with what the Maggie Poulton – Designer Christmas II You first accomplished, looking out from inside of the tornado, with 1. Adam Haworth Stephens – 4. Shakira – Sale El Sol some of the hardest, darkest tracks Smith has produced yet. The We Live on Cliffs 5. The Fucktards – third is the calm after the storm, when everything slows down, 2. Beach House – Teen Dream Christ Punchin’ Fun and all makes sense again. In an October interview, Smith told 3. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs me that he gets amped about all of the music he creates, and you 4. Janelle Monae – can tell. His excitement and his inspiration from creating such Rachel Roller – Marketing original, fresh and fun music seeps through in tracks such as The ArchAndroid 1. Daft Punk – Tron: Legacy 5. The Tallest Man on Earth – “Total Fascination,” a no-holds-barred dirt-nasty dance song. You 2. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach The Wild Hunt can get lost in the complexity of the arrangements on “A Million 3. Pretty Lights – Spilling Over Tomorrows” or in the pitter-patter of the broken up, scattered Every Side beat on “I Can See It In Your Face.” The samples, drawn from 4. Lil Wayne – I Am Not a Todd Powelson – Designer every corner of music history—soul, blues, jazz, hip hop and Human Being 1. Local Natives – funk—portray emotion succinctly and powerfully. “Drift Away” 5. LCD Soundsystem – This is seamlessly blends varied styles of samples into a passionate, Gorilla Manor Happening poignant song. Every song, even the instrumentals, dig deep 2. The Dead Weather – into your body, grab your heart, and squeeze it to the beat, Sea of Cowards Andrew Roy – Writer exemplified in “Looking For Love (But Not So Sure).” This music 3, The Tallest Man on Earth – 1. Autolux – Transit Transit is so sincere, and lovingly crafted, that it feels timeless. It feels Wild Hunt 2. Kylesa – Spiral Shadow like it’s always been here and it always will be. It’s not just dance 4. Massive Attack – Heligoland 3. Dillinger Escape Plan – music. It’s honest and meaningful. –Jessie Wood 5. Rolling Stones – Exile on Option Paralysis Main Street (reissue) 4. Various Artists – Crazy Heart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 5. Deftones – Diamond Eyes

SaltLakeUnderGround 29 SLEIGH BELLS S.L.F.M

Sleigh Bells S.L.F.M. Affaire/ Infatuation Satisfaction Double EP Treats Self-Released Mom & Pop Records Street: 09.17 Street: 06.01

S.L.F.M.’s Jessica Davis may have scored the opening slot Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller make up the raw, loud and addictive Brooklyn duo Sleigh Bells, but you should already for Sonic Youth’s SLC tour in September, but busking on know that. Chances are you were at their face-punching, sold- Broadway‘s street corner during Gallery Stroll or jamming-out out show in October. Have you heard the story of the initial at house parties are the gigs she really likes to play. Davis also meeting of this pair? It plays out like the Brady Bunch. A chick likes secrets, mysteries and disguises—topics that inspire her lyrics named Alexis, who was once an elementary teacher, met Derek, and motivate her to sometimes wear the mustache of an English a former Poison the Well member, while he was her waiter gentleman. Davis rocks an electric ukulele with two-minute ditties in a Brooklyn restaurant. He was in search of a singer, they both about skinny-dipping, secret loves and villains. Inspired by knew that it was much more than a hunch, and that’s how they cowboys, Coco Rosie and Ty Segall, this low-fi double EP was began making music with a punch. The Sleigh Bells buzz started recorded at home by Davis herself with many of the tracks done in October 2009 following their CMJ performance when their in just one take and played live. Although Affaire/ Infatuation demos were being passed around the music blog scene like Satisfaction lacks any sort of real production quality, it is used to a joint. My first listen was greeted with genre-bending, room- S.L.F.M.’s benefit, allowing Davis’ raw vocal talent and speedy shaking tunes sounding like a 20-car pileup pouring through ukulele playing to confront the listener. Davis plays her ukulele my speakers. I was sold on this musical assault on my senses through her Father’s old effects pedals and sings with a vintage and it didn’t take long before the heavily Funkadelic-sampled microphone, giving S.L.F.M. a distinct sound. Salt Lake City’s “Ring Ring” (rerecorded as “Rill Rill”) became the office hit. June S.L.F.M. is no longer a secret (last month she appeared on Doug 2010 saw the physical release of their debut Treats––35 minutes Fabrizio’s Radio West on KUER 90.1FM.) but don’t go asking a of knock-out-worthy goodies. Derek’s Poison the Well roots are girl to disclose all of her intimate details—Davis prefers to keep the evident on “Straight A’s” with head-crushing guitar at maximum meaning behind her music moniker a guessing game. Hint: This volume. His masterfully arranged repetitive drums and catchy gal appreciates a good mustache. –Angela H. Brown loops on “Kids” (previously “Beach Girls”) sounds like it could’ve been produced by Timbaland. Alexis shows her sugary bubblegum pop side on the booming bass tune “Run The Heart.” Treats has mainstream success and overexposure stamped all over it, but who gives a shit? Embrace the crazy distorted beats that will knock you off your rocker, and have some fun for once. –Courtney Blair

30 SaltLakeUnderGround Katie Rubio – Social Networking Coordinator 1. The Ghost Inside – Returners TOUCHE AMORE 2. The Devil Wears Prada – Zombie EP / LA DISPUTE 3. The Word Alive – Deceiver 4. Bring Me the Horizon – Kelli Tompkins – Designer There Is a Hell Believe Me I’ve 1. LCD Soundsystem – Seen It. There Is a Heaven This is Happening Let’s Keep it a Secret. 2. Junip – Fields 5. Emarosa – Self-Titled 3. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record 4. Spell Talk – Ghost Rider Lance Saunders – Writer 5. Hooray For Earth – Momo 1. Delta Spirit – History From Below Ben Trentelman – Writer 2. Menomena – Mines Top 5 Movies 3. Laserfang – Mammoth 1. Kick Ass 4. The Black Angels – 2. Alice In Wonderland Phosphene Dream 3. Machete 5. Beach House – Teen Dream 4. Shutter Island 5. Inception Elliot Secrist – Writer 1. The National – High Violet Ricky Vigil – Editorial Assistant Touché Amoré / La Dispute 2. Starkweather – 1. Titus Andronicus – Searching For a Pulse / The Worth of the World This Sheltering Night The Monitor No Sleep 3. Knut – Wonder 2. Look Mexico – Street: 07.27 4. East of the Wall – To Bed To Battle Ressentiment 3. Touché Amoré/La Dispute 5. The Black Keys – Brothers When the Internet shit-talking regarding new bands reaches – Searching For a Pulse/The unprecedented levels, it usually means they’re about to get huge. Worth of the World As part of the weirdly wide-reaching post-hardcore and emo 4. Ceremony – Rohnert Park Paige Snow – Derby Writer 5. forgetters – Self-Titled revival of the last few years, Touché Amoré and La Dispute have 1. Deer Tick – become the regular targets of many a cro-magnon keyboard The Black Dirt Sessions attack in recent months, and both seem poised for greatness. Both 2. Stars – Five Ghosts Bryer Wharton – Writer bands have carved out unique sonic niches—La Dispute takes 3. Yeasayer – Odd Blood 1. Melechesh – The Epigenesis cues from the lyrical and sonic intricacy of mewithoutYou and 2. Alcest – Écailles De Lune 4. Zoroaster – Matador the desperate energy of early Thursday, while Touché Amoré 3. U.S. Christmas – 5. Hillstomp – Darker the Night combines traditional screamo with the semi-melodic hardcore Run Thick In The Night of Modern Life is War. If you like any of the bands already 4. Severe Torture – Slaughtered mentioned (even if you dislike some of the others), you need 5. Mar de Grises – Jemie Sprankle – Sales/Writer to hear this. Each band starts their respective side of the split Streams Inwards with a faster track and follows it with a slow, angry scorcher 1. Camu Tao – King Of Hearts about how shitty the world around us is and how it fucks all of 2. The Black Keys – Brothers us up—not exactly uplifting, happy-time music. The highlight of 3. Hate Your Guts – Jessie Wood – Writer Touché Amoré’s opening track “I’ll Get My Just Deserve,” is the Bastards Disease 1. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach appearance of La Dispute vocalist Jordan Dreyer (both Dreyer 4. Wale – More About Nothing 2. Pretty Lights – and TA vocalist Jeremy Bolm contribute to all four tracks), not 5. Royce Da 5’9” – The Bar Spilling Over Every Side because of the contrast in vocal style, but because of how well Exam 3: Most Interesting Man 3. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs Dreyer’s punchy vocals and verbose lyrics mix with Bolm’s rich but 4. Four Tet – succinct shrieks. It’s in the slower songs that this split really shines, There Is Love In You as it allows each band to get nice and depressing. Even though La Kolbie Stonehocker – 5. Felix Cartal – Popular Music Dispute’s “Why It Scares Me” effortlessly transitions from subtle, Copy Editor minimalistic guitarwork to an explosive full band attack, it feels like 1. Circa Survive – Dreyer’s voice is the song’s only instrument. Both bands are tight Blue Sky Noise Sean Zimmerman Wall and feature solid musicians, but the vocalists are clearly the driving 2. Spell Talk – Ghost Rider – Writer/ SLUG Games force behind every song. Even at a paltry nine minutes, this split 3. Murder By Death – Coordinator destroys nearly every other musical release of 2010. –Ricky Vigil Good Morning, Magpie 1. The Black Keys – Brothers 4. My Chemical Romance – 2. Ratatat – LP4 Danger Days: The True Lives of 3. RJD2 – The Colossus the Fabulous Killjoys 4. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach 5. In The Word of the Mute 5. Broken Bells – Self-Titled – Between the Rebel and the 40

SaltLakeUnderGround 33 34 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 35 I got to talk to one of Atheist’s founding members, vocalist (and former guitarist) an Atheist song. It used to be that it would take many listens to get it, and it still Kelly Shaefer, about the band past and present. is that way—it’s a complicated listen. We’ve been used to that and people not An Extremely Unquestionable Presence – An interview with getting our music from the first and second listen. You’re not supposed to get SLUG: It almost seems like there is a trend of band reunions lately. Some may the record when you first hear it anyway, you’re supposed to spend time with it say it’s for money, but I think it’s a completely different reason for metal bands and find new things each time you listen to it. I think our position in history is the because there isn’t really much money to be made. What do you think about the same as it’s always it’s been. It kind of dictated itself or we wouldn’t be making trend? a new record. Shaefer: Let’s keep things in perspective: We [reunited] in 2005, back before Cynic and [any other band] got back together, we just came back in a different SLUG: The lyrics for Jupiter feature some anti-religious stuff among other way. We didn’t come back with a new record until now—it started with re-issues things—it seems like you had a lot to say. What inspired you lyrically? of the old albums and then the reunion shows/tours. It would appear that’s it’s Shaefer: It’s not as simple as ‘God is crap and the bible is stupid.’ “Fraudulent a comeback, but really it’s a storm that had been brewing long before most Cloth” deals with my discontent with the Catholic Church and the Vatican and everybody else got back together. We just needed to get reacquainted with the way they handled the molestation of the kids. Jupiter is more about the each other and remind ourselves of what it was that we loved about the music. parallels of my beliefs. I believe in the Earth and the Sun and the moon, and It’s certainly not for the money, that’s absolutely the most ridiculous statement that’s sort of God to me. I really don’t like organized thoughts, as I answer only somebody could make. Anybody that plays this music knows we aren’t rich. to the Sun, the Moon and the Earth so I’m second to Sun so to speak, and We’re very wealthy in experience, and that’s it. It’s really about the art and doing Jupiter is second in size to the Sun. Jupiter as a planet is very mysterious and it for all the right reasons—that’s what keeps it underground. weird. It doesn’t really have a surface—it’s all gasses and molecules and the great red spots—all this anger with 11,000 mile an hour winds, so I found a lot SLUG: Do you think the resurgence of a lot of the older metal bands is good for of parallels between the band and my beliefs with Jupiter, so I wrote “Second the metal scene? to Sun” about that. “Live and Live Again” is about evolution, which is painfully Shaefer: I actually do in some instances, like Testament’s new record is obvious to everybody that has a brain—it’s just odd to me that evolution is even amazing—they came back with fire. You can’t come back and rest on your old in question. “Faux King Christ” is straight down the middle: Why do people live laurels—you sort of have to have something to say that’s relevant to this decade. their lives for this invisible sort of story that was told so many years ago? It’s like If you do, it will translate to the people listening. There’s probably been a 50/50 a mental illness when I watch television and I see the fanaticism around religion, split on the bands that have come back and done strong records. It’s good and when it starts to affect my life that pisses me off. You’re entitled to believe because it reminds everyone about the fundamentals. It’s also an interesting whatever you want, but when you start putting it in school and putting it into experience to watch people transcend a couple of decades and reapply every aspect of my life and I have to be subjected to it all the time, I don’t think the same techniques that built this scene. If they do it in a unique way that’s that’s any better having a Satanist running around and knocking on people’s influenced a lot of bands, why not come back and take a stab at it? It depends doors. These stories are misinterpreted hugely—I often say that I could show on who you are. There’s certainly this misconception that when you’re 40 you’re somebody one of my songs and ask them what they thought it was about and old, and I think that’s ridiculous. In music you just get better and better. It’s not get ten different answers. Imagine if you put hundreds of years in between a physical sport—we’re not playing football. I can play better than I ever have, [the songs and the interpretations] how misinterpreted they would be. Those I can write better than I ever have, so why wouldn’t I continue to make music stories that are in the bible are great stories and there are a lot of great things that’s relevant? that happened, but for people to interpret them today and apply them to life is ridiculous. I choose to live my life differently and so it’s just a presentation of my SLUG: I personally think a lot of the technical death metal stuff now has been disbelief in how people are able to relinquish all control like “I just give my life influenced by what Atheist did. Where do you see Atheist’s place in the current to the lord and savior Jesus Christ.” “Faux King Christ” is just about a play on climate of metal? words and a continuation of my early thoughts back in the old days—obviously Shaefer: I see us being a different thing than just technical. There are many I had a lot of disdain. Religion is at the root of all wars and that organized train bands that are far more technical than us and play stuff that’s way harder to of thought just kind of complicates everybody’s life. Since I last made an Atheist play, but the stuff that we’re orchestrating is what makes us technical. The record, I had to get that out of me a bit after 20 years built up. accumulation of the four parts almost like a machine—working together but actually playing different things all the time—we’re sort of better at that than we For those that think all death metal sounds the same, Atheist, new and old, are at creating “bet you can’t play that” kind of riffs. I think our biggest goal was offers up a heaping hunk of contradiction to the misconception. Death metal is to take this kind of metal to a different place. We can all play our asses off and not just blood, guts and hail Satan or just a cacophony of gurgled vocals, super play a bunch of notes and impress everyone and do what’s expected of us, down-tuned guitars and blasting drum beats. It’s not as simple as a melody and but we wanted to offer something new. I think there is a lot of complexity in the a riff and rhythm here and there with pleasing vocal choruses. Atheist has always music and that the vocals somehow pull it together and allows you to sort of created challenging extreme music. Whatever you may have heard about the Photo: Amanda Vouglas grab on and hang on through the four minute ride that is new album, forget it all and form your own opinions.

“There’s this misconception, when you’re 40 you’re old ... In music you get better. It’s not a physical sport—we’re not playing football.”

By Bryer Wharton the band in 1991 as original bassist and key [email protected] member Roger Patterson was killed in a touring van accident. The band’s 1993 album Elements reflected an emotionally split and shattered band that wanted to call it The history of Atheist, a revolutionary extreme metal band that created quits, but due to label obligations they cranked out the third album. Atheist forward thinking, technically engrossing and emotionally empowering broke up in 1994, but their albums grew in popularity and the band attained music, is a storied one. They hit the scene in 1988 and soon released their legendary metal status as their fan base grew, despite the lack of a tour debut Piece of Time and its quick successor Unquestionable Presence schedule or any current releases. After years of inactivity, Atheist reunited in to much fanfare in the flourishing Florida death metal scene. Tragedy hit 2005 and finally released their fourth album, Jupiter, in November 2010. 36 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 37 Words and Photos: Bob Plumb Alaska with Mikey [email protected]

For the past seven or so years I’ve them protruding from the ocean like huge (so good, it was actually two songs.) dreamt about the day that I would make fangs. Everything in Alaska just seems Leblanc also owns and operates Holden. It it as a pho-tographer. As time went on, bigger and better. Just the thought of usually takes me about half a day to keep it it became harder to grasp what “making actually riding some of the shots you see together and not completely lose my mind it” really meant. Is it getting photos in the Absinthe Films gives me the chills. and fan out on him. After that, I’m good. It’s published, avoiding a 9-5 office job or hard to put into words how influential Big making money doing what you love? All Being in Alaska was only one part of a Mike’s approach to both snowboarding and these are part of it, but this past winter dream come true, though. The reason why life in general has been on my life. Guess while on a trip to Alaska, for the first time I was there was just as exciting as the place that’s why I’m a photographer and not a in my life, I felt like I had finally made it. itself. I was in Alaska on a Video Grass trip writer. Enough ass kissing. Here are some with my favorite snowboarder of all time, photos from my experience in Alaska. We I always wanted to go to Alaska. It seems to Mikey Leblanc. If you have followed went to Alaska to build jumps, but due to me that anyone who has snowboarded has snowboarding at all for the past 15 years, shitty snow conditions, we hit the “streets.” dreamed of making it there and having the you know who Big Mike is. He is the man Dreams of hanging in the mountains opportunity to push their snowboarding to who is always jumping down the biggest disappeared and we found ourselves the limit. In Alaska anything can happen–– shit with sick style and hitting the craziest driving around Anchorage, Alaska. We good or bad. The landscape alone speaks rails before you could even go practice did have one day in the mountains, but for itself. Sure the mountains in Utah in the park. Leblanc’s part in Kingpin’s it was three inches of crust on two feet might be just as tall, but you don’t see Brainstorm will always be my favorite part of powder—not such ideal conditions. 38 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 39 It’s pretty weird how LNP likes to hang Johnny Tsunami ... aka Johnny Miller, puts a new twist on an old around playgrounds and talk to the kids. 8E; Stalefish lipslide/boardslide. spot. Backlip. GI J:? < ; LC< J8K#;<:P# JC:;FNEKFNEC@9I8IP G7J8CKC8B<8IK:Berlin International Film Festival » Nominee 2010 Distinguished Feature Documentary Award, International Documentary Association = F I D F I<@E=F ID8K@FEM@J @K » Shortlisted for the 2010 Documentary Feature Academy Award NNN%JC:=@ CD:

The mountains in Alaska are beautiful. We hiked for about five hours only to find that it didn’t matter how high we hiked—it was still a layer of crust on powder. Also, note to self: Never, ever, ever forget to bring snowshoes on a hike. It’s called post holing and it sucks.

40 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 41 1 5 7

3

6

2

4 1. This was the scene driving back from a long day of hiking. The sun setting on the ocean with huge floating chunks of ice is pretty surreal.

2. Sweet lipslide by Jed Anderson.

3. A lonely tree in the fog.

4. Big Mike gets this ollie firecracker on a half sweet double set.

5. Look at this line. Probably would take 10 hours to hike to. Someone should have called Jeremy Jones.

6. Golden hour lasts for like three hours in Alaska. This is at a jump we built that ended up sucking, but I got this photo.

7. This was the ender of the trip. Gus Engle gets this melon over the fence into this step bank. We got this shot, loaded up the 4 cont. car and headed to the airport.

42 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 43 44 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 45 Fresh Changes in the PCMR Terrain Park By: Jeremy Riley [email protected] For the 2010/2011 season, Park City is making and started building rails for Mammoth and June for next year. We are also going to do some some big changes to their new Three Kings park. Mountain. Now I’m building all the rails for Park terrain work in that area like pushing dirt around This season, Park City has invested a lot of time, City. and what not. and probably money, to bring you a newly reno- vated park located where Pick ‘n’ Shovel park SLUG: Why did you make the switch from June SLUG: What do you feel makes Park City one of was last season. Three Kings will feature two Mountain to Park City? the top parks in the nation? more runs full of rails, boxes, logs, jumps and a Cooper: Park City gave me a call and said that Cooper: The dedication from the resort and all few things you’ve only dreamed of. If that doesn’t they heard about all my work and asked if I the resources they make available to us, such as get your gear all wet, here is a little bonus: Park wanted the job. snow making. City has added lights throughout the entire new park! If you’re stuck at a lame day job, you can SLUG: How has your experience at June Moun- SLUG: What features are you guys building this still head up after work to get some tail slaps and tain influenced what you have done with the Park year that will get kids excited to come ride at boardslides until 9 p.m. SLUG Mag got ahold of City park? Park City? Park City’s terrain park manager Jeremy Cooper Cooper: It gave me more knowledge and skills Cooper: Well, we got a traditional C box, which and asked him a few questions about the new to make Park City’s park the best I can. we really haven’t had before. A couple new park and its features. down-flat-downs, some street-style rails and an SLUG: What are a few of your favorite features to elbow rail, which goes 16 feet straight and turns SLUG: Tell me a little history about Jeremy ride at Park City? right at a 15 degree angle to straight, kind of like Cooper. Cooper: The big jump lines are really sick and the old Nixon Jib Fest video. Jeremy Cooper: I grew up in Northern Virginia, super fun, even though I haven’t hit them for a and rode Seven Springs. Then I moved to Mam- few years ‘cause of my age. SLUG: What are some of your future plans for moth about 10 years ago, where I was the snow- the park? cat driver for the terrain park. I also built some of SLUG: How far will the Three Kings park extend? Cooper: To be as innovative and as cutting edge their rails for awhile. I took over at June Mountain Cooper: Riders and skiers will now be able to as possible, and keep people excited to come about five years ago. get off the chair lift and go left to a new park and ride the park up here. also the run underneath the chair lift. SLUG: I heard you helped out with the Super SLUG: This is a question a few of my friends Park last year. Do you help out with any other SLUG: Will the lights extend throughout the and I wanted to know: Will the Jonseys park be events besides Super Park? whole park? around this season? Cooper: Super Park Seven, men’s and women’s Cooper: Yes, they are going to cover all the new Cooper: There will no longer be any parks back Super Park and Grenade Games. runs and the existing park. there due to some logistical problems.

SLUG: You used to weld features up at Mam- SLUG: Does Park City have plans to make the SLUG: I heard you’re in charge of the Park City moth. Do you still help make features for Park Three Kings chair lift a high speed any time Allstars. Are there going to be any new faces on City? soon? the team this year? Cooper: Yeah, I’ve been welding for 15 years Cooper: Yes absolutely, I think it’s in the works Cooper: Yes, we got Sage Kotsenburg, who is a huge local addition that we are proud to bring on the team. We are also losing Torstein this year. He is going to Northstar.

SLUG: Are the Park City Allstars going to come out with another banger video this season? Cooper: Not anytime soon, but we are working on more web-related edits that we’ll have up on our website throughout the season.

SLUG: What is your main goal/focus for the 10/11 season as a terrain park manager? Cooper: To build the best and most fun park in the world!

If you haven’t already bought a Park City pass, now is the time to get up there and get it. They have season night riding passes for adults 25 and up for $250. For college kids 18-24, night riding passes are $225.00. You can also snag single night passes for $48. Night riding starts after Christmas so save your money, or hope that Santa hooks it up in your stocking. pcride.com Photo: Adam Heath 46 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 47 4FRNT began its stride towards greatness in felt that he was simply riding what his sponsors instead of replacing it. In Europe, the scene 2002 as a small company operating out of wanted him to: The gear never reflected his has been race-oriented for decades, but as Lake Tahoe, California. As the company gained style or emphasized his strengths. “I wanted skiing witnessed a rebirth, the sport developed traction in the ski world, it picked up and moved to change that mentality. Products should be new styles that permeated through variety of to Salt Lake City in autumn of 2005. Three years an extension of athletes,” says Sterbenz. The cultures. Capitalizing on these transitions is what later, in October of 2008, the company moved mindset of athlete inspiration has transcended keeps 4FRNT fresh in the minds of athletes and, into a newly renovated warehouse where they through the levels of 4FRNT and remains at consequently, consumers. not only sell their product in their own retail store, the core of its culture, always growing and but also manufacture prototypes. For the past never relenting. Another unique facet central The ability of Sterbenz and his company to five years, 4FRNT founder and visionary Matt to 4FRNT’s success is its willingness to build evolve and adapt in an ever-changing industry is Sterbenz has been tirelessly working to grow the community instead of just selling to one. This illustrated in its continued growth and willingness company into what it is today. “The important value was a prime motivator in opening up a ski to accept change. The things that people do thing to realize is that there is no model for shop at its warehouse rather than only peddling on skis today were inconceivable five years success,” says Sterbenz. “The world has the its merchandise through chain stores in the ago, and the evolution of the sport over the next big ski manufacturers that have been around area. “There is a lot of unharnessed potential five years will surely be the same. “Women since the beginning and they have their methods here in SLC, and we wanted to create our own have really turned it up as well,” says Sterbenz. for doing business, [but] we are different.” The platform for its rapidly diversifying identity,” says The sea change among female competition difference is apparent the moment you walk in Sterbenz. He also described how using the has brought about a new class of rider, and the door. The shop has more of an art gallery shop/warehouse as a crude prototype facility 4FRNT is watchful and interested in their feel with clean lines and various ski models adds to the character of the company and maturity. Sterbenz expressed his involvement placed elegantly on the wall with bindings, boots, allows athletes to hone in on a ski design that in continuing to observe female influence on the poles and clothing specifically positioned to acts as an extension of their personality and sport and eventually develop women-specific match the flow of the store. As in-house product technique. This extension comes in various skis when the time comes. He also emphasized developer and pro skier Cody Barnhill took me forms, of course, from finding artists for top- the company’s commitment to progression by through the back office and into the warehouse, sheet graphics to material selection, shaping looking towards the future of skiing: the youth. the difference between 4FRNT and other and even naming. Local hero and long-time By continuing to promote the sport to kids in companies became clear. 4FRNT athlete Willey Miller is in the final stages the area, 4FRNT hopes to build a community of of development for his first pro model, which is young riders that influence style. “I spent virtually my entire summer back here,” set to debut in coming seasons. says Barnhill, as he points to the workshop Keeping nimble from the start has helped 4FRNT housing an intimidating-looking ski press. “Hoji In addition to compiling input from athletes, maintain its core values while still advancing (Eric Hjorleifson) and I stood over this machine Sterbenz constantly monitors industry trends its position in the world of snow sliding. Its and hand-built nearly every pair of the new and makes sure that new product launches corporate culture is paramount to its success Renegade skis.” For a company like 4FRNT, coincide with market desires. 4FRNT has kept and it will continue its journey towards excellence having an in-house ski press just for prototyping in mind that North America plays a pivotal with each season. You can check out the shop at new designs is phenomenal. It allows the role in the progression of free-skiing, and that 2900 S. West Temple and believe me, you wont athletes to develop and design a ski that suits it is vital to build upon the sport’s rich history be disappointed. their style, press it in the warehouse and then take it out into “the backyard” and test it. “There Cody Barnhill shaping some prototypes in the aren’t many companies that have the ability to warehouse. do this kind of on-the-fly product testing,” says Sterbenz.

With their devout attention to detail and commitment to development, you’d think these guys never get to relax. Wrong. Directly behind the ski press is a custom built mini-ramp that takes up about a fifth of the warehouse. Not a bad place to unwind when you start to feel stir- crazy. “We are really working hard getting caught up on all our orders for the season, but we’re still havin’ a good time,” says Jeremy Handly, shipping and recieving manager at 4FRNT.

For the 2010/2011 winter season, Sterbenz and his crew are unleashing a full range of skis developed for everything from park to big mountain to pow. Since the beginning, 4FRNT has been a company devoted to incorporating the athlete’s style into the design process. As a sponsored athlete participating in numerous competitions around the world, Sterbenz always Photo: Peter Anderson 48 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 49 Laura Hadar Rider: Trick: Tailpress I love getting phone calls from Laura Hadar, who is always eager to shoot photos. On this particular day, we didn’t have a generator to run the lights so we wanted to keep it an early night. In the late afternoon, we spent an hour or so setting up a drop- in and landing at a different spot until we finally got the boot. Although it was getting dark quick and we were tired from shoveling, I remembered a down ledge within a few miles. Eager to make something happen, Laura ended up pressing in complete darkness without any lights to see the runway or landing. After seeing her blue puffy coat, I knew the photo needed something more to catch the viewer’s eye. I decided to match theDave same Brewer blue in a creepy fashion by placing a color gel in the tunnel, just enough to add to the scare factor of snowboarding in total darkness. –

50 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 51 Words by: Giuseppe Ventrella [email protected] Photos by: Weston Colton Back smith. westoncoltonphoto.com

If you’ve been following Utah skateboarding for know Keller. He’s not a guy you see around all SLUG: First and foremost, who or what is Tobala while, you may or may not know Cristobal the time,Vision but when you do, it’s a real treat. He’s Tobal? Napoleon Keller. Even though Keller has been been keeping it real for quite a while and doing Keller: Tobal is an old Hebrew word meaning around for a long time, he’s remained pretty some really stylish tricks along with some really “man who paints with huge wiener.” My first underground. Unless you’ve skated some amazing artwork. This guy always has a smile, name is Cristobal, but nobody could ever random ass Utah County spot that no one else enjoys life more than most and is really fun to pronounce it right growing up, so I just went skates or Orem Park a bunch, you probably don’t nerd out with on ‘90s skate trivia. by Cris. So now I show tribute to the last part of my name by using the name Tobal for everything creative I do. So Tobal is my name, my brand, my lifestyle, my art, my music and my way of paying bills every month.

SLUG: Do you feel your interest in art came from skateboarding? Or, better put, Tre flip fakie. what got you interested in art? Keller: I give tons of credit to skateboarding. I grew up outside the Bay Area, so me and my homies would always go skate San Francisco on the weekends. I would always see the graffiti on the walls and go back home to Ceres, California and try to do my own style there. Skateboarders have always been creative people because we look at the world differently than everyone else. They just see buildings everywhere, and we see skate obstacles and different tricks that can be done there, so being surrounded by that my whole life has definitely helped my creativity.

SLUG: Aside from skateboard graphics (if you consider them an influence), where do you draw influence from? Keller: I draw influence from everything. Jeans and crap. I’m just glad the tall tee with the seem free and can go anywhere. I hate being SLUG: Lastly, who should we watch out for in I can be watching a sci-fi movie and see tight pants trend is dying out. I never understood tied down to one location. I’m pretty known for the Utah art world? Who should we be watching some cool-looking alien on there and it’ll that one, but to each his own. just disappearing for a while, so I would say a out for in the Utah skateboard world? trigger a character in my head that I want bird or a bear just cause when I lose my cool, I Keller: In the art world, I’m pretty clueless. I just to paint. Also, I get a lot of influence from SLUG: I remember talking to you about your straight up want to kill that person. do my own thing and try to get Tobal out there my friends. We have thousands of inside experiences of living in New York. Could you more, but my friends Colt Bowden and Aaron jokes that I use for inspiration for paintings. please share a story from that time? SLUG: Instead of naming your top five pro Eskaron are really rad painters. And as far as For example, we’ll say, “Wouldn’t it be Keller: I always wanted to go to NYC just skateboarders, I was wondering if you could photographers—Weston Colton and Sam funny to see a bear rollerblading down this because I grew up breakdancing, and b-boying name your top five tricks and which pros do Milianta, of course. In the skateboard world, hill…” then I’ll go and paint some bear on started out there, so I always thought it looked them the best? Matt Fisher is killing it, Devin is always killing it rollerblades. Just weird crap like that. like a rad place to go. So anyways, I finally went Keller: and I really want to see a full part from my homie out there and loved it. I was staying in the ghetto 1. Antwon Dixon - Nollie Heels Dylan Call. I love watching that dude cruise. I SLUG: I know you’re a Utah transplant, so at first, in the Bronx, then randomly became 2. Andrew Reynolds - Backside 360 wish I could say, “Watch out for a full Tobal part,” how does skateboarding in Utah compare friends with this movie director that let me move 3. Cale Nuske - Kickflip Crook but I’m 28 and my back hurts. Maybe I’ll just do to the other places you’ve lived, and what in to his 5th Ave. penthouse suite in Manhattan. 4. Caswell Berry - Kickflip a four minute skate part of just slappy grinds on keeps you here? I literally went from rags to riches. He left me 5. Geoff Rowley - Frontside Flip curbs. Haha. I can’t even slappy. Sad. Keller: My family moved to Utah about five his credit card every day for me to go have fun years ago, so that is what mostly keeps me with, but I would only use like ten bucks on it for SLUG: You seem to be more concerned with SLUG: Thank anyone you feel necessary? here, plus I made some real good friends some slices of pizza and soda, and he would get doing tricks and doing them well than doing Keller: My family for always backing me in out here as well. What is different here mad, then take me to all these crazy expensive really technical stuff, kind of like a personal chasing my dreams. My Heavenly Father for than other places I’ve been is how clean restaurants at night. I seriously thought he might favorite of mine, Keith Hufnagel. Who are some giving me some talent on a board and with a the parks are. There’s barely any graffiti on have been gay, but he was just a cool dude that local skaters you feel do this as well? paintbrush, hopefully I can use it for some good. them and they’re not filled with crackheads needed a friend after his wife left him. The only Keller: My homie Adam Green has real proper All my homies back home in the 209, my homies everywhere. Plus the style is different here. reason I left was because the dude would have nollie flips, Dylan Call with front smith back Carlito, and Computer in NYC, all the OP locals. [In] my hometown park, you have mostly crazy orgies at his place and that was just a little 180s out, Alec Solberg with front tails, Eric Call Milosport in Orem for always being down for me kids skating in Ed Hardy shirts, Filas and too loco for me. with front shov’s, Devin York with skating in and my work. Everyone in Hawaii that has been Paco Jeans, but they’ll totally kill it. Over general… There’s too many to name. A lot of my rocking my art out there, and just skateboarding here I noticed most of the kids have more SLUG: What is your spirit animal and why? OP (Orem Park) homies just grip and rip. in general for giving me such a fun life. Now put money, so they’ll be all dressed down Keller: I would say a bird. That’s why I want to down this magazine and go skate! with name brand clothes, skating in Diesel skate for Hawk Clothing (just kidding). Birds just 52 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 53 Vision Elmore Oil like a waste to use such technology to figure out Force Slip On Muscle Relief Oil what you already know. I do see how it could Visonstreetwear.com Elmoreoil.com.au be effective in any country/state on the tip of the world to keep your sleeping patterns right even if I go hard. That’s all there is to it. From rise to the sun doesn’t ever set. I will say, though, that shine, I put in the time. From smashing bikes to I had a wonderful time using it during the day staying up in the streets, I get worn out. Lucky and watching how it monitored what it thought for me, Elmore Oil guaranteed me relief for my was sleep. Turns out, life is actually just a dream. muscle soreness. After a long, hard day, getting –Adam Dorobiala a little Elmore Oil on yourself isn’t half bad— getting someone to get a little Elmore Oil on you Siege Audio is even better. As for my soreness, that’s to be The Division questioned. It may have been the Elmore Oil, or Siegeaudio.com it could have been just natural muscle recovery. Elmore Oil does the trick, if the trick for you is getting someone to give ya a massage with oil––either way you win. Forewarning though, this is not something you want to venture out in public with directly after applying—it packs a funky punch. –Jemie Sprankle

Sleep Tracker Sleeptracker Elite

My feet are basically 2x4s, which makes it a chore to find comfortable kicks that don’t need an expensive set of insoles or stretching. Needless to say, when these Vision Slip ons arrived, I was skeptical.They slipped on nicely without any initial discomfort—something that rarely occurs for me. With their timeless and classic black and red, lumberjack checkered design (also available in black and gunmetal) made out of stretchy wool, they instantly conformed to my dogs like a glove. To test these These headphones are dope. Seriously. I don’t soles out, I headed to Sin City and wandered think I have ever owned a pair that is so perfect the boulevard. They kept my feet in place the for how much I abuse my electronics. Typically, whole drive down and back. It’s nice to see that my headphones end up tossed in a bag, laying when trends come back, it’s not only the ugly in a pile on my coffee table or thrown in the back ironic ones. Within two weeks I put damn near Sleeptracker.com of my car during wintertime for easy access 900 miles on the Visions, all in comfort and style. For the most part, the technology contained when I hit the slopes. When designing these bad Not only are these suitable for day-to-day wear, inside this watch is quite amazing, but on boys, Siege clearly had disorganized folks like skating and nights out pimping, they double the other hand, it seems a bit ludicrous. The myself in mind. The cord is covered in cloth and perfectly as slippers. That’s right, no need for Sleeptracker Elite is a normal watch with a built- totally impossible to tangle. I no longer waste socks—now that’s true versatility. The Force Slip- in monitoring system that tracks and uses your my time attempting to tediously untie tiny knots Ons retail for about $45, and if they are anything sleep cycle patterns to wake you at the proper from my headphone cord––instead I can just like all the other kicks Vision pumps out, you time in between cycles. You simply set your slip these on for immediate, flawless sound. can count on them to hold up for a long time no alarm and set a ‘window’ around the time that Although this particular model wasn’t designed matter what you put them through. Order yours you would like to be woken up from the particular for use with a cell phone (lacking a microphone), today at visionstreetwear.com and while you’re at time you officially set your alarm for, and the I’ve had no trouble when I’ve used them with it, snag a few of their killer tees. ­­­ ­­–Eric Granato watch determines your cycles and wakes you my phone. Whether they’re being used with my when you will be less likely to be starting a new phone or my iPod, Siege’s headphones deliver cycle to ensure a non-groggy morning. Pretty crisp and clear sound quality at a fraction of the awesome, but if you are already an early riser, or price of their competitors. Nicely done, Siege. wake before your alarm on a daily basis, it seems –Jeanette D. Moses 54 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 55 Jimmy Martin’s Top 5 Top 5 Best Actors: Top 5 3D Disasters: 5. Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Movie-Palooza 1. Aaron Eckhart (Rabbit Hole) 1. Clash of the Titans Jensen (The Expendables) By Jimmy Martin 2. James Franco (127 Hours) 2. My Soul To Take [email protected] 3. Jesse Eisenberg (The Social 3. Alice in Wonderland Top 5 Heroes: Network) 4. Saw 3D 1. Danny Trejo as Machete Cortez Wow, what a year for the enter- 4. Robert Duvall (Get Low) 5. Step Up 3D (Machete) tainment industry! We lost Gary 5. George Clooney 2. Helen Mirren as Victoria (Red) Coleman, Dennis Hopper and (The American) Top 5 3D Triumphs: 3. Don Cheadle as Lt. Col. James 1. How to Train Your Dragon Corey Haim, but we somehow “Rhodey” Rhodes (Iron Man 2) 2. Megamind regained Betty White. The fad Top 5 Best Actresses: 4. Will Ferrell as Megamind 3. Piranha 3D of 3D technology has sent movie 1. Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole) (Megamind) 4. Jackass 3D ticket prices skyrocketing, but, for 2. Jennifer Lawrence 5. Chloe Moretz as Hit-Girl 5. Legend of the Guardians the most part, nothing seems to be (Winter’s Bone) (Kick Ass) any different on the screen. While 3. Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom) Top 5 Remaining Anticipated 4. Kristin Scott Thomas the year may not be quite over (I’m Films of 2010: (Nowhere Boy) still waiting for you, TRON: Legacy), 1. TRON: Legacy 5. Hilary Swank (Conviction) here’s a recap of 2010’s best and 2. True Grit worst movie offerings thus far. Top 5 Worst Actors: 3. Black Swan 4. Somewhere Top 5 Best Films: 1. Tracy Morgan (Cop Out) 2. Gerard Butler 5. The King’s Speech 1. Inception (The Bounty Hunter) 2. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Top 5 Most Anticipated 3. Jackie Chan 3. The Social Network Films of 2011: (The Spy Next Door) 4. Toy Story 3 1. Captain America: The First 4. Jake Gyllenhaal (Prince of 5. Waking Sleeping Beauty Avenger Persia: The Sands of Time) 2. Real Steel 5. John Travolta 3. Sucker Punch (From Paris with Love) 4. Cowboys & Aliens Top 5 Worst Actresses: 5. Thor 1. Julia Roberts (Eat Pray Love) Top 5 Visual 2. Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Accomplishments: Saga: Eclipse) 1. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World 3. Emilie de Ravin Top 5 Disappointments: 2. Inception (Remember Me) 1. Due Date 3. Alice in Wonderland 4. Amy Adams (Leap Year) 2. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger 4. Iron Man 2 5. Kristen Bell (You Again) 3. Robin Hood 5. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 4. Hereafter Top 5 Animated Films: Top 5 Blu-ray/DVD Sets 5. I’m Still Here 1. Toy Story 3 to Buy: 2. Megamind 1. Back to the Future Trilogy (Uni- Top 5 Pleasant Surprises: 1. The Joneses 3. How to Train Your Dragon versal) 2. Knight and Day 4. Tangled 2. Alien Anthology (20th Century 3. MacGruber 5. Legend of the Guardians Fox) 4. Easy A 3. Seven Samurai (The Criterion Top 5 Career-Enders: 5. She’s Out of My League Collection) 1. Brendan Fraser 4. The Goonies: 25th Anniversary Top 5 Worst Films: (Furry Vengeance) Top 5 Worldwide Money Edition (Warner Bros.) 1. The Last Airbender 2. M. Night Shyamalan Makers (as of 10/31/10): 5. The Larry Sanders Show: The 2. Cop Out (The Last Airbender) 1. Toy Story 3 ($1,060,713,145) Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 3. Remember Me 3. Wes Craven (My Soul to Take) 2. Alice in Wonderland 4. Furry Vengeance 4. Carlos Mencia Top 5 Villains: ($1,024,299,291) 5. Devil 3. Inception ($818,089,663) (Our Family Wedding) 1. Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko 4. Shrek Forever After 5. Renée Zellweger (Case 39) (Iron Man 2) Top 5 Foreign Films: ($734,036,937) 2. Will Ferrell as Megamind 1. Micmacs Top 5 Remakes/Sequels: 5. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Megamind) 2. Animal Kingdom 1. Let Me In ($690,089,686) 3. The Boulder as The Boulder 3. The Secret in Their Eyes 2. Toy Story 3 (127 Hours) 4. A Prophet 3. The A-Team 4. Ned Beatty as Lots-O’-Huggin’ Check Out More Reviews At: 5. Lebanon 4. The Karate Kid Bear (Toy Story 3) SLUGMAG.com 5. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps 56 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 57 The ART of Holiday Shopping craving the arts festival experience in By Mariah Mann Mellus November and December. Gallery [email protected] UAF will host artists Bruce Larra- bee, Hai Gilbert, Patricia Street, ‘Tis the season to shop until your Amber DeBirk, Harold Wallace, bank account is cleared out. We’ve Kaye Wankier, Marian McDevitt, all been told it’s not about what you Julie Shipman, Stephanie Swift spend on a gift, but the thought that and Sandra Seifert. The show/ goes into it. Yet, as the deadline shop opened Nov. 19 and remains approaches, I find myself buying a on display until Dec. 17. Gallery UAF gift certificate for a box store, from located at 230 S. 500 W., Suite 120 the grocery store, knowing all the in Artspace. while I’ll probably get a similar gift certificate in return. Right next door, also in the Artspace complex, is Art Access. Always a Oh, how the magic drains out of the warm and pleasant gallery to visit, season as you’re sitting in a giant this time of year they have so much parking lot, listening to the same holiday cheer it can’t help but put 100 Christmas classics on the radio, you in the mood for the holidays. looking into the eyes of a soulless Featuring artists Barton Moody, retail clerk, buying items that, by Susan Kirby, Bill James, Marcee next year, will probably end up in Blackerby, Jared Nielsen, Vicki the overflowing landfill and that were Acoba, Paul Alusa, Kevin Frazier, made by a seven-year-old in a third Angela Fife, Julie Eide, Sheri world country working for pennies a Walker Gibb, Laurel Casjens, Su- day to avoid the slave trade. Warms san Gallacher, Marta Albee, Jeff your heart, doesn’t it? One solution to Archibald, Sue Valentine, Cassan- pull me from the depths of shopping dria Parsons, Sharon Brown Mik- hell is to scrap the whole thing, stay kelson, Darryl Erdmann, Aaron at home and make my loved ones Bushnell, Anne Maak, Jodie handmade gifts. Gifts covered in little McDougal, Erin W. Berrett, Izrael bloody fingerprints from sticking my Szuchay, Cassandra Barney, Da- fingers with sewing needles. I’ll pass. vid Meikle, Emily McPhie, Sheryl Thank God for the talented artists Gillilan and Joe Carter. The public and crafters and the art galleries and is invited to a special Holiday Show craft market organizers who know artist reception on Friday, Dec. 3, that no one needs the hot-glue- from 6 to 9 p.m. during Salt Lake gunned, burning-flesh-still-attached City Holiday Stroll. The show is open gifts that I would be forced to give. through Dec. 18. If you are like me and yearn for a Craft Sabbath, the hip and edgy, shopping alternative, but don’t have “not your grandma’s craft market,” time to alter your DNA to become recently moved to a larger market a craft diva, you may find this list of space at the Salt Lake Library Square holiday craft boutiques helpful to located 210 E. 400 S. The larger maintaining your sanity throughout indoor venue was imperative for their the holiday frenzy. annual holiday boutique. This year, 50 local vendors will participate in the The Holiday Craft Exhibit & Sale at the two-day Craft Sabbath Holiday event Art Barn has been a long-standing on Sunday Dec. 5 and Sunday Dec. tradition for the Finch Lane Gallery. 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. All the fashion- This year, the show will be presented able merchandise you’ve come to in the main gallery. This space offers expect, plus prizes, library vendors better accessibility and a more invit- and holiday flare. ing layout than the overstuffed lower level gallery where it’s traditionally Done with your shopping? Kick held. Over 60 local artists will present back and enjoy a show. Salt Lake Art their handmade wares. Some of the Center presents a free screening of artists you may recognize, but new Exit Through The Gift Shop a film by ones are being added every year and Banksy—a hit at the 2010 Sundance the show is always evolving and feels Film Festival and the 2010 Berlin fresh as the artists experiment with International Film Festival. This film new techniques and branch out to documents retailer-turned-filmmaker- new merchandise. You can always turned-artist Thierry Guetta as he count on a variety of items and high injects himself into the underground quality work from this group. The world of graffiti art and eventually into 2010 Holiday Craft Exhibit & Sale will the universally known but never seen begin with a Holiday Gallery Stroll Banksy. The Salt Lake Art Center is reception on Friday, Dec. 3, from located at 20 S. West Temple. Art 6 to 9 p.m., and will be open daily Center members get free parking in through Sunday, Dec. 19. The Art the Marriott. The film is being shown Barn at Finch Lane is located at 54 one night only on. Dec. 10, screening Finch Lane in Reservoir Park by the begins at 7 p.m. University of Utah Campus. I can’t make all the holiday blues go You can imagine that the organiz- away, but at least you can walk a little ers of the Utah Arts Festival have a taller knowing you supported local slew of artists in every art medium artists and the local economy. Isn’t banging down their door to show at doing something good for someone their year-round art gallery. Naturally, else the whole purpose? You have then, the Holiday Show at Gallery your route, now make your list and let UAF will be a special treat for those the festivities begin! 58 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 59 doesn’t work that way, except in the movies. I guarantee the entire evi- dence room and evidence booking DR. EVIL’S process is not backing up that cop. Next time you might want to think about fighting it and springing for NAUGHTY BITS a private lawyer. Or, you could quit weed, maybe.

Your public defender is right on that cops are allowed to lie. Is it a best practice for them to do so? That depends on too many factors to get into here, but there are other variables.

Instead of taking a plea, let’s say A COP you went to trial. You and all your witnesses are going to testify that the only reason you said anything SLUG/ZOMBIES julienned carrot) on her lower stom- was that the cop promised he’d Mmmmm, Flesh ach, just below a former tummy- only arrest the person responsible ©BY Dr. Evil, Ph. D tuck scar. Once the bit was re- for the missing eighth. Obviously, moved and she got a few stitches, you were detained and not free Zombies are all the rage—thus, the he fried it up with some mushrooms to leave. So, you were read your Miranda warning before any cus- logic would follow that eating hu- and we all sat down to have Femcar I recently went to court for a posses- todial questioning that could elicit man flesh is also hip. You’re prob- stroganoff. This was a public scene sion ticket and was told by my public an incriminating response, right? ably gnawing on your fingernails where people could watch and defender that it is one-hundo percent You only agreed to talk because the audience members could partake in legal for a cop to lie to a civilian. Is or cuticles as you’re reading this. cop promised not to arrest you if dinner if they wanted. Think of it as this true? The night I got the ticket, I Welcome to my world of cannibal- it wasn’t your weed anyway, right? performance art. Some people ran was out with my roommates and we ism. A judge in a Justice Court (which were going to go watch Avatar 3D at screaming from the room, others isn’t a court of record anyway) isn’t Jordan Commons. We smoked a bowl I have a play partner (and fellow gagged, a few laughed and a few really going to care if the cop lied, instructor) by the name of Femcar. noshed on the human noodle stew. in the car (bad thinking, I know!), and were headed to the theater when the and therefore the prosecutor won’t Her name is legendary across the She felt that by allowing this to be security officers from Jordan Commons either. However, if you asked for a U.S. in offbeat/edge play circles done to herself, she was breaking stopped us. We were immediately (and jury trial instead of a bench, I guar- and part of her fame comes from through a societal taboo she had very rudely) asked who had the “dope” antee the prosecutor was not going her many videos as a human fuck grown up with, and it made her and were escorted back to the car to like having your defender telling machine for the House of Gord. ecstatic. She’s done it half a dozen where it was. The Sandy cops came regular citizens about how a deceit- Gord is a diabolical tinkerer who times since then. Think of it as her shortly after and we were told if one of ful cop lied to a bunch of kids so he invents motor or human-powered own form of body modification. us said the pot and pipe were theirs, could knock out a bunch of arrest machines that fuck people. ‘The then only he would get the ticket. The tickets for weed. What the cop did, Car’ gets her rocks off by con- After the first scene there was a lot roommate who brought it told them, but it surely wouldn’t look good to a reasonable jury. They might just sciously and consensually being of chatter online about the legality and we ended up all getting tickets. I feel sorry for your stoner butt and objectified as a tool of someone of what had occurred. Was eat- got off with a Plea and Abeyance, but still feel like I got stiffed, as we were all let you off the hook. else’s delight. She goes to a very ing human flesh even legal? We definitely told that only one of us would happy place when she is able to checked with lawyers in several Now, let’s say you have a piece of states and were told that “well, get a ticket. I thought we’d be able to allow someone to break through get off on the fact that we were lied to, shit child molester who rapes a consensually eating the flesh of her layers of ego and obtains a but apparently no dice. Also, the report small kid in a 7-Eleven bathroom— connection with her spirit self. I’ve another is not illegal from what we said that their was an eighth in the car yes, that kind of thing does happen. enabled her to talk to her magic can find,” but that doesn’t mean when it was only about a half of a bowl. You have no usable evidence and core many times and watched her there isn’t some law out there that I know ANY amount of pot is illegal, but desperately need a confession. ‘fly’ on endorphins as she became says partaking of humans for dinner it still made me mad that they lied on So, you quickly tell your partner to stick a fake-looking camera on the a human bloody mary, a spin-artist is a no-no. the report about that as well. What’s up ceiling pointing at the bathroom in (spewing paint out her ass onto 20 with that? It doesn’t make sense that This scene wasn’t like the one psy- the store. You walk this filth into the feet of paper while being twirled someone who is defending the law can chopath Dr. Hannibal Lector had override it, especially in a teeny-tiny 7-Eleven and show him how you upside down) and a piece of meat. when he stated “I ate his liver with little case like this. have him on that camera going into She’s a plain ol’ mother of three some fava beans and a nice Chi- the bathroom with the child. Then who has been exploring her sexual Thanks. Blegh. you take him back to the interview an-ti.” This was a consensual meal boundaries publically for decades room and let him know you don’t with a willing donor who wanted and is a professional ‘submissive’ Dear Blegh: think he’s stupid, just real sick and this done to her. How’d she taste? (as opposed to a dominatrix). needs help and counseling … blah, Frankly, it was too small of a piece You’ve asked an excellent question. blah, blah … Then sit back and What? Women being objectified of flesh to say if she was like steak However, there’s a lot more to it listen to his confession. When that than inquiring about cops lying or and humiliated? That’s horrible! It or chicken. It was taboo, and taboo goes to trial, the jury is probably always tastes good to me. breaking promises. I’m curious why going to think, “What a great police is, but it happens all the time. Why you took a plea if there was no way not explore the physical, emotional tactic that was to get this vile germ Dr. Evil is a Ph.D. and not a medical they could reproduce the 1/8 oz? and spiritual impact objectification to confess his crimes!” doctor. If you have medical ques- The prosecutor would’ve tossed the has by consciously becoming an tions please see your medical pro- case right then when he saw it was So yes, they can lie. Should they? inanimate object? only a bowl and no eighth to go fessional or make an appointment Well, not always, but sometimes, along as the report indicated. Don’t at Planned Parenthood. If you have most definitely. Femcar’s main partner is a surgeon think they could submit a non- who she had slice out a small piece legal questions about your sex play, legit, throw down eighth. Evidence of her flesh (think of a piece of ask an attorney. 60 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 61 Beer Reviews flawless character, it’s no wonder the by Tyler Makmell boys at High West are already mak- Best Music Writing 2010 [email protected] ing a name for themselves in this Daphne Carr – Series Editor state and many others. This comes Da Capo Press 2010 was a year that the City of Salt onto the craft liquor scene at a time Street: 11.09 saw two new craft breweries, more where craft distillation is the new than enough new seasonals, enough boom. And why not put Utah on the high gravity beer to give you a map to end the year? –Tyler Makmell wedgie, and some damn fine liquor. So with all this booze hitting the craft Cherny Bock beer and liquor scene in Utah, it Brewery: Bohemian Brewery was hard not to blow my load on the ABV: 4.0% conclusion to the year. So for you, Serving Style: 12oz Can we will be highlighting the best of the best that hit market and what I feel best summarized the bad-ass-ness- ocity that is the motherfucking Utah craft scene! Outer Darkness (2010) Brewery: Squatters / Utah artist and purveyor, a perfect piece for a Brewers Cooperative tattoo parlor waiting area. –JP ABV: 10.5% Serving Style: 22oz Bottle Understand Rap: Explana- Description: The pour is pitch black tions of Confusing Rap Lyr- and settles with a heavy brown If you think serious music writing has ics You and Your Grandma head. The aromatics open up into reached the lowest common denomina- Can Understand a complex combination of heavy tor since the proliferation of incessant music blogging, Best Music Writing 2010 William Buckholz chocolate roasts, vanilla, coffee, Description: Finally I can take this will remind you of how professional, and Abrams Image and some licorice. The flavor creeps local favorite home with me. Cherny good, serious critiques and examinations Street: 10.08 in with sweet dark fruits coated in of music and culture can be. Best Music Bock is a smooth schwarzbier or Writing visits just about every musical chocolate and coffee, then polishes black lager that has long been avail- neighborhood from tabloid-heavy pop, off with a vanilla backing and a soft able on draft. Pouring from the can to classical, jazz, zydeco, to Nitsuh alcoholic warmth. an opaque black with mahogany Abebe’s landmark Pitchfork article “The Decade in Indie.” Beyond a collection edges and a light cap of tan-to- of great articles about musicians, Best Overview: As this was the year for off-white foam, it looks the same, Music Writing has fantastic thoughts the Utah Brewers Cooperative to but how does it taste? The body about how music reflects America’s be kicking some serious ass in the changing cultural norms and vice-versa. is full, supported by toasted malt, One such article, Hua Hsu’s “The End craft beer industry, I only saw it fit to a light, balanced hop and defined of White America,” originally published in give these guys the year end review. by the almost sooty roasted quality The Atlantic, presents the success and Outer Darkness was originally hyper-rich lifestyles of African American of some of the darker grains used hip-hop moguls Sean “Diddy” Combs conceived by Squatters (downtown), here. More on the black coffee end and Jay-Z as guideposts of how to and has now been taken up by the than the chocolate that other dark navigate a post-racial America. Topics Co-Op. They have most definitely beers often favor. Plus, there are range from indie rock’s tepid sexuality to Adam Lambert, Merle Haggard and met the quality of the original, so none of the tinny or metallic aromas everything in between. –Ryan Hall for those of you who were not able or flavors that some beers can get to snag a bottle of the 2009 version when they’re canned. Body Type 2: More Typo- of this brew, hopefully you got your graphic Tattoos hands on a couple from this batch. Overview: Bohemian’s Pilsner has By Ina Saltz been available in silver and green Silver Abrams Image cans for a while now and the last Street: 03.01 Understand Rap is a book set out to help Distillery: High West year has already seen the release of Some may have to explain the motive people of the elder generation get a bet- ter understanding of rap songs. It is an ABV: 40% (80 Proof) their popular Viennese in red. With and the meaning behind a tattoo. Others eschew explanation and get the word honest effort—the author ultimately does Serving Style: 750 ml Bottle this latest release of brand new, a good job of providing close readings Description: This brilliantly clear printed on them. Such are the inked handsome looking black cans, I can denizens who call the Body Type series on a small section of lyrics from popular spirit opens up with aromas of rap songs. My problem with this book is finally stuff my fridge until bursting home. The photography, by well-known toasted almonds, sweet fruits, grass- documentarian Ina Saltz, literally says the terrible representation it has of the with Bohemian. I wonder if they’ll hip hop community. Aside from the oc- like characteristics, and soft vanilla it all in this second book. The work is start selling sampler packs? I have both inspirational (from someone who casional Biggie or Tupac lyric, this book follow-through. The flavor follows mostly features Lil Wayne, The Game been a big fan of this beer and I’m wants to get some sort of typography suit with a dangerously smooth drink on their person) and equally disturbing. and a slew of those shitheaded bullshit glad to see it make the transition characters like Rick Ross, Trey Songz and moderate warmth on the end. Whenever one sees photos of tattoos to cans without losing anything. I and Soulja Boy. The close readings, The residuals left behind are soft an either/or reaction takes place—either wonder if it would work well for beer disdain/questioning or admiration. Body however, were quite enjoyable. One truly pears, grainy roast, and a balanced forgets how ridiculous people sound pong. Cheers to the Czech-style Type 2 lets the viewers make that deci- yet subtle oak. sion themselves, with very little in terms when they rap about internet socializing. brewers down in Midvale for letting Next time you’re jamming to your favorite of explanation behind the majority of the me have this one at home. –Rio works. This is an interesting read for the Akon track, try and give it a nice close Overview: For an un-aged whiskey read. –Jemie Sprankle Connelly casual tattoo observer and an equally to taste this smooth and have such interesting book for the more studied 62 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 63 Mass Effect 2 Bioshock 2 Heavy Rain

Top 5 Videogames of 2010 a small country’s GDP, and it shows in every school, but from what I do remember, BS2 By Jesse Hawlish scene, set piece, nook and cranny. Every is the most flat-out fun I’ve had with the FPS [email protected] moment of this game is impressive, bloody, genre ever—and I’ve probably played a hun- savage, and satisfying. After all, nothing quite dred of ‘em. The combination of plasmids, As much as I try, I can’t play everything. So if matches the specific pleasure of punching weapons, enemy types and environments cul- you can’t find Super Scribblenauts or Starcraft Zeus in the face for as long as you damn well minates in a brand of highly strategic shooter II or the latest WoW expansion on this list, it please. gameplay that you just can’t find anywhere is not a reflection of their merit, so much as else. Leave the vita-chambers to the content an indication that I am but one nerd with finite 3 tourists: This game truly shines only on hard, resources. Don’t be hatin’. and with vita-chambers turned off. I giggled Mass Effect 2 many a giggle at the deliciously creative 5 Xbox 360, PC attack combinations with which I dispatched Nobody does it quite like Bioware. Mass Ef- every splicer. Do I flame-cyclone him to the Red Dead Redemption fect, Dragon Age, KOTOR—these guys know ceiling and try to pin him up there with the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 how to build a god damn convincing fictional speargun? Do I turn his friends against him I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: RDR universe. The history, lore, politics, and then set a swarm of bees on whoever’s left impresses in many ways, none more so than societies within the world of Mass Effect are standing? So many choices ... its geography. The physical layout of 1911 beautifully fleshed out and always presented Mexico and America is so accurate that it intelligently. Although I miss the Mako, and 1 makes every other game set outdoors pale in planet probing is beyond tedious, in every comparison. But, of course, the game makes other aspect Mass Effect 2 exceeds its already Heavy Rain the list because it’s a real blast to play, not fantastic predecessor. The ability to carry Playstation 3 because its mesas, gullies, troughs, foothills, your ME1 character and all her past decisions Remember when prognosticators envisioned fields and hillocks are geographer approved. into ME2 set a new standard for videogame a future in which movies and games would RDR is quite easy, it’s true, but it remains fun, role playing. My Commander Shepherd is merge into some kind of singular, interactive so it’s not a problem. Rockstar has upped as dear to me as any fictional character I media? I personally pictured VR helmets in the open-world genre ante yet again. can think of. I remember her trials and her movie theatres, or something equally improb- upbringing. I can tell you how she would able. In February 2010 such a thing was 4 react to any given situation because the game released in the form of Heavy Rain—a more has given me leave to create her as I see fit, subtle and more effective franken-media than God Of War 3 and to watch her grow. It’s a significant step anyone was expecting. Heavy Rain inhabits a Playstation 3 forward in the connection between the gamer previously unexplored spot between film and Much like Halo’s health system, GOW’s third- and the role the gamer is playing. I can hardly videogame, which is cool, new and exciting. person, fixed-camera, combo-based melee contain a nerdgasm at the mere thought of But what puts it at the top of my list is the combat gameplay is a much-copied affair. Mass Effect 3 (ohmygodohmygodohmygod!). depth of its story and the entertainment value After years of derivative GOW-like games, therein. Heavy Rain is a mature, emotionally God of War 3’s gameplay still managed to be 2 impactful experience on par with any of the much better than the plethora of wannabes. best dramas you’ve seen in the last twelve Kratos’ epic finale is a revenge gamers had Bioshock 2 months. The fact that your own decisions been waiting for for a long time. What the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC drastically affect the plotline serves to elevate story may lacks in logic, it makes up for in I feel like no one loved Bioshock 2 quite as the experience to something more than intensity, anger, and a small, welcome touch much as I did, and that just breaks my heart. simple storytelling. Heavy Rain is a glimpse of of compassion from the Ghost of Sparta. My memory isn’t quite what it was before I got the future and a solid first benchmark for the GOW3’s budget was probably comparable to all mixed up with the bad kids back in high interactive storytelling trend. 64 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 65 The Archer’s Apple siveness here—Mikey T.’s drumming if you decide you hate the music (i.e. that of a sloppily mixed basement Suburban Ocean propels the EP’s entire orchestration you have bad taste) the multi-colored demo, but the band’s energy blasts Self Released as he seamlessly transitions through melting mammoth cover art created through, giving the feeling that they Street: 04.17 tempos and melds everyone’s parts by Sri Whipple is worth the price might actually be pretty good live. The Archer’s Apple = The Devil together. T. illustrates his prowess alone. (Kilby: 12.04) –Jeanette D. –Nate Perkins Whale + Fleet Foxes on the skins in “Kill the Priest” as he Moses Many a local band in Salt Lake City slams toms in the song’s buildups Theta Naught is starting to sound like they’re from and affords the track a driving Problem Daughter Naught Christmas Oklahoma. For the record: I once rhythm. King Kobra (guitar), Paul With Open Hearts & Empty Differential Records lived in the Midwest and it’s a shitty Lachica (bass) and Deavy Metal tap Hands Street: 12.18 part of the country. Maybe it would into the ‘Bot’s catchy instrumental Posthumous Records Theta Naught = Rachel’s + Do be better to pretend you’re from Cali- work in “Sheathed in Black,” but also Street: 03.2009 Make Say Think + Christmas fornia or Florida, but this band does perform whinnying solos that lend Problem Daughter = Fake It’s Naught Christmas-time! If there is the track a ghostly aura as well. A do a great job channeling country Problems + The Briggs + Stiff one thing to avoid like the plague this angst while playing shows down at mean cover of Slayer’s “Tormen- Holiday season it is overproduced, tor” closes the release, but as you Little Fingers + Hot Water Music BYU. You can tell Provo is a hotbed + One Man Army + Woody pandering Christmas albums. Luck- of emotion-filled folk now, and this listen, be sure to note the themes ily, for Theta Naught, Naught Christ- of the songs—Deavy Metal’s raspy Guthrie + NOFX band is spearheading that move- I’m a little disappointed that it took mas is none of those things. Theta ment. The folk isn’t bad—it’s well cadences deal with An American Naught play hyper-literate post-rock Werewolf in London, The Exorcist and me this long to find out about this done and has enough modern pro- band. Problem Daughter deliv- rooted firmly in a neo-classical duction to make it less lo-fi and more a Killbot horror music video coming framework. With Naught Christmas, soon. –Alexander Ortega ers catchy-as-hell punk rock atop high five. The harmonies on tracks major-key chord progressions with this SLC ensemble take traditional like “Chameleon” are well done and fun upbeat instrumental work. What’s Christmas song structures, decon- the guitar is nicely executed. Also, Laserfang interesting is that the actual words struct, improvise around reoccurring the CD art is pretty badass. –JP Mammoth that singer Regan Ashton belts out motifs and rebuild into sprawling Kilby Records in songs like “Good Friends” aren’t arrangements centered around rec- The Black Arrows Street: 12.04 what initially seize our attention, but, ognizable melodies and movements. We’ve Been Saying So Laserfang = Vile Blue Shades + rather, his timbre and comfort with Songs like “O Come All Ye Faithful” Long For So Long Mammoth + Night Sweats his melodies—he demonstrates his and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentle- Self-Released vocal skills with a balance of scratchy men” are given a sense of forebod- Street: 04.23 and melodic singing. Problem ing compositional weight centered The Black Arrows = Shiny Toy Daughter creates a distinguishable around guitar, cello, drums, keys and Guns + Paramore + Neon Trees sound from what’s out there with harp—pretty impressive stuff given My immediate thoughts on listening their fluid alternation between guitar- most renditions of classic Christmas to this were, “Why?” and then the picking, chugs, and bass leads akin songs by contemporary artists are follow up, “Why does the world need to NOFX such as in the opening un-listenable. I was going to make more chick pop?” I believe the an- of “Nothing Personal.” Drummer some Trans-Siberian Orchestra swer is money. At least we got to see Trey Bird bolsters these facets with joke here, but eh, it’s Christmas. the lead singer of Paramore’s boobs percussion that accentuates the (Nobrow: 12:18) – Ryan Hall Tweeted, but I don’t think local broad character of the other instruments Ashley Rae will be doing that any- and blends with each song as a Uncle Scam time soon to make her music more whole. It would be difficult to catego- Redneck Funeral exciting. Don’t misunderstand, this rize Problem Daughter into any one Self-Released album is really good pop. The vocals punk sub-genre, as they employ the Street: 09.01 are clean, the synths are clean, sounds of various punk circle pits Uncle Scam = Veruca Salt + even the guitar is flawlessly clean. in their own pop-punk pogo-party. Candlebox The lyrics are very dirty, though—so Laserfang opens their album the way –Alexander Ortega There is only word I can really use to edgy: “I know it’s wrong/ I kind of like that most bands would close a set describe Uncle Scam: “Sexxxcellent.” it/ it moves me along. And when the after a multi-song encore. The first Stumphead The band, no matter how good they saints go marching I won’t be in that track on the album, “Master Control are, has contributed to the English Program” starts with a minute-long Don’t Give a Fuck EP number/ I’ll be marching to a different Famous Anus language in a way where it will musical instrument orgy before diving drummer.” And that is all you need to Street: 07.10 never be the same. “Sexxxcellent” is know about this 8 song EP. –JP into a funky, electro-infused dance the title of the second track on the party. Shane Asbridge’s vocals Stumphead = Nature – Patrick Swayze’s Ghost band’s genre-smashing, provactive don’t roll in until almost the third min- full length, and I’m pretty sure the Killbot ute of the song, but when they finally When I first looked at the album art The Horror E.P. (done in MS Paint by the looks of it) song is about singer Ischa’s sexual do make their appearance, they only encounter with some unnamed grap- Self-Released amplify the epic, apocalypse-style and subsequently popped in the CD, Street: 11.06 I just assumed that the band was pling partner. If Eddie Vedder dance rock. Laserfang is well known turned into a phone sex operator and Killbot = Iron Maiden + Metal for their energetic live performances made up of a bunch of lazy, mas- Church + 3 Inches Of Blood + turbating high school sophomores. sung all his enticing lines over some and Mammoth captures their bouncy Pearl Jam demos, then you would Annihilator and sometimes out-of-this-world Imagine my surprise when minimal Killbot’s back with insatiable metal web-based research revealed that have Uncle Scam. The band is solid stage presence. At times, the album with their jam-blues-oriented rock hunger in The Horror E.P. Deavy sounds more polished than the band these dudes are old enough to grow Metal eases us into the mayhem facial hair and drink in bars. Although and the female vocals are capable of does live, but that may be more keeping up with the music. I just think with a gorgeous classical guitar intro related to the lack of whiskey that I’ve the vocal style is exactly the same as in “Beware the Moon,” which is rid- you might find on recordings from the band needs to find its direction consumed while listening than the a bit more. Either keep it serious like dled with howls from a werewolf and actual recording. My favorite tracks singer J-Hole’s other project, The the whimpers of victims-to-be. The Hung Ups, this stuff is a lot less the other eight tracks on the album are “Captain Ivan Drago,” “Alan Stan- and sing about life’s pressing issues track erupts into a galloping thrasher wyk” and “Baron Vladimir Harkon- poppy. It maintains obvious punk where the band displays the catchy influences and sensibilities while or keep it easygoing and “Sexxxcel- nen.” If you’ve somehow managed lent.” –Jon Robertson harmonization and Maiden-like licks to miss the musical phenomenon drifting slightly to the dark world of that they have branded as their style. that is Laserfang, be sure to check metal and hardcore. The recording Killbot exhibits a keen sense of cohe- them out and buy their album. Even quality of this EP is no more than 66 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 67 Send us your dates by the 25th of the previous month: [email protected]

Friday December 3 Imagine Dragons – Velour Greeley Estates, Vanna, Tides of Man, A Reckless Kelly – State Room Gallery Stroll – Downtown SLC Mullet Hatchet – Brewski’s Bullet For Pretty Boy – Basement Velvetones – Fifth Dubwise – Urban Darrel of Meat, Melissa Kelley, Ravings Bret Michaels – Depot Parlor Trix, Kirs Barber, The Bad Apples, Larusso, The Blackhounds, The of an Acousticman – Dawg Pound Kevyn Dern – Hog Wallow Dean Risko, Young Slim, Gangsta Hop, Trademark, Adam Turley – Kilby Rocking Jukes – Hog Wallow DJ Kool Kel – Kilby Play: Go to Hell – Pickle Factory 2nd Annual City Wide Help-Portrait Thursday December 9 Spazmatics – Liquid Joe’s D.R.I. 12/18 Club Vegas Winter Beehive Bazaar – Provo – Studio 600 DulceSky, Plastic Furs, Summerhead DJ Pauly D, Jake Williams – Salt Palace Women’s Center Digital Underground – Teazers – Urban Cosmic Gate, John O’Callaghan, Craig – Urban Cory Mon & The Starlight Gospel Sam Ronson – Downstairs Horse Feathers, Y La Bamba, Paul Robin, Brian Burr, Drew Latta – Salt Air Reveeler– The Fifth Saturday December 25 – State Room Mel Debarge – Harry O’s Jacobsen – Kilby N-Type – W Lounge Laserfang, Night Sweats – ABG’s Daniel Day Trio – Green Pig Musical: A Year With Frog & Toad Pete Anderson – Pat’s BBQ The Dope MC’s, Metal Gods, AM Revelator, Cache Valley Cartel, Low, Charlie Parr – Kilby – Egyptian Velvetones – Johnny’s Bootiequake – Liquid Joe’s Rooftop Bandits, Amplitude – Basement Problem Daughter, Baby Ghost, Sunday December 26 Turncoat and Church – Fifth Soul Redemption, Sarah B – Bar Deluxe Formerly So, Visions of Decay – Vegas Matt Weidauer, Willy Eklof, Adding Storming Stages & Stereos – Muse The Future of the Ghost, Rebecca Waterscapes by Lyndy Lovelady – Utah Blues on First – Bar Deluxe Loo Steadman, Merbot Collective, Machines – Muse Morgan Page, DJ Timone – Depot Mcintosh – Urban Arts Alliance Daddy Long Legs – Why Sound Nigel & The Metal Dogs – Brewski’s MC Pigpen, Pat Maine, MulitVersal Teri Ockery’s – Gray Wall Puddle Mountain Ramblers – Hog Green Man 7 – Dawg Pound – Brewski’s Monday December 27 Sam Vega Band, Sonny Pete – ABG’s Wallow Dechen Hawk – Hog Wallow Marinade – Hog Wallow Incamera, Gaza, Jesus or Genome, The Awkward Hour: Sister Dottie Dixon The Green, Iration, The Movement – DJ Cooch – Bay Bar J Wranglers – UCUU Center Accidente – Urban – UtahFM Sound DJ Irie – Harry O’s Black Sheep – Downstairs Play: If You Give A Mouse A Cookie Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband – UVU Outspoken, A18, Tamerlane, Xibalba, DJ Brisk – Harry O’s Tuesday December 28 – Kings English Grande Ballroom Sleeping Giant – Sound th Trapt, Abused Romance – In The Venue The Lost Saint Launch Party – King’s Hour 13, 11 Hour, The Terks, DJ Brisk – Harry O’s Cornered by Zombies, Muckracker, Red Roby Kap – Pat’s BBQ English MattBenJackson – Liquid Joe’s Dead Winter Carpenters – Piper Down Locust – Burt’s Kate LeDeuce and the Beer Barons, Holy Water Buffalo, Max Pain & The SNDTRKR, The Hotness, David Scotty Haze – Pat’s BBQ Jeremiah Maxey Trio – Johnny’s Darren Caine – Burt’s Groovies, Red Dog Revival – Urban Williams – Woodshed Pat Maine, MC Pigpen – Bar Deluxe Slippery Kittens Christmas Show – Bar Orbit Group, Jarrett Burns – Bar Deluxe French Horn Rebellion – W Lounge Scully Dope – Green Pig Deluxe Rain Dogs – Green Pig Wednesday December 29 St. Michael the Archangel & His Hoo Doo Blues – Green Pig Emmit-Nershi Band – State Room Possum Pals – Muse Friday December 10 N-Type – W Lounge Saturday December 18 Fox Van Cleef – Urban Fictionist – Velour Reckless Kelly – State Room Designer Drugs, Cedric Gervais, AC Darin Caine – Hog Wallow Adam Nello, DJ Timone – Depot Irony Man, Little Black Pill, Might Be Sunday December 12 Slater, Cold Blank – Salt Palace Young Dubliners, Swagger – Harry O’s Tony Holiday Band – Brewski’s Tragic – Fifth Jerry Joseph & Wally Ingram – State Caryn’s RocknRoll Rampage – Fifth Emme Packer – Kilby Unholy Lust, Depths of Misery, Xolotl, Suicycles – ABG’s Room Porcelain Plates – Utah Museum of W, Flow – Burt’s Winterlore – Dawg Pound The Awkward Hour: Cody Eden Jeffree Star, Abandon All Ships, It Boys Fine Arts Happy Birthday Ruby Johnson! Soggybone – Hog Wallow – UtahFM – Complex Theta Naught – Nobrow Hammer Inc. Art Festival – Downtown Mister Heavenly, The Continentals – Spell Talk, Cornered By Zombies, God’s Thursday December 30 SLC Kilby Monday December 13 Revolver – Urban Invdrs, Minerva, White Hot Ferrari Roby Kap – Pat’s BBQ Rune, Pink Traktor, Opal Hill Drive, Auditions – Academy of Performing Arts D.R.I., Evile, Gamma Bomb, L.H.A.W, – Urban Suicycles, Muscle Hawk – Bar Deluxe American Hitmen – Liquid Joe’s Free Film: Breakfast With Scot – Tower Desolate – Vegas Eric McFadden & Tony Holiday – Hog The Better Life Band, Heartbreak 32Bravo, The Will Baxter Band Theatre Fizzy Form, GeorgeLife, Human Gene, Wallow Hangover, Super So Far, Corvid – Woodshed Family Force 5, Forever the Sickest Jef Doogie, DJ 2BE – Bar Deluxe Michael Blackson – Club 90 – Vegas OkGo, Interparty System, Middle Class Kids, Shorelines End, The Never Ending Fire In The Skies, Breaux – Basement Holy Water Buffalo – Kilby Huckleberries – Green Pig Rut, Brogan Kelby – Complex Summer – In The Venue Wild Apples, The Lunatic – Muse Scotty Haze – Pat’s BBQ KRCL Polar Jubilee: Spell Talk, Framing Hanley, It’s Alive, Transmit Happy Birthday Jon Robertson! Breakfast Club – Brewski’s Glorious Bastards – Burt’s Mad Max & the Wild Ones, Bad Brad Derek Dyer’s Glitter People Now – Avalon Jesus Rides a Riksha, Meat Wagon Happy Birthday Mike Cundick! Wheeler’s Hanukkah Harmonica 12/17 Sorenson Unity Gallery SLUG Localized: Daniel Day Trio, Tuesday December 14 – Dawg Pound Army, Joshua Payne Orchestra – Salt Night Sweats, John-Ross Boyce & MillionYoung, The Great Mundane, Spirit Velvetones – Hog Wallow Friday December 31 Lake Hardware Building His Troubles – Urban Master – Urban Winter People’s Market – Trolley Square Ted Dancin’, Laserfang – Urban Killbot, Dead Vessel, BruteForce – Record Show/Swap – Linen Building SKP’z – Johnny’s Carlos Cornia – ABG’s Saturday December 4 Sunday December 5 Sugar Shack Say Hi to Skyline – Kilby Fizzy Form, George Life, Jef Doogie, M.I.K.E Push, Napt, DJ Hardware, Cunninlyguists, DL Incognito – In The Black Angels, Spell Talk – Urban American Attic, Welcome To The Woods Sweatshop Union – Brewski’s Human Gene, DJ 2BE – Bar Deluxe Gunslinger, Nate Metro, Mark Yurm, Venue KUER Gold Party: Los Lobos – Rose – Basement Free Film: A Small Act – City Library Terrence Hanson Trio – Green Pig Spatinum – Complex Winter Market – Utah Cultural Wagner Dark Star Ochestra – Depot DJ Selleck – Bar Deluxe Happy Birthday Josh Joye! Reavolver – Brewski’s Celebration Center Hotel Le Motel, The Rugs – Brewski’s Roby Kap – Pat’s BBQ Meeting of the Tribes – Masonic Monday December 6 A Balance of Power, Incidious, Ravings Wednesday December 15 Sunday December 19 Long Distance Operator, Junior Giant, Temple Tame Impala, Stardeath & White Dwarfs of a Madman, Autostigmatic – Dawg Sweatshop Union, Dirty Circus, Burnell Happy Birthday Ross Solomon! Muscle Hawk – Bar Deluxe Laserfang, The Future of the Ghost – Urban Pound Washburn Dope Thought (6:30pm) – – Urban Tokyo Police Club, Tolchock Trio – Kilby 2 ½ White Guys – Hog Wallow Kilby Monday December 20 Saturday January 1 Laserfang, Future of the Ghost, Young Free Film: I Remember Better When I Free Film: Exit Through The Gift Shop – Sweatshop Union, Dirty Circus, Happy Birthday Liz Phillips! I am the Ocean – Urban Yet Brilliant Sleuths – Kilby Paint – City Library Salt Lake Art Center Scenic Byway, Feel Good Patrol Winter Beehive Bazaar – Provo Rumi Poetry Club – Anderson-Foothill Allred, New City Skyline, Tessa Barton (10pm)– Urban Tuesday December 21 Sunday January 2 Women’s Center Library – Rail Talia Keys, Gemini Mind – Hog Wallow Puddle Mountain Ramblers, Hectic Berchtoldstag – Liechtenstein Writing Workshop ­– SLCC Community John Pizzarelli – SLC Sheraton Roby Kap – Pat’s BBQ Mushroomhead – Complex Hobo, Afternoon – Urban Writing Center Aftermath of a Trainwreck, Bird Eater, Whatever It Takes – City Library Monday January 3 Cam Folker, Mimi Ticker, Josh Whittie Tuesday December 7 The Current, Despite Despair, XBuilt on Thursday December 16 Smile for Diamonds, Spell Talk – Kilby – Fifth Brother Ali, The Grouch, Eligh – Urban LiesX –Underground The Dean Don Show – Urban Wednesday December 22 The Spazmatics! – Liquid Joe’s Moneypenny, Dylan Roe, Nathan Dirty Blond – Bar Deluxe Miss Corery Benefit: Discourse, Terks, Junior Giant – Urban Tuesday January 4 Cache Valley Cartel, Taylor Brown, Spenser & the Low Keys – Kilby Jake Drier – Green Pig Blackhounds, King Niko, Mason Jones Marinade, Dead Horse Anonymous, Buddha Pie – Woodshed Jon Schmidt – Peery’s Happy Birthday Nate Perkins! and the Get Togethers, All Things Thursday December 23 Timmy Anderson – Urban Thieves & Villians, The Revovery, In Hellyeah, Hail The Villian, Anew Happy Birthday Ryan Hall! Glowing Brightly, Damir Hara – Kilby Yze, Pat Maine, MC Pigpen, Taks & Words of the Mute – In The Venue Revolution – In The Venue Patwa – Woodshed Linus, Dumb Luck, Konsickwence Wednesday January 5 Seperation of Self, Cave of Roses, Deny DJ Selleck – Bar Deluxe Saturday December 11 Marcus Bentley – Hog Wallow – Urban Mike Brown Skate Night – Urban Your Faith, Massacre At The Wake – Winter People’s Market – Trolley Square Phil Vassar – Westerner Fat Soul – Hog Wallow Vegas Wednesday December 8 Mason Jones & The Get Togethers, Scotty Haze – Pat’s BBQ Scotty Haze – Pat’s BBQ Thursday January 6 DJ Camilo – Elevate Jay Brannan, The Awful Truth – Urban Spooky Moon, Blackhounds, Matt Ben Decibal Burn – Burt’s DJ Selleck – Bar Deluxe Happy Birthday Cuba Gooding, Jr.! Jason Allen is a Jerk, Sweatband, Terks, Secret Abilities, Danger Button Jackson – Urban Raashan Ahmad – Bar Deluxe Marinade – Green Pig The Darlin Broads, The Lionelle, We – Kilby Sister Dottie S. Dixon’s Holiday Swamp Boogie – Green Pig Friday January 7 DroplikeBombs, Hello Panda, Mermaid Chamber Music Series – Utah Museum Extravaganza – WSU Union Building Friday December 24 Cameron Rafati ­– Downstairs Baby, A Sometimes Army – Basement of Fine Arts Ballroom Friday December 17 Roby Kap – Pat’s BBQ Pick Up the new SLUG – Anyplace Jordan Clark, Caleb Loveless – Muse Fauna, Passive – Liquid Joe’s Auditions – Academy of Performing Arts Devil Whale, Starmy, Tolchock Trio Happy Birthday Ben Trentelman! Cool 68 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 69 70 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 71 72 SaltLakeUnderGround