SLCene Suggests: 5 Tips for Your Week

Memorial Day weekend traditionally means quick road trips to Southern Utah or BBQs in the backyard for those who can’t bail town. Thankfully, there are some great things happening in Salt Lake City this weekend. Check it out:

Bob Dylan Birthday Bash 2012, The Garage, Thursday, 8 p.m., Free

What better way to celebrate America’s finest rock & roll poet than a night full of Utah bands and solo artists paying tribute through passionate takes on some of Bob Dylan’s best songs. Among those on board for the night: The Folka Dots, The Trappers,  Ryan Tanner, Vena Cava, Sugartown and more.

The Folka Dots are one of the bands playing the Bob Dylan Birthday Bash Thursday, May 24, at The Garage.

The Civil Wars and Milo Greene, The Depot, Thursday, 9 p.m., Sold Out

If you were lucky enough to see The Civil Wars during one of the band’s two visits to The State Room last year, you know what kind of mesmerizing stage presence Joy Williams and John Paul White bring to their shows. It’s hard to believe they aren’t a couple, so palpable is their connection. Clearly, that energy has turned on audiences all over the country, as The Civil Wars have gotten more and more popular since their debut album, Barton Hollow, arrived in winter 2011. They’ve joined forces with country-pop megastar Taylor Swift for a song on The Hunger Games soundtrack, and now they’re headlining venues four times the size of The State Room. Williams is eight months pregnant, so it’s safe to say the vibe will be a little different for this visit. The show is sold out, but there are tickets floating around online.

The Civil Wars headline The Depot on Thursday, May 24

Street Dogs, Old Man Markley & The Aggrolites, Burt’s Tiki Lounge, Friday, 9 p.m., $17

This is arguably the best lineup Burt’s Tiki Lounge has had this year, a triple-bill where any of the bands could easily headline on their own. Street Dogs bring gritty punk, Old Man Markley has a bluegrass lilt to their own hyped-up punk, and The Aggrolites weave ska and reggae into their mosh-worthy oeuvre. Put ’em all together and we’re talking about a long night of damn fine music. Let’s hope Burt’s properly stocks up on PBR before the crowd arrives.

The Aggrolites are one of three bands playing Burt’s Tiki Lounge on Friday, May 25.

Crunch Fest, The Urban Lounge, Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m., $7 for one night/$10 for both

Here’s a brilliant way to spend Memorial Day weekend–join some of SLC’s most-rocking bands for a two-night mini-music-fest at Urban. Friday night, it’s Spell Talk topping the bill, joined by Night Sweats and Sunset Sisters. Saturday night, Max Pain & the Groovies are playing with Rainbow Black and Dirty Blonde.

Spell Talk plays Friday, May 25, as part of the two-day Crunch Fest at The Urban Lounge.

BoDeans, The State Room, Sunday, 8 p.m., $20

The Milwaukee-based BoDeans were one of the ’80s bands that really turned me on to roots-rock, along with peers like Los Lobos, the Del Fuegos, X and the Blasters. Their name doesn’t often come up in discussions of that era’s best, but it should–the BoDeans’ brand of blue-collar rock is grounded in rock-solid pop songcraft, delivered with passion and outstanding vocals. They had an unlikely hit with “Closer to Free” nearly two decades ago, with the tune becoming the theme song for Party of Five. More recently, their album American Made proves the BoDeans still have plenty of gas in the tank.

BoDeans headline Sunday, May 27, at The State Room.