Ogden Music Festival, Ft. Buenaventura, Friday-Sunday, times & prices vary
One of the best music events in the state is this unassuming little festival put together each year by the Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music. This is the fifth anniversary of the three-day affair, and it returns to the lush Fort Buenaventura park after flooding from the Weber River forced it into the mountains last year. Not only will you get a diverse array of acoustic-based tunes, including national, regional and local acts–from Robert Earl Keen to the Claire Lynch Band to jammers Elephant Revival–there is also local food and beer (be sure to try Roosters’ brew if you get a chance). Go for one day or all three-you can’t go wrong.
Robert Earl Keen performs Saturday, June 2, at the Ogden Music Festival.
Million Dollar Quartet, Capitol Theatre, Friday-Sunday, times & prices vary
This touring production recounts the night in December 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins met up for an impromptu jam session at the legendary Sun Records studio in Memphis. It’s one magical blast through some of the classic rock and roll moments that those artists delivered during their time in the spotlight. For Lewis, the spotlight is still shining; his new album is available at the merch booth at the Capitol Theatre. You can read my full review of Million Dollar Quartet right here.
Million Dollar Quartet runs through Sunday, June 3, at Capitol Theatre.
Utah Pride Parade, 200 South, Sunday, 10 a.m., free
The annual Utah Pride Festival has all manner of worthy activities, from concerts to rallies, but the parade–the second largest in the state–is always a special kind of awesome. If you’ve been, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, well, suffice to say it’s roughly the polar opposite of the Pioneer Day Parade. This year the route has moved to go from east to west along 200 South, starting on 400 East and disbanding at West Temple.
Downtown Farmers Market 20th Anniversary Celebration, Squatters, Tuesday, 5:30-8:30 p.m., $50
This annual party always comes just a few days before the Downtown Farmers Market kicks off another season, and so it goes again this year. As far as fundraisers go, this is a great one, offering all manner of food and drinks from Farmers Market regulars–in addition to brews from Squatters and occasionally cocktails from High West. You can meet and mingle with the farmers, and get a mean buzz on to boot. Just be sure to show up hungry.
Maria Bamford, Wiseguys Trolley Square, Wednesday, 9 p.m., $20
Some of you might know comedian Maria Bamford as one of “The Comedians of Comedy,” alongside Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn and Zach Galifinakis. Most of you probably don’t know her by name, but do know her bizarre Target commercials that come around each Christmastime. Bamford is brilliantly offbeat in her standup comedy, making audiences laugh often, and cringe occasionally, as she dissects her life growing up, her past relationships and her seemingly on-edge emotional state.
Maria Bamford headlines at Wiseguys Comedy Cafe at Trolley Square on Wednesday, June 6.
We all need to listen to more Carl Perkins.
That’s just one lesson learned opening night of the Tony-winning hit musical Million Dollar Quartet, a look at one of the most magical nights in rock and roll history, when four legends-in-the-making descended on Memphis’ Sun Records studio for an impromptu jam session a few weeks before Christmas in 1956.
If Million Dollar Quartet was nothing more than a musical recreation of the songs played that night by Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, the show would definitely be worth seeing. The quality of those artists’ early work is undeniable, and made the 90-minute show fly by in a blaze of Perkins’ rockabilly guitar licks, Lewis’ pumping piano, Cash’s deep, rootsy croon and Presley’s swivel-hipped performance style. Simply put, Million Dollar Quartet is one of the best concerts you can see this year, thanks to the actor/musicians who inhabit those roles.
The pleasant surprise, though, is the story that weaves through the 23 songs. Sun Records owner Sam Phillips (Christopher Ryan Grant) has already “sold” Elvis (Cody Slaughter) to RCA Records to keep Sun afloat. He’s hoping Perkins (Lee Ferris) can come up with another hit to match “Blue Suede Shoes,” he’s about to take a gamble on the brash Louisiana firebrand Lewis (Martin Kaye), and unbeknownst to him, Cash (Derek Keeling) is considering leaving Sun Records for a new deal with Columbia Records. At the same time, RCA is offering Phillips a deal to give up Sun and go work with Elvis again in New York.
The so-called “Million Dollar Quartet:” Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
The label drama plays out through several asides, with Phillips filling the audience in on the individual artists’ histories, how they came to Sun and what he did for them, and what they did for the label. You also have some personal beefs among the musicians that come back to life when they join up at the studio. Perkins is jealous of Presley’s success, and is particularly angry that Elvis performed “Blue Suede Shoes” on the Ed Sullivan Show while Perkins was laid up in a hospital following a car accident, causing people to believe Perkins covered Elvis’ tune, rather than the other way around. Cash is angry that Phillips wouldn’t release an album of his gospel music, and Lewis is anxious for the opportunity to make his first hit for Sun–an opportunity he thinks the other fellows blew.
As in real life, the tensions subside through the musicians’ shared affection for what they built at Phillips’ Memphis studio, and they ended up playing a mix of their familiar hits and old spirituals while an engineer let the tape roll. Million Dollar Quartet captures the magic of music history being made–without these musicians, rock and roll, country and rockabilly wouldn’t sound the way they do now, 56 years later.
The performances are outstanding throughout, particularly Ferris as Perkins, tearing through songs with an energy that makes you want to hear more, and soon. Same goes for Kaye as Lewis; his piano-playing was somewhat unhinged and always appealing, just like the real Killer. Slaughter’s stage moves as Elvis were awe-inspiring at times, his dancing seeming to defy gravity. Keeling’s voice as Cash was uncanny, the deep growl on “I Walk the Line” a dead ringer for the real thing. Grant’s Sam Phillips is the glue that holds the show together, and Kelly Lamont delivers a nice turn as Elvis’ then-girlfriend, even singing “Fever” to great effect.
As a rock and roll history lesson, or simply a rousing musical journey, Million Dollar Quartet delivers in spades. Consider a trip to Capitol Theatre during the show’s brief run in Salt Lake City.
At the very least, go grab some Carl Perkins on iTunes. It’ll do you good.
Million Dollar Quartet runs at Capitol Theatre through Sunday, June 3. Tickets range from $35 to $57.50, and are available via ArtTix outlets.
Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash in “Million Dollar Quartet.”
The big question facing The Civil Wars at their headlining gig at The Depot Thursday night was whether the undeniable charm of the Nashville duo exhibited at their previous Salt Lake City shows at the State Room would translate to a room four times the size.
The simple answer: You bet. Joy Williams and John Paul White exuded the same chemistry at their sold-out Depot show, and their harmonizing had no problem translating to the larger room. The crowd itself, while bigger than during previous visits, was just as respectful and intense about the sounds coming from the stage, making the packed bar as quiet as a library when the duo was playing something delicate, and ramping up the energy when Williams and White did the same on stage.
After Milo Greene delivered a winning set of rootsy rock–watch for them when they return for a show at Kilby Court in August–the Civil Wars took the stage to a rousing set of cheers from the crowd. Williams, currently eight months pregnant, was attired in a black dress with tassles that swayed along with her as she grooved along to White’s guitar and remarkably pliable vocals, and he was dressed in his familiar black suit and bow tie that he untied about halfway through the 90-minute set.
Given that the Civil Wars are still touring behind their 2011 debut Barton Hollow, the majority of songs came from that excellent, Grammy-winning release. Songs like “20 Years,” “My Father’s Father” and “Forget Me Not” were stirring and made the energy between the two performers palpable. The title track, “Barton Hollow,” was introduced by Williams as an effort to bring a little bit the of the Deep South to Utah’s desert, and White talked about how “Oh Henry” was written on one of the duo’s past trips to Utah.
Zion plays a prominent part in The Civil Wars’ history. As Williams mentioned between songs at one point, she has family in the area, and it’s where she got engaged. The Civil Wars also played a few gigs at Sundance in 2011 that helped set them on their way to bursting through into the mainstream.
A little evidence of how big they’ve gotten since first playing in Utah weeks before Barton Hollow was released–their presence on The Hunger Games soundtrack, on a song with country-pop megastar Taylor Swift, and on their own “Kingdom Come,” which they played Thursday night. Williams asked how many in the audience had read the book, then mentioned that “when T-Bone Burnett calls,” there’s no question that a band will answer. And while White hasn’t seen the movie, Williams said it was his favorite new flick, while he jokingly rubbed his fingers together in recognition of the money The Civil Wars made from their contribution.
As the show blazed by, performances of “Falling” and “I’ve Got This Friend” turned into massive singalongs, and covers of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” — while dramatically reworked– were obvious crowd-pleasers. “Dance Me to the End of Love” was a potent encore after the MJ cover, and the first-set-closing take on “Poison & Wine,” with Williams taking a seat behind a piano for the first time, was brilliant.
My cynical side went into Thursday’s show doubting the Civil Wars’ charm would translate to a larger room, or if would seem stale the third time I’ve seen them. Instead, I was left thinking Williams and White are onto something great, and are definitely in it for the long haul. They need to add a second album’s worth of original material to their catalog, which will come after Williams tackles motherhood for a spell, but there’s no reason to doubt they’ll come back with music as stirring and appealing as the songs that fill their hit debut.
And it wouldn’t be surprising at all if the next time The Civil Wars come to Salt Lake City, they play an even bigger venue than they did Thursday. They’d be a perfect Red Butte Garden headliner in a year or two.
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.
I wrote a preview of the headlining music at the Living Traditions Festival, kicking off tonight at the Salt Lake City & County Building. You can read the story on City Weekly‘s Website, and then be sure to give yourself enough time to grab some of the amazing food available at the festival before you go dance to some Chilean hip-hop courtesy of Ana Tijoux, and booming dance tunes from Mexican Institute of Sound–both performing Friday night.
Get the weekend started with one of the best arts fundraisers of the year, and a taste of some of the best food Utah has to offer, and the beginning of a multi-day benefit concert series in support of local sustainable agriculture. Check out the highlights of the weekend ahead:
Artists for Local Agriculture Benefit Concert Series, various venues, Wednesday-Sunday
A new non-profit geared to engaging the Utah community in support of sustainable, local agriculture, Artists for Local Agriculture is hosting a series of concerts along the Wasatch Front to raise money for organizations like the Utah State University Student Farm, Wasatch Community Gardens and other worthy local-ag groups. The music lineups are rock-solid, the cause a good one, and a minimum of $1 of every cover charge is going to support the movement. Here are your opportunities to support the cause AND hear some great music:
Wednesday, May 16: Jesus or Genome, Joel Pack, Utah Slim, Adam Virostka of I Am the Ocean and Trey Gardner of God’s Revolver at Poplar Street Pub in Salt Lake City.
Thursday, May 17: Gaza, Loom, Merlin’s Beard, Gunfight Fever and Cedars at The Basement in Ogden.
Friday, May 18: Day Hymns, Loom, Maraloka at Muse Music in Provo. Despite Despair, John Ross Boyce & His Troubles and God’s Revolver at ABG’s in Provo.
Saturday, May 19: Muscle Hawk, Dark Seas, Jesus or Genome and DJ Street Jesus at The Urban Lounge.
Sunday, May 20: Cornered by Zombies, Done, Cicadas and Worst Friends at The Urban Lounge.
300 Plates fundraiser and exhibit, Art Access Gallery, Thursday, 6 p.m., $30
The 300 Plates fundraiser is one of the cooler arts-related benefits of the year. Not only is it a great cause–every painting bought helps support Art Access’ mission to bring art to communities like special-needs children and the elderly–but it’s a great party as well. More than 100 local artists, from new voices to established contemporary-art superstars take part in providing original works on 11″ X 10″ metal plates, and you can find everything from delicate landscapes to striking (sometimes disturbing) images. The show will stay up for a month at the Art Access Gallery, but you can have one of the paintings in your own home if you hit the party on Thursday.
One of the 300 Plates original pieces available at the Art Access fundraiser Thursday, May 17.
Tastemakers, downtown Salt Lake City, Thursday & Friday, 5-10 p.m., $30
Salt Lake magazine puts together this dining tour of downtown Salt Lake City, and for $30, it’s hard to beat the price. That ticket will get you samples from a slew of fine eateries, including Bambara, Silver, Cafe Molise and others. There’s a pavilion set up in the parking lot east of Squatters (another participating restaurant), where you can eat and drink in close quarters, but you can also wander downtown and try places like J. Wong’s, Pallet and Naked Fish. Check out the Website to get the full list of participants. Also, your ticket is good for both nights, so you’re looking at dinner from some of Utah’s best food spots–twice–for a mere $30.
Living Traditions Festival, Salt Lake City & County Building, Friday-Sunday, free
The Living Traditions Festival is one of Salt Lake City’s signature cultural events, a celebration of how diverse Utah is, despite our rep as a lily-white, homogenous place. Food from a variety of Utah’s ethnic populations is certainly one highlight of the thing, and this year new groups serving American soul food, Nepalese and Turkish cuisine are on board for the first time. You’ll find me delving into some deep-fried catfish and dirty rice for sure. The entertainment is just as diverse as the culinary highlights: Friday night you can catch Chilean hip-hop princess Ana Tijoux and the Mexican Institute of Sound, who are often compared to a Mexican LCD Soundsystem. Saturday night, it’s American R&B royalty in the form of Detroit’s Bettye LaVette, and Sunday night, bluesman Charlie Musselwhite brings his stunning harmonica skills to the stage. There are plenty of local dance and music groups performing as well, so be sure to peep the full schedule at the Living Traditions Website.
Bettye LaVette, headlining at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Living Traditions Festival.
Trampled by Turtles, The Depot, Saturday, 9 p.m., $20
Touring in support of their new Stars and Satellites album, Minnesota bluegrass cats Trampled by Turtles are stepping up to a larger venue this time around after previous visits to SLC brought them to The Urban Lounge. Clearly, their sound has struck a chord with a mixed bag of bluegrass traditionalists, jam-band fans and rockers. And probably a few Twin Cities expats, to be sure.
Trampled by Turtles headline Saturday, May 19, at The Depot.
Daniel Nailen 