This week there’s music both old-timey and modern, plays telling new stories and old, and one wild, psychedelic night out.
Yonder Mountain String Band, Wednesday, April 11, The Depot, p.m., $25
Colorado quartet Yonder Mountain String Band helped me get over my phobia that they might be too much jam-band and not enough bluegrass band for my taste the first time I saw them. These boys have serious chops and kill in delivering a traditional bluegrass sound–even when they do jam out a bit.
Sleigh Bells, Thursday, April 12, The Depot, 8 p.m., $20 advance, $25 day of show
When Sleigh Bells came through a couple years ago, they stopped at The Heavy Metal Shop and bought some gear (see their “Rill Rill” video from the duo’s debut, Treats), and then played a fun-but-brief set at Urban Lounge that was like some sort of noise-rock/cheerleader camp combo. Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss have a special brand of coolness going on–I don’t know if people will still listen to their tunes 10 years from now, but they deliver some immediate satisfaction when you listen to them right now.
Plan-B Theatre Company‘s The Scarlet Letter, Thursday, April 12, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m., $20
Jennifer Nii offers up her take on the Nathaniel Hawthorne classic tale of Hester Prynne in the latest production by the Plan-B Theatre Company. Check back at SLCene.com for a review of the show this weekend.
Photo from The Scarlet Letter by Rick Pollock
Salt Lake Acting Company‘s Course 86b in the Catalogue, Friday, April 13, Salt Lake Acting Company, 8 p.m.
SLAC’s latest show is a world premiere of Kathleen Cahill’s Course 86b in the Catalogue, a comedy set in a small community college that riffs on the fight over evolution. Cahill’s past works like Charm proved popular with Salt Lake City audiences; check back for a review this weekend.
Underground Gypsy Cabaret, Friday, April 13, Bar Deluxe, 9 p.m., $7
This sounds like a night out that you don’t find every day in Salt Lake City. Pole dancers, aerial artists, sword swallowers, belly dancers, a hostess channeling Mae West and music from gypsy-rock locals Juana Ghani, Tabla Arabia and Rakatanga. Sounds potential mind-blowing, in the best ways possible.
This seriously might be the best lineup ever at Red Butte Garden, especially for fans of rootsy tunes–26 shows in all, including some old favorites and new visitors. Check it out, the lowdown from Red Butte, including on-sale dates and special package deals:
1. Mon 5/28 The Shins w/ The Head and the Heart and Blind Pilot
2. Tues 5/29 Bon Iver w/ The Staves
3. Sun 6/3 Sheryl Crow
4. Sun 6/10 American Legacies: The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Del McCoury Band
5. Wed 6/13 Melissa Etheridge
6. Mon 6/25 Wilco w/ Blitzen Trapper
7. Tues 6/26 Jimmy Cliff
8. Mon 7/2 The B-52s and Squeeze
9. Sun 7/15 Brandi Carlile
10. Tues 7/17 Josh Ritter
11. Thurs 7/19 Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers
12. Fri 7/20 Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
13. Fri 7/27 Al Green
14. Sun 7/29 Los Lobos and Steve Earle
15. Wed 8/8 Diana Krall
16. Fri 8/10 Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw
17. Sun 8/12 Michael Franti & Spearhead
18. Mon 8/13 Gipsy Kings
19. Tues 8/14 Andrew Bird w/ Amadou & Mariam
20. Fri 8/17 Dead Can Dance
21. Tue 8/21 Norah Jones
22. Thurs 8/23 Crosby, Stills & Nash
23. Sun 8/26 Huey Lewis & The News
24. Tues 8/28 Bonnie Raitt w/ special guest Mavis Staples
25. Wed 8/29 Bonnie Raitt w/ special guest Mavis Staples
26. Sun 9/2 Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
TICKET ON SALE DATES
Packages: April 23, 9 a.m.
Individual ticket sales to Garden Members: April 30, 9 a.m.
General Public: May 7, 9 a.m.
Get a membership today and save $5 per concert ticket.
PACKAGES – NEW THIS YEAR!
Communications Director, Bryn Ramjoue’ said, “We put together four packages of six concerts each that we hope appeal to every type of music fan while giving you a summer of shows.” She added, “Early availability of ticket packages should take a little pressure off first day ticket sales.” Packages include one general admission ticket to six concerts as outlined in each package. There are four packages. No substitutions. Once individual tickets go on sale and a show sells out, the package containing that concert will no longer be available. Package price is based on Garden Membership. Add $30 to each package for General Public pricing. Garden memberships start at $35 and include a year of benefits.
Package A
3-Jun Sheryl Crow $66
13-Jun Melissa Etheridge $57
2-Jul B-52s and Squeeze $47
10-Aug Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw $40
17-Aug Dead Can Dance $36
28-Aug Bonnie Raitt $58
GARDEN MEMBER PRICE $304
Package B
26-Jun Jimmy Cliff $35
17-Jul Josh Ritter $32
27-Jul Al Green $53
8-Aug Diana Krall $55
13-Aug Gipsy Kings $55
21-Aug Norah Jones $65
GARDEN MEMBER PRICE $295
Package C
10-Jun Del McCoury and Pres Hall Jazz Band $35
19-Jul Steve Martin $55
29-Jul Los Lobos and Steve Earle $37
23-Aug Crosby, Stills and Nash $70
26-Aug Huey Lewis $52
2-Sep Trombone Shorty $30
GARDEN MEMBER PRICE $321
Package D
29-May Bon Iver $40
25-Jun Wilco w/ Blitzen Trapper $46
15-Jul Brandi Carlile $33
20-Jul Grace Potter $35
12-Aug Michael Franti $43
14-Aug Andrew Bird $39
GARDEN MEMBER PRICE $236
Provo’s dance-punk crew Neon Trees are on the verge of releasing their second full-length, Picture Show, on April 17, and soon will be embarking on a tour sure to take them to all corners of the globe, just as their platinum-selling 2010 debut Habits did. In the next few weeks, they’ll appear on Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien and the Today show, and anyone who watched five minutes of the NCAA basketball tournament probably has seen their Buick commercial. It’s shaping up to be a hectic year as Neon Trees try to avoid the so-called “sophomore slump” and keep growing as a band.
Before all that, though, the quartet decided to showcase a slew of the new Picture Show tunes at a benefit concert Saturday night at Orem’s Mountain View High School, with the proceeds going to the Giant Steps preschool that specializes in working with autistic kids. Neon Trees bassist Branden Campbell’s son is just finishing two years at the school, and his wife Emilie took the lead in planning the show.
Neon Trees Elaine Bradley and Tyler Glenn Saturday at Mountain View High School
Neon Trees certainly have not lost any of their engaging stage presence since they last played in Utah; they owned the high school’s auditorium stage as they’ve owned every stage they’ve hit for years. Lead singer Tyler Glenn remains a manic dervish, whether he’s prowling the stage or pounding his keyboard front and center. Campbell and guitarist Chris Allen bring a lot of energy to their respective sides of the stage as well, and drummer Elaine Bradley is particularly appealing to watch, bashing away at her kit and singing–a rock ‘n’ roll two-fer that’s always amazed me when it’s done well.
Glenn, sporting a full head of hair for the first time in recent memory, as well as a shimmering shirt-and-tie combo, led the band immediately into some new songs when Neon Trees hit the stage, including the super-catchy “Teenage Sounds,” which he introduced as being a song about “felling a little different sometimes.” “Sins of My Youth” from Habits was a clear crowd-pleaser, with the 1,000 or so on hand taking over the chorus from Glenn. New single “Everybody Talks” clearly has some traction; the audience seemed to know that song pretty well already, and “Mad Love” was another winning new track, with Bradley even taking over lead vocals for a verse along the way. “In the Next Room” was also a highlight.
I had to bail before Neon Trees finished, due to a dinner reservation at Provo’s amazing Communal (if you’ve never been, you need to try it. Then you’d understand).
Fortunately, I got to the show in time to see openers The Lower Lights, the collective of excellent local musicans that specializes in rootsy gospel and country tunes. There are more than a dozen members of the band, so live appearances are somewhat rare, but always a treat.
The Lower Lights at Mountain View High School
That was certainly the case Saturday, even though The Lower Lights’ sound has little relation to Neon Trees splashy pop-rock–something the Lights’ Ryan Tanner joked about at one point, before noting everyone on hand had the interests of the kids at Giant Steps in mind, and that was certainly enough common ground to make Saturday a memorable show.
Among the highlights of The Lower Lights’ set were a raucous version of “This Little Light of Mine,” a couple of mean Hank Williams tunes in “I Saw the Light” and “House of Gold,” and an opening take on what I believe was old spiritual “God’s Gonna Trouble the Water.”
If you ever get a chance to see The Lower Lights, do it–it’s one of the best music experiences going among Utah musicians these days. Keep an eye out for them, and for the next time Neon Trees come home to Utah for a gig. You won’t be disappointed.
Plenty of music in Salt Lake City that’s worth your attention this week, plus one tasty trip to the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. Check out some options.
The Lumineers, The State Room, Thursday, April 5, 8 p.m., $12
This Denver-based trio got some serious buzz at SXSW, making fans of some big names among the critic-corps, like Jon Pareles and Greg Kot. It’s not hard to hear why; the band’s energetic brand of folk-rock is excellent both on their new, self-titled debut album, and in concert based on some clips I’ve seen floating around. Quiet Life opens the show.
Elizabeth Tobias: Let Them Eat Cupcakes, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Friday, April 6, 8 p.m., free
This month’s First Friday celebration at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Arts includes an opening reception for and performance by artist Elizabeth Tobias of her Let Them Eat Cupcakes project, which ” combines performance, outreach and installation to create a sobering commentary about the scale of hunger in the United States,” according to the UMOCA Web site. Tobias will be on hand Friday night, trading actual, delicious cupcakes for ideas or memories about hunger from visitors who write them down on index cards for her to use in the installation.
Neon Trees and The Lower Lights, Mountain View High School, Orem, Saturday, April 7, 5 p.m., $20
Provo’s own Neon Trees are about to head out for another round of world domination with the arrival of their sophomore album, Picture Show, on April 17. They have performances lined up on Jay Leno, The Today Show and Conan O’Brien in the coming weeks, but first, they’re headlining a performance for the Giant Steps Autism Preschool in Utah County. Neon Trees bass-man Branden Campbell has a 4-year-old son who is graduating from the program this spring. Opening the show is The Lower Lights, the collective of local musicians who together have recorded a stellar collection of rootsy gospel tunes, as well as one mean Christmas album. Tickets are available at the door and at 24tix.com.
Explosions in the Sky, In The Venue, Saturday, April 7, 7 p.m., $22 at the door
The Austin-based instrumental rockers were the opening-night headliners of last summer’s Twilight Concert Series, and their dramatic, dynamic music makes for inspiring live shows. It’s also might cinematic–check out Gregg Araki’s hit-and-miss Sundance flick Kaboom to get an earful of Explosions in the Sky and a bunch of characters as obsessed with the band as the fans you’ll see Saturday night. They also did the soundtrack for Friday Night Lights.
Bronco and Spell Talk, The Garage, Saturday, April 7, 9 p.m., $5
Two of my favorite local bands team up for what is sure to be one wild night at the juke joint on Beck Street. Bronco brings a little twang to their rootsy rock tunes, while Ogden boys Spell Talk land in that garage-y, psych-rock realm. Lucky for music fans, both bands’ tunes go down smooth with a beer and/or a shot of whiskey. Be sure to dig into some of The Garage’s tasty grub while you’re there, and lounge on one of the best bar patios in town, too. Here’s a clip of Bronco:
The first time I saw the Polyphonic Spree, they were brand-spanking-new and blowing minds via several performances at the South By Southwest Music Festival of 2000. In a town loaded with leather-clad hipsters, urban cowboys and music-biz types, everyone on hand who happened to catch a Polyphonic Spree set walked away buzzing about this rock ‘n’ roll choir they’d just experienced.
Led by former Tripping Daisy frontman Tim DeLaughter, the group has become a bit of an omnipresent pop cultural force in the years since, particularly via the use of their song “Light and Day,” in everything from The Lorax movie trailer to the soundtrack of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. They’ve performed at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony, composed the soundtrack of Sundance favorite Thumbsucker and done the opening song for Showtime series The United States of Tara, and performed during Fashion Week in New York, by request of designer Oscar de la Renta.
After a few years out of the public eye, the band is back on the road with its utterly unique blend of voices and symphonic-pop sounds, worshipping at the altar of the Beach Boys, The Association and other uplifting vocal crews. It really is something to behold the Polyphonic Spree in concert–it’s in the same ballpark as a Flaming Lips live experience: Always entertaining, and potentially life-changing.
And this is your chance to see them for free. I have 20 pairs of tickets to the Polyphonic Spree’s show at The Depot on Monday, April 9, and all you need to do to secure a pair is leave a comment here with your proper name for me to pass on to the United Concerts folks–make sure to use your real name, since The Depot box office will be asking for ID. You and a guest will have tickets waiting for you at Will Call on show night. Simple, yes?
So leave a comment, tell your friends to do the same, and I’ll see you at the show!
Looking for something to do? Check out a few things that will take you through the weekend.
Lucero at The Urban Lounge, Wednesday, March 28, 9 p.m., $20
The Memphis-based Lucero has delivered a series of strong albums since being hailed as kings of their local scene–no small feat in a music town like Memphis–for leader Ben Nichols’ gritty roots-rock. After years as indie darlings, the band hit the major-label scene with 2009’s 1372 Overton Park, and this month released the spit-polished Women & Work, a sonic leap forward that retains Nichols working-class attitude. Larry & His Flask open the show.
Laughing Stock at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theater, Friday, March 30, 8 p.m.
This excellent comedy penned by Pioneer’s own artistic director, Charles Morey, is an excellent show for theater lovers, full of laughs and heart. Here’s my review of the show.
Salt 5: David Everett Artist Talk at Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Friday, March 30, 7 p.m., free
You can hear UMFA’s latest Salt artist talk about his inspiration with Jill Dawsey, formerly of UMFA and currently the associate curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Everett’s work includes various media, from photography and video to installation, with much of it focused on “personal meaning found in public areas,” according to the UMFA. Everett’s show will be on display until July 29.
Garfunkel & Oates at Wiseguys West Valley City, Friday, March 30-Saturday, March 31, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m., $20
This duo of actresses/singers Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci pens hilarious, quirky tunes that you can find on their album Slippery When Moist. They killed as guests at this year’s Independent Spirit Awards, the Wall Street Journal dubbed them “the female Flight of the Conchords,” and you have four chances to see them this weekend.
Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company’s Cabaret of Fools at Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Saturday, March 31,6:30 p.m., $85
I’ve had the chance to attend this swank soiree a few times, and it’s always a blast, one of the best fundraisers of the SLC arts community. Excellent food, cocktails, dance performances, an auction full of worthy items and a chance to dress up and get a little fancy for a night. And all for a good cause, celebrating and supporting Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company.
Daniel Nailen 