Tolchock Trio - Abalone Skeletone

Tolchock Trio
Abalone Skeletone
(2008, Exumbrella Records)
Verdict = In a perfect world, this record would have shown up on 2008 top ten lists across the country.

Lately I have had a major itch for guitars. Not just any guitars, mind you – electric guitars! My listening habits have been almost solely devote to some of my old indie rock favourites: Fugazi, Daydream Nation, Jawbox, Dismemberment Plan, Wowee Zowee, At the Drive-in: basically anything that would send me into spontaneous air-guitar riffage while perked in my swiveling office chair; anything “angular,” slightly atonal and undyingly catchy. During my little expedition I began to wonder if I had listened to anything lately that had that same type of deliciousness. Then on a whim I picked up Abalone Skeletone. For those who don’t live on the Wasatch Front this album holds no name recognition, but for anyone with even the slightest inclination towards homegrown Salt Lake City rock, Tolchock Trio is it. I didn’t used to believe that. In fact, I didn’t used to have any interest in this band whatsoever, but somehow, by some act of inspiration I decided to rethink my unfounded disinterest and offer Abalone Skeletone a fair chance. Tolchock Trio has been around for quite sometime. In fact, I think there was a time that they were an actual trio; however, the insert in Skeletone displays the picture of five apparent band members (so, it should be Tolchock “Quintet”?). Anywho, all trivialities aside, here is the verdict (er, second verdict): Abalone Skeletone is incredible. This is indie rock done right. This is that classic, timeless indie rock of old that I have been pining for weeks. I never imagined that it would pop up in my own sleepy backyard, but alas Tolchock Trio is the real deal. Tolchock Trio achieve more than the sum over their parts on this one, pushing guitars bass, drums and vocals from discordant beginnings addictively harmonious ends We don’t really do local favors around these parts and, to be honest, I don’t even have a clue who the members of Tolchock Trio are, but to call Abalone Skeletone anything less than one of the best albums from 2008 would be sinful.

-Mr. Thistle

Tolchock Trio on Myspace

Calico - Black Pyramid

LOCAL REVIEW
Calico
Black Pyramid
(06.2008, Self Released)
Verdict = Misty, disembodied folk/Americana

Approaching an album from your hometown is always a tentative endeavor. While we manage relative, uncourageous anonymity with or little pseudonyms, there is also that struggle between wanting to be completely honest and also wanting to root for that hometown hero. Now, I’m not one of those who would vote for David Archuletta just because he was out of West Valley, but for those indie musicians from which we see glimpses of actual, “bigger than Salt Lake”, potential, you just kind of hope they can actually pull it off you know? It honestly is a rarity. There are few who can cross the line of being someone you respect in the local music scene and someone who you honestly enjoy listening to regardless of the fact that they live five minutes away. In context of this dilemma and with the desire to be completely honest, Calico has just made my day. They have touted this record as their most realized to date and the assertion is an understatement. Black Pyramid is magnificent. Steady, perfectly paced and meticulous, Black Pyramid floats along like a languid, swirling stream slowly building strength from a long winters run off. Calico captures that elusive air in-between serene, slumbering comfort and dazed, listless wandering that is simultaneously soothing and haunting. On Black Pyramid, Calico is definitely working at a level far above your average local alt-country release. This is mainly because Black Pyramid simply isn’t alt-country. More rooted in classic rock and spectral folk, Calico manage a tightly produced wondrous album that plays out something like Vetiver or Sun Kil Moon, but in a drifty Stars of the Lid kind of way. And oh(!), let me re-emphasize the production – with tiny measured flourishes, Black Pyramids is like walking through an enchanted forest filled with wondrous, magical detail. I think the most impressive item here is that with songs with a tendency to spill past the five minute mark and on average hover around 7 minutes, Black Pyramid is never boring. One of the best, most complete albums I have heard from anywhere in quite awhile. (Oh, PS - In case you missed the shows updates this week, Calico is playing an instore at Slowtrain tonight for the release Black Pyramid).

-Mr. Thistle

Calico on Myspace

Shows This Week

Monday (tonight), It’s Ladytron and Datarock at In the Venue peoples. That means wear your dancing gear because electronically induced dance offs are a must.

Ladytron - "Destroy Everything You Touch"


Datarock - "Fa Fa Fa"


Friday (June 6), Calico are playing Slowtrain Music in conjunction with the release of their new album Black Pyramid hot off the heals of their recently won title of SLC’s best mellow yellow folk (don’t quite remember if this is the exact title City Weekly created and I’m not quite sure I want to remember) band. Yay!

Saturday (June 7th), Times New Viking are bent on blowing your eardrums with a wall of fuzz rattled pop candy that is sure to go down like electric syrup. Rocking it at Kilby Court with two of our very favourite locals, Palace of Buddies and Navigator, This is undisputedly our FG pick of the week. Don’t miss out!

Times New Viking live

Some Beasts - Self Titled

LOCAL REVIEW
Some Beasts
Some Beasts
(03.2008, Self Released)
Verdict = Top Notch Instrumentals

Some Beasts debut album is the kind of wonderful surprise that I always hope for when I enter a record store. Every time I go in I pull out a premade list of albums that I have been seeking out and proceed to see if any of the albums on my list are in stock, but really, even better than finding something that I am familiar with and have researched and will inevitably get is unassumingly stumbling on something new that manages to find me obsessed. Some Beasts is that rare, unassuming album filled with wonderful depth and replay value that I will have a hard time taking out of my CD player. So now the facts: Some Beasts is the solo project of Jordan Badger, former Band of Annuals drummer, who, as it appears, made an amazing album and proceeded to nonchalantly give them away to Slowtrain (local record store in SLC of which all SLC natives should be familiar!) and then up and moved to Europe. Well, fortunately for me the album was recommended and I am hereby hooked. The whole of the album is filled with jazzy, post rock instrumentals that resemble Do Make Say Think at their more relaxed moments with and added dose of occasional (and welcome) audio experiments. I think relaxed is the key word key here. The album is definitely laid back but manages this mood without becoming bored. For those wary of the Band of Annuals relations, rest assured that Some Beasts is a beast all its own and is certainly worthy of attention whether you’re an alt-country fan or not. Here is hoping Mr. Badger will continue to making this odd, wonderful music wherever his travels take him. Definitely some of the best local music released so far this year.

-Mr. Thistle

Some Beasts' Myspace

VOTE FOR US!

It's that time again. Voting for Salt Lake City Weekly's Best Of's have begun. So, we just thought we would take a moment and shamelessly ask our beloved readers to vote for us in the "Best Local Blogger" catagory. Hey who knows, winning that may just up our reader count by five or six more people! You know you want to vote.... The deadline is March 10th, so get on it!
Vote HERE

Shows This Week

Wednesday (2/27), Kilby Court is hosting the show of the week. Hey, let’s just call this the show of the month and if there weren’t so many nuts shows coming up in the near future I would be apt to label this as the show of 2008. So here it is: the show is starting off with local megatrons of rock Vile Blue Shades and then transitioning into the wonderful ex-Liars swagger of noisy/awesome These Are Powers that have been creating quite a buzz for themselves. Next electrofunk/post punk heros Mahjongg (can’t hail these guys enough) will mesmerize, followed by the indispensible Calvin Johnson. And as if these four weren’t enough to qualify the night for the afore mentioned FG awards, Mt. Eerie has mysteriously dropped himself into the mix as of last week or so. It is almost too much to comprehend, rest assured this show is un-missable.

These Are Powers


Mahjongg


Calvin Johnson


Mt. Eerie


Wednesday (2/27), hip hoppers will also have something to be excited about as Sole and Telephone Jim Jesus from the Anticon camp hit up The Urban Lounge (21+). Really good stuff for those who can’t get into the indie smorgasbord at Kilby.

Telephone Jim Jesus


Thursday (2/28), Kilby is sending off their father, Will Sartain, and his band, The Future of the Ghost, on tour. Should be a wonderful local night with the likes of Bad Weather California, Tolchock Trio and Kathryn Cowles. Word.

Aye Aye - Saint Delay and The Golden God

LOCAL REVIEW
Aye Aye
Saint Delay and The Golden God
(01.2008, A. Star)
Verdict = Avant Psych-Blues Rumblings

For all those bustling around the FG office (which is actually a computer desk snuggled tightly into a short hallway of a minuscule apartment complex) Aye Aye’s debut record has been the subject of much anticipation. Proceeded by a year full of constantly changing and constantly satisfying live shows it was anyone’s guess what would make it to disc. In all honesty, this uncertainty as to what Aye Aye would turn into when recorded left me a little dissatisfied in the beginning. I listened to the first couple tracks was sort of anticlimactic. If you’re skimming this review, don’t stop here; my initial listen was far to rash and in retrospect, completely off base. There was a bit of trepidation in returning to the album after my first self ascribed scare. It can be hard to address something that you feel is going to disappoint, when you so desperately want it to succeed. It is like watching your scrawny little boy, who naively wants to be a boxer, prepare for his first match against an experienced kid twice his size. It’s almost unbearable to watch. Well, I’ve finally dug my heels in, gritted my teeth and followed the thing from beginning to end and what do you know: Aye Aye knocked that kid clean out! Round after round Aye Aye courageously shrugs off every paltry suggestion to bow out and instead pummels your expectations with an album completely fresh and astoundingly invigorating. Taking the signature bluesy roots of his songs and contorting and manipulating them into the perfect Molotov cocktail, Saint Delay and the Golden God is a ferocious victory. The deeper you get into the album the better it gets too. Like an uncontrollable snowball constantly building on the shoulders of the track immediately preceding it. As a reader of this here site and a fellow music enthusiast I can’t recommend enough that you throw out any hesitation and pick this album up. You will be glad you did.

-Mr. Thistle

Aye Aye on Virb

Will Sartain - Bash Your Face In

LOCAL REVIEW
Will Sartain
Bash Your Face In
(01.2008)
Verdict: Salt Lake City emo

Will Sartain is a solid singer songerwriter, however, his experimental flair that reared it's head in Bash Your Face In has a little polish work to be done. Most the songs on the album are actually reworked acoustic Future Of The Ghost songs. I liked them once, and I like some of them ever better the second time around, except for the vocal recordings that are scattered throughout the tracks, in between the tracks, before the tracks and just about anywhere they could be squeezed. The voices are muttered statements that seem a bit inflated and overly dramatic which makes the album a little too revealing, a little too emo. It's interesting to have a careful listen one time through to understand what is being said, especially when various people's vocals are layered all talking about random but somehow linked ideas, but it's draining on repetative listens, espeically when the recordings are primarily one voice. This reminds me very much of I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business, except in those recordings Arthur Enders was recording crazy people saying crazy things rather than emotional statements. It was more of an experiment rather than an audio diary. Don't get me wrong, the songs sans the rants are absolutely gorgeous, with layered vocals, interesting melodies, and accoutics recorded masterfully. I just wish the filler distractions weren't so strong to the point that they subtract from the overall listening experience.

-Sassigrass

Will Sartain on Myspace

Shows This Week

Wednesday (2/6), the A. Star collective will be providing their finest at Kilby Court. Navigator, Aye Aye, Stag Hare and The Grizzly Prospector will all be playing with a few suprises along the way. Aside from the unmissable lineup, the label has paid the cover fee for their show so that you and yours can come enjoy the event for free! That's right, free A. Star show at Kilby Court.

Saturday (2/9), The Future of the Ghost, Cub Country and Libbie Linton will be providing another awesome local show at Kilby Court. Seems that this week is the best time to catch up on all Forest Gospel's local faves.

2/27 ・ Mahjongg, Calvin Johnson, These Are Powers ・ Kilby Court
2/27 ・ Sole, Telephone Jim Jesus, Sinthesis ・ Urban Lounge
2/27 ・ Built To Spill, Meat Puppets ・ The Depot
2/28 ・ The Future of the Ghost, Band of Annuals ・ Kilby Court
3/06 ・ A Place To Bury Strangers, Holy Fuck ・ Urban Lounge
3/08 ・ Portugal. The Man ・ Club NVO
3/08 ・ Panther, Navigator ・ Slowtrain
3/09 ・ Living Legends ・ Kilby Court
3/10 ・ Xiu Xiu, Thao Nguyen ・ Urban Lounge
3/10 ・ The Helio Sequence ・ Kilby Court
3/14 ・ Leslie & The Ly・s ・ Kilby Court
3/18 ・ Zion I ・ Urban Lounge
3/21 ・ Beach House, The Papercuts ・ Kilby Court
3/22 ・ Tokyo Police Club ・ Kilby Court
3/22 ・ Jose Gonzalez, Mia Doi Todd ・ Union Ballroom
3/24 ・ Explosions in the Sky, Lichens, Black Moth Super Rainbow ・ In the Venue
3/24 ・ Aloha, Georgie James (formerly of Q & Not U) ・ Urban Lounge
3/26 ・ Headlights, Evangelicals ・ Kilby Court
4/03 ・ Cryptacize (members of Deerhoof & Nedelle) ・ Kilby Court
4/03 ・ Daniel Johnston, Band of Annuals ・ In the Venue
4/12 ・ Why? ・ Urban Lounge
4/14 ・ RJD2 ・ Urban Lounge
4/15 ・ Blitzen Trapper, Calico ・ Urban Lounge
4/16 ・ Enon, The Joggers ・ Urban Lounge
4/23 ・ Saul Williams ・ Kilby Court
5/16 ・ Destroyer ・ Urban Lounge
5/16 ・ Tapes & Tapes, White Denim ・ In The Venue

Paper Cranes & The Iron Eagles - Self Titled

LOCAL REVIEW
Paper Cranes & The Iron Eagles
Paper Cranes & The Iron Eagles
(01.2008, Magic Goat)
Verdict = Ear Melting Rock (In A Good Way)

Check the verdict, this stuff is nuts! A series of ancient Paper Cranes recordings discovered in some prehistoric cave halfway decomposed, halfway fossilized has surfaced. This is absolutely the most rocking thing that my ears have had the chance to be damaged by in some time. For those unfamiliar, Paper Cranes are Salt Lake's seminal experimental post punk saviors that shirked their savior responsibilities almost as soon as it was anointed them. Apparently this mess of blown out speaker shrapnel was the outcome of a jam session recorded on the quaint internal microphone of the band's iMac. The effect is as lo fidelity as you would find on a recording on a homemade cassette. It all adds to the enormous weight that exudes the music. The Paper Cranes have now taken on a seemingly chameleon-esque collective. On this album with The Iron Eagles moniker, the band are torching the ground they have previously paved with blistering instrumental psych rock freak-outs. It sounds a bit like Comets On Fire playing with the heft of The Goslings. There are some seriously deep bass tones here that I haven't heard the likes of since Grandeur of Hair. This is all really exciting for me as I was beginning to wonder if I would ever hear another Paper Cranes album again. Well the second part to this blissful Cinderella tale is that the whole album is downloadable for free! Released by Magic Goat Recordings, Paper Cranes & The Iron Eagles is the first of a series of monthly digital releases that will come from the site at no charge. The incredible idea is curated by none other than FG fave Braden J. McKenna, AKA Navigator, and will hopefully stick around for a long time. Go download the album now; you are in for an awesome ride.

-Mr. Thistle

Download it HERE

Shows This Week

Thursday (1/31), The Lionelle, Dead Horse Point, Patterstats and Abe Carter will present a local feast via Kilby Court. This will be one of three shows on Thursday that are worthy of note.

The Lionelle Myspace
Dead Horse Point Myspace
Patterstats Myspace
Abe Carter Myspace

Thursday (1/31), French Quarter will bring his folk pop to Slowtrain for the second time in so many months. His debut, Quarter, is certainly worthy of any number of spins and by the sound of it his live show should be quite charming.

French Quarter Myspace

Thursday (1/31), Urban Lounge presents a virtual match made in heaven with the incomparable Liars and the absolutely awesome No Age along with locals, Tolchock Trio. This is with out a doubt Forest Gospel's live pick of the week. It would be with Liars or No Age on their own so having a bill with the both of them is basically anointing this show as a pick of the quarter or possibly the year! Do not miss this show.





Thursday (1/31), HarryO's presents Talib Kweli, one half of the formerly influential Black Star. It is going to be difficult to try and promote this over Liars/No Age, but it is an easy choice for hip hop heads.



Friday (2/1), the dubiously titled genre award for the Slammies Mellow Yellow/Jazz band will actually hold some of the best bands of the entire series of awards with Calico, Coyote Hoods, Ether Orchestra and Aye Aye. For local shows, it doesn't get much better than this.

Calico Myspace
Coyote Hoods Myspace
Ether Orchestra Myspace
Aye Aye Myspace

Saturday (2/2), Kilby Court will host the second night(?) of Will Sartain's CD release party. While harboring Tolchock Trio and Live It Up Swet on the bill, the true reason to visit Kilby Saturday is for Brooklyn indie rockers Blood On The Wall. Should be a treat!

Will Sartain Myspace
Tolchock Trio Myspace
Live It Up Swet Myspace




Sunday (2/3), Kilby Court will present a close second for show of the week with the absolutely radical/awesome/incredible Yeasayer with the rising trend of MGMT. Another must see.

Shows This Week

Looks like the brunt of this weeks interesting shows are part of the City Weekly Slammy's. Here is a brief run down of the shows which all appear to be scheduled for the weekend:

Friday (1/25), Kid Theodore, The Future of the Ghost and Seve VS Evan will battle out their Pop/Indie status at Velour.

Friday (1/25), I Hear Sirens, Our Time In Space and DulceSky will be seeking to close eyelids at Liquid Joe’s by parading their ascribed “Ambient Rock.”

Saturday (1/26), The Lionelle, Lets Become Actors and Cavedoll will be hashing out the other half of the “Pop/Indie” ticket at Urban Lounge.

Saturday (1/26), and in the apparently burgeoning “Noise” category Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle, Palave of Buddies, I Hate Girls with Bruises, Yeti, Agape, Ether and Ih863335 will be creating an impending fire hazard in the basement of Red Light Books.

1/31 – French Quarter - Slowtrain
1/31 – The Lionelle, Dead Horse Point, Patterstats – Kilby Court
1/31 – Liars, No Age, Tolchok Trio – Urban Lounge
1/31 – Talib Kweli – HarryO’s
2/01 – Aye Aye, Ether Orchestra, Coyote Hoods, Calico - Woodshed
2/02 – Blood On The Wall, Will Sartain cd release – Kilby Court
2/03 – Yeasayer, MGMT – Kilby Court
2/06 – Navigator, Aye Aye, Stag Hare, Grizzly P. – Kilby Court
2/09 – The Future of the Ghost, Cub Country, Libbie Linton – Kilby Court
2/27 – Mahjongg, Calvin Johnson – Kilby Court
2/27 – Sole, Telephone Jim Jesus, Sinthesis – Urban Lounge
2/27 – Built To Spill, Meat Puppets – The Depot
2/28 – The Future of the Ghost, Band of Annuals – Kilby Court
3/06 – A Place To Bury Strangers, Holy Fuck – Urban Lounge
3/07 – The Vandals – In The Venue
3/08 – Panther, Navigator – Slowtrain
3/09 – Living Legends – Kilby Court
3/10 – Xiu Xiu, Thao Nguyen – Urban Lounge
3/10 – The Helio Sequence – Kilby Court
3/14 – Leslie & The Ly’s – Kilby Court
3/18 – Zion I – Urban Lounge
3/21 – Beach House, The Papercuts – Kilby Court
3/22 – Tokyo Police Club – Kilby Court
3/22 – Jose Gonzalez, Mia Doi Todd – Union Ballroom
3/24 – Explosions in the Sky, Lichens, Black Moth Super Rainbow – In the Venue
3/24 – Aloha, Georgie James (formerly of Q & Not U) – Urban Lounge
3/26 – Headlights, Evangelicals – Kilby Court
4/03 – Cryptacize (members of Deerhoof & Nedelle) – Kilby Court
4/12 – Why? – Urban Lounge
4/14 – RJD2 – Urban Lounge
4/15 – Blitzen Trapper, Calico – Urban Lounge
4/16 – Enon – Urgan Lounge

Shows This Week

Tuesday (1/15), Local folk troubadours David Williams and Glade, among others including The Black Hens’ CD release, will warm the chilly Kilby night air along with the fire pit. What better night to head out there and see some of the new renovations taking place with the venue’s change of ownership?

David Williams Myspace
Glade Myspace
Black Hens Myspace

Thursday (1/17), Sea Wolf will provide their conservative indie musings along with local Americana upstarts, Atherton at Kilby Court.



Friday (1/18), participating in City Weekly's Slammys, Club Vegas will host an evening of "Hard Rock" with a blistering lineup of Accidente, Loom, Glacial and the superb Black Hole. I think I am pulling for Black Hole as far as voting goes, but Loom has been courting my vote in this category - See the entire list of performances along with the balot and cast your own vote here.

Saturday (1/19), Slowtrain will be hosting Forest Gospel’s live pick of the week featuring the anticipated debut cd from experimental indie blues star, Aye Aye, along with an equally anticipated release from elusive avant garde noister, Hew Mun, and these performances sandwiching the always amazing live set of FG favourite Navigator! Three incredible musicians, two debut releases, one night you will hate yourself for missing.

Aye Aye on Virb
Hew Mun on Virb
Navigator on Virb

1/25 – Seve VS Evan, The Future of the Ghost, Kid Theodore – Velour
1/26 – Cavedoll, Let’s Become Actors, The Lionelle – Urban Lounge
1/26 – Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle, Palace of Buddies, Agape, Ether, Ih86335 – Red Light Books
1/31 – French Quarter - Slowtrain
1/31 – The Lionelle, Dead Horse Point, Patterstats – Kilby Court
1/31 – Liars, No Age, Tolchok Trio – Urban Lounge
2/01 – Aye Aye, Ether Orchestra, Coyote Hoods, Calico - Woodshed
2/02 – Blood On The Wall, Will Sartain cd release – Kilby Court
2/03 – Yeasayer, MGMT – Kilby Court
2/06 – Navigator, Aye Aye, Stag Hare, Grizzly P. – Kilby Court
2/27 – Mahjongg, Calvin Johnson – Kilby Court
2/27 – Sole, Telephone Jim Jesus, Sinthesis – Urban Lounge
2/27 – Built To Spill, Meat Puppets – The Depot
2/28 – The Future of the Ghost, Band of Annuals – Kilby Court
3/06 – A Place To Bury Strangers – Urban Lounge
3/08 – Panther – Slowtrain
3/10 – Xiu Xiu – Urban Lounge
3/14 – Leslie & The Ly’s – Kilby Court
3/09 – Living Legends – Kilby Court
3/21 – Beach House, Papercuts – Kilby Court
3/22 – Jose Gonzalez – Union Ballroom
3/24 – Explosions in the Sky, Lichens, Black Moth Super Rainbow – In the Venue
3/24 – Aloha, Georgie James (formerly of Q & Not U) – Urban Lounge
3/26 – Headlights, Evangelicals – Kilby Court
4/06 – Dirty Projectors – Kilby Court
4/12 – Why? – Urban Lounge
4/14 – RJD2 – Urban Lounge
4/15 – Blitzen Trapper, Calico – Urban Lounge
4/16 – Enon – Urgan Lounge

Shows This Week

Thursday (1/10) - As far as local shows go, this is not one to miss. Kilby Court is showcasing the incomprabable six string talents of Chaz Prymek aong with the year end list achieving Stag Hare whose live show we caught at Kilby Court Last year should have been a part of that little live show year end list thing below. Must be seen to be believed. Both these fellas along with the always consistent folk cronner The Grizzly Prospector. Go to this show.

Chaz Prymek on Myspace
Stag Hare on Virb
Grizzly Prospector on Myspace

1/15 – David Williams, Glade – Kilby Court
1/17 – Akon – HarryO’s for $100
1/17 – Sea Wolf, Atherton – Kilby Court
1/19 – Aye Aye, Hew Mun, Navigator - Slowtrain
1/25 – The Future of the Ghost – Kilby Court
1/31 – The Lionelle, Dead Horse Point, Patterstats – Kilby Court
1/31 – Liars, No Age, Tolchok Trio – Urban Lounge
2/02 – Blood On The Wall, Will Sartain cd release – Kilby Court
2/03 – Yeasayer, MGMT – Kilby Court
2/06 – Navigator, Aye Aye, Stag Hare, Grizzly P. – Kilby Court
2/27 – Mahjongg, Calvin Johnson – Kilby Court
2/27 – Sole, Telephone Jim Jesus, Sinthesis – Urban Lounge
2/27 – Built To Spill, Meat Puppets – The Depot
2/28 – The Future of the Ghost, Band of Annuals – Kilby Court
3/06 – A Place To Bury Strangers – Urban Lounge
3/08 – Panther – Slowtrain
3/10 – Xiu Xiu – Urban Lounge
3/14 – Leslie & The Ly’s – Kilby Court
3/09 – Living Legends – Kilby Court
3/21 – Beach House, Papercuts – Kilby Court
3/22 – Jose Gonzalez – Union Ballroom
3/24 – Explosions in the Sky, Lichens, Black Moth Super Rainbow – In the Venue
3/24 – Aloha, Georgie James (formerly of Q & Not U) – Urban Lounge
3/26 – Headlights, Evangelicals – Kilby Court
4/06 – Dirty Projectors – Kilby Court
4/12 – Why? – Urban Lounge
4/14 – RJD2 – Urban Lounge
4/15 – Blitzen Trapper, Calico – Urban Lounge
4/16 – Enon – Urgan Lounge

Shows

To be honest, I couldn’t find anything good this week. If you are a band in Salt Lake and have a show this week that you think we should know about, please comment below. This should be an ongoing thing, contact us if you think that we should be listing your shows. Aside from the lack of shows this week (I mean seriously, Christmas is in, like, 8 days!) there are some insane shows on the horizon (most notably Beach House, Yeasayer, Liars and No Age). But they’re not the only ones. Take a look for yourselves:

1/04 – Band of Annuals, Joshua James – Kilby Court
1/10 – Grizzly Prospector, Stag Hare, The Groom, Chaz Prymek – Kilby Court
1/15 – David Williams, Glade – Kilby Court
1/17 – Sea Wolf, Atherton – Kilby Court
1/25 – The Future of the Ghost – Kilby Court
1/31 – The Lionelle, Dead Horse Point, Patterstats – Kilby Court
1/31 – Liars, No Age – Urban Lounge
2/02 – Blood On The Wall, Will Sartain cd release – Kilby Court
2/03 – Yeasayer, MGMT – Kilby Court
2/06 – Navigator, Aye Aye, Stag Hare, Grizzly P. – Kilby Court
2/28 – The Future of the Ghost, Band of Annuals – Kilby Court
3/08 – Panther - Slowtrain
3/09 – Living Legends – Kilby Court
3/21 – Beach House, Papercuts – Kilby Court
3/22 – Jose Gonzalez – Union Ballroom
3/24 – Explosions in the Sky, Lichens, Black Moth Super Rainbow – In the Venue
3/26 – Headlights, Evangelicals – Kilby Court
4/15 – Blitzen Trapper, Calico – Urban Lounge

Shows This Week

Tuesday (12/11), Urban Lounge is hosting a local barn burner with the likes of Ether Orchestra, Coyote Hoods and Calico, all worthy bands. This is the first time I’ve heard from Coyote Hoods in a while since seeing them earlier this year at a Slowtrain instore. They are absolutely amazing – a must see band live. (Can someone clue me in as to whether they have released any recorded material and if they haven’t – Coyote Hoods, take this as a call to record!)

Coyote Hoods on Myspace



Friday (12/14), The Wolfs are playing at Monk’s

The Wolfs on Myspace

Friday (12/14), freestyle mastermind Edeyea and beat maestro Abilities will be rocking mic and turn tables at In The Venue to wet your hip hop tongue.

Navigator - Throwing Tongues

LOCAL REVIEW
Navigator
Throwing Tongues
(12.2007, A Star)
9.5/10

Navigator is the moniker of Braden J. McKenna. A self taught musical prodigy, McKenna was in multiple musical projects that rocked Kilby Court and the likes throughout his teenage years. Now he is stepping back into the limelight with new musical aspirations. He currently contributes his ear to a few local acts and writes solo, once under Braden J McKenna, now Navigator. Throwing Tongues is his first Navigator release and it will throw you into an instant love affair. Navigator is probably the first to admit that he isn't the most talented musician around, however, something about the way he is able to create a song is entrancing. It's simple folk pop with occasional electric rock outs. The composition is loose and expressive, nothing feels forced or perfected. McKenna's screechingly high voice quivers unimposing religion laden lyrics about Jonah and the Whale, Elijah, and the place where God resides over beautifully written subtle melodies. The liner notes of Throwing Tongues is a testament to the lo-fi aesthetic, listing the date and location of every recording. The list spans bedrooms and living rooms of friends and family illustrating Navigator's ability to make something out of nothing by being able to record at the drop of a hat. His feeble voice and amature recording abilities/resources seem to push the charm of the record far beyond anything that might have resulted from a studio. Navigator is a joy to see live (lucky there are two Navigator shows this weekend including tonights cd release at Slowtrain- see our previous shows posting!) The albums concise running time (just over thirty minutes) doesn't linger even a moment beyond its welcome, nestling itself precisely long enough to enter your ears and make its way to your heart. These tunes will stay with you, and you will like it! Sassigrass' pick for best album of the year, hands down!

-Sassigrass & Mr. Thistle

Navigator on Virb

The Lionelle - Oh! The Company That We Keep!

LOCAL REVIEW
The Lionelle
Oh! The Company We Keep!
(12.2007, Self Released)
9.0/10

The last recorded footprint we had from The Lionelle was filled with pared down, acoustic treatments that made up an EP's worth of material. Subsequent attendance of their live sets saw those same songs re-imagined into a full band format, terrorizing the little ghosts of those songs into Frankensteinian monsters. The outcome was exciting to say the least and the impending recorded results have long been awaited. Now, months later, Oh! The Company We Keep! (The Lionelle love their exclamation points!) is here and the devastatingly progressive evolution of the band is jaw dropping. I really saw potential in the band when I heard that oh-so-quaint Little Bee EP, but in reality, my assertion that the band could produce the local album of the year was a bit more of a hopeful wish than an actual belief. It's a difficult thing, realizing creativity with talent, and I honestly wasn't expecting the album to be fully realized. I also didn't foresee some of the amazing output they would be competing with (Stag Hare and Navigator have additionally struck gold in 2007). Yet, even with these reservations The Lionelle have gone and done it; gone and produced the exact record that I had wildly imagined and wished they would make. The acoustic guitars have turned angular and electric, the vocals have become multi tracked and the skeleton of their EP's trappings has born flesh and muscle. The angst of youth is still intact, but the composition has become mature and beautiful. Front man Tate MCL has morphed his bedroom freak pop into an experimental, post-hardcore, pop catastrophe of generous proportions. And, with that, I am prepared to make the convoluted statement I had thought virtually impossible - I am pronouncing the bands debut my pick for best local album of the year. (Well, actually, along with the two other albums that I previously mentioned I am going to have to pronounce a three way tie, but don't let that confuse you.) Oh! The Company That We Keep! is what indie rock should be: progressive, weird and oddly catchy. Latch onto The Lionelle soon because this is the kind of music that doesn't stay local for long.

-Mr. Thistle

The Lionelle on Myspace

This Week in Shows

Monday (12/3), Team Sleep will be rocking Chino Moreno’s indicized (that’s a new word) version of The Deftones with contributing members from Pinback and Hella. The band will be playing at The Avalon.



Tuesday (12/4), David Bazan of Pedro The Lion fame will be busting out his solo steez at In The Venue tomorrow. Get your introspective religion on with one of the premier singer songwriters of our day.



Tuesday (12/4), Canadian super troupe The Most Serene Republic will be offering up their conglomerate pop effort at Kilby Court. This will be an exciting show in the confines of Kilby. Go see it!



Friday (12/7), Vampire Weekend will be processing their sweet left-field pop at Kilby Court. Something about their music has always reminded me of a Wes Anderson film. Needless to say they should provide a magnificently charming set to an unfortunately stacked night of shows.

Vampire Weekend on Virb

Friday (12/7), Iron & Wine will be playing out at The Great Saltair. I am sorely bitter about having to miss this show. Beam plays an entrancing set and it would be exciting to see The Shepherd’s Dog in a live setting. Should be an amazing show.



Friday (12/7), local upstart Navigator will be playing in conjunction with the release of his staggering debut (trust us) along with Ruth Allison and Adam Lipman(!) at Slowtrain. The show will be free in along with a Potter Press screenprinting party scheduled that night. Forest Gospel pick of the week.

Navigator on Virb

Saturday (12/8), Mt.Eerie may have had to cancel his touring plans but Watery Graves are still planning on showing Salt Lake City what they have to offer at a house show with Rob Walmart, Grizzly Prospector and Navigator (2nd night in a row). Not only a terrific lineup but an intimate setting as this is a house show. Music starts at 8pm at 2496 E. 6200 S. in Holladay.

Watery Graves on Virb

The Tenants of Balthazar's Castle - Nephlocentric Moods

LOCAL REVIEW
The Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle
Nephlocentric Moods
(10.2007, A. Star)
8.0/10

The Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle continues in his prolific mode capturing the fifth of his alleged nine releases before “the castle will fall.” Nephlocentric Moods sees ToBC upping the packaging qualities of his work as well, including a beautiful photograph of a bustling cloudscape. The image shares the disposition of the music: warning of an impending storm. Nephlocentric Moods is a single track exceeding thirty minutes in length that parades some new territory for ToBC. Opening with an incessant buzz underscored by some brooding melodics, Nephlocentric Moods starts with the slowly building power electronics that any Tenants fan should be somewhat familiar with. The coarseness of the electronics falls just below the devastation of his debut, Terror in Twelve Parts. Slowly building, the introduction of some deviously distorted vocals demonizing the piece, causing you to question the direction you are heading. Just past ten minutes an alarm sounds, the phone is off the hook and a barrage of muffled explosives hit the surface. The escalation of tone continues to rise and then slowly withers away giving a brief relief. These minimalistic tricks continue until, about 2/3rds the way in, the structure switches from free noise to free jazz with a searing clarinet. The madman playing drives the last ten minutes of the piece to its breaking point. Another worthy addition to a spotless back catalog, The Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle continues to expand and excite.

-Mr. Thistle

ToBC on Virb