John Nelson

Some things just go together: Lennon and McCartney, Cheech and Chong, Willie and weed and now Hayes and The Heathens. On Sunday September 15th, fans of both musical heavyweights experienced sonic kismet when the two acts joined forces for one amazing night of Salt Lake City concert at The Commonwealth Room.

Hayes Carll and The Band of Heathens (BoH), who trace their musical roots to Austin, draw legions of loyal fans who love their poetic style of Texas country rock. So why not headline together, draw from both fan pools, share the spotlight, and enjoy economy of scale? That’s the fine formula they followed when they formed Hayes and The Heathens. 

Salt Lake City fans delighted in two-great acts for the price of one as the supergroup started off with a BoH classic “LA County Blues” before delivering a Carll favorite “Times Like These,” setting the back-and-forth pace for the night. They followed with their recently released collaborative tune “Any Other Way,” Carll’s “I Got a Gig,” and offered us a taste of their soon to be released album with “Nobody Dies From Weed,” a light-hearted tune that captures the playful nature of both their songwriting styles. 

The 23-song set included some of my favorites from both camps. Adding in Carll’s vocals on “Jackson Station” complimented Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist’s harmonic sound. BoH’s backup on Carll’s captivating hits like “KMAG YOYO,” “Beaumont,” and “Drunken Poet’s Dream” started the venue jumping. A BoH show wouldn’t be complete without an extended jam on their stellar version of “Miss Ohio.” They also thrilled us with a rockabilly hoedown, “Stomp and Holler.” For the set’s finale, we all joined in as members of The Commonwealth Choir for the BoH singalong “Hurricane.”

The Band of Heathens are no strangers to collaborating with other artists. During the pandemic they managed to record an album of cover tunes with friends who were also in lock down. The end result is Remote Transmission Vol. 1, a must-have album for fans of Americana (their rendition of Lucinda Williams “Joy” with Margo Price is epic.)

Sunday evening’s magical performance ended with a rambunctious three-song encore starting with a cover of Dylan’s “The Man in Me” that the BoH recorded with Carll on the 2020/2021 Remote Transmission project. They played homage to the men who put Austin on the musical map with a spirited rendition of Waylon & Willie’s “I Can Get Off On You.” Hayes and The Heathens sent us off into the night with a roots rockin’ gem “Bad Liver and a Broken Heart.”

These two powerhouse performers have amassed a voluminous catalog of great songs and enjoy a reputation for playing majestic live shows. On Sunday, September 15, 2024 at The Commonwealth Room Salt Lake City music fans got to witness both. 

Who: Hayes & The Heathens
What: Hayes Carll and The Band of Heathens together
Where: The Commonwealth Room
When: Sunday, September 15, 2024
Info: https://thestateroompresents.com/the-commonwealth-room

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On Monday night The Buena Vista Orchestra, under the direction of famed Cuban trombonist, composer and arranger Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos, transformed the Red Butte Garden hillside into a 1950s Havana nightclub (at least in my imagination) with an eclectic mix of Cuban, Afro-Cuban, and Caribbean sounds. They played the canon of 20th-century Cuban music with a contemporary twist. “Babalu,”  and “Quizas, Quizas,” both oldies-but goodies, resonated with a 2024 audience. 

The nine-piece orchestra, including a few members of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club (BVSC), took us on a musical celebration of Cuba. The ensemble played “El Cuarto de Tula”  and “Candela” from the BVSC’s Grammy-winning album. One highlight of the evening included Jesus Ramos and his daughter Lorena performing a duet of “El Trombone Majadero.” In the middle of the number, singer Geidy Chapman joined in with an ethereal rendition of  “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” Chapman’s vocals magically filled the thin mountain air. She tapped into the stylings of the Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz with “Azucar” and performed an unforgettable version of “Besame Mucho.” 

You didn’t need to speak Spanish to enjoy the music. Great music played by skilled musicians and singers communicate a kinetic language we all understand. Though I appreciate my friends Anne and John Stark for educating me on the finer points of Cuban music and to Rick Hughes for his Spanish translation.

As an unexpected bonus to the scheduled lineup, Cody Jasper, who is serving as the orchestra’s driver also happens to be an accomplished singer and songwriter. Jasper opened the show with a little Texas acoustic-blues. He played a spirited rendition of Dylan’s “Tangled Up in Blues” and an original “American Dream.” He ended with a folky-blues version of “House of the Rising Sun.” His four-song set was over in the blink of an eye, but he left a lasting impression and got us in the mood to groove.

The weather remained perfect as did the sound quality in the amphitheatre. I will ease into winter eagerly awaiting next summer’s lineup of spectacular music in our beautiful garden.

Who: Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos and his Buena Vista Orchestra featuring original members of the Buena Vista Social Club
Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
When: Monday, September 9, 2024
Info: https://redbuttegarden.org/concerts/

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Hayes and The Heathens isn’t simply Hayes Carll and The Band of Heathens (BoH) sharing the marquee at a concert in Salt Lake City. Hayes & The Heathens is project, a union born out of years of mutual respect. Their respective award-winning careers have run parallel and criss-crossed many times. Now we can see them together at The Commonwealth Room on Sunday, September 15, 2024 as one “must-see” supergroup playing a mix of music from both their massive catalogs.

If past setlists from this tour are any indication, fans will get to hear BoH songs like  “LA County Blues” alongside Carll’s “KMAG YOYO” (that a military slang acronym for ‘kiss my ass goodbye youre on your own). They may even play their latest collaborative single “Nobody Dies From Weed.”  Fans of rock ‘n’ roll, country, folk, and soulful blues will get a whole lot of roots-rocking funky coolness when these two powerhouses join forces for one magical evening. 

Hayes Carll–The Grammy-nominated Texas storyteller sings whimsical, well-crafted songs with the swagger of rock ‘n’ roll, the saccharine sentiment of country, and introspection of folk. Carll occupies that middle lane between James McMurtry and Ray Wylie Hubbard. His fun, often irreverent songs will put a smile on your face and a dance in your step. 

The Band of Heathens– The Austin-based roots rockers may be the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band you’ve yet to discover. As a purely independent touring group who refused to sign-on to corporate record labels, The Band of Heathens self-manage, promote, and record their music. The end result is an organic, mid-tempo, roots rock ‘n’ roll sound accented with a little Austin honky-tonk attitude.

Those of us who were fortunate enough to catch Carll’s two sets at the Ogden Music Festival this spring have been eagerly awaiting his return to the Wasatch Front. Loyal BoH fans, like me, never miss a chance to see them when they come to town. This is a budget-friendly show with two headliners for the price of one.

Who: Hayes & The Heathens
What: Hayes Carll and The Band of Heathens together
Where: The Commonwealth Room
When: Sunday, September 15, 2024
Info and tickets: https://thestateroompresents.com/the-commonwealth-room

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Pack your picnic baskets and Yeti tumblers of Cuba Libre cocktails for an enchanting evening of  Cuban and Afro-Cuban sounds of the Buena Vista Orchestra. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to brush up on my Salsa moves (my aging hippie hips are going to need a little refreshing!)

The Buena Vista Orchestra, under the direction of famed Cuban-trombonist, composer and arranger Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos, features key players from throughout the history of the famed musical ensemble. The legend continues with an exciting new stage production coming to The Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre on Monday, September 9, 2024. 

This fantastic tour blends all the various Cuban musical styles that gave birth to Latin Jazz, Salsa and many other popular forms of music. The lineup for the inaugural Buena Vista Orchestra tour includes Ramos alongside other original members from the famed Buena Vista Social Club including Luis “Betun” Mariano Valiente Marin (congas, bongo), Emilio Senon Morales Ruiz (piano), and Fabian Garcia (bass). Rounding out the cast are Lorena Lazara Ramos Diaz (trombone, vocals), Aldo Isidoro Miranda Alvarez (vocals), Geidi Chapman (vocals, guitar), Antonio Remigio Rubio Borayo (timbal, percussion), Andy Abad Acosta (keys), Rogelio Ricardo Oliva Orelly (emcee, vocals).

Jesus Aguaje Ramos & his Buena Vista Orchestra aims to keep the arts, music, and culture of Cuba alive with a colorful show featuring a repertoire pulled from their greatest hits, many of which were composed by Ramos, and deep-dive cuts, including music from the Grammy-winning, self-titled Buena Vista Social Club album, released in 1997 and enshrined into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year. You may remember the band from Wim Wenders’ 1999 academy award-nominated documentary of the same name. To date, The Buena Vista Social Club and related projects have global sales of over fifty million, making it the biggest selling Cuban music project in history. Some compare it to world music’s equivalent of The Dark Side of the Moon. 

I can’t think of a better way to spend a late summer night than dancing to the sounds of Havana. I don’t want to waste a moment of the warmth and sunshine we have left. Snow will cover the mountainside soon enough. Till then, ¡A Bailar! 

Who: Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos and his Buena Vista Orchestra featuring original members of the Buena Vista Social Club
Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
When: Monday, September 9, 2024
Info and tickets: https://redbuttegarden.org/concerts/

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The Hootenanny II is a wildly fun, theatrical variety show featuring over 24 local musicians decked out in cosmic cowboy gear. We’re talking Darth Vader burlesque, an otherworldly banjo orchestra, new takes on ‘80s classics, and a whole new perspective on acoustic music. The Commonwealth Room is putting the “fun” back in fundraising by hosting this special night on Friday, September 6, 2024.

Building on the success of last February’s Cosmic Hootenanny at The Commonwealth Room, The Hot House West Septet and Pompe ‘n Honey are back with a new set of musical friends. This spirited jamboree includes Josie-O and The Big Six, a local supergroup that closed out this year’s Ogden Music Festival with a magical set. Other staple bands from the Salt Lake City music scene include The Elderblossoms and Theoretical Blonde. All of the members of these bands are core constituents of Hot House West 501(c)(3), a local nonprofit that is dedicated to creating experiences of connectedness, learning, and joy through the language of acoustic music.

All ticket sales and any proceeds from swanky and special merch sales, and items sold at the evening’s silent auction will go directly towards supporting Hot House West programs and events. This is our opportunity to hear some great music by local performers and help to build Salt Lake City’s musical community. 

This gala is for people who love acoustic music. It’s our chance to feel good while supporting a great cause.

Here’s a link to our preview of the Cosmic Hootenanny back in February.

Who: Trash Moon Collective Presents: Cosmic Hootenanny II

What: A fundraising musical gala featuring Hot House West Septet, Josie O and The Big Six, Pompe ‘n Honey, The Elderblossoms, and Theoretical Blonde.

Where: The Commonwealth Room

When: Friday, September 6, 2024

Info and tickets: https://thestateroompresents.com/state-room-presents/trash-moon-collective-hootenanny

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The musical legacy of Willie Nelson is in good hands. Lukas, his son, has ushered his family’s music into the 21st century. On Wednesday night at Red Butte Garden, he and his band, The Promise of The Real (POTR), shined in all their Austin-sound glory. The show was a country-rock delight!

Nelson’s vocals sounded eerily like a younger version of his famous father, particularly on two opening songs, great honky-tonk numbers “Sticks and Stones,” “Every Time I Drink, ” and a fine rendition of Willie Nelson’s “Bloody Mary Morning.” He clearly showed us that he inherited his father’s remarkable songwriting gene (if one exists) with, “Fool Me Once,” “Just Outside of Austin,” “Forget About Georgia,” and “Carolina” from their self-titled 2017 record. Nelson then gave the band a break and performed a three-song string of solo acoustic tunes including a stunning rendition of Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe.” 

Earlier this year the POTR announced their hiatus (a kinder term for break-up) leaving Nelson to fly solo after the string of already scheduled summer shows. The Red Butte Garden show was a late add-on and billed as “Lukas Nelson Live in Concert.” I assumed that Nelson would form a new crew. So, I was elated to see the POTR take the stage alongside him on Wednesday night,  allowing me and other Utah fans to catch one of the band’s last performances together.

The band ended their remarkable 16-song set with “Find Yourself,” a terrific duet they recorded with Lady Gaga. But, this version featured the Red Butte Garden choir (us) singing her part. After a short pause the band came back out for a stirring three-song encore starting with “Set Me Down on a Cloud” followed by “The Awakening.” They sent us home humming “Something Real,” a tune that started off with a drum and bongo solo and finished in a spirited classic rock crescendo, Nelson’s guitar accenting a driving fiddle.

Talia Keys opened the show with half-a dozen numbers. She started us off with her rendition of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins “I Put a Spell on You.” Her version has all the macabre of the original, and adds a modern flair. Keys is no stranger to opening for Lukas Nelson and POTR. She toured the country with the band in the past. A special moment came when Keys sang “Let Your Matchstick Burn,” a song she wrote in tribute to a beloved local disability activist Psarah Johnson who passed away in 2022. Keys ended her set with her latest single, a whimsical cover of The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army.” Keys announced a new album is planned for next year. Stay tuned!

I’m going to miss these perfect outdoor summer evenings at The Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre once the cold, canyon winds move us indoors for a long winter hibernation. ‘Till then I’ll relish in the few shows left.

Who: Lukas Nelson and The Promise of The Real w/ Talia Keys
What: Live in Concert
Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
When: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Info: https://redbuttegarden.org/concerts/

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Don’t pack away those low back chairs and picnic gear just yet. We still have plenty of rockin’ and honky tonkin’ left to do this summer, especially on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 when Lukas Nelson plays Red Butte Garden. Nelson is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter whose musical style blends boot-stomping country with soulful blues to create a unique and exciting Americana sound. His voice quality is eerily similar to his famous father, Willie Nelson, but he’s built his own style with a growing catalog of great songs (though when he covers one of his dad’s classics that’s pretty awesome too.) 

Lukas Nelson and his band Promise of the Real (POTR) formed in Los Angeles in 2008 and have amassed a huge fan following. They’ve recorded eight studio albums and two live records. Sadly, the band recently announced that POTR would be taking a hiatus. Nelson will continue to write, record, and tour on his own. We get to be among the first to see Nelson with his newly formed backing band. 

Nelson received his musical education playing and recording with Neil Young and touring for many years in his father’s family band. The influence of those two legends blends nicely into his original work. Nelson adds fresh, bluesy pop to his country and folk rock foundations to create remarkable songs like “Find Yourself.” With “Every Time I Drink,” he’s not afraid to let loose his honky-tonk roots or electrify his rock guitar chops on “Pali Gap.”  A highlight from his critically-acclaimed 2023 release Sticks and Stones is  “Alcohallelujah.”  The song begins with a bit of tongue-in-cheek gospel before launching into a bluesy slide guitar riff. It’s a fine drinking song with undertones of the Austin outlaw country sound his dad made famous.

Fun fact: Nelson won a Grammy Award and a BAFTA (the British equivalent of an Oscar) for his work producing the soundtrack for the 2018 film A Star is Born.

This upcoming performance at Red Butte Garden isn’t my first Lukas Nelson concert and it won’t be my last. He’s a great performer with an ever increasing arsenal of hit records. Nelson will carry his family’s musical legacy deep into this century. 

Opening the evening is Salt Lake City’s own firebrand activist, rocker, and KRCL DJ Talia Keys. Like Nelson, Keys can’t be boxed into any one particular genre. She moves effortlessly through rock to blues, soul to R&B. Whether she’s serving up a fresh funk original or reinterpreting vintage jams, Keys brings a great energy to each performance. Click here for a video of Keys’ haunting take on the classic “I Put A Spell On You.”

Tickets are still available, but don’t wait too long. It’s sure to sell out soon.

Who: Lukas Nelson w/ Talia Keys
What: Live in Concert
Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
When: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Info and tickets: https://redbuttegarden.org/concerts/

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It was a sweltering summer’s night at a State Room concert in Salt Lake City when The Danielle Nicole Band sent shivers down our collective spine.

Danielle Nicole’s vocal range sits somewhere on the continuum between Aretha Franklin and Amy Winehouse. A multi-award winning bassist and the first woman to ever win The Blues Music Award for the instrument, she has an uncanny ability to draw us to the stage and take us along on her magical musical ride. Armed with an ultracool mix of blues, rock, and soul from her masterful new album, The Love You Bleed, the band delivered a jaw-dropping, 16-song performance. 

Nicole opened with “How Do We Get To Goodbye,” a seductive tune that captivated the audience. Dripping with sweat and pounding out a funky beat on her left-handed bass she mesmerized fans with “Hot Spell,” and got us gyrating  with “Pusher Man,” a song that  rocked the house with a ‘70s R&B groove. 

She belted out “Take It All” with a fiery passion that gave me goosebumps (and that almost never happens). Then she did it again with “Save Me.”  She opened the soulful “Right By Your Side,” with the lyric, “Baby, baby,”  in a pitch-perfect howl as drummer, Kelsey Cook, punctuated the moment. Then Nicole’s bass pounded out the song’s heartbeat. Next, two wonderful new tunes, “Make Love” and “Love on My Brain,” kept me frozen by her sultry spell, my own heart fine-tuned to her bass guitar. 

They also delivered some kick-ass rock ‘n’ roll.  With only three musicians, they shook The State Room’s foundation with “Fireproof” and did some fine blues-infused guitar shredding on “Head Down Low.” Guitarist (and Nicole’s husband) Brandon Miller played a solo instrumental interlude. Miller started off with a classical, Spanish guitar styled riff that seamlessly morphed into an orchestral piece sounding, at times, like a violin, a cello, and an organ.  All barroom chatter stopped as the audience stood motionless, in rapt attention. 

The night ended with a dazzling encore rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” with Cook’s  expert drumming giving way to Miller’s guitar mastery and Nicole’s siren call. 

Unlike my cell service on a recent trip to Montana, there were no dead spots in this performance. Danielle Nicole, a superstar-caliber performer, drew us in from the first note and held us for the entire evening. To see her in a small listening room like The State Room felt like a VIP experience. A shout out to Utah Blues Society for sponsoring the show and bringing such a remarkable performer to our city.

Local blues crew The Alley Cats opened the memorable evening. Featuring vocalist Alex Renola, the band gave us a Nina Simone styled rendition of The Rolling Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” It was just what the audience needed to get in a musical groove. The band managed to knock out a ten-song set in their limited opening-band window. They covered everything from Bo Diddley to Elvin Bishop with a little Linda Ronstadt and Tab Benoit tossed in for good measure. The beauty of this band is they take old blues and rock standards and give them a refreshed energy. They play old-school favorites in innovative new ways and revive long forgotten songs for a new generation of listeners. They’re highly skilled musicians fronted by a classically-trained vocalist. Look for them at live music spots around the Salt Lake Valley.

Who: Danielle Nicole Band with The Alley Cats
Where: The State Room
When: Friday, August 9, 2024
Info: https://thestateroompresents.com/the-state-room, https://daniellenicolemusic.com

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Danielle Nicole, the multi-award-winning soul siren, returns to The State Room on Friday, August 9, 2024. Those lucky patrons, like me, who caught her concert in Salt Lake City last year know this is a must-see musical event. The power trio of Danielle Nicole on vocals and bass, Brandon Miller’s searing guitar licks, and Go Go Ray’s great time on drums promise to light the fuse for a rock, soul, and blues concert explosion.

Signed to a new label and in full control of her artistic direction, Nicole taps into the retro R&B grooves that showcase her powerful vocal range. The show will feature Nicole’s new soul-soothing album, The Love You Bleed, a long-awaited record that explores themes of love, loss, and perseverance. “Love On My Brain,” a song they’ve been working out on the road for a few years has finally found a forever home. The record has already reached #1 on Billboard, Amazon, and iTunes Blues Charts. It’s packed with so many great tunes that I can hardly wait to see them come to life on The State Room stage. 

Danielle Nicole’s storied music career began in 2000 as a member of Trampled Under Foot, a heavy blues band she formed with her two brothers. In the decades that followed, she was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and received seven Blues Music Awards. The group’s 2013 album Badlands won the Blues Music Awards Contemporary Blues Album of the Year. Her 2015, critically acclaimed solo debut album Wolf Den reached the top of the blues charts and her 2018 follow-up Cry No More earned her a Grammy nomination. 

Fans of Aretha Franklin, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Janis Joplin, Samantha Fish, Miko Marks, and Danielle Ponder will want to check out this Salt Lake City concert.

See our review of her 2023 Salt Lake City performance

• Who: Danielle Nicole Band




• Where: The State Room




• When: Friday, August 9, 2024




• Info and tickets: https://thestateroompresents.com/the-state-room

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If Bruce Springsteen had a twin sister it would be Melissa Etheridge and Jewel would be their angelic alter ego. Monday night’s show offered the perfect yin and yang of smoky passion and sweet soul. Their co-headlined, sold-out show thrilled the Salt Lake City audience with two masterful performances.

Fans hoping to take a trip down memory lane weren’t disappointed. Jewel opened her 14-song set with two of her Top 10 hits, “Standing Still” and “Hands.”  She also satisfied those wanting to hear something fresh and new with her upbeat “Long Way ‘Round,” from her latest album. Jewel borrowed Melissa Etheridge’s band for the first four songs and then, as she put it, called an “audible” (a football term for a last minute change to the next play) and gave them a break for the solo portion of her set. She then scored a touchdown with “No More Tears.” 

Jewel seemed at home in our lovely garden and continuously engaged the energized audience. She even solicited requests. A fan suggested “Somewhere Over The Rainbow ” and she knocked out a fabulous acapella version, her rich vocals filling the mountain air. She turned her mega-hit “You Were Meant For Me,” into a singalong with the Red Butte Garden Choir (us). Some songs endure for generations! 

The boys in the band returned and played “Foolish Games.” Jewel admitted she was trying to emulate Leonard Cohen when she wrote that tune. She then added an unexpected cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” starting it off with a ‘90s yacht rock slow-burn before igniting it into a full on rock jam. She ended her captivating set playing the first song she ever wrote, at age 18, “Who Will Save Your Soul.” The song’s 167 words changed her life. She then invited us on an extended, jazzed up journey of playful scat singing; a joyful call and response with the lead guitarist.

Like Jewel, Melissa Etheridge and her hard-working band played well-loved hits and introduced new music to the crowd. They launched into “If I Wanted To” followed by “Angels Would Fall.” Then, she played “An Unexpected Rain,” a deep track from 2006 that she included on a new live album I’m Not Broken (Live From Topeka Correctional Facility,) a concert filmed as a two-part docuseries now streaming on Paramount +. She also played an amazing, new power ballad, “A Burning Woman,” from that project. After a quick tutorial, all the women in the audience were alight, singing along. 

To the crowd’s delight, the stage crew rolled out her piano and she banged out “Nowhere To Go,” her epic 1995 heartland rock ballad. She switched to her slide guitar for the deep cut rocker “Monster” then she grabbed her sparkly black 12-string guitar and began her rafter-shaking final run with “Come To My Window.” 

The crowd continued to sing along with “Bring Me Some Water,” and she reached fever pitch with “I’m The Only One.” She put an exclamation point on her 11-song set with “Like The Way I Do.”

Jewel and Etheridge delighted a garden full of adoring fans with some great new music and played the older hits with a fiery passion. Alas, I had hoped that Jewel would join Etheridge on stage for a duet of “You Can Sleep While I Drive.” Now that would have been an epic finale. As always, kudos to the sound crew. 

Who: Melissa Etheridge and Jewel
What: Co-headlining show
Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
When: 7/29/2024
Info: https://redbuttegarden.org/concerts/

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