John Nelson

It was an evening of music by Petty by many—and more. The State Room hosted an all-star lineup for a sold-out 30th Anniversary celebration of Tom Petty’s Wildflowers on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024 in Salt Lake City. A menagerie of singers and musicians from The National Parks, Neon Trees, Fictionist, and The Hollering Pines joined other great local artists to perform Wildflowers in its entirety and then rocked the night away with other Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hits. 

Wildflowers was Petty’s second solo album (without the Heartbreakers) and a 15-song classic that yielded a few radio hits. Nate Pyfer (Pinguin Mofex) delivered a crowd-pleasing version of “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” a now-familiar Petty classic. Robbie Connolly (Fictionist and The Killers) gave us a rip-roaring rendition of “You Wreck Me,” probably the most enduring radio chart-topper on the album.

There’s a difference between a cover band that imitates an original work and a cover song that reinterprets a seminal piece of music and takes it someplace new. Friday night’s Wildflowers tribute ensemble achieved both. Led by Paul Jacobsen and his amazing house band, the evening started with Scott Shepard (Book on Tapeworm) who offered us a bewitching version of the title track. 

It’s when we got to the record’s deep cuts when the troupe shined (the hits pretty much speak for themselves.) Some stand-out performances included David Burchfield’s (David Burchfield and the Fire Guild) “It’s Good To Be King.” On a side note: Burchfield and guitarist and pedal steel extraordinaire Dylan Schorer played a memorable set the night before at The Commonwealth Room’s Cosmic Hootenanny.  

Dominic Moore shook the rafters with “Honey Bee” while Debra Fothereringham nailed the ethereal folk essence on “Don’t Fade On Me.” Karl Strange (The LoveStrange) delivered a searing rendition of  “Cabin Down Below” and Mick Rudolph (Seaslak) rocked “House In The Woods.”  

The first set ended with Ryan Innes’s soulful version of “Wake Up Time,” an underappreciated tune, lost at the end of a lengthy album. Innes used his powerhouse voice to bring the song center stage. That’s the beauty of a well-chosen cover. Artists can breathe new life into an old song. As the song’s lyric goes: “You might find the forest there in the trees.” Innes certainly uncovered the song’s complex emotional timbers. 

After a short intermission, the ensemble returned to rock the night away with a barrage of singalong Petty classics. The master of ceremonies and show organizer, Paul Jacobsen, took lead vocals on a spirited version of “The Waiting.” The packed house of eager listeners marveled at Goldmyth’s take on “Don’t Do Me Like That.” Stuart Maxfield (Fictionist) got us all singing with “Refugee.” Another highlight among many was Porter Smith (Lantern By Sea) and Marie Bradshaw’s (The Hollering Pines) psychedelic performance of “Don’t Come Around Here No More.” Bradshaw also soared on “Learning To Fly.” Former Hollering Pines drummer and master singer/songwriter Daniel Young sent the venue’s disco ball spinning on “Running Down A Dream.” 

In all, the crew played 15 songs from Wildflowers and another dozen Petty hits. The whole ensemble, nearly 30 artists, crowded the stage for the finale with a couple of hundred adoring fans joining in the chorus of “Free Falling.”

The evening featured an overload of talent with great contributions from Michelle Moonshine, Joey St. John, Brady Parks, Tyler Glenn, Peter Breinholt, Libbie Linton and a host of others.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the contributions of the all-star band. The 7-piece troupe of musicians, all from different bands, embraced the herculean task of learning all 27-plus songs and arranging them to suit the various performance styles within the rotating cast of lead singers. So thank you to Paul Jacobsen, Aaron Anderson, Dylan Schorer, Braden Campbell, Scott Wiley, Brian Hardy and Debra Fotheringham for living up to the cliche “the hardest working band in showbiz.”

The magical evening was led and held together by the band leader (ringleader?) Paul Jacobsen who thoughtfully introduced musicians and shared song backstories. Not only did we enjoy an evening of great music, we got to see so many of our locally-based artists showcase their talents. 

Jacobsen also led last year’s incredible Neil Young tribute and I hope he continues the tradition. Hey Paul. Here are some suggestions for tribute or anniversary shows we’d love to see you arrange. Next year Born to Run turns 50 (Born in The USA is 40 this year). Let it Be turns 55 (Let it Bleed is 55 this year). Blood on the Tracks turns 50, Jagged Little Pill will be 30 (American Idiot just turned 20.) And there must be some occasion to pull together an evening of music by Fleetwood Mac. 

And as always, a huge shout out to The State Room for hosting such incredible music.

• Who: An All-Star Lineup 
• What: Wildflowers and Heartbreakers: The Songs of Tom Petty
• Where: The State Room
• When: Friday, Feb. 9, 2024
• Info: thestateroompresents.com

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Lydia Loveless is touring in support of her album, Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again. And on January 31st at The State Room, nothing did. She and her band hit us with a wall of sound and a 17-song whirlwind performance of indie-rock numbers. This is Loveless’s sixth full-length album, and arguably, her finest work. 

Over the past decade Loveless has fine-tuned her sound and found her groove. New songs dominated the setlist without eclipsing her more vintage material. She started us off with a trifecta of fresh tunes with “Song About You,” “Do The Right Thing,” and “Sex and Money” before taking us back to 2016 with “Bilbao.” 

There is a timelessness to Loveless’s sound that blends multiple music styles with a raw, poetic lyricism. When they played “Out On Love,” the song triggered a neurotransmitter in my brain that transported me back, momentarily, to 1987 and  Fleetwood Mac’s Tango In The Night. It sparked a similar vibe. Some of my other favorite songs from the evening were “Head,” “Poor Boy” and “Verlaine Shot Rimbaud.” How many artists find inspiration for a song from two 19th century French poets caught up in a toxic relationship? 

Sipping on PBR, Loveless and her band finished the mid-week performance with “Wine Lips.” I was hoping they would play “Portions For Foxes,” a 2023 duet by Loveless and Jason Hawk Harris. But, I guess I’ll have to catch another opportunity to see that tune performed live. 

Jason Hawk Harris opened the evening. The Bloodshot Records artist borrowed the bassist and drummer from Loveless’s band to bring his music to life. He started us off with the hymn-like “Jordan and the Nile,” and immediately commanded the attention of the crowd with his captivating country-roots sound. The Austin-based, and classically-trained Harris recently released his sophomore album, Thin Places, so he had plenty of well-crafted material to fill the 8-song set and still leave us wanting more.  

Harris provided plenty of honky-tonk to go along with his hard luck songs like “Shine A Light,” “Cussing at the Light,” and “I’m Alright.” He ended his set with “I’m Afraid,” a hard-driving country-rock number about an unexpected boogie-man. With just a guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums, Harris added great production value to his gospel-country sound.  

Who: Lydia Loveless with Jason Hawk Harris

Where: The State Room

When: Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Info: https://thestateroompresents.com, https://www.lydialoveless.com/, https://jasonhawkharris.com/

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The all-star lineup that brought us an amazing tribute to Neil Young’s Harvest last year are back at it for a 30th Anniversary celebration of Tom Petty’s Wildflowers. Singers and musicians from The National Parks, Neon Trees, Fictionists, and The Hollering Pines will join a host of other great local artists to perform Wildflowers in its entirety, then rock the night away with other Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hits. 

Wildflowers, released in 1994, was Tom Petty’s second solo record sans the Heartbreakers. The album, a 15-track opus cataloging Petty’s mid-life crisis (failing relationships, substance abuse, emotional drift) produced the familiar heartland-rock hit singles “You Wreck Me” and “You Don’t Know How It Feels.” The title track, not released as a single, also received significant radio airplay and remains an enduring favorite from Petty’s massive catalog. A solo project, Wildflowers nonetheless featured Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell and pianist Benmont Tench on several tracks.

Events like this provide talented local artists the opportunity to perform well-known songs in new and interesting ways. I’m looking forward to seeing a couple of dozen of the Wasatch Front’s finest singers and musicians together on stage as they pay tribute to a rock legend at The State Room on Friday, February 9, 2024. 

Who: An All-Star Lineup Tom Petty Tribute Show

What: Wildflowers and Heartbreakers–The Songs of Tom Petty

Where: The State Room

When: Friday, February 9, 2024

Info: https://thestateroompresents.com/state-room-presents/wildflowers

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It’s time to say goodbye to dry January and get ready to party with a purpose at the Commonwealth Room on Thursday, February 8, 2024. Trash Moon Collective presents: Cosmic Hootenanny, a celebration of Salt Lake City’s acoustic music community and a chance to help out a stellar local fiddle player who is experiencing financial hardship following a medical complication. 

The event features four of the area’s finest Americana bands playing western swing, newgrass, bluegrass, gypsy jazz, indie folk, country, and roots rock. The bands have donated their performance time and nearly all the ticket revenue will go to help out a neighbor in need.

In addition to a full lineup of amazing live music, the Salt Lake City concert will also include reverse burlesque performances, silent auctions, and so much more.

Pixie and the Partygrass Boys

As one of Utah’s finest musical exports, they bring their goodtime vibes to festivals and stages all across the country. Their unique “partygrass” music blends bluegrass, newgrass, pop, punk, and rock ‘n’ roll into a spirit-soaring sound that’s sure to get your feet moving and hips swaying. They play a mix of finely spun originals like “Home” and time-tested classics. On their latest album The Chicken Coop, Vol.1, released in 2023, they offer a locally-inspired take on “The Devil Went Down to Utah,” a reimagined version of the Charlie Daniels hit. They also tackle “Gimme Shelter” and “Psycho Killer” in creative new ways.

David Burchfield and the Fire Guild

David Burchfield just released Live with the Fire Guild, a full-length album recorded live at the Ogden Music Festival in 2022, and features some of his finest material. The record captures Burchfield’s well-crafted songs brought to life by the full-throttle Americana sound of the Fire Guild. This band burns white hot with Burchfield on lead vocals and guitar, Megan Nay on fiddle and backing vocals, Dylan Schorer on guitar and pedal steel, Spencer Aamodt on upright bass, and Jagoda on drums. Check out “Guest Bed” and “The Tunnel,” two cool tunes from the Ogden Music Festival session.

Pompe ‘n Honey

This Salt Lake-based crew of musical archaeologists mine the Americana archives for long-lost hidden treasures then stylistically burnish those songs with their blend of country swing and gypsy jazz. In 2023, Pompe ‘n Honey released a seven-song EP Desert Moon that features a mix of originals and period classics fashioned with an old-time musical spirit. This toe-tapping troupe keeps it light and breezy with a great retro feel. Here’s a video of the title track “Desert Moon.”

Hot House West

Hot House West is a dynamic, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the enrichment, education, and promotion of jazz and swing music. The Hot House West Orchestra is sure to hit you with some dazzling swing and Django Reinhardt-inspired gypsy jazz numbers, and high-energy originals. This ensemble will get you swinging, so get ready to “Hit That Jive, Jack.”

Feel good and do good at the Cosmic Hootenanny.

Who: Pixie and the Partygrass Boys, David Burchfield and the Fire Guild, Pompe ‘n Honey, and Hot House West

What: Cosmic Hootenanny

Where: The Commonwealth Room

When: Thursday, February 8, 2024

Tickets and Info: https://thestateroompresents.com/state-room-presents/cosmic-hootenanny

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Another Salt Lake City concert at The State Room on Saturday night, local folk duo Backyard Revival paid tribute to the Coen Brothers film, O Brother Where Art Thou and its award-winning soundtrack. Instead of the Soggy Bottom Boys as the central characters, their version, O Sister Where Art Thou, featured Backyard Revival’s Sarah Little Drum and Brian Bingham as Jack and Betty O’Malley, a pair of singing siblings on the run from the law.

They recruited a small group of area musicians to help them bring their own parody of the musical score to life, in a uniquely campy way. The show opened with Zaza VanDyke on guitar and Hannah Garrett on fiddle who lead the ensemble through the audience up on to the stage with the instrumental tune “Indian War Whoop.” Little Drum and Bingham, dressed as convicts, started us off with a duet version of “O Death.” In all, they played 14 songs from the soundtrack. 

The sound of old-timey bluegrass swelled on “Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby” when Rocky Velvet Cee joined Bingham on backup vocals, Erin Stout added the saw, and Matt Gooch puffed away on the Jug. On “Keep on the Sunny Side,” Dylan Roe added slide guitar and Zaza VanDyke’s upright bass kept time. Hannah Garrett’s fiddle and Devon Lee’s banjo rounded out,“I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow.” For their final two numbers they brought in the full ensemble of local musicians to join them for “Down To The River To Pray” and the finale “You Are My Sunshine.”

Backyard Revival’s heart-felt tribute introduced us to a host of talented local performers. On February 9, 2024 the State Room will feature another group of Utah’s best musicians performing  Wildflowers– A Tribute to Tom Petty. This show will feature a star-studded cast from bands like The National Parks, Neon Trees, Fictionists, The Lower Lights, Hollering Pines, (and many more.) This is the same crew that brought us an incredible tribute to Neil Young’s Harvest last year. Tribute shows are a really great way to showcase the tremendous talent we have in our local music community.

Who: The Backyard Revival

What: O Sister Where Art Thou

Where: The State Room

When: January 27, 2024

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Who is Lydia Loveless? No, she’s not a 1970s porn star. That was Linda Lovelace. She isn’t that country singer you saw on Hee Haw back in the day either. That was Patty Loveless (no relation).

Lydia Loveless is an under-the-radar rocker whose music blends country-ballad tragedy with the edgy belligerence of punk rock. Think Patsy Cline meets Patti Smith.  

She’s touring in support of her critically-acclaimed new record Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again. Salt Lake audiences will get an opportunity to see this creative firebrand up close and personal on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at The State Room.

There’s a lot to love about Lydia Loveless and her musical blend of alt-country, cowpunk, honky tonk rock, and indie-pop. Loveless debuted in 2011 with Indestructible Machine, an impressive alt-country record with a vintage country vibe and punk rock undertones. On “How Many Women” she channels Loretta Lynn, then abruptly changes the channel to a Siouxsie and The Banshees styled “Can’t Change Me.” She blends a strange musical and lyrical pairing into a unique, avant-garde rock hybrid.

Since her debut, Loveless has released five full-length albums and built a catalog of finely crafted and genre-fluid material. I particularly like her spicy alt-rocker “Head.” In September 2023, Loveless released her sixth and most prolific album Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again. She reached musical maturity with this well-polished record. Yet, she still packs a raw, emotional punch with her dark and introspective lyricism. The single “Sex and Money” is a highlight among many. A hint of twang spices up the indie-pop wall of sound. The album provides a bounty of fresh, new material that she’ll undoubtable share on this tour.

Filmmaker Gorman Bechard captured Loveless’s musical journey in his 2016 documentary Who is Lydia Loveless? In search of an answer to that question, Bechard followed Loveless on tour, conducted a series of frank interviews with her, and observed her work in the studio. Viewers get to witness Loveless and her bandmates color outside musical lines and create a unique blend of indie-alt-country. The film is available to rent on Amazon Prime. 

You can find your own answer to that question when you see her live, at The State Room on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

Opening the evening is fellow Bloodshot Records recording artist Jason Hawk Harris. With a countrypolitan flair, Harris aptly merges lyrical themes of pain and despair with an uplifting gospel-infused country-folk sound. On his latest single “Jordan And The Nile,” he fashions a hymn-like melody reminiscent of the late Justin Townes Earl. Harris also recently released “Portion For Foxes,” a driving rock duet with Lydia Loveless.  I’m sensing a bonus number on Wednesday night.

Who: Lydia Loveless with Jason Hawk Harris

Where: The State Room

When: Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Tickets and Info: https://thestateroompresents.com

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Mix in a little ancient literature with a high lonesome harmony and you have the perfect elixir to wash away those winter blues. Local folk favorites, The Backyard Revival, presents O Sister Where Art Thou, a live musical parody of the Coen Brothers hit movie O Brother Where Art Thou (which is loosely based on Homer’s The Odyssey.) The show will feature all your favorite songs from the beloved cinema classic. 

This unique Salt Lake City concert will take you on a musical madcap romp through the Depression Era South as Jack and Betty O’Malley, a pair of troublesome siblings, played by Brian Bingham and Sarah Little Drum, run from the law (much like the Soggy Bottom Boys in the film).

The film’s soundtrack, produced by T Bone Burnett, won multiple Grammy Awards including Album of the Year in 2002. The chart-topping record featured a star-studded cast of country, folk, blues, gospel and bluegrass performers like Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, and Dan Tyminski, to name a few.

The Backyard Revival’s reimagined show features an ensemble of local talent including musicians from The Swinging Lights, Lonesome Folk, Lucy Ave, Tycoon Machete, The Magpipes and solo artists Dylan Roe, Mavi Blue, Rocky Velvet, and Zaza Historia VanDyke.

After performing a musical tribute to the folk band Civil Wars last year, Sarah Little Drum and Brian Bingham of Backyard Revival (they often play as a duo but also expand to a trio or quartet) were inspired to develop more light-hearted parodies in their own musical style. They loved the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou and the project took flight. Little Drum and Bingham co-wrote the revised script, arranged the music, and recruited like-minded musicians to help them bring the soundtrack back to life in a slightly different way.

This stage play/musical tribute hybrid will be a one-of-kind live music experience. Audiences across the Wasatch Front will have the opportunity to see the show: on Thursday, January 25, 2024 at The Start Up in Provo; Friday, January 26, 2024 at The Copper Nickel in Ogden; and a final performance in SLC at The State Room on Saturday, January 27, 2024. 

Who: The Backyard Revival

What: O Sister Where Art Thou

Where: Provo, Ogden, and Salt Lake City

When: January 25-27, 2024

Tickets and Info: https://thestateroompresents.com https://www.eventbrite.com/e/o-sister-where-art-thou-ogden-tickets-768415299847

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At The State Room, it’s not shameful to be a heathen. In fact, when the Band of Heathens (BoH) comes to town it’s an outright honor. Friday night we celebrated our otherness joy in fine musical fashion with a packed house of BoH veterans and newly converted fans. Salt Lake City’s concert scene is familiar territory for the Austin-based roots rockers. We could tell from their setlist they came to party with friends. They mixed in familiar favorites with new music they were eager to share. They also played us a few deep cuts from their massive catalog and some unexpected surprises.

They started their show with “South by Somewhere” and “Polaroid,” before introducing us to some new songs, “Stormy Weather” and “Heartless Year.” Their new album Simple Things is a great musical treatise to the struggles we all endured over the last few years. It acknowledges the difficult past, but also celebrates the beauty of living in the present.  

They got us all singing along to the BoH classics “Jackson Station” and “LA County Blues.” On “Look at Miss Ohio” the band started off with a slow, bluesy tempo which they normally build to a rafter-shaking boil. For this show, they took us on a mid-song journey—a little psychedelic soul jam—before they arrived at a driving rock crescendo. It’s my theory that they were inspired by the months of touring the Southwest and West Coast free-states where the prohibition of cannabis has ended (except in Utah). Either way, it was a delightfully trippy interlude. They then brought us back to 2006 with “Keep on Trying” from their debut album Live from Momo’s before getting us all singing again with “Shotgun.” They ended the 16-song set with their certified gold record hit, and fun sing along, “Hurricane.” For their encore they ended with a lovely and soulful “Simple Things” and an extended experimental jam on “Should Have Known.”

During the pandemic, the band streamed a live Tuesday night variety show called Good Time Supper Club which my wife and I tuned in for every week. We learned a lot about the individual band members through that show. For instance, we discovered that keyboardist Trevor Nealon is a huge Deadhead. The evening’s opener, Alex Jordan, also happens to be a Deadhead who tours with a Grateful Dead tribute band. When Jordan joined the Heathens on stage, we got a rare treat, a BoH cover of the Dead’s “Franklin’s Tower.”

As a truly independent band who shunned the lure of large corporate record deals, we experienced the BoH creed– a great live performance of some of the best songs you’ll never hear on commercial radio. They really do build their fan base one amazing show at a time.

Alex Jordan opened the evening with a solo performance of great new music from a forthcoming album set for release in March, 2024. He started us off with the title track “Queen Kerosene,” a roots rocking number with hints of alt-country. He played us his version of the Jayhawks country-folk song “Blue.” Jordan gives this hidden gem a little more of an electric, rockabilly flair. In 2020, just before the pandemic hit and the world shut down, Jordan released his debut album, The Subtle Exhibitionist. Poor timing aside, he made up for lost ground by playing us the catchy and clever “Your Kingdom Comes (With a View).” He shared with us a Utah-inspired instrumental piece, “Canyonlands,” that’ll be on his new record. He ended his 9-song set with another new one, “Saving Grace.” 

With two full-length albums worth of original material and a vast repertoire of Grateful Dead songs to sprinkle in, Jordan is an exciting new roots artist. I’d like to see him again with a full-band. He’s mastered that California alt-country jam sound that continues to grow in popularity.  

A night of great music at The State Room is one of the simple things that warms this Heathen’s soul.

Who: The Band of Heathens w/ Alex Jordan

What: Simple Things Tour

Where: The State Room

When: Friday, November 10, 2023

Info: www.thestateroompresents.com, https://bandofheathens.com, www.alexjordanjams.com

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The roots of Americana were running deep on Wednesday night at The State Room. AJ Lee & Blue Summit’s working-class symphony turned Salt Lake City’s finest music venue into a dance hall and listening room. Black tie not required. 

The Bay Area quintet blissfully fused bluegrass, country, and folk into orchestral harmony. They opened their 16-song set with AJ Lee taking the spotlight on “Hillside,” a yet-to-be-released song from an upcoming new record. Guitarist Scott Gates covered Cadillac Sky’s “Wish I Could Say I Was Drinking” and Sullivan Tuttle nodded to Bob Willis with his version of “Who Walks in When I Walk Out.” 

Lee took the reins once again and graced us with her award-winning vocal magic on her original compositions “Faithful” and “To Mine.” Gates messed with my mind when he started playing a familiar country waltz. The four-step melody was pretty standard in 1950s and ‘60s country dance tunes. But when he started singing non-country lyrics, which I knew word-for-word, my brain couldn’t reconcile it. My wife, sensing my confusion, whispered “It’s ‘I’m a Believer’ by the Monkees.” Boom! [insert head exploding emoji.] AJ Lee & Blue Summit transformed the ‘60s pop classic into a country waltz. Very innovative! They really should record their uniquely wonderful rendition. 

Fun Fact: Neil Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer” for his 1967 album, but the Monkees’ recorded it in late 1966 and it became a worldwide smash hit single for them and eclipsed Diamond’s original version. Diamond later said he was happy to share in the royalties from the Monkees’ success.

The set included plenty of Lee originals to go with some well-chosen covers. I particularly liked “Something Special” and “Still Love You Still.” Lee can really pen a beautiful folk love song and arrange it with a mandolin-forward sound. She then brings in fiddle, acoustic guitars, and upright bass to pack it with emotion. Her “Lemons and Tangerines” stood out as a jazzy torch song that took us on a fun journey to her backyard in San Jose. Gates’ “Bakersfield Clay” is another hidden gem not yet featured on an AJ Lee & Blue Summit record. 

As we rounded the final turn toward the finish line they played “When You Change Your Mind” and ended with the driving tempo (like a train rolling down the track) on Gillian Welch’s “Down Along The Dixie Line.” The crowd demanded an encore and got a stellar rendition of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon.” 

I love AJ Lee’s recorded version of “Harvest Moon” with The Brothers Comatose. Her delightfully crisp vocals and mandolin strumming really adds value to an already amazing song. Just hearing her play it live was worth the price of admission. 

Two Runner opened the blissful evening of great music with “Wild Dream” from their solid debut album Modern Cowboy. Fresh off a stint at the Moab Folk Festival, the Northern California mountain music duo of Emilie Rose on fiddle and vocals and Paige Anderson on vocals, banjo, and acoustic guitar, added upright bass player Sean Newman to their show. Their 9-song set included their YouTube video song contest winner, “Run Souls” and the not-yet-released “Late Dinner.” They also beta-tested a new song without a title. I like being a test subject in this kind of musical experiment. Rose and Anderson’s voices harmonized perfectly. The fiddle, guitar, banjo, and upright bass added depth. For their finale, they played “Where Did You Go,” the last track on their album. Their set ended much too quickly.

As is often the case when walking home from The State Room, I wondered how we got so lucky to see world-class artists in an intimate Salt Lake City music venue and then get to mingle with them after the show. It’s like a VIP experience every time we go.

• Who: AJ Lee & Blue Summit w/ Two Runner
• What: California Bluegrass
• Where: The State Room
• When: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 

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Austin-based roots rockers, The Band of Heathens, may be the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band you’ve yet to discover. On Friday, November 10, 2023, Utahns will get that opportunity at The State Room.

As a purely independent touring group who refused to sign on to corporate record labels, The Band of Heathens (BoH) self-manage, promote, and record their music. The result is an organic, mid-tempo, roots rock ‘n’ roll sound accented with a little Austin honky-tonk attitude.

No one in a gray business suit tells them what or how to play it. They sell their music and develop their ever-growing fan base the old-fashioned way—by hitting the road, playing a great live show, and gathering loyal followers one performance at a time.

I am one such convert (a Heathen in more ways than one.) In 2013, I stumbled into The State Room and caught my first BoH show. It wouldn’t be my last. I’ve also discovered a treasure trove of new “classic rock” music from their nine full-length album catalog to go along with four additional live records.  

Formed in Austin in 2006, the BoH featured two lead singers and principal songwriters, Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi. Their first record Live From Momo’s established them as a tour de force on the Austin music scene. Their first studio album in 2008, the self-titled The Band of Heathens was recorded under their own BoH Record label. The album produced the timeless Americana gems “Jackson Station,” and “Nine Steps Down.” One Foot in the Ether followed in 2009 with the BoH signature tune “LA County Blues.” They transformed Gillian Welch’s “Look at Miss Ohio” into a driving, soulful rock masterpiece. In concert, it becomes a roof-raising jam.

If I dare pick a favorite record it’s Top Hat Crown & The Clapmaster’s Son. My Heathen baptism came when they toured in support of that album. It’s bluesy, funky, rock ‘n’ roll at its finest. The certified gold “Hurricane” (which was recently certified gold, even without access to mass-market commercial radio) is a stand-out number along with “Medicine Man,” and “Should Have Known.”

When the pandemic hit and the world shut down, the BoH made the best of a bad situation. Unable to tour, which is how they make a living, they created a live-streaming variety show called Tuesday Night Supper Club. Isolated and scattered across the country, the band members adopted a Zoom-type format to make the show work. My wife and I tuned in every Tuesday night until the world began to open back up again. A pretty low-budget affair at first, the show steadily got better as the pandemic wore on and the band mastered the technology. Quist and Jurdi alternated playing each other’s songs from their home studios or music rooms. Bass player, Jesse Wilson, mixed a fancy cocktail in his living room in another segment. Okay, the show wasn’t going to win an Emmy, but we loved it. A segment called Remote Transmission featured guest artists, also isolated, joining the band performing a cover song, creatively edited by Jesse Wilson. My favorite was their cover of Lucinda Williams’ “Joy” featuring Margo Price.

With the pandemic in the rearview mirror, they took a selection of those weekly cover songs and released a full-length album Remote Transmission, Vol. 1. (I’m hoping for a Vol. 2 soon.) 

The band is touring in support of a brand new record, Simple Things, a self-produced album recorded in the band’s studio in Austin. Quist and Jurdi penned a beautiful 10-song treatise about embracing life’s simple things following a difficult few years. The record starts with an up-tempo, soulful rocker, “Don’t Let The Darkness,” about not dragging old baggage into the present. With “Heartless Year” they acknowledge the trauma and loss, but also celebrate coming through it. “I Got The Time,” rocks like a Stones deep cut circa ‘72. I expect the BoH will fill their November 10th setlist with their new material alongside a selection of their classics.

Bay area singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alex Jordan will open the evening. Jordan’s musical adventure began after college when he hit the road with a Grateful Dead tribute band and shared the stage with legends Bob Weir and Phil Lesh. As a solo artist, his music still embraces the California alt-country sound. He released his debut album The Subtle Exhibitionist in 2020. Unable to tour in support of the record, he went to work writing new material. His latest single “Queen Kerosene” just dropped. A full-length album will follow in early 2024. The State Room patrons will undoubtedly get a taste of what’s to come.

Fans of The Eagles, Rolling Stones, The Band, Hayes Carll, Reckless Kelly, The Black Crowes, Jason Isbell, or Turnpike Troubadours will want to check out this show and the BoH catalog.

Who: The Band of Heathens

What: Simple Things Tour

Where: The State Room

When: Friday, November 10, 2023

Info: www.thestateroompresents.com

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