John Nelson covers the local music scene for Salt Lake magazine. He is a 20-year veteran of Uncle Sam’s Flying Circus with a lifelong addiction to American roots music, live music venues, craft beer and baseball.
Summer’s almost over, but that doesn’t mean Salt Lake concerts are gone. The Commonwealth Room is hosting a dance party with Los Amigos Invisibles on Thursday, September 7, 2023. The venue’s disco ball won’t be the only thing spinning, so slip into those dancing shoes and club duds and get ready to shake it.
Formed in Venezuela’s underground music scene during the 1990s, Los Amigos Invisible gained a following in the Caracas club scene. They sent a few of their CDs to a record store in New York City only to be discovered by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne who loved their eclectic concoction of Latin beats mixed with 1970s American disco and ‘80s British acid jazz, not to mention a little Afro-funk. That blend created a unique dance sound that gets everyone up and moving.
Byrne signed the band to his record label, Luaka Bop, and the group moved to Brooklyn where they recorded and released their American debut album The New Sound of the Venezuelan Gozadera. They followed that record with their Grammy-nominated Arepa 3000: A Venezuelan Journey into Space. The band has recorded a dozen albums, received five Grammy nominations, and won two Latin Grammy Awards. Their latest release Cool Love, a three-year labor of love in the making, offers us a full load of fresh Latin-funk dance rhythms.
You don’t have to speak Spanish to enjoy this dance band. The music will do all the talking.
Fun fact: The band got its name from the long-running Venezuelan TV show Human Values where the host referred to his viewing audience as his invisible friends–los amigos invisibles.
Opening the evening’s dance vibes is Senxao, Utah’s best Latin band. The Salt Lake City crew appeals to diverse audiences including the Latin music scene and the multilingual party scene. Nayi Escalona, a talented singer/songwriter from Venezuela, leads the band as it transcends genre and moves effortlessly between Puerto Rican, Cuban, Venezuelan, Mexican and Afro-Caribbean and American-pop rhythms. Their repertoire spans from the lively beats of Cumbia and Reggaeton to the fiery rhythms of Salsa and Merengue.
I’m looking forward to expanding my Americana repertoire.
You may not know Caitlyn Smith (yet), but you certainly know her work. Smith co-wrote Meghan Trainor’s Billboard #1 hit “Like I’m Gonna Lose You.” Her songs have also been recorded by country music royalty like Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and Garth Brooks, to name a few. Her songwriting skills are well established in Nashville, but now her powerhouse voice is getting the attention it deserves. The Academy of Country Music (ACM) recently nominated her for New Female Artist of the Year.
Smith is touring in support of her recently released record High & Low, which includes a stop at The State Room on September 9, 2023. Salt Lake audiences get a rare opportunity to see this rising star in an intimate listening room before she pops for Jumbotron arenas.
Her latest 14-song country-informed adult pop album offers us a meditation through darkness and light. The first half, High, is an eight-song teaser released last year and features the title track she wrote with Miley Cyrus who recorded it as a single in 2020. Smith’s soaring vocals take the 2022 version to new heights. In 2023, she added six more songs, with a dash of melancholy to complete the album, High & Low. The end result is a solid record from start to finish. She takes us on an emotional journey with “Alaska” where the fires of passion run cold, “Cause baby, your heart’s in another place.” In “Mississippi,” returning home, when she crosses the river to Minnesota, she feels a forlorn anticipation like seeing a lost lover. She asks “Mississippi, do you ever miss me? It’s been a while, but you’re always on my mind. Sometimes it hits me like a burning whiskey.”
Even though the ACM recognized her as a “new” artist, Smith has been writing songs and recording albums in Nashville for a decade. She has three full-length albums to her credit and she’s written a string of hits for other artists (both country and pop). Categorically, she fits loosely in the “country” box, but she can also sing like a contemporary torch singer with songs like “Cheap Date” or “Lately.”
Smith has earned her stripes by writing for and touring with country music legends. She’s spent the last few years opening for George Strait and Reba McEntire and playing big arenas and festivals with Strait, Dierks Bentley, and Little Big Town between dates on her solo tour.
Smith’s in the midst of her breakout moment and blazing her own trail. Her songcraft and powerful voice transcends any genre-restrictive label. I can’t wait to see her headline a stripped-down acoustic show during The Great Pretender Tour at The State Room on Sept. 9.
Opening is Brandon Ratcliff. Born into the American roots music tradition, his mother, aunt, uncle and grandfather were members of the Grammy winning bluegrass band The Cox Family. Raised in Cotton Valley, Louisiana, Radcliff made his way to Nashville to make his own mark on Music Row. Signed by Monument Records, Ratcliff debuted in 2019 with his single “Rules of Breaking Up.” He chronicles his move from small town Louisiana to the country music metropolis of Nashville in his 2023 full-length coming-of-age album Tale of Two Towns.
It’s our chance to see the stars of tomorrow, today.
The evening started like a scene from the Irish independent film Once, as me and my companion sat under gray skies and drizzling rain. But we weren’t on a Dublin street corner; we were in line at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre waiting for the gates to open and the mad dash for prime real estate to commence. Glen Hansard, former frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames, and Czech pianist Marketa Irglova were in the garden on Monday, August 21, 2023 for a belated 15th anniversary celebration of the film Once and its award-winning soundtrack. They also starred in the film and earned an Oscar for Best Song with “Falling Slowly” in 2008. The film and its score were adapted for the stage and became a multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.
Hansard and Irglova formed the indie-folk duo Swell Season after the launch of the film and charmed audiences on the road with their award-winning formula of heartfelt songs of struggle, love, and loss. Reunited, with a full band, they offered us a sampling of their musical chemistry.
Glen Hansard of Swell Season. Photo by John Nelson
The early drizzle ended before St. Louis singer-songwriter Lizzie Weber opened the show at the piano with “Falling Like Fools,” a thematically appropriate and impassioned song about two people falling in love and harboring uncertainty about the union. She grabbed her acoustic guitar for “The Big One,” an idiomatic tune about the fear of the unknown. She concluded her six-song set with “Space,” a song about missing her husband who deployed with the Navy.
Swell Season began their incredible 18-song set with “Lies” from the Once soundtrack and followed with a wonderful version of their new single “The Answer is Yes,” a song about their decision to reunite as a duo. They tackled “When Your Mind’s Made Up” with the same energetic passion depicted in the film. Irglova played a new song, “Everything I Leave to You,” and a dead silence fell upon the garden. No picnic chatter, just rapt attention as Irglova delivered a beautifully sculpted song.
A stellar band, which included a cello, bass, violin, and drum, brought the indie-folk songs to life. They did a majestic version of “The Moon,” an electric folk-rock Irish ballad from their 2006 self-titled debut album. Hansard and Irglova’s voices seem to meld in sync with the violin and cello. Also from The Swell Season album they did “Leave,” but this version included an interpolation with the Who’s “Love, Reign o’er Me.” They also surprised us with a spirited rendition of Van Morrison’s “Into The Mystic.” What a bonus!
Lizzie Weber. Photo by John Nelson
As we rolled into the homestretch the duo played a few new songs. They told the audience they’ve recently spent time together in Irglova’s Iceland home/studio where they wrote a significant amount of new material. They played “Factory Street Bells” and two others. I’m eagerly awaiting a new album. They invited Lizzie Weber back to the stage to play “River,” a pre-pandemic song she recorded with Irglova. The two voices harmonized beautifully. Irglova thrilled the crowd with “If You Want Me” from the soundtrack and Hansard sang “Fitzcarraldo,” a Frames song.
The night had a nice mix of Swell Season songs (new and old) and lovely solo project numbers, but for this anniversary celebration we wanted more from Once, and they delivered by ending the set with “Falling Slowly.” Instead of exiting the stage before the encore, Hansard made an impromptu leap off stage and into the garden inviting Irglova to join him for an un-mic’d “Say It To Me Now” singalong with the crowd. The band returned to the stage and ended the show with “Gold.”
The songs from the soundtrack, Once, portray the emotions of “Falling Slowly” in love. The post-soundtrack music of Swell Season represents the struggles of a relationship in crisis. If their new single, “The Answer is Yes,” is any indicator of what’s to come for this magnetic duo, I imagine that their next album will reflect their undeniable, creative chemistry.
What an amazing evening, probably my favorite Red Butte Garden night of the summer. The crowd came to listen and the gray skies helped transport us to Ireland. I even paired the evening’s performance with a trusty stout. Thankfully, the early drizzle (merely a prop) left as quickly as it came and we enjoyed a warm, dry night of stunning music in the garden.
Who: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of Swell Season w/ Lizzie Weber
What: 15th Anniversary Tour of the Once Soundtrack
I’m ready to squeeze the most out of the dog days of summer. So, I’m planning to party in the garden with rock legend Pat Benatar and her musical partner/husband/guitarist Neil Giraldo. They will be bringing their Funtastic Tour to The Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre on Monday, August 28, 2023.
Benatar has amassed multiple Grammy Awards and 19 top 40 hits over a career that began in 1979 with her chart topping debut album In the Heat of the Night. Benatar ruled commercial radio and MTV in the ‘80s and ‘90s and proved female rock stars could compete in the male-dominated world of hard-driving rock ‘n’ roll. At age 70, Benatar still plays sold-out shows in large venues across the globe and her music still resonates with fans of all ages.
I hate to be a “Heartbreaker,” but Benatar & Giraldo stopped playing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” in concert due to the growing gun violence in our society. Benatar said she couldn’t smile and sing those words on stage in light of all the school and mass shootings. Of course that doesn’t mean they won’t “Treat Me Right” and fill their setlist with a good selection of their 18 other hit songs like “Shadows of the Night,” “We Belong,” “Hell is For Children,” or “Love is a Battlefield.” Benatar & Giraldo draw from a comprehensive catalog of great music and I’m certain they’ll get the crowd on their feet from the very first notes of whatever they play.
Last year Benatar & Giraldo were both inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On Monday, August 28, 2023 we get the rare opportunity to rock out with these two musical icons in an intimate garden setting–with no need for a jumbotron. What a great late summer treat!
Opening the evening is Chris Trapper, a soulful tenor and storyteller. Once the frontman for the early aughts Boston pop band the Push Stars, Trapper has since released nine full-length solo records and tours the country as an acoustic troubadour. Several of his songs have appeared in movie and TV soundtracks. His song “This Time” appeared on the Grammy nominated soundtrack for August Rush and “Everything Shines” appears on There’s Something About Mary.
Ally Venable made her Salt Lake City debut by rockin’ the blues for an enthusiastic crowd at The State Room on Friday, August 18, 2023. With no visible setlist, she seamlessly launched a dozen piercing blues numbers. Veneble’s superior guitar skills and powerful blues vocals rolled our socks down.
The 24 year-old East Texas guitar slinger, accompanied by her band bassist EJ Bedford and drummer Isaac Pulido opened with “Real Gone,” the title track from her latest album. The hard-driving rock number set the pace for the evening. Early in her set she reworked the classic Bill Withers song “Use Me.” She kept the ‘72 funky soul beat, but took the song on a fresh, new rockin’ blues journey.
She kicked our ass with her high-octane song, appropriately titled, “Kick Your Ass,” before melting our hearts with “Comfort in My Sorrow,” a slow-blues number she wrote at age 15. The song lyrically blended her teen angst with an old-soul blues melody. That performance was definitely a highlight of the night. What an impressive achievement! I mean, when I was 15-years old, I was still learning how to roll a joint or build a bird feeder in woodshop; nevermind writing a masterfully constructed blues song.
She then hit us with “Broken and Blue” and “Texas Louisiana,” two standout songs from her new record. She ended her set with a chillingly beautiful instrumental number titled “Tribute to SRV,” her homage to Stevie Ray Vaughn, whose music influenced her decision to play the blues. For her encore she continued her salute to Texas blues masters with her ripping version of Freddie King’s 1971 “Going Down.” Venable and her band owned the room all night with their well-orchestrated and finely executed show.
Salt Lake City bluesman Eric Heideman opened the evening with a solo performance. He started us off with “Slow Water,” an original, yet old-school styled slide guitar blues number he played on a sweet Gretsch Honey Dipper metal resonator that delivered a big sound. He also played “Howlin’ Wind” from his new album Third Degree Gravity. He grabbed his locally made guitar (from Mid-Valley Guitar Gallery) and rocked out “I Didn’t Do it,” a great new song he recorded with Grammy-nominated blues pianist Victor Wainwright. In all, Heideman launched half-a-dozen original compositions to whet our appetite. With three full-length albums to his credit he is developing a growing catalog of great modern blues songs. Don’t miss a chance to catch him when he plays around town. His next performance is at Haglund Ranch, a hidden gem out in Murray, on Saturday, August 26, 2023.
Venable is one of a growing number of amazing women who are taking blues music to new heights in the 21st century. Many thanks to Utah Blues Society for helping to bring these wonderful players to Salt Lake City.
Seeing such amazing talent up close in an intimate space is something to cherish. I often feel so privileged when I leave The State Room. I can’t wait to see Danielle Nicole, a multi-award winning bassist and blues singer, who will grace The State Room stage with her band on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Here’s a little teaser video of Nicole and Venable on stage together In Kansas City playing “Going Down.” Life Elevated!
Photo Credit Paul MontanoPhoto Credit Paul MontanoPhoto Credit Paul Montano
In 2006, Glen Hansard, frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames, and Czech pianist Marketa Irglova agreed to record music for an independent Irish film. In addition to writing and recording the soundtrack, they also ended up playing the leading roles. Once, filmed in Dublin over 17 days with a budget of $150,000, premiered at Sundance in 2007 and won the World Cinema Audience Award before going on to win an Oscar for Best Original Song with “Falling Slowly.” Now we have a chance to welcome in the Oscar and eight-time Tony Award-winning duo Swell Season on Monday, August 21, 2023
Hansard and Irglova formed the indie-folk duo Swell Season after the launch of the film and charmed audiences on the road with their award-winning formula of heartfelt songs of struggle, love, and loss. In 2009, they released their second full-length album Strict Joy which reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200 charts. The following year the duo went on an extended hiatus to work on separate solo projects. But Once, the little independent Irish film that could, kept building momentum. In 2012, it was adapted into a Broadway musical that won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.
Hansard and Irglova have reunited for a limited tour (a belated 15th Anniversary celebration of the success of Once) which includes a stop at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre. They’ve also released the deeply personal duet “The Answer Is Yes,” their first song together in more than a decade. The song tells the story of their strong bond, despite their past struggles as a duo. We have a rare opportunity to see Swell Season perform favorites from the Once soundtrack, Swell Season hits, and maybe even a few songs from their solo catalogs. Before you go, rewatch the film. It’s definitely worth seeing again. The soundtrack is timeless.
Opening is singer-songwriter Lizzy Weber. The St. Louis native will reconnect with Irglova with whom she recorded two songs in 2018. Weber is touring in support of her recently released album Fidalgo. Inspired by the Cormac McCarthy novel, Blood Meridian, Weber penned a song by the same name that captures the novel’s eerie gloom. Though the record isn’t limited to dark literary themes, “Be Your Love” and “Yours and Mine” evoke a Mazzy Star-styled dream-pop sensuality. She’ll be a great pairing with Swell Season. Indeed, this season at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre has certainly been swell.
The State Room Presents hit the trifecta when they booked three amazing women who rock the blues. Over the next few weeks we’ll have a chance to see some of the best the genre has to offer in intimate settings.
When we hear the term “blues” we often think about the men who pioneered the genre–be it Robert Johnson, Son House, Howlin’ Wolf or Muddy Waters. Women, however, have been singing the blues since the emergence of the musical style. Ma Rainey, the Mother of The Blues and Bessie Smith, the Empress of The Blues, were the first superstar blues musicians in the 1920s. In the 1930s, Sister Rosetta Tharpe electrified gospel and blues. Two decades later, artists like Elvis Presely and Chuck Berry copied Tharpe’s influential style and turned it into rock‘n’roll. Women pioneered the blues, often without the acknowledgment they deserve. They are still carrying the torch.
Ally Venable
Ally Venable
Twenty-four year-old, East Texas guitar slinger, Ally Venable, just released her 5th full-length studio album Real Gone (yes, 5th album–she started recording as a teenage prodigy). Blues legends are lining up to play with this rising star. On “Texas Louisiana” Venable teams up with Buddy Guy for a fresh, new duet that feels like an old classic. On “Broken and Blue,” a great slow-burning blues number, she trades guitar licks with Joe Bonamassa. Real Gone charts Venable’s progression as a songwriter (her guitar chops are already well-established) and builds off her excellent 2021 release Heart of Fire. Venable is a legitimate tour-de-force in modern blues and to see her in the intimate confines of The State Room on Friday, August 18, 2023 is a “don’t miss” opportunity for me. I might not get another chance to see her in a small listening room before she launches to larger venues.
Danielle Nicole
Danielle Nicole
Danielle Nicole (born Danielle Nicole Schnebelen) emerged from the Kansas City blues music scene as lead vocalist and bassist in her family band, Trampled Under Foot. In 2014, the band’s album Badlands won the Blues Music Awards Contemporary Blues Album of the Year. She also became the first woman to win the Blues Music Award in the category of Instrumentalist–Bass. Since, she’s won the award three more times. The following year Nicole released her debut solo album Wolf Den which reached #2 in the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. The singles “Take It All” and “You Only Need Me When You’re Down” exemplify the soulful nature of Nicole’s powerhouse voice. Her bass-line tracks put the rhythm in her blues.
Her critically-acclaimed 2018 release Cry No More hit #1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Album chart and earned her a Grammy nomination. The album highlights Nicole’s commanding blues, rock and soul vocals paralleling artists like Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi. Her single “Save Me” featured Kenny Wayne Shepherd on guitar.
To hear Danielle Nicole and her band on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 in a space with the sound quality of The State Room is too good to pass up.
Samantha Fish
Ally Venable
With the style of Marilyn Monroe and the guitar prowess of Stevie Ray Vaughan comes Samantha Fish, the Kansas City guitar shredder who now calls New Orleans home. Fish is a mesmerizing presence on stage and a powerful force in blues music today. With a string of albums hitting #1 on the Billboard Blues charts, Fish has built an impressive catalog of great rockin’ blues numbers like “Faster” and “Kill or Be Kind.” Nobody can draw you in quite like Fish, especially when she tackles the blues classics like “I Put A Spell On You.” When she pulls out her cigar box guitar things really start smoking. Check out this video of “Bulletproof.”
Her latest album Death Wish Blues, recorded with Austin-based country rocker Jesse Dayton, pushes the limits of blues music. She lures you in with inflections of funk, punk, rockabilly, and country, before driving the blues dagger into your soul with songs like “Death Wish” and “Rippin’ and Runnin’.”
Fish is best experienced live. You won’t be able to look away even as her explosive guitar riffs melt your face. Her upcoming show at The Commonwealth Room on Thursday, September 28, 2023 is sure to sell out. Don’t wait too long to buy tickets.
Who: Ally Venable, Danielle Nicole, Samantha Fish
What: Women Who Rock The Blues
Where: The State Room (Venable, Nicole), The Commonwealth Roon (Fish)
When: August 18, 2023 (Venable), September 6, 2023 (Nicole), September 28, 2023 (Fish)
On August 4th, The Medicine Company hosted a record release party to celebrate Risk It For The Biscuit, their second full-length album. Cherry Thomas, Triggers and Slips, and a few surprise guests joined them onstage in a musical tribute.
Thomas opened the festivities with a solo set. Armed with only her electric guitar and soulful voice, she delivered half-a-dozen original R&B songs including “Blue Hour,” “Barbed Wire,” and “Black Panther,” all previously recorded and available to stream. I enjoyed hearing her in a listening room instead of an outdoor festival or crowded eatery where you can’t really groove on the depth of her voice or the heartfelt lyrics in her songs.
Triggers and Slips opened their nine-song set with “Family vs. Business,” a new song off their latest release What Do You Feed Your Darkness? Fans, especially those partial to country music, should know this under-the-radar record. Had it been produced by a major Nashville record label it would be on the charts. It’s that good. They performed “It Won’t Hurt” from the record, a Dwight Yoakam cover that rivals the original.
From the band’s 2019 release The Stranger, they played the title track before welcoming local artist J-Rad Cooley to the stage to play harmonica on “Old Friends.” Soulful rocker Sarah DeGraw joined the band for the duet “You Did It To Me Again,” a fabulous new tune that features Lilly Winwood (daughter of Steve Winwood) on the record. DeGraw lent her wonderful vocals for Friday night’s version. The band ended a fabulous set with “Sideways.”
The party’s hosts,The Medicine Company, opened with “Biscuit,” a two-minute musical interlude that served as the perfect intro to hear Risk It for the Biscuit in its entirety. Most of us at the show hadn’t had a chance to fully digest the new material since it dropped for the world to hear earlier that day. The recorded version of the 10-songs plays with indica-like quality–trippy, cerebral, and mellow. The band’s live performance of the material however, took us on a more sativa-like energized journey. “Feed Yourself Lies” brought me back to 1972 with its Stones-like guitar riff and Lou Reed-styled psychedelic-poet lyricism. Lead singer Bryant Adair’s vocals remind me of Reed and Frank Zappa. Of course, the song probably took other listeners in an entirely different direction. Good songs take you wherever you want to go (or take you somewhere you’ve never been).
The first single to drop (a few days ahead of the album’s full release) is “Mr. Chuckles.” Guitarist Chandler Seipert, lead vocals on this track, conjures up something out of the Minneapolis music scene in the mid-1980s. Of course, it’s an original piece of music by 21st century artists. When passing through my musical filter it feels fresh, but relatable. A live version of “Mojo” has been floating around the interweb for a little while now as a YouTube video. It finally found a permanent home on the new album.
On fire all night, the band brought the songs to life in a fun and energetic way. You could see the joy on their faces as they performed the music they created. When you listen to a new record, some songs stick right away while others take a few passes to resonate. For me, “Casino,”with its hypnotic Link Wray-Rumble guitar strumming and slow-rising tempo, stayed with me. Their live performance really made the song pop. They ended the homage to the new record with the final track “Just Fine.” We certainly were feeling just that.
Photography by Lily Rutherford; Colleen O’Neill
The band tackled a few of their older songs before gathering the whole ensemble on stage, including featured performers and guest artists, for a collective version of their tailor made show closer “Rusted in Misfortune.” What a fabulous night of music by a talented cadre of local artists. Fully energized from delivering a masterful performance of their labor of love, the band came back out for a couple of bonus numbers with “She Wore Blue” and Cannon’s Jug Stompers 1928 “Big Railroad Blues” (most know the Grateful Dead’s 1971 version.)
An album release offers a moment to reflect on the cumulative effort that artists put into their work. Consider the time it takes to learn a musical instrument and the thousands of hours of practice to master it. Even then it’s not a simple leap from player to composer. To construct original music and put lyrics to the notes takes a rare skill set. Once a song’s foundation is built, a community of musicians gather to further shape and mold it both on stage and in the studio. The finished product needs to captivate listeners and elicit a visceral response if you hope for any success. Packaging a collection of individual songs into an album’s worth of material is a remarkable achievement and worthy of great celebration.
The Medicine Company has a bright future and we’ll have ample opportunity to see them again. In fact, they’ll be playing Day Two of the 3-Day Psych Lake City music festival at The Urban Lounge on Friday, August 11th. They’ll be undergoing some personnel changes on bass and drums, but they’ve already created more material for another new record. Keep an eye out for this talented crew of psychedelic alt-rockers as they continue to create new music and perform at some of our favorite local music venues.
Who: The Medicine Company w/ Co-Headliners Triggers and Slips and Cherry Thomas opening
What: The Medicine Company’s Risk It For The Biscuit album release party
The indie-pop band Train laid down some groovy tracks at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre on Monday, July 31, 2023. The multi-Grammy Award winning septet opened their 20-song set with “AM Gold,” a new song with a vintage disco vibe. From the first few notes, the packed-in crowd rose to their feet and abandoned their charcuterie for some singing and dancing.
Next they played “Meet Virginia,” the band’s first commercial hit, and added a very cool medley of Steve Miller’s “The Joker.” Frontman Pat Monahan sported a Meet Virginia t-shirt, then peeled it off, band members added their signatures, and tossed it into the crowd with a bunch of other tees (Monahan might have missed his calling in the NFL. He achieved quite a 30-yard spiral from rolled up shirts.) By the third offering, “If It’s Love,” members of the crowd were waving their phone torches. It wasn’t even dark yet!
Monahan clearly knows how to work a crowd. Train came to the Garden with a well-constructed, interactive show full of surprises (and a little concert chum.)
They offered a few verses of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lot of Love” to get our attention, before launching into a sparkling rendition of Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” Monahan brought out his 11-year old son Rock to help him with “Save The Day.” The kid can sing! He stayed on stage with his dad for a few verses of Journey’s “Faithfully” which morphed into “Calling All Angels” before reverting back for one more stanza with Rock sounding like an adolescent Steve Perry. Later, the family affair continued when Monahan’s 14 year-old daughter, Autumn joined him on stage for a sweet duet of “Bruises.”
Photo credit Kevin Rolfe
During “Save Me, San Francisco” the band blanketed the crowd with beach balls of various sizes, turning the Garden into a pool party. The band moved into the homestretch with their familiar hits, “Play That Song” and “50 Ways to Say Goodbye,” before spicing up “Hey, Soul Sister” with a few verses of Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love.” For their pre-encore finale they ended with “Drive By” followed by a closing chorus of “Hey Jude.” I really liked how they paid homage to vintage songs by blending them into their now classic hits.
They didn’t depart the stage before the encore, they just asked if they could stay and do a few more songs, as if the crowd really needed to think about it. For our bonus, we got a stunning version of “Hotel California” with guitarist Taylor Locke donning an oversized red double necked guitar (a throwback to Jimmy Page). A hillside of phone torches lit up the Garden for the grand finale, “Drops of Jupiter.”
Monahan is an energetic frontman backed by an exceptional cast: Locke on guitar, Sakai Smith and Nikita Houston provided amazing backing vocals, Hector Maldonado on bass, Jerry Becker on keyboards and Matt Musty on drums. The Train crew never missed a beat. I hope we can get them back at Red Butte Garden next season. They’re definitely worth a repeat performance.
Photo credit Kevin Rolfe
Thunderstorm Artis opened the evening with a stellar 11-song solo set. A 2020 runner-up on NBC’s The Voice, heshowed us his booming, vocal prowess with a nice blend of originals and reworked covers. He paired down each song to a shortened radio-edit version beginning with “Summertime” and his original “Oh, Little River.” He performed a lovely rendition of Bill Withers “Ain’t No Sunshine,” delivered a soulful interpretation of the Beatles, “Blackbird,” luring the crowd away from their picnics and chit-chat. His original composition “Stronger” showed off his growing skills as a songwriter. I really enjoyed his version of Jason Isbell’s “Cover Me Up.” His rendition showcased his vocal range as did “Stand Up Eight,” a fine new single, and Leonard Cohen’s epic “Hallelujah.” Artis has a golden voice and a bright future. I’d love to see him with a backing band at an intimate venue like The State Room.
Was it bad karma for a guy named Thunderstorm to sing “Ain’t No Sunshine” on an overcast evening? I swear I felt a drop of rain. Artis has a magical voice, but he doesn’t control the weather. Thank goodness. The clouds passed us by and we enjoyed another perfect summer salt Lake concert at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre.
Local roots rockers, The Medicine Company, are set to release their second full-length album Risk It For The Biscuit. To celebrate, they’re hosting a record release party on August 4, 2023 at The State Room.
The Medicine Company are Bryant Adair (vocals), Mac Wray (guitar), Chandler Seipert (guitar), Fisher Huish (bass) and Connor Gerson (drums). Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2021, the band’s been working out new material during live shows before laying down the fresh tracks. The band recorded the album in their own jam space before finalizing the mixing and tracking with Mike Sasich at Man vs. Music Studio in Salt Lake City. The first single from the new record, “Mr. Chuckles,” is set for release on August 1st and just ahead of the full album release on August 4th. So look for it on your favorite streaming service.
I first got a taste of The Medicine Company’s Americana at The Fort Desolation Music Fest down in Torrey, UT earlier this summer. And now I want some more. Their sound draws from the trippy, hippy jams of the Grateful Dead to the more nuanced indie-rock of Wilco. There’s also a bit of Frank Zappa-like vocals and maybe a touch of The Band and Lou Reed in their sound too. When I talked with lead singer Bryant Adair about the band’s influences, he listed The Grateful Dead, Wilco, Zappa, The Band along with The Beatles, Dylan, Black Sabbath, Steppenwolf and more modern acts like All Them Witches, Graveyard, The White Stripes, and The Black Keys.
They perform all their own music, but if you like their musical influences you’re sure to like what they’ve created. From their solid debut record The Medicine Company, I particularly like “Buckaroo” and “Rusted in Misfortune.” For their forthcoming record they’re cooking up plenty of fresh new favorites. Spoiler Alert: I have it on good authority they’ll play their new record in its entirety and throw in some of the older stuff too. In the meantime check out this link to their psychedelic funk jam Mr. Mojo Workin (Live at The Rio Theatre).
Co-headlining is alt-country artisans Triggers and Slips. Their 2022 release What Do You Feed Your Darkness? evokes all the twangy brogue and high-lonesome pedal steel moan you want in a country record. Frontman, Morgan Snow, proves a masterful singer and storyteller in this stellar record. “You Did It To Me Again,” a duet featuring Lilly Winwood, is as fine a song as anything currently charting. With three full-length albums and an EP under their belt, Triggers and Slips can draw on a growing catalog of folky, country rock songs to delight audiences. Here’s a cool video of “Natchez Trace” from 2019 to whet your appetite.
Cherry Thomas will open the show with her blend of soulful R&B. Thomas, an O-Town singer/songwriter, released two new singles last year: “Barbed Wire” and “Blue Hour.” Most recently, she played the Progressive Stage at the Fort Desolation Fest at Cougar Ridge Resort in Torrey, UT. You can find Thomas gigging all along the Wasatch Front.
The Medicine Company’s vocalist Bryant Adair told me that the band’s goal from the outset was to headline The State Room – like the name implies, one of the best rooms in the state. They are grateful for Morgan Snow’s support and they wanted to show their appreciation by co-headlining with Triggers and Slips. Cherry Thomas, someone who they consider to be one of the most talented singers in the valley, had been one of their first picks to share the stage with them on their big night.
Join The Medicine Company on Friday, August 4, 2023, for their record release party and enjoy a night of locally procured indie-rock, alt-country, and R&B. I’m pairing the evening of Utah-based music with a tasty Golden Spike Hefeweizen from Uinta Brewing. Cheers!
Who: The Medicine Company w/ Co-Headliners Triggers and Slips and Cherry Thomas opening
What: The Medicine Company’s Risk It For The Biscuit album release party
