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Arts & Culture

Discover Salt Lake magazine’s Arts & Culture section. Here you’ll find stories and reviews about local arts, music, film, theater and great events to help you explore the vibrant arts & entertainment communities along the Wasatch Front and Wasatch Back and across Utah.

From our music writers, you’ll find local show previews, festival reviews and interviews with artists. We are also your premiere source on all things Sundance Film Festival. Peruse our archives for film reviews, event roundups and more!

The Beehive State is buzzing with Arts & Entertainment activities, find an event that fits your interest at Salt Lake magazine. Between live performances, arts festivals, craft courses and visual art events, there is bound to be something that fits your interest.

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Preview: Tedeschi Trucks

By Arts & Culture, Music

Tedeschi Trucks Band bring their eagerly anticipated Wheels of Soul tour to Red Butte amphitheater this Sunday Evening, in support of their recent Let Me Get By album release.

Led by Derek Trucks, ranked number 16 of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine, and powerhouse vocalist Susan Tedeschi, the twelve-piece

group enlists two drummers, three vocalists, a three-piece horn section, bass, and a multi-instrumentalist keyboard player for what is a greater-than- the-sum- of-its-parts collective.

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Touring with Tesdeschi Trucks Band are the North Mississippi Allstars and Los Lobos, billed as “rock ‘n soul” collaborators. Expect three sets from three outstanding bands, with collaboration between the three bands through the evening.

Sunday evening is the last stop on the current tour that has received outstanding reviews and promises to be an excellent evening of fantastic music. And with three high-quality bands sharing the stage over the course of the evening, it offers tremendous value for money.

Doors at 5.30pm, the sold out show begins at 6.30pm.

Review: Weird Al at Red Butte

By Arts & Culture, Music

I go to a lot of concerts at Red Butte Garden—as the music editor at this publication, it’s a job requirement. So, I have seen Red Butte crowds at lots of different shows, and though each of them vary in their nuance, most of them look mostly alike. Most shows are full of what I like to call “wine-and-cheesers.” This was not the case on Friday night for Weird Al’s sold-out show.

Admittedly, I am, at best, a casual Weird Al listener. I was a child in the 80s, so I’ve seen his videos and I know his songs from that era. But, to be honest, I don’t listen to a lot of pop music, so I don’t even know the songs he’s parodying anymore. But, I do have a preteen son, and every so often he often stumbles across Weird Al videos on the internet and shares them with me.

I guess what I’m saying is, I have a limited knowledge of Weird Al’s catalog. I was at a distinct disadvantage from the beginning.

And when I walked into Red Butte Garden and saw a bunch of grown men and women (and their children) wearing tin foil hats and maroon berets I knew that I was suddenly a stranger in a strange land—even on what I consider to be my own home turf.

And so, with no opener, the band came onstage at 7:46 and the large video screen that was soon to become a key component of the concert showed the man himself strolling through Red Butte Garden wearing an outfit of many colors, holding a wireless microphone and singing “Tacky.”

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There was little banter. There was not enough accordion. There were a lot of wardrobe changes—facilitated by clips shown on the large screen behind him to engage the crowd while the entire band changed before nearly every song. They wore Devo-like yellow jumpsuits and red hats for “Dare to be Stupid,” Al wore sweats and rode a Segway scooter for “White and Nerdy” (during which Donny Osmond danced on the big screen behind him), and he donned a fat suit (really?! We’re still fat shaming in 2016, I guess) for, of course, “Fat.” And on, and on, and on, and on.

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In my research before this show I found that the setlist is the same in every town, and in the same order. The costumes are the same. The jokes are all the same. So, I knew exactly what I’d get at this show (and I don’t see much reason to regurgitate what many reviewers before me have already said).

But, I think that his fans knew what they were getting, too. They were on their feet the whole time. The people behind me knew all the words to all of the clips on the screen—all Weird Al related in one way or another, of course—and all the words to all the songs.

And that’s the thing: In addition to being the same guy night after night on this tour, he’s the same Al he was in 1986. He’s got boundless energy and enthusiasm. He’s still so uncool that he’s magically cool. And he’s still the funniest guy in the room. I guess.

But here’s the thing I didn’t expect: Al’s band is good. He’s been touring with the same group for a long time, and while he sometimes has the benefit of tools to distort or change his voice for the style of music he’s parodying, his band doesn’t have that option. These guys are just solid, well-rounded musicians. And in no moment of the show was the musicianship more evident than an acoustic medley of Al songs, in the spirit of Clapton’s “Layla.”

And the stage production’s attention to detail is astounding. The costuming is well done. It is a finely-tuned machine. No wonder it’s the same in every city. Why mess with perfection?

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After Al gave himself a stage exit, borrowing heavily from James Brown (cape and all), he did come back on stage, with his band and more—presumably roadies—all dressed as Star Wars Characters to sing “The Saga Begins” and “Yoda.” It was a fitting send off, for everyone involved. The crowd loved it. And I, probably the only person on Earth who has never seen a Star Wars film, didn’t get it. Just like I didn’t really get the rest of the show. But, Al isn’t doing his shows for me and I get that. I respect that. It’s just a club I don’t belong to.

I guess that makes me a wine-and-cheeser.

Preview: Los Lobos at the State Room

By Arts & Culture, Music

If all you know about Los Lobos is their cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba,” we need to talk.

In 1973 David Hidalgo and Louie Perez met in high school in and bonded over their love of Randy Newman and Ry Cooder—in East L.A. They started recording music, they recruited some friends, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The band blends together rock, tex-mex, blues, soul, country—you name it. They call themselves a Mexican-American band, but but they are so much more than that and their music seems to reflect the American ideal melting pot.

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And yes, the band’s biggest success came from their work on the La Bamba soundtrack, but their catalog spans nearly 40 years and is masterful.

Los Lobos is in town to support Tedeschi Trucks at Red Butte on Sunday, but they’re playing a double set at The State Room on Saturday Night for 300 lucky folks. Tickets are still available and while you might balk at the heftier-than-usual price, you should know that this night is going to be one that you won’t soon forget—and they’re playing two sets! It’s a bargain!

Concert preview: Weird Al Yankovic at Red Butte

By Arts & Culture, Music

It all started with “My Bologna.” And after that, a career that spans four decades, winning the hearts of every adolescent boy in the process.

Indeed, Weird Al Yankovic’s career has been built on the back of juvenile humor, but that doesn’t exactly do the record-producing, film-producing, screenwriting, songwriter and musician justice. Not only has Weird Al been doing this for 40 years, but he’s managed to get the permission of every artist he’s parodied—some of whom even help with with recreating the more unique sounds found in their songs. And he plays a mean squeeze box. I admit it, I’m in it for the polka.

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Weird Al’s shows have a stage production quality unlike anything you’ve seen at Red Butte before. There’s wardrobe changes, video screens and, as the name of the tour indicates clearly, Mandatory Fun.

The thing that may be most amazing about his continued success as a touring artist is that in this age of YouTube stars and reality tv, Weird Al isn’t even weird anymore, and he’s certainly not the only one making fun of popular music. But, he’s been doing it longer and he’s done it the best.

Weird Al Yankovic plays Red Butte Garden on Friday, August 5th. The show is sold-out. Doors are at 6:30, the show starts at 7:30.

I’m hoping for a Donny Osmond guest appearance during White and Nerdy. Cross your fingers.

 

Exhibit opening: NSFW

By Arts & Culture

The Mandate Press is holding its semi-annual Prints and Pints Art Show, where 20 artists will work in 2 colors to realize 1 unifying theme.

That theme is NSFW, as in, Not Safe For Work, the universally ignored warning on questionable emails, websites and other juicy digital communications. According to the show’s curators: “Each artist’s work reflects what they think is simply not safe for work.”

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If that doesn’t intrigue you enough, Proper Brewing will be pouring, so bring ID.

Exhibit opens Friday, Aug. 5, 7 p.m.

1077 South Main St., SLC

Preview: The Leonardo Takes ‘Flight’

By Arts & Culture, City Watch

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Our little Leonardo is growing up.

Since opening its doors in 2011, The Leonardo Museum has offered a one-of-a-kind experience to visitors. Just as Leonardo da Vinci was more than “just” an artist, his namesake museum is an unexpected—yet totally logical, once you see it—intersection of art, science, technology, and innovation.

The “big ideas, big discoveries” philosophy of The Leonardo caught the interest of traveling exhibits such as “Body Worlds” and “Mummies of the World” in recent years. Both have fared well with Leonardo patrons, selling out regularly and inspiring repeat visits. Though many museums would be content to have a steady rotation of guaranteed blockbusters bringing in the crowds, The Leonardo has set its sights higher—skyward, as a matter of fact.

With Flight, The Leonardo has curated its first original large-scale exhibit, an achievement many museums only dream of accomplishing. In the Leonardo’s totally immersive, hands-on style, visitors can explore the science, art and technology of flying through the air. Featured elements of the exhibit include a massive C-131 aircraft, flight stimulators, and a futuristic look at space exploration.

This weekend, the new exhibit will launch (pun intended) with a two-day opening event. On Saturday, August 6, a free public party will take place on Library Square, featuring hot air balloons, parachute jumpers, drones, and the Air Force X-1 Supercar. Don’t forget to look up—at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m., a set of F-35s, the Air Force’s newest fighter jets, will fly over The Leonardo.

Upgrade to first class? Snag a ticket for the private Pilot Party instead. The 21-and-over crowd is invited to drink, dine, and dance in and around the exhibit on Friday, August 5 from 7-11 p.m. Tickets are $45 each and can be purchased at The Leonardo website.

Celebrate Art This Thursday at The Kimball Art Center Gala

By Arts & Culture

When it comes to Utah matches made in heaven, nothing goes together quite like Park City and Redford.

So, Sibylle Szaggars Redford’s exhibit at Kimball Art Center makes perfect sense. And what makes even more sense? A performance piece created by the wife-of-Bob performed live at The Kimball’s annual gala this Thursday, August 4. According to the gala’s website: “The Way of the Rain is a live multidisciplinary art performance that invites the audience to remember their physical and spiritual connection to our planet’s beauty and plight.”

What does that mean, exactly? Well, Szaggars Redford has assembled a group of musicians (Will Calhoun, Dave Eggar and Chuck Palmer), a tap dancer (Andrew Nemr), and her husband (ahem, Robert Redford)—billed as a special guest—to perform a combination of music, visual art, spoken word, film, light and dance.

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In addition to handful of performances across the country, it was performed at Sundance 2015 and has a nonprofit dedicated to its mission.

The gala has more to offer than just Park City’s first couple, though. Guests will enjoy a seated dinner and a cocktail hour. It will be hosted on the lawn of The Kimball and it is recommended that guests wear cocktail attire, bring a light jacket and sport sensible shoes and it begins at 6 pm. There are tickets still available here, at $350 each.

 

Review: Florida Georgia Line at Usana

By Arts & Culture, Music

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It seems that concerts are always a “hit or miss” type of deal for me. No matter how much I love the band, it seems their concerts are either bursting with energy, filled with their best songs or they fall flat with little connection and subpar performance levels. Luckily, Florida Georgia Line was the former.

Their Friday night performance at USANA was seen by an overflowing crowd, all of whom seemed to be having a great time (including the woman in front of us who seemed to have just a bit too much fun during the opening acts and drunkenly slept through all of Florida Georgia Line’s performance. Don’t you just love country concerts?)

Kane Brown, The Cadillac Three and Cole Swindell all performed shorter set lists but with three opening acts it seemed to take an obnoxious amount of time to get to the night’s main event. However, all was forgiven once Florida Georgia Line took the stage and started playing all of my favorites.

With an almost perfect blend, Florida Georgia Line scattered the show with old, familiar songs and some of their newer ones, off their upcoming album, Dig Your Roots, which is set to release in August.

Overall, the concert was filled with bounds of energy from both the band and the screaming crowd, making it a fun night for all.