Whether indoors at a too-cool underground venue in Portland with a craft beer in hand or outdoors among the towering evergreens, there’s no shortage of adventure in the Beaver State.
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The 3rd Kilby Block Party, a two-day music festival in SLC, included Utah-based performers and headliners Mac DeMarco and Phoebe Bridgers.
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The DLC is a small, vibrant music club located deep in the heart of downtown’s popular arcade bar Quarters. Over the past year, the spot’s become a quality small room option for touring bands criss-crossing the west, as well as a much-needed venue for local musicians to headline a weekend night show.
After a year in business, certain patterns have started to emerge, none of them lost on the club’s manager, Shaina Floyd.
“I love doing this because I often hear local bands that I would’ve never found otherwise,” Floyd says. “And honestly, it’s really cool to be able to start hosting slightly-larger touring bands and then getting to pair local bands with those touring bands.”
Running a music schedule five days a week, Floyd sees the touring bands earlier in the week, as they make their to/from Denver and Seattle and other western villages. On the weekends, three-band local bills tend to predominate in a space that’s licensed for 200 concert-goers.
Despite the heavy commitment to local sounds, Floyd admits that for the first year, attendance has been “completely hit-or-miss.” That’s thanks to a few factors: COVID regulations and the public’s on/off desire to attend live events; local bands arguably playing too many shows in the market; and folks still finding the venue for the first time, even after 12 months of operation.
There is a bit of a secret weapon that The DLC enjoys, as dozens of folks are playing old-style arcade games in the space, seemingly at any time the bar’s open. Some serious numbers come through on the weekends, when nearby State Street is humming. Floyd says that “stragglers” from Quarters’ “captive audience” have been known to hear sounds that appeal to them, drifting into the room after arriving at Quarters with no intention of catching live music.
In the next year, The DLC may see some very light programming tweaks.
“I’d like to do more events for the holidays,” Floyd says, “and more social events. Maybe have people come up with idea for special showcases. I’d like to get an acoustic night going and different monthly events. We really want to help build the music scene.”
At some point in 2022, there’s a good chance that a second Quarters will be operation. This one will be in Sugarhouse, with a smaller footprint and a kitchen but without an indoor music venue. Construction’s been underway for a bit and the owners have become regulars at the monthly meetings of the DABC in order to stake their claim to an upcoming license.
As that process plays out, The DLC will be hosting its first anniversary party, an event slated for Saturday, May 28. A Battle of the Bands will be featured that night, with Scheissters, Strawberry Cough, Slick Velveteens, Cudney and Beneath the Sparrows taking part. The winner receives a trophy and a cool $1,000. It’s a 21 and up event with $5 tickets pre-sold at quartersslc.com.
The DLC’s first year of operation has been a process, the room’s brightly-colored stage, full bar and rock’n’roll-plus booking policy finding a foothold. Floyd figures that the club’s growth is both mirroring and pushing along the overall local scene.
On becoming a true music city, Floyd figures that “We’re getting there. There are a lot more venues opening up, including downtown. So we’re slowly getting there.”
If You Go
5 E. 400 South, SLC
801-477-7047
quartersslc.com/the-dlc
Park City is oft defined by its relentless pace of change. Growth and development are turning what was once considered a low-key mountain town into world-famous destination with all the trappings that entails. But if the change of pace today—while seemingly sudden—is merely a gradual evolution compared to what transformed Park City from a mining outpost into a mountain sports mecca. The Historic Park City Alliance (HPCA) is inviting people to explore the town’s deep historical roots this summer both by visiting the Park City History Museum and through special events including Guided Walking Tours and History Speaks Lectures.
The Park City History Museum is a hidden gem, tucked on Main Street amid a sea of single-brand stores, high-end restaurants, souvenir shops. Inside, a collection of interactive exhibits traces the area’s history from the arrival of settlers on the Western Frontier through its metamorphosis into a booming mining community and ultimately the resort destination it is today. The town’s historic underground jail cell still stands intact, and relics of the “Skier Subway” that turned mining infrastructure into the area’s first lift system are on display. The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day, and admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children over six. For those looking to save a few bucks while learning about the past, the museum offers free admission on the third Saturday of every month.
The abundance of living history in Park City can’t be contained within the walls of a single building, which is why HPCA offers guided walking tours during the summer from June 28 through Sept. 3. Amid the sheen of mountain luxury still exist the fingerprints of history. The walking tours traverse Historic Main Street explores the architecture, people and events that shaped the Park City along the way. Check the events calendar for a complete list of dates and times.
Finally, the Park City History Museum is offering a free lecture series, History Speaks, which dives into Park City life from before the town was known primarily for powder and après. Upcoming lectures include “Life About Town in Park City’s Mining Days,” which includes a book signing by author Dalton Gackle on June 22 and “Through European Eyes: Imagining the American Frontier West” with Curator Lee Silliman on June 30. These entertaining and educational lectures offer unique insight into a place most of us are just scratching the surface to understand.
Visit the Historic Park City Alliance website for more details and a full list of events for the summer season. Read more about news, people and things to do in Park City.
On October 22, 2018 at 9:55 p.m., 21-year old Lauren McCluskey was found dead inside the back of a car in the parking lot next to her University of Utah campus dormitory. She had been shot seven times.
That afternoon, Lauren’s ex-boyfriend Melvin Rowland had waited for Lauren in her resident hall for several hours. She was on the phone with her mother at 8:20 p.m. when Rowland confronted McCluskey, violently dragged her across the parking lot in front of her dorm, causing her to drop her phone and belongings. At 8:23 p.m. Matt McCluskey, Lauren’s father, alerted campus security that his daughter was in danger. It was too late.
It’s too late now, too: Rowland killed himself hours after McCluskey’s death and the man who loaned Rowland the gun he used was sentenced to three years in prison. But in the two years since McCluskey’s tragic death, details have emerged about McCluskey’s attempts to get protection from University police as she grew increasingly afraid of her stalker ex-boyfriend. Her pleas for help were ignored. McCluskey’s family sued the university in federal court and in June 2020 filed a second lawsuit, contending that, just weeks before she was murdered, a police officer in whom Lauren McCluskey had confided she feared for her life shared nude photographs she had given him with officers not involved in the matter.
When Lauren McCluskey decided to attend the University of Utah, she was recruited to become a member of the Women’s Track & Field Team. She was a Washington State Champion in the high jump and ranked 10th in the heptathlon at the USATF Outdoor Junior Championships—she had several other colleges and scholarships to choose from. “Lauren was a star athlete from when she was a youth, climbing trees at the age of two,” says her mother, Jill McCluskey who, along with her husband Matt, is a member of the faculty at the University of Washington.
McCluskey’s teachers, coaches and teammates had a high respect and regard for her as a multi-event athlete, for maintaining a high GPA and as a person, “She was someone who really cared about other people and her friendships. Somewhat an introvert, if you got to know her you quickly found out that she was full of things to say, and genuinely cared about other people,” says her mother. Beyond athletics, she enjoyed karaoke singing and dancing with her closest friends. While attending the U, Lauren belonged to the Capital Church in downtown SLC, and would invite others to come along, encouraging them to sing.
She had lived in Salt Lake City a few years when she met Melvin Rowland at a popular downtown bar where Rowland was working as a bouncer. He told her that he was in the military and trained as a security officer, and afterwards they met up a few times. It wasn’t long before she discovered the truth: Rowland was on parole and on the sexual offender list. She confronted Rowland face to face in her dorm room, he owned up, and McCluskey formally ended their relationship.
But she continued to receive messages and threats from Rowland. His friends posted about his suicide—which was fake—on social media and blamed McCluskey as the cause. Rowland made frequent attempts (sometimes successful) to visit her at her university dorm. At one point, he demanded $1,000 from her to prevent him from posting explicit photos of the two of them. As Rowland’s actions escalated, McCluskey began voicing concerns to her immediate family and closest friends. Because Rowland was a con and highly manipulative, things were difficult to discern—she didn’t always believe he was a threat, or that her life was in danger, and she wished to take care of the situation by herself. But as friends can attest, she was growing more and more concerned and even frightened by his actions toward her.
Officer Miguel Deras presented her case to campus police on Oct. 12, 2018, to report she was being harassed. On Oct. 13, 2018, she reported extortion. The police, including Officer Deras, never investigated her claims. At some point, Deras called her with a strange request. He asked her to hand over some questionable and explicit photos mentioned in the case. As we now know, Deras downloaded those pictures onto his personal phone and was overheard boasting to colleagues, remarking about her looks and being cute.
Looking back, it’s easy to see many points where McCluskey’s murder could have been prevented. Her mother Jill McCluskey says, “The officers never checked Lauren’s killer’s offender status. After the police took her statement, they could have easily found out that Rowland was on parole and put him in jail right then. I just wish a responsible adult would have listened and believed. Rowland was on parole and could have been taken into custody.” On Oct. 19, 2018, McCluskey emailed detective Kayla Dallof with Rowland’s offender information. Dallof did not read the email until after Lauren was killed. According to Lauren’s friend Shelby Gonzalez, “On Thursday before we lost Lauren she asked me to come to the library to meet her because she needed help. She said the police didn’t believe her about her scary ex and she didn’t know what to do.”
It turns out that McCluskey was victimized not just by her killer. Lax dormitory security and a macho culture of minimizing coeds’ complaints also contributed to her death. McCluskey says, “The U has never admitted that Lauren’s death could have been prevented, or apologized or taken responsibility for their failures. It’s hard for them to change if they don’t acknowledge their failures, and that has to happen going forward.”
Too late for McCluskey, changes are coming about, somewhat ironically in a year when campus population and social interactions will drastically decrease due to the coronavirus.
Following McCluskey’s murder, teammate and friend Brooke Martin was in shock. But as time went by, she noticed that little or nothing was changing in campus safety or policy. Martin created a mural in McCluskey’s honor, and helped build a student-led coalition called “UnsafeU.” Since their first public protest on the first anniversary of McCluskey’s death, UnsafeU has been gathering and sharing stories of other mishandled cases. Martin says, “Students are demonstrating with their voices and standing up for what’s right and not forgetting, and not accepting the empty words or quick Bandaids from a system that’s completely broken,” says Martin.
Utah State Senator Jani Iwamoto has a long-standing interest in dealing with public safety issues and sexual assault. Since McCluskey’s murder many college students have contacted her wanting to talk about campus safety and problems like assault, domestic and dating violence and stalking. She says, “I am inspired by their activism, as many students have continued to express that they don’t feel safe and demand real change in their places of higher learning. We need safeguards in place to help our students.” Senator Iwamoto was the Chief Sponsor of S.B. 134, signed by Governor Herbert on May 19, 2019, a bill which outlines requirements and responsibilities for campus safety and requires institutions to share this information with the Legislature every year, to assess and find out what’s working and what’s not.
Senator Iwamoto says,“Lauren’s death, her pleas for help, of course, her tragic death does not go away, and nothing is going to work unless we have some real change with the police and policy, and that the students believe in it, because now there isn’t trust at all in them. Seamless communication is also important for the victims, because it’s hard enough to navigate where to go and what to do when they are going through an experience.” Senator Iwamoto also sponsored this year’s S.B. Bill 80 which focuses more specifically on communication between law enforcement, students, campus police dispatch and departments.
As a Communications major, Lauren was enrolled at the U in Professor Dan Clark’s Advanced Public Speaking class. Her final exam was a student presentation called the “Last Lecture—If you had only one hour left to live, what would you say?” Lauren was the first to volunteer. “While soft spoken, she delivered her speech in a profound way,” Clark says. “She shared her stories about being on the track team, the thrill of victory as well as her injuries and enduring disappointment and physical pain. Her message was one of keeping hope alive, that overcoming obstacles is part of life, and that practicing self-love is the way for you to fully love others.”
Over two years have passed since Lauren was found dead in the back of a car outside her campus dorm. There is still so much to be done, her friend Brooke Martin says. “Justice needs to be served and our demands need to be met—no student should ever be worried about being killed on campus.”
And Lauren’s story continues and gains momentum. On the first anniversary of her murder, led by a student organization called UnsafeU, 100 students walked out of their classes to protest how the university handled the Lauren McCluskey case, the misconduct of university police and other concerns reported by women.
And Sept. 3rd of the 2020-21 academic year started with another large on-campus rally from UnsafeU demanding the resignation of President Ruth Watkins for withholding evidence in this and other cases and calling for the abolition of the UUPD.
The Ongoing Battle for Campus Safety
The tragic case of Lauren McCluskey has become a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for campus safety across universities. The incident not only highlighted severe flaws in campus policing and safety measures but also sparked crucial conversations about necessary reforms. Since McCluskey’s murder in October 2018, there has been a noticeable push towards enhancing public safety and fostering a culture of trust within university settings.
In response to the tragedy, institutions like the University of Utah have taken significant steps to address their safety protocols. Under the guidance of Chief Safety Officer Keith Squires, the University implemented a series of 30 recommendations designed to restructure and improve the Department of Public Safety (DPS). These improvements focused on university security policies, including a stronger emphasis on community engagement and means to prevent police brutality, such as the introduction of independent review committees and body cameras.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist, underscoring the vital need for continuous feedback from the campus community to adapt and enhance safety measures effectively. The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), a crucial aspect of these reforms, plays a significant role in improving communication and assessment of threats, proving essential for violence prevention and better reporting procedures.
The role of organizations like the Lauren McCluskey Foundation has been instrumental in driving these changes, advocating for improved safety through education and accountability. Their initiatives focus on increasing awareness, implementing best practices, and promoting a Campus Safety Score to hold campuses accountable. They also push for stronger laws against dating violence and stalking, recognizing the importance of Title IX in protecting students.
There is a growing recognition of the need for cultural shifts within campus policing, emphasizing trust and engagement with the student body. This includes comprehensive faculty training in violence prevention and threat assessment, aiming to create a safer, more inclusive environment for all students. Efforts to overhaul existing firearms policies and integrate ongoing training programs reflect a broader commitment to transform university security policies and ensure that tragic incidents like that of Lauren McCluskey are never repeated.
From Tragedy to Action: A Transition to Secure Gaming
The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Lauren McCluskey have prompted a significant shift in the approach to security, particularly within higher education institutions. This tragedy underscored the urgent need for enhanced vigilance and tightened security measures across campuses. Universities and organizations have since prioritized the implementation of comprehensive cybersecurity measures to prevent similar incidents. Key practices include verifying email authenticity, securing passwords, protecting devices, and reporting suspicious activities. The emphasis on robust cybersecurity policies highlights the broader impact of offline tragedies on creating safer digital environments.
The rise in cyber-attacks on universities has spurred an evolution in access control systems, with flexible solutions becoming a must for ensuring campus safety. Video surveillance has similarly evolved, playing a crucial role in monitoring and protecting personal and sensitive data from breaches. Institutions are now leveraging digital video recorders and other technologies to enhance their security protocols.
The focus on security transitions smoothly into the digital sphere, where online platforms like Live Casino Stake.us are emphasizing similar principles of vigilance and safety. In the world of online gaming, ensuring the safety of users is paramount, given the multitude of cyber threats circulating in the digital landscape.
One critical area that reflects this heightened awareness is the domain of cyber safety in education, particularly highlighted by recent studies conducted in private schools across Dubai. The shift towards distance learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic has further emphasized the need for comprehensive cyber-safety policies. These policies should extend beyond school boundaries, integrating essential cybersecurity education and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to develop robust frameworks for online security.
Despite the focus on immediate threats, there remains an identified gap in existing policies, which often overlook broader cyber safety risks in favor of issues such as cyberbullying. Enhancements in policy should include better definitions, preventive measures, and reporting procedures. Similarly, the online gaming industry is addressing vulnerabilities through innovations such as multi-factor authentication and secure file storage, all contributing to a safer digital experience for users.
Creating Trust in Both Education and Gaming
Analyzing the importance of trust and security in both educational institutions and online casinos reveals a shared imperative: fostering environments of safety and trust. The lessons learned from one sector can enhance the other’s methodologies, ensuring robustness in all areas.
In the realm of online gambling, system integrity is maintained through rigorous security practices. For instance, casinos undergo SOC 2 audits to ensure operational integrity, access controls, and network security. These audits identify vulnerabilities and enhance compliance with regulations, ultimately fostering transparency and building customer trust.
Key security measures in online gambling include:
- Encryption technologies like SSL/TLS to protect player data.
- Random Number Generators (RNGs) that ensure fairness in games.
- Licensing and regulation for compliance purposes.
- Anti-fraud measures such as Know Your Customer (KYC) checks.
- Secure payment methods, including e-wallets and cryptocurrencies.
The industry also faces significant risks, including data breaches, DDoS attacks, and fraudulent activities. As such, cybersecurity becomes both a necessity and a competitive advantage. Advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and blockchain offer enhanced security solutions, while third-party vendors provide innovative security services.
Entities like Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) and regulatory bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority set benchmarks for maintaining these standards. These organizations, alongside strategies to counter evolving threats, are critical in educating users on best practices for security and trust. As emphasized in high-profile incidents, the role of robust strategies cannot be understated.
For further insights on fortifying security and operational transparency in gaming, explore our detailed coverage on Live Casino Stake.us, where cutting-edge measures are piloted and refined.
The Influence of Safety Legislation in Various Sectors
Safety legislation, such as S.B. 134 and the Clery Act, has significantly shaped safety protocols across multiple sectors. Initially focused on addressing campus-related issues, these laws have transcended educational boundaries to impact areas like online entertainment, gaming, healthcare, and construction.
The Clery Act, for example, compels universities to transparently report campus crime statistics, which influences enrollment decisions and parental evaluations. This transparency fosters a proactive safety culture that enhances institutional reputation and creates trust with stakeholders, such as parents and international students. The broad adoption of such safety measures often leads to a cycle of continuous improvement in safety standards.
In the education sector, the repercussions of school shootings and their subsequent safety legislations, like reactive security systems and violence prevention protocols, underscore the complexity of safeguarding educational environments. While certain measures are developed specifically for schools, their influence extends into sectors with comparable safety concerns.
Healthcare facilities and construction sites are now integrated into a broader move towards adopting strict safety standards to comply with public safety regulations. By employing effective safety measures and prioritizing the prevention of violence, these sectors benefit from enhanced security culture and improved compliance with safety standards.
Beyond operational changes, the implementation of safety legislation influences public trust. The enhanced safety culture improves not only the institutions’ reputations but also their capacity to attract and retain skilled professionals, ultimately contributing to stable enrollment patterns and donor confidence.
- Higher Education Safety: Institutions actively report crime statistics, positively impacting stakeholder trust and recruitment.
- Workplace Safety Standards: Broader adoption of safety protocols inspired by campus measures.
- Security Culture: Development of proactive safety measures influencing public safety and institutional standing.
Therefore, the ripple effects of safety legislation extend beyond the initial scope of preventing campus violence—fostering an enhanced security framework in diverse sectors and shaping public safety norms globally.
Lauren McCluskey’s story is still being investigated by journalist groups, and her family members are seeking answers. Stay up to date with the latest by subscribing to our City Life newsletter, The Hive.
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The Icelandic rock band KALEO (spelled with all caps) kicked off the Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Season on May 18, 2022 with Nashville-based rocker Bones Owens opening the festivities.
Bones Owens provided the thunder and KALEO brought the lightning and burned the house down. Owens started off with “Keep it Close,” a southern-fried hard driving rock number that set the stage for a perfect night on the mountain. Owens poured through five additional razor-sharp numbers bringing the crowd to their feet. Fans who love propulsive southern rock will want to keep Bones Owens on their radar.
KALEO took the stage and gave us all a history lesson on American roots music. They artfully blended blues, rock, folk, gospel and even a hint of late ’70s disco into a fresh new sound. They showed us that American roots music is eclectic, progressive and influenced by many contributions—even four artists from Iceland.
They opened with their new single “Break My Baby” and rolled into their signature sound with “Broken Bones.” KALEO is a relatively new band, hitting our shores in 2016 with a fantastic debut album A/B. In 2021 they released their sophomore album Surface Sounds. With only two full-length albums under their belt, you’d think their arsenal of music would be as thin as our mountain air, but both albums are loaded with great songs that make KALEO feel like a more seasoned band.
The Icelandic quartet was accompanied by two backup vocalists (Jessica Jolia and April Rucker) who gave the already soulful blues sound a dynamic gospel feel. “Hot Blood” had the crowd rising to their feet like a tent show revival. KALEO then took us on a magical mystery tour through the 1970s with “Gringo.” Frontman JJ Juliusson pulled a falsetto out of his vocal quiver for this one, reminiscent of the Rolling Stones circa 1978 (think “Miss You”).
KALEO moved with fluidity back to their signature sound, a dark brooding soulfulness with “Brother Run Fast” and “Way Down We Go.” These two incredible songs are a must for any Sunday morning playlist that’ll give you all the spirituality you’ll need without leaving the house.
The 3,000 or so lucky fans who were able to attend this sold-out show got a bounty of great American roots music. No wonder KALEO was hand-picked in 2019 to open stadium dates for the Rolling Stones. To see them headline on the Red Butte stage was a memorable evening and an incredible way to kick off the Red Butte Outdoor Concert Series.
Springtime in the Rockies is akin to Gump’s box of chocolates, but on Wednesday night we got an amazingly warm spring evening. Mother nature and the Red Butte sound crew ensured that we enjoyed pitch-perfect sound from both artists. Kudos!
- Who: KALEO
- What: An Icelandic blues/rock band (yes, there is one and they’re awesome)
- Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheater
- When: May 18, 2022
For the past five years, Kat Aleman’s been ingrained in the local music scene, the former Austinite running a music-inclined production company called Y’Allt Entertainment even as she’s worked at other gigs. At some point, she and her friend Jeff Dillon were chatting about the latter’s upcoming release, Scenes From the End, a conversation that stirred the basic ingredients of what would become a new festival called Hometown Theory; it’ll enjoy an afternoon-into-evening debut this Saturday, May 21.
Taking place at The Art Garden, the event will “bring together the Salt Lake community through food, beer, music and art.”
Dillon’s release served as a nice grounding element for the afternoon’s lineup of six bands.
“He asked me to help with an album release show,” Aleman recalls. “And I’d been wanting to do a local festival myself. So we collided and combined forces.”
Aleman found a good home for the event at The Art Garden, which she describes as “an outdoor plot near Metro [Music Hall.] It’s got local artist murals. There’re sculptures in there. It’s an open community space to throw events.”
This event will be dog friendly and is all ages, with a $12 ticket price (or $15 at the door via cash or Venmo). Tickets for the event can be found at Eventbrite.
Food trucks will include World Famous Yum Yum Food Truck, Sade’s Burritos and Leilani’s Love Shack.
The music (and water wrestling) schedule runs like so:
Petr Chubak: 3:30-4:00
Spirit Machines: 4:00-4:45
Racist Kramer: 5:00 – 5:45
Tiger Fang: 6:00-6:45
Water Championship Wrestling: 6:45-7:45
Mortigi Tempo: 8:00-8:45
Jeff Dillon and the Revival: 9:00-10:30
Aleman says this will be the first Hometown Theory of at least two festivals. It will be back next spring, with this weekend’s event providing a template of what’s possible next.
“I’d worked in the local music scene in Austin since forever,” Aleman says. “I started my first booking company at 17. When I moved here five years ago, I fell in with the local scene here and it’s something I’ve always been passionate about.”
If You Go
627 W. 100 South
801-722-5865
The cast of "Hello Dolly!" at Pioneer Theatre Company draws out the musical's natural humor and quiet emotional resonance.
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At the LOVELOUD Fest in Salt Lake City, the performing artists and speakers remind us that the reason for such an event is just as relevant and important as it was at its inception.
“This is not a fleeting thing,” says Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons and the show’s founder from the red carpet of this year’s festival. “We’re here for the long haul. There are still changes that need to be made. That may take 10 years, 20 years, I don’t know, but we’ve got a lot of life left in us.”
Back in 2017, Reynolds announced he was throwing a music festival in Utah to promote inclusion, love, understanding and acceptance for young members of the LGBTQ+ community.
By then, the high rate of teen suicide in Utah was already national news, and a number of organizations, like Mama Dragons, and individuals, like Neon Trees’ Tyler Glenn, were trying to sound the alarm about the particular risk of suicide among LGBTQ+ kids and teens who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the predominant religion among Utahns.
As an example of the harm the LDS Church was causing the LGBTQ+ members, many pointed to a 2015 church policy that excluded the children of gay parents from baptism within the church until they were 18-years-old (most kids born within the church are baptized at 8-years-old), at which point they would be required to renounce gay marriage in order to be baptized. The policy was later rolled back in 2019, long after the petitions and the events for the mass resignation of church members and after the policy helped prompt Imagine Dragons’ frontman Dan Reynolds to create LOVELOUD, the founding of which is the subject of the 2018 documentary Believer.
“When we played the first year, we saw the miracle of it. You would not think that something as niche as an LGBT event for people of faith would work, especially in Utah, but we’ve seen that it has,” says Glenn, who helped found the festival with Reynolds and remains on the LOVELOUD board. He has been at the forefront of the tensions between the LDS faith and sexual identity since he came out as gay, culminating in his 2016 solo album Excommunication.
The festival was meant to serve as counter-messaging. Rather than messages of exclusion or shame, LOVELOUD, from the beginning, wanted to give LGBTQ+ kids a night where they could feel celebrated and give their parents and families a place to learn more about their experiences and see diverse sexual and gender identities through a new lens.
Singer-songwriter Aja Volkman spoke to religious parents who have kids who might be exploring their sexual or gender identity. She says, “You know your children and you love your children. They are the first and foremost important thing, and where your loyalty lies is with your children and making sure they feel safe and that they feel loved.”
Reynolds, Volkman’s partner, adds, “The biggest thing that we are seeing with these youth is that they are not looking to be just accepted. They’re looking to be celebrated. It’s a celebration that these kids want.”
“All kids want celebration,” agrees Volkman.
Since that first LOVELOUD, some things have changed in Utah. The LDS church rolled back that aforementioned policy, but lawmakers have passed legislation that restricts transgender students from participating in girls’ competitive sports and LDS leaders reiterated beliefs that exclude gay couples and non-binary gender identities. At their conference in April, Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “Fundamental to us is God’s revelation that exaltation can be attained only through faithfulness to the covenants of an eternal marriage between a man and a woman.”
All of which helped fuel the passion and urgency of LOVELOUD performers and participants.
“Luckily, when people in politics or other leaders are setting up dangerous policies and places for our youth, there are a lot of people who are on the other side,” says Reynolds. “All of these people who are here [at LOVELOUD] have been fighting for these kids.”
Tyler Glenn, performing once again with Neon Trees, says some of those policies that were enacted by the church shook his faith. “I was really angry for a while, and that anger is valid,” he says. “But, what LOVELOUD has done has really healed a lot of my wounds…Hurt and anger are valid, but it has reminded me to lead with love.”
Reynolds says his beliefs and understanding have evolved since the first LOVELOUD as well. “I’m more spiritual now, not affiliated with any faith, but Mormonism is my culture. You know how it is, if you’re raised in Mormonism it’s a part of you. My whole family is Mormon. It’s my foundation. I care deeply about the people, and there are a lot of people who want change who are in the church and are active members and are not happy with what that path is like for LGBTQ youth who are in the church.”
Reynolds also offered a message to those who are struggling with reconciling their faith and identity, saying, “If there is a god, that god absolutely loves you and you are perfect the way you are. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong. Don’t pray for forgiveness, don’t pray for change—you are perfect just the way you are.”
Singer David Archuleta, who has identified as both Mormon and queer, says he’s come to a point where “I’m just going to let myself be me” after grappling with internal homophobia from growing up in a conservative and religious environment. On stage, Archuleta performed a short set, as he is still recovering from vocal surgery, but he spoke to the crowd about accepting ones’ sexual identity. He says, “No matter what I tried, I couldn’t change that part of me…I hope you can learn to love and have compassion for yourself. This has been such a liberating year for me to not be afraid of myself anymore.”
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Mat and Savanna Shaw -
Encircle Youth Choir
Local father-daughter musical duo Mat and Savanna Shaw performed as well. At first, the pair worried their style and music wouldn’t be a good fit for the event. “We looked up to these artists forever, and to be here singing with them is crazy. We still look at ourselves as these small town singers,” says Savanna.
But, in the end, what is LOVELOUD about if not acceptance? “I think this crowd, especially, is so accepting and so loving,” says Mat. “It’s a cause we are so excited to support and to lend our voices to the choir who wants to make sure that this community, especially in Utah, feels loved.”
If you or someone you know needs help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255.
Check out Salt Lake magazine’s coverage and photos from LOVELOUD 2019 and 2018. For more art & entertainment, subscribe to receive Salt Lake magazine’s print edition.
Chip Z’Nuff (also known to childhood friends and the internet as Gregory Rybarski) is the ultimate rock’n’roll survivor. His band, Enuff Z’Nuff, has been active for over 40 years, releasing more than two dozen albums and playing rooms of varying sizes all across the country that entire time. For select shows, he’ll even turn the group into a tribute act, The Beatles Rock Show, and the Fab Four’s influence is directly heard when Enuff Z’Nuff takes the stage today, with songs like “Magical Mystery Tour” and “Eleanor Rigby” dotting the playlist, along with Paul McCartney’s “Jet.”
These were all songs that Enuff Z’Nuff played within the first 45-minutes of their Friday night show at Leatherheads (12147 South State St., Draper) over this past weekend, a gig that saw the group turn out a fanbase of several dozen diehards who were on hand to catch an act that’s never lost the faith, despite countless changes to the looks, feels and sounds of American rock’n’roll since their self-titled debut album was released in 1989.
At that moment, the Chicagoland group was riding high, scoring two hits from that album in 1990 via “Fly High, Michelle” and “New Thing.” Both videos were MTV staples and featured a bubble-gum-bright look and a sound that incorporated a blend of everything that’d preceded them in the last couple of decades. There was the high hair of groups like Poison, the punk-meets-power-pop sonics of Redd Kross, the glammed-out hard rock of Dramarama.
Of course, 1991 was “the year punk broke” and Nirvana and their kin would take over the rock charts for the near-term future. While a host of their contemporaries lost careers at that moment, Chip Z’Nuff kept his band going, losing his co-founders along the way, while he cemented himself into a role as the band’s songwriter, lead vocalist, bassist and emcee. The latter’s job’s part of what makes an Enuff Z’Nuff a unique experience.
At Leatherheads, Z’Nuff basked in the glow of his fans’ love, reminding them, over and again, of his band’s long history, namechecking everyone from Tupac to David Letterman. Plenty of songs came with a short introduction, with Z’Nuff referencing past Utah shows and off-color hijinks at hotel rooms and tour busses within the state’s limits. Z’Nuff works blue and no one’s shocked by what might come of the veteran entertainer’s mouth, a throwback style that’s bit circus carny and a bit Borscht belt comic, in addition to his obvious role as a rock’n’roll bandleader.
These days, Chip Z’Nuff’s band is made up of Tory Stoffregen on lead guitar, Tony Fennell on bass; and Daniel Hill on drums. Together for roughly seven years in this unit, it’s not uncommon for one member to drop away for another gig, only to return to the fold later. In fact, one of Z’Nuff’s riffs was a rundown on who played in what other projects and when—a packed, little information blast mid-show.
The band played well over an hour before Z’Nuff said the magic words, cuing up “Fly High, Michelle” and “New Thing” and for a good 10 minutes, the superfans were in bliss. These were the moneymakers, the tracks that suggest you cough up $20 to see Enuff Z’Nuff on a random Friday night in 2022. Humorously, as the tracks ended, Z’Nuff pretty much said the audience didn’t need to beg for an encore as Z’Nuff and Fennell traded instruments and the rock went into a 12-to-15-minute jam that looped through some Edgar Winter, Stone Temple Pilots, Foghat and even another pinch of “New Thing.” It was a strange closer, but the band had finished up a 90-minute set almost to the minute.
As the group wandered through the green room’s curtain minutes later, they were rushed by the small audience on the dancefloor, everyone huddled around for autographs, selfies and handshakes. From out of nowhere, the PA announced that karaoke was moving inside from the patio, per police request.
Just another night on the road for Enuff Z’Nuff.
