City Weekly July 18, 2024

BY CW STAFF

S AP

BOX

Why Isn’t America Working?

A frenzy of polarization and misgovernance has overtaken American politics. Actors and institutions on both sides of the political divide are silencing speech. Prosecutors are criminalizing politics. Republicans are undermining the electoral system. And a new breed of social-media celebrities in Congress is failing to address numerous publicpolicy failures, from a broken immigration system and hugely expensive and dysfunctional healthcare to staggering economic inequality.

All around the world people are asking: What’s wrong with America? Why isn’t it working? The answer isn’t one of the common partisan narratives. It isn’t the “radical progressives” who want to tear the system down. Nor is it the “deplorable conservatives” who want to punish America’s elites. It’s not a dysfunctional, gridlocked Congress. Nor is it a right-wing, reactionary Supreme Court. It’s not an ever-older Joe Biden. Nor is it an ever-angrier Donald Trump (though he sure isn’t helping).

The answer, rather, is broader than any narrow category or single person. The answer is the American people themselves.

A nation is, above all, the hearts and minds of its people. And Americans are becoming increasingly untethered from both reality and the essential principles and traditions that have shaped their nation’s historic success.

A big part of why America isn’t working is because far too many Americans neither know nor care how it’s supposed to work.

The root cause of this mania is the combination of three things. First is tribalism— Americans, like all humans, have deep

tribal roots. This expresses itself in powerful biases in favor of one’s own clan—and searing antipathy for the other side.

The second is social media. Sophisticated algorithms behind major online platforms exploit Americans’ cognitive vulnerabilities and intensify their tribal prejudices.

And the third is the structure of the U.S. political system itself. The two-party system exacerbates tribalism by pitting two juggernauts (Democrats and Republicans) against each other in a bitter, all-consuming rivalry—and gerrymandering, closed primaries and the Electoral College only make things worse.

This flywheel spins faster every day. And it’s culminating in two overlapping threats to the American experiment. The first is the criminalization of politics, as prosecutors from around the country set their sights on partisan rivals. Since every political salvo must be met with greater opposite force, this has set in motion a pernicious dynamic which may spiral into catastrophe.

The second threat involves the central premise of American government: the sanctity of the vote. America’s election sys-

tem is under attack. And not just by ineffectual zealots at the margins of power or howling mobs in the street, but by the Republican party’s undisputed leader, Donald Trump, and his loyalists throughout federal and state government.

The election in several months will reveal a lot about the current state of the nation. Given that neither candidate should hold the job for the subsequent four years (albeit for differing reasons) it will be not only a bumpy ride till November, but a tumultuous four years from there.

WILLIAM COOPER Salt Lake City

Correction: The cover feature for the July 4, 2024, issue of City Weekly, titled “Ice Time,” referred to Stefan Wilson and his two sons, Coen and Merek Wilson, by an inaccurate surname.

Care to sound off on a feature in our pages or about a local concern? Write to comments@ cityweekly.net or post your thoughts on our social media. We want to hear from you!

THE WATER COOLER

What’s the worst song or band from your formative years that you’ll still happily listen to?

Benjamin Wood

I’ve got a soft spot for Sugar Ray. Their radio hits are still fun and they’ve got some b-side tracks that are legitimate bangers. Give the full In The Pursuit of Leisure album a listen, from top to bottom.

Bill Frost

“Take a Look Around” by Limp Bizkit. It’s the theme song to Mission: Impossible 2, a decent remake of the TV original that’s absolutely ruined by Fred Durst. Turd, meet punch bowl.

Sabina Lowe

I am still in my formative years, So I will get back to you in around 15-20 years!

Scott Renshaw

My formative years were the early 1980s, so there’s really too much nostalgic bad music to pick one out...

Christa Zaro

The best song and band that I still listen to? Hall & Oates

Wes Long

No offense to the artist himself, but I’ll always have a soft spot for John Sebastian’s tunes from The Care Bears Movie; they take me back to listening to the vinyl record with my sibs. Don’t judge me.

OPINION

BY CHRISTOPHER SMART

‘Guns don’t kill people’

Hey Wilson, how many times have you heard Republicans say,“Guns don’t kill people, people kill people”? Way too many?

We heard it after Sandy Hook; we heard it after the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas; we heard it after Uvalde, Texas—the list of mass shootings in this country goes on and on and on. There may be limits on the First Amendment, but with the Second Amendment, not so much.

We have some 400 million firearms in the United States— more than one for every man, woman and child. This is a violent country with well over 40,000 gun-related deaths per year—an average of 120 per day.

The United States imported or manufactured 2.8 million AR-15, assault-style rifles in 2020 alone. It is by far the highest-selling firearm and was designed for one purpose— to kill people.

Not surprisingly, Donald Trump was shot at by an assault rifle purchased legally. Since 2016, Trump—more than any other major political figure—has contributed to a rising trend in violent rhetoric.

Now, however, Republicans are blaming Democrats for the attempted assassination, as though Dems had called for the violent insurrection of January 6, 2021. No one knows why 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks wanted to kill Trump but one thing is for sure—he wanted to do it with a gun. Call it freedom.

Demonic Portal Opens Over White House

“Satan get thee behind me.” That’s just one of the phrases heard echoing around Milwaukee’s Republican National Convention, where Democrats aren’t political opponents but enemies to be smitten down like the Kraken.

Christian Nationalism has swarmed over the GOP confab, preaching that America’s godliness is under siege and Christian soldiers must rise up to take it back. It’s a funloving bunch who can throw down with the best.

A “demonic portal” has opened above the Biden White House, said Donald Trump’s fixer Roger Stone in The Washington Post. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn called former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) a demon, the Post reported.

As many MAGA acolytes know after watching a viral Trump video, God sent him to Earth to save it. They— along with the former president, himself—have compared Trump’s trials and tribulations to the plight of Jesus of Nazareth. Proof positive: God saved Trump from an assassination attempt last weekend. Earlier, Trump declared election day, Nov. 5, as “Christian Visibility Day.”

But it’s not love that the Trump faithful came to Milwaukee to spread, but a call to arms. Matthew 10:34-36: “I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Oh yeah, and God bless America.

Hey Gov. Cox, Go Ahead, Eat Your Damn Cake

OK, we know politicians can talk out of both sides of their mouths, but this takes the cake (WARNING—possible neck injuries due to whiplash): At the National Governors Association’s meeting last week, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he would not vote for Donald Trump … but hopes he wins.

Eat your cake and have it, too? Incredible.

Yep, he’s the same man who urged us to be kind to transgender Utahns and then signed legislation to keep them out of public restrooms. What is wrong with our politics?

Here’s a clue: The Utah Supreme Court just ruled the state Legislature cannot mess with citizen initiatives—in this case, one that would create an independent commission to draw voting districts. The initiative passed after Utahns—particularly Salt Lake County residents—grew sick and tired of Republican gerrymandering that sliced up the county like rhubarb pie.

True to form, lawmakers twisted the public’s petition into the same old pretzel. Voters sued. And guess who submitted an amicus brief on behalf of the legislature? Spencer

“Disagree Better” Cox. Surprise!

The court’s unanimous ruling was met with sour grapes from GOP leaders. House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, and Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, issued a joint statement, saying in part: “Boohoo. Whose democracy is this, anyway? Boohoo, boohoo.”

Postscript—Well that’s gonna do it for another historic week here at Smart Bomb, where our staff keeps track of political rhetoric so you don’t have to.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee: “We need government control, not gun control. Otherwise, tribalism advances at the national level.” WTF?

Former White House attorney Ty Cobb: “[I] think it was always Judge Aileen Cannon’s objective, frankly, to prevent this [Trump’s classified documents case] from going to trial.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson: “When the message goes out constantly that the election of Donald Trump would be a threat to democracy, that the republic would end, I mean it, it heats up the environment.”

Ohio Sen J.D. Vance (just selected as Trump’s running mate): “I’m truly skeptical that Mike Pence’s life was ever in danger [on Jan. 6]. I think politics and politics people like to really exaggerate things from time to time.”

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “Corruption, without consequence, infects all it touches. And that is why Congress has a constitutional and moral obligation to hold these [Supreme Court] justices accountable...” she said, introducing a pair of resolutions calling for the impeachment and removal of Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Hells bells, Wilson, it’s kinda like we’ve collided with a parallel universe where everything is crazy—or maybe someone put LSD into the water supply.

You know, they are selling all kinds of new bottled water, said to be magic. Who knows? CW

Christopher Smart writes the weekly “Smart Bomb” column, available online at cityweekly.net. Private Eye is off this week— send feedback to comments@cityweekly.net

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele

HIT: Vox Populi

When the Utah Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling recognizing constitutional protections for ballot initiatives, citizen activists rejoiced. It was a seismic shock to supermajority lawmakers who thought their power was inviolate. Partisan redistricting basically guarantees incumbent Republicans safe electoral passage—a process known as gerrymandering, which voters tried to end in 2018. This ruling, of course, is not the end of the story. The high court remanded the case to the district court, where decisions will be made about Proposition 4’s independent redistricting commission and whether fair maps must be drawn. Legislators are furious, predicting nothing less than an end to life as we know it, saying it will create chaos and strikes at the “very heart of the republic.” Voters who had been silenced for decades probably think that the heart needed major surgery anyway.

MISS: In the Slammer

The Utah State Prison move was a shoutout to developers who’d been salivating for years over the financial potential. Lawmakers and the governor characterized it as necessary and promising. Now, two years after the new prison was dedicated, that promise is a dark reminder of what was lost. Gov. Spencer Cox had talked about the new programming that would help inmates leave for better lives. It was a way of justifying the cost of the prison which burgeoned to $1 billion while it was being relocated to an inhospitable area near the Great Salt Lake. A July 7 investigation by FOX 13 uncovered the sad truth that dozens of inmates lacked the treatment they were promised, often extending their sentences and leaving them with only idle time. “A video produced in 2015 by the Prison Relocation Commission even touted inmate therapies as a way to reduce recidivism and lower costs across the state’s justice system,” noted reporter Nate Carlisle. It didn’t happen.

MISS: In the Weeds

Maybe you’ve heard of the Chevron deference, a precedent recently overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision made Rep. Burgess Owens a happy camper. Previously, if a law was ambiguous, the presumption was to defer to government agency experts to interpret it. Owens is co-sponsoring legislation to throw all that to the wind—rolling back agency rules until Congress gets around to spelling them out in law. That is patently ridiculous. Congress can barely legislate broad and important things like the budget or border. Who’s to believe that any law Congress puts in place would be clear enough that no one questions its meaning? “This bill ensures that any rule with the force of law receives the scrutiny and approval of Congress, where the power to make laws rightfully belongs,” Owens said. Apparently, he and other lawmakers are going to make a chronological list of rules and then decide what to do with them. We’re waiting to see it all happen and expecting little, if only confusion. CW

City of Light

What do Salt Lake City and Paris have in common? You may balk, but these two very different places share some common ground of global concern—particularly the Olympics, and what it takes to host them. The Olympics changed their guidelines in 2014, focusing on sustainability—as in, host cities must be committed to tackling climate change and using existing infrastructure where possible. It set up cities that have already hosted the Games to host again.

Salt Lake City wants to host again, so after years of bad air from traffic congestion and industry, the Olympics is a reason SLC may finally invest in better infrastructure that reduces reliance on polluting cars. And if we want to do it right, Paris has the blueprint.

You may or may not have heard that Paris has recently been named one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. This status comes as a result of their own issues with pollution— although they have one of the oldest metro systems in the world, that didn’t stop the City of Light from succumbing to a new reputation as the City of Headlights when car mania swept worldwide in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Paris in the decades that followed would seem familiar to any Salt Laker: frequent smog, heat waves and noise pollution.

When Mayor Anne Hidalgo was elected in 2014, she set her sights on the roads retaining heat in the city as well as the cars that polluted the air and ambiance. Her Plan Vélo program aimed to make the city 100% bikeable by 2026—and it has unfolded with a rapidity that would give any American political official whiplash.

The plan built on a trend—Slate reported in 2021 that between 2001 and 2018, car use dropped by 60% in Paris. So it makes sense that the Olympics committee gave Paris the go-ahead to host their third Olympic Games.

Earlier this year, I biked Paris. Unlike when I was last there in 2018, biking was the easiest and fastest way to get around, so much so that my partner and I barely took the train, even though it was the middle of winter. We marveled at how the wide boulevards had been transformed—intuitive bike lanes complete with their own traffic lights, resulting in a privileging of bikers-before-cars like I’ve never experienced anywhere else.

I couldn’t help but wonder why Salt Lake doesn’t do the same retrofitting of our overly wide streets. What if the bike and bus lanes on 200 South were on every busy street? And also didn’t take two years (or more) to complete?

Paris has another thing in common with us—they’ve got a polluted river they were hellbent on cleaning up to a swimmable quality ahead of the Olympics. May I turn your attention to our own Jordan River, slated for cleanup?

Yes, the Jordan is smaller than the Seine and not a fixture of songs and poems. Still, it’s a beautiful, polluted river snaking through our west side. Salt Lake wants to be globally important so bad—maybe it’s time we take a page out of a real city and get serious about climate and infrastructure. CW

BY ERIN MOORE

BOOKS

Punk Meets Cult

Utah author explores the making of the Ramones classic Rock ‘n’ Roll High School in I Want You Around.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

The 1979 comedy Rock ‘n’ Roll High School—about a rebellious student fighting the power with the help of punk icons the Ramones has become a cult classic. Utah Tech University professor Stephen Armstrong explored the making of the movie in his new book I Want You Around (Backbeat Books). Armstrong visits The King’s English Bookshop (1511 S. 1500 East) on Saturday, July 20 at 2 p.m. to discuss the book.

City Weekly: How did you first encounter Rock ‘n’ Roll High School?

Stephen Armstrong: In the ’80s, I was a skateboard kid in the neighborhood. … A friend who was in that little clique of skaters was the first to really like the Ramones. I really liked the music and developed an ear for it. That friend lent me his copy of the Rock ‘n’ Roll High School soundtrack, and said “you’ve got to see this movie.” MTV was using Sunday nights to show cult films like Reefer Madness, Phantom of the Paradise and Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. Punk rock was really not welcome in my house, so I snuck down to the basement on a Sunday night. I was worried that the Ramones were going to look like tools and dorks in the movie. And they sort of do, but the music and the performances were so great.

CW: You also wrote a book about [independent filmmaker] Paul Bartel’s movies, so you obviously have an interest in low-budget cinema. What appeals to you about the indie films of this era?

SA: [Producer Roger] Corman had a good eye for talent. You had these people with enormous talent—Ron Howard, James Cameron, Jonathan Demme, Joe Dante—who were willing to work for nothing to get experience and

A&E

get credits. And Roger was the ultimate capitalist, but he’s also giving them enormous freedom. If you included enough sex and violence to keep the drive-in crowd happy, you could do what you want. So these movies were from a guy tight with money but loose with allowing people to do their jobs; you have a series of movies that are very much artistic and grossly commercial at the same time. And there’s something about that contradiction that appeals to me. I think Rock ‘n’ Roll High School has one foot in the gutter and one foot in … not necessarily the Louvre, but let’s say the Art Institute of Chicago.

CW: What was one of the most interesting or surprising things that stands out to you that you learned through your research?

SA: I think it was the extent to which [bassist] Dee Dee Ramone was drugged out while making it. I was taken aback by the story of how when the band was filming at Mount Carmel [High School], fans were coming up to the perimeter of the school, throwing bags of heroin and pills. And that kind of spilled over into a real binge for Dee Dee right into the shoot. He started to have an overdose and was hospitalized—then still had to come to the shoot the next day. You can see that he’s just completely addled.

CW: What is it, in the case of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, that makes it a “cult movie?”

SA: Siskel & Ebert in Sneak Previews in summer of 1979 did a show [on cult films], and they speculated that in the future, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School might fit in that category. … It’s often been written that Rock ‘n’ Roll High School was cult by design, and it wasn’t. Roger [Corman] wanted the movie to be Disco High, to chase after the success of the disco movies of the period. It was always, “what’s the way to make money.” [Director Allan Arkush’s] taste for the Ramones—which he thought would be funny visually, having a very pretty star falling in love with Joey Ramone, who looks like a praying mantis-meets-telephone pole— created this movie that is so freaky and strange that it became cult.

CW: Why does the film hold up nearly 40 years later?

SA: I think it’s three points. One is the Ramones, because the Ramones are weird. But they wrote such great songs

and had such great stage presence.

The second reason is, from the founding of the U.S. and earlier, it’s a culture that defied authoritarian impulses— that’s very punk and very American. That’s the theme of the movie: standing up to authority and winning. Third, the writers who took over the script after Joe McBride was let go, [Russ] Dvonch and [Richard] Whitley, loved the whackadoo humor of … the Jerry Lewis movies that Frank Tashlin directed. Jerry Zucker and Jon Davison [co-writer/co-director and producer of Airplane!, respectively] worked on it. The humor is transgressive and goofy, and filled with slapstick. There were big brains working on this kind of trashy, slumming project. CW

theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT

Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

JULY 18-24, 2024

Greg Warren

Greg Warren seems like such a natural when he performs stand-up comedy that it’s hard to believe he hasn’t been doing it forever. But in fact, it took several detours before he found his calling: enrolling at West Point with the goal of a career in the military; dropping out to return to wrestling at the University of Missouri; and spending a decade with Procter & Gamble selling Jif peanut butter to grocery stores.

It’s this latter segment of his biography that provides the focus of his latest comedy special, The Salesman, produced and directed by fellow comedian Nate Bargatze. While he touches on topics including what he did (and didn’t) do during the COVID pandemic, car insurance and holistic medicine, he focuses on the legacy of being a decade-long cheerleader for his company’s products. That includes touting the advantages of Jif over organic peanut butter, with its layer of oil on the top: “‘Greg, your peanut butter has preservatives, that’s why it doesn’t do that.’ Yeah. That’s exactly why it doesn’t do that. Maybe we’re trying to ‘preserve’ people’s appetites. ‘Greg, you just take a knife and you stir the jar.’ … Oh, now I’m supposed to help you make the peanut butter? Why don’t you just hand me a bag of peanuts and a hammer next time?”

Greg Warren performs at Wiseguys’ Jordan Landing location (3763 W. Center Park Dr., West Jordan) on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20 for four performances, 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. nightly. Tickets are $25; visit wiseguyscomedy.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (SR)

Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

Disney in Concert: Once Upon a Time

It’s hard to overstate the legacy of music from The Walt Disney Company’s animated features. From “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” in 1933’s Three Little Pigs and “Heigh-Ho” from 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs all the way through more modern hits like Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” Disney tunes have been chart-toppers and award-winners, providing the childhood soundtrack for several generations. That makes for great potential for an evening of entertainment when the Utah Symphony and conductor Jerry Hou celebrate “Disney in Concert: Once Upon a Time.”

Four Broadway-caliber vocalists join the Symphony to share a program of Disney favorites spanning the decades. While the full program was not yet available at press time, it’s scheduled to include selections from Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Tangled, Frozen, Encanto and more, with a range of show-stoppers, love songs and other beloved tunes. Accompanying the live performance, the event will also feature clips of the featured films in high-resolution digital projection, as a reminder of how much these songs are intertwined with the stories in which they appeared.

“Disney in Concert: Once Upon a Time” is part of the Deer Valley Music Festival at the Snow Park Amphitheater (2250 Deer Valley Dr. South, Park City) on Saturday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. General admission seating is still available, with tickets $21$42; children under 3 are free in the general admission area. Visit deervalleymusicfestival.org for tickets and additional information, including chairs and other items that are permitted inside the venue. (SR)

Celebrating the People Powwow / Uniting Communities Powwow

While much of the state takes the opportunity this week to celebrate the arrival of the Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, this has also traditionally been a week for alternative festivities recognizing the indigenous people for whom this was the place for many generations before. Two such events—one at each end of the valley— are available this week as gatherings of both local indigenous peoples and those who wish to help celebrate that heritage.

On Saturday, July 20, the Mountain America Expo Center (9575 S. State) in Sandy hosts the 11th annual Celebrating the People Powwow presented by Native American Events. River Camp of Skull Valley, Utah serves as the host drum, and events include a drum contest with open registration. Other scheduled events include the “Teen Girls Jingle” and the 2024 Princess Pageant, open to indigenous girls ages 13 – 17. The indoor location makes for a cool event, and the venue is easily accessible via the Blue Trax line. Hours are 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., and cost is $3 general admission, free to guests under 6 and over 65. Visit facebook.com/naepowwow for additional event details.

Meanwhile, on July 24, Liberty Park (600 E. 900 South) hosts the Uniting Communities Powwow (formerly the Native American Celebration in the Park). This free admission festival includes arts & crafts, food booths, family-friendly activities and entertainment, drum circles and a drone/laser show at 10 p.m. Primary operating hours are 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Visit utncoc.com for additional event details. (SR)

Following the Blind Rabbit

Blind Rabbit Kitchen vies for nightspot supremacy in the

Sugar House area.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

Sugar House’s main commercial drag has always been hard on new restaurants, but the current road construction project along 2100 South has been its own special nightmare. Though the construction is including some improvements to the walkability of downtown Sugar House, the agonizing timeline means we’ll have to navigate detours and parking shortages for the foreseeable future.

Be that as it may, there are plenty of reasons to check out Blind Rabbit Kitchen, a new concept from the team that brought us Sol Agave. In the time since I wrote about Sol Agave in American Fork (749 W. 100 North), the eclectic Mexican restaurant has opened a second location in downtown SLC (660 S. Main Street). While Blind Rabbit is conceptually different from Sol Agave, the same penchant for atmospheric details and creative culinary perspective are on display.

At its core, Blind Rabbit is a casual steak-and-cocktail spot with just a touch of sophisticated flair. Its current location has been home to a few defunct concepts; those who remember Pizza Volta will know what I’m talking about. Given the fact that Blind Rabbit is replete with lovely, rustic-chic design choices along with its menu that is heavy on shareables and craft cocktails, this should be a perfect location.

The problem is that it also happens to be ground zero for all that aforemen-

DINE

tioned road construction that has effectively turned 2100 South into a dead end. Even though it’s still within orbit of the movie theater and shopping center on Wilmington Avenue, business was surprisingly light when my wife and I paid it a visit on a Friday night. When your first visit to a restaurant happens to fall on a weekend and the place isn’t exactly hopping—forgive the rabbit pun—your mind starts wandering a bit. My natural instinct was to shake my fist at the gutting of 2100 South, which I learned was correct as the evening progressed. Reservations were getting filled, the wine and beer was circulating, and the food perfectly aligned with the aesthetic.

Sol Agave’s Mexican roots are definitely on display at Blind Rabbit, but I found myself drawing comparisons to higherend Argentine steakhouses like Libertango. The appetizer side of the menu is full of great smaller plates that can be shared, and my wife and I opted for the bone marrow tacos ($18). They arrive on an irregularly-shaped wooden platter; giant plateware is a common theme at Blind Rabbit, and it really highlights the sheer size of each dish. This dish is complete with three sliced beef bones filled with a mixture of chopped ribeye and bone marrow. The protein is accompanied by some housemade blue corn tortillas—prepped street-taco style—along with three different salsas.

Incorporating bone marrow into a ribeye will always be a good idea, and the tactile experience of scooping this meaty concoction onto your tortilla directly from the bone can’t be beat. While enjoying our tacos, we also ordered the bread basket ($3), which is a small basket full of home-made rolls topped with some caraway seeds and roasted garlic. They’re warm when they arrive at your table, and evoke the flavors of a slightly-moresubtle everything bagel. It’s only three bucks, so just add it to your order.

For the main course, my wife went with the sopa de mariscos ($33) and I ordered the

15-ounce pork tomahawk ($48), because it’s not summer without a bit of surf & turf. The sopa arrived in a giant earthenware bowl with one of the biggest prawns I have ever seen nestled among morsels of salmon, mussels and littleneck clams. The foundation of this dish is a gorgeous tomato broth. Its deceptive crimson hue hides a vast galaxy of herbaceous flavors ideally curated for seafood. This was an absolute win, especially for those who are on the lookout for memorable seafood dishes in town.

My pork tomahawk also arrived in memorable fashion: The meat is sliced off the bone and arranged on the plate at the base of the bone, which stands erect thanks to a bed of whipped mashed potatoes. It’s served with two garnishes of achiote glaze and pickled pineapple, both of which do a lot to highlight the flavor of the pork. I thought the gigantic spears of charred broccolini added some rustic visual appeal to the dish, but their slightly undercooked preparation makes them a bit of a chore to eat—or maybe this is simply because I don’t always like to eat my vegetables.

Of course, your entire meal should be accompanied by one of Blind Rabbit’s signature margaritas, which can be made as a mocktail ($11) in addition to tequila ($13) and mezcal ($15) options. I was a fan of the grilled piña because of the smoky kick imparted by the chili de arbol. They also have a nice selection of beer on draft, and a full roster of non-margaritas at your disposal.

I’m confident that Blind Rabbit can remain the hip Sugar House night spot that it’s destined to be, but let’s make sure to show this place some love while it’s got that heinous construction gumming up the works. CW

Bone Marrow Tacos

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: Elderberry Blonde

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: Limited Pride release, “Gei Effect”: a mango and pineapple Gose, 5%

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap:  Cerveza De Mayo for Bewilder.

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

On Tap: California Steam Lager, Hans Gruber Export Lager

Bonneville Brewery

1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street

Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer

On Tap: Crispy Boi - cerveza-ish Cream Ale

Craft by Proper

1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: “Proper Yasuke” dark rice lager 5%, Mamachari Strawberry Serrano kombucha (NA)

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap:  Ay Curuba! Curuba Sour

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: Nectaron IPA

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey ettaplacecider.com

On Tap: All-American Cider, Pineapple-Passion Fruit Session Mead

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

On Tap: A rotation of up to 17 Fresh Beers!

Grid City Beer Works

333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

On Tap: Cask Nitro CO2  Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper, UT  helperbeer.com

Hopkins Brewing Co.

1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com

On Tap: Solstice Lager

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Tap: Olut Amber Lager

Level Crossing Brewing Co.

2496 S. West Temple, S. Salt Lake LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Sun Slope Sour

Live Music every Sunday, 5 to 8pm

Level Crossing Brewing Co.,

POST

550 South 300 West, Suite 100, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Philly Sour Fruit Bat Live Music every Saturday, 3 to 6pm

Moab Brewing

686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap:  Arnie (Co-Lab with 2 Row brewing): cream ale base with Lychee black tea and fresh pasteurized lemon juice.

Mountain West Cider

425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Watermelon Juniper Cider and Slushies!

Offset Bier Co

1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/ On Tap: DOPO IPA

Ogden Beer Company

358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com

On Tap: Mastero of None Italian Pilsner

Park City Brewery 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com

On Tap: Cold IPA dry hopped w/ Mosaic, Amarillo, and Chinook

Policy Kings Brewery

223 N. 100 West, Cedar City PolicyKingsBrewery.com

Prodigy Brewing

25 W Center St. Logan Prodigy-brewing.com

On Tap: Golden Hour Belgian Sour

Proper Brewing/Proper Burger 857 So. Main & 865 So. Main properbrewingco.com

Proper Brewing: Limited Pride release, “Gei Effect”: a mango and pineapple Gose, 5%

Proper Burger: “Whispers from Santa Maria” Helles lager with peach and jalapeno

Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191, Moab properbrewingco.com

On Tap: “Bermuda Blonde” keylime blonde ale 5%

A list of what local craft breweries and cider houses have on tap this week

Red Rock Brewing

254 So. 200 West

RedRockBrewing.com

On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Munich Dunkel

Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: False Prophet Hazy IPA

Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Pineapple Sour Seltzer

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com

On Tap: Chipotle Lager

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

On Tap: Luau Rider - Coconut Chocolate Milk Stout

Scion Cider Bar 916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com

On Tap: Highpoint Spur 6% ABV

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek https://secondsummitcider. com

On Tap: Blackberry Lime

Shades Brewing

154 W. Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake ShadesBrewing.beer On Tap: Spring Fever Grapefruit Radler

Shades On State

366 S. State Street SLC Shadesonstate.com

On Tap: Salud Mexican Lager, Six Wheat Under Hefe

Silver Reef 4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George SGBev.com

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co. 147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/ squatters On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Kreator Kolsch

Squatters and Wasatch Brewery

1763 So 300 West SLC UT 84115 Utahbeers.com

On Tap: Holy Haze IPA 5% Love Local new release April 26

Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: ”Let’s Gose” [Gose with smoked salt, pineapple and lime]; “Yojimbo (The Wandering Ronan)” [Japanese Toasted Rice Lager with White Tea].

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville 596 S 1750 W, Springville, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: My Beer My Choice (Dry Hopped American Sour w/pink boots blend), Cream Ale

TF Brewing 936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com

On Tap: Japanese Style Rice Lager

Talisman Brewing Co. 1258 Gibson Ave, Ogden TalismanBrewingCo.com

On Tap: The Griffen- Citrus Wheat Ale in collaboration with the 419th at Hill AFB

Top of Main Brewery

250 Main, Park City, Utah topofmainbrewpub.com On Tap: Top of Main Brewery – Schirf Beer Helles Lager

Uinta Brewing 1722 S. Fremont Drive, SLC UintaBrewing.com On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer

UTOG 2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com On Tap: Golden Grant 5% ABV. Vernal Brewing 55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com

Wasatch Brew Pub 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/ wasatch

On Tap:  Top of Main Brewery - Utah Beer: An American Light Lager

Zion Brewery 95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com

Zolupez

205 W. 29th Street #2, Ogden Zolupez.com

BEER NERD

Hop Influence

New ideas of what hops can do

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Red Rock - Woolly: This one pours a turbid apricot color with some coppery-rose highlights; two fingers of white-colored head has a bit of a dirty “off” look to it. The aroma is diesel fuel, dank and herbal in the nostrils, with a touch of pine resins mixed in as well. A sweet bready twang of malt and tropical fruit fill things out in the back, leaving behind a tangy impression of the nose. Hop bitterness runs through the middle of the profile, being full of earth, spice, citrus peel, and a touch of pine. This is surrounded by a strong fruity blend of sweet citrus, bread and caramel. There seems to be a good deal of bitterness to this, but beyond the tropical fruit, the actual hop flavors get pushed to the side by the heavy sweetness that is present, giving the overall effect of a deep herbal tang. The finish only reinforces the bitterness of the beer, with a dry and dirty grittiness that lingers for quite a bit on the palate. The mouthfeel is mostly medium bodied, with a creamy and slick presence across the tongue, but this just feels a little too light to me. Maybe a little too much slickness to this? It just seemed to be lacking some overall heft and depth on the palate. I will say that the alcohol was hidden well here, at least helping to keep this moderately drinkable.

Verdict: This latest Red Rock Double IPA offering left me craving more New Zealand hops. There was a lot of sweetness and hoppiness present here that drove some really cool melon and cannabis flavors. This double IPA will be a lot of fun to compare with American styles to see how different these hop

bills can be.

Wasatch - Tractor Queen Rebellion: I just want to get this out of the way before we get into this beer: Saisons have been hard for me lately. The yeast sometimes can be overwhelming, so my enthusiasm to have a saison wasn’t too high. Luckily, this was pretty well-made and easy to drink, as it has all the hop flavor and aroma of an IPA with a light amount of the estery dryness of saison.

It’s a nice-looking beer, slightly darker than pilsner malt color, leaning dark yellow to light orange. A big fluffy retaining head features tons of lacing; it’s quite hazy, with only the slightest bit of hop haze. The scent offers a really nice blend of aromatic worlds, as bright, slightly sweet/tart citrus hops blend with fruit from the saison yeast. There’s very light, pale malt support, with perhaps a hint of wheat.

On the palate, it opens slightly sweet and juicy, with big citrus and fruit character, drying out toward the finish with modestly tart notes. The finish is long and only mildly bitter, with lingering juicy citrus. Malt plays a supporting role, with the yeast again throwing off big flavors. It’s supremely easy-drinking, with a bitterness that is pleasant but subdued, and very well carbonated, with that lingering, fruity, juicy finish.

Verdict: For me, there’s a good blend of hops and yeast driving this beer. Saison lovers may want more from the yeast, so take that into consideration when ordering this one. But if you’re like me, this will be a pleasant summer ale for you.

Tractor Queen Rebellion is only available on draft at Wasatch/Squatters at 1700 s. 300 w. It should be around for a while, but don’t wait too long – it’s best when fresh. Woolly is available in 16-ounce cans at all Red Rock locations, but I also found it at The Bayou.

As always, cheers! CW

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

The Other Side Donuts Opens

Though the relationship between affordable housing and doughnuts is not readily visible, the team at Other Side Donuts (760 S. Redwood Road) is showing us how it’s done. Other Side Donuts is an extension of The Other Side Academy (theothersideacademy.com), which is known for teaching marketable skills to those in long-term incarceration or those looking to extricate themselves from damaging habits. This doughnut shop’s mission is to raise money for The Other Side Village (theothersidevillage.com), a planned community designed to meet the needs of those transitioning out of chronic homelessness. The Other Side Academy is a fantastic organization that serves a very vulnerable community, so if you like doughnuts and community outreach, check out Other Side Donuts.

Millcreek Farmers Market

The ever-evolving Millcreek Common (1354 E. Chambers Avenue) recently launched its seasonal farmers market, and it’s got a lot of great vendors lined up. Produce farmers from all over the state will be on hand providing everything from mushrooms to honey, and teams from Marcato Kitchen, Square Kitchen, Argentina’s Best Empanadas and the 9UP Night Market will be on hand prepping their signature dishes. Don’t forget that while the market is open, you can still tackle the Millcreek Common rock-climbing wall or get jiggy on their roller-skate rink. The Millcreek Farmers Market will take place every Wednesday night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. from now until Sept. 25.

Sugar House Barbecue Company Announces Closure

In a recent social media post, the SugarHouse Barbecue Company (880 E. 2100 South) announced plans to permanently close their restaurant in mid-August. SugarHouse Barbecue Company has been a familiar fixture in the Sugar House community for its consistently tasty ribs, chicken, brisket and unforgettable Tennessee Tangos. It’s one of the few Memphis-style barbecues that we have in Utah, which will make the closure a giant hit to our local barbecue scene. Over the nearly 30 years that the restaurant has been open, it’s built a solid foundation of locals who will greatly miss the community and delicious eats that this establishment has provided over the years. They’re still operating for another month, so make sure to get in and pay your respects.

Quote of the Week: “Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.” –Anthony Bourdain

MUSIC ���� the LOCAL ISSUE ISSUE

A deep dive into the people and places of Utah’s music scene.

BY CW STAFF

There’s no getting around it: Music lends itself to nostalgia. You associate songs with pivotal moments in your life, with the big emotions of youth, with falling in love. And it can be easy for that feeling to lead you to the notion that music was always better at some point in the past, locking you into your listening habits.

Big mistake.

Music, like any creative form, is an opportunity for discovery. With every passing year, new creators find new ways to explore existing genres, or put them together to create new ones. They represent new or previously under-represented experiences, crafting songs that speak to listeners in fresh ways. The music scene in Utah is astonishingly rich and diverse. And we here at City Weekly love being part of connecting you with the people who make it so. Our 2024 Local Music Issue once again hopes to introduce you— or re-introduce you—to many of the artists who make the Utah music scene fresh and vital right now, and many of the great places in Utah where you can listen to live music. Yet there is still a little connection to the past here, as well: exploring the art of the “gig poster,” the ongoing appeal of physical media, and even reflections by local songwriters on the first song they ever wrote. It’s all about reminding you that music is about connection, whether it’s the connections you made with a song years ago, or the connections you can still make today.

So let go of the nostalgia—or at least loosen your grip just a little bit—and take a ride with us through the present and future of Utah music. You’ll be glad you did.

Scott Renshaw Arts & Entertainment Editor

THE “IT” LIST

A helpful introduction to some of the best creators of music on the local scene.

BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net

SLCis a nearly endless trea sure trove of music to discover. There truly is something for everyone—from Ogden to Provo and everywhere in between, there are locals whose music you can dive into, enjoy and become a huge fan of. If you’re new to the area, or are just looking for more bands, here’s a list to get you started—or to give you that refresher.

Ideal Horizon: Alt-rockers Ideal Horizon have been taking the scene by storm since their debut last year. In that short time, they’ve amassed a dedicated fan base and have released some great music. Their sound is hard enough that it can appeal to folks who have been listening to rock for many years, but not too heavy as to drive off newbies to the genre. Their latest release “Girl I Used to Be” is an awesome anthem about growing up and moving on, no matter how painful it can be. If you head to an Ideal Horizon show, you’re sure to have an incredible time. Their music is great for any playlist; they have a sound that’s fresh, but has a comforting familiarity to it that makes it easy for listeners to jump into. IG: @idealhorizonofficial

Graveljaw Keaton: It’s hard to describe the smooth, soulful sounds of Graveljaw Keaton without telling you to just go listen to his music, right this moment—but I’ll do my best. The one-piece act is known for his carefully constructed, lo-fi-inspired, Western-influenced instrumental tracks that transport you to new worlds. Keaton’s music is so easy to get into, but doesn’t feel easy, if that makes sense. You can tell he takes copious amounts of time and energy crafting each song for listeners to sink into—and sink you will. Take his latest track “that night, a forest grew,” for example. The reverb from the guitar mixed with lo-fi beats instantly puts you at ease, and makes you feel like you’re floating. Instrumental music isn’t always for everyone, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you’ll want to try Graveljaw Keaton. IG: @graveljawkeaton

Tomper: Husband and wife duo Tomper (Tom and Piper) have mastered the indie pop sound. That’s quite the statement about a band who only have three singles out as of yet, but it’s some of the most cheerful and upbeat music you’ll find. Their 2022 debut single “Cruise Control” is a perfect song for your summer road trips. It has the driving imagery, but the song is also full of warm, fuzzy feelings. “‘Cruise Control’ is a song about including the ones you love in the things you love to do,” the description says on their BandCamp profile. The music has fun effects that give their music retro vibes, while remaining firmly rooted in the present with the amazing quality of their sound. Their latest single, “Call In,” features voicemail submissions from listeners, and they add a light-hearted, personal touch that will make you want to listen over and over. IG: @tomperband

SoulFang: If you’ve been a reader of City Weekly the past year or so, there’s a good chance you’ve heard us singing the praises of SoulFang—but it’s hard not to. SoulFang is a down-to-earth group who love their music and love their listeners. They started out releasing a few singles here and there before finally releasing their debut album Passions, Potions, Wicked Lullabies in July 2024. It’s chock-full of genrebending sounds that will stick with you; where else can you find rock, funk and soul vibes in one place? The album is engaging, soulful (as befits their name) and more than meaty enough for you to sink your teeth into. The debut album is an easy listen on repeat, and it will have you discovering new elements each time you listen. “Chemical Meditation” has been a stand-out track for me—it was the first song the band released, and is on the debut album. Its silky-smooth bassline, well-placed digital effects and lyrics will have you champing at the bit for more. Luckily, SoulFang has provided with a full album. IG: @soulfangband

JACOB MONIZ

COURTESY PHOTO

@PHOTOSBYMORGANNN

HALEY HOOVER

Ideal Horizon

Tomper

Soulfang

Graveljaw Keaton

Imag!nary Friendz: Seeing Imag!nary Friendz live will have you thinking plenty of thoughts, some of the main ones being: “Holy shit these guys rock,” “Damn, they have a lot of energy” and “Wow, I need to catch another show of theirs—soon!” It’s hard to go to a live performance with the Ogden-based trio and not feel that sense of needing to see and hear them again. Their sets are pure fun, energy and joy—these guys make so much noise, in the best way possible. Their 2023 EP Stuck starts loud and fast and doesn’t give up. You’ll want to throw Imag!nary Friendz on when you’re in the mood to smile real wide and headbang until you can’t anymore. We haven’t seen new music from them in a bit, so fingers crossed we’ll get more soon. In the meantime, stream what the Friendz have released until you get sick of it (you probably won’t, though). IG: @imaginary.friendz

Caleb Darger: If you’re looking for softer, more contemplative singer/songwriter type music, Caleb Darger is your man. He’s consistently writing tracks that will give you pause—taking in all of the elements and focusing on the thoughtful lyrics and beautiful instrumentation. Darger releases singles on a pretty regular basis, so he won’t leave you wanting for more, and there’s plenty of material to go back and visit. Darger also teams up with friends/ fellow musicians to add different elements to his songs that make them feel unique and mix up his sound nicely. If you’re in the mood for songs that might make you tear up a bit, but in a good way, Darger’s music is for you. IG: @calebdanger

Josaleigh Pollett: If you know anything about the local music scene, you’ll know that Josaleigh Pollett’s name is pretty synonymous with it. And if you haven’t heard of Pollett before and are reading this … now you do! Their music is the type that you sit down and listen to intently, especially their 2023 album In The Garden, By The Weeds. The album is a beautiful journey about regrowth, starting fresh and healing. It’s a very cathartic album, relatable in so many ways. Pollett’s DIY approach provides a beautiful listening experience and will have you hooked instantly. IG: @brosaleigh

Anna Beck: When asked why people should listen to her music ahead of her Les Femmes performance at the beginning of this year, Anna Beck replied, “I

don’t fucking know.” It was a comment made in jest, of course, because there are plenty of reasons to dive into the singer/songwriter’s library. While it’s only four songs deep so far, there’s plenty to enjoy there. Her songs are beautiful and relatable, even if that relatability is a bummer sometimes. Beck’s crystal-clear voice has great range, and her lyrics will have you leaning in to listen more closely, like someone is telling you a riveting story. Her 2020 debut single “Sick of It” is incredibly well crafted, and was a great way to introduce herself to the scene. Be sure to check out her most recent single “Cut,” and keep an eye out for more from this dynamic singer/songwriter. IG: @annabeckmusic

Loom: SLC band Loom classify themselves as “cinematic jam rock space funk” on their Instagram, and it’s a pretty good summation of what the band is about. With most bands you discover, the first thing you’ll do is go digging through their library after finding a song you enjoy, but things are a little different with Loom. They are a jam band who focus heavily on improv and coming up with things in the moment. None of their shows are ever going to be the same, each experience is incredibly unique. These guys thrive on the thrill of walking on stage without a setlist, not knowing where the night will take them, and that’s what makes them so fun. They do have recordings from previous sets to listen to, which you definitely should, but going to a live show featuring Loom is the number one way to listen to them. Don’t miss them the next time they’re playing around town. IG: @loomtunes

Fur Foxen: We’re lucky to have such a great variety in our local music scene. If you’re into Americana/bluegrass/country sounds, there are plenty of incredible bands to scratch your itch when you’re needing something in that category. Fur Foxen—who call themselves a counter-country band—is an excellent resource for this type of sound. You have that lovely combination of classical instruments with your typical guitar, bass and drums, but organized in a notso-typical fashion. While listening to Fur Foxen, you’ll feel energized, curious and connected with their music. There’s something about that Americana/ country vibe that makes you feel right at home. Their latest EP, Fox, Shoulders, Knees, And Toes, is a great place to start if you’ve never heard the band, but be sure to give some love to their previous entries. IG: @furfoxenmusic

Caleb Darger

Anna Beck

Fur Foxen

Continued from page 22

TUESDAY, JULY 30 2024 6:00 PM 10 WEST 4TH AVE. MURRAY

SOUTH VALLEYS GO TO BAR FOR SPORTS MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT

7 DAYS A WEEK ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON!

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FIRST SONG

I EVER WROTE

Local musicians reflect on their initial forays into creating songs.

BY SOPHIE CALIGIURI comments@cityweekly.net

The local music scene is thriving with cherry-on-top talent, propagating an entire culture and framework worth the creative and off-the-wall exploration with which we at City Weekly pride ourselves. But also: We know that everything starts somewhere, and that beginnings happen every day—under the rug and certainly under-publicized—while journalism generally has its finger on the pulses of the intoxicating middle and bittersweet end.

To remedy this with haste, we reached out to local musicians and bands with a simple question: What was the first song you ever wrote? Below are all their answers, in their own words; the views they express are of course their own.

And really, all this is to say that you never forget your first time. Or, you do—and that’s fine, too. The only inherent attribute to the first, is that it’s first; what that actually means is for you to decide.

Zaza Historia VanDyke—lead vocals, Doomcupcake

“‘Blood Bath and Beyond’ was written about the struggles of having to start over and the grief, mental health struggles and disparity that comes with it: ‘Brace yourself, for what you may find across the way when you are falling to pieces.’”

Adam Sovinsky—singer/guitarist/violinist, Bone Throwers

“The first song we ever wrote was for the desert wilderness we love and cherish here in Utah. Towering megaliths and sprawling remnants of ancient geological cataclysm gave us a sense of wonder and mysticism where dominant cultural spiritualisms fell short. The magic and serenity of our precious red rock wildlands hold a very special place in our hearts, so they were naturally the first item of dedication for us.”

Nahum Reyes—guitar, Lord Vox

“The first song I ever wrote was about wanting to live and travel in outer space. I was kind of inspired by the book The Little Prince. A solitary life bouncing around different planets and taking naps in the moon’s craters sounded lovely.”

Steven Siggard—lead vocals/drums, The Psychosomatics

“The first song I ever wrote was about how my musical journey saved me from the bonds of Mormon oppression. I realized that religion is using guilt to control everyone, and finally setting myself free from the vicious cycle of fear. My girlfriend and I ended up breaking up because of it. She basically said I had lost touch with God and had fallen away. When in reality, it was my spiritual awakening, because now, instead of worshipping a false religion, I worship music. It has never been recorded.”

JT Draper—singer/songwriter/musician

“I don’t know what my first song was about, but the common themes in what I’ve written over the past 20 years or so are loss, social isolation and existentialism.”

Ben Weiss—mandolin/guitar, Pixie and The Partygrass Boys

“The first song with words that I ever wrote is a love song. More specifically, it’s about how I can feel deep in my heart that somewhere out there someone is singing the same secret song in their heart, we’re singing in perfect harmony with one another, and one day we’ll find each other and sing that song together.”

Alex Sandoval—lead vocals/writer, Gonk

“The first song I ever wrote to make it a release was called ‘I Ate Myself and Wanna Diet.’ It was basically an homage to Nirvana with the way I would write lyrics; even the title is a Nirvana reference.”

Young Spit—artist/rapper/singer

“My first song was titled ‘Cinderella.’ It was a romantic sing/rap crossover, R&B/Afrofusion vibe that got me a buzz in the Salt Lake area and African communities around the U.S.! The song is both in English and my native language, Kirundi, originally spoken in East Africa (Burundi and Rwanda).”

Briana McCall—lead vocals, The Alpines

“The first song I wrote with a guitar went something along the lines of: ‘wake up, the sun is shining, wake up, get out the door …’ It was a D-G-D-A progression. I was about 13. I was taking guitar lessons from a lovely old hippie who would send me home with a different Beatles CD after each lesson. I would copy it onto my iTunes before bringing it back the next week. One of the first things he taught me was I-IV-V chord progressions around the circle of fifths: ‘3 chords and a capo is all you need,’ I remember him saying. That took me pretty far in the beginning of my music journey.”

Danny Patiño—lead guitar, The Alpines

“I wrote a song about heartache and heartbreak using a haunted house as a metaphor for a dying relationship: ‘at the center of this home is a vampire whose malice and thirst is fueled by his envy of people fortunate enough to still have mortal souls.’”

Bly Wallentine—songwriter/ singer/producer

“I wrote my first song in high school. I was perhaps 15. It seems that the song was about the feeling of sadness and confusion I experienced regarding a crush with whom I had no connection.”

Courtney Lane—lead vocals/keys, Lane & The Chain

“I’d always liked writing little songs here and there, but the first ‘real’ song I ever wrote and played live when I was 17 or 18 was called ‘Porch Steps’. It’s about struggling to maintain relationships with loved ones while also trying to manage your own mental health, and how strong the desire is to isolate yourself when you’re not doing well, despite knowing it’ll only make things harder for you.”

Joe Maddock, AKA Joe-Joe Sunshine—lead guitar/writing/ arranging, The Plastic Cherries

“Our vocalist Shelby and I are married, and we gradually started collaborating on songs together when we were living in Portland. The first full song we wrote for The Plastic Cherries is called ‘Where the Light Wants to Go.’ Shelby came up with the lyrics and the main melody on the acoustic guitar, and I added the instrumental bits and some of the chord changes. We recorded it on our Tascam tape machine, and that’s the version that appears on our first album, Sunshine. That song is really special to us, because it expresses this feeling of yearning for home at a time when we were moving back to Salt Lake from Portland. It’s even more beautiful to me because it was literally recorded in both places: We started the recording there, and finished it here. It’s one of our favorites to play as a band. The title is taken from a Leonard Cohen lyric, ‘there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.’”

VOLUME PUMP UP THE

For 45 years, KRCL has been on the air—and the community is still listening.

BY MARK DAGO comments@cityweekly.net

Since 1979, listener-supported community radio station KRCL has offered a wide variety of musical programs carefully curated by engaged people who do it strictly for the joy of sharing music. Many are quiet experts telling anecdotes—researchers sharing their knowledge, giving us rich historical stories about favorite artists. One never knows where a host might take you in their show.

Some dedicated on-air hosts have been doing their shows for years, including Director of Programming & Operations and host Ebay J Hamilton of The Afternoon Show, Monday through Friday from 2-6 p.m. “My mom introduced us to KRCL. She would listen to Living the Circle of Life every Sunday morning. For a long time, I thought that was the only show on KRCL,” Hamilton says. “Eventually I started listening on my own and discovered ‘Rap Attack’ with DJ Buzz on Friday Nights. It was the only place in Utah that played hip hop on the radio. Other stations might play a song or two, mixed in with Top 40 hits, but DJ Buzz played Hip hop for his entire show.

“I would record the show every Friday night onto cassette tapes, and then listen to it all week long on my Walkman, until the next Friday when I would do it all over again. This was the early ‘90s, and there was no shortage of amazing hip hop being released, hence the term ‘Golden Era.’ I was probably 12 or 13 at the time, and hip hop was by far my favorite genre. I had no idea then that I would eventually become a sub on the show, and years later, when DJ Buzz retired, he asked me to take the show over. That’s when The Friday Night Fallout Show was born, which still airs in the same time slot all of these many years later.”

KRCL’s brilliance comes from featuring an eclectic range of music. Where else can one wake up to Good Vibes and Illustrated Blues, and listen to the Grateful Dead Hour or

the best in new music with familiar favorites during the day, plus specialized jazz, blues, classical and soul programs among their mix? There’s even a brand-new roster of wide-ranging midnight shows: Gee Whiz!, After Hours with Kiki, Rotten Radio, Beat Garden, Liquid Rhythms and Super Sounds.

“We’ve had a lot of programming changes this year, and have added a bunch of new shows (with even more to come!). No other radio station in Utah has as many diverse voices on-air, or offers as much unique programing as KRCL does,” Hamilton states. “We have more than 40+ music hosts on KRCL, not including the many students who are on air every week through our partnership with Spy Hop. There is also our award-winning program RadioActive, which brought on nearly 1,000 guests last year alone. That’s community members, activists, non-profits, musicians, poets, film-makers, authors, gardeners and more, who were on air at KRCL.”

Radio is important, and community radio is an anchor, even to those people who have turned instead to the automated systems. There is a great deal of thought and inspiration put into what music is played. It’s a place where you are invited into a living room or car for a shared moment. You develop a rapport with the hosts, and they become familiar friends.

“Radio has the ability to connect with listeners in a way that other mediums can’t. Radio can build community. And when done right, it becomes a form of connection for people,” Hamilton continues. “As more and more radio stations let algorithms pick their playlist, and AI takes the place of their DJs, it becomes even more important to have real humans, who are your friends and neighbors, that are passionate about the music they play and the community they serve, staying on the air. That’s what KRCL is: Real people, sharing what they love with their community.”

Community radio is one of the success stories in the increasingly bleak world of media. As KRCL celebrates over four decades, it’s clear that for the foreseeable future, this station that began broadcasting from a facility above the Blue Mouse theater in downtown Salt Lake City will still be here, introducing people to amazing music, enriching lives and keeping them connected to their community.

Ebay J Hamilton hosts KRCL’s afternoon show.

“KRCL has some exciting news coming up, including all of our plans for the 45th anniversary happening this year. We’re bringing back a well-loved event for the first time in decades this summer, and we also have some big news that will have to wait until later to share.” Ebay hints. “But trust me, it’s all good stuff, and I think people will be excited when they learn about all of the amazing things happening at KRCL.”

Tune into KRCL.org now for a list of programs, lifelines of great music, special moments and connections. CW

KRCLRADIO

EBAYJAMIL

Framing the MUSIC

Gig poster artists discuss their craft

BY SOPHIE CALIGIURI comments@cityweekly.net

The tangible-intangible music hangs, lovely, in every corner of every venue in every town, endlessly. Whether it be a tattered remnant of an OfficeMax copy paper ream, a framed 1-out-of=50 silkscreen, or something deviously in-between, the “gig poster” is a reminder that if you want to understand a time and place, you’d be better suited turning to what exists at the periphery, rather than what lays claim to the center.

And, the gig poster is on the rise again—with a vengeance!— with five local artists and specialists ready and willing to discuss its resurgence. Travis Bone (Furturtle Show Prints), Eduardo Robles (24hrdrugstore, Copper Palate Press), Katya Pogodaeva (katya.loves.her.scanner), and Derek and Brighton Ballard (Riso Geist) give us the dirty lowdown on what it takes to translate music’s notoriously ungraspable nature into art you can hold in your hand.

Bone, a veteran screen-printer of 20-plus years who’s worked with artists from Childish Gambino to Bob Dylan, provides a rather crisp and concise history. “Truly, show posters began because, prior to technology, they were the only way to advertise your group’s show in a relatively cheap, mass-produced way,” he says. “It took off beyond advertisement in the ’60s with psych and garage bands, bringing visual art and art nouveau styles into pop culture. It’s never permanent: Gig posters go away, and they come back. In the ’90s, there weren’t a lot of bands who were doing it, until indie bands with a DIY mentality decided to advertise in an old-school way.”

This “DIY mentality” utterly reconfigured what was once known about the industry, engineering a no-holds-barred culture that would produce some of the most important bands of the decade and, arguably, of time immemorial—think of The Melvins, Fugazi, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Sonic Youth, Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, etc. Simultaneously, the visual art scene erupted around music, galvanized by the opportunity to ceremoniously marry art and music once and for all—only needing a make-shift garage studio, your mom’s Xerox machine and a few different ink selections.

As Robles says, “I’m very inspired by the ’80s and ’90s, because it’s about whatever you had, and the chaos that comes with it. I overwhelmingly gravitate towards simple yet bold designs, incorporated with some signature grit and grime. I come from a hardcore scene background, where everything is DIY.”

The Ballards agree: “It’s about being present, and a resource for bands and musicians who rely on this DIY design culture as an entry point to a scene that can be intimidating.”

Yet, no matter how DIY music design is or has been, in 2024, anyone who’s attended a concert in recent memory has been greeted by the waving, wrinkling posters plastered above the merch table, or the “upcoming!” flier that blinks beautifully down at you from the bathroom stall. So, how are these pieces of punk-rock fine art crafted?

The answer is, as all things, inconclusive, due to variety and diversity of style. Finding inspiration and putting an idea to paper—again, and again—is half the battle. As Pogodaeva puts it, “It’s about what I see out in the world, going around town. Posters, buildings, films, books, packaging—anything and everything. You never know when something can be an inspiration.”

“Ideas come from everywhere,” Bone agrees. “I’m always surprised when someone wants me to do something for them. My favorite pieces are the ones that were unexpected.”

Bone, Robles, Pogodaeva and the Ballards all goodheartedly and enthusiastically explain the design and labor intensive processes of their art, all of which operate within a complex, delicate process dependent on methodology and project.

Bone and Robles both specialize in screen-printing, with Bone sometimes taking weeks to tediously illustrate designs from scratch, accomplishing the rare artistic feat of achieving a simultaneously recognizable and sought-after style. Robles gracefully combines his own off-the-wall, mesmerizing art with sourced images artfully transformed, stylistically reanimated and innovatively recycled via scanner and PhotoShop. Both print in the tried-and-true way: screen by screen, layer by layer, color on color.

Pogodaeva is a master image- and even objectmanipulator, using excitingly interdisciplinary and mixed-media design to create her posters using a high-quality scanner as a mere means to an end in her craftsmanship.

The Ballards are steel-handed tamers of the beast known as the risograph machine, which expels in full color their intricately constructed chromatic and electrified illustrated designs.

Of the artistic process, Robles says: “It’s very laborintensive, but it pays off in the end. When I see what was screen-printed—it’s so sharp, so cool; it’s art, you

know? It’s incomparable. Sometimes I get paid, and sometimes I don’t. But an opportunity is payment in and of itself.”

The sweat these processes require displays exactly what it takes to produce a piece of music iconography that takes on a life of its own: not just representative of music, but distinguishing itself as a central gear which helps turn the great gig in the sky known as sound and song.

And of course, we would be misguided to think that any art would sustain itself without the byzantine scaffolding of art from other mediums. Creation always has individual meaning—art for art’s sake, anyone?—but it gains societal significance and actualizes collective memory by existing hand-in-hand with other artforms.

What’s the article without the photograph, the movie without the sound, and the music without the imagery that defines it?

As Pogodaeva says, “Audio is always supported by visual. There’s iconic imagery, and you want to be associated with that. It’s part of archiving and preserving music. [The show poster] is a reminder of that thing that happened, that I thought was so sick.”

The Ballards agree: “Don’t not invest in art. Don’t think ‘I don’t need art for this.’ Music and art are not luxury—they’re necessary, because they’re joyful. We need that joy.”

It’s true that we all need joy, so let it be intensified by being tangible—framed, in living color, alongside you—and your records!—at home. CW

COLLIN

DELGADO

COURTESY PHOTO

24hrdrugstore

Travis Bone

PHYSICAL LET’S GET

As the sales of records, tapes and gear rise, locals feel the boost.

BY MARK DAGO comments@cityweekly.net

Physical music collections are awe-inspiring—those essential albums, must-have cassette tapes and most-prized box sets. When you run your eyes over old titles, genres you love, and they are all neatly lined up with the original artwork intact on the sleeves, it’s real and authentic, a badge of honor to have such a selection. I believe that as a species we have achieved “Peak Culture.” In this new era, physical media still has a place.

“I’ve been trying to make my own music since I was very young, and as I looked for ways to release my music physically, I realized that cassette tapes were the most effective option,” says Nick Anderson, founder of Far Out Cassette Club (Insta: @faroutcassetteclub; faroutcassetteclub.bandcamp.com). “So after producing cassette releases for myself, I figured I could also help other musicians do the same thing. The tapes I release through F.O.C.C. could help fund the whole thing.”

Far Out Cassette Club’s most sought-after tape is the collaboration mixtapes that Anderson did with Digging in India’s Bollywood Music Madness and Hindi Disco. Every time they make a small batch, they run out immediately.

Sure … I get it: For every audio/videophile obsessed with physical media, there are many, many more people who don’t look beyond the convenience of streaming. I love streaming, but I love it for what it is—which is not a replacement for a thoughtful, curated collection of music. I miss the days where what people had on their shelves was a reflection of their taste and personality, started conversations and acted as a stamp on a home.

Physical media can never be taken away from you. Oh, you want to download/stream that again? Sorry, we’ve removed it from our servers for no real reason (i.e. to save money). There are also tens of thousands of discs, tapes and wax that will never be made available on any streaming services, ever. Physical media never has that problem; it’s always there for when you want to use it.

Local synth geek Phil Zinn (Boxy Auto) created local brick-and-mortar Squarewave Sound (Insta: @squarewave.sound; 801-915-1729, squarewavesound.com) back in 2015.

Squarewave was the type of spot that you generally only see in bigger metropolitan cities, so it was a big deal. A year later, live PA artist and DJ SIAK (a.k.a. Chris Nielsen) purchased it from him.

“After acquiring the shop, and being that it’s one of a kind in Salt Lake, I came to more fully realize that there are a lot more synth heads here than I thought,” Nielsen commented. “Being the only synth shop in town definitely brings all the synth folk.”

Nielsen prefers hardware instruments over computers because they are just more fun to play with. There is something about the experimental nature of them. It’s exciting and even therapeutic to just turn knobs and get lost in the weird sounds.

He sells strictly on consignment as of press time; however, he does have a goal to have a small appointmentonly showroom in his garage by next year.

FOUNTAINavm (Insta: @fountainavm; fountainavm. com) is an art/record label, which started around 2018 by Adam Michael Terry. He set out to create a multimedia art label with interesting artists from our region of the country. For more than 20 years, he had been planning to open a storefront and finally in 2023 the time was right. His record store, Fountain Records (Insta: @fountainrecordsslc; 202 E. 500 South, 801-410-0912), is an extension of the label.

“I hope the true allure of records is that it’s simply the most fun way to experience listening to and finding new music,” Terry says. “When it comes down to it, going to record stores and digging through the bins, hanging in cool shops and being around music is just awesome. It makes life interesting.”

And … we can agree to disagree, but bitrate matters for audio. A 128kb bitrate mp3 won’t sound as good as a 256kb bitrate file. Music streamers either don’t provide lossless music, or charge a premium for it. Almost every CD I own is ripped to my laptop, and I can transfer whatever I want, whenever I want. I’m a devotee of retaining physical copies of legacy media.

SIAK from Squarewave Sound acknowledges, “I enjoy all mediums. When I want to have an active listening experience, I love playing CDs and records on my home sound system. It’s lovely. I prefer this to streaming, but sadly, I don’t get to do that as much.”

Anderson from F.O.C.C. adds, “Digital music obviously has the potential to sound exactly perfect. With the right headphones or speakers, you can hear exactly what the

Hear real hardware at Squarewave Sound

engineer who mastered the media heard. But, physical media offers something beyond that. Sometimes I think certain recorded music should be heard on a degraded tape on a poorly maintained player. Sometimes it should be on a nice record player. Sometimes it should be on a Bluetooth speaker next to a pool. Sound quality isn’t the endall-be-all of enjoying music. It’s part of it, for sure, but don’t be afraid to experience music differently.”

Terry from Fountain states, “Honestly, music quality is sixes for me. It’s all about your sound system. Vinyl on a great hi-fi system is often unbeatable.”

Maybe, just maybe, more local niche shops and spaces will spring up to house these collections. Places where people can go and nurse a malt whisky under the dimmed lights, venture into some fine nostalgic setting, and watch or listen to all this stuff through high quality restored machines. Hopefully, here in Salt Lake City—someday really soon. CW

MUSIC

Aces High Saloon: 1588 US-89 (aceshighsaloon.com)

If you want to hang out in the biker bar of all biker bars, come on by. It’s a small venue, but it packs a punch, with great cocktails and food, including vegan options. As a showcase for heavy metal, rock and punk acts, this is a venue that will have you headbanging all night. Bands often sell out the venue, so be sure to keep an eye out for acts you want to see and get your tickets.

The Commonwealth Room: 195 W. 2100 South, South SLC (thestateroompresents.com)

The State Room’s sister venue is a bit further south, but is a perfect venue for accessibility right off the Central Point transit hub. With a capacity of 650, it hits a sweet spot for mid-level touring acts as well as some great locals, and raised viewing platforms offer additional terrific viewing. A full bar is available for 21+ events.

The Complex: 536 W. 100 South (thecomplexslc.com)

The Complex is where you’ll head for your mid-level touring acts—not a huge stadium-like venue, but not a small and cozy local spot, either. It’s the perfect in-between for your favorite bands who have a bigger, passionate fanbase, spacious enough for moshing with big sound and great ADA accessibility. They have a bar with a few options, but you won’t really be coming to The Complex for a drink; you’ll be there for the good vibes.

The Depot: 13 N. 400 West (depotslc.com)

Great touring acts hit The Depot on the regular, and its location at the Gateway—just one block away from a Trax stop—makes it one of the most convenient spots to see a show. The viewing experience is generally a good one, with upstairs suites available for VIP experiences and 21+ access to great cocktails.

Eccles Theater: 131 S. Main St. (live-at-the-eccles.com)

The (relatively) new downtown venue might be better known as the spot for touring Broadway shows, but its arrival also created a great theater venue to catch national music acts when the vibe is for a seated show rather than a wild generaladmission experience. Sightlines are good whether from the floor level or the balconies, and it’s easily accessible via the Blue Trax line.

Garage on Beck: 1199 Beck St., Salt Lake City (garageonbeck.com)

Garage on Beck is the friendly biker bar that refuses to go away. Recently recovering from its second (!) major fire, the venue is back up and running, ready for showgoers to enjoy some great tunes and great food. This 21+ venue has exceptional drinks and eats to go with the music. A show at Garage on Beck is one of the best ways you can spend a summer evening.

The Great Saltair: 12408 W. Saltair Dr., Magna (thesaltair.com)

The one-time resort and amusement park advertises itself as “Utah’s First Entertainment Venue,” and it continues to live up to that history. Year-round, the venue on the edge of the Great Salt Lake can host indoor shows, but also has the capacity to get expansive in its amphitheater for the warm-weather months and festivals like the annual Das Energi. Access is tricky at the remote location, so plan accordingly.

Hog Wallow: 3200 E. Big Cottonwood Canyon Road (thehogwallow.com)

Not only does the Hog Wallow sound like a pub in a Lord of the Rings -type setting, it also has everything you’d expect from a good pub: delicious food with huge portions, an excellent bar and great shows. You’ll be able to catch a wide variety of musical acts, from funk to folk to reggae—a little something for everyone.

The International: 342 S. State St. #69 (internationalbarslc.com)

With plenty of room for bands to play, pool tables, great drinks and a cool atmosphere, every Friday and Saturday night promises great shows and a crowd who is ready to jam out and have a good time. The International has locals on all the time, plus fun events like their Goth Nights or other dance parties.

Johnny’s: 165 E. 200 South (johnnysslc.com)

Great vibes, reasonably-priced drinks and tasty food is what you can expect during a night out at Johnny’s. Plus, great music, obviously. This low-key downtown spot is great for bringing a group of friends, listening to the tunes and shooting some pool. There’s plenty of room to hang out—and in the winter, you can head out to the heated patio for fresh air. A night at Johnny’s is a night well-spent.

THURSDAYS

FRIDAY, JULY 19 NO FILTER

SATURDAY, JULY 20 DJ YU3N

SHARK SUNDAYS POOL TOURNEY HOSTED BY TANNER

MONDAYS

REGGAE MONDAY WITH DJ NAPO

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS KARAOKE

MUSIC VENUES: INDOOR SPOTS

Continued from page 34

Kilby Court: 741 W. Kilby Ct., SLC (kilbycourt.com)

What is there to say about Kilby that hasn’t been said before?

The legendary venue has had plenty of legendary artists pass through, and it’s almost like a rite of passage for locals to play at Kilby. It may be on the smaller side, but when a crowd gathers to have fun together, it feels like the space is limitless. If you have the chance to go to a show at Kilby, do it!

Liquid Joe’s: 1249 E. 3300 South, Millcreek (liquidjoes.net)

This cozy spot offers great drinks and a fun, welcoming atmosphere. Parking can be a little tough, so consider getting there a little early or using public transportation or rideshares. A big focus at Liquid Joe’s is open mic nights, for which they will actually provide instruments. This is another great spot with variety and unique vibes if you’re looking for something new on a weekend night.

Metro Music Hall: 615 W. 100 South (metromusichall.com)

This mid-sized venue features a lot of great locals as well as acts who are passing through town. It boasts a unique atmosphere, great staff and an excellent variety of shows. One night you could be moshing to a great metal band, and the next, singing to your favorite folk acts. They also host drag shows aplenty, and offer some booth reservations, but Metro is primarily a standing venue.

Pearl on Main: 7711 S. Main, Midvale (thepearlonmain.com)

This cool venue offers old-school theater vibes, but the building itself is beautiful with great acoustics. They have snacks, drinks and a limited bar for those who are of age, but that’s not the main reason you come—it’s for the great variety of local acts and intimate size. Coming to a show here feels like you get to experience a cool part of history while enjoying a modern show.

Quarters/DLC: 5 E. 400 South, SLC (quartersslc.com)

For lovers of music and retro gaming, Quarters Arcade Bar is absolute heaven. Their show space, The DLC, is a cozy setup that facilitates locals thriving on stage, as attendees are able to be right up in the action with not a lot of space between floor and stage. The uniquely intimate setting helps you feel like you’re getting up close and personal with the performers, while the wall of lights illuminates the performers in the background.

Sky SLC: 149 Pierpont Ave, Salt Lake City (skyslc.com)

This is the destination for all EDM lovers in SLC—a nightclub that has tons of great DJs and performers in rotation, offering something for everyone. This venue is mostly standing room, but does offer VIP booth reservations that allow you to skip lines and spend time with friends away from the crowd. Another selling point for Sky SLC is its retractable roof, adding another layer to the party experience.

Soundwell: 149 W. 200 South (soundwellslc.com)

Here’s yet another mid-sized venue in the heart of downtown SLC that offers a huge variety of artists. It’s a great place to feel comfortable, but where you can also let your hair down and enjoy. Soundwell can feel small and intimate, but it’s big enough to have a fun time with a crowd of equally-excited concertgoers. Plus, many visitors have commented about the cleanliness of the bathrooms, so you can quiet your anxieties about gross facilities at this venue.

The State Room: 638 S. State St., SLC (thestateroompresents.com)

The State Room is a little different than your typical venue. You’ll want to come here if you’re interested in a more cozy, intimate experience. It’s still fun, of course, but those who aren’t able to stand for hours on end will enjoy it here. It’s got an excellent bar with theater seats and a dance floor for those who do want to get up and move a little.

The Urban Lounge: 241 S. 500 East (theurbanloungeslc.com)

With performances almost every night, the intimate venue allows for good times and even better shows featuring local favorites, smaller national acts and even unique events like the recent Sapphic Factory: A Modern Queer Joy Dance Party. Like with most places in SLC, parking can be tricky, but be sure not to park in the IHC lot south of the venue, because you will be towed. Enjoy some fun events and great cocktails.

Velour: 135 N. University Ave., Provo (velourlive.com)

Velour’s great reputation for longevity and for offering a place for locals to flourish is well-earned. Neon Trees have credited Velour for launching their career, and it’s truly a fun place to come enjoy shows. It doesn’t have seating, and is on the smaller side, but that’s all part of the

Continued on page 39

Velour has

JOSH SCHEUERMAN

Molly Burch Kilby Court

MUSIC VENUES: OUTDOOR SPOTS

Ed Kenley Amphitheater: 403 N. Wasatch Dr., Layton (davisarts.org)

This Davis County venue offers a great way for folks to have fun outside while enjoying killer shows. This 1800-capacity venue offers seats and a lawn where you can bring your own chairs, coolers and strollers to enjoy the show (check the policy page for restrictions). There are also great accessibility options for wheelchairs, and ASL interpreters available with some notice. The location smack dab in the middle of beautiful Layton Commons Park makes it even more fun for the whole family.

Gallivan Center: 50 E. 200 South (thegallivancenter.com)

While this multi-purpose venue provides a spot for everything from outdoor festivals to free movies, it’s also a terrific spot for music like the Excellence in the Community Concert Series showcasing local artists. You can also enjoy live performances on select weekdays during the lunch hour in the summer months.

Granary Live: 742 S. 500 West (granarylive.com)

It may be a newer venue to SLC, but it has brought some great acts to town so far: The Roots, Ludacris, Tyga and the Utah is for Lovers Festival. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on what great acts will come through, because Granary is an excellent outdoor venue with a lot of space, allowing artists to customize the stage. Plus, you can’t beat seeing a gorgeous sunset above while you listen to your favorite music.

Red Butte Garden: 2188 Red Butte Canyon Road (redbuttegarden.org)

Every summer, this already-beautiful location comes alive with an exceptional season of performances from some of the world’s best music artists. The views are spectacular, and you can bring along a picnic and blanket for the lawn seating to catch your favorite bands. Be ready for the spring season announcement, though, because shows tend to sell out quickly.

Sandy Amphitheater: 1245 E. 9400 South, Sandy (sandyamp.com)

The Sandy Amphitheater is one of the best places in SLC for a show and a view. You get the stage with a stunning backdrop, and are able to watch the sun set between sets while you hang out and enjoy. There are plenty of seats and great acts who come through. This is a great place for the whole family to come to, but they do serve alcohol to those of age. This is a must-see venue for those who are obsessed with the natural beauty Utah has to offer.

Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre: 5150 Upper Ridge Rd., West Valley City (utahfirstcreditunionamphitheatre.com)

When you think of “arena rock,” this venue is probably the place where you’re going to go to get your fix. The biggest acts in the world regularly hit this newly-rebranded spot during the warm-weather months, so expect to share your experience with several thousand of your soon-to-be-closest (at least in physical proximity) friends. The transportation and other logistics for attending aren’t always ideal, but you won’t find the A-list headlines anywhere else. CW

THE BEEHIVE

LIVE MUSIC & EVENTS

7/20 OOLONG + NEWGROUNDS DEATH RUGBY

7/22 SOAP

7/23 BEAUTIFUL FREAKS

7/24 ZOE STROUPE

7/27 LEASURE HOUR

7/28 DRAWIN’ WITH THE DEVIL

7/28 THE HAUNTING IS YOU

7/29 MONTHLY POETRY SLAM

7/29 THE HAUNTING IS YOU

7/30 HEART TO GOLD

7/31 BABY WAVE

AAMP UTAH IS A 501(C)3 | THEY EXIST TO CREATE, CULTIVATE, AND CELEBRATE UTAH ARTS AND ARTISTS THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT.

GET TICKETS HERE DONATE

@BEEHIVESLC | 666 S STATE ST | @AAMPUTAH

MUSIC PICK S

Leetham

Leetham, Micah Willis, Angie Petty @ Metro Music Hall 7/18

Summer is in full swing, and that means shows, shows and more shows. If you’re looking for a fun show with tons of energy, you’ll want to catch this one at Metro Music Hall. One of SLC’s favorite queer pop artists, Leetham will be out in full force sharing their catchy, fun bops. Leetham’s most recent song “NSA” is a collaboration with Micah Willis, who is also on the bill for the evening. The song has deep bass, steamy lyrics and a catchy chorus. Leetham’s beats are always insanely addicting, and this one is no exception. Their other single from this year, “Boys,” is a perfect summer pop anthem that will have you dancing all night long. Willis, meanwhile, is a Utah native who splits time between here and L.A., all while singing, writing and even acting. Leetham and Willis teaming up to create “NSA” was a match made in heaven, so hopefully we get to hear more from the duo. Also on the bill is Angie Petty, an R&B/pop artist whose latest single, “Lost On Me,” is easy to get lost in. The soulful way Petty sings will entrance you and keep you coming back for more, getting lost in the luscious landscape. Come jam with this incredible lineup of locals on Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $10 and can be found at metromusichall.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

MUSIC PICK S

The Roots @ Granary Live 7/19

The Roots have been at it for a while. Since their major label debut dropped back in ‘95, Do You Want More?!!!??!, the legendary Philly crew has pretty much done it all. The Tonight Show ’s house band has constantly been touring, curating a festival celebrating the culture—in films, in books, teaching and, yes, making more music. They are a truly amazing hip-hop band that stay instrumentally and lyrically true to a variant outside of the mainstream hype that is pleasing to the ears. And they have no plans to stop, either. “I think it boils down to what level of drive one has. They talk about surrounding yourself with folks who inspire you. That’s the space that Questlove and I, and The Roots as a collective, have been blessed with,” Tariq Trotter (AKA Black Thought) told The Fader. “We’ve been blessed to exist and to move through our career within a space where no part is greater than the sum.” Illadelph Halflife or Things Fall Apart would be my entry point, Undun for those not sure if they like rap music. 2022’s Cheat Codes with Black Thought & Danger Mouse was five-mic material. Their entire discography is pretty damn deep and a “best-of” playlist would be 30-40 tracks long. And look: Hip-hop live is an energy event, not a listening event. Black Thought can rhyme for hours; it’s unreal how dense and yet perfectly locked in his flow is, and he just does it non-stop. Questlove is or has been pretty ubiquitous even before his own, adorable Sundance documentary Summer Of Soul. I’ve never been disappointed. Let’s pour one out for Malik B (RIP). I’m going to go listen to “100% Dundee” right now. Catch them on the “Hip-Hop Is The Love Of My Life” tour at Granary Live on Friday, July 19. Doors at 6 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $45 at tixr.com (Mark Dago)

Bunt @ Soundwell 7/20

The German DJ known as BUNT (Levi Wijk) is coming to Salt Lake City as part of his “IN THE ROUND” tour. The concept for the tour is that every show will be in the middle of the room—hence the “in the round” title. His goal is to make it feel like a house party, with no barrier between the people and the booth, no crazy lights, visuals or production. Envision just you and your friends dancing along to his music. BUNT’s musical style is akin to the late EDM DJ and producer, Avicii, who pioneered so much of the electronic music we know today. For example, the unique mix of electronic with folk house music done by Avicii can be heard in BUNT’s music. Also, if you’re a fan of Avicii, the 2020 EP Crocodile Tears is a tribute to him. Their newest song, “Clouds” features singer Nate Traveller, and is also representative of the folk house music that sets BUNT apart. LNE Presents hosts BUNT at Soundwell on Saturday, July 20. Doors open at 9 p.m. General Admission costs $25. Go to tixr.com (Arica Roberts)

Bachman-Turner Overdrive @ Kenley Centennial Amphitheater 7/20

Reliable purveyors of a kind of blue-collar, workingclass, workaday meat ‘n’ potatoes brand of rock, Bachman-Turner Overdrive ruled the airwaves in the mid-1970s. Formed by guitarist Randy Bachman after he left the massively popular The Guess Who, this Winnipeg, Manitoba group rocked hard and solid. Between 1973 and 1979, BTO landed 11 of its singles on the Canadian Top 40. They fared nearly as well in the US, with seven Top 40 singles. Among BTO’s biggest hits were the worldwide number one smash, “You Ain’t Seen Noting Yet,” and other no-filigree singalong rockers like “Takin’ Care of Business,” “Roll on Down the Highway” and “Let it Ride.” The band’s 1976 best-of LP went platinum in the U.S. and Canada. Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s style of rock fell out of favor in the ’80s, and the band went inactive for a brief time, but they’ve returned on-and-off well into the 21st century. Today, singer-bassist Fred Turner appears only on select dates; it’s left to guitarist (and sometime lead singer) Bachman to lead the current lineup, one that includes his son Tal (who had a hit of his own in 1999 with “She’s So High”) on second guitar. 2014 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees, BTO remain one of Canada’s proudest musical exports, and the band is still takin’ care of musical business more than a half-century after their start. Come check out BTO on Saturday, July 20. Tickets to the all-ages show are $50 and up at davisarts.org.

(Bill Kopp)

The Decemberists @ Sandy Amphitheater 7/24

Clever and occasionally quirky, The Decemberists could be considered the pride of Portland, Oregon. For the past two dozen years, they’ve made their mark with a combination of invigorating pop and progressive rock, resulting in a sound that’s consistently melodic and exceedingly inventive. Their latest album, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, is no exception; an overtly accessible entry reminiscent of classic British rock in sound and substance. Like each of their previous nine outings, it’s marked by a mix of imaginative arrangements and creative concepts, leaving their fans rapt with eager anticipation. The band— consisting of longtime leader Colin Meloy (lead vocals and guitar), Chris Funk (guitar and multi-instrumentalist), Jenny Conlee (keyboards and backing vocals), Nate Query (bass) and John Moen (drums)—tends to put a focus on historical events, albeit with as much whimsy as reflection. They’ve also been known to get their audiences involved, all for the sake of added entertainment. Consequently, they make the transition from studio to stage with added assurance. Yet they never fail to achieve the former; in 2011, their track “Down by the Water,” from the album The King Is Dead, was nominated for Best Rock Song at the Grammy Awards. Not bad for a group that has epitomized the indie ethos. The Decemberists’ “A Peaceable Kingdom North American Tour” comes to Sandy Amphitheater on Wednesday, July 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $45 - $65 (plus taxes and fees) for general admission and $214 reserved. Go to ticketmaster.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

True Romance

A trio of unconventional love stories in this week’s new releases.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

National Anthem BBB

American queer cinema has reached the point where the stories can take on a wider variety of shapes, and director Luke Gilford and screenwriter David Largman Murray find something that both makes use of tropes and upends them. Charlie Plummer plays Dylan, a 21-yearold in rural New Mexico who takes day-labor jobs to help support his alcoholic single mother (Robyn Lively) and younger brother, Cassidy (Joey DeLeon). One such job takes him to the House of Splendor ranch, a makeshift family of queer folk including Sky (Eve Lindley), a trans rodeo performer with whom Dylan becomes infatuated. Typically, such a narrative would involve Dylan desperately trying to hide his coming-out from the conservative community around him, but such external conflict is underplayed; this is a world where the answer by Dylan’s non-binary friend Carrie (a terrific Mason Alexander Park) to Cassidy’s query of whether they’re “a boy or a girl” is “neither,” and Cassidy responds, “Cool.” It’s much more a character study of Dylan’s emergence into himself, with Gilford employing a few terrific stylized sequences to highlight Plummer’s strong performance and capture the wonder of that self-discovery. Things get a little clunkier when Gilford and Murray try to find more traditional “plot point” stuff to drive towards the third act; there’s much stronger material when National Anthem takes an angle on its patriotic title and tries to understand who gets to feel like they have a place in this world. Available July 19 at Broadway Centre Cinemas. (NR)

Widow Clicquot BB

There’s clearly a compelling story to be mined from Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, who salvaged the wine-making operation of her late husband François and created a titan of the French champagne industry; this one feels more interested in signaling “Strong Female Lead” than in fully exploring that story. It opens in 1805, with Barbe-Nicole (Haley Bennett) mourning the passing of François (Tom Sturridge), yet committed

to carrying on his legacy despite facing debts and the restrictive wine-selling environment of the Napoleonic Wars. Director Thomas Napper and the screenwriting team flash back and forth between Barbe-Nicole’s business efforts and the years of her marriage to François, gradually revealing his unstable psychological state. Yet those scenes, and virtually everything else in the 90-minute Widow Clicquot, often feel truncated to provide only the most superficial sense of the characters and their connections. Bennett’s performance suffers most of all, indicating personality bullet points rather than a rich, complex person; the scene where she beds her distributor (Sam Riley) is almost immediately followed by one where she kicks him out of her office, because, you know, Strong Female Character. The tale concludes with Barbe-Nicole on trial for the crime of being a woman running a business, a development that would have provided the framing structure in nearly any other movie of this kind. Here, it’s dispatched in a few minutes, because this movie apparently is already sure that we understand our protagonist is a character who is strong and also by the way female. Available July 19 at Broadway Centre Cinemas. (NR)

Skywalkers: A Love Story BBB1/2

A heist thriller crossed with a complicated romance, Skywalkers is the kind of documentary for people who might not think they’re into other kinds of documentaries—provided, that is, they don’t also have crippling vertigo. Filmmakers Jeff Zimbalist and Maria Bukhonina spend several years following Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, members of Russia’s “rooftopper” community of skyscraper-scaling daredevils who eventually become both professional and romantic partners, parlaying their joint exploits into sponsorship deals. Fortunately, Skywalkers isn’t really a movie about rooftopping either as vocation or avocation, though there is more than enough drone and GoPro footage of death-defying feats that it may be almost too intense for some viewers, particularly when we also get glimpses into the unsuccessful climbs that cost people their lives. Instead, it’s a terrific character study of a relationship at a crossroads—and the attempt by Angela and Ivan to scale the 2,200-foot-tall Merdeka 118 building in Kuala Lumpur at such a moment—and how their collaborative efforts provide a potent (and not subtle) metaphor for the kind of trust required for a relationship to flourish. The nearly-20-minute sequence chronicling the Merdeka climb is wonderfully tense filmmaking, to the extent that it’s hard not to wonder if all the setbacks were scripted. That doesn’t make it any less exhilarating to watch, all while you’re hoping that the only fall you see Angela and Ivan take is deeper in love. Available July 19 via Netflix. (NR) CW

National Anthem

Widow Clicquot

Skywalkers

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Have you ever been given a Starbucks gift card but then neglected to use it? Many people fail to cash in such freebies. Believe it or not, there are also folks who buy lottery tickets that turn out to have the winning number—but they never actually claim their rewards. Don’t be like them in the coming weeks, Aries. Be aggressive about cashing in on the offers you receive, even subtle and shy offers. Don’t let invitations and opportunities go to waste. Be alert for good luck, and seize it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

The coming weeks will be a favorable time to enhance your relationship with food. In every way you can imagine, be smart and discerning as you plan and eat your meals. Here are ideas to ponder: 1. Do you know exactly which foods are best for your unique body? 2. Are you sufficiently relaxed and emotionally present when you eat? 3. Could you upgrade your willpower to ensure you joyfully gravitate toward what’s healthiest? 4. Do you have any bad habits you could outgrow? 5. Is your approach to eating affected by problematic emotions that you could heal? 6. Are you willing to try improving things incrementally without insisting on being perfect?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Hybridization could be a fun theme for you in the coming weeks. You’re likely to align yourself with cosmic rhythms if you explore the joys and challenges of amalgamations, medleys and mash-ups. Your spirit creatures will be the liger, a cross between a lion and a tiger, and a mule, a cross between a horse and a donkey. Please note your spirit creatures will not be impossible hybrids like a giroose (a cross between a giraffe and a moose) or a coyadger (a cross between a coyote and a badger). It’s good to be experimental and audacious in your mixing and matching, but not lunatic delusional.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

In 1986, Cancerian singer-songwriter George Michael released “A Different Corner.” It was a big hit. Never before in British pop music had an artist done what Michael had: wrote, sang, arranged and produced, and played all the instruments. I foresee the possibility of a similar proficiency in your near future, Cancerian—if you want it. Maybe you would prefer to collaborate with others in your big projects, but if you choose, you could perform minor miracles all by yourself.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

In the Biblical allegory of Noah and the Ark, God warns Noah about an impending flood and commands him to build a giant lifeboat to save living things from extinction. Noah obeys. When the heavy rains come, he, his family and many creatures board the boat to weather the storm. After 40 days and nights of inundation, they are all safe but stranded in a newly created sea. Hoping for a sign of where they might seek sanctuary, Noah sends out a dove to reconnoiter for dry land. But it returns with no clues. A week later, Noah dispatches a second dove. It returns with an olive leaf, showing that the earth is drying out and land is nearby. Dear Leo, your adventure isn’t as dire and dramatic as Noah’s, but I’m happy to tell you it’s time for you to do the equivalent of sending two doves out to explore.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

According to an ancient Chinese proverb, “An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.” I will add a corollary: An ant may be able to accomplish feats an ox can’t. For instance, I have observed an ant carrying a potato chip back to its nest, and I doubt that an ox could tote a potato chip without mangling it. Anyway, Virgo, this is my way of telling you that if you must choose between your inspiration being an ant or an ox in the coming days, choose the ant. Be meticulous, persistent and industrious rather than big, strong and rugged.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

“If it sounds too good to be true, it always is,” said stage magician Ricky Jay. I only partially agree with him. While I think it’s usually wise to use his formula as a fundamental principle, I suspect it won’t entirely apply to you in the coming weeks. At least one thing and possibly as many as three may sound too good to be true—but will in fact be true. So if you’re tempted to be hyperskeptical, tamp down that attitude a bit. Open yourself to the possibilities of amazing grace and minor miracles.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

What is the largest thing ever sold in human history? It was a 530-million-acre chunk of land in North America. In 1803, the French government sold it to the American government for $15 million. It stretched from what’s now Louisiana to Montana. Here’s the twist to the story: The land peddled by France and acquired by the US actually belonged to the Indigenous people who had lived there for many generations. The two nations pretended they had the right to make the transaction. I bring this to your attention, Scorpio, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to make a big, important purchase or sale—as long as you have the authentic rights to do so. Make sure there are no hidden agendas or strings attached. Be thorough in your vetting.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

An antiques dealer named Laura Young bought a bust of a distinguished man at a thrift store in Austin, Texas. Later she discovered it was over 2,000 years old and worth far more than the $35 she had paid for it. It depicted a Roman military leader named Drusus the Elder. I foresee similar themes unfolding in your life, Sagittarius. Possible variations: 1. You come into possession of something that’s more valuable than it initially appears; 2. You connect with an influence that’s weightier than it initially appears; 3. A lucky accident unfolds, bringing unexpected goodies; 4. A seemingly ordinary thing turns out to be an interesting thing in disguise.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

My childhood friend Jeanine used to say, “The best proof of friendship is when someone gives you half their candy bar. The best proof of fantastic friendship is when they give you even more than half.” And then she would hand me more than half of her Snickers bar, Milky Way or Butterfinger. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to give away at least half your candy to those you care for in the coming days. It’s a phase of your astrological cycle when you will benefit from offering extra special affection and rewards to the allies who provide you with so much love and support.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

If you’re a teacher, it’s a favorable time to enjoy a stint as a student—and vice versa. If you’re a healthcare worker trained in Western medicine, it’s an excellent phase to explore alternative healing practices. If you’re a scientist, I suggest you read some holy and outrageous poetry, and if you’re a sensitive, introverted mystic, get better informed about messy political issues. In other words, dear Aquarius, open a channel to parts of reality you normally ignore or neglect. Fill in the gaps in your education. Seek out surprise and awakening.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Jane Brunette, a writer I admire, uses the made-up word “plurk” to refer to her favorite activity: a blend of play and work. I have always aspired to make that my core approach, too. I play at my work and work at my play. As much as possible, I have fun while I’m doing the laborintensive tasks that earn me a living and fulfill my creative urges. And I invoke a disciplined, diligent attitude as I pursue the tasks and projects that bring me pleasure and amusement. I highly recommend you expand and refine your own ability as a plurker in the coming weeks, Pisces. (Jane Brunette is here: flamingseed.com)

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Need a New Hive?

urban LIVING

Time to Obey

I’m not one to closely follow the Legislature while it’s in session, as it’s hard to pay attention to 500plus bills going through the process of becoming law. However, Utah has two new laws on the books that I wanted to point out to you and which you may have missed, both in effect as of July 1:

— S.B. 45 Whoopie! You don’t have to have a front license plate on your car anymore. Last year, I got pulled over for a speeding ticket (later dismissed) and the officer informed me that it was illegal not to have a front license plate. I had just gotten my plate for my new car, and it didn’t come with a second one. I was confused.

Cops could not stop you if the only infraction was a missing front plate, but they could also ticket you for it when pulling you over for something else. Now, Utah joins almost two dozen other states that don’t require drivers to have front license plates, which—according to the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Daniel McCay, R-Riverton— will simplify license plate production across the state and save money in not producing two plates per vehicle.

The Senator sponsored the bill because he had heard from his constituents that they had to drill holes in their new car bumpers to install the front plates, as other states and manufacturers had done away with the front requirement.

— H.B. 30 Road Rage. I often hear about violent incidents on the news, but had a minor scare myself last week when I was pulling out of a fast food drive-thru to get my iced tea. The car in front of me stopped in the middle of the parking lot to do something on his phone. I waited a minute, then honked. He immediately flipped me the bird and then decided to crawl an inch at a time out of the parking lot, roll down his window and scream at me the entire slow trip out of the lot.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Put ___ to (halt)

6. Argument

10. Racing form info

14. Curmudgeonly sort

15. Suffix with “trillion”

16. Miami team

17. Wrigley brand discontinued in the 1990s but brought back in 2004

19. ___ mortals

20. Concert souvenir

21. ___ seat (enviable position)

23. Dessert with a lattice

24. Bury the ___

25. Believed to be

27. No-cost gift, as some spell it

30. Poly follower?

31. Half a NYC neighborhood?

32. Lawn sign word, maybe

35. “Sure!”

36. Actor Michael of “Ant-Man”

37. Prepared to ride, with “up”

41. Increases the staff

44. Lorna ___ (Nabisco cookie)

45. Tahiti’s capital and largest city

46. Swiss territorial divisions

48. Cinco follower

49. Rainforest inhabitant

50. Chart topper, perhaps

52. Playfully demure

55. Commuted by bus

12. 1997 Literature Nobelist ___ Fo

13. Take the wheel

18. Part of RBG

22. Love to a fault

57. Group that covered “Venus” to hit the

1986 charts

59. Carmaker Ransom

60. Suffix after “out”

61. Light show beam

62. “The ___ From Brazil”

63. “While” beginning, once 64. Shell out

DOWN

1. Eight, in Germany

2. “Leaving Las Vegas” actress Elisabeth

3. London subway

4. Spheroid

5. Pill with no intended effect

6. Fried lightly

7. Soft drink that used to have a “Mr.” title

8. Dispute settler

9. Flower named for its fragrance

10. Unit of electrical resistance

11. Suspended animation that’s really cold

24. Directionally named Titleist ball for pro golfers (there’s also a “dash” version)

26. Shape-shifting spirits in Scottish folklore

27. ___ Most Wanted list

28. “Fancy” singer McEntire

29. 1999 Cartoon Network title trio

33. Online tech review site

34. Zap, in a way

38. “A Strange ___” (Tony-winning musical)

39. Elevate in rank

40. Lose hope

41. Presumptuous one

42. Exultant song

43. Corkscrew shapes

46. Chocolate substitute

53.

54. Patio locale

56. Curvy letter

58. Jurassic 5 genre

Last week’s answers

Given that energy, I opted to go the opposite direction than he was taking and avoided potential violence. I attempted to avoid eye contact, made sure my windows and doors were locked and got away as soon as possible. With the new enhancement law, you can lose your license, get a $1000plus fine and potentially a felony count on your record.

Also, be aware that monies from our state coffers are being thrown at Bangerter Highway to increase eastwest traffic on 4700 South, and that area will be closed for the next year. We will still be able to turn right onto Bangerter during the closure, but the east-west traffic is going to have to use 4100 or 5400 South.

This work is intended to reduce collisions and increase flow

drivers

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

47. Speed skater ___ Anton Ohno

51. Super Mario World console, for short

52. Law assignment

Sign of impending doom

NEWS of the WEIRD

New World Order

A two-person crew from DroneUp, a commercial drone services company partnering with Walmart in Florida, was demonstrating the delivery service on June 26 in The Overlook at Lake Louisa neighborhood of Lake County when they heard a loud pop, ClickOrlando reported. They believed what they had heard was a gunshot, so the crew and the drone high-tailed it back to Walmart, where sheriff’s deputies met them. The drone had a bullet hole in its payload area; officers returned to the neighborhood, where they discovered 72-year-old Dennis Winn. Winn told them he had been working on his swimming pool pump when the drone flew over; he shot it with a 9mm handgun because he suspected drones had been surveilling him in the past. As he was arrested, he shouted to a neighbor that he was being taken into custody for shooting a drone. Winn faces multiple charges; the drone sustained about $2,500 in damage.

News That Sounds Like a Joke

n On June 24 in a federal by-election in Toronto, Canada, candidate Félix-Antoine Hamel, 45, made history: He received zero votes in the election. The CBC reported that Hamel was approached by a friend to add his name to the ballot, one of the longest in Canadian history, as part of a protest against Canada’s electoral system. “Well, I am the true unity candidate,” Hamel said. “Everyone agrees not to vote for me.” Hamel couldn’t even vote for himself, as he is from Montreal, not Toronto. “I’m one of the last people that would be expected to make Canadian history in any way,” the musician said.

n Jillian Uygun, 22, of Seminole, Florida, just wanted a cuddle from her boyfriend on June 29, The Smoking Gun reported. But when he refused her, they argued about the “victim’s disinterest,” police said. The next morning, Uygun repeatedly tried to snuggle with the boyfriend— then allegedly took it up a notch, grabbing his chest hair, scratching his face, biting him on the forehead and breaking his phone. She was arrested for domestic battery, and a judge ordered her to have no contact with her cuddle-resistant boyfriend.

Crime Report

Outside the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Queens, New York, on June 30, surveillance video captured an SUV taxi driving up, parking and disgorging the driver around 5:30 a.m., the New York Post reported. The man was then seen removing a shoe and using it to batter statues of Mary and Joseph, which were unharmed, before turning his footwear on a child Jesus statue and decapitating it. The vandal returned to his car, shoe in hand, and drove away. Father Sean Suckiel said the statue, which “holds special meaning to many in our parish,” had stood at the church for 42 years, and repairing it will cost $20,000.

Ewwwww!

Residents of Pomfret, Connecticut, ended their day on a crappy note on June 25, WVIT-TV reported. That evening, a manure truck rolled over in an intersection, hitting another car and spilling its stinky load. “It was like literally a waterfall of brown,” said Ann Bedard, whose house lies at the intersection where the crash occurred. “It just flooded down our property.” Workers cleaned up the several inches of manure; the truck also spilled fuel and hydraulic fluid, but the fire department declared no immediate safety threat and said the water was safe to use.

Saw That Coming

Rolling Stone reported on July 2 that prolific baby daddy and host of The Masked Singer Nick Cannon has recently insured his “most valuable assets” for $10 million. “You hear about, like, all these different celebrities insuring their legs ... so I was like, ‘Hey, well, I got to insure my most valuable body part,’” Cannon said. Even better, the “Ball-to-Ball” policy was taken out with Dr. Squatch, a men’s grooming company that invites users to find the “value of their balls.” The father of 12 (with five different mamas) said he’s “doubling down on ... my future kids.”

Recent Alarming Headline

A sinkhole 100 feet wide and at least 50 feet deep opened up on June 26, smack-dab in the middle of a soccer complex in Alton, Illinois, The Telegraph reported. The fields are built over an operating limestone mine; the field collapsed above the ceiling of the mine, which is 40 to 50 feet thick. Alton Parks and Recreation Director Michael Haynes said the fields were empty and no one was injured in the collapse, including miners. Along with the artificial turf, the hole sucked up benches and a light pole on the field.

Democracy in Action

The 8th House District in Eugene, Oregon, held a primary election in late June, with two contenders, Lisa Fragala and Doyle Canning, receiving the same number of votes (seven), the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported. Both are Democrats, but since there was no Republican candidate in the race, one of them could have claimed the Republican nomination—theoretically. State law requires that a tie be broken by a roll of the dice or a coin toss, so the deputy elections director, Luke Belant, prepared to flip the coin. Canning won the toss, but strangely, she is ineligible under the state’s “sore-loser law”; because she lost the Democratic primary, she was unable to accept the nomination of any other party. Therefore, Fragala will be the only person on the ballot in November unless the Republican Party chooses a candidate. “The lesson here for any political party is to field a candidate,” Canning said.

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