Oldie But a Goodie

This video montage came out last spring from the Bionic Ear Sessions at Indie Rock Reviews. Download If You're Looking for Love from Utah's most beloved band here.

Issac Russell (RuRu) signed by Columbia Records

Local Utah favorite, boy Issac Russell was just a little guy when we first saw him in the scene, but he is now on to big things. Issac Russell began getting a lot of attention around Utah for playing beautiful folk songs that came screaming out from his young soul. He was truly a young wonder and was quickly snatched up by the likes of Northplatte Records who helped co-write many songs and produced his first album Elizabeth, under the name RuRu. His album was an instant success and even made it on the top ten list on iTunes Indy Spot Light. Since his first release Issac gained the attention of Columbia records, who he has now recently signed to. Finally, another success story out of our beloved state. We only hope that his signing will lead to greater things. Check Issac out at his myspace.

J. Tillman, Year in the Kingdom

Soft, peaceful and occasionally silent, J. Tillman's new release Year in the Kingdom is a perfect shadow of Vacilando Territory Blues (released earlier this year). This release, if you can believe it, is even more silent than some of his earlier work. On tracks like "There is No Good in Me" the music all together halts, and screeches from what sounds like a child's rusty swing set bring us back together with familiar plucks from behind a harp of sorts. Most of the songs are very prayer like, pleading, leading us through tails of broken religion and distant heartbreak. Tillman's melodies are always beautiful and this new release has further solidified him as not just another singer-songwriter. The only downside to the album is a lack of a buildup. Even his most intense songs are not nearly what they could be. But what Tillman lacks in intensity, he makes up for with emotion and that is ultimately why we love him.

Deer Tick with Atherton 09.29.09

Fresh paint wafts through the halls of a very fresh new venue that has been getting a lot of attention lately. The Stateroom has quickly become one of Salt Lakes most loved venues. Perhaps it's how clean the place is, or maybe the fact that the seating there is as comfortable as a Sunday service. Needless to say the night started off right at the stateroom. Soon Atherton took the stage with a slew of great local musicians at the helm. Dylan Schorer and Scott Wiley to name a few. They started off their set playing some of their more intimate numbers, but left us heavily rocked by the end of it. Screaming harmonies, lap steel solos and mean feedback composed a most magical sound that you didn't want to end. Soon enough a group of high school kids were on stage setting up gear for Deer Tick, or at least you would have thought that if you didn't know the band. Deer Tick is a group of young bloods, but they don't play like it. They play their instruments way beyond their years, and though some of their songs are less serious, they all come packed with sincerity. You could tell throughout the night that the band loves to play. Pitchers of beer were put down and as they laughed, they played some of the best Deer Tick songs at their finest. In a way it was like watching your friends band from high school that as you watched you realized, "these cats are amazing!" Deer Tick is the kind of band where two wrongs for them do make a right and when you thought that they may at any moment fall to pieces, they would reply by suddenly surprising you with nothing short of beauty. At one point in the night, they told us that they would have to be leaving soon, for a long drive to New Mexico, but they must have played for a good hour and a half after they said that. It seemed as if they had a hard time putting their guitars down and late into the night strings of songs were tied together mixed with covers from Chuck Berry and the likes. One thing is for sure, Deer Tick rocks.

Bon Iver & Jenny Lewis July 9

Those of us fortunate enough to have seen some of the summers twilight will remember this summer as one of the best to date. Many of the summer's show's, were outstanding. Among the most memorable was the July 9th show. Bon Iver with Jenny Lewis. Before the show even started people had packed in so tight that there must have been close to 50 people on top of the parking garage across the way. It was the kind of show were if you could see the bands then you had a good spot. The nights opener, Jenny Lewis gave Salt Lake a huge surprise. Her new band complete with boyfriend Jonathan Rice at the helm, we like a throwback of what it must be like to have lived in the 60's. They were running around on stage, dancing, and then boom, they'd come together and just nail a 4 part harmony. The highlight of their performance was most definitely a their slower numbers, where Jenny Lewis was backed by 4 singers that all sang into one mic, in a semi-circle behind her. Its safe to say that Jenny Lewis put on the best show of the summer at Twilight. To follow her was the infamous and most beloved Bon Iver. As Justin Vernon walked out on stage, the crowd was in hysterics. He's a bon-a-fied god-like figure to many indie music lovers and there are many of them in the city. Bon Iver played a lot of the songs that make people want to go see them, but they also left out a lot. Maybe it was the fact that he played back to back with Jenny Lewis, who had much more energy and excitement on stage then the likes of Bon Iver. The Vernon crew left us hanging in a way, we wanted more from them. Most of their set was quite and then slowly theirs songs would escalate into something epic. For the most part however, the huge shoes that Vernon has made for himself have seemingly become hard to fill, and though he played his songs just like you would expect, there was not enough of it. People were talking during his set and you could see avid lovers of Vernon get up and leave. It was a sad moment. Seeing Bon Iver for free however, truly was priceless and if it could be done all over again, I would be there, but this time prehaps cheering him on a little more, getting him a little more excited.

Leslie and the Badgers at Velour

With a thundering roar, Leslie and the Badgers pulled into a rainy parking lot behind Velour in Provo. Almost simultaneously the rain stopped; the band got out and their 5 smiling faces had somehow driven the rain away. Such was the Ora of the night, as if Leslie and the Badgers and crew brought with them a sort of light. The show opened with local Drew Capener and his band. We talked with him later to ask him what his band name was. His reply: no name 'yet'. He did point out that he will have a record come fall and we will for sure be on the look out for it. After hearing his voice, everyone in place wished the record was already out. Olin and the Moon (out of L.A.) followed up with an energizing set of country/folk-rock, that set the stage perfectly for Leslie and the Badgers.  Hailing from L.A. Leslie and the badgers have received quite a bit of good press lately and deservedly so. Leslie Stevens immediately greets the crowd in the first number of their set by singing out in an almost-Irish canticle that is mesmerizing. It doesn't take more that 3 seconds for the crowd to silence, and off they go. Immediately you are struck by the bands demeanour. They are a happy group, interacting on stage, smiling, cheering one another on and inviting crowd members and Olin and the Moon onstage to sing along with them. Leslie and the Badgers isn't the type of band you would expect to "get there" some day, they have already arrived! Soon enough you find yourself dancing in front of the crowd, lost in the beauty of their music. It's a little bit, country, a little bit folk and a lot of rock all of which you are into just by listening to this band. By the time their set is over you wish it wasn't and the journey from quiet acoustic numbers to rolling country numbers is over and the band has left the stage. As local Favorites The Devil Whale take the stage playing a combination of vintage-rock and indie folk that brings band mates from Olin and the Moon and Leslie and the Badgers out dancing in excitement. Putting an end to an amazing night. Soon enough you find yourself out in the June rain again, wishing the show wasn't over. Luckily enough for you Leslie and the Badgers plays again tomorrow night (Jun. 14)  in Salt Lake at the Woodshed with Olin and the Moon and Blue Sunshine Soul. If you couldn't make either show, then check out a few of their latest tracks at the band's myspace page. Their song: Old Timers just so happens to be a MMMMOVE REVIEW FAVORITE.

Bonnaroo Begins

Today marks the beginning of the beloved Bonnaroo music and arts festival in Manchester, TN. The festival seems to just get bigger and bigger. For those of you not able to attend, you can watch a live feed at the at&t blue room (which by the way has amazing coverage of most american festivals and some huge shows). You can also catch highlights on Fuse TV.