NHL in UTAH
Welcome The Team
April 24 Delta Center
Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton • April 9, 2024 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
Last summer Peter Frampton was scheduled to play a show at the Sandy Amphitheater. I strolled up to the venue about 20 minutes before showtime to find a long line outside. That was pretty unusual for shows that I’ve been to in the past at Sandy Amp so I wondered what the situation was. I was fortunate enough to surpass the line with my media credentials and go inside the venue to try and get the inside scoop. What I discovered was that there would be no Frampton concert due to some unforeseen technical issues. My hope was that the show would be rescheduled, but that doesn’t always happen. I wondered if I missed my chance to see Peter Frampton live.
Continue reading “Peter Frampton”Charlie Parr
Charlie Parr • April 6, 2024 • The Commonwealth Room
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
Minnesota-based singer-songwriter and guitarist, Charlie Parr made a tour stop at The Commonwealth Room on Saturday, April 6. Parr seems to be almost constantly on the road. A troubadour making his way through the country and around the world, bringing songs from his eighteen (yes! 18!) albums to fans of good music. On this tour, Charlie Parr will be presenting music from his latest album, Little Sun. Released on March 22. I’m not quite sure how Parr chooses from such a vast catalog. I was excited to be seeing him for the first time.
Continue reading “Charlie Parr”Slow Hollows
Slow Hollows • Sunhill • March 19, 2024 • Kilby Court
Reviewed and Photographed by Logan Fang
On March 19th, Salt Lake City had the pleasure of welcoming LA-based band Slow Hollows to Kilby Court where they performed for a small, yet eager audience of Tuesday concert-goers. Kilby Court, a familiar and charming setting to most locals, offered a perfect scene for Slow Hollow that night with its grungy and dark atmosphere. The night featured a small set by local band Sunhills who kicked off the show with a mix of indie vocals and surrealist sounds followed by the extensive works of the much anticipated Slow Hollows.
Continue reading “Slow Hollows”Dawes and Lucius
Dawes • Lucius • March 19, 2024 • The Commonwealth Room
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Photographed by Alisha Gregson
Dawes? Good! Lucius? So good! Dawes & Lucius??? Wow! I was not prepared for how good this concert was going to be. We’ve had the privilege of covering Dawes several times over the years and last year we were excited to review Lucius. These are some of the best live bands that come to Utah. When I saw that they would be touring together and that they would be playing The Commonwealth Room I was really hoping that Utah Concert Review would be there to cover the show. Fortune favored us and we were there!
Continue reading “Dawes and Lucius”Mom Jeans
Mom Jeans • Summer Salt • March 3, 2024 • The Union
Reviewed and Photographed by Morgan Newbold
Last Wednesday night, indie-rock band Mom Jeans came out to Salt Lake City to play to a nearly sold-out crowd at The Union! Opened by Summer Salt and Hunny, it was a spectacular show filled with so much energy, infectious indie riffs, and heart-wrenching emo songs. I walked into the venue to see so many young people, indie post-punk fans alike, ready to cause a ruckus. The merch was pretty cool. I firmly believe the smaller indie bands always have better merch designs, anyway.
Continue reading “Mom Jeans”Pretty Woman The Musical
Pretty Woman The Musical • April 2, 2024 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Photos by: Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade. Provided by Broadway at the Eccles
I have to admit, I totally forgot that the 1990 film Pretty Woman was adapted for the stage. Pretty Woman The Musical appeared on Broadway in 2018 and it wasn’t until the Broadway at the Eccles announced their 2023/2024 Season that I remembered it existed. Since its Eccles Theater stop was announced, I have been curious to see how the show worked in musical form. On Tuesday, April 2, I found out.
Pretty Woman The Musical has everything needed for a successful production. Highly acclaimed director and choreographer, check. Jerry Mitchell has choreographed big-time shows like Hairspray, Legally Blond, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Full Monty and directed Kinky Boots (choreography also) and On Your Feet. Well-known songwriters, check.
Bryan Adams (yep that Bryan Adams) and Jim Vallance have written some of the most recognized songs of all time. Pretty Woman The Musical would be their first time writing for musical theater. Well-known book writers, check. You don’t get much bigger than the late great Gary Marshall. Writing for shows as far back as I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke Show, Marshall has written some of the most beloved television shows and movies in history. Joined by J. F. Lawton, a respected screenwriter in his own right, the book has some all-star power. Gary Marshall passed away before the show was completed.
The cast of Pretty Woman The Musical is given the unenviable task of getting the audience to buy into their interpretation of these characters and try to forget the memorable performances in the movie. Vivian Ward is one of Julia Roberts’ most iconic roles. Ellie Baker did a great job of not trying to mimic Roberts. That would have been a disaster. It’s simply impossible to portray the role exactly like Julia so I liked that Ellie gave the character her own spin. It did take me longer than I wanted to get in the zone of this production and forget the movie. But eventually, for the most part, I did get there.
Chase Wolfe did an admirable job of portraying Edward Lewis. His powerful singing voice drew the audience to him and I overheard audience members talking during intermission hoping for more songs from him in the second act. They got their wish.
Adam Du Plessis stole the show as Happy Man. The Eccles Theater audience was delighted by his performance. He appeared in multiple scenes as different characters within those scenes and each time he’d show his face, the audience would cheer or laugh. Mr. Thompson, the hotel manager was Du Plessis’s best character. At first leery of Elie Baker then evolving to be her biggest support was the journey we all went on through him. He was funny, heartfelt, and probably got the biggest ovation at the end of the evening. Some of the biggest highlights of the show were when Adam Du Plessis was paired with Connor Kabat as Giulio the bellhop. Most of Kabat’s scenes were met with large laughter. I think without his and Du Plessis’ performances this show would have fallen flat comedically.
Memorable scenes from the movie, like Elie being snubbed by women at the Rodeo Drive store only to burn them later didn’t have the same impact as the movie. The scene where Edward snaps the jewelry box before Vivian can pick up the necklace which makes Vivian laugh, was valiantly attempted but impossible to avoid recalling Julia Roberts’ well-known laugh in that scene. I think those moments were just going to be too difficult to avoid comparison. I tried hard not to compare but I just couldn’t do it.
Overall, Pretty Woman The Musical is an entertaining production. It falls short of other Pygmalian-type stage productions like My Fair Lady or even Once Upon A Mattress. I think the familiarity with the movie both helps and hurts this musical. That being said, it’s a good time and while it’s not the best show to have come to Eccles Theater, it’s still a fun night out of theater with a very talented cast.
Pretty Woman plays Eccles Theater until April 7. For ticket information, including how to get $50 Student Tickets, click here.
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio • Drug Church • Worriers • March 21, 2024 • The Complex
Reviewed and Photographed by Mike Ferguson
Thursday, March 21st is a night that I will not soon forget! Alkaline Trio’s Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs, The Tour came in through Salt Lake City. It was a night of great music, good friends, and a lot of fun!
Continue reading “Alkaline Trio”The Kooks
The Kooks • March 19, 2024 • The Union Events Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Mike Ferguson
The Union Event Center in Salt Lake City experienced a spectacular celebratory night of indie rock on Tuesday, March 19th, as The Kooks brought their tour for the 18th anniversary of their debut album, Inside In/Inside Out, to Utah. The evening was an unforgettable journey as fans came for a night of fun and great music.
Continue reading “The Kooks”Warren Zeiders
Warren Zeiders • Austin Williams • March 13, 2024 • The Union
Reviewed and Photographed by Sascha Steadman
Lines of boots and hats wrapping around the block. It’s safe to say Utah’s gone Country for rising star Warren Zeiders. The Union Events Center has had a solid lineup of Country artists over the years. This night was no exception. Zeiders brought the fans and the music.
Continue reading “Warren Zeiders”