Andy Grammer

Andy Grammer•August 3, 2023•Red Butte Garden

Reviewed and Photographed by Jenica Schulz

When Andy Grammer took the stage in Salt Lake City, Utah, the crowd erupted into cheers as he kicked off his performance with the anthemic hit, “Love is the New Money.” He makes an analogy he heard from a John Mayer show saying “Remember as a kid and you had the crackers and peanut butter but you try to equally distribute it for every cracker, but you have a ton of leftover peanut butter at the end? Well, this is the last night of the tour and we have a lot of extra peanut butter.” Little did he know that Mother Nature had a surprise in store for them.

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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit•Deer Tick•July 8, 2023• Red Butte Garden

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

There are some nights where an evening, and a venue match an artist just perfectly.  Jul 8, 2023 at Red Butte Garden the great Jason Isbell and his incredible band the 400 Unit stopped by Salt Lake City on what was a quintessential Utah summer evening.  Every so often Isbell comes to Utah and plays another venue.  Some of them are venues I typically like.  But when a venue like Red Butte pairs this well, it’s clear that he should never play any other venue when he comes to Utah. 

On this tour Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit would be featuring their recently released album Weathervanes.  So much so that they played eleven of the thirteen songs on the album. They mixed in a number of crowd favorites and hit singles that brought together both audience and artists.  I had been anticipating this concert as one of my “Must See” concerts since it was announced. It did not disappoint.

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Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade

Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade• w/ Fishbone• May 23, 2023• Red Butte Garden

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

Tuesday, May 23, marked the opening night for the Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series. Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade and supporting band Fishbone brought their Summer Of Green Tour to the gardens. The sold-out show ended up being an exciting way to start off what is expected to be an incredible summer of concerts at the venue. 

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Chris Issak & Lyle Lovett

Chris Isaak & Lyle Lovett July• 1, 2022• Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Red Butte Garden started July off on a good note with a double headliner show starring Chris Isaak and Lyle Lovett.  These two legends could not have picked a better date to come to Utah.  The weather was perfect, and everyone was feeling good heading into the Independence Day weekend.   I’ve seen Chris Isaak in concert once.  I was invited last minute and was beyond impressed with the concert.  I’ve always wanted to see him again.  I had never seen Lyle Lovett in concert before this show.  So for me personally, this was a perfect mix of anticipation to see someone I had enjoyed before, and the anticipation of seeing someone I had been wanting to see. 

I chatted with a few people before the show and I asked them if they had seen either artist before.  They had seen both and mentioned that they never pass up the opportunity to see them whenever they come to Utah. They assured me that I was in for a good night.

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Barenaked Ladies

Barenaked Ladies w/ Gin Blossoms & Toad the Wet Sprocket• June 20, 2022• Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

I don’t know if Red Butte Garden will ever get more 90s than it did on June 20th.  Barenaked Ladies brought their Last Summer on Earth Tour to the Amphitheater but they didn’t come alone.  BNL was joined by 90s contemporaries, Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket.  It was a lineup of hitmakers from top to bottom.  I arrived as Toad the Wet Sprocket took the stage.  The venue was already full.  It was obvious that Red Butte patrons were excited about this whole show.  

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ZZ Top

ZZ Top• June 15, 2022• Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Photo Credit: Kevin Rolfe

ZZ Top has been coming to Utah since the 70s. They used to call The Salt Palace home whenever they would come to Salt Lake City. In recent years, Red Butte Garden Amphitheater is the stopping place for the legendary Blues Rock band. ZZ Top helped bring live music back to Red Butte last summer just weeks following the passing of original bassist, Dusty Hill. Less than a year later, ZZ Top made their return with the same lineup, including new bassist and former guitar tech to Hill, Elwood Francis. The moment the band walked on stage, the generally casual garden attendees, jumped to their feet, ready to rock.

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She & Him

She & Him• June 14, 2022• Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

When Red Butte Garden announced the 2022 lineup for their Outdoor Concert Series I was beyond excited to see She & Him as one of the bands.  They hadn’t been to Utah in a while and I felt like Red Butte Garden Amphitheater was a perfect setting to see them.  When I saw that they would be touring to promote their album Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson, I knew I had to cover this show.  Little did I know how attached to this show I would become.

I was contacted and invited to interview M. Ward (Him) leading up to the show.  After chatting with Ward and learning more about the album and the band’s love of the great legendary songwriter from The Beach Boys, I knew it was a show not to be missed.  In fact, the actual Brian Wilson was playing over at USANA Amphitheatre on the same night, and I still chose to be in Red Butte Garden for this show. That’s how much I wanted to be there! And the night did not disappoint.  

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