Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, or OMD as they’re often called celebrated 40 years as a band with their Souvenirs Greatest Hits Tour. The tour comes a couple years after the actual anniversary, but like so many other tours or anniversary celebrations, the original tour was pushed back due to the worldwide pandemic. It was worth the wait, OMD never disappoints! The Monday night concert felt like a Saturday night. If the Union Events Center wasn’t sold out, it was maybe a couple of tickets away. The venue was filled and fans who have seen OMD over these 40 years were eager for the show to begin.
Although Ryan Hurd has had a successful career writing for Country Music’s biggest stars, he also enjoys writing for himself. With his visit to The Depot in Salt Lake City, Ryan became one show closer to closing out his “Pelago Tour”. Bringing along rising country star Morgan Wade, there was plenty of exciting music to be heard.
The English Beat w/ The Mad Professor• April 29, 2022• The Commonwealth Room
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
There are times when I’ll see a concert on the calendar and know without any doubt that it’ll be a good time. That’s exactly how it was when I saw The English Beat on the schedule. I grew up with The Englis Beat, or The Beat, as they’re known in England being played on early MTV and on my brother’s record player. The songs are so familiar and always take me back to that young time in my life. As I’ve aged, (boy have I aged!) I’ve been able to appreciate the music more and more. They were one of the major bands of the ska music revival in England and a huge player in the New Wave, Post Punk generation.
The English Beat has a dedicated fan base here in Utah. They’ve played everywhere from Red Butte Gardens to the Complex to Soda Row in Daybreak. Their shows are always well attended and the crowd is always a lively bunch.
With an exciting new album in the works, legendary rapper Freddie Gibbs visited The Complex in Salt Lake City. Having sold out weeks before the show, there were many people outside the box office who had been scammed with fake tickets. The venue handled it very well in helping those fans find a way to attend the show or get their money back. That was basically the only negative thing I saw happen at the show. (Which is obviously not the artist’s or venue’s fault.) Although not featured in the previous 2 shows, Freddie brought along a second opener for this show. The two openers featured in Salt Lake were Redveil and MIKE. Having had the opportunity to listen to all three artists before the show, I was excited to see how they performed each song.
There is no doubt in my mind that the best way to start a week is with a concert. To top it all off is with a rock concert. That is exactly what I signed myself up for this last Sunday with The Warning headlining at The Complex. I hadn’t heard of either Devora or The Warning previously but I’m never opposed to hearing new artists. Especially if my first time hearing them would be live.
My favorite musicians write and perform their own songs. Much popular music isn’t actually written or created by the person who performs it. Many pop singers, at least many of those dominating the charts these days, are the singing, dancing puppets of their record labels. These pop stars perform songs purchased, often at unfair rates, from creative individuals tucked away from the limelight. Every now and then, though, one of these truly creative people steps out of the shadows to showcase their own work.
The last of the 2021 SLC Twilight Concert Series had the Gallivan Center buzzing with excited fans as Lake Street Dive took the stage in Salt Lake City on Friday night. The band joined a growing list of artists nationwide to require attendees to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test result against COVID-19 before entering the venue, bringing some ease of mind to a sold-out show. Almost two years since the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the music industry, I finally found myself back in the pit looking up at the stage through my camera lens. Giddy, nervous, and feeling rusty, I waiting in anticipation for a fun night.
I love springtime, the new beginnings, the fresh smell in the air and let’s not forget the wonderful memories to which we must cling; the future and creating memories may be postponed longer than we may like. However, I refuse to let this period of unrest damper our ability to reminisce and enjoy recent events and anticipate greater things to come. Maybe, my taking, much, much too long in finishing this review for once, is a good thing. Giving us this opportunity to remember a better moment. Today’s review comes from way too long ago, when I had the opportunity to enjoy four groups of performers and songwriters from our very own city and surrounding communities. I was invited to cover this show at the Beehive by some of our local performers. I was excited about this show. More than most. If anything, platforms like this one are ideal for local musicians to be recognized. At the risk of sensationalizing my reviews any more than I do, I have to come out and say this concert was hands down my favorite of the year, so far.
Four groups were playing inside this most intimate venue on 666 South in Salt Lake City. I had never been to The Beehive before and I must say I was intrigued as to how the show was going to take shape. The front of the venue is a bar/ restaurant and the stage was a covered, possibly out of commission rigged and lit platform in the back. The concrete floor and lack of a place to sit did nothing but increase my excitement and anticipation for the night ahead, a night, for which I was completely unprepared. I was not familiar with any of these bands before that night. I had listened to a bit to Savage Daughters after talking with them a bit, yet today, I still find myself scouring the internet for more of their deeper cut tracks, new releases, and live performance videos.
