admin, Author at Utah Concert Review

September 6, 2022

iDKHOW & Joywave

I Dont Know How But They Found Me (iDKHOW) & Joywave w/ Savannah Conley• September 3, 2022• Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

On Saturday, September 3rd, Salt Lake City’s own alternative pop rock band, I Dont Know How But They Found Me (iDKHOW), brought their “Welcome to Hellvetica” tour home to Utah. Co-headliner Joywave joined them, putting on an exciting show at the Sandy Amphitheater. Knowing that iDKHOW originated in Utah, I had anticipated a solid turnout for their hometown concert. I was surprised to see that the crowd was not as large in numbers as I had expected. I suspect the fact that both bands have already performed separate concerts in Utah earlier this year may have had something to do with the lower attendance. Although the crowd may have been small in numbers, the fans there brought big energy.

September 1, 2022

Sammy Hagar & The Circle

Sammy Hagar & The Circle w/ George Thorogood and The Destroyers

Reviewed by Josilyn Wakkuri Libbert

The Crazy Times Tour’s Utah stop brought a night full of great music and fun for all in attendance! Sammy Hagar and The Circle, along with George Thorogood and The Destroyers, drew in a crowd of rock fans to USANA Amphitheater on Tuesday, August 30th. It was a hot night, but the concertgoers were ready to jam out to classic hits!

September 1, 2022

The Killers

The Killers w/ Johnny Marr• August 30, 2022• Vivint Arena

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by the great Rob Loud

Rocker, Joan Jett once said, “No one knows what anticipation is anymore. Everything is so immediate.” I’m one who tends to generally agree with the Rock N Roll Hall of Famer. However, I might argue that for a concert going fanatic such as myself that these last few years have been filled with nothing but anticipation. Shows announced in 2019 and 2020 were postponed and rescheduled only to be postponed and rescheduled again. There was no concert I’ve been anticipating more than The Killers Imploding the Mirage Tour. Fans of The Killers have been anticipating this concert for almost three years.

Not only that but The Killers hadn’t played Utah since 2018. That was the night Brandon Flowers had the second greatest flu performance inside Vivint Arena (Delta Center). Michael Jordan being the first in the 1998 NBA Finals vs The Jazz. It’s a toss up really because Brandon Flowers was pretty special that night in 2018.

August 31, 2022

UCR INTERVIEW: Nick Wold of DREAMERS

Los Angeles-via-Brooklyn band DREAMERS (Nick Wold and Nelson) have shared stages with the likes of X Ambassadors, The 1975, Bleachers, Atlas Genius, Catfish and The Bottlemen, and Weezer while garnering coverage from Fader, Entertainment Weekly and Paste, among others, and performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live. In 2016, the band released their debut full-length album This Album Does Not Exist, featuring the top 10 Alternative radio hit, the electro-sprinkled pop gem “Sweet Disaster.” They just released their new single, “Robbery” and will be performing at The Complex with The Score on August 31!

We had the opportunity to chat with vocalist, Nick Wold yesterday. We talked about touring after the pandemic, songwriting, his first concert, and more! Enjoy!

Interviewed by Kevin Rolfe

UCR: Nick, how are you doing? It’s good to talk to you. So catch me up a little. How far into this tour are you?

Nick Wold: We’re kind of in the first leg I think. We’ve done like five shows out of 20. And yeah, we’re trucking because it’s our first tour back since the pandemic since the world ended.

UCR: Yeah. So how does that feel? It’s gotta be the craziest feeling to have that huge break and then be in front of people. In a way, does it feel like a new experience again or like an “old hat” kind of thing?

August 29, 2022

The Driver Era

The Driver Era w/ Summer Salt and Almost Monday• August 23, 2022• The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Tomo Crestani

From Disney star to lead singer of a band with his brother, Ross Lynch is making his impact on the music industry. With their Summer 2022 Tour, The Driver Era brought two acts to support the show. The first band coming along on this tour was Almost Monday. They were followed by Summer Salt. It is a pretty fun lineup to see live. The Union Event Center is a very fun venue and perfectly suited the bands visiting.

August 28, 2022

Mt. Joy

Mt. Joy w/ Wilderado• August 16, 2022• Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Sometimes I’ll get excited about a show simply based on what I hear from other people. I heard so many people telling me that they were excited for Mt. Joy at Sandy Amphitheater with Wilderado. This would be the first time I saw Mt. Joy I wasn’t sure what to expect. A number of people who’s opinion I respect told me I would for sure enjoy it. So I showed up with no expectations, only to have a good time. And that I did.

August 23, 2022

The Shins

The Shins w/ JOSEPH• August 6, 2022• Ogden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Have you ever made plans to go to a concert knowing you were in for a good night? The lineup is great, the venue is cool, and the company you’re rolling with is just who you want to be with. And while you know there is no way this particular concert can wrong, unless there’s some natural disaster or unforeseen incident, this concert far exceeds any expectation you might have had. Well, that was the case at Ogden Twilight with The Shins and their special guests JOSEPH. I knew I would like this concert. How could I not? Two amazing bands in one night. But somehow, someway they exceeded my already high expectations. This concert was incredible.

August 21, 2022

Fitz And The Tantrums & Andy Grammer

Fits and the Tantrums & Andy Grammer w/ Jade Jackson• August 18, 2022• Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

On Thursday, August 18th, Fitz And The Tantrums brought their “Wrong Party” tour to the Sandy Amphitheatre. They brought along with them co-headline Andy Grammer. It has only been six months since Andy Grammer’s last concert in Utah. I also had the opportunity to attend that one. He had released some new music since then, so I was excited to see what would be different. I was not too familiar with the band Fitz And The Tantrums. But by the night’s end, I realized I knew more of their songs than I had expected. The evening was full of the most positive energy and exciting music. Walking around the venue, I noticed far more children than I typically see at concerts. For many of the young music lovers in attendance, this was their very first concert experience. It proved to be a show that will be hard to top.

August 21, 2022

Collective Soul & Switchfoot

Collective Soul and Switchfoot w/ Jade Jackson• August 15, 2022• Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Justin Lagman

There is something special about concerts on a warm beautiful summer night. It was even more special for rock music fans. They got not 1, but 2 well known alt-rock bands that have been at the forefront of rock music for a very long time now. Collective Soul is celebrating their 30th anniversary with an extended tour featuring San Diego-based Grammy winners, Switchfoot. It seems like summer has flown by. We’ re trying to squeeze in all the summer activities before the weather cools down. This is my first time photographing a concert at Sandy Amphitheater. There is always something special about checking off another box on my list of Utah concert venues.

August 20, 2022

Big Time Rush & Spencer Sutherland

Big Time Rush• Spencer Sutherland• August 18, 2022• USANA Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert

Big Time Rush & Spencer Sutherland brought the Forever Tour to Utah. And it sold out USANA’s pavilion seating on Thursday, August 18th! For the second to last show on the tour, fans donning Big Time Rush T-shirts or particularly dressed up for the occasion flooded into the amphitheater. Many of them had homemade signs under their arms with the hope of catching one of the performer’s eyes! It was the perfect night for an outdoor concert – not too hot, not cold, and, thankfully, no rain!