UCR, Author at Utah Concert Review

August 31, 2025September 5, 2025

Toto

Toto • Men At Work • Christopher Cross • August 27, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

With a catalog that bridges classic rock, pop, and progressive elements, Toto has long been revered not only for its massive hits but also for the virtuosity of its members. Seeing Toto in concert is more than just a trip down memory lane—it is a showcase of seasoned musicians who remain as sharp and passionate as ever. Their live performance brings together nostalgia, technical brilliance, and an undeniable joy that connects across generations.

Toto brought some friends to Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre. Men at Work and yacht rock legend Christopher Cross joined Toto in what was a night filled with hit songs. The walk down this memory lane was a good one.

August 30, 2025August 30, 2025

Goo Goo Dolls

Goo Goo Dolls • Dashboard Confessional • August 26, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert

Alternative pop-rock fans braved the rain and filled Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre on August 26, 2025, to catch the Goo Goo Dolls, joined by Dashboard Confessional, for their Summer Anthem Tour! Fans ranged from young to old, from families to groups of friends!

August 29, 2025August 29, 2025

Yungblud

Yungblud • Sawyer Hill • August 25, 2025 • The Union Events Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Max Taylor

On August 26, 2025, Yungblud made a stop in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Union Event Center, being the third show of his world tour promoting his fourth studio album, Idols. If you’re unfamiliar with the English musician, I recommend you become acquainted with him quickly because Yungblud – otherwise known as Dominic Richard Harrison(Dom for short) – will undoubtedly be a name remembered amongst music legends as he continues to grow and evolve and make a name for himself across the globe. I’ve had the opportunity and pleasure of meeting Dom and seeing him perform on numerous occasions. Never have I met an artist who cares so deeply about the art they create. As well as the fans who support him.

August 28, 2025August 29, 2025

Pantera

Pantera • Amon Amarth • King Parrot • August 20, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed by Eric Miles

Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

It’s 9:00 pm on a hot August night, and an amped up and diverse audience are greeted with a sombre and moody synthesized soundtrack as the lights go dim. A monstrous banner facade with the band’s logo in massive red lettering is hanging from the rigging, completely shrouding any view of the heavy metal icons as they take to the stage. It is clear who the hardcore and veteran fans are in the audience as they recognize the eerie musical interlude. On all 3 amphitheatre screens, the masses are treated to raw home video footage of the band’s original members in their earlier years. The editing is rough and dizzying as the video rapidly cuts between each of the 4 young men in their prime partying, rocking out, and goofing off. Two of the four young rockers are brothers. Both of them are now gone.

August 26, 2025August 26, 2025

Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes • August 22, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

When Alabama Shakes take the stage, there’s no mistaking that the audience is in for something special. The Grammy-winning band, led by the incomparable Brittany Howard, has carved out a reputation as one of the most dynamic live acts. Their concerts aren’t just shows—they’re full-bodied experiences that combine raw emotion, ferocious musicianship, and a rare ability to make a large venue like Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater feel as intimate as a back-porch jam session. Seeing Alabama Shakes in concert is to witness a band completely in their element, channeling blues, rock, and soul into something visceral and unforgettable. Alabama Shakes are on their first tour in eight years. It has been a long wait, but it was worth it to see what we saw in West Valley City.

August 25, 2025August 25, 2025

Chicago

Chicago • August 21, 2025 • Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

For more than five decades, Chicago has been delivering a unique brand of rock fused with jazz and pop elements, creating a sound that is instantly recognizable and endlessly beloved. Seeing Chicago in concert is more than just attending a show—it’s an immersive journey through some of the most iconic music in American rock history. On August 21, Chicago played to a sold-out crowd at the beautiful Sandy Amphitheater.

August 25, 2025August 25, 2025

Counting Crows

Counting Crows • The Gaslight Anthem • August 21, 2025 • Utah First Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Amelia Weyerstall

Counting Crows and the Gaslight Anthem played an exciting show at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre. Getting fans up out of their seats, dancing and singing along to their favorite songs. The Counting Crows’ The Complete Sweets! Tour was one to remember.

August 23, 2025August 23, 2025

311

311 • August 17, 2025 • Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Summer nights at Sandy Amphitheater always carry a certain magic. With the Wasatch Mountains silhouetted against the twilight sky and the open-air setting lending itself to a communal atmosphere, the venue is tailor-made for concerts that thrive on energy and connection. On August 17, that spirit was in full force as 311 brought their signature blend of rock, reggae, hip-hop, and funk to Sandy, Utah. For fans who have followed the Omaha-based band for decades, as well as those experiencing their live show for the first time, it was a reminder of why 311 concerts remain such a powerful, communal experience.

August 21, 2025August 21, 2025

My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket • August 11, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Few bands manage to capture the balance between raw rock energy, cosmic exploration, and emotional intimacy quite like My Morning Jacket. Seeing them in concert is not just watching a performance—it’s stepping into a musical experience that feels both timeless and transcendent. That feeling was on full display when the band took the stage at Red Butte Garden Amphitheater in Salt Lake City, turning a summer night into a sweeping journey of sound and spirit.

August 20, 2025August 21, 2025

The Head and The Heart

Ogden Twilight • The Head and The Heart • Wilderado • August 13, 2025 • Ogden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Summertime in Utah is amazing when it comes to live music. We cover every show we possibly can, but there are just so many tours and local shows that we can’t get to them all. So far, the concerts we’ve been able to cover have been so much fun. They’ve made Summer 2025 a memorable one. Despite many of the shows we’ve been able to attend so far, the anticipation for August 13 was high up on the list. The Ogden Twilight Concert Series hosted The Head and The Heart on their Aperture Tour.