Utah Concert Review

July 20, 2022

Motion City Soundtrack

Motion City Soundtrack w/ All Get Out & Neil Rubenstein• July 16, 2022• The Complex

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

On Saturday, July 16th, pop-punk band Motion City Soundtrack brought their Commit to This Memory 17th anniversary tour to Salt Lake City. The tour had originally been planned as a 15th anniversary but was postponed due to the pandemic. After an extra 2 years of waiting, the band’s most loyal fans gathered at The Complex, excited and eager to see them perform.

July 19, 2022

Puscifer

Puscifer• July 7, 2022• Eccles Theater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

To be honest, I’m not quite sure what to say about this concert. The truth is, you really just need to see Puscifer in concert to truly understand that experience. It’s a show unlike anything else I’ve seen. It’s funny, the music sounds great live, but at the same time you’re thinking, “What am I seeing?”. In a good way of course. I had no idea what I was in for, and I will do my best to share my experience.

July 18, 2022

Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls

Frank Turner w/ AJJ, The Bronx, & Pet Needs• July 16, 2022• The Depot

Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert

Concert goers flowed into The Depot on Saturday, July 16th, to see Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, along with Pet Needs, The Bronx, and AJJ. People of all ages, from small children and up, came to enjoy the show!

July 14, 2022

Chase Atlantic

Chase Atlantic w/ Leah Kate & Xavier Mayne• July 12, 2022• The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Tomo Crestani

On their “Cold Nights Tour”, Chase Atlantic brought the energy to The Union Events Center this past Tuesday. Drawing a very respectable crowd for not only their set but also the two opening sets as well. Bringing along Xavier Mayne and Leah Kate, Chase Atlantic definitely built up a lot of anticipation for this tour.

Having never been to The Union Event Center, I went into this show with low expectations. However, I was pleasantly surprised from the get-go. The venue was very nice inside and had a really cool layout. It felt very open compared to other venues I have visited. It also seemed more organized. This venue perfectly fit the three artists that would be playing that night. It fit the large crowd comfortably and gave the concert a really unique feel.

July 13, 2022

REO Speedwagon & Styx

REO Speedwagon & Styx w/ Loverboy• July 9, 2022• USANA Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Live & UnZoomed Tour

The “Live & UnZoomed Tour” made its way to Utah on Saturday, July 9. REO Speedwagon and Styx have been playing co-headlining tours for years. This time they would be joined by special guest, Loverboy. I’d imagine this night at USANA Amphitheatre will be a memorable one. First off, it was HOT! We’re talking triple digits folks. On top of the extreme heat, there was a massive fire just on the other side of the western mountain range. The smokey air added a new element to the outdoor concert experience. Despite the unique conditions, fans showed up in droves to see some of their favorite bands. Styx and REO Speedwagon are regular visitors to Utah, and every time they come their shows do well. This night was no exception.

July 12, 2022

Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor• July 6, 2022• Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Indie singer-songwriter, Regina Spektor played a two-night residency at the Sandy Amphitheater. I was privileged to attend night two, the Wednesday night sold-out show. Sandy Amphitheater is facing north to south with trees lining up the west side of the venue. This is a perfect setup because, despite the warm summer’s eve (I wrote that for the Kenny Rogers fans), the sun was blocked by the trees, and most of the amphitheater was shaded. I really enjoy walking into a concert venue and seeing the look on people’s faces. It’s the first indicator of whether this will be a good crowd and a good show. Sometimes crowds want to be social, be seen, and strangely enough, can make the music secondary. That was not the case with this crowd.

July 8, 2022

UCR INTERVIEW: Lawrence Gowan of Styx

Legendary and multi-Platinum rockers Styx have hit the road with their friends REO Speedwagon on their Live and UnZoomed Tour. They’ll be joined by special guests, Loverboy. The tour stops off at USANA Amphitheatre on Saturday, July 9. We had the opportunity to catch up with Vocalist and Keyboardist, Lawrence Gowan a few weeks back. To purchase tickets to the Live and UnZoomed show click here. Hope you enjoy our conversation!

Interviewed by Kevin Rolfe

STYX L/R: Chuck Panozzo, Ricky Phillips, Todd Sucherman, Tommy Shaw, James “J.Y.” Young and Lawrence Gowan. Portrait shoot at Macon City Auditorium on October 4, 2014 in Macon, Georgia. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for STYX)

UCR: As you know, Utah loves having you guys out here. You’re back out on the road with REO Speedwagon. Do you determine by tour who closes the show? Or is it a show by show decision?

July 7, 2022

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.

July 6, 2022

Howard Jones

Howard Jones w/ Midge Ure• June 28, 2022• Red Butte Garden

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

It was a night for 80s icons at Red Butte Garden Amphitheater. Legendary synth-pop star, Howard Jones played to an adoring sold out audience on a beautiful Tuesday evening in Salt Lake City. He was joined by the “Voice of Ultravox”, Midge Ure. An icon in his own right. Howard Jones has such a strong fanbase here in Utah. He’s played here so many times over the years and people come back every time he tours through. I remember one year he was a support act for Barenaked Ladies. He added his own solo date the next day because there was such a clamoring from his fans to see him in more than a shortened set. He’s also played shows up at Park City’s Egyptian Theater with just him and a piano. Those shows always sell out. There is a connection between Jones and Utah that I can’t totally explain. But it’s there and both parties embrace it.

July 5, 2022

Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes w/ Tim Bernardes• June 27, 2022• Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

On Monday, June 27th, Fleet Foxes played the 1st show of their 2022 tour at the Sandy Amphitheater. I have been a long-time fan of Fleet Foxes. This was a concert I had been looking forward to for a while. This is the band’s first tour in four years. Many have been eagerly waiting for them to return to the stage. It would also be the first opportunity to watch them perform songs from their 2020 album Shore. The Seattle-based folk band is known for putting on an excellent show. Expectations were high as the crowd gathered to take their seats for the sold out concert.