Relive the Utah Concert Experience!
Can you believe it’s been nearly a whole year and a half since USANA Amphitheater had its doors opened and seats full? After closing its doors due to the pandemic, and all that time of no concerts, and no roaring crowds of thousands of people together… we are finally back!
Can you believe it’s been nearly a whole year and a half since USANA Amphitheater had its
doors opened and seats full? After 16 months of no shows, no concerts, no roaring crowds of thousands of people together…we are finally back!
After a full year of no concerts, and no summer activities, it was clear that everyone was itching to get out. What better way than to escape the insane heat of the valley this July. As I drove up to the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, I was immediately aware of the energy the crowd had. Walking up the hill from the parking lot people were carrying coolers, chairs, food, and drinks. They were gearing up for a fun night of music outside and away from their homes.
Continue reading “Kool & the Gang w/ Utah Symphony 7/9/2021 Deer Valley”
Concerts are back baby! Utah fans of EDM were in for a treat when DJ Royalty, Steve Aoki showed up to Salt Lake City to headline the inaugural Salt Lake City Live lineup at the Gateway. This was the first show I’ve covered since the shutdown. I was really excited to get out and be part of a live performance again!
Continue reading “Steve Aoki w/ Gattüso July 9, 2021 SLC Live The Gateway”
Kiesza stormed onto the scene in 2014 with her impassioned hit “Hideaway”, which has since accrued over a billion streams; the accompanying one-shot video has been featured on several best-of-decade lists. Her debut studio album Sound Of A Woman saw her top charts globally and moved over a million units.
Continue reading “Kiesza Appearing Tonight at USANA Supporting Lindsey Stirling”
Lara Hope & the Ark-Tones are a Rockabilly band from Kingston, New York. “Ask anyone who’s caught them live and you’ll hear the same thing: It’s simply impossible to see Lara Hope & the Ark-Tones perform and not have a great time. A smile on the lips, a swivel in the hips, and an earful of snappy tunes are the inevitable takeaways from any Ark-Tones appearance. The band’s singular blend of rock ‘n’ roll, country, blues, surf, Western swing, rockabilly, folk, pop, and jazzy rhythm & blues gets feet a-moving and hands a-clapping no matter the audience. By the end of the night, if they weren’t already, those lucky
concertgoers are rabid fans.”
We had the opportunity to chat with Lara recently. We talked about her extensive career, what she’s been up to during the pandemic, and the new album Here to Tell the Tale.
Continue reading “UCR INTERVIEW: Lara Hope of Lara Hope & the Ark-Tones”“The Jenny Thing came together on the Berkeley campus of the University of California in 1991 when singer/guitarist Matt Easton met guitarist Shyam Rao. Matt and drummer Mike Phillips had grown up together, and both had been friends with bass player Ehren Becker since junior high.”
The Jenny Thing released three albums throughout the ’90s and received extensive airplay on college radio. They toured primarily in the west and performed at colleges and clubs like The Roxy and The Troubador in Los Angeles.
The band has reunited and have just released their first album since 1999. American Canyon is available wherever you purchase or stream music.
I had the opportunity to visit with Matt Easton, vocalist/ guitarist/ songwriter of The Jenny Thing. He shared stories of his first concert, best performing experience, and how American Canyon came about. It was a real pleasure to talk with him. Enjoy!
Continue reading “UCR INTERVIEW: Matt Easton of The Jenny Thing”Nashville-based singer-songwriter James DiGirolamo has extensive experience as a
session musician and touring sideman. As a keyboard player, he’s worked with Mindy
Smith, Holly Williams, Peter Bradley Adams, Alice Peacock, Robby Hecht, Fognode,
The Bittersweets, Judson Spence, and many others. DiGirolamo’s latest solo work
draws on a wide array of influences including Paul Simon, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell,
Elliott Smith, Kate Bush, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Harry Nilsson, Thomas Dolby,
Steven Sondheim, XTC, Steely Dan, Ben Folds, Ron Sexsmith, and to no small degree
many friends and peers from his time in Nashville, such as Sarah Siskind.
James DiGirolamo has just released an EP of original songs. I had the opportunity to talk to James about Paper Boats, his music career, and much much more. Enjoy!
Interviewed by Kevin Rolfe
UCR: Where am I talking to you from right now?
James DiGirolamo: I’m just outside of Nashville.
UCR: Oh, nice, and is that where you’re from originally, or did you move there for music?
James DiGirolamo: I came here in ’87 to go to college at Belmont. I studied music there. I’m originally from outside of Philadelphia. I’ve lived here in Nashville the longest. I did the requisite New York City sojourn after college, and then I came back five years later, not necessarily with my tail between my legs. But that’s a hard place to struggle.
Continue reading “UCR INTERVIEW: James DiGirolamo”June 1, 2021—Red Butte Garden deputy director Derrek Hanson announced that JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT with very special guest Lucinda Williams, will kick off the 2021 Outdoor Concert Series on Friday, July 30.
Tickets for the July 30 concert will go on sale early to Garden members this Thursday, June 3. And to the general public on Friday, June 4. Details for purchasing tickets to the July 30 concert date are available on the Red Butte Garden website www.redbuttegarden.org/concerts.
Continue reading “Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit to Open Red Butte Garden’s 2021 Outdoor Concert Series on July 30”