Last Wednesday, Ken Carson stopped by Salt Lake City on his latest tour, A Great Chaos, to perform for a sold-out crowd of young rap enthusiasts. The 24-year old artist has emerged as one of the biggest names in a new era of rap-rock, alongside fellow contemporaries Playboi Carti, Destroy Lonely, and Homxide Gang. Ken pioneers a fast-paced brand of “underground” rap favoring unorthodox beats, electronic production, and discordant vocals. During COVID, Ken’s music gained traction among niche online rap cliques, thanks to its rebellious spirit and boundary-pushing sound. Now, his dedicated following has expanded, but his music still maintains its enduring appeal to rebellious youth. As expected, Ken’s performance attracted swarms of Utah teens to The Union Wednesday night.
The rash guard-clad Aquabats returned to Salt Lake City on their newest tour celebrating the band’s 30th anniversary of fighting crime. Over the decades, The Aquabats have become some of Ska Rock’s biggest icons, known for their distinctive skin-tight rash guards, board shorts, and penchant for slaying inflatable monsters. The heroes in blue have not only made their mark on the music scene during their tenure, but have also featured in shows like Yo Gabba Gabba, and at one point even hosted their own family-friendly program for a short stint.
After a lengthy touring hiatus, The Aquabats are back on the road promoting their latest album Finally! joined by Left Alone and The Agrolites. Last Tuesday, fans of all ages flocked to The Complex in their signature Aquabat attire for a chance to hear the bands perform. The night was a testament to The Aquabats’ enduring appeal across generations and their never-faltering superhero-turned-ska-punk charm.
The first act I was able to catch was The Aggrolites. Emerging in the early 2000s, The Aggrolites are known for their unique “Dirty Reggae” sound, a fusion of classical reggae with ska-punk and soul sensibilities. From the moment the band of five stepped onto stage, they exuded a contagious energy that matched the upbeat feel of their songs. Opening tracks like “Pop the Trunk” and “Funky Fire” featured the laid-back reggae you’d expect of Bob Marley with a raw edge of traditional punk. Some songs like “Time To Get Tough” seemed to veer more towards rock, while others like “Mr. Misery” were light-hearted sing-alongs that called for audience participation.
Early in their career, The Aggrolites appeared on Yo Gabba Gabba where they first performed the classic favorite “Banana.” The crowd (including myself) was enthused to see that the beloved song made its way into the set. Costumed stage crew and members of The Aquabats pranced out of the wings wearing banana suits to accompany The Aggrolites for the song. Appropriately, members then threw inflatable bananas into the crowd which bounced across the venue for the remainder of the set.
Shortly after the stage crew cleared out frontman Jesse Wagner took a moment to thank the crowd for their support throughout the years. He talked about how Salt Lake City was always one of their favorite destinations on tour. Wagner recalled how Utah had consistently brought the loudest and most enthusiastic crowds, and the audience that night was no exception.
To wrap up their set, The Aggrolites finished with one of their biggest tracks, “Dirty Reggae.” Fittingly, the song is a tribute to the band’s unique ska punk and reggae identity. At the end of their performance, some of their front-row fans got a chance to score some tour merch as band members handed copies of the setlist and drumsticks to the audience. The Aggrolites seemed to care a lot about their fans and maintaining a lightheartedness on stage. It’s no surprise that their performance was well-received by both the families and rock enthusiasts in attendance.
Following a short wait, The Aquabats trotted onto the stage, proudly forming the band’s iconic bat symbol over each of their heads. Their set kicked off with fan favorites like “Cat with Two Heads!” and “My Skateboard!” from their 1997 album. The performance was about as chaotic as you might expect from a band dressed head to toe in spandex apparel.
Each member of the ska rock ensemble was decked out in superhero regalia, sporting hefty belts across their waist emblazoned with the Aquabats logo. Frontman and lead singer Christian Jacobs, better known by his hero alias The MC Bat Commander, led the performance. Accompanied by solos from other band members like Ricky Fitness and Eaglebones Falconhawk. On each side of the stage, LED screens played a bizarre array of visuals, featuring everything from clips of Shrek to graphics of Cabbage Patch dolls. These eclectic elements combined with the band’s over-the-top showmanship made the live listening experience all the more surreal.
The crowd seemed to be swept away by the performance too as The Aquabats threw inflatable sharks and floaties into the audience. The show felt like an immersive comic book turned dance-party adventure, complete with impromptu skirmishes and goofy antics that had families cheering along.
The Aquabats moved through some of their bigger hits like “Pizza Day!” and “Red Sweater!” while young fans got their first taste of the concert experience crowd surfing on blowup inflatables. Midway through the set, the band instructed audience members to make a circle by raising their arms overhead in a ritual they perform each show called “The Circle of Love.” Fans young and old all formed the circle in a wholesome tribute to The Aquabats’ song “Lovers Loving Love.”
After all these years, The Aquabats haven’t lost their undeniable charisma. Even though their performance may be as hokey as it is semi-coherent at times, The Aquabats have found a way to make their show a welcoming one for everybody, including the most hardcore of rock fans. I look forward to seeing how The Aquabats continue to grow their ever-loyal fanbase.
All hands were in the air this week as the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater welcomed British rock band Bush back to the Utah stage for the “Loaded: The Greatest Hits” Tour. Celebrating 30 years this summer, the four-man band delivered an intimate rock experience that left all in attendance overcome with pure rockin’ happiness. As just the fourth stop on the tour and playing to thousands of fans, hit after hit, it became abundantly clear that Bush has built an enduring legacy of rock and overall musicianship.
AJR took the stage at the DELTA Center on July 16-17 in Salt Lake City for two unforgettable nights, delivering a concert experience that fans will cherish for a long time. Growing up through high school, AJR’s music resonated with me in ways I never expected. Maybe it was the upbeat songs that just made you bop your head or maybe it was the Broadway-like sound they brought to all their songs. Whatever it is their songs delve into the realities of life, and I found a deep connection with their lyrics and sound.
San Diego-based band, almost monday is currently on tour supporting AJR. They recently played two action-packed nights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. I was fortunate enough to watch both of their sets and let me tell you these guys are a fun band to watch live. Opening the night in a big arena can be a large undertaking. But almost monday was up to the talk on both nights. By the end of both sets they had the crowd excited. Not only about what was to come with AJR, but about what they had just seen in almost monday.
I had the opportunity to interview the guys at the Delta Center before their night 2 performance. We talked about some of their experiences playing in Utah and what it’s like. to open an arena show. I really enjoyed chatting with the band and I’m excited for their future. Enjoy!
There is something special about seeing a Bluegrass band in an outdoor amphitheater on a summer’s night. Some might even say that this is the only way you should see a Bluegrass or Americana band. I can’t say I disagree. I’ve seen some of these shows indoors and while it is still awesome, I do prefer the outdoor shows. There’s something in the music that calls for a setting sun, a warm temperature, and a cold drink. These were the conditions for Nickel Creek and Andrew Bird at Sandy Amphitheater. The crowd made sure to arrive early so when I walked into Sandy Amp the venue was pretty much completely full already.
We always love it when Norah Jones comes to town. Whenever the announcement of her concert date is made, there seems to be a lot of excitement online followed by a quick sellout no matter what venue she performs. I was excited when I heard she would be playing at the Sandy Amphitheater. This venue has become one of my favorite summertime locations. It seemed like the perfect place to spend a Summer evening listening to one of the greatest vocalists alive. Utah Concert Review had the opportunity to cover Norah Jones at Sandy Amphitheater back in 2019. I unfortunately was unable to attend that night, so this show was highly anticipated by me. I wasn’t going to miss it this time.
In support of their newest album, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, The Decemberists embarked on the 36-show A Peaceable Kingdom tour across the United States. Their Utah stop was at the Sandy Amphitheater on July 24. The Sandy Amphitheater was a perfect venue for the Portland-based band, as it embraced their folky sounds with the surrounding trees and mountains. The outdoor venue felt light and airy, supporting the bands playing within it and immersing the audience into the experience, deepened by the forest cut-outs set behind the band on stage and moody lighting.
The Maverik Center in West Valley City was abuzz with excitement on Monday, July 15th as two dynamic acts, Walk Off The Earth and Lindsey Stirling, took to the stage in a memorable concert that showcased a blend of innovative music and heartfelt performance. The evening was a celebration of both unique artistry and emotional depth, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained and profoundly moved.
The Gaslight Anthem will be playing at The Union Event Center on July 27, 2024. We had the opportunity to speak with bassist, Alex Levine leading up to the show. We discussed the band’s extensive career and reminisced about the last time The Gaslight Anthem played Utah. Where lead vocalist, Brian Fallon lost his voice due to illness. Enjoy!
