Sarah McLachlan • Feist • June 6, 2024 • Utah First Amphitheatre
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
Photo Credit: Kevin Rolfe
It was good to be back at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (Formerly USANA Ampitheatre). The night before we were in attendance for the Utah return of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And while the vibe was completely different, the excitement level was comparable. The great Sarah McLachlan brought her Fumbling Towards Ecstacy 30th Anniversary Tour to Utah and people were in a celebratory mood. The majority of the crowd arrived early to hang out, grab a bite or a drink, and socialize. Fans were ready for a night of great music with some incredible voices.
This might have been the biggest concert event of the 2024 summer. If anything it got the Utah concert summer concert season off to a rousing start! I like to think of this like the Daytona 500. It’s NASCAR’s biggest event. But unlike the Super Bowl, it’s the first race in the season. Country Music megastar, Luke Combs brought his Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour to Utah for a two-night residency at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah. The stadium was jam-packed with Country Music fans on both nights. I was fortunate to attend night two on Saturday, June 8.
On Wednesday, June 5 the Red Hot Chili Peppers brought their Unlimited Love tour to Utah’s First Amphitheatre. It was no surprise that the show quickly sold out. Utah fans have waited 18 long years for the band to return. Their last concert in Utah was in 2006, Their performance was the 3rd to last concert at the original Delta Center before the name changed to Energy Solutions Arena. I found it interesting that their long-awaited return to Utah marked the 3rd concert at the newly named Utah First Amphitheatre (formerly USANA Amphitheatre.)
On an unusually cold night at the end of May, girl in red heated up The Great Saltair as she brought her Doing it Again Tour to Utah. Fans from all over the state filled the classic venue for what was to be an exciting night of high energy, music, and inclusivity. Norwegian-born singer-songwriter, producer, and amazing frontwoman, Marie Ulven, brought this crowd on an inclusive experience that is both very personal and communal.
LANY • Hazlett • Conor Burns • March 9, 2024 • Delta Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson
On Saturday, March 9th, multi-platinum pop-rock band LANY, brought their A Beautiful Blur tour to The Delta Center in the heart of Salt Lake City. The Los Angeles-based band consists of lead vocalist Paul Jason Klein and drummer Jake Clifford Gross. The duo performed an incredible and non-stop entertaining show to a packed house. The band made it clear that their top priority was their fans. Although it was LANY on stage, they kept the crowd in the spotlight all night. The way Klein interacted with the audience was above and beyond what I typically see at concerts, and it brought an exciting energy to the show. I am convinced that the connection between the band and its fans is a big reason they have such a loyal following.
Ryan Beatty brought his 2024 North American Calico Tour to The Grand at The Complex in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 8th! It was his first time doing a show in Utah, and his excited fans lined up as early and a few hours before the night’s events and filled up the space inside the venue quickly once the doors opened!
When I arrived inside of the venue, there was a palpable sense of anticipation from the fans, yet they maintained a mellow and relaxed vibe. A venue worker jokingly remarked, “I came to take a peek at the rowdy crowd!” and then mentioned that because of the audience’s well-behaved demeanor, he predicted that it would be an easy night for venue staff and security.
Paper Kites • Bella White • February 27, 2024 • The Depot
Reviewed and Photographed by Nate Bonney
On Feb 27th, the Paper Kites started the second half of their North American tour right here in Salt Lake City. Playing at The Depot. The show was originally at the metro music hall but sold out fast. They upgraded the venue and The Depot also sold out. The Complex, which is a larger venue around the corner, didn’t have the date available so they kept it at The Depot. This was Paper Kites first time in Salt Lake City. Its nice for them to see that it is worth stopping here when they tour.
While I was in line I was joking with everyone who was surprised that they came to Salt Lake City, that I was the one who brought them here. Because I would always tell them on their post to come to Salt Lake City.
Bella White
The opener they invited on tour with them was Bella White. She is a Canadian-American from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her music style combines elements of bluegrass, country, folk, and Americana. She got her influence from her father who was a semi-professional musician in Virginia.
She started her set off with “Among Other Things.” It is from her 2023 album with the same title. Even without a full band to accompany her she still commanded the stage and the audience.
Throughout her whole set, I was getting Jewel vibes. Not the pop Jewel but the jewel that yodels. Like a mountain woman, she sang her story and the audience could feel it. She was well received. Most of the songs were from her 2023 album the last one was from her 2021 Just Like Leaving album. The lighting of her set was well-matched with her style. The way the light would come in and out almost put the crowd in a trance.
Below is her setlist. Give Bella White a listen and enjoy. Good road trip music.
1. Among Other Things 2. Numbers 3. Flowers on My Bedside 4. The Way I Ought to Go 5. Unreleased ID 6. Just Like Leaving
After Bella White’s set, Paper Kites took the stage. They are promoting their 6th studio album At the Roadhouse. I saw The Paper Kites in LA a few years ago and have all their albums. They played a variety from all of them. This tour was nice because with all the hits they have they didn’t play a bunch of them like the last time I saw them and it makes each one of their concerts unique.
Paper Kites have the awareness of their music not to repeat what they have done in the album before and always try something new. Although they keep the Paper Kites feel, they have more of a roadside bar from out in the middle of nowhere feel to this album. Singer Sam Bentley explained that the idea was to present the idea of the perfect bar that never existed and where people would go to enjoy themself. They had with them The Roadhouse Band which added more depth and a full sound to this album and created more of a concert assemble than a band.
Paper Kites was formed in Melbourne Australia in 2009 by Same Bentley (lead vocal/guitarist) and Christina Lacy (vocal/keyboard). Later joined was Sam Rasmussen (Bass), David Powys (vocals/guitar), and Sam’s brother Josh Bentley (drums).
They started their set with “Between the Houses,” from their 2018 album On the Train Ride Home. It’s a mellow song to get everyone in the mood.
Between their first and second song. Sam mentioned that every time they would post tour info there was a lone person who would always comment on their post “Come to Salt Lake City!” I thought that was funny that they would mention that. So, everyone who was at the show, you’re welcome! I hope you enjoyed them on my behalf haha.
Their next song was “Til The Fames Turn Blue,” from the new album. When that steel guitar kicks in, you can tell that it’s a great song. Better than the album and the album is great. For the first 5 songs they sang they stayed seated then they left for a minute and then came back ready to sing “Tenebaum” from their 1st album States. Sam mentioned that they love seeing couples hugged together and the singles by themself. They mention that they love that their songs are relatable to anyone. They also mentioned that they want to make t-shirts that say “I cried at a Paper Kites concert.” The crowd laughed because it’s true haha.
They all seem all melancholy but when they play songs like “June’s Stolen Car,” you see that they are more than just a band that sings sad love longs. Another song that changed the vibe was “Without Your Love”. On the album, the girl part is sung by Julia Stone. At the Concert it was Christina Lacy. Who did an amazing job and you couldn’t even tell a difference. “Black & Thunder,” is another song that just has a great blues beat and shows the diversity in The Paper Kite’s range of genres.
The Paper Kites set is always enjoyable. Everybody comes to listen and everyone sings their songs but not loud so you can still hear them and not the crowd. There were times where you could hear the crowd but then the next song was just the band and the refrigerator humming at the back of the venue.
Paper Kites did something that I hadn’t ever seen them do. They covered a song by Adrianna Leaker, “Anything.” They finished up their set and then of course performed an encore. Christina joined Sam and sang “By My Side.” On the album, he is accompanied by Rosie Carney. They finished on an upbeat song “Electric Indigo.”
Below is their setlist. Give it a listen and enjoy. Everyone else did. I don’t think anyone was disappointed. If they didn’t play one of their favorite songs then they were able to listen to it on the way home. They of course played their hit that got them recognized “Bloom.” We all look forward to them coming back. I’m sure they will be at a bigger venue. The sad part about that is the intimacy that The Depot offers is great!
1. Between the Houses 2. Till the Flame Turns Blue 3. Hurts So Good 4. Nothing More Than That 5. Marietta 6. Tenenbaum 7. Burn the Night Away 8. Bloom 9. June’s Stolen Car 10. Without Your Love 11. Good Nights Gone 12. Black & Thunder 13. Anything (Adrianne Lenker cover) 14. Paint 15. Darkness at My Door
On Saturday, February 24th, 2024 Grace Potter and her band blessed our eyes and ears with an incredible and fun performance at the Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City. This was not a venue I was very familiar with. The only other time I had been at this venue was to work as contract security for The Fiddler On The Roof in 2017. But this venue was the perfect setting for the energy and electricity Grace and her band exuded.
As the end of summer is hitting, a perfect end at the Ogden Amphitheatre watching Noah Cyrus was exactly what we needed. The picturesque outdoor venue played host to a concert that was nothing short of spectacular. Noah Cyrus, the young and immensely talented artist, took the stage, leaving the audience mesmerized with a performance that showcased both her vocal talent and stage presence. She brought along Beeson and Julia Jacklin.
On Sunday, August 27th, Los Angeles-based rock band Weezer brought their Indie Rock Road Trip tour to Saltair. With supporting bands, Spoon, and White Reaper, they put on an incredible show for all their fans gathered near the shores of the Great Salt Lake. When Weezer first announced they would be going on tour, I was desperately hoping they would make a stop here in Utah. I felt pretty confident they wouldn’t skip over Weezer-loving Utah after a local fan got their attention with a billboard in 2022.
