Elle King

Elle King• w/ Tanner Usrey• April 25, 2023• The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Photo Credit: Kevin Rolfe

The Union Events Center in Salt Lake City was pulsating with energy on the night of April 25, 2023, thanks to the arrival of the one and only Elle King on her A-Freakin’-Men Tour. As soon as the doors opened, fans flooded in, eager to witness the power and intensity of this exceptional performer.  Elle was scheduled to perform in Salt Lake City earlier in the year but was forced to reschedule due to severe weather between Denver and SLC.  We were happy that she had an open date.  Utah and Elle King have developed a strong relationship in recent years.  She performed at last year’s Fort Desolation Fest and will be returning to Salt Lake City this summer with Melissa Etheridge as part of Red Butte Garden’s Outdoor Summer Concert Series.

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Lewis Capaldi

Lewis Capaldi• w/ Em Beihold• April 23, 2023• UCCU Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert

Scottish-born Lewis Capaldi, joined by Em Beihold, brought his sold-out Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent North American tour to Orem, UT on April 23rd. It was one of the last dates added to the tour, and I’m so happy that it was!

I heard that fans started lining up as early as 8 am, maybe even earlier, in hopes of securing the best spot for the General Admission floor area. It wasn’t the warmest day to wait it all day long, but at least it didn’t snow! Regardless, I know from personal experience that fans will do whatever it takes to get the most out of their concert experience!

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Muse

Muse• Evanescence• w/ Highly Suspect• April 20, 2023• Vivint Arena

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Photo Credit: Kevin Rolfe

Muse brought the U.S. leg of their Will Of The People Tour to a close right here in Salt Lake City on Thursday April 20. I’ve seen tour openers many times. Often, they’ll have some sound issues, or other technical kinks to work out, but they usually go over pretty well. I’m sure behind the scenes they’re seeing a lot more going on than we do in the crowd. I haven’t seen a lot of tour closers but when I have the band seems a little road weary, or mentally already on vacation. This was not the case with Muse, Evanescence, or Highly Suspect. You would think they were all in mid tour mode with how well this tour flowed.

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Young Dubliners

The Young Dubliners• March 14, 2023• The Depot

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  We can think of no better way to celebrate than to share our review of our amazing time at The Depot in Salt Lake City, with The Young Dubliners.  The Young Dubliners have been a favorite in Utah for many years.  As far back as the old Zephyr Club.  A long-standing venue that hosted many bands in the 80s and 90s.They even played Salt Lake City during the Winter Olympics in 2002.  The Zephyr Club has since been torn down, but Salt Lake City’s love of The Young Dubliners is as strong as ever.  

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The Shins

The Shins w/ JOSEPH• August 6, 2022• Ogden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Have you ever made plans to go to a concert knowing you were in for a good night?  The lineup is great, the venue is cool, and the company you’re rolling with is just who you want to be with.  And while you know there is no way this particular concert can wrong, unless there’s some natural disaster or unforeseen incident, this concert far exceeds any expectation you might have had.  Well, that was the case at Ogden Twilight with The Shins and their special guests JOSEPH.  I knew I would like this concert.  How could I not?  Two amazing bands in one night.  But somehow, someway they exceeded my already high expectations.  This concert was incredible.  

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Josh Groban

Josh Groban Preservation Hall Jazz Band & Eleri Ward• July 27, 2022• Vivint Arena

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Utah loves Josh Groban.  He could easily do a concert in Utah every year and it would be well attended. In some ways, it feels like a homecoming concert when Groban stops here on his tours.  I’m sure that is in part, due to him recording his Awake concert film right here in Salt Lake City at the very same venue where we saw him on July 27, 2022.  To my knowledge, he has no ties to this state.  It just feels like there is a real connection between Utah and Josh.  Groban’s stop on his Harmony Tour was no exception.  The lineup was stacked with talent from newcomer Eleri Ward to the really fun Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Josh Groban.  The night never lacked for beautiful moments of music.

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Barenaked Ladies

Barenaked Ladies w/ Gin Blossoms & Toad the Wet Sprocket• June 20, 2022• Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

I don’t know if Red Butte Garden will ever get more 90s than it did on June 20th.  Barenaked Ladies brought their Last Summer on Earth Tour to the Amphitheater but they didn’t come alone.  BNL was joined by 90s contemporaries, Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket.  It was a lineup of hitmakers from top to bottom.  I arrived as Toad the Wet Sprocket took the stage.  The venue was already full.  It was obvious that Red Butte patrons were excited about this whole show.  

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Tash Sultana

Tash Sultana• July 11, 2022• Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Seeing Tash Sultana live is more than just a concert. It’s an all-encompassing experience. Sultana is the only one on stage. But you would never know it by the layers upon layers of music that are coming out of the speakers and into the stands. There was a vibrant energy throughout the audience and it was clear that the people there were expecting a fun night. The line for merch was lengthy but shortened just in time for Tash Sultana to take the stage. I like the way Sandy Amphitheater set up the merch booth. The line forms on the hill so people can actually watch the show from a distance as they wait to buy a shirt.

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Rex Orange County

Rex Orange Country• June 11, 2022• The Great Saltair

Midway through his Who Cares? Tour, British star Rex Orange County stopped in Utah, this time in Magna at The Great Saltair. Although he has visited Salt Lake in previous years, the turnout for this concert was more than he could have imagined. This was also my first time being to a show with no opening artist. Rex decided to come on the tour solo. Capitalizing on his popularity was not a bad idea in my opinion. 

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