Relive the Utah Concert Experience!
The Struts • Dirty Honey • September 22, 2025 • The Depot
Reviewed and Photographed by Amelia Weyerstall
The Struts played a high-energy rock and roll show at the Depot in SLC. They were joined by Dirty Honey as they celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their incredible debut album “Everybody Wants.” The Struts have made consistent tour stops over the last decade. UCR has loved the opportunity to cover this remarkable band from the UK.
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Ice Cube • September 17, 2025 • Maverik Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
When Ice Cube took the stage at the Maverik Center for his Truth to Power: Four Decades of Attitude Tour, the atmosphere was electric—charged with the weight of history, legacy, and raw energy. The night was a guided tour through the evolution of West Coast hip-hop, led by one of its most uncompromising architects. Cube turned the arena into a living museum of rap, balancing nostalgia with urgency, and proving that four decades into his career, he still knows how to command a crowd. I remember listening to N.W.A. and later Ice Cube solo albums with my best friend in high school. He had an amazing car stereo, and we would play these songs so loud in our Los Angeles suburb. This concert was a trip down memory lane for me. Ice Cube did not disappoint.
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X Ambassadors • Delacey • September 12, 2025 • The Depot
X Ambassadors brought their VHS anniversary tour to The Depot and the SLC crowd. Delacey opened for them. Utah is always welcoming of X Ambassadors. They’ve played some great shows at The Depot in the past. This show is another one added to the list of great SLC shows with X Ambassadors.
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The Hives • Snõõper • September 13, 2025 • The Union
Reviewed and Photographed by Marlo Matamoros
Off their brand-new album titled The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, The Hives would make a stop in Salt Lake City at The Union Event Center. Nashville band, Snõõper, would open for them. The Hives are a popular garage punk band from Sweden that formed in the 90’s. They are known for their energetic music and do-it-yourself aesthetic. In 2023, The Hives released their first album in over 11 years.
Their newest album was co-produced by Mike D, founder of The Beastie Boys, and demonstrates the collaboration behind this album. Salt Lake City would be one of their first stops on this 2025 tour. I was recently introduced to both bands, and once I found out they would be performing at The Union, I knew their fans would be in for a great show! The show started earlier than I had expected, and when I walked into the venue, the first two things that I noticed were the line at the merch table and the overall stage design. Fans filled the lower and upper bowl levels as Snõõper performed on stage.
Snõõper has an upcoming album titled Worldwide, which is set to release next month. This will be the first album that the whole new group will be part of. Two songs off the album have already been released, titled “Worldwide” and “Guard Dog”. I would recommend listening to “Guard Dog” if you want to visually sample what their set looks like.
In 2021, the band expanded and added more members to the crew. Snõõper would hit the stage early, and I was lucky enough to catch the last song to photograph. The first thing I had noticed about the set was how artistic it was. Two large speakers were displayed, one on each side of the stage. There was also a traffic light centered on the stage. After catching the last part of the third song, I had noticed how interactive the crowd was.
This was the first time I had heard their music, but I quickly recognized how they were the perfect fit to open for The Hives. As I left the pit area, I noticed there was a lot of The Hives merch throughout the crowd. The fans who wore the merch t-shirts showed their equal support for Snõõper. You could feel the energy being projected from the stage throughout the whole set. The band performed older songs and some of the new music coming out with their new album, such as “Guard Dog” and “Worldwide”. Lead vocalist Blair Tamel kept the energy going as she would incorporate props such as a giant weight and asking the crowd if they were having fun. Towards the end of their set, Blair would exit the stage and join the crowd in a green puppet-like costume, which the crowd seemed to enjoy.
In between sets, the stage crew would hit the stage in ninja-like suits, which left the crowd curious. I was excited to photograph their set because of their stage design alone. HIVES was spelled out across balloon balls behind the set. It was time for The Hives to hit the stage. I was told prior to the band coming out that the set was going to be an interactive one and to be cautious. Two songs in, and lead vocalist Pelle Almqvist would walk off the stage and interact with the crowd. He brought his microphone and held it out into the crowd as they would shout the lyrics together. Pelle and the crew strutted on the stage in their black tuxedos, showcasing their punk rock music.
The Hives performed some of their older music, including “Tick Tick Boom” and some of their new music off their new album, like “Enough is Enough” and “The Hives Forever Forever The Hives”. Pelle mentioned that it was their first time being back in 9 years and that they are here because of the new album.
There were a couple of moments that stood out to me throughout the set. One of the moments was when someone in the crowd shouted out a song that they wanted the band to perform, and Pelle’s response was that he didn’t remember it. Leaving the other fans laughing. My favorite moment was when the band asked the crowd to put away their phones and enjoy the moment. I happened to be towards the back of the crowd as this happened, and it was great to see the fans really enjoying themselves, the music, and the moment.
I have always enjoyed discovering new music that I have never listened to or heard of. Both Snõõper and The Hives had an energetic set that displayed their music perfectly. Hopefully, it doesn’t take as long for The Hives to return to Salt Lake City, and if they do, I would highly recommend checking them out!
Billy Idol • Joan Jett and the Blackhearts • September 5, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
Billy Idol has always been the embodiment of rock and roll swagger—spiked hair, leather-clad attitude, and a sneer that became iconic in the MTV era. Decades later, he still carries that same magnetic energy on stage. His recent stop at Utah First Amphitheatre on his “It’s a Nice Day To… Tour Again! tour, proved that time has only sharpened his presence rather than diminished it. Backed by the ever-flawless Steve Stevens on guitar and a band that blended precision with raw power, Idol delivered a set that celebrated both his hits and deeper cuts, while nodding to his punk beginnings and wide-ranging influences.
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Train • Edwin McCain • September 9, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater
Reviewed and Photographed by Amelia Weyerstall
Train played an outstanding show at the sold-out Red Butte Garden Amphitheater on the cool summer night of September 9th, 2025. The crowd was filled with excited fans of all ages, all decked out in train merch. A few fans in the audience were even wearing train conductor outfits, and when complimented on their outfits, would make a train horn noise, a very fun nod to the band performing.
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KALEO • September 1, 2025 • Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater • Deer Valley
Reviewed and Photographed by Nate Bonney
Under a sky slowly fading into twilight and surrounded by the breathtaking Wasatch Mountains, KALEO delivered a soul-stirring performance at Deer Valley Resort on September 1st, 2025. With the natural amphitheater of Deer Valley as the backdrop, Iceland’s genre-bending rockers transformed the serene landscape into a smoky, blues-drenched sonic experience that left the crowd buzzing long after the encore.
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SLC Twilight • Japanese Breakfast • Ginger Root • Tomper • September 5, 2025 • Gallivan Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Amelia Weyerstall
Japanese Breakfast played an amazing set at the last Gallivan Center SLC Twilight show of their 2025 season, as part of their Melancholy Tour, accompanied by openers Ginger Root and local band Tomper.
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Teddy Swims • August 28, 2025 • The Plaza at America First Field
Reviewed and Photographed by Austin Dayton
On a warm late August evening in Sandy, Utah, Teddy Swims stepped onto the stage at the Plaza at America First Field. They transformed an ordinary Thursday night into something that felt like a close-knit community gathering. Touring on the I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy part 2 – the follow-up to his breakthrough 2023 record – Teddy Swims once again proved that he’s not just a singer with a crazy range, but also a storyteller who sings with every ounce of soul.
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Aaron Tveit • August 25, 2025 • Scera Schell Outdoor Theatre
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
Over the last few years, we have had a great run of Broadway Stars in concert here in Utah. We’ve had amazing vocalists such as Jeremy Jordan, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jessica Vosk, Ben Platt, Kara Lindsay, Kristin Chenoweth, Bernadette Peters, and, of course, just last month, Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara. Utah loves musical theater and its stars. Anticipation was as high as I’ve ever seen it for Tony Award-winner Aaron Tveit. He performed a sold-out show at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre in Orem with the Utah Valley Orchestra.
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