UCR INTERVIEW: M. Ward of She & Him

Photo Credit: Chantal Anderson

She & Him’s seventh studio album is a loving, LP-length tribute to one of the greatest living American songwriters and singers, Brian Wilson. Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson finds Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward diving deep into the legendary artist’s extensive songbook, offering fascinating and delectable new spins on time-honored classics and overlooked gems alike. These fourteen covers are infused with the familiar magic that She & Him fans know and love, opening a new window into Wilson’s iconic catalog. Wilson even features on a song with Zooey and M. Ward for the album, “Do It Again.” The band have enjoyed a friendship, and mutual appreciation, with Wilson over the years and She & Him was previously a guest vocalist on his 2015 album, No Pier Pressure. Recently, the band released “Darlin’”, the lead track and video from Melt Away.

She & Him will be stopping by Red Butte Garden Amphitheater on Tuesday, June 14. Utah Concert Review had the opportunity to visit with M. Ward ahead of their Salt Lake City tour stop. Kevin and Ward discussed Melt Away, what goes into creating a good cover song, and much much more. Enjoy!

M. Ward was interviewed by Kevin Rolfe

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KALEO

KALEO• May 18, 2022• Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

May 18th was the opening night of the Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series.  KALEO was the band to do the honors of opening the acclaimed series.  KALEO hails from Iceland, but their music screams American Delta Blues.  They did not start this series off with a whimper.  If the rest of the upcoming concerts are anything like this one, we’re in for an excellent summer at Red Butte. 

In a way, it almost felt like the first day of school.  Or maybe the first day of summer camp.  There was excitement walking through the gates, into a familiar place I hadn’t been in a while. There were the same people at Will Call, the same security guards, the same people handling press, and many of the same patrons that attend the concert series year after year.  It was like catching up with old friends who I hadn’t seen “over the summer” or “throughout the school year”.  Many hugs were exchanged and conversations were had about what we’d been up to.  It was so fun to see everyone again.  

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Red Butte Garden Announces 2022 Outdoor Concert Series Lineup

April 12, 2022—Red Butte Garden released its Outdoor Concert Series lineup today, confirming plans to host a full summer season featuring more than 30 world-renown bands, artists, and performers. Executive director Derrek Hanson and his team are looking forward to welcoming guests back to this popular venue in the Salt Lake City foothills. “We are more than ready to get back to filling the amphitheatre with guests and music—and based on the inquiries we’re getting, we think our guests are ready, too,” said Hanson. He added that this season should have a little something for everyone with a lineup that includes alternative-indie, pop, rock, and folk music. 

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Emmylou Harris September 30, 2021 Red Butte Garden

Photo Credit: Kevin Rolfe

Emmylou Harris Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

It’s hard to believe.  When I first saw the lineup for the Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series 2021 I thought how far away the final show with Emmylou Harris seemed.  I was excited for so many shows in the lineup, but I remember thinking ‘I’m not missing Emmylou”.  And I’m so glad I didn’t.  She was the perfect artist to close out this incredible series.  

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JJ Grey & Mofro September 29, 2021 Red Butte Garden

JJ Grey & Mofro Red Butte Garden

Reviewed by Breanna Downs

Photo Credit: Breanna Downs

Hard to believe this would be the second to last concert of the season at Red Butte Garden Amphitheater. But a cold evening wasn’t going to stop these fans from starting the final week of shows off right. After a long summer, we finally made it to JJ Grey & Mofro joined by Larkin Poe.

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Khruangbin September 23 2021 Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Photo Credit: Tamsin Isaacs

Khruangbin, Red Butte Garden, September 23, 2021

By Tiffany Mull

If you feel jaded with modern music, I strongly suggest you take in some Khruangbin. This utterly refreshing trio has their own sound, artfully fusing styles as disparate as psychedelic rock and vintage funk. Mark Speer explores Middle Eastern music scales and experiments with reverb, much like Dick Dale (who pioneered surf rock). Multi-instrumentalist Donald “DJ” Johnson plays drums and Laura Lee is on bass.

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Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real September 14, 2021 Red Butte Garden

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Red Butte Amphitheater

Reviewed by Jacob Moniz

Red Butte Garden had an amazing lineup in place for a perfect night on September 14th. Prior to the show, I hadn’t listened to Lukas/Promise of the Real before so I was excited to experience the concert with no previous listening history. Going to a concert without actually listening to the band is a unique experience! 

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Squeeze w/ Colin Hay September 2, 2021 Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

It’s starting to feel a little different up at Red Butte Garden lately.  The temperature is getting a little cooler, and the wind is whipping a little more.  Fall is near.  What isn’t different is the continued excellence in the quality of the bands and their performances.  The 2021 Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series has been fantastic so far and with the shows, they have lined up to finish out the series, it’s only going to get better.  The home stretch started on Thursday, September 2 with 80s and New Wave icons, Squeeze. With Colin Hay of Men at Work fame supporting.   While these two bands may have made their mark in the great era of 80s music, neither has slowed down by any means.  

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Neko Case August 29, 2021 Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

After a harrowing incident that involved a group of drunken loiterers and an out-of-commission tour bus on the streets of Reno, Neko Case and her band pulled in last-minute to the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre. They began soundchecking about the time gates were supposed to open and the long line of attendees who had queued up for the show, previously a little anxious to get into the venue, seemed renewed to hear Case’s voice give a quick preview of the night. 

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Trombone Shorty & Gov’t Mule August 23, 2021 Red Butte Garden

It’s a beautiful night for live music. It’s the middle of the week and some soulful, funky, jazz music is just the perfect refreshment from the busy work week. The weather was perfect and it was a packed house as soon as we got there. I truly enjoy Red Butte Garden. People bring their chairs, blankets, wine, beer, and all sorts of snacks. It’s a family affair when you attend a show at this venue. I would say this is the perfect place to bring the family together to enjoy live music and food.

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