Salt Lake Concert Archives - Utah Concert Review

April 23, 2023April 23, 2023

Michigander

Michigander•Abby Holiday• April 7, 2023• Kilby Court

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

I am always impressed by how exciting the concerts at Kilby Court are. While it is one of Utah’s smallest music venues, I have noticed there’s something special about the fans who gather there. Kilby draws a crowd of some of the area’s biggest music fanatics, and the energy they bring cannot be beaten. It’s even better when it’s a sold show. Like the one I had the opportunity to attend on Friday, April 7th.

Indie sing-songwriter Jason Singer, who goes by the moniker of Michigander, remembered just how much energy fans brought to his last show at Kilby Court a couple of years ago. He told the crowd it had been the most exciting show of that tour. He expected Friday night’s concert to be the best night of his current tour.

April 5, 2023April 6, 2023

Inhaler

Inhaler• w/ Sun Room •March 28, 2023• The Complex

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by Lewis Evans

Inhaler is a Dublin-based Irish Rock band. It’s funny because when I learned about this band I immediately liked them. I thought I was super cool because I found this young band on their assent. I acted like I basically discovered them. Well turns out I’m a little late to the Inhaler discovery group. They have two albums already, both charted number 1 in Ireland, and their most recent release Cuts & Bruises was number one in the UK as well. No small feat. And not only that, but this would be their second trip to Salt Lake City in as many years. So while I do feel like I’m catching onto their comet early, it’s not quite as early as I thought.

November 7, 2022February 10, 2023

Lizzo

Lizzo w/ Latto• November 2, 2022• Vivint Arena

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

One of my favorite things about covering concerts is getting the opportunity to see an artist before they skyrocket into stardom. Some I’ve had the chance to see as early as Kilby Court. Others I’ve seen somewhere in the midst of their assent. One of my least favorite things is to just miss an artist before they hit that launch pad and I’m just like everyone else, seeing them in the stratosphere trying to claim I knew about them earlier but without proof. Such is my experience with Lizzo.

September 1, 2022September 1, 2022

The Killers

The Killers w/ Johnny Marr• August 30, 2022• Vivint Arena

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by the great Rob Loud

Rocker, Joan Jett once said, “No one knows what anticipation is anymore. Everything is so immediate.” I’m one who tends to generally agree with the Rock N Roll Hall of Famer. However, I might argue that for a concert going fanatic such as myself that these last few years have been filled with nothing but anticipation. Shows announced in 2019 and 2020 were postponed and rescheduled only to be postponed and rescheduled again. There was no concert I’ve been anticipating more than The Killers Imploding the Mirage Tour. Fans of The Killers have been anticipating this concert for almost three years.

Not only that but The Killers hadn’t played Utah since 2018. That was the night Brandon Flowers had the second greatest flu performance inside Vivint Arena (Delta Center). Michael Jordan being the first in the 1998 NBA Finals vs The Jazz. It’s a toss up really because Brandon Flowers was pretty special that night in 2018.

July 30, 2022August 7, 2022

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.

July 2, 2022July 2, 2022

Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes w/ Hurray For the Riff Raff• June 28, 2022• The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Mallorie Lerman

Salt Lake City never ceases to amaze me with how many different venues and shows one can find on any given summer night. This Tuesday night I had the opportunity to check out another venue that was totally new to me. Conveniently located right next to the Traxx stop at North Temple, The Union Event Center hosted Bright Eyes with Hurray For The Riff Raff. Not knowing exactly where the venue was without looking down at my phone, I spotted someone wearing a Bright Eyes baseball tee. I could tell they had some loyal and excited fans. I followed a group of people from the parking lot to the ticket line.

July 2, 2022July 2, 2022

Dirty Heads

Dirty Heads w/ SOJA & Tribal Seeds June 29, 2022 Rio Tinto Stadium

Wednesday evening I had the chance to attend a Dirty Heads concert at Rio Tinto Stadium. There was a storm that was going on throughout much of Utah. Luckily it missed Sandy so it was a sunny, good vibes kind of day! I arrived at the very end of Tribal Seeds set. I could tell they set a fun tone for the crowd. People danced and swayed with their friends while others got a drink or food from one of the local food trucks. Not long after Tribal Seeds set, 2021 Reggae Album of the Year Grammy winners SOJA took the stage.

June 3, 2022June 3, 2022

IMAG¡NARY FRIENDZ

IMAG¡NARY FRIENDZ w/ goodfellas & The Button Ups• May 26, 2022• Kilby Court

Reviewed and Photographed by Mallorie Lerman

When I arrived at Kilby Court on Thursday, I noticed a mass of people waiting to get in line into the venue. Vaccine cards and negative covid tests were being checked for admittance. The line was long but it moved steadily. The lineup for the night would be full of some great local artists. The show started off with the local band the Button Ups. They were followed by goodfellas. And the headliner of the evening would be IMAG¡NARY FRIENDZ. We have been trying to cover one of their shows for a while. For one reason or another, it hadn’t worked out. But it finally happened and we were excited to finally see these guys.

May 25, 2022May 25, 2022

Testament

The Bay Strikes Back Tour: Testament w/ Exodus & Death Angel• May 20, 2022• The Depot

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

I was thrilled for the opportunity to attend and photograph The Bay Strikes Back tour featuring thrash metal bands Testament, Exodus, and Death Angel. The tour had originally been planned for 2020 but had to be rescheduled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The three Bay Area bands were finally able to return and play a sold-out show at The Depot in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 20th.

When I arrived at the Depot I found an excited line of metalheads that stretched down the street. I saw that most everyone was wearing a shirt or patch supporting one of the bands on tour. There were also quite a few shirts representing The Heavy Metal Shop. A local store that sells all things heavy metal. Just as I had arrived I heard some loud cheering from further back in the line. I quickly realized the source of the excitement was Testament’s lead singer Chuck Billy. He was returning to his tour bus after taking a minute to greet his fans and give out high fives.

May 22, 2022May 23, 2022

Kilby Court Block Party 3

Kilby Court Block Party 3• May 13 & 14, 2022• Library Square

Reviewed and Photographed by Jacob Moniz

Kilby Block Party!

Sartain & Saunders kicked off the summer with a bang! On the weekend of May 13th, they put on their third annual Kilby Block Party. They really stepped up the festival a ton from the previous years. They completely filled up the Salt Lake City public library grounds. Having artists like Mac Demarco, Phoebe Bridgers, Steve Lacy, Clairo, and countless other great artists playing all within 2 days. I was super excited that they provided local artists the opportunity to play the festival as well. The way the lineup schedule was laid out this year, allowed fans to be able to see any and every artist they wanted to. At maximum, there were 2 stages out of the 4 running at the same time. But each set was staggered so you could still attend both without stress.