The 25-year-old global superstar from Guadalajara, Mexico would make his ÉXODO tour stop in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 11, 2024. Peso Pluma had his breakthrough year in 2023 with his GÉNESIS album which went on to win a Grammy for Best Música Mexicana Album. In 2023 he also collaborated with Eslabon Armado on a song titled “Ella Baila Sola” which became one of the most streamed songs around the world. Peso Pluma has played a big part in the corridos tumbados movement which translates to trap corridos. Peso Pluma is known for his raspy voice style and was the first Música Mexicana artist to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards this last year.
The rash guard-clad Aquabats returned to Salt Lake City on their newest tour celebrating the band’s 30th anniversary of fighting crime. Over the decades, The Aquabats have become some of Ska Rock’s biggest icons, known for their distinctive skin-tight rash guards, board shorts, and penchant for slaying inflatable monsters. The heroes in blue have not only made their mark on the music scene during their tenure, but have also featured in shows like Yo Gabba Gabba, and at one point even hosted their own family-friendly program for a short stint.
After a lengthy touring hiatus, The Aquabats are back on the road promoting their latest album Finally! joined by Left Alone and The Agrolites. Last Tuesday, fans of all ages flocked to The Complex in their signature Aquabat attire for a chance to hear the bands perform. The night was a testament to The Aquabats’ enduring appeal across generations and their never-faltering superhero-turned-ska-punk charm.
The first act I was able to catch was The Aggrolites. Emerging in the early 2000s, The Aggrolites are known for their unique “Dirty Reggae” sound, a fusion of classical reggae with ska-punk and soul sensibilities. From the moment the band of five stepped onto stage, they exuded a contagious energy that matched the upbeat feel of their songs. Opening tracks like “Pop the Trunk” and “Funky Fire” featured the laid-back reggae you’d expect of Bob Marley with a raw edge of traditional punk. Some songs like “Time To Get Tough” seemed to veer more towards rock, while others like “Mr. Misery” were light-hearted sing-alongs that called for audience participation.
Early in their career, The Aggrolites appeared on Yo Gabba Gabba where they first performed the classic favorite “Banana.” The crowd (including myself) was enthused to see that the beloved song made its way into the set. Costumed stage crew and members of The Aquabats pranced out of the wings wearing banana suits to accompany The Aggrolites for the song. Appropriately, members then threw inflatable bananas into the crowd which bounced across the venue for the remainder of the set.
Shortly after the stage crew cleared out frontman Jesse Wagner took a moment to thank the crowd for their support throughout the years. He talked about how Salt Lake City was always one of their favorite destinations on tour. Wagner recalled how Utah had consistently brought the loudest and most enthusiastic crowds, and the audience that night was no exception.
To wrap up their set, The Aggrolites finished with one of their biggest tracks, “Dirty Reggae.” Fittingly, the song is a tribute to the band’s unique ska punk and reggae identity. At the end of their performance, some of their front-row fans got a chance to score some tour merch as band members handed copies of the setlist and drumsticks to the audience. The Aggrolites seemed to care a lot about their fans and maintaining a lightheartedness on stage. It’s no surprise that their performance was well-received by both the families and rock enthusiasts in attendance.
Following a short wait, The Aquabats trotted onto the stage, proudly forming the band’s iconic bat symbol over each of their heads. Their set kicked off with fan favorites like “Cat with Two Heads!” and “My Skateboard!” from their 1997 album. The performance was about as chaotic as you might expect from a band dressed head to toe in spandex apparel.
Each member of the ska rock ensemble was decked out in superhero regalia, sporting hefty belts across their waist emblazoned with the Aquabats logo. Frontman and lead singer Christian Jacobs, better known by his hero alias The MC Bat Commander, led the performance. Accompanied by solos from other band members like Ricky Fitness and Eaglebones Falconhawk. On each side of the stage, LED screens played a bizarre array of visuals, featuring everything from clips of Shrek to graphics of Cabbage Patch dolls. These eclectic elements combined with the band’s over-the-top showmanship made the live listening experience all the more surreal.
The crowd seemed to be swept away by the performance too as The Aquabats threw inflatable sharks and floaties into the audience. The show felt like an immersive comic book turned dance-party adventure, complete with impromptu skirmishes and goofy antics that had families cheering along.
The Aquabats moved through some of their bigger hits like “Pizza Day!” and “Red Sweater!” while young fans got their first taste of the concert experience crowd surfing on blowup inflatables. Midway through the set, the band instructed audience members to make a circle by raising their arms overhead in a ritual they perform each show called “The Circle of Love.” Fans young and old all formed the circle in a wholesome tribute to The Aquabats’ song “Lovers Loving Love.”
After all these years, The Aquabats haven’t lost their undeniable charisma. Even though their performance may be as hokey as it is semi-coherent at times, The Aquabats have found a way to make their show a welcoming one for everybody, including the most hardcore of rock fans. I look forward to seeing how The Aquabats continue to grow their ever-loyal fanbase.
AJR took the stage at the DELTA Center on July 16-17 in Salt Lake City for two unforgettable nights, delivering a concert experience that fans will cherish for a long time. Growing up through high school, AJR’s music resonated with me in ways I never expected. Maybe it was the upbeat songs that just made you bop your head or maybe it was the Broadway-like sound they brought to all their songs. Whatever it is their songs delve into the realities of life, and I found a deep connection with their lyrics and sound.
In support of their newest album, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, The Decemberists embarked on the 36-show A Peaceable Kingdom tour across the United States. Their Utah stop was at the Sandy Amphitheater on July 24. The Sandy Amphitheater was a perfect venue for the Portland-based band, as it embraced their folky sounds with the surrounding trees and mountains. The outdoor venue felt light and airy, supporting the bands playing within it and immersing the audience into the experience, deepened by the forest cut-outs set behind the band on stage and moody lighting.
This weekend, on July 19th, Americana/Folk Duo Watchhouse made their way into Salt Lake City, Utah to headline the third weekend of the 37th Annual Twilight concert series. The Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based couple, comprised of Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, found themselves surrounded by high-rise apartments and office buildings as they took the stage at the downtown-based Gallivan Center. They would go on to deliver a soul-filled set of American and folk-based music that was interwoven with the influence of bluegrass, indie, and hints of alt-rock. We’ve had the opportunity to cover Watchhouse multiple times over the years. This performance was right up there with all the rest.
Blink-182 • Pierce The Veil • Landon Barker • July 11, 2024 • Delta Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson
On Thursday, July 11th, Blink 182 brought their “One More Time” tour to Salt Lake City’s Delta Center. As expected, the tickets sold out quickly, and the arena was jam-packed with excited fans. The iconic California-based pop punk band put on an unforgettable performance and kept the crowd on their feet for their entire 26-song set.
Cavetown • Mother Mother • June 18, 2024 • Granary Live
Reviewed and Photographed by Mike Ferguson
The atmosphere at Granary Live in Salt Lake City was buzzing with excitement on the evening of Tuesday, June 18th as music enthusiasts gathered for a double feature showcasing performances by Mother Mother and Cavetown. The venue, known for its vibe, provided the ideal setting for an event that promised a mix of high-energy alternative rock and soulful indie folk tunes.
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.
Danny Lux made his first trip to The Complex last Friday on the latest stop of his international tour, Tour of Lux. The Chicano artist celebrates the release of his fifth studio album EVOLUXION, joined by fellow Latin artist Dariell Cano. That night, The Complex housed a sizable audience made up mostly of Latine and Spanish-speaking fans dressed in Danny’s signature tour merch. Before the show began, eager fans searched for glimpses of performers in the wings and then cheered to beckon them on stage. The excitement in the crowd was palpable.
Melanie Martinez is a musical force that cannot be stopped. It seems with each tour she gets bigger and bigger. From being a contestant on season 3 of the acclaimed singing show, The Voice to selling out major arenas on her recent Trilogy Tour, Martinez is a force to be reconned with. I had the opportunity to see Melanie on her last stop in Utah on her Portals Tour at the Sandy Amphitheater. I was impressed with her fanbase then, but that was nothing compared to what I saw inside the Delta Center on May 18. The arena was filled with devoted fans dressed up as nymphs, fairies, and baby dolls. Glitter and sparkles were everywhere. Outside of a Taylor Swift Concert, I haven’t seen so many fans dressed up.
