Utah Concert Review Archives - Page 3 of 56

September 25, 2024September 25, 2024

The Lower Lights

The Lower Lights • Masonic Temple • September 14, 2024

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

In the past decade, there hasn’t been a year that has gone by where I haven’t seen The Lower Lights in concert. Over that time I’ve seen this band more than any other. Typically I’ll catch one (sometimes two or three!) of their holiday residency at Kingsbury Hall on the campus of the University of Utah. Those concerts are a Christmas tradition that I refuse to miss. In the last couple of years, in addition to the Christmas concerts, The Lower Lights have gone back to their roots and performed non-holiday shows filled with classic hymns and old spirituals sprinkled with some more modern classics. Last year they played Sandy Amphitheater to great acclaim. For the first time in ten years, The Lower Lights returned to the Masonic Temple in Salt Lake City. A venue where they played many of their early now legendary shows.

September 24, 2024September 24, 2024

Stephen Sanchez

Stephen Sanchez • The Brook & The Bluff • September 21, 2024 • Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert

A line of a little over fifty people had already formed when I arrived to Sandy Amphitheater around 3 pm on Saturday, September 21st. Stephen Sanchez, joined by The Brook & The Bluff, made it back to Utah for his sold-out, “Live From The Connie Co Show,” tour stop. Making it his third show here in the last year and a half! It’s always extra fun to be able to attend a show as a fan while also getting to document the night! I’ve been a fan of Stephen’s for a few years, and when I first discovered his music, he only had one song released!

I’ve really enjoyed watching his career take off, and it’s been awesome to cover each one of his Utah shows and see the performances evolve and the crowd grow with each one! I think it goes without saying, but I was looking forward to this show!

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024

Fred Again

Fred Again • Keenan Mathias • September 15, 2024 • Utah First Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Austin Dayton

This weekend, British DJ and Producer Fred Again brought his “Places we’ve never been” tour to Utah, a place he has never played, as he DJ’d and sang for a huge and excited crowd at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater. With him, he brought his “brother” fellow DJ Tony and had Keenan Mathias as the supporting opening set.

September 21, 2024September 23, 2024

UCR Interview: Jessica Vosk

Two years ago, I witnessed Broadway star, Jessica Vosk captivate a capacity crowd at The Noorda Center For The Performing Arts on the campus of Utah Valley University. Vosk starred as Elphaba in Wicked, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Lincoln Center, and re-created the role of Fruma Sarah in the most recent Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof.

She has also starred in productions of Waitress and a personal favorite, Chess (Jessica permitted me to share that she will be singing a song from this show! A reason in itself to attend!!!). at the amazing 12,000-capacity Muny in St. Louis. Jessica Vosk is returning to The Noorda on Saturday, September 21 at 7 PM. For tickets to the show, go to the link at the end of this interview. We had a chance to chat with her this week leading up to the show. Enjoy!

September 17, 2024September 17, 2024

Keane

Keane • September 8, 2024 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Twelve years. TWELVE YEARS! It’s been twelve years since Alternative Rock band, Keane made a tour stop in Salt Lake City. It’s been about that long since they’ve played most cities. A lengthy hiatus, solo projects, and conquering a myriad of issues in their personal lives have kept the boys from Winslow, England away from the road. But on September 8, 2024, Keane triumphantly returned to Utah. Red Butte Garden Amphitheater was jam-packed. In speaking with some of the venue’s employees, I was informed that this was one of the shows that sold out the fastest. That didn’t surprise me at all. Keane is a band very high on my list of favorite bands. I had heard rumblings that they’d be touring The States over the summer and I had my fingers crossed that they’d be playing SLC.

September 13, 2024September 13, 2024

Sum 41

Sum 41 • The Interrupters • Many Eyes • September 10, 2024 • The Lot at The Complex

Reviewed and Photographed by Nate Bonney

Sum 41 stopped by the great state of Utah this last week for what appears to be for the last time on the 10th of September. They brought along some amazing bands as well as performed their last show here in Utah. The event was at the complex in downtown SLC. The venue usually has two stages that they use indoors but for this one, they were able to have a fun house so they were outside. This was my first time attending a concert there when it was outside and it was a pleasant experience.

September 12, 2024September 13, 2024

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Doubtfire • September 10, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Alisha Gregson

Photos

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles

It has been 30 years since the release of the classic movie “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Like most people who were raised in the 90s, I grew up watching the film. It was undoubtedly Robin Williams’ performance as the eccentric Scottish nanny that made the movie such a hit. I had been looking forward to seeing the production, but I admit, I had somewhat low expectations. Robin Williams was one of a kind, and I wondered how anyone else could fill the role. I was also curious about how the addition of musical numbers would affect the storyline. On Tuesday, September 10th, I had the opportunity to see for myself.

September 10, 2024September 10, 2024

Post Malone

Post Malone • Muscadine Bloodline • Dan Spencer • September 8 & 9, 2024 • Utah First Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Nate Bonney

Post Malone started his F-1 Trillion Tour right here in his hometown SLC, Utah. He did a two-day stint and both days were packed. Seems the first show on Sunday was busier but not by much. I was able to shoot the images of the artists on Sunday the 8th and then I had the opportunity to view the show on the 9th. I will include both of Post Malone’s setlists. There was a slight variation on each night. Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre holds a max capacity of 25,000, so the energy was high for both nights.

September 5, 2024September 5, 2024

Allison Russell

Allison Russell • Hozier • August 31, 2024 • Utah First Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert

I had the privilege of covering Allison Russell’s set as she joined Hozier for his sold-out stop on the Unreal Earth Tour at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater on August 31st. This highly sought-after show had thousands of eager fans lined up throughout the expansive parking lot and there was even a huge line at the less popular south entrance! With people queued up like that, one couldn’t help but expect that the show was going to be great if that many fans were coming to spend their Saturday night there!

September 5, 2024September 5, 2024

Howard Jones + ABC + Haircut One Hundred

Howard Jones • ABC • Haircut One Hundred • August 17, 2024 • Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Some concerts are better than others. I hope that’s the most obvious statement I make in this article. I go to a lot of concerts and I love it. There is something (for the most part) great in every show I have the privilege of covering. But certain concerts just check all the boxes. Howard Jones played two headlining sold-out shows at Sandy Amphitheater on August 16 and 17.

New Wave greats, ABC and Haircut One Hundred joined Howard. This was one of those shows that checked all the boxes that I look for as an avid concertgoer. Entertaining headliner, check. Support band that could be a headliner on their own, check. Opener that I have never seen and always wanted to, check! It was a great mix of music from a nostalgic early MTV era that I loved so much. Judging by the two sold-out nights, I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.