A sold-out crowd packed their way into Red Butte Garden this last Monday, August 19th, to spend their evening singing and dancing with folk-rock, singer-songwriter, Shakey Graves. The Salt Lake City crowd was treated to a high-energy yet personal show by the Austin city-based performer. One could not have asked for a better evening as all the stars seemed to align, the days of storming had just cleared up and set the stage for one of the best shows of the summer.
Ogden Amphitheater transformed into a vibrant hub of eclectic sound and energy as St. Vincent took the stage for the Ogden Twilight Concert Series. Known for her avant-garde style and electrifying performances, St. Vincent, whose real name is Annie Clark, did not disappoint the eager crowd that had gathered to witness her live.
The atmosphere at the Ogden Amphitheater was charged with anticipation even before the show began. The Ogden Twilight Concert Series, which has become a staple in the local music scene, brought together fans of all ages, united by their love for innovative and genre-defying music. The amphitheater, with its intimate setting and excellent acoustics, provided the perfect backdrop for St. Vincent’s performance.
August 9th marked an electrifying evening at the Sandy Amphitheater, where Texas country-rock sensation Koe Wetzel brought his “Damn Near Normal” tour to life, with Kolby Cooper warming up the stage as the opener. The concert was a dynamic blend of raw energy, lyrical depth, and Southern charm, making it an unforgettable night for fans.
Ogden Twilight hasn’t been pulling any of their punches when it comes to insane show lineups. Diplo, St. Vincent, and Killer Mike making an appearance to name a few. But this particular show has been a big mark on my calendar for quite some time. Having indie-rock favorite Hippo Campus and hip-hop star Killer Mike perform on the same day was one that initially confused me. I was eager to see it nevertheless.
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.
On the evening of July 31st, the traffic at Park City was worse than normal but that didn’t come without reason. Michael Franti & Spearhead were playing at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley and the town was eager to see him. As a Park City local, DV concerts are always so special as the setting is stunning and the once-ski slope turns into a great gathering place for shows. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit just a couple of weeks ago with The Dead South and Gregory Alan Isakov appearing in the following weeks. I love how Park City (renowned for world-class skiing) is a part of Utah’s music scene.
Once I could find parking, I made my way into the venue. Not shockingly, I was able to point out a couple of people I knew within the lines and catch up with many of them during the wait. Unfortunately, The line was so long that the opener was already nearing its end when I got through.
Feeling a little disappointed in myself for not anticipating traffic I knew was there, I brushed it off to make the most of the opener. When I made my way to the VIP area, everyone had their eyes locked in, it seemed that making my way past people wouldn’t be an issue in breaking that focus. Citizen Cope is mainly focused on the Reggae & Alternative Indie scenes. The music was funky and they had so much joy on stage. Their sets were a great way to ease into the night.
As the time drew closer for Michael to take the stage, The venue was pretty much filled to the brim with people. During this time, a countdown was starting at 10. As the number closed in on zero, you could hear the excitement and screams from everyone at Deer Valley. A video played after the countdown of Michael reminds us to remember and focus on the good things in life. Right as the video ended, his band started to make their way to the stage with Michael coming out last.
They immediately played “Meet Me When the Sun Goes Down, ” setting the tone for the rest of the night. The high-energy song was enough to get people still sitting on their blankets to get up and start waving their hands in the air. It was also too much for Michael as halfway through the song, he sprinted into the crowd and started singing alongside the members of the audience.
Michael was consistently interacting with the crowd, and the people loved it. It was rare to listen to a song that didn’t have Michael saying “Go say Hi to someone new” or “Dosey-doe with the person next to you”. Every song had sparks of positivity through words and the pure happiness that he was showing. Michael was very animated and moved all over the stage. He interacted with his fellow bandmates often as well. Michael brought many people up on the stage with him. Including one girl who got to bring her whole family up to join in the singing and got everyone over the age of 80 to join the stage with him as well. I admired that he made sure everyone introduced themselves and took a major interest in the people who joined him.
Don’t get me wrong, I love how positive Michael was the entire show but I personally think that got in the way of the music. When talking to other members of the crowd, some also shared this sentiment. He tried to push out the message of positivity every chance he got which made the show feel repetitive. One guy even said “We didn’t really come for the music but more so Michael’s charisma and being amazing at giving others energy. He does a great job at making everyone feel like they were part of a community celebration”. I will give him that, his charisma was truly palpable throughout the performance. He has a unique ability to connect to his audience on a personal level effortlessly.
As I left the Snow Park Amphitheater, I started to think about Michael’s impact on the people he sang to today. In a world with so many sad and horrible things happening. He served as a reminder to all be present, to care and love others close to you. Michael delivered a performance that was both entertaining and meaningful. For those who needed it the most, I know it was an unforgettable experience.
It was an epic scene out at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre. It wasn’t just a sold-out crowd. That would be awesome on its own. But there was a buzz in the air I had not felt in some time. There had been an anticipation for the show the moment it was announced. I don’t remember a show being talked about quite so much. If I wore my I Was/ I Am Tour shirt out of the house, someone for sure would compliment me and ask me if I was going to the show. It was so exciting to walk into Utah First Amp and see all the excitement.
It’s a special feeling having Hamilton back in town. This is the third tour to stop in Salt Lake City at the Eccles Theater. It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been this fortunate to have this show in our state this many times. And this time the Hamilton is here for a five-week run! I think it’s pretty clear that I don’t need to mention how big this show is. It is THE musical of this generation. It will go down in history as one of the greatest of all time. Lin-Manuel Miranda created a masterpiece that will be unmatched in so many ways.
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.
