Utah Pride Archives - Utah Concert Review

November 7, 2024November 7, 2024

Equality Utah 2024 Allies Gala featuring Andy Bell

Allies Gala • Andy Bell • October 5, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by Alisha Gregson

So, I’m sitting down, drinking a protein shake, and watching the morning news. I’m trying to convince myself that I need to start working, so I negotiate with myself that I’ll watch TV for 15 more minutes and then I HAVE to get to it. Within that 15 minutes, I watched the local morning news, and I saw, Equality Utah Executive Director, Troy Williams talking about the upcoming Allies Gala. He then mentions that the featured artist at the gala will be Andy Bell, the lead singer of the synth-pop duo, Erasure. My jaw dropped. Erasure is my favorite band. Learning that one half of my favorite band would be performing right here in Salt Lake City? I knew I had to be there.

November 13, 2023

LOVELOUD

LOVELOUD•November 3, 2023•Delta Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Mark Daluz

On Friday, November 3rd, Loveloud’s founder and Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds held the 6th Loveloud tour in Salt Lake City at the Delta Center. Loveloud is a non-profit organization that puts on a yearly concert. It amplifies the voices of the LGBTQ+ community and brings them together through the power of music and sharing of stories. Loveloud’s mission is to ignite the vital conversation about what it means to unconditionally love, understand, support, accept, and celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends and family.

July 7, 2019

LOVELOUD 2019 USANA Amphitheater

By: Ashley Yates

WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH – JUNE 29: Tegan and Sara perform at LOVELOUD Festival 2019 Powered by AT&T at USANA Amphitheatre on June 29, 2019 in West Valley City, Utah. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for LOVELOUD Festival)

I arrived a bit after 5:30. So, unfortunately, I missed a few performers leading up to Tegan and Sara. Seeing as I’m a member of the LGBTQ community and was raised in a conservative culture I was unprepared for how triggering this festival was for me.

The sound quality at USANA Amphitheater was decent for the performances but absolutely horrific for the host, Kalen Allen. He handled the major glitches with sparkling grace (literally, he was wearing this silver sequin jumpsuit).

WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH – JUNE 29: Kalen Allen hosts LOVELOUD Festival 2019 Powered by AT&T at USANA Amphitheatre on June 29, 2019 in West Valley City, Utah. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for LOVELOUD Festival)

I have been lucky enough to have seen Tegan and Sara live before. I love them and in my eyes, they can do no wrong. I’m bummed that I was behind schedule and missed the first part of their set. They finished their bit with “Closer” (a fantastic indie pop ballad full of soon to be realized sexual tension) and it was maybe a little thrilling hearing so many voices sing the words. Tegan and Sara are HUGE in the queer community and very popular as a mainstream band. Maneuvering through the crowd, singing along with nearly every person I walked by. Music creates a bond and it was something I had been looking forward to meeting with this concert.