Kick off the first official summer weekend with SLC's downtown gallery stroll. Highlights include a group show at Art Access curated by Trent Alvey and featuring works by Trent Call, Tessa Lindsey and most of the Captain Captain studios crew. Also tonight, Smokey Robinson performs at Red Butte Garden and the forecast calls for sunny skies. Pack a picnic and your dancing shoes. If classic R&B isn't your jam, hit up Burt's Tiki Lounge for the "new" Germs featuring three original members plus actor/musician Shane West who played Darby Crash in a biopic of the ill-fated rocker. Some argue that West is too clean to replace Crash and while, in most respects, he’s a far cry from the self-destructive Los Angeles gutter punk, he can at least sing into the mic. And, unlike many veteran bands returning to the limelight, the “new” Germs features the remaining three original members—Pat Smear (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Lorna Doom and Don Bolles. Who doesn’t want to see Pat Smear?
Tonight, reggaeton fans rejoice as Baby Ranks pumps out hip-shaking anthems that will make you shout, "Yo contigo me quiero perder!"
On Saturday, head to the Downtown Farmers Market for fresh produce and maybe some delicious Sudanese food to fuel up for two great performances. First, Michael Runion plays a free, all-ages in-store at Slowtrain (221 E. Broadway). Runion will appear later in the evening opening for Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley band whose Library Square performance is sponsored by and will help benefit the Utah Arts Festival (that event kicks off next Thursday, June 25 and runs through June 28)
On Sunday, a lucky few ticket-holders will return to Red Butte Garden for a sold-out David Byrne performance. If you're in the vicinity, you might just be able to hear the former Talking Heads frontman's distinct voice noting, "Same as it ever was."
