Live: Music Picks Jan. 2-8 

FRIDAY JAN. 3

The Reverend Horton Heat
Some Reverend Horton Heat fans can be perfectly happy simply playing their copies of The Full Custom Gospel Sounds of The Reverend Horton Heat and Liquor in the Front over and over. But if the new single from Rev—the first new release from the psychobilly legends in four years and the band’s 11th album, out Jan. 21—is any indicator, this new record could be your next favorite. The music video for “Let Me Teach You How to Eat” is full of frontman Jim Heath’s trademark sexual innuendo and twisted humor, featuring a number of curvy pinup gals eating various foods in sexy ways—including, ahem, hot dogs. What else would you expect from a guy who wrote a song called “Wiggle Stick”? With punk-bluegrass band Old Man Markley and Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) also on the bill, this is a lineup you won’t want to miss.
The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 9 p.m., $20 in advance, $25 day of show, DepotSLC.com

Slumber Party 5: Book on Tape Worm, Jay William Henderson, Bat Manors
This fifth-annual “slumber party” won’t involve any midnight refrigerator raids, Spin the Bottle, Light As a Feather or any sleeping, but there will be lots of great music, and everyone is encouraged to get extra comfy by wearing pajamas and bringing pillows. The night is always hosted by local indie-rockers Book on Tape Worm, and the combination of the quartet’s slow, soft, lullaby-like music and a specially decorated Velour is sure to be irresistibly dreamy. The band is joined by singer-songwriter Jay William Henderson on Friday night, and “folk-core” band Bat Manors on Saturday night. Stick around for a movie or two that will be shown after the music ends.
Velour, 135 N. University Ave., 8 p.m., Jan. 3 & 4, $8 (tickets available at the door only), VelourLive.com

SATURDAY JAN. 4

Atlast
At 25 tracks, Ephelant, the debut full-length album released in 2013 from Los Angeles hip-hop duo Atlast, is definitely ambitious. But with its summery, carefree mood, as well as the inclusion of plenty of goofing off between the two young rappers Exsr and Relevant, it’s far from a chore to listen to. The songs themselves—mostly about youthful ventures of chasing girls and getting high—are a little ridiculous at times, but it’s all in good fun. Krewmika, New Truth, MC Untytled, Khalel are also on the bill.
Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), 8 p.m., $10 in advance, $15 day of show, KilbyCourt.com; limited no-fee tickets available at CityWeeklyStore.com

In Her Own Words
On their Facebook page, this California pop-punk five-piece lists Blink-182 as an influence, but In Her Own Words’ sound is a lot heavier than most bands in that vein. Featuring chugging duel guitars, bass-heavy drums and harmonized vocals, the songs on the band’s latest EP, Everything I Used to Trust—released in the summer—combine a little pop-punk with a weighty post-hardcore barrage. Songs like “Losing Sleep” and “With or Without You”—which will probably remind Thrice fans of that band’s earlier material—showcase In Her Own Words’ knack for weaving together scream-y, cathartic angst with anthemic choruses. For the Win, Seasons Change and In the Making are also on the bill. 
The Shred Shed, 60 E. Exchange Place, time TBA, cover TBA, ShredShedSLC.com

MONDAY JAN. 6

Red Telephone, Coyote Vision Group, The Wasatch Fault, The Pentagraham Crackers
With all of the holiday nonsense over, it’s time to focus on more important things, like solid local music. This four-band lineup features some of the Salt Lake City scene’s best musicians, and while all the groups are rock-based at their core, each has their own unique elements going on. Red Telephone plays reverb-heavy, spooky psych-rock, while Coyote Vision Group brews an interesting concoction of folk and trippy psychedelia. Four-piece The Wasatch Fault—named for, according to their Facebook page, the “time bomb” underneath many Utahns’ houses—plays music that’s rooted in math-rock, but the mostly shouted vocals bring in a scruffy punk feel. Check out their self-titled full-length album, released in October. The Pentagraham Crackers’ unique sound is a sometimes dark-sounding combination of country and punk.
The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., free, TheUrbanLoungeSLC.com

TUESDAY JAN. 7

Whitey Morgan & the 78s
If you’re one of those folks who know that the only country artists worth their salt are Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Hank Williams, honky-tonk quartet Whitey Morgan & the 78s will be right up your alley. Hailing from the hard-luck city of Flint, Mich., Whitey Morgan & the 78s have brought back that classic outlaw sound, made with only the essentials: twangy guitar, pedal steel, drums and a frontman with a deep, rich voice. The songs from the band’s self-titled full-length album, released in 2010, are like glimpses into some bygone era, about drinking your troubles away (“Turn Up the Bottle”), heartbreak (“Memories Cost a Lot”) and being proud of blue-collar roots (“Hard Scratch Pride”). For Whitey Morgan & the 78s, there’s nothin’ that can’t be fixed by some throat-scorching whiskey. As Whitey Morgan himself says, “My job is to show you how much fun drinking is.”
The Garage, 1199 Beck St., 9 p.m., $7 in advance, $10 day of show, GarageOnBeck.com