Buzz Blog

After much deliberation among our nomination committees, The Best of Utah Music 2015 polls are now live at CityWeekly.net/BestOfUtahMusic. There is a poll for each of the three categories of Best of Utah Music—Best Band, Best Rapper/Rap Group and Best DJ—and everyone is invited to cast one vote in each category for their favorites. Once the polls close at midnight on Sunday, Feb. 1, the top 10 frontrunners in each category will go on to perform at the Best of Utah Music showcases in February. 

But before you cast your votes, you'd like to make sure that you're making an informed decision, right? After all, even though you maybe haven't heard of some of the names on the poll, that doesn't mean you wouldn't dig their work if you had the change to check it out. So, before you vote, read up on the City Weekly coverage some of the nominees have gotten recently, and see exactly why they've ended up on this year's polls. 

Meet the Bands

Bat Manors

When Provo chamber-pop band Bat Manors released their debut album, Literally Weird, during the summer, City Weekly Music Editor Kolbie Stonehocker interviewed frontman/songwriter Adam Klopp about the inspiration behind the album and the band's changing style. 

Baby Ghosts

After the pop-punk band Baby Ghosts released their full-length album Maybe Ghosts in August, Kolbie Stonehocker reviewed it in City Weekly. Gavin Sheehan also mentioned Maybe Ghosts in his weekly blog about local album releases. 

Big Wild Wings

Electro/indie-rock band Big Wild Wings was interviewed by Gavin Sheehan in his Gavin's Underground blog in September, and discussed how the band got its start, inspirations for their music and more. The band also got a mention in City Weekly in November, in a blurb written by Kolbie Stonehocker about the release show for their album Speaking in Cursive. 

The Blue Aces

Provo pop-rock band The Blue Aces were interviewed by Kolbie Stonehocker in 2013, and talked about how they got their start and what they have planned for the future. The Blue Aces were also mentioned in City Weekly in 2014 about their latest release, Gave You My Heart. 

Cult Leader

City Weekly contributor Matthew Nanes wrote a feature about metal band Cult Leader in April 2014, and the interview included discussion about the band's post-Gaza future. Frontman Anthony Lucero was also interviewed by Gavin Sheehan in his Gavin's Underground blog in December 2014. 

Dark Seas

Surf-y psych-rockers Dark Seas have gotten a few mentions in City Weekly, including blurbs written by Kolbie Stonehocker in December 2014 and December 2013.

Fictionist

City Weekly contributor Spencer Flanagan interviewed pop-rock band Fictionist in 2011 after they missed out on the opportunity to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. Kolbie Stonehocker interviewed Fictionist for a feature in October that discussed the band's recent "comeback" and new self-titled album.

Grass

Gavin Sheehan mentioned Naysayer, the latest release from experimental psych-rock band Grass, in his weekly blog post about local album releases.

Great Interstate

Kolbie Stonehocker reviewed Inversion Songs, the latest release from alt-rock band Great Interstate, in City Weekly in May 2014. Gavin Sheehan also interviewed the band in his Gavin's Underground blog in June 2014.

Koala Temple

After the release of Blue Milk, the latest album from experimental garage-rock band Koala Temple, Kolbie Stonehocker reviewed it in City Weekly in July 2014. 

The Ladells

In October, Kolbie Stonehocker recapped Muse Music Cafe's 2014 Battle of the Bands, which was won by punk band The Ladells.

Minx

In November 2013, Kolbie Stonehocker interviewed electro-pop duo Minx when they released their album 13, for a feature in City Weekly. She also interviewed frontwoman Ischa in October 2013, for a blog post about the duo's latest album and film project, Together Forever.

The National Parks

Kolbie Stonehocker included a blurb about indie-folk band The National Parks' album-release show for Young in a rundown of fall concerts happening in 2013. The National Parks were also mentioned in a City Weekly blurb about their appearance at the Rooftop Concert Series in 2014.

Salazar

Kolbie Stonehocker reviewed Saudade, the latest album from dream-pop/folk band Salazar, in City Weekly in 2014. She also included Saudade on her list of the top 10 local albums of 2014.

The Salt, The Sea, and The Sun God

It's All for You, the latest album to be released by experimental-rock band The Salt, The Sea, and The Sun God, was reviewed by Kolbie Stonehocker in City Weekly in September 2014. 

Secret Abilities 

In 2012, former City Weekly Music Editor Austen Diamond interviewed pop-punk band Secret Abilities about the inspiration behind their album Rise From Your Grave in his Liner Notes blog. In May 2014, Kolbie Stonehocker reviewed their album The Dat Goh-Git! Split in City Weekly. And she interviewed the band for a City Weekly feature in November 2014 about their latest album, Music to Break Up By, which was also included on her list of the top 10 local albums of 2014.

The Souvenirs

Kolbie Stonehocker interviewed country/Americana trio The Souvenirs for a City Weekly feature in September, which discussed the dissolution of their former project and why The Souvenirs came together, as well as the inspiration behind their debut album, I Ain't Happy Yet. The record was also included on Stonehocker's list of the top 10 local albums of 2014.

Static Waves

Indie-rock band Static Waves was interviewed by Gavin Sheehan for his Gavin's Underground blog after they participated in Velour's Battle of the Bands in June 2014. In September, Kolbie Stonehocker wrote a City Weekly blurb about the release of their self-titled album.

The Strike

Funk/pop band The Strike was mentioned in a City Weekly blurb written by Kolbie Stonehocker about their appearance at the Rooftop Concert Series in June 2014. 

VanLadyLove

In February 2014, pop-rock band VanLadyLove was mentioned in Gavin Sheehan's weekly blog about local album releases, for their album Love Matter. In June 2014, Kolbie Stonehocker mentioned the band's appearance at the Rooftop Concert Series in a City Weekly blurb.

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Meet the Rappers/Rap Groups

Burnell Washburn

In 2012, former City Weekly music editor Austen Diamond interviewed Burnell Washburn about the inspiration behind his EP An Apple a Day. In 2013, City Weekly contributor Colin Wolf wrote about Washburn and other Utah rappers in his cover story "Paying Dues."

Calhoon Popadopolis

Cheat to Win, the latest album from Calhoon Popadopolis, was included on City Weekly contributor Colin Wolf's list of the top 10 local rap albums released in 2014.

Cig Burna

Paradise Lost: New Nigga Same View, the latest album from Cig Burna, was included on City Weekly contributor Colin Wolf's list of the top 10 local rap albums released in 2014.

Dine Krew

In 2013, City Weekly contributor Colin Wolf interviewed Dine Krew in a feature about their debut album, Dine and Dash. In September 2014, Wolf also interviewed Dine Krew offshoot WE when they released their second album, WE-ET's Vol. 2, which he also included on his list of the top 10 local rap albums released in 2014.

FunKtional

In June 2014, Gavin Sheehan mentioned FunKtional's MixTape Vol. 1 in his weekly blog post about local album releases.

House of Lewis

House of Lewis rappers have been mentioned in several different features. In February 2014, Kolbie Stonehocker interviewed Donnie Bonelli about his full-length debut, Shakeface. Shakeface was included on Colin Wolf's list of the top 10 local albums released in 2014, as well as Stonehocker's list of the top 10 local albums released in 2014. In June 2014, Stonehocker interviewed Atheist about his new video project, Rhyme Time Television.

Illwinded P

In November 2014, Gavin Sheehan mentioned Illwinded P's album Spirited Away Vol. 1 in his weekly blog post about local releases.

Malev Da Shinobi

Colin Wolf included Malev Da Shinobi's various singles on his list of the top 10 local rap albums released in 2014. 

New Truth

In June 2013, Colin Wolf mentioned New Truth in a feature about CrucialFest including rap in its lineup for the first time. He also included New Truth's EP Truth Hurts on his list of the top 10 local rap albums released in 2014.

Omeed the Nag

In April 2014, Kolbie Stonehocker mentioned the release show for Omeed the Nag's album Bird of Prey in a City Weekly blurb. Gavin Sheehan mentioned the same album in his weekly blog post about local releases. 

Pat Maine

In March 2014, Colin Wolf interviewed Pat Maine for a City Weekly feature about a series of music videos he released in connection to his 2012 album Doomsday Charades. 

Q1

In February 2014, Kolbie Stonehocker reviewed Q1's album To End Is to Begin in City Weekly.

Umang

Colin Wolf included Umang's album The Black Rose Certificate on his list of the top 10 local rap albums released in 2014. 

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Zigga, Burnell Washburn, Dine Krew, KIS.B and New Truth are mentioned in an article Colin Wolf about the Urban Legends Music Festival in in June 2014.

Several of the rappers and DJs who were nominated for this year's Best of Utah Music poll also participated in Best of Utah Music 2014. You can read about the rappers here and the DJs here.