He Is We, Drama, Joan Baez, Guy Clark, Thao & Mirah with The Most of All, Streetlight Manifesto
Live: Music Picks July 1-7
By Dan Nailen
He Is We
Tacoma boy-girl duo He Is We is a true Internet success story. Just a year ago, Rachel Taylor and Trevor Kelly were music store co-workers just starting to write songs together. Then, after posting some tracks to the Purevolume website, where unsigned bands hope to garner even a little attention, He Is We found their folky acoustic-rock had struck a chord, to the tune of 2.2 million plays and 160,000 downloads. Naturally, all that activity got them some notice, and the duo of 20-year-olds signed a deal with Motown/Universal; they’ve been recording their major-label debut for months in New York City and Seattle. While their fans wait for that debut to arrive later this year, He Is We is offering a free download of a set of tunes called Old Demos via HeIsWe.Bandcamp.com, and doing a tour that stops in Salt Lake City Thursday. Glass Gentlemen and Jessica Bassett open the show. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7 p.m., $10
Friday July 2
Drama
Don’t confuse him with DJ Drama, who performed at The Hotel a few weeks back. This is Drama of Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory and Rob & Big fame, the “assistant” to pro skater Dyrdek as he bumbles around Hollywood looking for laughs to fill his MTV shows. Drama is hosting a dance party for the Young & Restless clothing line, with tunes supplied by DJ Juggy and DJ Jello. From 9 to 10 p.m., there will be a meet-and-greet and autograph session with Drama (which is sort of like getting the autograph of P. Diddy’s butler, but whatever), and the first 100 people get some free gear. The Hotel, 155 W. 200 South, 9 p.m., $10
Wednesday July 7
Joan Baez, Guy Clark
If memory serves, Joan Baez’s 2009 tour was supposed to be her last go-round on the road. Perhaps the rave reviews the legendary folkie garnered on that tour convinced her to keep going, or perhaps she’s feeling the need to keep her progressive political voice part of the pop-culture conversation. Whatever the reason, you can expect a hearty dose of folk classics along with some of the more intelligent between-song banter you’ll hear all summer. Joining Baez is Guy Clark, a powerhouse writer and performer in his own right who is one of Steve Earle’s mentors and a best friend to Townes Van Zandt. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Brad Paisley and Emmylou Harris, and he’s toured with Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and Joe Ely in recent years. Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, 7:30 p.m., $37 advance/$39 day of show
Thao & Mirah with
The Most of All
This could be one of the more inspiring and fun shows of the summer, matching the wits and strong songcraft of Thao Nguyen (familiar to some of you as leader of Thao With The Get Down Stay Down) and Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn, better known as, simply, Mirah. The duo first performed together at this winter’s Noise Pop festival, and they enjoyed the experience so much they decided to hit the road under the loquacious name Thao and Mirah With the Most of All. Most of all what? Got me, but I’m expecting some tasty collaborations as the two delve into their respective catalogs with the help of a backing band to flesh out the arrangements. Led to Sea open the show. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $12
Streetlight Manifesto
If you were to believe much of what you read about New Jersey’s music scene, every act’s music would fall somewhere between the gritty narratives of Bruce Springsteen, the less-gritty glam-rock of Bon Jovi or semi-gritty younger acts like Gaslight Anthem. Lord knows how the ska fiends in Streetlight Manifesto found each other among all those serious-minded songwriters who can’t dance, but they did, and they’ve been creating an energetic blend of ska for nearly a decade now. The band’s latest release is 99 Songs of Revolution, Vol. 1, a horn-filled blast of a covers collection that includes the crew’s takes on songs by The Dead Milkmen (“Punk Rock Girl”), Paul Simon (“Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”), Squirrel Nut Zippers (“Hell”) and Radiohead (“Just”), among others. Joining the band on its Ship of Fools tour are The Supervillains, The Wonder Years, Crime in Stereo and Dan Potthast. In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, 7 p.m., $13
Coming Up
Death Angel (Club Vegas, July 8), Modest Mouse, Avi Buffalo (Pioneer Park, July 8), Kaskade (Harry O’s, Park City, July 9), Sublime With Rome (Great Saltair, July 9), Catie Curtis (Snowbird, July 10), Justin Bieber (Maverik Center, July 10), Brandi Carlile, Katie Herzig (Red Butte Garden, July 11), Maps & Atlases (Kilby Court, July 11), Adler’s Appetite (Club Vegas, July 12), Dale Watson (Piper Down, July 12), Lilith Fair (Usana Amphitheatre, July 12), Barenaked Ladies (Red Butte Garden, July 13), Paul McCartney (Rio Tinto Stadium, July 13), Paul Thorn (Pat’s BBQ, July 13), Thrice (In The Venue, July 13)
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