MUSIC PICKS NOV 2 - 8 

• Jacob Crawford
• Ekali

Ekali @ Sky SLC 11/2
Therapy Thursdays are run by the EDM production company, V2 Presents, which showcases both local talent and the top EDM producers in the industry. This week, SLC-based DJ duo Z & Z opens for Ekali, setting the tone for the expected high-energy show. The Canadian EDM producer/DJ, Ekali, aka Nathan Shaw, started out in the music industry as a violinist, then as a bassist for the Vancouver-based indie rock band Said the Whale in 2011. He transitioned into the local Vancouver underground music scene around 2013, and has been active as an EDM producer for a decade. What sets Ekali apart is his wide range of music, alternating between heavy trap bangers and sadboy future bass. The classic collaboration with EDM producer Illenium from 2020, "Hard to Say Goodbye," evokes sorrow with lyrics "I tell myself I'm fine here with you / Just for one more night / You make it hard to say goodbye." While this song is sure to bring listeners to tears, Shaw's newest 2023 EP Alinea is a complete contrast as a trap song that acts as a bridge between EDM and hip-hop. Shaw's unique journey through classical, indie and electronic music has solidified him as a fluid musician, and as someone who is unafraid to experiment with his sound and style. Ekali performs at Sky SLC on Thursday, Nov. 2. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $25 at skyslc.com (Arica Roberts)

• CJ Harvey
• Deer Tick

Deer Tick @ Commonwealth Room 11/3
Nearly 10 albums in, folk rock luminaries Deer Tick have consistently made great records, but their latest chapter (their first new project in six years!), Emotional Contracts, may be their best yet. Produced by Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Sleater-Kinney, MGMT) and released earlier this summer via ATO records, the 10-song 40-minute long play comes across the same at shows—raucous, a little sloppy and mostly fun. Clearly, Deer Tick is in "Dylan" mode. "I think the biggest difference is obviously that we have so much more experience under the wheels," guitarist Ian O'Neil told Inside Hook in June. "So I think that has given us an opportunity to write better songs. I think Bob Dylan's best songs came after he was 30, you know what I mean? I think that kind of experience and just knowing what you've done wrong in the past with music or with your career or whatever, it just lends itself to a brighter future. So I think we're just getting better." I actually like a good amount of the "rowdier" tunes, and the closing track "The Real Thing" is extraordinary songwriting. These guys are fantastic live, and this is easily their most polished, accessible album to date. Abby Hamilton opens. Catch these acts at the Commonwealth Room on Friday, Nov. 3. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show range from $58 for reserved platform to $31 for general admission, and can be found at axs.com (Mark Dago)

• Lauren Dunn
• LOVELOUD

LOVELOUD @ Delta Center 11/3
Making its triumphant return to SLC on Nov. 3, the LOVELOUD concert series has a heavy focus on bringing communities together to ignite vital conversations about what it means to love our LGBTQ+ friends and family. "LOVELOUD offers hope to people, letting them know they're not alone and encouraging acceptance in the home and community. It all begins with talking, sharing and showing the realities of what LGBTQ+ individuals face daily," their site says. LOVELOUD travels to different cities around the country, but the show holds a special place in Utah's heart. The very first LOVELOUD festival took place in 2017 at UVU, with 17,000 attendees. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, minus a couple of years because of COVID. The festival has brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities including The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Gender Spectrum, Flourish Therapy, The Utah AIDS Foundation and several others. At this year's SLC show you can catch Lauv, Mother Mother, Tegan & Sara, David Archuleta, Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds, Tyler Glenn and several more. LOVELOUD is one of SLC's biggest and most meaningful shows, so don't miss your chance to be part of the loving crowd. LOVELOUD visits the Delta Center on Friday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show range from $50 to $150, and can be found at loveloudfest.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

• Mark Seliger
• Anime Girlfriend

Anime Girlfriend, Sydney Rian, No Shooting Friends Joseph @ Kilby Court 11/4
If you're the type who wears their heart on their sleeve and likes to sink into some nostalgic midwestern emo sounds, you might want to head to this show. This is a release party show for Anime Girlfriend to unveil their debut EP and share their brand of ""Mountain West emo, as they've branded themselves. So far, the group has released two singles leading up to the full EP release, "plath daddy" and "thoreau." Inspired by the emo genre, the uncertainty of the world and some classic literature, the group has created a sound that's mellow yet exciting, new yet familiar, something entirely their own. You'll have to head out to the show to see the rest of the songs for the EP unveiled. Joining the bill is fellow emo-influenced group No Shooting Friends, Joseph. While Anime Girlfriend and NSFJ feature emo vibes in their music, NSFJ take a heavier and otherworldly approach to their sound. You can find heavy guitar, rad electronic elements and ethereal vibes that will fly you to space through your headphones. Last but not least, Sydney Rian joins the fray with a new EP of her own. There's a good chance you'll hear tracks from her latest release Cranium. Don't miss this trio of incredible local musicians on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Kilby Court. Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 at 24tix.com. (EA)

• Mark Seliger
• John Mayer

John Mayer @ Delta Center 11/5
A shift in sound has never been a problem as far as John Mayer's career has been concerned. Where some artists may leave their fans and followers bewildered by even the slightest change in direction, Mayer's managed to make dramatic transitions without alienating anyone in the process. If anything, he's gained added respect. Still, it does seem somewhat surprising that an artist with an early pop pedigree—as evidenced by his confectionary chart-toppers "Your Body Is a Wonderland" and "Why Georgia Why"—could do an about-face by burrowing into the blues, engaging in Americana and then finally emerging as a guitar hero and member of the resuscitated Grateful Dead known as Dead & Company. On the other hand, with seven Grammys to his credit, 12 additional nominations, several American Music Awards, and top VHI and MTV awards among his many honors, it's not just acceptance, but sheer adulation that's come his way. He's known for other things as well: his philanthropy, his proficiency on social media, occasional acting roles, frequent media appearances, collecting watches and, naturally enough, the fact that he dates some beautiful women. Nevertheless, having turned his back on partying and substance abuse, he's quite clear-headed as far as his musical mission is concerned. His current tour finds him equally unencumbered, performing solo and on acoustic guitar, which, in fact, are the only additives needed to get the most out of Mayer. John Mayer performs solo at the Delta Center at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5. Tickets cost $56 at seatgeek.com. (Lee Zimmerman)