MUSIC PICKS SEP 28 - OCT 4 

• PJ Guinto
• Josaleigh Pollett

City Ghost, Josaleigh Pollett, Baby Ghosts, Nadezhda @ Urban Lounge 9/28
Very few things in life are free. If someone tells you that it is, it's probably too good to be true— except this time. On Thursday, Sept 28 you can catch not one, not two, not even three—but four local bands completely free at Urban Lounge. Indie rockers City Ghost are riding high with their latest single "Good News," a beautiful, moody melodic track that's so easy to put on repeat. It's their first official release since their 2021 EP Gray, and it's an epic return to form. Joining them is local music staple Josaleigh Pollett, who is celebrating the release of their latest album In the Garden, By the Weeds, a transformative and introspective look on life that focuses on growing and healing after hard times. It's a must-listen for DIY indie-rock fans who need some peace in their lives. Baby Ghosts fit into the lineup with their loud and in-your-face indie-rock/punk jams. Their most recent release, "Hey You," is a perfect song to turn up to 10 in your living room and dance to like nobody's watching. Last but certainly not least are newcomers Nadezhda, who describe themselves as "hardcore's Fleetwood Mac." A lot to live up to, but they're sure to deliver at this incredible show. The show is free, but make sure to head to 24tix.com to "purchase" your ticket that reserves a spot and guarantees entry. The only catch is that the show is 21+, so bring your IDs and have a great night. (Emilee Atkinson)

• Matthew Reeve
• Psychedelic Furs

The Psychedelic Furs, Squeeze @ Eccles Theater 9/30
It's often said that whatever is old is new again, and that has certainly applied to the 1980s. Audiences have an opportunity to size up that saying by becoming reacquainted with two of England's most influential Gen X-era outfits and the songs that created such an enduring impression then, and still do so now. Both bands eventually teetered on the verge of extinction and dealt with changes in their respective rosters, yet they managed to regroup and revive the sounds that brought them to fame in the first place. The Psychedelic Furs' musical trademark mostly had to do with singer Richard Butler's raspy croon, a sound indelibly identified with songs such as "Pretty In Pink," "Love My Way," "Heaven" and "The Ghost In You," all of which established their trademark template. Squeeze was blessed with the prolific songwriting talents of Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, the Lennon and McCartney of their day. Indeed, their instantly infectious melodies found songs such as "Take Me I'm Yours," "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)," "Tempted," and "Annie Get Your Gun" assuring them a place atop pop music's highest pedestal. Granted, there's more than a hint of nostalgia accompanying these two bands' belated return, but more importantly, it reminds us that great music never slips out of style, and that memorable melodies pay greater heed to taste than time. The Psychedelic Furs and Squeeze perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept 30 at Delta Performance Hall at the Eccles Theater. Tickets cost $40 - $390 (VIP). Go to my.arttix.org. (Lee Zimmerman)

Babymetal & Dethklok @ The Complex 10/1
Japanese sensations Babymetal have joined forces with the mighty Dethklok, the on-screen heavy metal band and stars of Adult Swim's Metalocalypse, for a co-headline tour appropriately dubbed Babyklok. Babymetal's ambitious fourth LP, The Other One, released earlier this year to mixed reviews. It's a concept album where they bring the energy and the Kawaii to maximum levels, and push the limits between what's cute and what's heavy. "I consider this album to be a BABYMETAL spin-off while also being like an art museum," Su-Metal told Billboard. "There's a phrase in the lyrics of 'Mirror Mirror' that means, 'The real me / doesn't exist.' I think the songs on this album are like that in a way, and it's also what art is all about." There will be bores who will moan, no doubt. However, Babymetal live is pure entertainment, and they put on a great spectacle. I kind of admire J-pop's willingness to embrace diverse genres as required by the ever-changing fads of pop culture nostalgia. Dethklok, on the other hand, is a surprisingly good melodic death-metal band. Even though the music comes from a TV show, the songs all have big hooks and impressive musicianship, which makes them stand out in 20-second bursts and over-extended run times. Think Amon Amarth, but cartoons instead of being, you know, just cartoonish. The metal resistance is real. Jason Richardson opens. Catch these acts at The Complex on Sunday, Oct 1. Doors at 5:30 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show range from $59.50 for general admission, to $184.50 for the Dethklok Soundcheck VIP Package, and can be found here thecomplexslc.com (Mark Dago)

• Rebecca Lader
• Worriers

Worriers, Mediocre, Sleep Cult @ DLC 10/2
For the better part of a decade, Worriers have used their own brand of punk-adjacent indie rock to tell stories of heartbreak, gender expression, identity and love. Trust Your Gut is the band's first studio album in years, and features band members Atom Willard (Against Me!, Social Distortion), Franz Nicolay (The Hold Steady), Frank Piegaro and Cayetana's Allegra Anka. The album was self-produced by songwriter Lauren Denitzio, and is a pivotal release demonstrating the true depth and complexity of their career with the band. Worriers became Denitzio's main focus after the wake-up call of open-heart surgery at just 25 years old. The event shook them into leaving a toxic creative partnership and starting a band that could evolve along with them. That priority takes center stage on Trust Your Gut, as Denitzio's 2019 move from the East Coast to Los Angeles found them collaborating with Willard as a fun exercise, only to realize they had started writing the next album together. This new album is just as punk rock as the band has ever been, but you can still take a deep dive into their back catalog to find incredible hits. Their most popular song—"They/Them/Theirs" from 2015—is an incredible anthem for those who identify with those pronouns, and a great insight for those who might not know much about what it means to be gender neutral. Worriers are joined by LA natives Mediocre and SLC rockers Sleep Cult on Monday, Oct 8. Tickets for the 21+ show are $16 in advance and $18 at the door, which opens at 7 p.m. Grab tickets at 24tix.com. (EA)

• Oh Dag Yo Photography
• DJ Megalodon PC

Laxx, Megalodon @ SKYSLC 10/4
Energi Wednesdays at Sky SLC bring some of the heaviest DJs and producers in the EDM/dubstep scene. This week, Laxx and Megalodon will deliver their highly anticipated bass music. Both artists were part of the legendary U.K. dubstep label Never Say Die Records: Black Label, which disbanded in 2022. Though they are sharing the headlining spotlight this week, both artists have made independent names for themselves, and continue to produce and release new music. James Churchill, aka Laxx, is a U.K.-based dubstep artist who is best known for his Step One EP from 2014 on Never Say Die Records (continuing to Step Four in 2019) and his more recent 2018 Fake Friends album. Cory Artsay, aka Megalodon, is an L.A.-based artist who has been in the scene for over a decade, with his latest single "Proper" out now on his own label, Bypass Audio. Both artists have gained momentum in recent years with top-notch technical mixing styles that rely on dubstep's U.K. roots, while also bringing the more aggressive, genre-bending sound that is somewhere in between trap and dubstep. This show is guaranteed to have headbangers and moshers front of stage, while embodying respect and kindness—core tenets of rave culture. This will be an unforgettable weeknight in downtown SLC. Laxx and Megalodon perform at Sky SLC on Wednesday, Oct 4. Doors open at 9 p.m. Earlybird Presale Tickets (21+) cost $10. Go to tickets.skyslc.com. (Arica Roberts)