Music Picks 

Thursday 10/20

nn

DIOS (MALOS)

nn

For most, 2004’s Coachella Music Festival offered a chance to see established rock, pop, hip-hop or techno artists like the Pixies, the Cure or Kraftwerk. Others, however, scrambled to see relative unknowns convince dehydrated crowds of their equal-if-not-greater importance. Dios Malos thrilled the latter contingent. The South Bay, Calif., band of brothers and friends kicked off the two-day event with a set that left people wondering, “Who are these guys?” If you still don’t know, pick up the bad god’s self-titled sophomore album and listen to “Grrl,” a biting anti-love song with an infectious chorus: “I’ll love you to the end/ Psych out! Just kidding, cause I hate the things you do/ And I don’t know why/ I put up with you.” Halo, 60 E. 800 South, 8 p.m. Info: 532-1510.

nn

UNITED STATES OF ELECTRONICA

nn

The jury’s still out on United States of Electronica. Intense audience reviews range from “Killer live act!” to “I paid how much to see this group of speed-freaks open for ‘killer live act’? I’m gonna be sick.” Still, any band that can inspire such vitriolic emotions is worth checking out'if only to confirm rumors that disco is not, in fact, dead. The Seattle-based pep-squad leaders are certainly a nice break from gloomy-Gus shoe-gazers, especially if you “got spirit.” Yeah! Yeah! Spirit! Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. Info: 746-0557 (with The Divorce).

nn

Also Thursday: Appleseed Cast (Kilby Court); I Am Electric, F'king Orange (Todd’s Bar & Grill); Spörk, Ghostowne, Dubbed (Monk’s); Tolchock Trio, Porlolo, Seldomseen (Egos)

nn

Friday 10/21

nn

GOODING

Three guys who’ve played 400 shows in 60 cities over two years and four albums'you could say Gooding are tight. Singer-guitarist Gooding (just Gooding), bassist Billy Driver and drummer Jesse Reichenberger are a road-honed music machine, blending rock, blues, funk, soul and stealth stabs of electronica into a powerfully tuneful whole. The Kansas trio’s latest and best, Angel/Devil (GoodingBand.com), is actually the eighth bearing the Gooding name, and if you consider yourself a supporter of the lost art of real, live music, this is the shiznit. Egos, 668 S. State, 9:30 p.m. Info: 521-5255, ClubEgos.com (with Raygun Sound).

nnn

Also Friday: Criteria (Kilby Court); Purr Bats CD Release (Urban Lounge); 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Less Than Never (Todd’s Bar & Grill); Royal Bliss (Liquid Joe’s); Spörk, Blackhole, Stiletto (Brewskis, Ogden)

nn

Saturday 10/22

nn

Adverse CD Release (Urban Lounge'see Music, p. 55); The Rodeo Boys (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); The Breaks, Ether Orchestra (Todd’s Bar & Grill)

nn

Monday 10/24

nn

SAY HI TO YOUR MOM

nn

At first, it’s not clear whether Say Hi To Your Mom is purely a joke band or a horribly misguided, ultraserious group of art-school dropouts. Then Ferocious Mopes gets stuck in your head, and suddenly the Brooklyn-based neo-new-wave artists are near-genius'or at least very, very listenable. It’s synthesizer magic supporting absurd, albeit heartfelt, poetics. It’s songs about teenage love for robots and intense fear of forests. It’s dead serious, funny, and not at all misguided. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. All-ages. Info: 320-9887, KilbyCourt.com (with Micah Dahl)

nn

Also Monday: Iron & Wine, Calexico (In the Venue'see Music p. 54); Morningwood (Lo-Fi Cafe); Switchfoot (Great Saltair)

nn

Tuesday 10/25

nn

GWEN STEFANI, BLACK EYED PEAS

nn

The phrase “sell out” does not apparently hold the same negative connotations of yesteryear. Case in point: Black Eyed Peas, a group once worshipped in the underground for their socially conscious lyrics is now recognized by much larger audiences for lines like “My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely lady lumps,” and “If you got boobies baby keep ’em all plump.” The same could be said of Gwen Stefani, except the former ska princess didn’t so much fall from grace as she did maximize her appeal as a self-made female artist/fashionista. She’s still keepin’ it real. The only difference is songs about Tony are now songs about Gavin. Hella good! E Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Dr., West Valley City, 7 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: 800-888-8499, SmithsTix.com.

nn

PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS

nn

“Noonen” kicks off the best 12-inch you never bought. Thes One’s goodbye-to-all-that number opens with a Caddyshack sample and ends with a wake-up call to every 20-something slacker skirting inevitable adulthood. One is half of superman-hip-hop duo People Under the Stairs, along with partner-in-rhyme, Double K. PUTS is a true DIY project'sampling, rapping, mixing, engineering and producing every one of their highly personal, groove-inducing tracks. They’re the best group you’ll never forget. Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. Info: 746-0557.

nn

Also Tuesday: Court & Spark (Kilby Court); Juliana Theory, Jamison Parker (Lo-Fi Cafe); Mae (Great Saltair)

nn

Wednesday 10/26

nn

Broken Spindles (Kilby Court); Anna Nalick (In the Venue); Judas Priest, Anthrax (E Center); Accidental Experiment (Club Vegas)

nn

COMING UP

nn

U92 Halloween Ball (Vortex, Oct. 27). The Iron Maidens (Whiskey, Oct. 28-29). Lyrics Born (Suede, Oct. 29). Rock Steady: Parkinson’s Benefit (Club 90, Oct. 29). My Morning Jacket (In the Venue, Nov. 1). Rob Thomas (E Center, Nov. 2). Why, Aqueduct (Kilby Court, Nov. 2). Bright Eyes (Kingsbury Hall, Nov. 6). Fall Out Boy (Utah State Fairpark, Nov. 8). Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell (Egos, Nov. 8). Detroit Cobras (Velvet Room, Nov. 10). Soulfly (Lo-Fi Cafe, Nov. 10). Depeche Mode (E Center, Nov. 12). Spoon (Velvet Room, Nov. 14). Buckethead (Velvet Room, Nov. 15). Red Elvises (Egos, Nov. 18). GWAR (Great Saltair, Nov. 25). King’s X (Egos, Nov. 26).