The Red River, Abe Vigoda, Wild Nothing, Vanity Theft, Leftover Salmon, Peaceful Uprising, DeVotchKa
Live: Music Picks Feb. 24-Mar. 2
By Dan Nailen
The Red River
On first listen, my reaction to The Red River’s Little Songs About the Big Picture was, “How did I miss the boat on these guys?” The group is led by singer and composer Bill Roberts, who incorporated some of his various roommates in Long Beach to create a gorgeous set of orchestral pop. He slathers on French horn, strings, keyboards and guitars to make some utterly beautiful indie-pop that seems timeless in its sentiments, and its sound. And to think I believed Snoop Dogg was the only worthwhile performer to come out of Long Beach. Bobby and the Tiger and The Awful Truth open the show. Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), 7 p.m., $6
Friday Feb. 25
Abe Vigoda, Wild Nothing
I know we’d all love to see actor Abe Vigoda live and in person, but this is not the famous Fish. Rather, this double-bill is an intriguing mix of aggression and languid synth-pop. On the one hand, you have Abe Vigoda, the frantic Los Angeles noise-rockers whose latest album, Crush, trades in some of its avant-garde guitar thrashing in favor of tasty dance beats. On the other hand, Canada’s Wild Nothing is the solo project of Jack Tatum, who recorded his album, Gemini, all by himself, blending drum machines, jittery guitar lines and carefully orchestrated synth-pop arrangements. It’s very ’80s-sounding, but also a winning mix. Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), 7 p.m., $8
Saturday Feb. 26
Vanity Theft
It’s not every day that a band playing Burt’s Tiki Lounge includes a former Disney Channel star, but Saturday IS that day. Lalaine is the star in question, and she is a member of the raucous all-girl Ohio-based crew Vanity Theft. Think The Runaways or L7 and you’re on the right track; Vanity Theft started up in Dayton (hometown of another killer grrrl-rocker, Kim Deal), and have been living on the road for the better part of the past year. This tour they’re rolling with Hunter Valentine, as well as openers ESX and Radio Courtesy. Burt’s Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 8 p.m., $7
Leftover Salmon
It’s been a spell since the pioneers of so-called “Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass” have come through town all together, the members spending much of the past few years working in various side projects. 2010 marked Leftover Salmon’s 20th anniversary, and they’re continuing the celebration with a run through their home state of Colorado, with a side-trip to Utah for a gig sure to be full of their jazz, bluegrass, funk, folk and, yes, Cajun influences. Fellow Colorado cats Elephant Revival open the show. The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 7:30 p.m., $20 advance/$25 day of show
Sunday Feb. 27
Peaceful Uprising with Alex Ebert of Edward Sharp & the Magnetic Zeros, Joshua James, Sassafras
The Uprising Summit arrives in Salt Lake City this week with two days full of activities designed to empower people to expand their personal and political power and to support Tim DeChristopher as his trial gets ready to start on Monday. After all the workshops, discussions and activities, even political activists like to cut loose a little, and they’ll have their chance Sunday night with this acoustic-centric bill. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., cover TBA
Tuesday March 1
DeVotchKa
Hard to believe it’s been four years since DeVotchKa’s last album, but so it is; the new 100 Lovers is the band’s first new set since the excellent A Mad and Faithful Telling. The years in between have been anything but mellow for the band that trades in everything from Eastern European gypsy tunes to Southwest border music in its attack. They did the soundtrack for the Oscar-nominated Little Miss Sunshine along the way, and moved their live show from clubs to massive stages at festivals like Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot and Lollapalooza. The lush new set could make the band even bigger, so this club show might be the last time we get to see them in such cozy confines. In the Venue, 219 S. 600 West, 8 p.m., $20.50 advance/$23 day of show
Coming Up
Genitorturers (Club Vegas, March 3), Whitechapel (The Complex, March 3), Portugal. The Man (In The Venue, March 4), Scott H. Biram (The Urban Lounge, March 5) Weedeater, Zoroaster (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, March 5), John Popper (The State Room, March 7), A Hawk & a Hacksaw (The Urban Lounge, March 8), Lords of Acid (In The Venue, March 8), Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band (The State Room, March 9), The New Mastersounds (The State Room, March 10) Norma Jean (Club Sound, March 10), Saving Abel (The Complex, March 10), Dirty Heads (Club Sound, March 11), Elephant 6 Collective (Kilby Court, March 11), The Quick & Easy Boys (The State Room, March 11), State Radio (Club Sound, March 12), Young Dubliners (The Depot, March 12), Marnie Stern, Tera Melos (Kilby Court, March 13)
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