THURSDAY SEPT. 26
Swimm
Changing colors and flavors more than an Everlasting Gobstopper, Swimm’s unique sound seamlessly blends genres as disparate as folk, rock, shoegaze and psychedelia, heard most recently on debut EP Feel, released in April. The Los Angeles-based duo is made up of Chris Hess and Adam Winn—although they’ll probably be backed by a few friends for this show—who are onto something big with tight, multilayered songs like the indie-pop concoction “Wanderer,” which is dreamy and sway-worthy but has a pulsing, dance-able beat. Other album highlights include “Too Old,” with some awesomely yelpy vocals, and the harmonica-tinged “Souvenir.” The New Electric Sound is also on the bill. (Kolbie Stonehoker)
Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), 7 p.m., $8; also 9.28 @ Velour, 135 N. University Ave., 8 p.m., $8
FRIDAY SEPT. 27
Fall of Zion: Utah Extreme Metal Fest
If you find cathartic release in the crushing embrace of metal, this two-day all-ages event is just for you, dark-hearted music lover. With an impressive lineup that includes both local and touring bands, there’s sure to be something to please your palate, whether you’re into black metal, experimental black doom or just black. Friday night (called “Scourging”) will feature Odium Totus, Eagle Twin, Winterlore, Deathblow, Steel Bearing Hand and The Obliterate Plague. On Saturday (called “Crowning”), check out Gravecode Nebula, Blasphemous Creation, Visigoth, Huldra, Gravetown, Uroboric Deity, Burn Your World, Hypernova Holocaust and more. (Kolbie Stonehoker)
The Shred Shed, 60 E. Exchange Place, 7 p.m., also Sept. 28, 4:30 p.m., $8
SATURDAY SEPT. 28
The Circulars CD Release
This local four-piece has been around only since April, but they’re already releasing a self-titled six-song EP—not a shabby way to celebrate the band’s five-month anniversary. Made up of members of The Awful Truth and Hang Time, The Circulars’—as in a widely distributed newspaper or flier, not the angle-less shape—genre-defying sound is atmospheric, minimal and easy to get lost in, but grounded in folk-music sensibilities influenced by a love for Bob Dylan. Vocalist/guitarist Sam Burton says, “We’re putting folk song structures and chord structures to synth tones and watery-based tones and reverb-y guitars.” The EP will be released digitally only, and if you purchase it at the CD release show, you’ll receive a print of the album art (created by local artist Korey Daniel Martin) and a code to download the music. Check out “Living Images,” and let it pull you in with its hypnotic tractor beam. Birthquake and Foster Body are also on the bill. (Kolbie Stonehoker)
The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 8 p.m., $5
MONDAY SEPT. 30
Yellowcard
When it comes to Yellowcard, there doesn’t seem to be much of an in-between. Either you’re like me, and you immediately associate them with the nostalgia of the electric-violin 2004 hit “Ocean Avenue” playing every 20 minutes on the radio, or you’re a member of their dedicated fanbase—Yellowcard has one of the most intensive band-audience bonds in the music industry. Recently, the band released Ocean Avenue Acoustic to celebrate the album’s 10th anniversary, and their show at The Complex this week is certain to be legendary among die-hard fans. Thursday’s Geoff Rickly is also on the bill. (Ivy Smith)
The Complex, 536 W. 100 South, 7:30 p.m., $22 in advance, $25 day of show
TUESDAY 10.1
J. Roddy Walston & the Business
There’s nothing like the loneliness and “other”-ness that can creep up when you feel like you have a deep, dark secret—be it OCD, a phobia of spiders or an extreme love for The Grateful Dead. But the best way to conquer whatever “thing” you have is to refuse to bottle it up and hide it away, like when J. Roddy Walston named his Baltimore-based band’s third album, Essential Tremors (ATO Records)—released Sept. 10—after a nervous-system disorder he’s dealt with all his life. He says he’s referenced the disorder—which makes his hands involuntarily shake—in their previous albums, but this is the first time it’s had a light shone on it directly. “It made sense to be more open about it on this album, which is partly about owning and embracing your weirdness instead of letting it hold you captive because you don’t even want to talk about it,” Walston says. The result is a gloriously in-your-face rock & roll explosion, with the perfect combination of raw vocals, sexy guitar chords and a hip-shaking beat. Go listen to “Sweat Shock” nice and loud. Gringo Star is also on the bill. (Kolbie Stonehoker)
The State Room, 638 S. State, 8 p.m., $12
Gold Panda
Like the musical version of a scrapbook that’s put together after a long trip—full of photos, ticket stubs, postcards, etc. collected from around the world—U.K.-born electronic artist Gold Panda’s second album, Half of Where You Live (Ghostly International), is internationally inspired, filled with sound samples that paint a picture of exotic locales. For example, “Brazil”—with a clip of a man saying “for sale”—is a snippet of the frenetic chaos of sprawling Sao Paulo. About the song, Gold Panda says, “I wanted to make a track that soundtracked my ride from the airport to downtown. The [vocal] sample is kind of like an excited chant, bigging up the place, then it all gets confusing to replicate the traffic and buildings.” The track “My Father in Hong Kong 1961” is especially evocative, created with sounds of traditional Asian instruments over an unobtrusive but sophisticated beat. And like a trip that’s not dictated by any itinerary, Gold Panda says he tried to avoid “anything that was too solid structurally” on the album. Listening to Half of Where You Live will make you feel like you’re jetsetting to Tokyo, even if you’re just gazing out the window on TRAX. Slow Magic and Voices of black will start things off. (Kolbie Stonehoker)
The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 8 p.m., $12 in advance, $14 day of show
WEDNESDAY OCT. 2
Mount Kimbie
If you are one of those people who hates dubstep and
electronic music, then it’s time you tried listening to Mount Kimbie.
The British duo has often been labeled post-dubstep because they don’t
fit into the typical genre; their newest album, Cold Spring Fault Less
Youth, for example, has a more instrumental sound than the typical
dubstep record. It features a more mellow tone and has more traditional
lyrics, compared to earlier albums that had only a few lyrics broken up
and scattered throughout their songs. Keep an eye on this band and see
what they will do next. Houses, Jonwayne and Amp Live are also
performing. (Laurie Reiner)
The Urban Lounge 241 S. 500 East, 8 p.m., $12 in advance, $14 day of show
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