SALIVA SISTERS

Remember a few months ago when we included the Saliva Sisters’ Songs Our Mother Asked Us Not to Sing (SalivaSisters.com) in City Weekly’s annual Top 50 Local CDs countdown? No? Anyway, Byla (Kristen Merril), Plethora (Michelle Nunley) and Uvula (Rebecca Terry Heal), in typically wacky fashion, are finally getting around to throwing a “seedy” release party for the dang thing—and you don’t even have to be high-rolling dignitary to get in! Utah’s favorite (intentional) musical comedy act isn’t available to the general public all that often, and you’ll have the available bonuses/distractions of beer and Jackass: The Movie, to boot. Thursday, Dec. 19 @ Brewvies, 677 S. 200 West, 355-5500, 8 p.m.

F-SPACE

San Francisco conceptual artist Scot Jenerik earned a degree from Weber State once upon a time; now he likes to make a hellacious industrial racket and set stuff on fire—you can take the boy out of Ogden, etc. His “band” F-Space has been called everything from “the Led Zeppelin of noise” to “shop rock.” Utilizing his own custom-built percussion made from metal, springs, strings and whatever else he can get his hands on, Jenerik creates an “intense spectacle centered around alternative sound and flame sources.” So, if they had drum circles in hell … wait, that is hell … Thursday, Dec. 19 @ The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 746-0557, 9:30 p.m. (with Ether and Optimist Prime).

BASTARD SONS OF JOHNNY CASH

As you should know by now, the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash are so in name only. Cash did, however, give the twang-rockin’ Bastards a thumbs-up and his real son, John Carter Cash, produced two tracks on their second album, Distance Between (Ultimatum), so there’s honorary kinship. Also, with the release of Distance, the Bastards add another celeb endorser: Country-rock wannabe Billy Bob Thornton, who cameos on “Long Black Veil.” Says the actor-singer of BSOJC, “Spooky, traditional, ethereal and earthy all at the same time.” Kinda like ol’ what’s-her-name, Billy Bob? Friday, Dec. 20 @ The Zephyr Club, 301 S. West Temple, 355-CLUB, 9:30 p.m.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

The good news: It’s one of a select few appearances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers that American audiences will be privy to until spring 2003. The bad news: They’re only playing for an hour, so they could squander our 60 minutes on a pantload of whiny confessionals and limp-sock power ballads from By the Way (Warner Bros.), a musically adventurous album nonetheless lacking in the beloved RHCP punk-funk of yore. Maturity is one thing; turning into a VH1 lounge act is another. C’mon, just play Uplift Mofo Party Plan in its entirely and we’ll call it even, cool? Friday, Dec. 20 @ Snowboard Grand Prix, Park City Mountain Resort, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tickets: 800-888-TIXX.

MICHAEL KELSEY

“The more I grow and delve into the acoustic guitar and all of its possibilities, the more I leave the technicalities behind,” says guitarist Michael Kelsey. “It then becomes one seamless flow from my inspiration to the sound hole.” That’s a genteel way of describing Kelsey’s literally hard-hitting fingerstyle—he also likes to use the term “progressive aggressive.” Visiting the familiar checkpoints of Pat Metheny and Leo Kottke, Kelsey smacks his stringed bitch up to produce some of the most viscerally funky acoustic music around. What he does to that sound hole could be illegal in Utah County, however. Saturday, Dec. 21 @ Booth Bros. Performing Arts Center, 165 N. Main, Spanish Fork, 801-798-7650, 8 p.m.

FAB

Locals ladies Monique Lanier, Lisa Marie, Megan Peterson and Mary Tebbs have been holding court for many a Sunday at the Zephyr Club as FAB, the Gearl Jam 2.0 estro-collective with more seasoned musical talents and heavenly harmonies than there are suggestions as to just what the F to the A to the B actually stands for. It’s original music (they are songwriters, after all), it’s the occasional cover tune (what’s a party without ’em?), it’s a lot of special guests (have to put the friends to work). What makes their “Most FABulous Christmas Show” different from any other Sunday night FAB jam? Some giveaways, a little charity work, maybe even some caroling—it’s a surprise, baby. Sunday, Dec. 22 @ The Zephyr Club, 301 S. West Temple, 355-CLUB, 9:30 p.m.

LENNON

When Lennon Murphy pulled a disappearing act from Daniel Ash’s tour earlier this year, many an amorous metal-boy went from fashionably depressed to genuinely. The 20-year-old singer delivered the hard-rock goods (think Fiona Apple fronting Nine Inch Nails) on her Arista Records debut, 5:30 Saturday Morning, but it was hindered by corporate look-at-the-hot-chick hype—predictably, Lennon has since split from the label. And don’t get her started on Women In Rock: “I don’t like the stigma of being a female artist,” she told Playboy. “The only difference between me and everybody else is I don’t have a dick.” Monday, Dec. 23 @ The Element, 7 E. 4800 South, 288-0819, 9:30 p.m. (Free show; passes available from the club).

COMING UP

Tone Loc (Port O’ Call, Dec. 26). Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons (Zephyr Club, Dec. 27-28). Spearhead (Harry O’s, Dec. 27). Leftover Salmon (Zephyr Club, Dec. 29-30). Jesse Dayton (Zephyr Club, Dec. 31). Faster Pussycat (The Element, Dec. 31). Face to Face (Bricks, Jan. 2). The Used (Xscape, Jan. 3). Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker & Roy Hargrove (Abravanel Hall, Jan. 7). Henry Rollins (Kingsbury Hall, Jan. 14). Super Diamond (Liquid Joe’s, Jan. 10-11). Hell’s Belles (Liquid Joe’s, Jan. 17-18). Bonepony (Port O’ Call, Jan. 18). Piebald (Xscape, Jan. 18). Juliana Theory (Xscape, Jan 27). BR5-49 (Zephyr Club, Jan. 28). Insane Clown Posse (Saltair, Jan. 30). Coldplay (Saltair, Feb. 7). Reverend Horton Heat (Xscape, Feb. 13). The Roots (Harry O’s, Feb. 17).