PHIX
Boulder’s Phix is a Phish tribute band only up to a point: They don’t try to look like Trey & Co., nor do they drag out Phish concert staples like trampolines—it really is all about the music, man. “We’re not necessarily trying to sound exactly like Phish; we’re trying to put our own spin on it,” says guitarist Paul Murin. “If we did literally try to re-create what Phish does, I don’t think people would be that interested in hearing us.” And no, one does not prepare for a Phish tribute show by smoking oregano. THURSDAY, Feb. 26 @ Plan B, 268 Main, Park City, 9 p.m. Info: 435-615-7588.
CRISIS
This time it’s real, kids: Albee Square moved last week, right behind Taffy Town on 800 South in The SLC, can’t miss it. Veteran East Coast art-metal band Crisis, fronted by ever-popular leathersmith Karyn Crisis, will be one of the initial acts breaking the joint in—coincidentally, they’ve recently signed with Salt Lake City-based label The End Records and will release their fourth album, Like Sheep Led to Slaughter, come spring. If the brutal advance track “Nomad” is any indication, Crisis are as heavy and eclectic as ever, and Karyn still very much Karyn. FRIDAY, Feb. 27 @ Albee Square, 850 S. Richards St. (40 West), 8 p.m. Info: 347-8117 (with Pushing Up Daisies).
SATURDAY BENEFITS
Tonya Ward Benefit: McCool Group, Robbie & the Blue Tones, Jared Gallardo Band, D.S.E., Shift, Opposable Thumb, Deadvolt, King Tree, Shred Bettie and Vomit rock to raise funds for the medical needs of Shred Bettie frontwoman Tonya Ward ($10). SATURDAY, Feb. 28 @ Phat Tire Saloon, 7 E. 4800 South, 2 p.m.-1 a.m. Info: 262-7428. Listen Magazine Benefit: Colin Robison, SpaceTime and Mishmash rock to raise funds for the publishing needs of local arts mag Listen ($5). SATURDAY, Feb. 28 @ Egos, 668 S. State, 9 p.m. Info: 521-5255.
COSM
There’s no band like Salt Lake electronic/organic drum & bass iconoclasts Cosm, local or otherwise, so why would they release music on a standard old compact disc? Cosm’s dazzling new Fast Way to Go (Pseudo Recordings), being released tonight, is a four-song EP that gets back to the original extended-play format: 12-inch clear vinyl, not puny 5-inch digital. The foursome’s sleek designer blend of breakbeats, subsonic bass, manic live drums and seductive vocals is more focused and tunefully liquid than ever—definitely worth digging out the turntable, if not the disco ball. SATURDAY, Feb. 28 @ 3010 W. 500 South, 9 p.m. Info: www.CosmBreaks.com.
JULIAN MARLEY
How many Kids of Bob are there, anyway? Julian, the next-to-youngest son of reggae legend Bob Marley, began his own recording career at age 5, but only released his second album, A Time and Place (Tuff Gong), last year. He may not be as prolific as pop was, but Julian’s music touches on more stylistic ground, incorporating R& , Latin, jazz and hip-hop grooves into trad reggae. “It all comes down to listening and loving music,” he says. “If you love music, any kind of music, it just filters through you.” SATURDAY, Feb. 28 @ Suede, 1612 Ute Blvd. (Kimball Junction), Park City, 9 p.m. Info: 435-658-2665.
THE ELECTED
Classic ’70s left-coast AM-radio chamber pop and country rock from the guitarist of Rilo Kiley on Sub Pop Records—it makes more sense when you hear it, and The Elected’s brand-new debut, Me First, is a beautifully twisted thing to hear. Members of other indie-rock luminaries like The Postal Service, Ozma, Azure Ray and Arlo are along for the tears-in-yer-beer (or Merlot) ride, nicely summed up by Sub Pop as “Nilsson’s Midnight Cowboy given an ambient remix by Aphex Twin.” In a mild oversight, locals The Electoral College are not opening. MONDAY, March 1 @ Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 8 p.m. Info: 320-9887 (with David Dondero).
REBIRTH BRASS BAND
They may appear on a compilation album called Straight From the Sixth Ward (you know what that’ll suggest to locals) and technically be a classic marching band, but New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band put on a funkier show than you’d expect from eight dudes blowin’ trumpets and tubas on a club stage. Now celebrating almost 21 years together in various forms, RBB have toured the world with the Grateful Dead, the Meters, George Clinton & the P-Funk Allstars and Ani DiFranco—and they can even liven up a post-Fat Tuesday night in Park City. TUESDAY, March 2 @ Suede, 1612 Ute Blvd. (Kimball Junction), Park City, 9 p.m. Info: 658-2665.
MARY LOU LORD
One-time It Girl Boston alt-folkie Mary Lou Lord has been on and off the musical radar since her major-label debut Got No Shadow in 1998, which was answered three years later with the intimate Live City Sounds covers album and finally now Baby Blue (Rubric Records), due out March 9. Lord is back in full-band electric-pop mode, with a dozen fetching new originals, some hints at country twang and, of course, a pair of choice cover songs: Pink Floyd’s “Fearless” and Badfinger’s “Baby Blue.” And yes, if you were wondering, it’s way better than Courtney Love’s album. WEDNESDAY, March 3 @ Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 8 p.m. Info: 320-9887 (with Gingersol).
COMING UP
Ima Robot (In the Venue/Sound, March 6). Slim Cessna’s Auto Club (Liquid Joe’s, March 9). New Monsoon (Halo, March 9). Joan Baez (Kingsbury Hall, March 10). Decemberists (Halo, March 11). Bob Weir & Ratdog (Harry O’s, March 13). The Temptations (Kingsbury Hall, March 13). The Catheters (Kilby Court, March 15). Sam Bush (Port O’ Call, March 17). A Perfect Circle, Mars Volta (E Center, March 18). Barenaked Ladies, Howie Day (E Center, March 20). Death Cab For Cutie (In the Venue/Sound, March 22). Brubeck Brothers (Sheraton Center, March 22). Tesla (E Center, March 24). Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson (Delta Center, March 26).
