Portia Early, X96 weekend DJ and host of Live & Local (Sundays, 8-10 p.m.), wants to tell you about three more of her favorite Utah bands and songs:
My Own Time is the brainchild of former Oxido Republica frontman Victor Viveros, who originally wanted to start a cover band after the popular metal act dissolved last year. Thing is, though, the talented new quartet started making good original material. Now MOT is less novelty act, more serious kick-ass band. MOT draws on several voices, including those of Agony Olivia, a tough-as-asphalt female singer whose pipes are rough and pretty much the opposite of estrogen-like singers (see: Brian Aubert of Silversun Pickups). MOT mixes things up. One song will start with soft cymbal escalating into ripping electric guitar for about one minute before the vocals kick in. Others have glorious harmonies with minimal screaming involved. Viveros did a killer job picking members (Marco Garcia and Juan Rodriguez originally from Oxido Republica, and newcomer Agony) to make this one of the more diverse hardcore groups in the state. They are performing with Never Before at The Outer Rim on June 27. Pick up their debut EP Rise From The Downfall at the show. MySpace.com/MyOwnTimeMusic
Colby Stead “Haunted Hole”
When Colby Stead teams up with Amy Robinson, the male/female harmonies remind me of a broken-down version of Salt Lake City’s Band of Annuals. Of course, Stead is by no means a BOA rip-off. “Haunted Hole,” one of the more guitar-driven pop/folk songs on their new full-length So It Goes. It is unique, catchy and wholly passionate. Catch him live with Rocky Votolato at Velour on July 18. MySpace.com/ColbyStead
I was bummed I couldn’t see the Reverend Horton Heat play for the 23rd time because I was called to judge the U.S. National Air Guitar Championships. So thank heaven for Salt Town Greasers. Listening to the local band’s new album in my car over and over for three days gave me a suitable rockabilly fix. Besides ska, I love me some rockabilly. STG’s eponymous release is pretty eclectic. From the token power ballad to a song with a rockin’ fiddle player, a cool version of “Little Red Riding Hood,” and, my favorite, the gritty, sexy “Feel Your Touch.” Think Rocky Horror Picture Show, greaser style! Being a theater major myself, I thought this song was a ton of fun because it’s so dramatically sung by frontman Adam Marty and gutsy-hot female vocalist Shannon Mitch. It’s quite a departure from “Eat a Hippie,” which almost made me pee my pants. MySpace.com/SaltTownGreasers
