THURSDAY JUNE 26
Flashbulb Fires
On Flashbulb Fires’ latest full-length album, 2012’s Gasconader, the Denver “haze-pop” quartet delves into a narrative about an evangelical gasconader (one who boasts about oneself) character, but the deeper story happening is that of frontman Patrick McGuire’s own complicated past with his parents’ respective faiths, Catholicism and Mormonism. The sound of the album is glowy and smoky, with haunting melodies and rich instrumental texture, a style echoed in the band’s more recent work. Lately, instead of creating complete albums, Flashbulb Fires have been releasing new music as a series of singles, the first of which—available on their Bandcamp page—is the beautiful song “Unseen Things.” Genre Zero—who are releasing a new album tonight—L’anarchiste and California will also perform. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), 8 p.m., $6, KilbyCourt.com; Muse Music Café, 151 N. University Ave., Provo, June 27, 8:30 p.m., $5 in advance, $7 day of show, MuseMusicCafe.com
FRIDAY JUNE 27
Psych Lake City
If you like your music with heavy doses of scuzzy guitar and tons of reverb, this mini psych-rock festival featuring many of the best local bands in the genre will be right up your alley. Some acts are more psychedelic than others, but the stylistic elements they have in common will make for cohesive lineups during the event’s two nights of music. It will also be a good chance to discover something new—if you like one band, there’s a good chance you’ll like the others, even if you’re unfamiliar with some of the names on the bill. Friday night’s show will feature Max Pain & the Groovies, The North Valley, Breakers and Season of the Witch. The lineup on Saturday night will be Spell Talk, Dark Seas, Red Telephone and Koala Temple. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, also June 28, 9 p.m., $7, TheUrbanLoungeSLC.com
SUNDAY JUNE 29
Sean Flinn & the Royal We
Singer-songwriter Sean Flinn is originally from California, but after he relocated to Portland, Ore., he took to that music scene like a fish in water. In 2010, he formed his band The Royal We, who released their debut album, Write Me a Novel, that year. The bright-eyed but thoughtful album is propelled forward with a restless sense of discovery, drawing a slightly twangy folk-rock/indie-pop sound from guitar, tambourine, pedal steel and Flinn’s rich, meandering voice. The band’s hard work has gotten them plenty of national attention, including being ranked on Paste Magazine’s Ten Oregon Bands You Should Listen To Now list in 2012. In July, Sean Flinn & the Royal We will release their upcoming full-length album, The Lost Weekend, which, judging from rolling new single “Heavy Hearts,” should be excellent. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
Burt’s Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 8 p.m., $5
TUESDAY JULY 1
Robert Francis & the
Night Tide
Hundreds of miles ahead of the typical dude-with-guitar, Los Angeles singer-songwriter Robert Francis is on to something truly special. With a voice that immediately hooks you and pulls you in, Francis has the ability to pen uncannily relatable lyrics about love and emotional upheaval. After the release of his third album, 2012’s Strangers in the First Place, Francis had a nervous breakdown that almost made him give up on music completely. But the experience ultimately helped him find his way back to who he is as an artist. “I had to lose myself in order to rediscover who I was in the beginning,” he says in a press release. His fourth album, Heaven—released in June and recorded with Francis’ new backing band, The Night Tide—is jaw-dropping, both in terms of keen songwriting and masterfully executed sound. Lyrical jewels are scattered throughout the album, but especially on “Blue”: “In the night, I’m a gambler, cold-hearted rambler.” Fictionist and Maxim Ludwig are also on the bill. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $10, TheUrbanLoungeSLC.com; limited no-fee tickets available at CityWeeklyStore.com
Jenn Fiorentino
Canadian musician Jenn Fiorentino released her debut album, From Darkness to Light, in 2013, so she is relatively new on the music scene, but she’s been honing her craft for years with inspiration from punk bands like Social Distortion and Bad Religion. Fiorentino has produced a wide range of acoustic covers featuring her powerful voice that have gained thousands of views on her YouTube channel. She does them justice using clear vocals that shoot straight through the listener, resonating of All Time Low. In Jenn Fiorentino’s case, less is more; she’s just a talented musician with her beloved guitar. DC Fallout will also perform. (Camri Mecham)
The Shred Shed, 60 E. Exchange Place, 7 p.m., ShredShedSLC.com
WEDNESDAY JULY 2
Uh Huh Her
When it came time for Los Angeles electro-pop duo Uh Huh Her—who take their name from an album by PJ Harvey—to record their third album, Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey decided to take the entire process closer to home. Moving their studio in 2013 into the home they shared allowed them to answer only to themselves during recording, and therefore experience a new level of creative freedom. The result, released in March, is Future Souls, a sleek, stylish group of sizzling club bangers and introspective dreamscapes, all created with layers of guitar, synths, keyboard and mellow vocals. In the band’s online bio, Grey describes their sound as “avant garde pop with a dance beat,” an apt description: You won’t be able to resist moving to these sophisticated beats. DJ Kim Anh will start the night. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State, 9 p.m., $15, BarDeluxeSLC.com; limited no-fee tickets available at CityWeeklyStore.com
