Thursday 1.24
ROE V. WADE ANNIVERSARY: ¡ANDALE!
Despite pro-life activists’ ongoing efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 35-year-old ruling still stands as the final word on legalized abortion. Originally sparked by one Texas plaintiff’s refusal to have a baby she couldn’t raise, the case dismissed a state statute stating that an abortion could only be performed if the woman’s life was at stake. Tonight, the Planned Parenthood Action Council celebrates a woman’s right to reproductive health-care options with a performance by Salt Lake City rockers ¡Andale! Fronted by vocalist Memorie Morrison with her self-deprecating wit, the local quartet specializes in smart, firecracker punk that represents the best lessons Kathleen Hanna or L7 ever passed down. Rumor has it ¡Andale! is readying a debut release, but we’ve yet to receive a copy. Hint. Hint. Raise a fist for freedom (but please don’t mention “girl power”) tonight. Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State, 7-9 p.m. Tickets: 328-8939
• Also Thursday: STS9 (The Depot); V.A.S.T (The Paladium); 18 Wheels of Justice (Bar Deluxe, 10 p.m.)
Friday 1.25
OLIVER FUTURE, ROMAN NUMERALS
Oliver Future might have a soaring experimental pop sound, but the Los Angeles quintet isn’t all puppies and rainbows: “I’m sick of the sunshine/I’m missing the rain,” lead vocalist Noah Lit admits on the infectious “Stranger Than the Stranger.” The track’s references to social anxiety and bitter, unrequited love likely helped the band snag comparisons to Radiohead (“Creep”) and The Walkmen (“The Rat”), but beyond lyrical content, there’s little to back up such parallels. Take “The Slow Fast,” for example. Its filtered vocals approach Bowie’s “Life on Mars” inflection while the instrumentation builds to a frantic, zanier climax—a Devo vs. Apples in Stereo face-off with swirling new-wave keys and layer upon layer of electronic sweat. Speaking of Bowie, Roman Numerals are also on tonight’s bill, bringing to the club’s intimate stage a lush, new-wave/pop sound with luxurious, British-tinged vocals by way of Kentucky. Salt Lake City’s The Ruby Release (formerly Johnny Walker’s Dead Horses) will open with a dramatic, heartfelt set of inspirational tearjerkers. Star Bar, 268 Main, Park City, 9 p.m. Info: 435-658-5709
• Also Friday: School of Rock: Pink Floyd’s The Wall (Ecker Hill Middle School); School of Rock: Women in Rock (Social Work Auditorium); SLAMMys Ambient Rock: Our Time In Space, I Hear Sirens, Dulce Sky (Liquid Joe’s); Hot Buttered Rum String Band (The Paladium); Kevin Elliot & The Broken (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Michael Franti & Spearhead (The Depot—see Essentials); Sweatshop Union (Urban Lounge); Purr Bats (Bar Deluxe); Subrosa (Under the Bridge Lounge); Irony Man (Brewskis, Ogden); SLAMMys Pop/Indie: Kid Theodore, Future of the Ghost, Seve vs. Evan (Velour, Provo)
Saturday 1.26
MATT FLINNER TRIO
Play that funky mandolin, white boy! What? You’ve never thought of the mandolin as “funky?” You’ve obviously never heard Matt Flinner put his Parliament spin on the precious stringed instrument. “Men from Boise” isn’t your average bluegrass, jazz or funk song. It’s just one of many Flinner compositions that earns him a place among somewhat more traditional guitar heroes. Flinner and his modern mandolin trio craft beautiful, sometimes surprising instrumentals whose range suits wedding marches, picnics and slamming house parties alike. Check out the sample pack tonight and test your skills tomorrow through Tuesday by signing up for private mandolin or banjo lessons with Flinner. Go ahead. Make your friends jealous. South Valley Unitarian, 6876 S. Highland Dr., 7 p.m. All-ages. Info: 801-944-9723
• Also Saturday: Jinga Boa (Woodshed); Paul Oakenfeld (In the Venue); SLAMMys Hard Rock: Top Dead Celebrity, Xur, Iota (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); SLAMMys Pop/Indie: The Lionelle, Let’s Become Actors, Cavedoll (Urban Lounge); SLAMMys Noise: Agape, Ether, I Hate Girls With Bruises, 1h86335, Yeti, Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle, Palace of Buddies (Red Light Books)
Tuesday 1.29
Job for a Cowboy (Avalon Theater); Bad Apples, Knowitalls (Urban Lounge), Xur (Monk’s)
GALLOWS
There’s not a pop to be found in these young punks’ sound. Refreshing in their gritty intensity, the hardcore U.K. artists stand out among the usual Warped Tour suspects whose tough exterior often stinks of Mom’s basement. Gallows’ 2007 release Orchestra of Wolves refuses to let up, with Frank Carter screaming through his skin, breaking tendons to slap the listener to attention. His voice slips into graceful harmonies in fits and starts, crying “Baby, baby, baby” followed by a roooaaar that’ll have you sucking on a Halls: “I never loved you anyway.” Oh, and I’m going to go ahead and interpret the title track as a cautionary tale, not a how-to guide for assholes. Avalon Theater, 3065 S. State, 6:30 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: SmithsTix.com
You might think Special Teamz are racist if you miss the point of “Stereotypez.” But really, the most offensive thing about this diverse Boston hip-hop collective is their excessive zest for the letter “z.” Cited as a “racial supergroup,” the multicultural trio rhymes to defy not only negative perceptions of class and ethnicity but also popular conceptions of contemporary hip-hop. Emcee Edo G is an around-the-way artist, the godfather of Boston hip-hop with an early-’90s hit under his belt and a whole lot to say about young artists acting like fools for a ride in the Benzo. Fellow Teamz members Jaysaun (The Kreators) and Slaine match his passion, skill and little patience for sub-par imitators giving the game a bad name. Get schooled, tonight. Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State, 10 p.m. Tickets: SmithsTix.com
• Also Wednesday: Cord Season, Wendy Ohlwiler (Kilby Court); Dallas Alice (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)
Coming Up
Liars, No Age, Tolchock Trio (Urban Lounge, Jan. 31); Talib Kweli (Harry O’s, Jan. 31); SLAMMys Acoustic: James Miska, Chaz Prymek, Chanticleer, Grizzly Prospector (Mo’s Neighborhood Grill, Jan. 31); SLAMMys Acoustic: Stacey Board, Eliza Wren, Dead Horse Point, Wendy Ohlwiler (Hog Wallow, Jan. 31); SLAMMys Mellow Rock/Jazz: Ether Orchestra, Calico, Coyote Hoods, Aye Aye (Woodshed, Feb. 1); SLAMMys Hip-Hop: Knoitalls, Adverse, Deadbeats (Monk’s, Feb. 1); Jason Isbell, Will Hoge (The Paladium, Feb. 2); Bubba Sparxxx (Teazers, Feb. 2); SLAMMys Electronic/Experimental: Nonnon & Lapsed, Stephen Chai, A. Vanranken, VCR Quintet (Orange, Feb. 2); SLAMMys Indie Rock: Glinting Gems, Red Bennies, Purr Bats (Urban Lounge, Feb. 2)
