RIDDLIN’ KIDS, ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS
Quashing (a fancy word only used in print language, you may notice) rumors that the venue was just going take up residence on a rambling flatbed truck, all-ages joint The Junction has found yet another new home: The old Power Plant digs near the Cottonwood Mall in Holladay. How major-label pop-punk bands Riddlin’ Kids (Hurry Up and Wait out now on Columbia) and All-American Rejects (self-titled debut on DreamWorks, Feb. 4) located the suburban hang is anyone’s guess—maybe it was the Hot Dog On a Stick nearby. Thursday, Jan. 30 @ The Junction, 4991 S. Highland Dr., 688-2224, 6 p.m. (with Homegrown, Special Edward and Day Two).
INSANE CLOWN POSSE
Love ’em, hate ’em or really hate ’em, Detroit’s Insane Clown Posse is a fan-driven force to be reckoned with. The Juggalos (as ICP’s legions are known) are rabidly devoted to Violent Jay, Shaggy 2 Dope and all things under the shock-rap duo’s lunatic circus tent, which explains why an act no longer on a major label (they’ve dumped Island for their own Psychopathic Records) could even consider filling up a venue like Saltair. ICP’s latest, The Wraith, isn’t going to win over any non-Juggs, nor is it meant to—but damned if “Homies” isn’t actually kinda catchy. ICP on TRL? Oh, to dream. Thursday, Jan. 30 @ Saltair, I-80 West Exit 104, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 800-888-TIXX.
SHORT BUS
Where Sublime offshoots Long Beach Dub Allstars concentrated on the reggae/ska/hip-hop side of SoCal surf life, newest addition to the big happy-stony family Short Bus (bassist Eric Wilson, drummer Kelly Vargas, guitarists Ras-1 and Trey Pangborn) run more on the punk/alt-rock side. Beyond that, little else is known about the foursome—the most that could be found online (God forbid anyone send ahead press materials or even a heads-up) are message-board pissing matches between LBDAS fans and Sublime fans, who seem to agree that Short Bus could pass for … Ween? Thursday, Jan. 30 @ The Element, 7 E. 4800 South, 288-0819, 9:30 p.m. (with Cryptobiotic and Flatline Syndicate).
RICHARD “HUMPTY” VISSION
How can you not like a DJ who once released an album called Shut the Fuck Up and Dance? Canadian DJ-producer-remixer Richard “Humpty” Vission’s (he’s not sure what the nickname means, either) hard ‘n’ funky fingerprints can be found all over remixes for Madonna, Destiny’s Child, Nelly Furtado, Crystal Waters and plenty more, but it’s original tracks like “Kamilean” and “Atomic Ghetto” from his forthcoming studio disc that hit the hardest. “I’ve dedicated my life to the pursuit of dance music,” Vission says. “And my only goal for the future is to create music that will touch someone’s soul and make their ass shake!” Thursday, Jan. 30 @ Axis, 108 S. 500 West, 712-5050, 9:30 p.m.
THE DEBONAIRS
Dateline, Ogden: “They had a stupid name and a handful of songs. They were ready to terrorize the public.” That’s not just an idle threat from The Debonairs, possibly one of the biggest balls of hellacious noise from O-Town since Hill Air Force Base. This Be The Debonairs, the trio’s debut CD, is a trash-rawk onslaught of ’60s garage, rockabilly and undiagnosed psychosis wrapped up in two-minute twists like “Man and a Half,” “Yeah … No!” and “Squirm, Crawl, Twitch & Roll.” Sayeth bassist Ben Thunderblood, “The Debonairs make rock & roll music, and by rock & roll I mean bleeaarrgghh!” Gotcha. Friday, Jan. 31 @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 521-0572, 9:30 p.m.
TOBY KEITH
Say what you will about Toby Keith’s redneck revenge anthem, “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American)”: It sold by the truckload. Still, it’s hard not to get a chuckle out of Keith’s (over)reaction to criticism from Dixie Chick Natalie Maines over the tune. “I’ve been BMI’s Songwriter of the Year,” he huffed to CMT. “I’m a big-time songwriter; I’m in the big-league of that. Asking me my opinion on what she said about me, that’s like asking Barry Bonds what he thought about what a softball player said about his swing.” Courtesy of the Angry Dickhead. Saturday, Feb. 1 @ The Delta Center, 300 W. Temple, 7 p.m. Tickets: 325-SEAT (with Rascal Flatts).
VICTOR WOOTEN
It’s the most maligned of all electric stringed instruments, but the bass guitar at least has its share of champions: Jaco Pastorius, Bootsy Collins, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls (“Big Bottom,” man!) and, highest in contemporary monster-chops profiles, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones’ low-end man Victor Wooten. “The bass instrument’s purpose is not just to play one or two notes to support everyone. It’s to make music,” Wooten says. “Basically, that’s however you wanna do it. Now, yes, the bass usually performs a certain role and that’s holding up the bottom and defining the core, but that’s like saying all tall people have to play basketball.” Again, “Big Bottom,” man! Saturday, Feb. 1 @ Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah, 8 p.m. Tickets: 355-ARTS.
MAROON 5, NEW MONSOON
Maroon 5 have trotted their funky blue-eyed soul and adult-alternative rock through here before—but they didn’t have a rhyming band with ’em, now did they? San Francisco’s New Monsoon have inspired comparisons to everything from the Allman Brothers and Santana to the String Cheese Incident and the Dave Matthews Band—if you’re smelling world-fusion jams, go with it. “There’s a type of magic that happens onstage,” percussionist Rajiv Parikh told the San Francisco Chronicle. “We all listen to and respect each other as musicians.” Wednesday, Feb. 5 @ The Zephyr Club, 301 S. West Temple, 355-CLUB, 9:30 p.m. (with Cowboy Mouth).
COMING UP
Claudia Acuna (Kingsbury Hall, Feb. 6). Commonbond (Dead Goat Saloon, Feb. 6). Coldplay (Saltair, Feb. 7). Ben Kweller (Xscape, Feb. 8). Coheed & Cambria (Xscape Basement, Feb. 8). Moe (Harry O’s, Feb. 9). Toad the Wet Sprocket (Bricks, Feb. 10). Derek Trucks (Zephyr Club, Feb. 10). David Gray (Kingsbury Hall, Feb. 11). Reverend Horton Heat (Xscape, Feb. 13). Louis Osbourne (Axis, Feb. 13). The Bangs (Xscape, Feb. 14). Rainer Maria (Xscape, Feb. 16). The Roots (Harry O’s, Feb. 17). Mofro (Zephyr Club, Feb. 19). Del McCoury Band (Kingsbury Hall, Feb. 19). The Pharcyde (Suede, Feb. 20). PH Balance (Lazy Moon, Feb. 20). Baby Anne (Axis, Feb. 20).
