Thursday 2.1
tt- Numbs CD Release (Monk’s'see Music, p. 50); Marah, Will Hoge, The Drams (Suede, Park City)
Friday 2.2
ttPRISM: NICK JAMES & JESSE WALKER
tLocal DJs Nick James and Jesse Walker didn’t waste any time locating another project through which to channel their diverse talents. Just months after putting former monthly party Just Wanna Dance to rest, they’re back with Prism: The People’s Discotheque. Touted as “a bright light in the middle of a dark forest,” the new experience promises to uphold the same democratic goodwill that drove JWD while streaming hot urban soul, space disco, deep house and other fine sounds. Nourish your mind, body and spirit every first and third Friday with James and Walker; every second and fourth Friday with a rotating cast of guest DJs, starting tonight. The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 9 p.m. Info: DepotSLC.com.
Also Friday: Showdown to SLAMMys: All-Ages (Velour, Provo); The Blitz (Country Club Theater, Ogden); Sweatshop Union (Brewskis, Ogden); The Photo Atlas (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)
Saturday 2.3
ttDR. OCTAGON/KOOL KEITH
tWhen Kool Keith killed off his alter ego, Dr. Octagon, he single-handedly destroyed hip-hop’s wonderfully mad architect of kaleidoscope sound. Or did he? Return of Dr. Octagon features the allegedly deceased character in fine form, foreshadowing imminent earth crises (“Trees”) and extraterrestrial occupation (“Aliens”) over electronic mash-up productions courtesy of One Watt Sun. There’s a good chance this will sell out. For those unfamiliar with his work, purchase the classic Dr. Octoganecologyst or tune into KRCL 90.9’s Savant Garde Sound System (Thursdays, 8:30-10:30 p.m.) for host 12 Deadly Styles’ weekly appreciation of Octagon and similar artists’ basement breakbeats, turntabalism and krylon riddims. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com.
SHOWDOWN TO SLAMMYS: PRELIM ROUND
tThere are, apparently, numerous reasons to explain why more local bands didn’t enter City Weekly’s Showdown to SXSW. Many artists expressed confusion over the sudden merging of the SXSW and SLAMMys. The SLAMMys, an acronym for “Salt Lake area music and more,” in years past expressed more love for the music than for the “and more.” Other bands heard CW isn’t sending the Showdown winners to Austin. Not true. While the winning group won’t perform a mid-afternoon set for five people, they’ll still receive a coveted music badge to check out such acts as Booker T and Iggy & The Stooges and a chance to promote their own material. Got it? Good. Tonight, cheer on the groups who did enter the competition including The Furs, The Rubes, Calico, AJ, Dave Tate, Kid Theodore, Starmy, Buck Dexter and others at various venues (one ticket gets you into each private club). Complete schedule: SLWeekly.com (Semi-Finals Wednesday, Feb. 7).
- Also Saturday: No Quarter (The Depot); Pato Banton (Suede, Park City)
Monday 2.5
ttDR. ISRAEL
tLike Dr. Octagon, Dr. Israel colors outside traditional sound. His palate is a decidedly less-frenetic blend of traditional and contemporary roots, dub, trip-hop, rock and R&B that consciously sidesteps the bastardization of original reggae while still exploring new frontiers. His latest release Patterns of War is at times mellow, spooky, sexy and uplifting. Vocalists, including Israel, Lady K and Chemda, further distort each track with their own musical proclivities'K’s smoky timbre, Chemda’s high-pitched coo. Monk’s, 19 W. 200 South, 9 p.m. Info: 350-0950.
Tuesday 2.6
ttEVERCLEAR, JONNY LIVES
tShockingly, Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj tanked'but the movie’s soundtrack album is another story, a respectably rockin’ collection of tunes from bands like Buckcherry, The Lashes, Starlight Mints and Van Wilder Tour headliners Everclear and Jonny Lives. If you haven’t heard Everclear since 1997, no worries'nothing’s changed. New York’s Jonny Lives are the band not to miss, a power-punky foursome with nervy energy and rock & roll hooks to burn. Don’t wait for Van Wilder 3. The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 9 p.m. Tickets: DepotSLC.com.
MUNLY & THE LEE LEWIS HARLOTS
tJay Munly, or just Munly, must have lived at least a dozen lives before this one. Listening to his work from solo projects to leading roles in Slim Cessna’s Auto Club and the Lee Lewis Harlots, it’s hard to believe such depth and sorrow could emerge from a less-than-centuries-old soul. Munly’s deep, unsettling voice worms beneath fiddle, banjo, guitar and, occasionally, banshee yodeling to create a wholly appealing American Gothic vibe. His latest release, out on Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles, gets the point across well enough, but watching Munly perform onstage likely conveys the whole old soul idea better than any studio recording ever will. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. Info: 746-0557.
- Also Tuesday: Avett Brothers (Port O’ Call); Stage Sessions (Club Vegas)
COMING UP
ttJack’s Mannequin (In the Venue, Feb. 8). Three Days Grace (Great Saltair, Feb. 8). Showdown to SLAMMys Finals (The Depot, Feb. 10). Count Bass D (Urban Lounge, Feb. 10). Machine Head (Club Vegas, Feb. 12). The Shins (In the Venue, Feb. 16). The Roots (Harry O’s, Feb. 16). Afroman (Suede, Feb. 17). Styx (The Depot, Feb. 20). Pete Yorn (Suede, Feb. 20). Gomez (Suede, Feb. 23). Dead Prez (Urban Lounge, Feb. 23). Taste of Chaos Tour (E Center, Feb. 26). Winger (Club Vegas, Feb. 26). George Clinton & Parliament Funk (Suede, Feb. 26). Saturday Looks Good to Me (Urban Lounge, Feb. 28).
