SLAMMys: Week 2

[Local Music] I'm so excited about this weekend's SLAMMys showcases! Tonight, after a little Gallery Strollin', head over to Addicted Cafe for various takes on metal/hardcore with I Am the Ocean, God's Revolver and Tamerlane, plus a slammin' vegan sloppy joe! I know. I was skeptical too. But that shit is the shit!

After, get on down to Club Vegas for hard, harder and hardest rock with Accidente, Loom, Glacial, and Blackhole, and emcee/True TV superstar Bill Frost.

Here's a taste of what's to come tonight:



Tomorrow, enjoy the soothing sounds of Fuck the Informer, Andale!, and Monorchist at Bar Deluxe OR some solid "indie" and blues at Burt's with Downright Blue and Tolchock Trio--perhaps the strangest bill we could come up with, but hey, that's what happens when bands share members and can't play two shows at once. (Jamie Gadette)

Party Across The Street From Fashion Place Mall

[Local Music] January 12 (that would be last Saturday) marked night two of City Weekly's SLAMMys showcases. There were many appealing shows that evening, but I decided to head to the Huka Bar & Grill to check out one of the alt-country gigs. I arrived after 10 pm, so I missed the High Beams (damn!), but I did get to see the Black-Eyed Susans. B-ES played a solid set to a largely distracted audience, but it was still a good time. You gotta love an Alt-country band with a chick bassist. AND a singer who actually wears cowboy boots.

There's plenty of SLAMMys fun on the horizon, and I urge you all to come out and see what Salt Lake City's robust local music scene has to offer. Seriously... what else is there to do in the middle of winter? (Jenny Poplar)

SLAMMys Action: What You Missed

[Local Music] City Weekly's SLAMMys kicked off Friday night with an evening of Salt Lake City hip hop at Monk's, a club which over the years has transitioned from a "house of jazz" to an equal opportunity venue hosting any artist who is not paralyzed by fear, constantly considering how the Walker Center might hold up in an earthquake and whether one could possibly make it to the elevator shaft in time to prevent being buried alive in a smoke-filled basement. What? You never thought about that?

Ogden producer Linus opened the showcase with his catchy self-made beats, the origin of which was lost on many audience members who thought the short kid in the 2612 skate shop T-shirt was just some DJ spinning records. Fresh-faced guest emcee Task set things straight and continued to baffle everyone by absolutely killing with a song about bad relationships, while clad in a Ron Paul for President shirt.

Mindstate followed, but not before showcase emcees Mugshots reminded everyone that they were not nominated for a SLAMMy, then demonstrated their skills on the mic persuading people to give the duo props. So write them in if you agree. Mindstate sounded great, though admittedly they achieved even greater heights a few months back during a street corner performance outside Red Light Books and Ken Sanders. Just one DJ, one emcee and a microphone. That's all this duo needs to get things done, son. On Friday, we were a bit worried about Dusk 1 whose face got redder and redder as he spouted off one rhyme after another. It seemed at any moment his head might explode. The kid puts everything he has into each song and is entertaining as hell to watch.

Numbs closed out the evening, a bit thrown off by the glaring lights Comcast set up to film the showcase. "Four songs and those lights go off," the collective proclaimed, then jumped right into their signature tag-team rhymes. DJ Shanty once again proved his prowess behind the ones and twos with inventive beats that helped catapult the three emcees through their party-pleasing set. On question: Did anyone else think that one of the Numbs bore a striking resemblance to Mystery, that dude from The Pick-Up Artist? Maybe the leather armbands threw me off.

An awesome start to SLAMMys and a great reminder to a rocker at heart what it's like to step outside your comfort zone. I encourage everyone to do the same for the next few weeks. Now get out there and vote! (Jamie Gadette)

Stop! SLAMMys Time

[Local Music] Not sure what to do this weekend? Don't worry! Starting tonight, City Weekly kicks off our annual SLAMMys issue with five weeks of showcases highlighting some of the best and brightest local bands Utah has to offer. We'll keep you posted on the haps with show reviews and voting updates as the month progresses. Get in on the action!

Go to SLWeekly.com to purchase a pass ($20) for entrance into ALL 19 shows and the closing party @ The Depot* on Feb. 15. Or, pay $5 per show.

Friday, Jan 11
MONK'S* Hosted by Uprok Records
Linus
Mindstate
The Numbs

Three shows Saturday, Jan 12
Area 51 18+ Hosted by Jesse James of Redemption and Tragic Black
Domiana
Q Stands for Q
Carphax Files

Huka Bar* Hosted by Corey O'Brien from X96
The High Beams
Black Eyed Susan

Cisero's* Hosted by Brinton Jones of Palomino
Atherton
Marcus Bently
Band of Annuals

* Private Club For Members

See you there (Jamie Gadette)