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Jenn Nielson
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Tony Holiday & the Velvetones
International Blues Challenge Applications Due Wednesday, Oct. 4:
If only all blues challenges were like the head-cuttin’ scene in Crossroads, with Eugene “Lightning Boy” Martone (Ralph Macchio) battling Satan’s six-string representative Jack Butler (played by real-deal guitar hero Steve Vai) for Willie Brown’s (Joe Seneca) soul. Alas, this one’s just about musical supremacy. And the stakes are the right to represent Utah in the International Blues Challenge finals in Memphis this January.
Those are still some pretty serious stakes, as such a distinction carries significant bragging rights. At press time, we know only one contestant—Tony Holiday & the Velvetones You might think he’s already won, considering how much ass the harmonica hero’s been kickin’ of late. The way he plays makes you wonder if he’s been to that dusty intersection and done his own deal with Ol’ Scratch. Don’t fret, every other blues act in town; you can still make a deal—Hell is an anarchic economy, which seems kinda sorta possibly similar to free-market capitalism.
Then again, if you’re not quite ready to barter with your immortal essence, but think you can give The Devil a run for his golden Hohner or gilded Strat, there’s still time to throw your soul hat into the ring. I know you’re out there. And I know you’ve got the chops to enter this head-cuttin’ contest. So just do it already, would ya? ‘Cause if nobody else enters, Utah Blues Society president Brian Kelm says there may not be a show—or Holiday and Co. will play as long as they want.
The Great and Powerful and Fearless and Probably Non-Existent Malevolent Being and Blues Superfan, Lord Lucifer Z. Jookjoint would tell you that’s not such a bad deal. And you can trust him on that (wink). Especially ‘cause Gracie’s never has a cover charge. All the same, Kelm welcomes donations, as those funds will help send the winner on their way.
Gracie’s Pub, 326 S. West Temple, 6 p.m., free (donations accepted), 21+, graciesslc.com
THURSDAY 10/5—Gorgon City Bonus Content!
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Greg Burnell/Stack House
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Gorgon City
The upcoming issue of City Weekly features a Live pick from contributor Alex Springer on EDM act Gorgon City. We reached out to Gorgon City for a quote, but it came in after
deadline. So here ya go, EDM fans, a supplemental teaser-quote, straight from the lips of GC’s Matt Scott: “We can’t wait to play in Salt Lake City! This is the first time Kye and I have performed here together as Gorgon City, so we’re thrilled to see what the city has to offer. It’s always nice to play a city for the first time, and we’re definitely keen to see how many house music fans there are out in Utah. Sadly we don’t have too much time this time around to visit the national parks and such, but
hopefully we’ll be back soon and can stick around a little longer. Our gig at The Complex on October 5th is actually the kickoff show of our US tour so we’ll be sure to make it count. See you soon!”
The Complex, 536 W. 100 South, 8 p.m., $22.50-$30, all ages, thecomplexslc.com
SATURDAY 10/7—The Pour, SuperBubble:
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The local music scene is
incestuous to say the least—and it’s the only time that the hoary and puerile playground/locker room maxim “incest is best” is remotely true. Guitarist/songwriter Jeremy Whitesides and bassist/vocalist/songwriter/engineer Matt Calder started eclectic jam-prog-rock band The Pour several years ago, releasing a self-titled debut album in 2010. They’re just now re-emerging from a five- or six-year hiatus and the band is three-fourths current and past members of local party machine
Badfeather, with Whitesides, keyboardist Jesse
Howerton and drummer/engineer Nate Barkdull. The album sets off references like fireworks—Traffic, Peter Gabriel, Steely Dan, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Seals & Croft, and even King’s X—in a series of really great tunes. Barkdull tells City Weekly The Pour is very active, playing almost every weekend while
Badfeather regroups after some personnel changes (Howerton is full-time in The Pour, replaced by Adam
Fitfield; Stonefed’s David Mealey replaces Dan Error on bass). Both bands plan new music and The Pour’s second album will see Calder, who engineered the first joint in his basement, collaborating with Barkdull, who engineered Badfeather’s kickass Signal Path in his basement. Check out The Pour at the links below. And as a bonus, there’s a link to Signal Path on Bandcamp.
The State Room, 638 S. State, 9 p.m., $10, 21+, thestateroomslc.com
In addition to iTunes and Apple Music, you can hear The Pour on the following services:
YouTube
Facebook
Reverbnation
Soundcloud
Spotify
Listen to Badfeather's
Signal Path here on Bandcamp.