Schmear, Molotov Dress, Early Bird @ Kilby Court 4/24
What's better than a good old bagel with schmear? How about just the schmear, in the form of an awesome local rock band? Schmear released their debut single "Holding Onto Anger" at the end of February, giving listeners a chance to finally take the band on the go. Schmear can be found around town playing fun and energetic shows, and hopefully we'll get more recordings from them soon. "Holding Onto Anger" is dark, crunchy and full of epic screaming vocals. Also on the bill for this local lineup is Molotov Dress, another band that specializes in knowing how to have a raucously good time. They describe themselves as "SLC's finest authorized retailers of scum, debris, copper wire and home goods," and their sound encapsulates that description well. With a perfect amount of cheekiness and boisterous sound, Molotov Dress is sure to get you on your feet and have you easily singing along. Last and certainly not least, Early Bird puts a perfect bow on this wonderful night of chaos and debauchery (meant with the highest compliments, of course). Come hang out on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)
Bou @ Boxpac Project 4/25
Mohamed Amine Bouguenna—known professionally as Bou—is a significant contributor to the evolution of drum & bass, hailing from Manchester, U.K. where D&B continues to reign as the supreme subgenre of electronic music over the past few decades (growing from the U.K. jungle scene of the 1990s). Listeners in the States are starting to catch up, though. At the 2020 Drum & Bass Awards, Bou secured Best Producer, Best Breakthrough Producer, Best Breakthrough DJ and Best Track for "Veteran" featuring Trigga. Three years later, he produced one of his most well-known songs, "Closer," in 40 minutes, using vocals from Slay (Dale Smith). When he uploaded a clip to Soundcloud, Bou told DJ Mag in 2023 that "nine or ten major labels [were] emailing my manager wanting to sign it." He chose Island Records due to its drum & bass culture. That same year, he also released "Baddadan" with Chase & Status, which includes the iconic fast breakbeats (165-185 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, samples and synthesizers that define the subgenre. While he's an absolute legend in the world of U.K. drum & bass, he's sure to gain some fans in Salt Lake City over the weekend. Mutiny Music Collective is bringing Bou to Boxpac Project on Friday, April 25 at 9 p.m. This is a 21+ show. Only $30 Tier 3 tickets are left at press time. Go to seetickets.us for tickets and additional event information. (Arica Roberts)
Cancer Bats @ Aces High Saloon 4/27
After a 17-year career that's yielded seven studio albums, five Juno Award nominations (the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy) and a series of international tours, the Cancer Bats have proven that a heavy-handed approach needn't prevent them from staking a claim as populist provocateurs. Especially popular with metal-heads, they've received write-ups in Kerrang!, Exclaim!, Revolver and Rock Sound while securing their standing. So too, rave reviews of their latest epic offering, Psychic Jailbreak affirm their status as hardcore heroes. Currently comprised of lead vocalist Liam Cormier, drummer Mike Peters, bassist/guitarist Jaye R. Schwarzer and touring guitarist Jackson Landry, the band's had its share of personnel changes. That flux, however, has allowed their combustible sound to morph to a degree over the years, while still managing to maintain the initial intensity gleaned from such seminal influences as Black Flag, Led Zeppelin and Entombed. That said, they occasionally opt for a secondary stance, one which finds them paying tribute to Black Sabbath under an alter-ego as "Bat Sabbath." As for their other name, they apparently figured that combining a dreaded illness with a scary flying mammal would attract the notoriety needed. That may be true to a degree, but given their penchant for edgy intensity, there's sound reason to take notice regardless. Cancer Bats with special guests Strawberry Girls and Fight the Future perform a 21+ show at Aces High Saloon at 7 p.m., Sunday, April 27. Advance GA tickets cost $20 plus $5.52 service fee at 24tix.com. (Lee Zimmerman)
Ty Segall @ Metro Music Hall 4/29
California-born Ty Segall is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer known for his prolific output—17 albums and counting under his own name, plus numerous side projects—and his command of diverse musical styles. Working out of San Francisco in the late 2000s, Segall emerged as a leading light in the indie and garage rock scenes. His unalloyed sonic approach blended punk, psychedelic rock and noise, and his early efforts (beginning with a 2008 self-titled album) showcased his dual passion for lo-fi recordings and high-energy performances. Throughout his career, Segall has been praised for a remarkable facility for creating music that's both abrasive and rooted in melody. A critics' darling, Segall oversees projects that almost always earn effusive praise. Standouts among his body of work include Melted (2010), 2011's Goodbye Bread and Manipulator (2014). On those and other releases, a common thread is Segall's use of fuzz-laden guitar riffage, inward-looking lyrics and experimental, nonstandard musical structures. An enthusiastic collaborator, Segall has worked with many bands including stoner-rockers Fuzz, GØGGS, Epsilons and Party Fowl. Ty Segall plays a solo acoustic set—with frequent collaborator Mikal Cronin as his opener—Tuesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. Advance tickets for this 21+ show are $35 and available at 24tix.com. (Bill Kopp)
Denzel Curry @ The Complex 4/30
A Denzel Curry performance is a show. Not a gig. Not a concert. It's the sort of thing where, over the following few days, you find yourself thinking about it and realizing how lucky you were to have been in attendance. His 2024 mixtape, King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2, brought back that raw early 2000's Dirty South energy that I've always loved. The influence of Three 6 Mafia is undeniable, however it's much more than a homage to sounds that have shaped a culture. "We had a whole decade of producing great records, and people look forward to the album experience more than the single when it comes to me," Curry told Grammy. "This is what it is, and I just want people to enjoy it. It's not something to put too much effort or thought into. It's something you can bump into the club, or you could go to a show and turn up to it. That's where I'm at with it." It is worth mentioning, considering just how much Denzel reinvents himself and his sound with every project, that it's nothing short of impressive to make records that are so consistently good. Only a handful of artists come even close to that mark. Kenny Mason, 454 and Clip open. Catch these acts on the Mischievous South tour at The Complex on Wednesday, Apr 30. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $45.50 and can be found at thecomplexslc.com. (Mark Dago)