MUSIC PICKS DEC 28 - JAN 3 

• Lakynsatala
• Doomcupcake

DoomCupcake, Noble Pest, Bruce Lee & The Streetfighters @ Urban Lounge 12/28
If you've ever been afraid to express what's fully going on in your head, for fear of ending up in a behavioral health unit, DoomCupcake's new album The Grippy Socks Hotel is just for you. The memes involving "grippy socks" have exploded over the years as we all slowly delve into a dark mental-health abyss, so it's fun to have some music to go with. Led by frontwoman Zaza Historia VanDyke, DoomCupcake was created from the need for something new. "I needed something heavy, loud and powerful to express the struggles, pain and fear of all of the new strife being openly transgender brought, along with the mental health struggles that followed. DoomCupcake was born," VanDyke told Bold Journey in August. "If you grew up in the early '00s listening to nu-metal, you will immediately feel the nostalgia of the DoomCupcake sound. From the heavy hitting riffs to the earworm melodies, writing this material has taught me the resilience and fearless pride I walk with today." The Grippy Socks Hotel is indeed full of nu-metal goodness that will make you have flashbacks to simpler times, but will keep you in the present with its freshness. DoomCupcake is joined by Noble Pest and Bruce Lee & The Streetfighters for an exciting show on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $10 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

• thedrought_slc
• The Drought

The Drought, The Lip, Missionary Max @ Kilby Court 12/28
At the end of the year, it's normal to feel a mix of emotions—perhaps happy that a difficult year is finally over, or sad because another year has zoomed by. It's now more than ever that we should find reasons to go out and have fun, and you can always find fun at Kilby Court, and this lineup of locals is sure to bring a smile to anyone's face. SLC indie group The Drought had a great 2023, including releasing their first single "Tiny Room" in July. Their most recent single, "Cloud," has a slower, more subdued vibe compared to their debut, but they have a great range and can appeal to listeners of different genres. Joining the bill is The Lip, an SLC favorite who knows how to bring the noise. Their newest single "Punch" packs a lot of just that, and the infectious energy of their music will have you dancing within just a couple bars. Their indie-reggae vibes are unforgettable, and after this performance you'll be looking up when you can see them play again. As if this show wasn't tasty enough, Missionary Max is swinging by with crisp rhymes that transport you to another world. Missionary Max has had several great releases in 2023, including a full album with fellow artist/producer Willy Lowe. If you're needing a good send-off to the year, look no further than this show. Come check it out on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 and can be found at 24tix.com. (EA)

• Courtesy Photo
• Cut Chemist

Cut Chemist @ Urban Lounge 12/29
It's always a nice treat when performances from an artist you enjoyed in your formative years isn't just a nostalgia trip. Los Angeles veteran Cut Chemist, a.k.a. Lucas McFadden, achieved mainstream success in the '90s as a founding member of both influential hip-hop group Jurassic 5 and Latin funk outfit Ozomatli. His solo studio albums, The Audience's Listening and Die Cut, present some of the best soundscapes ever recorded, and showcase his knack for music production and turntablism. When he breaks out his OG 45s for a live gig ... well, it's hard not to appreciate the mastery. "I just find that the energy is different when I play originals versus reissues or bootlegs. That's just me." McFadden told The Pitch in April. "There's something about the energy and the history of it being an artifact of the time that gives me a certain energy that I think people can recognize just from my excitement of playing them. It translates to the audience differently." What I've always loved about Cut Chemist is how he manages to chop up all kinds of different samples to create a coherent and original song with a solid pop structure. And he can do this with pure turntable techniques, and he can do it live. Here's hoping that he works in "Dance the Slurp." SL Steez and DJ Juggy open. Catch these acts at the Urban Lounge on Friday, Dec. 29. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $22 and can be found at 24tix.com (Mark Dago)

• Delaware Today
• The Drifters

The Drifters @ Egyptian Theatre 12/29-31
According to tradition, New Year's Eve calls for ringing out the old and bringing in the new. On the other hand, who's to say that the new can't be rung in with something that's old? That premise will be tested when the Drifters ring in 2024 at the Egyptian Theatre closing out the month (and the year). Of course, we shouldn't expect the original group that formed in 1953—as is the case with most archival outfits these days, today's Drifters consists of four skilled singers that maintain that lingering legacy, courtesy of such classics as "Under the Boardwalk," "This Magic Moment," Up On the Roof," "There Goes My Baby" and "Save the Last Dance For Me." There have literally been dozens of Drifters since the originals backed early iconic singer Clyde McPhatter, and later, another Drifters served the same function for the legendary Ben E. King. The present incarnation features Louis Bailey (lead tenor), Stephen Brown (lead baritone), Jerome Manning (second tenor) and Jeff Hall (second baritone), all of whom effectively replicate the songs and style that still resonate some 60 years on. Clearly, there's something to be said for nostalgia, and the start of a new year would seem as good a time as ever to make good on those memories. The Drifters perform all-ages shows at the Egyptian Theatre at 8 p.m. Dec. 29 - 31. The Dec 29 and 30 performances are sold out at press time. Tickets for Dec 31 cost $39 - $49 at tickets.egyptiantheatrecompany.org (Lee Zimmerman)

• Tessa Paisan
• FLY (flybassmusic)

FLY (flybassmusic) and KOAN Sound @ The Complex 12/30
The EDM scene is getting the perfect sendoff to the year with the biggest show possible: SATURNALIA. While the lineup is stacked with huge artists like ATLiens, Kompany, BARELY ALIVE and Marauda, you won't want to miss the COLOSSEUM 360 in a separate room from the main stage in The Grand at the Complex. It will have an underground vibe with the audience surrounding the stage in a full circle. Two artists who keep the integrity of the underground scene are FLY and KOAN Sound. FLY is a Los Angeles-based artist whose music explores the deep low end and sound system culture of trap music, and includes a plethora of UK grime. He started out in the underground bass scene, and gained attention from his 2021 track "Phantom" and in the past few years has established himself in the new wave of bass-music artists, best exemplified in his deep-experimental track "Jinx" released last month. Another DJ duo to look out for on the 360 stage is Will Weeks and Jim Bastow of KOAN Sound. Hailing from Bristol, U.K., they feature a mix of drum-and-bass, glitch hop and U.K. dubstep that is a contrast from the raw and gritty grime from FLY. They've been active in EDM since 2008, continuing strong with the release of their 2023 album Led by Ancient Light. It incorporates more orchestral, ethereal elements that at times sound almost completely acoustic. Take in the glitchy fills and vocal samples from both FLY and KOAN Sound to support the less mainstream artists at the biggest EDM NYE event which takes place at The Complex. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $69 at thecomplexslc.com (Arica Roberts)