MUSIC PICKS MAR 27 - APR 2 

• KT Tunstall
• KT Tunstall

Matt Nathanson, KT Tunstall @ The Commonwealth Room 3/28
For some, the pairing of two artists like Matt Nathanson and KT Tunstall could be problematic—but in a good way, of course. First and foremost, there's the billing. Both are established artists in their own right, with impressive résumés. For his part, Nathanson is an exceptional singer/songwriter whose work transcends the boundaries between rock, folk and roots. Yet given the melodic appeal so evident within his music, typecasting becomes a moot point, as evidenced by the fact that his songs frequently translate to use on TV. So too, Tunstall has earned considerable praise for her eight albums, and gained a well-deserved reputation as a chart-topping artist who often collaborates with other artists while also exploring a certain edge entirely on her own. Like Nathanson, her work has graced the small screen, but has also made it to movie screens as well. The comparisons don't end there. Nathanson's career spans 30 years, frequent critical kudos and chart-topping recordings; Tunstall was nominated for a Grammy and gained immediate fame courtesy of her 2004 multi-platinum debut, Eye to the Telescope and the hit singles it spawned. Given those considerable credits, it's a relief not to be assigned the unenviable task of choosing the headliner. On the other hand, it really doesn't matter. This double-bill offers an exceptional evening of entertainment regardless. Matt Nathanson and KT Tunstall's King of (un)simple Tour comes to The Commonwealth Room Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $48.71 - $60 (plus taxes and fees) at axs.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

• Insomniac.com
• Kliptic

Kliptic, Kenetic Kannibalz B2B Lazrus, 24KPersian, Wublok, Yada at The Sandbox 3/28.
The Sandbox is a brand new venue exclusively for electronic dance music adjacent to The Gem, a dance night club on Pierpoint Avenue. They've only had a handful of events since February, so it's a great place to go if you are looking for somewhere new. This weekend VS VBOVE SO BELOW is hosting a bass-heavy lineup with a headline debut for Kliptic (Jake Keith). The dubstep producer is a rising star with fun branding that incorporates themes of royalty, knights, dragons, and Game of Thrones-inspired elements. Keith's most popular songs, "Storm the Castle" and "Reborn" are examples of his distinct sound for fantasy lovers. Other DJs on the lineup include Kenetic Kannibalz, who played at Basscase in January. He will be playing back-to-back with Lazrus. They released "Beetlejuice" together in September, so be sure to check it out on all streaming platforms! Also playing is 24KPersian (Ham Motamedi) who recently released a new song, "Apart" on the Emengy record label. And finally, a local favorite, YADA (Matthew Yadegari) who is a jack of all trades. He not only is a DJ and producer, but also runs lights for The Sandbox as well as many venues in the city. Tickets for this show cost only $20. Doors open at 8 p.m. for this 21+ show at The Sandbox (122 Pierpont Ave.) Go to eventliveus.com for tickets and more event information. (Arica Roberts)

• Aaron Carnes
• Aceyalone

Aceyalone @ The Pearl on Main 3/29
Aceyalone has always been light years ahead of his time. Standing as one of the pioneering figures who helped shape the West Coast hip-hop underground during the early '90s, through his work with Freestyle Fellowship, Haiku D'Etat, The A-Team and the Los Angeles based collective Project Blowed, Acey has carved out a path that would influence countless artists to come. "Hell yeah, I'm proud; I'm proud of every moment, of every bit of rhyme," Aceyalone told hiphopdx.com. "Cause when you connect with different people across the world, and maybe it's one out of every thousand people that hear your music, but then you get something across and you brought something to the world? You can't not look at that and just be like, 'Damn. That's cool.'" If one needs a primer on where to start, check out the original compilation album Project Blowed, Freestyle Fellowships' To Whom It May Concern... & Innercity Griots, his debut solo LP, All Balls Don't Bounce and his sophomore effort A Book of Human Language. Be sure to bring your rhymes and step up to showcase what you've got in the BLOWED Style open-mic segment. Spots are limited so get in quick—first come, first served. Also performing are uMaNg, Turntable Lucifer, Pura Vida Ent, Hemis, Gloomwalkers and Numbs. Catch these artists at the Acid Lab Records "Blowed on the Road" event at The Pearl on Main on Saturday, Mar 29. Doors at 5 p.m. Info on the all-ages show can be found at thepearlonmain.com. (Mark Dago)

• Zen Sekizawa
• The Linda Lindas

The Linda Lindas @ Kilby Court 3/29
Los Angeles-based punk rockers The Linda Lindas are an all-female group known for their youthful energy and unapologetic spirit. Formed in 2018, the group originally consisted of four members: sisters Mila and Lucia de la Garza (drums and guitar respectively), guitarist Eloise Wong and bassist Bela Salazar. The Linda Lindas' music combines raw, fast-paced punk with clever lyrics; the group's self-penned songs draw on personal experiences, often exploring activism, identity, and the members' lives. The group was "discovered" by Amy Poehler, for whom the band would record the soundtrack for the 2021 film Moxie. That same year, The Linda Lindas' video for "Racist, Sexist Boy"— a track recorded at the Los Angeles Public Library and featured on their debut album Growing Up—went viral. The tune is a succinct and spirited critique of—you guessed it—racism and sexism, and at present the video has over 1.9 million views. That video raised The Linda Lindas' profile, and with it, brought widespread acclaim. As articulate and positive role models for a generation of young women and persons of color, The Linda Lindas are exerting influence even beyond their compelling music. At press time, the Saturday, March 29 show at 7 p.m. at Kilby Court was sold out. (Bill Kopp)

• Jamie Wayne
• Corook

Corook @ Soundwell 3/30
If you spend any time on TikTok, there's a chance you've heard corook and their music. They've been releasing music since about 2021, finding success on the app sharing their heartfelt, sometimes joyful, sometimes melancholy songs. Songs like "it's ok!" and "i'm not doing well" highlight the singer/songwriter's talent for saying out loud how a lot of us feel on the inside, even when those feelings aren't the happiest. Corook also went massively viral in 2023 for their song "if i were a fish" (ft. Olivia Barton), a lighthearted track about finding acceptance in loved ones. Relatable to many, the song quickly became corook's most streamed song, coming in at nearly 22 million on Spotify alone. They've also been making waves in recent months with their song "THEY!", an unapologetically queer anthem focusing on acceptance and being true to yourself. This single is on their newest album, committed to a bit. "'THEY!' is my favorite track from the committed to a bit album," said corook. "I wrote it to capture the mix of nerves and joy that comes with sharing your new pronouns with the world. In a time when our identities are under constant attack, especially with figures like Trump attempting to legislate us out of existence, this song feels more vital than ever." Come hang out with corook on Sunday, March 30 at 8 p.m. at Soundwell. Tickets for the all-ages show are $20 for GA and $90 for the VIP package. Grab tickets and further info at soundwellslc.com. (Emilee Atkinson)