MUSIC PICKS MAY 30 - JUN 5 

• Andrew Harnik
• James Taylor

James Taylor @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre 5/31
It would be difficult to overestimate the effect James Taylor has had on modern music and today's singer/songwriter genre in particular. As one of the first artists signed to the Beatles' fledgling Apple Records label, he made an emphatic impact early on with two songs that are considered Taylor treasures: "Carolina In My Mind" and "Something In the Way She Moves," the latter said to be a direct inspiration for George Harrison's song "Something." Once Taylor returned to the States and signed with Warner Bros Records, the classics kept coming: "Sweet Baby James," "You've Got a Friend," "Shower the People," "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," "Your Smiling Face," "Handy Man" and literally dozens more. An assured staple of soft-rock radio, Taylor remains amazingly popular; everyone has their own favorite Taylor tune. Meanwhile, he shared his reverence for the classics that came before courtesy of his latest album, American Standard—and he proves his populist appeal in concert, showcasing an all-star backing band and his own sly, self-effacing sense of humor. Contrary to popular belief, the song "Sweet Baby James" wasn't written about the singer himself, but rather a nephew who was his namesake. Nevertheless, the song's sweet sentiments define Taylor himself, making any evening in his company a real rockabye. James Taylor and his All-Star Band perform at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (formerly USANA Amphitheatre) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 31. Tickets cost $5 - $288 at ticketmaster.com (Lee Zimmerman)

• Roger Sargent
• Echo and the Bunnymen

Echo & the Bunnymen @ The Union Event Center 6/1
When one thinks of music from Liverpool, England, the first group to come to mind is The Beatles. But the port city on the Mersey River has a long and proud musical tradition, and not all Liverpudlian artists draw upon the Fab Four for inspiration. Launched in 1978, Echo & the Bunnymen cut a decidedly different figure. The group's namesake wasn't a person; according to popular lore (though disputed by the group itself) "Echo" was the moniker given to the group's drum machine. Echo & the Bunnymen crafted dramatic, haunting post-punk that drew from goth and electronica, but with a sound firmly rooted in the rock tradition. While the band's commercial success in the U.S. was measured, Echo & the Bunnymen scored more than a dozen top 40 singles in their native England. Stateside they remained a popular fixture of college radio, with memorable tracks like "Rescue," "The Cutter," "Bring on the Dancing Horses" and "The Killing Moon." In 1986, founding member Pete deFreitas left the band; he died in 1989. The group continued without him, eventually disbanding in 1993. By 1997 lead vocalist and keyboardist Ian McCulloch and lead guitarist Will Sergeant re-launched the band, with a return to live performance and recording. Primarily a touring entity today, the band released its most recent album—The Stars, the Oceans & the Moon, a collection of new versions of Echo & the Bunnymen songs dating back to their 1980 debut—in 2018. Via Mardot opens; tickets for this concert are $49.50 at ticketmaster.com (Bill Kopp)

• Farra Tai
• Moore Kismet

Moore Kismet @ Soundwell 6/2
At only 19 years old, Moore Kismet (meaning "more than fate")—the creative alias of Omar Davis—is booming in the bass-heavy side of the electronic music scene. While subgenres like House musi, are historically rooted as the creation of BIPOC queer individuals, dubstep and trap have not been as inclusive of queer artists. Davis says on their Instagram, "As a queer person in the electronic music scene and the industry as a whole, it's always been my goal to uplift and create things that allow this space to grow and be open and inclusive for everyone. It's been a passion of mine for a while to do branded showcase nights that serve this exact purpose. a space where EVERYONE feels welcome and that shines a lot on underrepresented artists in the community." And that's exactly what Davis is doing. SEE EVERY COLOR, a new event series special just for Pride month, is coming to SLC. In reference to the rainbow flag that has come to represent LGBTQ+ identity and rights, Davis is ushering a new generation of EDM that is open and proud from a young age. Not only were they included in Billboard's 21 Under 21 list every year since 2020, they were also named the youngest artist to ever perform at both Lollapalooza and EDC Las Vegas in 2021. Davis is only getting started. Kick off Pride month and experience their creative journey at Soundwell by V2 Presents on Saturday, June 2. Doors open at 9 p.m. GA cost $20. Go to tixr.com (Arica Roberts)

• Trevor Finney
• Joyner Lucus

Joyner Lucas @ the Complex 6/5
Music has no objective grading; it's in the ear of the beholder. You like your arrangement of sounds, and I like mine. However, Gary Maurice Lucas Jr.—AKA Joyner Lucas—is an ill artist. If you're talking purely about rap technique that takes your breath away when you hear it ... well, he's got that feel. That urgency of a starving artist. "A survival hunger is you going outside and you sitting there rubbing sticks together figuring out to make a fire because you're in the woods and fucked," Joyner told Billboard. "Some people figure it out, some people don't." Lucas gets it. He's recently taken on acting by appearing in 2023's The Family Plan with Mark Wahlberg, as well as the next Bad Boys installment with Will Smith. All of that comes on top of the release of his second LP, Not Now I'm Busy. He understands how to occupy the cultural space. Meanwhile, if wordsmithing is your thing, be sure to get there early to check out opener Millyz. The Cambridge, Mass.-based emcee is the type of performer who excels at getting busy off the top of the head. He's a monster with realness, and paints pictures with his lyrics that you have to listen to twice. Also opening is Ottawa-raised rapper/singer/songwriter Dax. Catch these acts on the Not Now: I'm Busy Tour at the Complex on Wednesday, June 5. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $36.50 at thecomplexslc.com (Mark Dago)

• Mariah Tauger
• Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater 6/5
There's no shame in embracing the rockadelic funktastic extravaganza that is a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert—don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Even if you don't dream of Californication (although you should, given Utah's antsy weather), the sheer musicianship of Flea, Frusciante and Smith, paired with Anthony Kiedis' pure energy and unadulterated stamina, should change your mind. As someone who has seen them live, I can guarantee that you may enter the amphitheater a casual listener, but whether you like it or not, will likely leave a RHCP superfan, with merch in tow. Their concerts boast lights, camera, action; the event is more of an experience than just a gig. They are known for playing non-stop—they can't stop, if you will, har har—hits, rather than obscure selections from their new or less popular releases. But, they aren't afraid to play a deep cut sprinkled tastefully throughout. By the way (wink wink): Smith still wears bedazzled vests, Flea and Kiedis opt to be sans-shirt, and Frusciante shows up in a tee and jeans, their hodge-podge aesthetic only strengthening the undeniable chemistry between the most famed iteration of the band. I could talk all day about RHCP, but I think you should just see them yourself. Tickets for the all ages-show at First Credit Union Amphitheater can be purchased at concerts.livenation.com, with a wide range of prices starting around $150 for lawn. Doors open at 7 p.m. (Sophie Caligiuri)