SLUG Magazine

On this episode of Soundwaves, the official podcast of SLUG Magazine in Salt Lake City, Utah, we interview the five-piece rock band Starmy about the release of their latest and final album, Heart Beat Breaks Glass. An acronym for Salt Lake UnderGround, SLUG is one of the oldest independent publications in the United States, covering music, arts, lifestyle and events.

Starmy are a five-piece rock band based out of Salt Lake City that have been together since 2001. The group’s current lineup comprises Mike Sartain  (vocals and guitar), John Lyman (bass), Sean McCarthy (keys), Mike Sasich (guitar) and Dave Payne (drums). Through many lineup changes, the band has released six full-length albums. Earning themselves praise in the local music community and even best band of the year from City Weekly in 2003. Before enterting the Man vs. Music studios last year to record a new album, the band decided that Heart Beat Breaks Glass will be their final album. SLUG writer Kristyn Porter sat down in the Soundwaves studio to chat with Sartain and Payne about putting the album together and their decision to make it their last.

Music for this episode was taken from Starmy’s latest album, Heart Beat Breaks Glass, which came out January 9. The first song in the episode is called “Despite The Pixels On The Sun. The second song on the episode is called “Despite The Pixels On The Sun” from Starmy’s 2016 album, Heart Beat Breaks Glass. You can download a copy of their album for $7 at Starmy.Bandcamp.com.

Thanks for listening to SLUG Soundwaves. For all things SLUG Magazine, visit SLUGMag.com.

In this week’s episode of Soundwaves, the official podcast of SLUG Magazine, SLUG‘s Digital Content Coordinator Henry Glasheen sits down to talk with local band SubRosa about what changes 2015 brought for the band. Rebecca Vernon and Kim Pack discuss their string of European tour dates, the recording process for their new album and the concept behind their new music.

SubRosa are an experimental doom metal band from Salt Lake City. Over the years they’ve released four full-length albums, with the most recent two albums being featured in multiple metal magazines and websites as milestone releases and making several year-end top album lists. SubRosa has also toured the United States and Europe extensively, most recently touring with bands like Enslaved, Yob, and Ecstatic Vision among others.

SubRosa currently consists of Rebecca Vernon on lead vocals and guitar, Sarah Pendleton and Kim Pack on violin, Levi Hanna on bass and Andy Patterson on drums, who also serves as the bands producer. This episode features tracks that the group picked themselves with explanations from the group as to why they chose each track. One track that was featured in this episode is from SubRosa’s 2013 release More Constant Than The Gods.

Thanks for listening to SLUG Soundwaves. For all things SLUG Magazine, visit SLUGMag.com. Send us suggestions of what you’d like to hear on the show by emailing us at [email protected].

In this episode of Soundwaves, the official podcast of SLUG Magazine, we’ll be interviewing the band Villain and listening to music from their debut EP.

Villain is a six-piece hardcore band in Salt Lake City and comprises Trent Falcone on vocals, Justin Spencer, Jay Wilkinson and Matt Jones on guitars, Brad Butterfield on bass and Gavin Hoffman on drums. SLUG writer Alex Cragun sat down with Falcone, Wilkinson and Jones in our podcast studio to talk about the band and their latest release. Villain formed over the summer of 2015 and immediately jumped into the studio with SLC producer Dave Evanoff of Sound Designs to record their self-titled EP.

Previously, members of Villain were involved with other local bands such as Reality and INVDRS. In this interview, we talk about how members from the groups came together to create Villain as well as the inspiration for the lyrical content of their EP. Additionally, we ask about what the creation of Villain means for the future of Reality and INVDRS and provide information on upcoming shows for the groups.

Music for this episode of Soundwaves comes from Villian’s self-titled, four song EP and includes tracks like “This Is A Heist.” To purchase the album with original songs and album artwork, visit their Bandcamp at VillainHardcore.Bandcamp.com.

Thanks for listening to SLUG Soundwaves. Send us suggestions of what you’d like to hear on the show by emailing us at [email protected].

In this episode, SLUG’s Editorial Assistant Christian Schultz chats with Malinda Fisher of Desert Rose Jewelry and drummer Jeremy Devine about Diabolical Records’ Bandemonium, a musical celebration that brings together friends and acquaintances for a fun, spontaneous night of diverse talent.

On December 26, 2014, dozens of Utah musicians gathered together at Diabolical Records for the inaugural Bandemonium, an event that featured one-time band line-ups randomly picked from a hat weeks prior. Over 70 local musicians signed up, forming groups that would later perform at the event. After the bands were set, their members chose names and had a few weeks to prepare a 10–15 minute set of music to perform live for their peers. Ranging from punk to electronic to folk to garage, the musical output of the night showcased the diversity, talent and community of the music scene that has found a home at Diabolical Records over the past two years.

One of the most unique facets of Bandemonium is how it offers a space for established and amateur musicians to co-mingle. As the drummer for the bands Chalk and Foster Body, Devine enjoyed putting down the sticks and picking up another instrument, while Fisher enjoyed being a part of Salt Lake’s artistic community in a new way. Diabolical Records has cooked up a variety of ways to be an inclusive space for the community that it fosters, and Bandemonium is just one of the many that the shop offers.

After another successful July 4th Bandemonium that included fireworks and a barbecue, the event is set to take place again on Saturday, Dec. 26, from 6 – 9 p.m. To find out more about Bandemonium, visit Diabolical Records’ Facebook page.

Thanks for listening to SLUG Soundwaves. Send us suggestions of what you’d like to hear on the show by emailing us at [email protected].

Executive Producer: Angela H. Brown

Interviewers: Alexander Ortega

In this episode, SLUG Managing Editor Alexander Ortega plays tracks from each album on his year-end top-albums list. SLUG published genre-based lists this year, and Ortega wrote about the “Top 5 Teary-Eyed Power Pop Albums” of 2015 for the December ’15 Top 5 Albums Issue. Notably, 2015 felt full of power pop, and we want to give you a taste of this veritable feast in this episode. The power pop albums in this list consist of Young Guv’s Ripe 4 Luv, Dick Diver’s Melbourne, Florida, Warm Soda’s Symbolic Dream, EZTV’s Calling Out and Nic Hessler’s Soft Connections:

Young Guv’s title track, “Ripe 4 Love,” casts a spell over listeners via frontman Ben Cook’s high-pitched, dulcet vocals. This track’s chorus may be the trick for a dance with the apple of your eye, as Prince-like groove shakes things up. Ripe 4 Luv stands as the most experimental power pop offering of this year.

Melbourne, Florida hit the scene on more of an indie pop beat compared to the other power pop albums. “Waste the Alphabet,” however, is definitely more on the power pop end of Dick Diver’s third album. Bask in the jangle that Dick Diver offer in this track.

“I Wanna Go Fast” recalls The Strokes in the best of ways on Warm Soda’s Symbolic Dream. The track kicks out a lo-fi rock n’ roll feel with slick, half-sung vocals, and the guitars radiate with electricity.

EZTV’s “Pretty Torn Up” speeds things up on Calling Out. The backbeat’s ostinato allows the guitars to do whatever the hell they can to serve the track, and singer Ezra Tenenbaum delivers bittersweet feels in the song and throughout the debut.

Nic Hessler: slayin’ it. “Soon You’ll See, Kristine” exhibits songwriting akin to Morrissey, but Hessler’s vocals distinguish him as a force to be reckoned with. This track is the climax to an album with bold and dynamic instrumentation.

Here’s to hoping for copious amounts of good power pop albums in 2016! For a mid-tempo rock n’ roll listening experience, put this “Top 5” list in your ears.

Thanks for listening to SLUG Soundwaves. Send us suggestions of what you’d like to hear on the show by emailing us at [email protected].

Executive Producer: Angela H. Brown

Interviewers: Alexander Ortega