Spreading Sweet Sounds on the Pollen Trail: Tennis's Buzzworthy Tour
Article Written by Destiny Ross Photography by Alec Moody
Article Written by Destiny Ross Photography by Alec Moody
The energy in the atmosphere was electric as fans eagerly waited for one of the biggest Downtown SLC venues, doors to open, anticipating the start of an unforgettable concert experience. Lined down the side of downtown Salt Lake City venue, The Depot, indie fans alike awaited in the cold breezy weather as we all became antsier by the minutes passing. More and more fans piled the lines and added to the crowd’s excitement and angst to get in. Fans that purchased their “fast passes” made it in earlier and got to take a look at the merch offered while they waited to be let in to claim their spots.
Tennis, the indie-pop duo from Denver, Colorado, has been on a steady rise since their debut album, Cape Dory, released on New Year’s Day of 2011. With their charming, vintage-inspired sound and dreamy melodies, their style happens to be one of the best at blending indie-pop with retro elements, creating one of the most nostalgic and dreamy atmospheres which makes Tennis stand out compared to other indie bands. This husband-and-wife team of Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley has gained a loyal fanbase over the years and now, in 2023, they're embarking on their "Pollen" tour, headlining as they bring their signature sound to cities across the United States and Canada.
One of the bands accompanying Tennis on this tour and specifically our show and the remainder of the tour, is Loving, a Canadian indie band that blends elements of psychedelic rock, folk, and soul. Their laid-back, groovy sound perfectly complements Tennis's retro-inspired aesthetic, making for a night of music that's both nostalgic and fresh. Their sounds pair perfectly together so if you’re a fan of Tennis you’ll enjoy Loving, and if you’re a Loving fan then you’ll most definitely love Tennis. This proves the undeniable fact of indie music magic. The band of five came out and provided such a laid-back atmosphere while still equipping the introspective lyrics sung by the sweet voice of their lead singer, David Parry.
If you’d never heard Loving before you might end up in a trance-like state with how relaxing yet hypnotic their style is. They spoiled the audience with some unreleased songs as they knit them into the set of fan-loved favorites. Songs like “A Long Slow Little Wave/Citizen, an Activity” simply make it impossible not to tap your toes. Having five band members you think the sound would get lost or muddy, but every instrument had its purpose in making its sound and you could tell. Their music laces early Beatles with the evolving sound of indie making their discography timeless.
As the band members of Tennis filed on stage, the husband and wife duo followed closely behind to find their spots and the crowd shook the building with excitement. The crowd’s screams only grew as lead singer, Alaina Moore, tried to start their first track. The lights finally dimmed low as the backdrop displayed pastel colors focusing the energy to create a dreamy setting to match their sound alike. Moore, with a tambourine in hand, played the first note of their hit song “One Night with The Valet” and their fans went ballistic as they sang along to every word. Tennis transported every member of the audience especially with Moore's smooth and soothing vocals filling the room, shifting the audience to a different time and place.
Throughout the night, Tennis played a mix of old and new songs, showcasing their growth as a band over the years. Moore made sure to point out that The Depot in Salt Lake City was one of their first venues to ever play in as a band and now they're back, headlining a packed show in one of their first-ever venues traveled to. This made the interactions between the audience and the bandmates much more special as Alaina shared more thoughts in the lulls of each break between the songs. From playing classic song’s like “My Emotions Are Blinding” to new chart toppers off their newest album Pollen like “Forbidden Doors”.
Their arrangement was vast enough to fill the whole stage yet so intimate and complex providing an experience not easily forgotten. There were several setups intertwined with their original placements, creating endless opportunities for song choreography between the band. Some had Moore set up in the middle of the stage facing Riley showing off their beautiful charismatic chemistry and others had Moore set up facing the crowd as she sang ballads to us and called us her “children”. Tennis' music is the perfect soundtrack for a lazy Sunday afternoon or a summer road trip with the top down. They have garnered a strong following in the indie music scene and have become one of the most beloved bands of the genre. Their reputation grows with each release and they prove they’re worthy of it with each note played. Tennis will continue to rise each year with the help of their iconic synths, catchy guitar riffs, and melodious vocals.
Locals Sell Out Kilby Court
Article Written by: Destiny Ross & Photography by: Alec Moody
Article Written by: Destiny Ross & Photography by: Alec Moody
Salt Lake City, Utah residents prepare yourselves for the soon-to-come Kilby Block Party Festival. This continuation of the Local Highlight Series shines a light on the incredibly talented bands from the local scene that are performing this year at the festival. KBP has happened for the past three years now… This year is the fourth iteration and probably the largest scale it’s gotten to so far! The Locals Highlight Series has been held at various smaller venues, like Urban Lounge and this one, in particular, Kilby Court, all being around the inner and outer parts of Salt Lake City and all owned by S&S which has supported and lifted the local music scene immensely for years now.
Another thing that’s important to note is that KBP started as a one-day festival the first year, a two-day festival the second year, and now for the past two years, they’ve been flourishing as a three-day festival. Kilby Court is what started everything from day one back in 1999 when Phil Sherburne transformed his personal garage and woodworking shop into a makeshift concert hall for the early indie scene back in the late 90s. To make the venue official the next year in 2000 with zoning permits to then host names like Mac Miller, MGMT, My Chemical Romance, and Young The Giant… Kilby Court has defined the character of the local music scene and especially the indie scene. Kilby Court, as you can imagine, is a smaller venue that jump-started the local’s music scene to a different level in the later days, especially being one of the few smaller venues that survived the devastating hit on the music industry during the pandemic.
Being one of Salt Lake’s all-age venues it’s always a friendly, all-inclusive, environment for people of different lifestyles and paths in life. You walk in through the worn wooden doors after checking in at the small, almost concessions size, box where the ticket master stamps your hand and lets you in for the fun of your evening… And there lies an array of different things to keep you just a little bit occupied before the show. They have four garden benches surrounding a quaint fire pit, for the really cold winter nights. They complete the Court with a separate building, covered in band stickers/art and all of the bands that have performed at that venue, that doubles as a merch stand for the bands to sell their merch in before or after shows. Of course, if you’re not feeling either of those options you’re free to wait inside the venue as they usually have the garage door open when the doors of the venue open for the night.
Sunhills being the first of three to perform tonight, already had high expectations from everyone in the audience, being it sold out the night of, and before saying anything else, they definitely soared higher. Sunhills is comprised of a close-knit friend group, the members being Drew Nicholson, Sam Olson, Leo Fernandez, and Cameron Zitting. This indie, dream-pop sounding, talent-filled group is mainly known for their melodic guitars with crashing drums mixed with sweet synths, all knitted together by their chemistry and personality that make them, so fun to watch on stage. Not to mention, Drew’s sweet buttery vocals simply melt your heart as they tie the whole act together as your hair stands up on your arms because there’s nothing you can do about it while they have the stage together.
They walked through the back door, and the ringing screams of the crowd filled the room with anticipation for the next fifty minutes of melodic noise. They jumped right into their set as everyone had been antsy from waiting, and no one gave it the slightest thought. They gave an insane start-up as the drums crescendo into chaos-filled noise, slowing down into the sweet hypnotic sounds of an electric slow-paced dream. Closing my eyes while at this show and listening to their music, especially during their first song Sugar Coated, almost felt like it was the soundtrack of my own coming-of-age film. Most of their lyrics give a sense of self-hope or self-improvement, accompanied by the array of talents coming together at one point in time to form a beautiful feeling encapsulating everything life should feel like.
Throughout the many songs they performed, you could constantly feel the love radiating between them as a band and the energy given during their whole set. Whether they were clearly jamming out, shown by their expressive faces, or if it was playing directly to the audience… Sunhills makes it a clear objective to make its audience feel comfortable and at home. Truly throughout the whole show, it felt as if we were at a studio session or just at an at-home jam session kicking it and having fun. After giving us a taste of what’s to come from the rest of their set, Drew introduced the members of the band along with a brief statement giving thanks to everyone for being here and for their fellow bands on the lineup for the night for being there as well… Showing once more the type of love shown throughout this community and especially radiated through Kilby Court.
Every single member of this band is jam-packed with talent, and it’s shown clearly through how easy and fun the “job” is for them. It’s blatantly clear they love what they do, and they have fun doing it. Drew constantly plays into his fellow guitarists Leo and Cam through the dreamy interluding instrumentals. Sam, the drummer, being positioned in the back, still stood out purely because he was just murdering the drums. By murdering, I mean he absolutely killed it; his energy radiated through the whole venue as he kept the band on the beat and provided constant smiles with how captivating his energy was. Cam wailed so hard on his guitar at one point he got on the ground and rolled around while he played perfectly, just adding to what makes them so entertaining to watch.
Drew takes a second to recollect the venue’s energy and then asks the crowd, “You wanna dance?” into one of the grooviest beats of an unrecorded track called Pastey. This is the song where the whole crowd got moving and followed the direction to dance. The band transcended the entire room into a jam party as everyone was jumping and dancing together as they teased the audience with this unreleased track, hopefully, to be on their debut album that’s currently on the way. They gave us a full variation of heard and unheard tracks and played us out with another unreleased track titled “Always on My Mind.” They gave it their Sunhills flare and finished their performance strong with the audience at an all-time high as the venue slightly emptied as they left for the merch table.
After a short interlude, whether it was spent dilly-dallying outside at the merch table or getting cozy on a bench with your loved ones, Kipper Snack took the stage. A band of five members walks out, clearly happy to be there, as they are covered with giant smiles on their faces. Sean Mena, the lead singer, takes a second to introduce the members of the band before they do anything else. Sean, previously known as The Sardines, is accompanied by Simon Palo on bass, Jackson Jenkins on keys, KC Carrillo on the drums, and Javi Barajas filling in on guitar. All members are multi-faceted artists, coming together while doing their own thing for the night, as this was Kipper Snack’s first show of 2023… unfortunately for all of us, a member got COVID and was unable to make their first show of the year. But, they’re back in FULL FORCE.
Encapsulating more folk vibes of the indie genre lately but still providing the rock side of indie they’ve always been so iconic for. Sean’s distinctive twang-filled raspy vocals are accompanied by the rhythmic beats of the drums filled in with the keys and guitars to give us the sound of what Kipper Snack is in today’s current era. The band has headlined a number of times as well as played supporting acts to bigger local names such as Ritt Momney, Krooked Kings, and Dad Bod. Not to mention that Sean Mena will have played 3/4 of the Kilby Block Parties, alongside all the artists that performed over the years, after this Mays installation
Kipper Snack starts the set with Summer, a song from their newest album Pretty as a Flower, showing us the type of sound they’re so good at providing. They usually seem to succeed with their introspective lyrics and the most harmonious vocals, but more so specifically in this song, as it’s off an album assumed to be about the loss of a loved one portrayed in the most beautiful way. The strums of the guitar swell as the drums kick into a cheery, hopeful sound. Quickly transitioning with a hook of guitar riffs battled by the crashing cymbals to fade into the lulling vocals. This song encapsulates the highs and lows a good song has… To have a true beginning, middle, and end to this song just makes you want to listen to it more, especially after seeing it live.
They treated us to the surprise of playing some of the older singles they have released over the years. First, they played “Aburrido,” followed by “Concrete.” I’m no mind-reader, but I’d assume they played some oldies since Javi filled in on the guitar, and Javi once was a member of Kipper Snack. Aburrido is a higher-tempo song and more of what I would consider surf-indie. It’s a nice catchy beat that makes you wanna sway back and forth with a killer surfer guitar riff at the end. The difference between Concrete and Aburrido is the narcotic pick pattern matched with the keys to keep it all on the beat of Aburrido. This specific track finished off with one of the most electric indie slide riffs I’ve ever heard. The bass does a great job of tying both songs together. As well as with the constant playing into Javi, expressing that friendly love between them both, just accentuating the talent radiating off them all.
Personally, before that night, I had never seen Backhand live or really listened to much of their music… But I was missing out on a whole different experience that is hard to find these days. After the intermission, they turned up the background music which was Shoota by Playboi Carti. After watching two categorically grouped indie bands, you could imagine I was thrown for what I was in store for with a rap song playing. I cannot explain how crazy the crowd went for this group of Mormon-raised icons comprised of Ben Owens, Jake Owens, Mitch Owens, and Matt Timmons. Experiencing them for the first time at Kilby Court truly was crazy… The building was shaking, and your ears were ringing, if you didn’t have earplugs, from how loud the audience went for the band as they stepped on the stage. Fans have been missing their live music as this is their first show since November of last year.
Lead singer, Ben, warns you that if you’ve never been to a Backhand show that you’re going to want to stay on your feet… And to extend the idea of concert gratuity and etiquette of “if someone falls, pick them back up.” Queue is one of the best adaptations of alternative punk since the definition was made, as they start with their track Everywhere Man. It was clear just at the beginning of the song that the middle of the crowd, where I was standing at the time, was not the place to be to take notes or even understand what was happening. I stepped back and could finally see as I was getting swallowed by the many fans reaching for the bandmates. Matt, on drums, gave the guys a solid startup, as lead singer Ben and his cousin Mitch get right on top of the amps in the frontstage. Ben giving us facials that you can NEVER forget of swag-filled fun before screaming at the audience as they scream right back as guitars are riffing in the back. Creating a sense of organized nonsense that I really like about punk music, and the crowd ate it up. It was clear Backhand had a fanbase there, and they were making it known by the first song.
They said little sound bites in between the songs to tease what track they were about to play. After dancing all across the stage to a song, unreleased to my knowledge, titled “Box It Up,” he took a second to recollect his thoughts as he looked to the crowd, smiled, and said, “Is anyone in the color guard?” and the crowd started moshing even harder than they had been. This song is very beach rock-esque as the drums and guitars roll together as Ben’s vocals give us a lengthened airy/beachy sound but then have that signature Backhand spin with punk turns but still captivating melodic rhythms. Guitar solos give us those funky-filled grooves and blunt beating drums for more mosh-filled fun while Ben runs back and forth, giving his bandmates time to shine.
All of the members made sure the crowd was okay the whole time asking if they were okay periodically. Just solidifies more they’re the type of punk band you want to go see live. They’re all a bunch of dorks that sell tech decks for merch but then, on stage, rock harder than most people ever could in their life. Imagine all of that and then some of the most captivating facials, not only from Ben but the whole entire band. Truly giving off that vibe of them loving their passion and proving their slogan of being “God’s Favorite Band.” There were crowd surfers during a good majority of their songs, some being Ian, their tour manager, and some being fans passionate about the band.
As I stated before, I wasn’t very familiar with the guys before that night, but I was enthralled the whole time by their taglines that rang loud and clear. In fact, every single song they played I was entertained by, and I wasn’t disappointed a second of my time in the crowd for Backhand. If anything, I was upset that I hadn’t been listening to them sooner and couldn’t see them live before tonight. On top of being entertained by their music and the lyrics, the bandmates themselves are all so talented and even just nice guys. They took the time to bring up a long-time fan named Mudd and proceeded to tell us that it was their birthday that day. Ben took the time to tell us she has been a fan since the beginning… The thought of even just bringing her up is literally so sweet to me and shows how special their bond is with their listeners.
It was such a pleasantly surprising set of rowdy, chaotic, punk, alternative magic. You could tell that band left every single piece of them on the stage that night as they were pretty much all doused in sweat. After playing their hearts out, they promised us that was their last song and quickly changed their minds when the crowd got visibly upset. The crowd went wild as they played one song, allowing everyone the chance to leave every ounce of them on the floor just as they did for the night. Experiencing Backhand, especially at Kilby Court, it being such an intimate venue, has engrained that connection between their live performance and my listening to their music at home every day. If you’re looking for an introduction to a new punk alternative band, look no further… You won’t be upset.
I was fortunate enough to speak with each member of the bands behind the scenes, before and after the shows to talk about the coming up Kilby Block Party Festival. As most of them stated during the concert, this opportunity is huge for them to play with their friends and heroes.
I asked each member of the bands what artists they were all most excited to see at the festival this year, here are all their answers… It has been specified by each, that if more than one is stated it’s in no particular order.
SUNHILLS-
Drew Nicholson, lead singer/guitarist: The Strokes, Alex G, Julie, Wednesday
Cameron Zitting, guitarist: Alice Phoebe Lou, Japanese Breakfast, The Strokes
Sam Olson, drummer: Pixies, The Strokes
Leo Fernandez, bassist: Cuco, Crumb
KIPPER SNACK-
Sean Mena, lead singer/guitarist: Japanese Breakfast, Pavement, Alex G, Kipper Snack, Sunhills, Backhand
Simon Palo, bassist: Crumb
Jackson Jenkins, pianist: Alex G, Japanese Breakfast
KC Carrillo, drummer: Run the Jewels, Pixies, Weyes Blood
Javi Barajas, guitarist: The Strokes
BACKHAND-
Ben Owens, lead singer: Parquet Courts, Pixies
Jake Owens, guitarist: Parquet Courts
Mitch Owens, guitarist: Parquet Courts, Japanese Breakfast
Matt Timmons, drummer: Parquet Courts
Ian, Tour manager/videographer: Alex G, Julie, Wednesday
If you missed your chance to see these crazy talented artists this time around you can always catch them at the Kilby Block Party, happening May 12-14th.
Check ticket availability here
Thee Sacred Souls Serenades Salt Lake City
Article Written by: Destiny Ross & Photography by: Alec Moody
Article Written by: Destiny Ross & Photography by: Alec Moody
In the nip of a cold winter, Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, Utah, Thee Sacred Souls had a fire cooking up for locals and travelers, all coming together with a mutual love and respect for music. This was only the second time this modern-day soul band has blessed us by visiting, and with their first-ever LP, Thee Sacred Souls, that just released in the Fall of 2022, and boy was it worth the wait.
This is Thee Sacred Souls’ first-ever full-length tour… Before this year, they had only done a few solo headliner shows, mostly in California and Texas. Taking us all by surprise, they came to The Commonwealth Room, right on the outskirts of Downtown Salt Lake City. The Commonwealth Room is a 21+ venue giving space to enjoy the sweet soul without many distractions.
With this being Thee Sacred Souls’ first-ever tour, they are sadly almost fully sold out of US portion tickets. The only show NOT sold out on their headliner tour in the US is tomorrow’s show in Fort Collins, CO. The EU portion of their tour still has tickets up for grabs! Other than that, they’re making a few festival appearances later this year, so if you’re in the market to melt to the voices of a sweet seven-piece band, look no further and grab a ticket by any means possible.
Performing solo before the massive seven-membered band, Jalen N’Gonda had an equally large stage to fill, and he had no problem with doing so with just the sweet tang of his voice and the melodies he created with only his guitar. After growing up in the states, Jalen is based in Liverpool, playing sold-out venues in London and Geneva. We were truly being treated to the sweet creations of this fresh artist’s take on soul-bound blues.
They set the stage with icy cool blue lighting as it was accompanied by a single man who took the stage with no band and only a guitar to be paired with. He introduced himself as the one and only, Jalen N’Gonda. There was a shout from the crowd, “You don’t have to tell us who you are, baby,” a smile formed on the humble musician’s face. He thanked the crowd for having him as he played us into the beginning of his beautiful set.
Jalen had a jam-packed set for us filled with a plethora of modern takes on classic sounds as well as his meticulously created original pieces, ALL performed solo. He blessed us with a performance of his newest released songs. When he performed What A Difference She Made without a band, it honestly was such a special and intimate moment between him, as the creator, and me/us, as the listeners. As he bore his heart to us through his music, its echo filled the room, which was so silent that you could hear a pin drop as we were all mesmerized so deeply by the way his voice filled the room.
Aside from the breathtaking original songs that he performed, he took on the classic rock song Baby What You Want Me to Do by Elvis Presley. He put his own signature Jalen twist on it, and we were greeted with a slowed, more twangy, soul-filled revival as he came in and made it his own. I’m not one to like covers more than the originals, but I sure wish this recording was on a streaming service so I could put it on repeat… But that’s honestly how I felt throughout the whole set. I went home and binge-listened to all of his released music, and you definitely should too because I was not disappointed in the slightest.
After the short intermission, the bandmates of Thee Sacred Souls slowly started flooding the stage, and the room was quickly filled with ringing screams. Soft-spoken lead singer, Josh Lane, introduced the band and got right into their first song, Overflowing. The big bang they started with followed some unfortunate technical difficulties. Their misfortune was our gain because we got to see Josh’s personality shine through as he improvised with what to say in that short period of difficulty. On top of that, we got to experience first-hand his love for his fans and the interactions he’s so happy to have, and he makes that very well-known.
Their newest album is filled with songs of love and sorrow. Whether it be romantic or platonic, in between the songs he graced us with explanations and dedications for each of them. There’s a special thing about the way this band is able to convey every emotion through every aspect. Whether it be a melodic duet filled with honey-like lyrics or a piece on a stinging subject with harsh blows… All of it makes you sway back and forth and leave you wanting more. This album delivers what every fan has been waiting for since their debut in 2020, a full-length emotion-filled piece of modern-day soul.
This was one of the most memorable concerts I’ve been to, and for so many reasons. Josh made sure that each of the band members was highlighted throughout the whole show. Within each second of every song, they were all clearly a family, and it was clear as he made his rounds across the stage many times. Whether he was having moments with the pianist as he was shredding it on the keys or him making it over to the ladies to jam out while they were creating the prettiest harmonies, it felt like home, regardless of never being able to see them live before.
Not only that, but he made us all feel like we were a part of the experience, making eye contact with every section of the audience to even coming out into the crowd to share an even more personalized experience. Not a second went by in the concert when I DIDN’T have goosebumps covering my body formed by the sweet Southern California soul sounds that filled the room. All of this really shines a light on what he wants his meaning as a band and a human to be, and in its purest form, it’s our LOVE.
This band is on the fast come-up. As of today, they’ve amassed 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and around this time last year, they maybe had 800,000. They were recently on Jimmy Fallon for their newest album, and they’ve only been releasing music since 2020. In all seriousness, this band deserves every ounce of success and has earned it all by providing a magical musical experience for its listeners.
Find Thee Sacred Souls on Instagram, Spotify, Twitter, & Youtube