We’ll have a booth at the Gallivan Center tomorrow (Thu., July 24) for this week’s free Twilight Concert Series show. Tune into performances by De La Soul, The Cool Kids and more while kickin’ back with our staff. All our writers will be there to help you celebrate Pioneer Day the way it should be celebrated — IN style!
Local blog www.slcmeangirls.com takes gay gossip to the Web. The blog, slogan-ed “Salt Lake’s dirty laundry,” features plenty of Babylon (new gay club at Bliss Nightlife) references, which makes me think it’s an affiliate operation (or they’re the sites sole advertiser). Regardless, blogger “Regina” keeps readers informed with posts about in-the-closet rumors, local news and upcoming events. And if you’re privy to our GLBTQ scene, you’ll likely find photos of people you’ve seen around the community. Plenty of local bartenders, drag queens, socialites, etc. already have their mugs posted on the site, often attached to some unflattering commentary or calling-outs. Check out the indulgent gab for yourself, and if you have some mean girl in ya, send your contributions to regina@slcmeangirls.com.
— Amanda Chamberlain
My 15 Favorite Things About tonight’s production of Plan-B Theatre’s “And the Banned Played On”:
15. SLUG editor Angela Brown’s turquoise tunic and its Asian-inspired swirl of multicolored goodness.
14. Tom Hewitson’s guitar playing on “Pinball Wizard.”
13. Jen Tarasevich’s Daisy Duke outfit.
12. Dave Evanoff’s jaunty head bobbing as he played the drums.
11. The stuffed mushrooms provided by Cali’s Natural Foods.
10. The sincerity in Mark Fossen and Tobin Atkinson’s portrayal of a gay couple coming to terms with the AIDS epidemic in a scene from “The Normal Heart.”
9. The Theater Arts Conservatory School’s ten-minute version of “Romeo and Juliet” as staged by teenagers, proving that local theater has a bright future.
8. Danny Tarasevich’s smooth-as-silk vocals and expressive hand gestures on a rendition of “American Dream” from “Miss Saigon.”
7. Colleen Baum’s hilarious inflections as Sister Mary Ignatius.
6. Ginger Bess’s stunning operatic vocal work on “Three Little Maids from School,” which was surpassed only by her full throatiness as she channeled Miss Mona for the number “A Lil’ Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place” from “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” — proving yet again that she may well have the most powerful voice in town.
5. The part where X96’s Bill Allred came out wearing a Jane’s Addiction’s “Nothing’s Shocking” T-shirt. First he asked where Sandy Nailen was sitting in the crowd, and a woman behind me raised her hand. Then Allred explained that she is the mother of Dan Nailen, the Arts and Entertainment editor of Salt Lake Magazine (and a former IN columnist). Allred said that when Dan Nailen saw him wearing the shirt, he exclaimed that he used to have that shirt, too, but his mother never let him wear it. Allred then added, “So censorship can take many forms,” at which I saw Mrs. Nailen chuckling good-naturedly.
4. The fact that former mayor Rocky Anderson recorded his introduction on video, even though he was in New York tonight to give a presentation at an international human rights conference.
3. When former mayor Ted Wilson said, “With all this star power up here, I feel like Paris Hilton’s 25th boyfriend — I know what to do but not how to make it exciting.”
2. Seeing the four mayors who were present — Ted Wilson, Palmer DePaulis, Deedee Corradini and Ralph Becker — come out for the curtain call with arms linked.
1. Plan-B director Jerry Rapier’s composure while handling an outraged audience member. A man in the audience started yelling at Rapier when he referred to himself as a Jap while explaining that Plan-B’s next season will include a play that tells the story Rapier has waited his whole career to present: the drama of Utah’s World War II Japanese internment camp. The heckler screamed that his grandfather was in one of those camps and that Rapier shouldn’t call them Japs — to which Rapier calmly replied that he is a Jap and that’s exactly why they’re doing the play. It perfectly underscored the point of the evening, which is that what may offend one person is another person’s most fundamental self-expression.
“And the Banned Played On” is a one-night only event, so if you missed it, you’re out of luck. Next year, Plan-B will combine it with another annual event, SLAM, to create “And the Band Slammed On,” Utah’s only “fundraiser-featuring- five-10-minute-plays-created-in-24-hours-celebrating-the-First-Amendment.”
I can’t wait. We’ve written a lot lately about the importance of buying locally, and that goes for art, too. When it comes to world-class theater, you can’t get any more local than Plan-B and its emphasis on Utah stories.
— Kelly Ashkettle
As a journalist, most of your time is spent keeping up on current events. And whether I’m seeing when a band’s coming through town or peeping the latest gossip on PerezHilton.com, staying in-the-know usually entails a heavy use of the Internet. Thank goodness for search engines, too, because without them I would be following link after link for days in order to find the info I need. I have auto-complete on my computer, where if I type a letter into the search engine, it will come up with past searches that have begun with that letter. Reading my past searches made my laugh out loud because keeping up on pop culture can mean searching for some pretty freakin’ ridiculous things. Check out some of my past searches:
cold cure alcohol: trying to research the rumor that Hot Toddies can be a cold cure-all (by the way, it’s not)
eggnog lip balm: trying to find the price of a certain seasonal product for a shopping story
female guiche piercing: double-checking my facts for that body-mod issue we did in February (that issue saw plenty of search terms just like this)
honey with blank: I have no effing clue why I searched this
musician deaths 2007: the morbid part of entertainment journalism
pineapple pimp aphrodisiac: believe it or not, I was looking up a party caterer called Pineapple Pimp Aphrodisiacs
stripper gets fired: this is my favorite; trying to find headlines where strippers have been fired for not keeping up their, uh, visual appeal
Now I’ve let you read my Internet diary, what are some of your crazy search terms?
— Amanda Chamberlain
Coming out of a weekend with so many shows and so little time, tonight’s agenda is equally packed for a wickedly fun family not-home evening.
Warm up the week with the ska-punk brass and beats of Less Than Jake and Goldfinger at Murray Theater. Note, the show was moved from Saltair, so if you were anticipating booze and balcony seating you may want to plan ahead and swing by your favorite Murray bar along the way. The show starts at 7 p.m. at 4915 S. State Street. Tickets are $23.
Grammy Award-winner John Mayer brings his wonderland to Usana (5400 S. 6200 West) with Colbie Caillat and Brett Dennen opening. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $31 - $59.
The Summer Slaughter Tour brings melodic metal with Black Dahlia Murder, Kataklysm, Vader, Cryptospsy, The Faceless, Despised Icon, Aborted, Born of Osiris, Psycroptic and Whitechapel. It’s an early show so let your boss know you aren’t feeling well so you can show up when the doors open at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the Avalon Theater (3605 S. State Street).
Armpit anthems and mouth-made drumbeats can be heard as Ariel Pink stops by Salt Lake on the “Thanks Mom I’m Dead” tour. The art rocker plays at 7 p.m. with Trouble On the Prairie at Kilby Court (740 S. Kilby Court (330 West)). Tickets are $10.
In the theater department, tonight is your one and only chance to fight censorship with the Plan-B fundraiser, “And the Banned Played On.” The sixth annual event starts at 7 p.m. at Jeanne Wagner Theatre at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (138 W. 300 South). Tickets are $35.
— Amy Spencer
I have this bad habit of calling 411. I’ll be driving around and realize I don’t know where something is, so I call 411 on my cell phone to get the address. Invariably, I get someone in a farflung corner of the U.S. who is entirely unfamiliar with the grid system that makes up our Utah addresses. The conversation usually goes something like this:
411: City and state, please.
Me: Salt Lake City, Utah.
411: How can I help you in Salt Lake City?
Me: I’m trying to find the address for Abode. “A” as in apple, “b” as in boy, “o” as in oscar, “d” as in dog, “e” as in edgar.
411: I have Abode on 900th Street.
Me: Okay, what’s the full address, please?
411: 1720 on 900th Street.
Me: Okay…1720 what?
411: 1720 South.
Me: On what street?
411: Okay, I’ll just read you what it says. 1720 South 900 East.
Me: Great; thanks!
411: You’re welcome, have a nice day.
It cracks me up. It happens often enough that my annoyance is starting to outweigh my amusement, though. Time to give Google mobile a try, I think.
– Kelly Ashkettle
If you like hot cars and even hotter women, jump in your whip and cruise to Rocky Mountain Raceways this weekend. Going down Fri., July 18 and Sat., July 19, this weekend’s batch of auto races promise to pack in a bevy of activities that you won’t want to miss. Check out the qualifiers on Friday, then rest up so you have energy for Saturday’s slew of events. Saturday warriors will witness races ranging from drift to dragster, as well as a smokin’ hot, Harry O’s bikini contest. You can also kick-start your heart with live bands, a car show (email info@revvwear.com to enter your ride) and shopping at the event’s vendor village. And if you’re not drooling yet, just check out one of our past Sexies and racer Brooke on the flier below. Tickets are $15 for one day and $25 for both; find ‘em at www.smithstix.com or at the RMR box office.
— Amanda Chamberlain
Join the community in raising breast cancer awareness at the Silent Auction Mind Fit Social tonight. The charitable party is free to the public and features vendors, food and plenty o’ drinks to keep the socializing flowing. The fundraising happens via silent auction and the vendors you support by shopping. Let me tell you from experience that these types of events are beneficial for not only the cause, but also for networking because lots of “important” people show up (i.e. business owners, advertising execs, press, etc.). Anywho, the awareness social takes place at Transform Studios (3949 S. Wasatch Blvd.) and goes from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. RSVP by calling 801-637-5235 and get ready to get your gab on!
— Amanda Chamberlain
As IN’s Amanda Chamberlain blogged yesterday, she made an awesome video about last Saturday’s RISE! Dance Music Festival — complete with her interviews with DJs and attendees. I, too spent some time at the Gallivan Center event, and captured a few still images of the crowd for your viewing pleasure. (Click the photos for bigger versions.)
The main stage:
The Huka Bar lounge:
The side stage:
– Kelly Ashkettle
Tomorrow night, the Urban Lounge will host the Utah Summer Hip-hop Party. For three bucks, you can get an earful of emcees and local hip-hop artists including Mindstate, Adverse, The Knoitalls, Blue Collar Theory and Sick Sense & Skinwalker. But this isn’t just a concert, it’s a party, so don’t be afraid to sport your sickest throwback while you throwback a few. The show starts at 10 p.m., so grab your trio of d-notes, toss on your kicks and bounce to this ragin’, rhyme-o-rific party.
— Amanda Chamberlain
