There’s nothing more exciting than a band that has a great buzz, a sound that deftly mixes soul, R&B and gospel and is coming soon to a small venue near you. That’s the Alabama Shakes and they are headed to Salt Lake. The quartet hails from Athens, GA and features Brittany Howard, Zac Cockrell, Steve Johnson and Heath Fogg. They’ve been compared to the Black Keys, Drive By-Truckers and Sharon Jones. The most compelling thing about the Alabama Shakes is Brittany Howard’s vocals—gritty, smoky and soulful—a mix of Janis Joplin, Otis Redding and Tina Turner.  The Alabama Shakes released a 4-song EP, but thier first full length album from Rough Trade Records, Boys and Girls, will drop on April 10.  Take a listen here, then check them out at The State Room on Thursday, February 2. No doubt this will be the show that everyone will be talking about the next day. So get there. 

Happily there are a number of albums bouncing through the summer time sound vibes, and two bands with albums that fit this bill will be stopping through the Urban Lounge in mid July. The self-titled album from Unknown Mortal Orchestra, playing Sunday July 10, has a flare and simple flash of a group wise beyond their years, yet youthfully playful in its range of influences. A very early Kinks vibe permeates the entire nine-track album. The strong bass and drums flip flop effortlessly between steady driving surf rock/California punk-lite pace and a funk flair that cannot be dismissed. Whether you hear Davies’ influences or other sonic kindred spirits like a young MC5 and solo Iggy Pop, check out crisp clean, indie-rock sound that harkens back more than 40 years. Check out ‘How Can U Luv Me’ Battles album Gloss Drop has an unexpected complexity for a summer jam album. A precision electro pastiche that surges, flows and morphs, Gloss Drop constantly builds and blurs the trio’s sonic mix of bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, and countless effects. Densely woven with playful beats, layered fuzzy rythyms and digital maturations remeniscient of Coney Island carnie oddities, midway through a song it’s hard to…

I first heard Black Francis (Frank Black) as an impressionable puberty-stricken teen and instantly connected to his pseudo-stream-of-conscious lyrics and deftly fracturing yowls as the lead voice of the alt-deities, The Pixies. Twenty-five years of influence, breakups, side projects, pseudonyms and reunions has resulted in an unlikely indie-institution. In lieu of seeing the legends this fall, consider spending the evening with a twisted alt-troubadour, Black Francis as he brings his catalogue of off-beat songsmithing and unmistakable voice to The State Room on Friday, July 15 .

TWILGHT CONCERT SERIES July brings the Thursday Night downtown institution, The Twilight Concert Series. The solid line-up for the seven shows opens with Texas instrumental post-rock band Explosions In the Sky brings their multi-layer sound and high energy to Pioneer Park, on July 14th. Check out the full lineup and exciting opportunities on how to get involved here. Also check out Black Francis and other artists stopping through SLC in July.