soundcheckut

[soundcheckut]

thoughts

recently, i went to the rolemodel concert, and it was great. the concert was actually amazing, and i had such a great time. my friends and i sang our hearts out (shout out gentry, collin, and anson), but i noticed something interesting at the concert. so i was standing somewhat in the middle, so i could see the people in front of me and the people behind me pretty well. and when rolemodel first came on, everyone had their phones out, which honestly is normal for when the artist comes out. i’d imagine these people probably just wanted a video to put on their snap story of tucker coming out, but what really caught my eye was how these same people still had their phones out 15 minutes later. another 15 minutes go by, and i'm like damn, i still see this wave of phones up in the air. they’re just filming the whole show, and i feel like we’ve normalized capturing EVERY moment. it never fully dawned on me how odd this is until that night, but for some reason, it kinda bothers me.

i think people that capture every moment are scared of forgetting a memory. we’re afraid of a magical moment in our lives happening and not having some sort of part of it in a permanent form, whether it's a photo or video. our heads are no longer enough. and whether this is true or not, i also think there's a major aspect of this that comes from social media, wanting to post every moment.

i think the obsession with getting photos and videos of everything really doesn't allow you to enjoy a moment. and idc if that sounds cliche, it's true. when i've just kept my phone down and taken the pressure off myself and said, “this is a memory i'm just going to keep for myself. i'm just going to live in the moment and not stress out about whether or not i'm going to remember this moment perfectly. i'm just gonna exist,” i feel like i end up enjoying myself way more, and i have so much fun. i think taking photos and videos of everything can really ruin a moment. so maybe the next time ur at a concert, u should try pulling ur phone out the least amount possible. just a thought

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VELOUR BATTLE OF THE BANDS NIGHT 2

Velour Battle of the Band is back for the winter season and I’ve never been so excited to see what these bands have in store. Unfortunately, Night 2 of the shows was the only night I was able to attend due to a busy week of work, family holiday parties, and celebrating my friend Megan's birthday the night of finals. Despite missing out on the rest of the competition, I was super excited to watch some live music and see what the bands were cooking up.

The Four bands that performed on Night 2 were Care, Wilbere, Bonneville, and Daniel’s Park. Each band brought a different style from the other, but I definitely had my favorites.

CARE:

I showed up a bit late to Care's performance, so I missed the first few songs, but what I did watch was impressive. The band had a high energy set, and although it wasn’t my favorite of the night, I think they did a great job vocally. They sounded amazing and they’re so extremely talented. However, I felt the balance between the vocals and instrumentals could’ve been tighter. The sound was leaning a bit heavier than I was honestly expecting, which wasn’t a bad thing, but it didn’t fully resonate with me. Overall, they put on a super great performance, although I did honestly find myself drawn to the other bands as the night progressed.

BONNEVILLE:

Bonneville definitely brought energy to the stage! Their sound felt more atmospheric, which definitely contrasted the energy from some of the other bands. They had a super great balance across all the instrumentals, although I really REALLY wished Jack (the frontman) had sung more. He has an incredible voice, and I’ve seen him perform covers on Instagram that just show off how talented he is vocally. I felt the bad relied a little too much on instrumentals during the set, and I would’ve loved to hear more of Jack’s vocals featured. With that being said, one of the highlights of their set was a new song that they performed. I’m not sure what it was called, but I really liked the lyrics. Before performing it, they said that the song was gonna be gatekept for a second, so we can expect to not hear it for a while. Either way, I could feel the passion behind it, and it had this emotional raw energy. I’m not sure if it was written as a fictional narrative or from personal experience but it was such a beautiful song. If you ever have the opportunity to go see one of their shows, I’d highly recommend it.

WILBERE:

By the time Wilbere took the stage, I was already feeling pretty excited. This band is one of my favorites from the local scenes based off of what I’ve heard off their EP’s “Quiet Eyes” and “My Given Name,” and their performance did not disappoint. Every band got an introduction but Wilbere stood out to me, the MC shared how when he was crafting their introduction, he asked the band if they had an interesting fact about themselves. The band told him how there was absolutely nothing interesting about them, that claim got disproven almost immediately the second they started playing. Wilbere’s set was extremely tight, energetic, well executed, and full of raw talent. Davis, the frontman, has extremely amazing vocals and that’s hard to ignore. His delivery was flawless, and the band's sound was cohesive and extremely polished. The energy from the stage was contagious, and it was clear that Wilbere had the crowd fully invested. At some point during the show, the crowd was holding up “W’s” and dancing around. This was by far my favorite performance of the night, and it only made me enjoy Wilbere’s music even more.

DANIEL’S PARK:

Daniel’s Park delivered a set that was emotionally charged and full of passion. I was impressed by their stage presence and how they connected with the crowd. While there were a few moments that could’ve used some tightening up. The overall set was done very well. They closed off their set by playing two brand new songs that had never been performed live before. This was a bold and risky move that could’ve gone either way, but thankfully they pulled it off exceptionally well. The new tracks added a fresh layer to the performance and you could tell the effort behind it. The risk paid off, and it was a good strong finish!

Although I couldn’t make it to the other nights of the competition, Night 2 at Velour was awesome. Each band brought something different to the table, making it an exciting and diverse night of local talent. Overall, Wilbere definitely stole the show for me and the judges. Their performance was everything you would ask for in a live set. Wilbere was able to earn a spot to Saturday’s finals, and I have no doubt they’ll continue to impress and steal the show.

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deeper sleeper by deeper sleeper 

joshua harmon, the frontman of the backseat lovers, stepped away from his insanely popular utah band to offer us something far more reflective and unguarded with his debut solo album, deeper sleeper, the record came out last month and joshua dives into an alternative and rawer atmosphere. the album turns inward, exploring the quieter and often lonelier corners of being human. 

there’s so much bravery in this album because it’s not an album that seeks to PLEASE, but an album that just needs to BE. listening to a deeper sleeper album feels like stepping into the quiet moments we often try to avoid. It's music for in-between spaces like late night drives or those long moments of silence where our minds wander. one of my favorite tracks, “right now” embodies this. it opens the album with just an acoustic guitar, harmonica, and drums that are so simple but still cut straight through. “i quit hoping, and I can’t wait to hope again, I quit smoking, and I can’t wait to quit again tomorrow” these lyrics are raw and it honestly feels less like storytelling but more like a confession. joshua doesn’t try to resolve anything though, instead, he captures the flow of hope and habit, the balance of trying to move forward while holding onto what grounds you which reminds me of the idea of existentialism that philosophers like soren kierkegaard or jean paul sarte emphasized. hope, as kierkegaard once wrote, is what drives us to transcend despair, while habit grounds us in the familiar. and that’s what this track captures beautifully.  

i was reading about the album online, and joshua described the album as a tattered journal, and I couldn't agree more, it’s exactly how it feels. It feels messy, raw and personal and i love it. it makes the album feel less polished and more DIY but thematically it works because it more like a collection of fragmented journal entries than a straight-forward narrative

as he gets ready to return to the studio with the backseat lovers, this album stands as testament of his artistry and his evolution. it’s such a deeply personal album that invites us as listeners, to dive into the quiet corners of his mind. it’s introspection, rawness, and honestly, pretty philosophical undercurrents create a perfect soundtrack for a time where things are slowing down, reflecting, and embracing the in-between moments of life. and for those reasons, I’ve decided to name “deeper sleeper” SoundCheckUT’s Album of the Month for November 2024. Joshua’s ability to step outside the familiar and craft something so deeply personal, yet relatable, deserves celebration. It's rare to encounter an album that captures the complexity of the human experience with such authenticity, making this a standout project not just for joshua alone, but for the local alternative music scene as a whole.

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swell - mabel elmore

ok wow, so mabel is actually a pal of mine and shes such a great musician. she consistently has impressed and amazed me with her artistry. the first track I ever heard her sing on was as feature on "big nothing" which was apart of maximus madsens album "dearly", and immediately i knew, she was bound to drop some insane and amazing music. true to this, she dropped her debut single swell a couple weeks back and damn its great. swell is an emotionally raw song that unpacks themes of emotional suppression, tension, and the weight of unresolved relationships. the lyrics move through the turbulent narrative of someone grappling with unreciprocated emotions and the fallout of honestly, a pretty toxic dynamic. lines like "my throat is starting to swell, im waiting for this to all spill" is encapsulating the weight of choking on this unexpressed pain.

her lyrics can also take more of a philosophical edge, exploring the consequences of emotional neglect when she says " don't look at me with nothing on your face, show some emotion" which could a take on not just be the person being addressed, but society's broader inability to process and express their feelings. its not just a plea for individual acknowledgement, but a challenge to a society that rewards emotional stoicism and detachment for the sake of being cool. to me this moment in the song bares a universal struggle which is that longing for genuine human connection and the frustration that arises when its withheld. mabel's choice of words is striking in its simplicity, yet its super profound in its implications. the "nothing" on the face represents more than apathy, it symbolizes the void created when people refuse to confront or share their inner emotional state.

in this context, i find swell to be such powerful commentary on the importance of empathy and communication. by spotlighting this emotional void, mable not only underscores the personal pain it caused but also invites us listeners to reflect on how this detachment seeps into our personal experience. its a reminder how if we are gonna truly connect, we first have to learn how to confront our feelings. this is was such an amazing track and it honestly deserves all the praise in the world. great job mabel! and make sure to stream the track guys!

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getting old - bleacher babe

getting old is bleacher babe's debut single, and even tho the song came out back in july, I've been wanting to do this review for a second now. I really like how the track sets the stage for a vulnerable and symbolic song by starting with "seams on my shirt, they rip and they loosen." this imagery helps us follow the narrative the song opens with the lyrics "seams on my shirt, they rip and they losen. i find this vivid imagery to be awesome because it symbolizes the wear and tear of life, which sets the stage for a narrative throughout the rest of the song as it explores physical strength and emotional vulnerability. with their masterful juxtaposition with their line "my bodys stronger, but im feeling weaker than ever" this line also explains the irony of growing older: while one may gain resilience, the emotional burden of time grows extremely heavier. musically, the song builds up tension as it goes along and with "oh were getting old" mirroring the relent passage of time. the songs structure amplifies its emotional value. this song serves as a reminder to live fully and embrace the present before it slips away. overall, i really like the track. i remember randomly stumbling across it on instagram and listening to the track back when it came out in july. like my first listen, i was like "damn this shit was fire." super excited to see what else the band ends up releasing because what they've been playing live has been just as good or even better than "getting old." and thats saying something because this is honestly one of my favorite tracks that has come out from the local scene. 9/10 on getting old

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daisy - paige fish

"daisy" is paige fish's most recent single which came out earlier this week, and wow i love this track.

this song is such a beautiful reflection on the pain of a friendship breakup, capturing the emotion of betrayal, envy, and the struggle of unreciprocated love within the friendship.

something i really liked (and wonder if it was intentional) was the choice to use the name daisy. a daisy is often associated with innocence and purity, so it creates a hard contrast to the emotional damaged that it caused. its a super cleaver metaphor, what once was pure and beautiful has wilted and become a source of pain. this kinda goes hand and hand w the lines "you're so pretty but only dark cold ugliness is always spilling out your mouth."

one of my favorite lines from the song is "mother nature, do me a favor, dont let her know she's turned me black and blue." I found this line to be so beautiful because it captures the inner conflict within your mind during a friendship break up. it captures the emotional struggle of trying to hide how it hurt you by outting up a brave front despite the emotional bruises that were left behind.

to me, one of paige's superpower is lyricism. she has such a remarkable talent for crafting lyrics and this song is a perfect example of it. paige has an ability to transform complex feelings into relatable and poetic narratives that resonate with people on a more personal level. capturing this level of raw emotion is something only a couple songwriters can capture, and paige is definitely one of them.

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another flower - bonneville

'another flower' is bonneville's first album ever and wow guys, its amazing.

i found the tracks to be slow but in a very positive way. because the songs were slow, it allowed them to be charged emotionally by creating ambient spaces filled with sound. this the artistry that i find within bonneville, their ability to mix sped down alternative rock tropes with their own personal signatures, resulting in these songs that I can just sit and think with. this is especially apparent with "groves" and "chrysanthemum" which are both super ambient songs.

i actually really like the transitions from song to song. the placement of each track feels so very intentional and cohesive. the breaks between songs for building that ambience is amazing. I'm saying a lot about ambience, but you might be wondering "what specific vibe is he talking about?" for me, i see this album as a very relaxed long summer day, or a long day outside: swimming, long walks around the neighborhood, flushed cheeks, the backyard garden exploding with a riot of bees and flowers, someone putting on an old song, and someone else saying "oh my god bro, i haven't heard this song since..." this is what another flower was to me, it was a collection of such bright energy.

my personal favorites off the record currently has to be "birds and bears" and the closing track, "think." both tracks are so beautifully crafted by the band and i would highly recommend them.

i cant help but feel a deep connection to the emotions and thoughts that another flower evokes. bonneville has crafted such an amazing album that feels like a soundtrack to those magical moments of summer. im so excited to see where bonneville heads, they recently announced that their next EP, "cabin demos" is set to be released in early november. so expect to hear from me again when it comes out haha

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she pays her taxes - no 1's home

no1'shome is a local band here from provo (where I'm from) and i would describe them as an alternative rock band. 'she pays her taxes' is their debut single off their first record, which is set to come out later this year. and i honestly love the song. i've has the chance to listen to it live at a OBY fest and a couple other shows and damn this song goes hard.

'she pays her taxes' is a good energy rock song that really grabs your attention from the first cord. the track combines elements of intensity in parts while offering commentary. lyrics are delivered with some edge to them, theres grit and urgency in jonah's, the bands frontman, vocals that complements the instrumentation. it all reminds me of 90's alternative rock or even a bit of post-grunge.

walking away from this track, I really like the song and it definitely will be integrated into my music rotation but i'm super excited to hear what comes next with no1'shome. I've been one of the lucky few to have had the opportunity to listen to some of their upcoming tracks and damn they're fire.

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SoundCheck Utah

hey! I'm just a guy interested in journalism so I thought it'd be cool if I wrote a couple of music reviews every once in a while about music that's local to me. i love going to concerts especially when its a band that is just starting out or is already bigger in the utah music scene. so welcome to soundcheck utah, and i hope you enjoy hearing my thoughts!