British Indie folk band Noah and the Whale lit up west-side Salt Lake City Thursday night with over an hour of “fun, fun, fun” and a generally- rocking time. The club-turned-music-hall “In the Venue” provided an up-close-and-personal experience with a band known mostly for light lyrics and jovial fiddling, yet whose depth continued to impress me as the night wore on.

Starting-tunes such as “Fun, Fun, Fun” and “Love of an Orchestra” soon gave way to somber, more melancholy melodies that accompanied slower beats and heart-felt lyrics. Those familiar with the Scottish Indie band “Frightened Rabbit” and American Indie rock band “The National” would recognize a similar depth of emotion that only profound lyrics and minor chords/keys can convey. It was a beautiful experience with a band that makes beautiful music.

There was a draw back, though, which at least came from the audience and not from the band, and that is that the biggest cheer from the audience came for “L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N”, the first official single released from their new album, Last Night on Earth (March ’11). The song is by far the most popular off of their new CD, which I had actually never heard and up to this point, of the concert that is, had impressed me with the breadth of sound.

The opening beat reminded me of something I would hear on SLC’s 97.1, the kind of music made to make money instead of made to express and convey emotion. I immediately turned to my buddy and expressed this sentiment as swarms of teenagers gleefully danced and swayed to the jaded beats of past and present ‘hits.’ I guess I sometimes would like to forget that the music industry is, well, just that; I would prefer for music to be something individually experienced and thus varying in our likes/dislikes. Needless to say, and hence the need for this website, I was/am sorely disappointed.

But in order to maintain a positive tone on this review, 2 thumbs up for Noah and the Whale. They put on a great show in a venue that probably wasn’t meant for them, going so far as to say, “It was a 24 hour long bus ride from Vancouver, but I can tell you it was really worth it” and “You’re probably one of the best audiences we’ve ever had” (don’t quote him on it, ‘cuz the current city is always the best, right??!!). Their new CD is generally impressive, carrying on a great quality of work and continuing to expand the range of this particular Indie band.

For those true Indie lovers, Bahamas opened the show with half an hour of good roots Indie music. The Canadian musician gave off a great vibe and a had a great performance to boot.

To Bahamas, great opening, and to Noah and the Whale, fantastic finish.

If you are looking for an epic way to spend next Sunday, head over to The Depot in Salt Lake City to check out Adele! The soulful singer is promoting her album “21,” and will be performing at 8:00 Sunday night. The doors open at 7:00, and the tickets are $25.

Unfortunately, the show is sold out….however, if you are determined to get tickets, you can certainly find a way. If you are willing to pay the price, check out people selling their tickets on Craig’s List, KSL, Facebook, etc. You may even be able to get tickets outside the arena before the show.

From what we hear, Adele puts on a pretty epic show that you will not want to miss.

Provo sensation Neon Trees is coming back to their roots for a concert at the Provo Library on September 2nd! This LDS band started in Temecula, California, and became a hugely popular band when they hit the Provo music scene. The band took off in 2008, with a hit song on the radio entitled “Animal.” They have since reached national fame, performing around the country, and opening for the band 30 Seconds to Mars.

This year they have been touring Europe with the band Angels and Airwaves, promoting their album “Habits.” Their hit single has topped many music charts, and was even sung on the hit show “Glee.”

Come check them out at the Provo Library on September 2nd. You won’t want to miss a chance to hear this local band performing where they first made it big.

Looking for something to do in Provo tonight? With Friday the 13th looming its bad luck upon you, why not scare away the bad luck with a great concert?

Check out Velour tonight for “Friday the 13th” featuring the Voodoo Orchestra. Also performing are Lo-Fi Riot, and Soul Research Foundation. For more info on the show, check out this site.

Singer David Gray is coming to Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 14th! The incredible singer in on his Lost and Found tour, and reportedly puts on a pretty amazing show.

Tickets went on sale April 22nd, and start at $40. To buy tickets, check out this site.

Iron and Wine is coming to The Venue in Salt Lake City!!!

The incredible band will perform on Friday, June 3rd at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $25 a piece when purchased in advance, or $30 on the day of the concert. They will be promoting their new album Kiss Each Other Clean.

For tickets, click here. You do not want to miss out on this incredible concert! Sam Beam puts on an amazing show.

If you are interested in planning a summer trip that you will never forget, check out this year’s Bonnaroo concert festival in Manchester, Tennessee. This four day event features some of the best musical bands and artists in the country every June. The festival will be held from June 9-12 this year, and features artists as diverse as Florence + the Machine, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, Eminem, Ray Lamontagne, Big Boi, Iron and Wine, etc. The list goes on and on.

Bonnaroo takes place on a 700-acre farm. In addition to dozens of epic performances, the festival’s 100-acre entertainment village buzzes around the clock with attractions and activities including a classic arcade, on-site cinema, silent disco, comedy club, theater performers, a beer festival, and a music technology village.

Concert goers are encourage to camp in tents, RV’s, or even local hotels and attend as many events as they would like. For more information on this jam-packed event, check out the Bonnaroo website for more details.

If you are a Death Cab For Cutie fan, we have good news for you!

Death Cab For Cutie will head out on a brief tour of small theaters in May, beginning with a show on May 18th at the Phoenix Concert Theater in Toronto. Similar band Bright Eyes will be joining them for three different dates at a few larger venues in Bend, Oregon, and Edmonton and Calgary, in Canada. According to frontman Ben Gibbard, the band will be playing music significantly more focused on keyboards than previous Death Cab songs.

On this topic, he stated, “It’s not a guitar-based record. We’ve been into vintage keyboards and playing with that palette.” “We’re not adding guitars because people will be expecting them… I’m so proud of this album that at this point I don’t care if people don’t like it.”

For information on when they will be visiting a city near you, check out http://www.spin.com/articles/exclusive-death-cab-unveil-tour-dates.

Sundance ASCAP Music Cafe is returning this year as the main musical venue where both emerging and well-known artists, solo acts and bands, come to showcase their talents and gain new fan support. Any festival credential holders that are 21 and older who pay a visit to Park City can drop into the Cafe and have a listen at the many different acts that will be performing throughout the week.

The place opens at 1:30 PM and closes around 6, so make sure to get there early to avoid missing your favorites. Visitors should know that the venue has a limited capacity and will have to be closed off when this number is reached.

ASCAP Music Cafe has welcomed artists like Damien Rice, Rachel Yamagata, Gin Blossoms, and Rosi Golan in past years, and is always a place to showcase some of the best new talent. Artists that will be present throughout the week at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival are Guster, The Secret Sisters, Danko Jones, Josh Ritter, Tin Hat, and St. Vincent, along with many others.

Make your way to the Festival in Park City; you might just discover your new favorite group or musician!

Rosie Golan @ Sundance 2009 from Palestra Creative on Vimeo.