Return to Kilby -> Sea Wolf, Johan the Angel, Atherton, Emme Packer

I went to my first concert at Kilby Court since it changed hands at the start of the year. I’m happy to report that, though there are a few changes (the walls in the merch booth have been painted over), it’s still okay. Got a new PA, but I dare say they’re still attempting to keep it real. Regarding the show itself, I was actually kind of tired and didn’t give it all the attention that a proper music journalist should. Luckily, I’m not a music journalist, I’m just a blogger, so I can tell you a few things and then redirect you to this interview conducted with the local participants in the evenings events. You’ll find suggestions for local Utah music and some interesting things.
I promise you fine people that I will start sleeping better the night before shows so I can better remember things, maybe even get something written that very night. What I can remember to tell you is that Emme Packer (pronounced “emmy”) is good people. She writes songs that are mostly soft, but capable of rocking out. They are not sappy girly coffee shop songs, but you can still enjoy them if you like that sort of thing.
I like to think of Atherton as being alt.country where alt. = shoegaze, but not fully committing to either camp. They are good people with organ sounds that occasionally soar, and lift the spirit with them.
Johan the Angel were likely my favourite act of the evening, if for nothing else then for their instrumental array, which included desk bells and a vibraphone. Also, a Rhodes piano, which Britt played, sounds just freaking like harmonics on a guitar. Kind of an amazing tone.
Apologies to Sea Wolf, certain things and a super packed house prevented me from fully enjoying your set. You, gentle readers, must simply remember that live cello is an excellent thing for a rock band to do, and the songs “Middle Distance Runner” and “Black Dirt” are both severely excellent. They will get stuck in your head. Well.
Pics are up on Flickr, though!