A Love Letter To The Utah Music Scene
As the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world, I have spent a lot of time reflecting upon the habits and routines that I miss. Growing up in Salt Lake City, I developed a deep appreciation for music early on, but I was largely unaware of the thriving music scene that this state boasts. Yet, as I slowly began attending more and more concerts, I began to realize just how special this local music community is. Now, living under quarantine and being socially distanced, one of the main topics on my mind is how much I miss the community, the love, and the happiness brought by the Utah music scene.
The very first time I walked into Kilby Court, I realized that it was a magical place. As I looked around, I was in awe of the stickers from hundreds of bands placed around the outdoor seating area. Walking into a glorified garage with a small stage, I glanced around and saw even more band names and signatures written in sharpie on the walls. Like the Pie Underground, these names scattered around the walls were haphazard and imperfect, but already, the sense of community was clear. The names of the bands and the people who had passed through the same doors had left their mark and revealed that this was a place to be revered. Even in the hot July sun, this place felt like an oasis. I had gone to Kilby Court to see the Australian band Castlecomer, which my friend introduced me to, but we were surprised to see that several local bands would grace the stage before the main act. One of those bands Brother remains to be one of my all-time favorite local bands. I had never heard of them before, but I immediately fell in love with their take on indie and alternative genres with a blend of bedroom pop. My insatiable desire to find new artists had found a home.
Despite only knowing one person at the concert, I never felt out of place or that I didn’t belong. Even though I was unaware of what the Kilby experience would look like, I felt welcomed and accepted. Having the chance to chat with the bands afterward and mingle with the crowd outside of the cramped garage further intensified those feelings of community and a shared love of music. It had finally hit me just how beautiful it was surrounded by people you don’t know all singing along to the same songs.
But now, as I look upon those memories from a place of quarantine, my heart is broken at the fact that concert venues like Kilby Court may never get the chance to open their doors again. I’m devastated for the artists and musicians who make their livelihoods by touring and playing at concerts. And, more selfishly, I’m saddened for the concert-junkies like myself who live concert-to-concert and are constantly looking forward to their next chance to experience live local music.
Ever since my first foray into the world of local music, I was instantly hooked onto the scene. I am constantly searching for new artists to listen to, and it seemed like there was an endless list of bands for me to support from around the state of Utah. I would plan to go to a concert at least once a month — if not more — to continue experiencing the thrill of live music and the community built by the Utah music scene. I would see the same faces at various concerts, and slowly but surely, I felt like I had become a part of this scene. While attending classes at the University of Utah, I would see individuals on campus wearing a shirt for a band I’ve seen or wish to see, and these impromptu conversations were always some of my favorites. With some of my friends, we had made a habit to fuel up before a Kilby show at Vertical Diner, a local vegan restaurant, before embarking to claim our spots close to the stage. These rituals all solidified my appreciation of the local scene and I am eternally grateful for all of the memories I have made in this space.
I remember going to my first show at the Velour in Provo and trying to learn all of the band’s songs and lyrics before reaching the venue — but trying to learn everything from The Rubies, Ritt Momney, and The Sardines all in one night proved to be a little daunting. I remember going to Sundance for the first time and being surprised to see some of my favorite local bands — Dad Bod and The Backseat Lovers — participating in a concert on a Sunday night that I gladly attended despite having to work early the next morning. I remember taking a friend to Kilby Court for the first time and they proceeded to list off all of the cool band names they saw — the majority of which I had seen live (some I remember her listing off were Blue Rain Boots, The Aces, and The Solarists). I remember smaller moments like ending up next to a speaker at Kilby Court and temporarily losing my hearing in my left ear — but not caring because the concert was worth it — or walking into a sold-out Kilby show and being shocked at just how many people fit inside the venue.
After thinking back over the years that I have been able to experience the incredible local Utah music scene, it is terrifying to think about the possibility of losing it completely. The memories that I have made while attending concerts, meeting artists, and finding comfort in the crowd have all shown me just how creative and diverse the Utah community is, and I hope that more people can continue to delight in this music scene after this pandemic.
But, all is not lost yet. Sartain & Sanders, which presents concerts at almost all of the local venues in Salt Lake City, is asking for donations, and each donation will be met with a t-shirt from a local venue and future tickets to redeem once it is safe to host events again. This donation drive works to ensure that venues like Kilby Court, The Depot, The Loading Dock, Urban Lounge, and the Twilight Concert Series in Salt Lake and Ogden will be able to survive the pandemic until they can host events once more. While donating might not be a possibility for everyone, the eventual return on investment with future tickets — a $25 donation will result in $30 of future ticket use — is an incentive for habitual concert-goers.
More recently, Kilby Court has created a “Concert Cruise” to allow audiences to enjoy live music from a social distance while biking around downtown Salt Lake. In an effort to combine a love of biking with a love of local music, this cruise continues to provide access to the unique music scene while abiding by COVID-19 safety measures. Spread throughout Salt Lake City, the pop-up style venues ensure that no audience members are forced into close proximity, and limits on the audience size further ensure that social distancing will continue during the performances.
The Utah music scene welcomes, supports, and fosters artists. It creates a home for both creators and those that are passionate about music. At any point before COVID-19, there were usually concerts on every night of the week across the Salt Lake valley and throughout Utah. This local music scene has been the home for bands like Imagine Dragons and Neon Trees, and other artists like Mac Miller, Death Cab for Cutie, and Grouplove have passed through this scene on their way to making it big. This scene brings people together all for the love of music. To be able to revel in the arts and find a community along the way is truly something special and is something that needs to return once it is safe to do so.
To the Utah music scene I say: I love you and I miss you. I hope that these venues and artists can make it through this difficult time, and I am looking forward to the day that I can return to this incredible local music scene.
