Portugal. The Man
Nov. 15, 2 p.m./6 p.m.
Free at Graywhale/ $12-$14 at Studio 600
Graywhale CD Exchange (1763 W. 4700 South) / Studio 600 (26 E. 600 South)
Despite what you might have decided in recent weeks8212;especially after watching Gov. Sarah Palin ramble on and on about anything and everything8212;not everything from Wasilla, Alaska is doomed to fail. The four-piece indie rock band Portugal. The Man, hail from the land of Palin and settled in Portland, Ore., a few years ago. With Alaska too far away to consistently tour out of, the band relocated south to the lower 48 and immediately caught the attention of a few smaller labels. The band’s songwriting takes the “everything but the kitchen sink” attitude, and the members are all talented enough to craft a great mix of progressive rock as well as experimental and electronic elements. Their newest album, Censored Colors, was just released and now you’ll get a chance to see this great band twice in one day.
One Clean Life/Reach
Nov. 15, 7 p.m.
$6
Artopia (60 E. Exchange Place)
“Ogden has a hardcore scene?” That’s the question that usually comes from anyone who hears about either One Clean Life or Reach, but the answer is undoubtedly “yes,” and it is flourishing. Both of these bands are still honing their craft, but they already have two of the most important things: hope and promise. Although One Clean Life stays more rooted in the two-step, good-time hardcore rhythm and lives by the description “they’re like a party in band form,” Reach is a little more pissed off and has the urgency of bands such as Modern Life is War and Life Long Tragedy. Both bands will be making the 40-plus mile trip south this weekend to welcome Artopia back after an unwelcome absence (one that involved the cops shutting it down for a bit). But the permits are all in place and everyone is ready to go, and it’s shaping up to be a great night of Ogden hardcore in Salt Lake City.
Fishbone
Nov. 18, 8 p.m.
Price TBD
Bar Deluxe (666 S. State Street)
Nearly 30 years after they first formed in the ghetto of Los Angeles, California’s Fishbone is still on the road. The band’s mix of ska, reggae, punk and alternative rock made them one of the standouts in an overcrowded L.A. music scene during the ’80s. Coming up alongside Jane’s Addiction and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fishbone became known for their kinetic live shows and boundless energy, which isn’t hard to get across when there are seven people with instruments moving around on the stage. They became a favorite of the Warped Tour and played for several years, always giving fans a good time. If you’ve never had the chance to catch Fishbone live, head down to Bar Deluxe and check them out.