FireHouse
Dec. 5, 8 p.m.
$22
Club Vegas (445 S. 400 West)
I have a soft spot for bad ’80s metal. I picked up a copy of the cassette single for FireHouse’s “All She Wrote” and “Love of a Lifetime” way back when I was 10, and I still listen to those songs if they come on the radio. I sing along too, but only in the car and if no one is watching. Like most of the hair-metal acts of yesteryear, FireHouse is a long way from the top. In 1992, they beat out Alice in Chains and Nirvana for the Best New Hard Rock Band award at the American Music Awards and played in stadiums. Now, they find themselves headlining small clubs and theaters for the few fans they still have. But hey, they’re huge in India.

Brian Kershisnik Lecture
Dec. 6, 2 p.m.
Free
UMFA Auditorium
The Utah Museum of Fine Arts continues its new trend of broadening the minds of students and faculty alike by bringing in as much talent as possible. The museum’s newest piece is by acclaimed artist Brian Kershisnik. Kershisnik, who attended both the U and BYU, “graduated” high school early when the American Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan burned down (all the seniors were evacuated and were declared to have graduated). He’s made a living as an artist since, and the UMFA is displaying a large oil on canvas piece called “Nativity” in the lobby for the entire month of December. He will be on hand Saturday afternoon to give a lecture on art and take questions afterward. If you’ve ever wanted to pick an artist’s brain, this is your best chance.

Starkweather/Sleeping Giant
Dec. 6, 6 p.m.
$15
Club Sound (579 W. 200 South)
Starkweather is one of the bands that all your pretentious metalhead friends love, but you’ve never heard of. It might be time for you to jump on the bandwagon because they’re making a special one-show stop in Salt Lake City. Hailing from Philadelphia, Penn., Starkweather has been around since the late ’80s, but never toured or even played shows more than a few hours from home. They’ve been getting letters and e-mails from dedicated fans to play Salt Lake City for the better part of a decade and it’s finally paying off. Since it’s a special occasion, Redlands, Calif., band, Sleeping Giant, is also making its way to town and will join locals xReflectx and Tamerlane for a night of decimating metal and non-stop fun. This is the Salt Lake City hard-core show of the year, so don’t miss out.
Compiled by Trevor Hale