It's been roughly a year since I moved from Portland, OR back to SLC, and today I renewed my lease on this apartment for another year. Somehow, I'm still surprised that there's nowhere else I would rather be. I love this valley, I love its culture, I love that there are so many cultures here, I love the diversity I've found here. I love that it's both the least and most mormon city in the world. I love that this place has a vibrant beating heart that hasn't yet been drowned out by gentrification or yuppies or rising prices or chains. I love when it's trashy and clumsy and less refined and more western than other, bigger, hipper cities. I'm really looking forward to another year here.
I've been revisiting The Thermals lately. They play melodic punk that ranges from poppy and catchy to mellow and droning. The lead singer's vocals match the clanging of the electric guitars, and even though they tackle anti-religious and anti-establishment themes, they usually come off as light-hearted and sardonic, inviting you in on the joke. It's great stuff to crank up in your car and headbang to and yell along with.
And they've held a special place in my heart since I saw them last year in Portland. Sometime in spring '07, I was walking home from Powell's and I saw an advertisement on The Crystal Ballroom's marquee for The Thermals' show that night. I had only heard a handful of songs, but I thought, what the hell, and went by myself. It was a great show, full of simple fun raw energy and loud guitars and shoving crowds, and it was the first time I'd ever decided to go see a band so spontaneously--it was a revelation that I could be the kind of person who went to concerts by herself without planning on it. And not only could I do that, it was easy for me to do that, it was fun, and it was the beginning of a renewed love for live music and a confidence in my ability to go see shows by myself at any time and have fun doing it.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
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