Utah

Sonicbids Spotlight: Utah
Apr 9, 2010
Story by: Amelia Trask
Hardcore duo Utah knows how to make a lot of noise armed with just a guitar, drum set, and two sets of vocal chords. Wil Smith (no, not that one) and Larry Choskey formed Utah in the fertile music scene of Athens, Georgia just last year, and have already picked up some promising momentum.

"We are currently working on a 7-inch, called Here They Come, containing four songs," says guitarist Wil Smith of Utah's recording plans. "We also have plans to release three split 7-inches with local Athens/Atlanta bands Swank Sinatra, Cop Dope and Curmudgeon [ex-Otophobia, ex-Despised] by Fall 2010."

Utah is also set to break out of its Southern roots and tour the Northeast in September and October.

www.myspace.com/utahrock - CMJ

If there is one thing local duo Jucifer taught us, it's that two people can make a hell of a lot of noise. This is the modus operandi of ferociously loud duo Utah, with guitarist Wil Smith playing down-tuned metal riffs through 20x12'' and 2x15'' speakers powered by four amplifiers, paired with the rapid-fire drumming of Larry Chosky. The vocals are sparse, but the guitars say a lot—growling menacingly in low, snarling, yet surprisingly melodic tones. The pair met in November of '08 at a Mantooth Music event at Ciné. Four months later Utah made its live debut at Tasty World, and in the past year has done a good bit of touring up the East Coast, going as far north as Connecticut. Utah is hoping to release its debut seven-inch, tentatively called Here They Come, later this spring. To avoid hearing loss or speaker damage, turn your volume down to a safe level before venturing over to www.myspace.com/utahrock.
- Michelle Gilzenrat 3-10-2010 - Flagpole