Song Picks of the Week – July 13, 2020

Each week, Salt Lake Bard posts our favorite song discoveries — both new and old — from local artists around the Intermountain West. Check out our three picks below, find past selections in our archive of past Song Picks of the Week (SPW), and stream all of our picks on the Bard Spotify playlist or watch them on the Bard Youtube playlist.

1) Paranoid | Royal Bliss | Rock

Our first pick of the week comes from a band whose name synonymous with Salt Lake City Rock ‘n Roll. Royal Bliss has been rocking this town for more than a decade and continues to crank out amazing music. I haven’t followed Royal Bliss for that long, but, if this song doesn’t hit the top ten in American rock songs of 2020 then I’ll be baffled.

Most of us here at the Bard can relate to Paranoid. Of course, from the band that recorded Smokin’ Weed In My Underwear, Paranoid makes perfect sense. The song has great dynamics and is a creative retelling of that classic tale of what might happen when you fly too close to the sun. The video is excellent with some skin crawling scenes. Like the one that left us wondering if those were real beetles crawling out of Neal Middleton’s mouth, or if they were created with a bit of CGI? Check out the video below and let us know what you think. Buy Royal Bliss CDs on amazon.com and/or listen to them on Spotify. – Scott Cullins

2) Piece | Spirit Machines | Rock

From their debut album Feel Again, Piece is one of several Spirit Machines pearls that will get stuck in your head. Guitarist Dave Crespo—who hails from Boston—knew how to get the sound the band wanted for their debut album. Crespo, along with vocalist Pepper Rose, drummer Michael Collins and bassist Sergio Marticorena, flew to Boston and recorded the album live-off-the-floor in three days at Chillhouse Studios in Charlestown, MA.

In Piece, Rose addresses domestic violence and the reality of how the use of guns is, sadly, often the only reason the media will report on the tragic subject. In the buildup to the chorus, I literally found myself crawling out of my seat in anticipation. Check out Piece on the band’s Soundcloud page below and do yourselves a favor—visit SpiritMachinesBand.com to learn more and purchase music, stream on Spotify, or watch on Youtube. – Scott Cullins

3) Jägertown | Jägertown | Country Rock

Given that this Utah band has been country rockin’ the scene for 14 some-odd years, we thought it appropriate to take a trip back to when it all started. Jägertown, the title song off their self-titled debut album (also released on their 2018 compilation Lucky 13th) set the tone for what would follow in the band’s career. After working all week, when the sun goes down on Friday night, Jägertown tells the classic story of blowing off steam and getting after it. The lyrics, “Line ‘em up, shoot ‘em down, there’s a party going on in Jägertown,” kind of says it all.

To learn more about the band, or to buy merch, visit jagertown.com. We also recommend you check out Jägertown’s new album Blacktop on Spotify or Apple Music. – Scott Cullins