Out and about: Music of Os Mutantes, Bill Payne of Little Feat, The Black Angels, Brit Floyd and comedy of Jim Norton all in Utah over coming week
Os Mutantes
spotlight show • On Beck's superb 1998 album "Mutations," the track "Tropicalia" stood out for good reason: It was inspired by Os Mutantes, the Brazilian psychedelic rockers associated with the Tropicália movement of the late 1960s. The movement blended traditional Brazilian culture with foreign influences — notably rock music of America and Britain. The band dissolved in 1978, but regrouped in 2006 after influential tastemakers such as Kurt Cobain and David Byrne mentioned how much Os Mutantes had inspired them. Founding member Sergio Dias, 61, said in a phone interview that the 2006 reunion was supposed to be a one-off show, but once he saw young people in the audience, he changed his mind. "There was no way we could stop after that," he said. The ensemble has recorded two albums since its reunion — 2009's "Haih Or Amortecedor" and 2013's "Full Metal Jack" — with the latter featuring nearly all English lyrics. "We want to communicate what we feel," Dias said. The band's aim is the same as it was when it was a integral part of the counterculture in the 1960s. "We don't think commercially, we think of art," Dias said. "[Don't] look back, ever." Capsula opens.
When • Friday, May 10, at 9 p.m.
Where • Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 at 24Tix
Jim Norton
spotlight show • The 44-year-old comic is known for his long-running stint on radio show "The Opie & Anthony Show." He also is a frequent guest on Jay Leno's late-night show as well as being the best-selling author of Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch and I Hate Your Guts. In a phone interview, Norton — who is an R-rated stand-up — talked about how Leno gets a bad rap and how another friend, Louis C.K., is finally seeing success. "Leno has been very supportive," Norton said. "He went out of his way to make me feel comfortable." As for Louis C.K., "When you see [his success], you have to be happy. He's not a douche." The week that he talked to The Tribune, he was obsessing over the recent Boston Marathon bombings and directing much ire at the surviving suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, whom he described as a bumbling criminal. "He couldn't even kill himself," Norton said of the failings of Tsarnaev. "He is 19, and he won't ever have sex again." This is Norton's return to Utah. He remembered that his Utahn porn-star friend, Belladonna, told him he would love the state, and he agreed once he visited.
When • Friday and Saturday, May 10-11, at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
Where • WiseGuys, 2194 W. 3500 South, West Valley City
Tickets • $20 at wiseguyscomedy.com
The Black Angels
spotlight show • Unlike most musicians, the leader of The Black Angels doesn't care that people try to pigeonhole the band. "You can call us psych, or garage, or country, or hip-hop," singer, guitarist and bassist Alex Maas said in a phone interview. Based in Austin, The Black Angels are decidedly not hip-hop, but the band's expanding and explorative palette includes colors of outlaw country in its psychedelic garage rock. The band's most recent offering, 2013's "Indigo Meadow," is a collection befitting a band named from the Velvet Underground's dissonant and feedback-drenched "The Black Angel's Death Song." "It's a dark world," Maas said about the album. "We live in a dark world, but also a beautiful world. There are creepy, weird sounds on this record." The band is bringing along a fifth guitarist on this sojourn to conjure up the "Texas vibe" of "spacious, open land." Despite the serious talk, the band members have an appetite for happiness. "Music is therapy for us," Maas said. "We're making music that makes us feel good. … At the end of the day, we care about the human condition. If we can inspire people to do something positive, that's a great thing." Hanni El-Khatib and Wall of Death open.
When • Saturday, May 11, at 8 p.m.
Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $18 in advance, $20 day of, at SmithsTix
Ra Ra Riot
spotlight show • The Shins headline this show, but East Coast-based ensemble Ra Ra Riot opens and is in the midst of redefining itself. In a phone interview, violinist Rebecca Zeller said that when it came time to record a third album, band members wanted something different than "The Orchard," the group's chamber-pop album. "We were freeing ourselves from that," she said. The result was "Beta Love," which showcases a New Wave-inspired sound. "It was something we were interested in for a while," Zeller said. "We didn't set up to make a synth-pop album." As the album was taking shape, the men in the band saturated themselves with sci-fi influences and readings about futurism, which led to fascinating themes and sounds. "We realized how different it was," Zeller said, recalling that midway through the recording process, the musicians congregated in the studio's parking lot to decide if what they were doing was right. In the end, Ra Ra Riot decided to go with the mantra that you're not learning if you don't challenge yourself.
When • Monday, May 13, at 9 p.m.
Where • Park City Live, 427 Main St., Park City
Tickets • $62.50 at parkcitylive.net
Brit Floyd
spotlight show • The Australian Pink Floyd Show has been a fall regular at West Valleys City's Usana Amphitheatre. Now a former member of the group is bringing an alternative, Brit Floyd, to Utah. "I was in the Australian band for 17 years," said band leader, singer and guitarist Damian Darlington. "It was time for a change." So he left to create a tribute show that "musically and visually" is "a step further," with a set design recalling Pink Floyd's landmark 1994 Division Bell tour. During the show, Brit Floyd will perform five full album sides from "Wish You Were Here," "Animals," "The Wall," "The Division Bell" and — in celebration of its 40th anniversary — "The Dark Side of the Moon." (For younger music fans: "Sides" mean one side of a vinyl record or cassette tape.) "We do strive to play the songs note for note," Darlington said, while adding that "it's important to put a little bit of our personality into it. It's a band performing, not a group regurgitating." Two bits of trivia: Brit Floyd premiered in Liverpool, the home of the Beatles, and Darlington's first time seeing Pink Floyd was during the 1988 Momentary Lapse of Reason tour.
When • Thursday, May 16, at 8 p.m.
Where • Maverik Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City
Tickets • $25 to $64.20 at Ticketmaster.com
Bill Payne
spotlight show • Bill Payne, a founding member of Little Feat, brings "Tracing Footsteps: An Evening of Music, Photography & Tales of the Road" to Salt Lake City. Raised in Ventura County, Calif., Payne was a featured musician on some of the greatest rock songs ever recorded, including the Doobie Brothers' "China Grove" and Bob Seger's "Like a Rock" and "Hollywood Nights." He has appeared on hundreds of studio albums and toured with Jimmy Buffett, James Taylor and the Doobie Brothers, among many others. In a phone interview, he said this show, which is "not a lecture," allows him to talk about his favorite subjects, music and photography, as well as dish about life on the road — he had his first gig when he was 15. "Stories, I've got a lot of them," said the 64-year-old. "I've had a heck of a career, and it's nice to be able to share them." But fans can expect plenty of music, too, including some of the 15 songs he has written with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter over the past 18 months. Special guest is longtime Grateful Dead publicist Dennis McNally.
When • Thursday, May 16, at 8 p.m.
Where • The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 at thestateroom.com
The Egg with Sophie Barker
The British EDM band is currently touring with Sophie Barker of Zero 7.
When • Friday, May 10, at 9 p.m.
Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Free at SmithsTix.com
Joshua Radin
This Southern California-based singer-songwriter released his newest album, "Wax Wings," earlier this week.
When • Friday, May 10, at 8 p.m.
Where • The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $40 at thestateroom.com
ill.Gates
The dubstep DJ and producer from Toronto performs with Illoom, DropInOcean, GravyTron and Xspand.
When • Friday, May 10, at 10 p.m.
Where • The Salt Haus, 735 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $15 advance, $20 day of; at SmithsTix.com
Third Annual Nesian Fest
The third annual Nesian Fest features Spawnbreezie, Irelove, Finn, Trey Smoov, Josh Wawa, BigBody Cisco and DJ Pekas.
When • Friday, May 10, at 8 p.m.
Where • The Complex, 536 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $30 GA, $60 VIP; at SmithsTix.com
ThePianoGuys
Local duo Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson have released two full-length albums since making a name for themselves on YouTube.
When • Saturday, May 11, at 8 p.m.
Where • Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $50 at Arttix.org
Built to Spill
The Boise-based indie rockers have been touring since the 1990s. Junior Rocket Scientist opens.
When • Sunday, May 12, at 8 p.m.
Where • Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 at 24Tix.com
Marina and The Diamonds
The electro-pop artist released her second album, "Electra Heart," last year. Guest Charli XCX.
When • Monday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m.
Where • In The Venue, 219 S. 600 West, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $15 advance, $18 day of; SmithsTix.com
Laura Stevenson
The folk rock musician will perform with Field Mouse and Cody Taylor.
When • Monday, May 13, at 9 p.m.
Where • Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $10 at 24Tix.com
Flobots
This rock and hip-hop group from Denver performs. Wheelchair Sports Camp will open.
When • Wednesday, May 15, at 8 p.m.
Where • The Complex, 536 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $18 advance, $20 day of; SmithsTix.com