When the world thinks of the Salt Lake area, many images come to mind - a desert, mountains, salty water, salt water taffy, honeybees, Utah's capital, a family-oriented lifestyle . . . and, of course, skiing.
However, different images come to mind when alternative rock bassist Ben Shepherd of the Seattle band Soundgarden thinks of the valley."The music scene in Salt Lake City is on the map, man," said the lanky bassist during a preconcert telephone interview last June. "Everyone in Seattle is talking about it."
The club scene has come a long way since its early beginnings during the disco age of the mid-'70s. Major changes in music style have also helped with the development of Salt Lake City's very own after-hours life.
How many residents are aware of a former punk club called the Maxim? In the mid-'80s, it moved from its initial location near 3900 South and Main Street to Sugar House where ShopKo now stands (just off I-80 and 1300 East). The venue attracted fans of Black Flag, Generation X (the band, not the people) and Billy Idol.
Back a few years, if a band didn't play the Salt Palace it wasn't worth mentioning. (Unless, of course, it played at Lagoon during the late '50s and '60s.) Now, many upcoming bands make it a point to stop at a smaller local venue before stepping out in the big arenas. Just last week, a new band called For Love Not Lisa stopped in for a show at the Cinema Bar at Spanky's, as did the new band Mutha's Day Out.
At the same time, many big-name arena rock types have scheduled stops in the smaller venues because of their intimacy. Last year the pompy syncopation of the '70s blockbuster band Kansas could be heard at the Zephyr, and a couple weeks ago, the heavy-metal thunder of Motley Crue shook the Power Plant.
Still, in between the upcoming novices and established gurus lies the local talent.
Many have solidified a name in the niche. Bands and performers like Backwash, Megan Peters and Big Leg, Gamma Rays and Mocha Joe relentlessly circulate the downtown scene and have developed a steady following. Other notable local bands like Dayne, Box Car Kids and the Stench are no longer together, but dominated the scene in the late '80s.
Yes, there is more to Salt Lake City and its surrounding communities than ice cream, videos and pizza. So, when out-of-state relatives or friends drop in for a few days and want to partake in the local music scene, or if you want to get a little sample of the city after hours, where do you take them?
The following is a list of the diverse live rock music venues around the area and what they have to offer:
POP/ROCK
The Ashbury Pub, 22 E. 100 South - Dancing, alternative, rhythm and blues and classic rock. College night every Tuesday. Full menu. 596-8600.
Bar & Grill, 60 E. 800 South. Everything from alternative rock to heavy metal. 533-0340.
Barbary Coast, 700 E. 4800 South - Dancing, hard rock and country music. Full meal menu. 265-9889.
Burt's Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State St. - Various music. 521-0572.
Canyon Inn, 3700 E. 7000 South; 942-9801.
Cinema Bar, 45 W. Broadway (300 South) - Dancing, rock, funk and alternative music. 359-1200.
City Limits, 1037 E. 3300 South - Dancing, classic rock. 486-3008.
Club Norwood, 1726 W. North Temple (100 North) - Dancing, classic rock. Full meal menu. 539-9484.
Club 90, 9065 S. 150 West - Dancing, nostalgic rock and Top 40. Karaoke every Wednesday. Full meal menu. 566-3254.
Club Renegade (formerly Corona's), 4410 S. State St. - Dancing, rock. Battle of the Bands every Wednesday and Thursday. Full menu. 269-9555.
D.J.'s Beer Garden, 3200 E. Big Cottonwood Canyon (7255 South) - Dancing, hard rock. Full menu. 942-7020.
Dead Goat Saloon, 165 S. West Temple (100 West) - Dancing, hard rock. Full menu. 328-GOAT.
DV8, 115 S. West Temple (100 West) - Dancing, hard and alternative rock, rhythm and blues and rap. Modern music every Thursday. Deja Vu music every Friday. 539-8400.
Good Spirits, 5180 S. State St. - Rock. 269-9309.
Green Parrot, 155 W. 200 South - Dancing, rock, jazz and blues. Full menu. 363-3201.
Green Street, 610 Trolley Square (550 South) - Dancing, rock, jazz and blues. Full menu. 532-4200.
Holy Cow, 241 S. 500 East - 359-5905.
Lazy Moon Pub, 32 Exchange Place (335 South) - Dancing, rock, rhythm and blues. Full menu. 363-7600.
Lemar's, 210 W. Center St. (50 West) - Dancing. Live music every Friday and Saturday. 373-9014.
Peppermill, 3400 S. Redwood Road (1700 West) - Live music on the weekends. Full menu. 972-9723.
Playskool, 346 W. 600 South - Dancing. Modern and alternative rock. Full menu. 355-1770.
Port O' Call, 78 W. 400 South - Rhythm and blues. Full menu. 521-0589.
Power Plant, 4835 S. Highland Drive (1750 East) - Dancing. Heavy rock. 277-6969.
Rafters, 485 W. 4800 South - Hard rock. 262-4149.
Uncle Bart's, 837 S. Main St. - 532-9068.
Westridge Club, 7642 S. State St. - Dancing. Classic rock Thursday-Saturday. Acoustic sets every Sunday. Karaoke every Wednesday. 255-9872.
Zephyr Club, 301 S. West Temple (100 West) - Dancing. Heavy metal, hard rock, alternative rock, and rhythm and blues. 355-CLUB.
COUNTRY
Charley's Club, 2827 S. State St. - Dancing. Karaoke every Wednesday night. Jam session Sunday. 483-9167.
Country Christi's, 3793 S. State St. - Dancing. Full menu. 261-9111.
Double Deuce Lounge, 5128 S. State St. - Dancing. Live country music Friday and Saturday. Full menu. 263-9406.
Elmo's, 1501 S. Main St. (Tooele) - Dancing. Full menu. 882-1822.
Filling Station, 8978 W. 2700 South - Dancing. Full menu. 250-1970.
Old Bottling House, 1390 W. North Temple (100 North) - Dancing. Full menu. 539-9486.
The Post, 7800 S. Redwood Road No. 132. (1700 West) - Dancing. Full menu. 566-9661.
Redwood Lounge, 502 S. Redwood Road (1700 West) - Dancing. Live country music on the weekends. Full menu. 972-9822.
Sage Supper Club, 8136 S. State St. - Dancing. Live music weekly. 255-5301.
Sandy's Station, 8925 S. 255 West - Dancing. 255-2078 or 255-2289.
Stetson Broiler, 2477 E. 7000 South - Dancing. Live music Wednesday. Full menu. 942-6680.
Thumper's, 1650 W. 3500 South - Dancing. Live music on weekends. Full menu. 972-0184.
Upper Country, 3500 S. Main St. - Dancing. Full menu. 466-6664.
Westerner, 3360 S. Redwood Road (1700 West) - Dancing. Full menu. 972-5447.
ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Christy's Cafe by the Library, 212 E. 500 South - Live music every first and third Sunday. Full menu.
Clouseau's, 600 S. West Temple (in Embassy Suites) - Piano solos, Live jazz and contemporary music Wednesday through Saturday. Full menu. 359-7800.
El Norteno, 3556 S. State St. - Dancing. Latin-American music Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Full menu. 262-1783.
Mixed Emotions, 1030 S. State St. - Dancing. Live music Friday and Saturday night. Full menu. 355-8055.
New Window McCoys, 3928 S. Highland Drive (1750 East) - Piano bar, Tuesday through Saturday. 272-2276.
Olympic Club, 1193 Wilmington (2200 South) - Dancing. Live music Tuesday night. Karaoke every Wednesday. Full menu. 466-1796.
P.J.'s, 3265 S. 1300 East - Dancing. Lost in the '50s Fridays and Saturdays. Full menu. 466-0838.
Sabre Club, 14 E. 800 South - Live music every Friday. 532-9674.
Sojourner, 3939 S. Highland Drive (1750 East) - Live music every Tuesday through Sunday. Full menu. 273-9828.
Totems, 538 S. Redwood Road (1700 West) - 975-0401.
University Park Hotel Nickelodeon, 500 S. Wakara Way (2250 East) - Live music weekly. Piano Wednesday. Dancing Friday and Saturday. 581-1000 ext. 7116.
Zaccheo's, 280 E. 800 South - Live piano Friday and Saturday. 322-0815.
JAZZ, ACOUSTIC FOLK, ETHNIC
Crompton's Roadside Attraction, 5195 Emigration Canyon (865 South) - Live music weekly. 583-1869.
D.B. Cooper's, 19 E. 200 South - Jazz on Monday. Live shows weekly. Full menu. 532-2948.
Gepetto's (Holladay), 2340 E. 4700 South - Live music weekly. Full menu. 272-1061.
Gepetto's (University), 230 S. 1300 East - Open mike jam Monday and Tuesdays. Live music weekly. Full menu. 583-1013.
Grapevine, 3975 S. Highland Drive (1750 East) - Live music Sunday through Thursday. Full menu. 272-7686.
Green Street, 610 Trolley Square (550 South) - Live music weekly. Full menu. 532-4200.
Heide's Restaurant, 925 E. 12400 South - Full menu. 572-6927.
Initi Restaurant, 2124 S. State St. - Live music every Friday. Full menu. 466-4350.
Java Jive, 2132 S. Highland Drive (1100 East) - Poetry reading every Saturday. Jazz every Sunday. 486-8066.
Little America Westgate Lounge, 500 S. Main St. - Live music weekly. 363-6781.
Lumpy's, 3000 S. Highland Drive (1750 East) - Karaoke every Tuesday. Live music Saturday. 484-5597.
Manhattan Club, 5 E. 400 South - Live music every Friday and Saturday. 364-7651.
Park Cafe, 600 E. 1300 South - Live music Thursday through Saturday. Full menu. 487-1670.
Park Ivy, 878 S. 900 East - Live music every other Saturday afternoon. 328-1313.
Pie Pizzeria, 1320 E. 200 South - Live music Monday through Thursday. Full menu. 582-0193.
Roof Restaurant, 15 E. South Temple - Live music weekly. Reservations are required. Full menu. 539-1911.
Room at the Top, 150 W. 500 South (Salt Lake Hilton Hotel) - Piano music nightly. Full menu. 532-3344.
Royce's, 7350 Wasatch Blvd.(3115 East) - Piano music Friday and Saturday. 942-4900.
Ruth's Diner, 2100 E. Emigration Canyon (865 South) - Live music weekly. Full menu. 582-5807.
Salt Lake Seafood Co., 4835 S. Highland Drive (1750 South) Cottonwood Mall - Live blues every Monday and Sunday. Full menu. 272-4800.
Tropicana Club, 1130 E. 2100 South - Live Latin-American music Friday and Saturday. Full menu. 486-9559.
OUTSIDE SALT LAKE
Don't forget other venues located outside of the Salt Lake area.
Ogden area:
Charley's, 395 S. Main (Clearfield) - 776-4665.
Club Nadir, 1500 W. Riverdale Road - 399-3409.
Dab's Crazy Horse Lounge, 50 E. 200 South (Clearfield) - 825-9342.
Daily Grind, 252 25th St. - Acoustic music every Friday. Full menu. 629-0909.
Dry Cow Club, 2410 Wall Ave. - Live music Thursday through Saturday. 399-1322.
Duster's, 2408 Adams St. - 392-1772.
Ebenezer's, 4286 Riverdale Road - 394-0302.
Electric Alley, 247 24th St. - 627-1190.
Frogs, 2508 Ogden Ave. - Karaoke every Tuesday and Wednesday. Live music Thursday through Saturday. Full menu. 627-2782.
Gray Moose, 2327 Grant Ave. - Jam sessions every Thursday. 399-0553.
Iron Horse, 3611 Washington Ave. - Karaoke contest every Tuesday. Open karaoke every Friday and Saturday. Full menu. 621-9925.
Ladies of Lace, 1847 Wall Ave. - Las Vegas style dancing. 394-4757.
Oak Tree, 460 W. 12th South - 393-8616.
Rowducks, 240 25th St. - 393-5752.
Sandtrap, 2851 Washington Blvd. - 621-9838.
Star Castle, 24th Adams St. - 392-1717.
Tamarack, 1254 W. 21st Street - 394-4741.
Theo's, 760 W. Riverdale Road - 394-5214.
Park City:
Alamo, 447 Main St. - Live music as scheduled weekly. 649-2380.
Black Pearl, 350 Main St. - Full menu. 649-3140.
The Club, 449 Main St. - Jam sessions every Wednesday. 649-6693.
Cisero's, 306 Main St. - Live music weekly. Full menu. 649-5044
Coffee Cottage, 651 Park Ave. - Live acoustic music every Friday. Live music every Saturday. Full menu. 649-7947.
Cooter's, 2121 Park Ave. - Full menu. 649-5000.
Coyote Grill, Park City Resort Center - Live music Wednesday through Sunday. Full music. 649-1180.
Downunder, 573 Main St. - Live music every Sunday and Monday. Full menu. 649-6407.
Riverhorse, 540 Main St. - Live music as scheduled weekly. Full menu. 649-4006.
Saddle & Spur, Wolf Mountain - Open during ski season. Live music nightly. Full menu. 649-5400.
Scarpelli's, 427 S. Main Street - 649-5400.
Stein Eriksen Lodge, 7700 Royal Street East - Live music nightly. Full menu. 649-3700.
The Other End, Heber City - 645-2645.
Z Place, 427 S. Main Street - Sassy's Western Dinner Theatre Tuesday through Saturday. 647-9222.
Provo area
ABGS, 190 W. Center Street (Provo) - Dancing, nostalgic and alternative rock. 373-1200.
La Casa, 210 State Highway Drive, Lehi - Adult contemporary. 768-9073.