Thursday, January 9
  • GUDFELLA: In Session
    GUDFELLA: In Session
    9:00pm @ Sky SLC
  • Close
Saturday, January 11
  • Syndicate ft Random Delights
    Syndicate ft Random Delights
    9:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Tuesday, January 14
  • Viano Quartet | Salt Lake City
    Viano Quartet | Salt Lake City
    7:30pm @ Libby Gardner Concert Hall
  • Close
Friday, January 17
  • Sebastian Maniscalco: It Ain't Right Tour
    Sebastian Maniscalco: It Ain't Right Tour
    7:30pm @ Maverik Center
  • Trippie Redd
    Trippie Redd
    9:00pm @ Sky SLC
  • Close
Saturday, January 18
  • BASSCASE 2025
    BASSCASE 2025
    6:00pm @ The Complex
  • Shwayze
    Shwayze
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • BLESSED1
    BLESSED1
    9:00pm @ Sky SLC
  • Close
Sunday, January 19
  • Houndmouth
    Houndmouth
    7:00pm @ The Depot
  • Close
Thursday, January 23
  • Amtrac: Generator DJ Tour
    Amtrac: Generator DJ Tour
    8:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • SUNDAY SCARIES: In Session
    SUNDAY SCARIES: In Session
    9:00pm @ Sky SLC
  • Close
Friday, January 24
  • Alan Sparhawk’s The White Roses Tour
    Alan Sparhawk’s The White Roses Tour
    7:00pm @ Urban Lounge
  • Close
Saturday, January 25
  • Justin Timberlake
    Justin Timberlake
    7:30pm @ Delta Center
  • Levity
    Levity
    9:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Tuesday, January 28
  • L'IMPÉRATRICE - 2025 Tour
    L'IMPÉRATRICE - 2025 Tour
    7:00pm @ The Depot
  • Gallant
    Gallant
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Wednesday, January 29
  • JJ Grey & Mofro: Olustee Tour
    JJ Grey & Mofro: Olustee Tour
    7:00pm @ The Depot
  • Close
Thursday, January 30
  • Hi I'm Ghost
    Hi I'm Ghost
    9:00pm @ Sky SLC
  • Close
Friday, January 31
  • ATLiens
    ATLiens
    7:00pm @ The Complex
  • MOONTRICKS
    MOONTRICKS
    8:00pm @ Sky SLC
  • Close
Tuesday, February 4
  • Travis: Raze The Bar Tour
    Travis: Raze The Bar Tour
    7:00pm @ The Depot
  • Close
Friday, February 7
  • Lil Mosey
    Lil Mosey
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Saturday, February 8
  • Syndicate ft Skiitour & Fort Knox Five
    Syndicate ft Skiitour & Fort Knox Five
    9:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Sunday, February 9
  • COIN: I'm Not Afraid Of Tour Anymore
    COIN: I'm Not Afraid Of Tour Anymore
    8:00pm @ The Great Saltair
  • Close
Wednesday, February 12
  • "The Holdup - I OWE THE IRS 60K DOLLARS:  THE TOUR (CONTINUED)"
    "The Holdup - I OWE THE IRS 60K DOLLARS: THE TOUR (CONTINUED)"
    8:00pm @ Urban Lounge
  • Close
Saturday, February 15
  • Sultan + Shepard: Circle In Time Live
    Sultan + Shepard: Circle In Time Live
    7:00pm @ The Complex
  • Close
Tuesday, February 18
  • Fulton Lee presents The Groove With Me Tour
    Fulton Lee presents The Groove With Me Tour
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Wednesday, February 19
  • DENM
    DENM
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Thursday, February 20
  • Maro & Nasaya
    Maro & Nasaya
    7:00pm @ Urban Lounge
  • Close
Monday, February 24
  • Hippo Campus - FLOOD Tour
    Hippo Campus - FLOOD Tour
    8:00pm @ The Union Event Center
  • Close
Thursday, February 27
  • Sitkovetsky Trio | Salt Lake City
    Sitkovetsky Trio | Salt Lake City
    7:30pm @ Libby Gardner Concert Hall
  • Close
Friday, February 28
  • Larry Fleet - Hard Work and Holy Water Tour
    Larry Fleet - Hard Work and Holy Water Tour
    7:00pm @ The Depot
  • Close
Tuesday, March 4
  • Artikal Sound System
    Artikal Sound System
    7:00pm @ Urban Lounge
  • Dover Quartet with Marc-André Hamelin | Salt Lake City
    Dover Quartet with Marc-André Hamelin | Salt Lake City
    7:30pm @ Libby Gardner Concert Hall
  • Close
Friday, March 7
  • OLLIE WRIDE
    OLLIE WRIDE
    7:00pm @ Metro Music Hall
  • Close
Saturday, March 8
  • Soccer Mommy
    Soccer Mommy
    7:00pm @ The Depot
  • Close
Wednesday, March 12
  • "Swallow the Sun, Harakiri For the Sky, Ghost Bath,  Snakes of Russia"
    "Swallow the Sun, Harakiri For the Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of Russia"
    6:00pm @ Metro Music Hall
  • Close
Thursday, March 13
  • DELAIN with Xandria
    DELAIN with Xandria
    7:00pm @ Metro Music Hall
  • Close
Saturday, March 15
  • Level Up
    Level Up
    8:00pm @ The Complex
  • Close
Friday, March 21
  • mxmtoon – the liminal space tour
    mxmtoon – the liminal space tour
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Saturday, March 22
  • Morgan Jay: This One's For You Tour
    Morgan Jay: This One's For You Tour
    7:00pm @ The Depot
  • Palace
    Palace
    7:00pm @ The Complex
  • Morgan Jay: This One's For You Tour
    Morgan Jay: This One's For You Tour
    9:30pm @ The Depot
  • Close
Tuesday, March 25
  • Kash'd Out
    Kash'd Out
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Thursday, March 27
  • Leonkoro Quartet | Salt Lake City
    Leonkoro Quartet | Salt Lake City
    7:30pm @ Libby Gardner Concert Hall
  • Close
Friday, March 28
  • Saint Motel - The Symphony in the Sky Tour
    Saint Motel - The Symphony in the Sky Tour
    7:00pm @ The Depot
  • Jessica Baio
    Jessica Baio
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Saturday, March 29
  • Role Model with Special Guest Debbi Dawson
    Role Model with Special Guest Debbi Dawson
    8:00pm @ The Union Event Center
  • Close
Tuesday, April 1
  • Spencer Sutherland - The Drama Tour 2025
    Spencer Sutherland - The Drama Tour 2025
    7:00pm @ The Depot
  • Close
Friday, April 4
  • Gareth Emery and the LSR/CITY: CYBERPUNK tour
    Gareth Emery and the LSR/CITY: CYBERPUNK tour
    7:00pm @ The Great Saltair
  • Russell Dickerson
    Russell Dickerson
    8:00pm @ The Union Event Center
  • Close
Friday, April 11
  • Ganja White Night
    Ganja White Night
    6:00pm @ The Complex
  • Close
Saturday, April 12
  • Cirque du Soleil: Crystal
    Cirque du Soleil: Crystal
    3:00pm @ Maverik Center
  • Close
Saturday, April 19
  • Paleface Swiss
    Paleface Swiss
    6:00pm @ Metro Music Hall
  • Close
Tuesday, April 22
  • 49 Winchester – Leavin This Holler Tour
    49 Winchester – Leavin This Holler Tour
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Wednesday, April 23
  • Signum Quartet | Salt Lake City
    Signum Quartet | Salt Lake City
    7:30pm @ Libby Gardner Concert Hall
  • Close
Tuesday, April 29
  • 8TURN: 1st World Tour 8TURNRISE
    8TURN: 1st World Tour 8TURNRISE
    6:00pm @ The Complex
  • Ty Segall Solo Acoustic
    Ty Segall Solo Acoustic
    7:00pm @ Metro Music Hall
  • Close
Saturday, May 17
  • MIKE
    MIKE
    7:00pm @ Soundwell SLC
  • Close
Friday, June 6
  • OMD
    OMD
    8:00pm @ The Union Event Center
  • Close
Saturday, June 7
  • HAUSER
    HAUSER
    8:00pm @ Sandy Amphitheater
  • Close
Monday, June 23
  • "Weird Al" Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour
    "Weird Al" Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour
    7:30pm @ Maverik Center
  • Close
Thursday, July 3
  • Dude Perfect: Hero World Tour
    Dude Perfect: Hero World Tour
    7:00pm @ Maverik Center
  • Close
Friday, August 1
  • Maoli - Last Sip Of Summer Tour
    Maoli - Last Sip Of Summer Tour
    5:30pm @ Granary Live
  • Close
Sunday, August 10
  • RÜFÜS DU SOL Inhale / Exhale World Tour 2025
    RÜFÜS DU SOL Inhale / Exhale World Tour 2025
    7:30pm @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (formerly USANA Amp)
  • Close
Thursday, September 18
  • Megan Moroney - Am I Okay? Tour
    Megan Moroney - Am I Okay? Tour
    8:00pm @ Maverik Center
  • Close
Saturday, September 20
  • Thomas Rhett: Better In Boots Tour 2025
    Thomas Rhett: Better In Boots Tour 2025
    7:30pm @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (formerly USANA Amp)
  • Close

Amigo the Devil, Tejon Street Corner Thieves

Metro Music Hall

$18

Thu, Sep 2, 2021
7:00pm

FULL DESCRIPTION

Tickets: $18 ADV / $20 DOS

On his new album Born Against, Amigo the Devil – the artistic moniker of Danny Kiranos -- has established himself as a multifaceted artist with a kaleidoscopic vision. The new record follows Kiranos’ beloved 2018 debut Everything Is Fine, an album that was chock full of violence, mayhem, and despair -- and one that augmented his long-gestating cult following. Kiranos’ new collection of songs reveals him to be more than a one-trick pony stylistically as he opens up the creative channels and delves deeply into thematic and musical influences as august as Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Fiona Apple.

“Every new record is an opportunity to sit and think about how much has changed in your life and the world around you,” Kiranos says. “It’s a new opportunity to bring in both new and old influences. I really wanted to dive into ideas that I’d either been avoiding or ignoring within myself and figure out ways to align them with music I grew up listening to. Influences that may have been set aside in our older recordings.”

Kiranos, who grew up in Miami in a multicultural household but now lives in Austin, decamped to Dallas to record the album at the venerable Modern Electric Studio with Beau Bedford (Texas Gentlemen). This marked the first time Kiranos had explored some of the world music he’d had long loved, including Eastern European folk and Australian country (“It has such an amazing sound to it,” he says of the honky-tonk of Down Under. “The rhythms are so dry and brutal.”) Kiranos felt Bedford was the only producer who could draw those sounds out of him. Together they entered the studio with merely the skeletons of the songs Kiranos had written. One by one, they fleshed them out in wildly inventive fashion. To say they threw the kitchen sink at this album would be an understatement; these guys threw the whole damn shack. From plucking the strings on the back of the piano to dropping heavy objects on the floor to create odd-sounding crashes, clicks and clacks, Kiranos doesn’t deny there was a bit of Rain Dogs-era Tom Waits worship involved.

As for the songs themselves, Born Against finds Amigo the Devil embracing a more widescreen narrative form in his writing, moving slightly away from the dark-night-of-the-soul diaristic tone of the first album. Whether it’s getting revenge on a daughter’s murderer, a final love letter from a death-row inmate, or an ode to one’s own flaws and mortality, the songs on Born Against pack an emotional wallop and manage to accord dignity to the darker aspects of humanity some of us would rather turn our eyes from. But at the end of the day, Kiranos understands that’s it’s stories – even the darkest of ones – that connect us through it all. And he’s worked hard to get better at telling those stories.

“It’s been a goal to become more efficient writing songs,” Kiranos says, adding that “this was a very conscious attempt to promote imagery over sentiment.”

Once Covid began to take root, Kiranos says the pangs of cabin fever set in. His entire professional life over the last decade has revolved around touring, and he was feeling boxed in. He was suffering creatively and having trouble tapping into the old wellsprings that had previously birthed songs. Writing in the third person allowed him to immerse himself in other characters’ stories, which he presents on the record in first-person for more immediate effect. These are vivid, sepia-toned snapshots of lives on the brink. Mini-movies, if you will. And they have a horrifying familiarity in the year that was 2020.

“There was a girl at the bar/ She overdosed in a photo booth/ Nobody found her body until last call/ The pictures all showed her terrified and a loner/ while everyone cried what a great friend she was,” Kiranos sings on “Quiet As A Rat.”

The new writing approach proved to be fruitful, and one Kiranos hopes his fans will embrace. Since he began touring nearly ten years ago (often playing sets in bathrooms at music festivals), Amigo the Devil has steadily amassed a fanbase whose devotion to his music is unstinting. Kiranos says he knows of 1,200 fans who have Amigo the Devil tattoos. There is also a Facebook group that grew out of his coterie of fans that has now become a sort of community support forum for those suffering from things like mental illness, addiction, and grief. “The energy my fans bring to the shows is incredible, and the fans are what make the shows good. Sometime, I can’t even hear myself over the system because [they’re singing the lyrics so loud].”

As is the case with any artist who has great success with a certain sound or specific album, making a shift to something new can prove daunting. But it’s a step Kiranos feels he has to take as an artist. “I hope this album can start to shift the lyrical expectations and people just don’t consider me ‘the death guy’ and ‘the serial killer guy,’ and that people can start to see different avenues and opportunities. I hope it opens up the project of Amigo the Devil so that people understand it’s not a specific sound-based project, and that we can go in different directions and it’s okay.”

The artistic strength of Born Against let us know that Kiranos’ new direction is more than “okay.” It’s a major mile-marker for a creative soul whose work will only continue to evolve and grow.

Metro Music Hall
615 W 100 S, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
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