Ménage a Trois Review // Crook & The Bluff

Ménage a Trois Review

By Randy Harward

May 17, 2017

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Crook & The Bluff, along with Pig Eon and Candy's River House, performed a landmark sold-out show at The State Room.

"Ménage a Trois" found all three bands on stage at once, alternating song-for-song. When one band was in the spotlight, the members of the other two reclined on a pair of couches and popped up for guest turns on each other's tunes. Each band is led by singular talents—Kirk Dath, Sam Smith and Jordan Matthew Young, respectively—and "Ménage" wasn't like watching three local bands, but rather a trio of esteemed, established talents. It was almost like seeing a supergroup like Cash-Jennings-Kristofferson-Nelson as The Highwaymen, but with a celebratory air like in Martin Scorsese's concert film The Last Waltz, where The Band played a farewell show studded with guest stars like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Muddy Waters and a dozen other musical luminaries. But it wasn't just about the frontmen—the Bluff, Pig Eon and Candy's are three of the best bands that Salt Lake City has ever seen. So "Ménage" was a supergroup of supergroups; a throng of musicians teamed up to put on a truly epic and thrilling event. Also, as with Waltz, it was also a bit sad, since the Bluff is headed to New York and Candy's is moving to L.A. They'll all rise to the top of any pond they inhabit, but losing even one of them is a terrible misfortune. So, see them while you can, SLC. Especially if "Ménage" mastermind Dath decides to stage a sequel. May I suggest a title? "Ménage a Trois Deux: The Troix Comes Again."

May 17, 2017

By Randy Harward

Salt Lake City Weekly