Double Down with Ugly Valley Boys

(this piece was published by Planet JH Weekly)Vintage processes—whether a classic songwriting style, amplifying an electric guitar, or the blowing and bending of neon glass—are often developed from years of trial and error, leaving future generations established foundations to utilize and tweak.For old souls Ryan Eastlyn (guitar, vocals, songs) and Braxton Brandenburg (upright bass) of Salt Lake City two-piece the Ugly Valley Boys, purity lies within their crafty skill set both on and off stage. Their sound breathes a genuine wink to early country, folk and blues, with shades of punk and rockabilly, and a tangible connectedness in songcraft. Spinning their stripped-down 2011 album, Double Down, the simplistic instrumentation and steady beats allow for the introspective stories within the songs to pop, and that’s where the Ugly Valley Boys get to the heart of American roots music.“For as long as I can remember, I've been a music junkie,” said Eastlyn, “but when it comes down to it, after years of following everything from metal to western swing, the simplicity and the heartfelt emotion of early American blues is where I draw my musical energy from. I am always inspired by my family heritage of musicians, going back to the first generation of Swedes in Salt Lake City, my great-grandfather's family, and a large black and white family photo with each and every family member holding a different instrument. It just is something I am compelled to do. Music is my family, and I guess it always will be.Brandenburg is a barber by trade, while Eastlyn is head glass bender at Brimley Neon. Eastlyn was introduced to the trade by his father-in-law David Brimley in 1997. Started in 1930, The Brimley Brothers were one of the first neon sign shops in Salt Lake City, and Eastlyn has spent the last 15 years building and restoring vintage neon signs utilizing the time-honored craft. Watching him bend glass (via a segment on KSL TV/YouTube) while listening to the Ugly Valley Boys, it’s easy to understand how naturally these two make the music they make.“The duo thing comes natural to us. It's the way we started and probably the way we'll go out,” Eastlyn said. “We've had the honor of playing with many talented musicians over the years, but we've decided to keep it simple. We never thought we'd play more than a couple shows when this band set sail, but here we are seven years later, and still afloat.” Ugly Valley Boys, 3 to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Trap Bar at Grand Targhee Resort. Free. GrandTarghee.com.