Sammy Brue showed the love at Funk ‘n Dive bar in his hometown on Friday night, performing songs from the new EP “Dark Mode,” released today.

By Deann Armes

CONCERT REVIEW

OGDEN — Sammy Brue fans got a rare treat at Funk ‘n Dive in Ogden last night, seizing the opportunity to see the homegrown singer/songwriter play live in his native town on the eve of a new EP release. The small, basement dive venue quickly filled to capacity requiring some to be denied or delayed entrance for the three-band lineup, with Ogden-based indie rock/folk bands Giants in the Oak Tree and Compass Rose opening.

Brue performed new songs from the five-track EP “Black Mode,” released today, with two band members—Mason Hill (bass) and Aaron Hendrix (drums)—who are both producing the new recordings with Brue. The three wore matching jumpers (Brue in black) branded with Brue’s new independent record label “Hug Someone Today” on the back.

Audiences will often respond less enthusiastically to new songs from artists during live shows than to well-known tunes, but this wasn’t the case last night. “Hold Me Down,” track two off “Dark Mode,” had all hands in the room waving. We heard the gamut of Brue sounds, heavier and louder, from rap to punk to the indescribable—try comparing his original music to any young musician currently. He slowed it down for the bluesy/folk ballad “Paint It Blue” from his last album “Crash Test Kid.”

Brue’s career started over a decade ago in Ogden where he first played on a stage at the former all-ages music venue Mojos. At age 14 he was discovered busking on the street in Park City during the Sundance Film Festival, landing him a record deal with New West Records that brought forth “I Am Nice” (2017), “Down with Desperation” (2018), and “Crash Test Kid” (2020).

Now he’s free and has full authority over himself and his art. “Dark Mode” is Brue’s first independently made EP. Hug Someone Today Records also released singles “Complicated” and “Don’t Fake It” in 2022.

Next show: Saturday, January 14, Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, 7 p.m., $10. Tickets are available here.