Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers light up The Soundwell in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City recently got one of those rare concert nights where everything feels a little unexpected in the best possible way. When Hobo Johnson brought his tour to The Soundwell on November 18, the show unfolded like a mixtape, shifting from intimate to chaotic to cathartic, sometimes all within a single breath.

Before any of the touring artists went on, Hobo Johnson’s team opened the evening with an open-mic lottery. They pulled names from a hat and brought a handful of fans onstage for short performances, which included a mix of singing, acoustic guitar, and poetry. The crowd was 100% invested from the start, cheering people on with the kind of enthusiasm you’d fully expect from a room full of fans who already share the same emotional wavelength. It added a warm, communal layer to the night and set the tone for everything that followed. 

 

After the fan performances, the night shifted into a rotation of additional sets. Park City based musician Aspen Anonda delivered a confident acoustic indie-pop performance that held the room’s attention immediately. This was followed by Damien Verrett's short set of his own. Damien is also a member of Hobo Johnson's touring band, and I’d spoken with him briefly before the show for a press-related question; he came across as genuinely kind and willing to help. That same grounded sincerity came across through his energy on stage. Budman’s merch runner, who I’d also chatted with earlier while sorting out some press logistics, was just as friendly and ended up performing a couple songs as well. It all added to the wonderfully unpredictable, community-driven flow of the evening.

Budman’s set was one of the most unhinged and entertaining moments of the night. Known for his vocal similarity to Hobo Johnson, the resemblance live is almost uncanny, but he still brings his own strange, earnest charm. His merch was literally spray-painted stick-figure t-shirts — the perfect summary of his chaotic DIY energy.
He kept the crowd engaged from start to finish, and after his set he jumped straight into the audience to talk with people one-on-one. At one point he was explaining that the keychain hanging off his jeans was something a homeless man once threw at him, and he just decided to keep wearing it. That’s Budman in a nutshell: unpredictable, sincere, and somehow incredibly endearing.

When Hobo Johnson finally took the stage, the room was buzzing. His set leaned into that perfect blend of unhinged humor and emotional release that defines his best live moments.
He moved through a mix of fan favorites — everything from Romeo & Juliet and Uglykid to JANSPORTS, Jordan’s House, and a wonderfully goofy performance of Subaru Crosstrek XV complete with flashing red and blue lights mimicking police sirens. The crowd especially came alive during songs like Peach Scone, singing every word with him. 

And in true Hobo Johnson fashion, things took a funny turn when someone tossed Budman’s sweat rag onto the stage. Hobo rolled with the moment and made a couple of lighthearted jokes about it before diving into the next song. It was quick, weird, and perfectly on-brand for the night.

The Salt Lake City stop of Hobo Johnson’s tour felt like a celebration of the unexpected - part variety show, part community showcase, and part emotional purge, but all stitched together with humor and heart. Whether you’ve followed Hobo Johnson for years or walked in without knowing a single lyric, the show had a way of pulling everyone in. It was a night that made people laugh, shout lyrics, and walk away feeling more connected and a little less alone than when they first arrived.