Even though he’s based in Spokane, Hayes Noble is no stranger to the Utah music scene. When on tour, he’s stopped here and played with bands such as Another Quiet Morning and Lucy at venues Soda Boba and WhySound.

In 2023, Noble played a show in Logan, and something about his energy onstage, his earworm guitar riffs, or his band made up of family members made him memorable, even years later. Some tracks from the full-length album “Head Cleaner” are still in rotation. When he announced that he would be playing at Treefort Music Fest this year, it was the perfect opportunity to talk to him and see him play live again. 

 A family band

Growing up in rural Illinois, in a town with a population of 3,000, there weren’t many people playing the fast, loud music that Noble wanted to play. So, when he started playing music, it only made sense to jam with his dad and brother. “It’s essentially like a punk house, except my parents are still very much in charge,” he said. To this day, his dad plays drums with him, and his brother plays bass, but their entire family is involved.

According to Noble, touring has only brought their family closer together. “Hitting the road and going on a trip with someone and playing music is a really great way to connect with each other,” he said. “Even my sister and mom, who don’t play in the band, help. Like they’re here for Tree Fort. They help with pictures, they do art, they pass out flyers and stuff.”

Live at the Shredder Stage

Noble played at Treefort at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Shredder Stage. The chemistry between band members was obvious. Their sound was tight, and it was apparent that they’ve been playing together for years. Not only was their playing loud and full of energy, but also their stage presence. 

Watching the band play was almost as fun as hearing them. Everyone in the crowd was fully engaged for the entirety of their set. It was clear from the way that Noble made performing look easy and that he had gained a lot more confidence and experience since seeing him three years ago.

Never Blue

Noble’s sound is inspired by bands like Dinosaur Jr., leaning into the louder, heavier guitars and fast-paced tempo. However, he’s comfortable making more mellow music as well. His most recent album, “Never Blue,” takes a more lo-fi, “Daniel Johnston-esque” approach, reimagining his previous work. “It was cool to kind of experiment with the songs a little,” he said. “And it was kind of like my first time in a long time, at least, just kind of sitting down and trying to record something completely by myself. Very bare bones.”  

After seeing Noble’s music evolve over the last three years, I’m excited to see what’s next for him, and I look forward to seeing him play again next time he’s in Salt Lake.

Find Hayes Noble on Bandcamp here, on Spotify here, and on Insta