HERRIMAN, Utah, June 14, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — The Asay brothers were always musical growing up. They were also ornery, so much so, that their mom often referred to them, lovingly, as “the riff raff.”
And decades later, the brothers decided to embrace that childhood title when Alex Asay decided to form a rock ‘n roll band.
The Riff Raff, already well known to audiences along the Wasatch Front and Back, plays its first Redemption Bar & Grill gig on Saturday.
Everyone sings, band founder Alex Asay says. He also plays guitar. Brothers Aaron and Nathan Asay both focus on vocals, and Greg Asay plays drums.
“Honorary” relatives Darrin Flynn and Tony Kohler play guitar and bass, respectively.
To sample some of The Riff Raff’s cover songs, visit the band’s Facebook page.
“Our father had a ’50s and ’60s rock ‘n’ roll band that he played with and toured with,” Alex Asay said. “We come from a very musical family.”
The family lived for years in their mother’s native Indiana, but over the years, all moved to their dad’s native Utah.
“We all kind of migrated back this way,” he said.
The Riff Raff formed about three years ago, with brothers Alex and Aaron, as the COVID pandemic was beginning to decline.
“We were kind of figuring out what kind of music we wanted to play, and brought a couple of my other brothers in and then we have two other members who are not family, but they’re, they’re great musicians. And, we’ve been doing it now for about three years.”
Band members decided they wanted to cover rock songs everyone could enjoy, most by well known artists, but did not want to always choose the artists’ biggest hits.
“We all enjoy rock ‘n’ roll in its various forms. So we put together a show that has a little bit of everything from the ’50s into the ’90s and early 2000s. We just keep it all rock ‘n’ roll focused.
“And I would say that as a band, we each get to put some in or put in some ideas and input, and so we work it very democratically, where everybody gets a few choices, and everybody sings in the band, so we all sing different songs, then that help each other on background vocals. So it’s kind of nice that everybody gets to pick songs they like to sing and play, and we just have to keep it all in rock ‘n’ roll.”
Some of the artists whose music they cover include Tom Petty, Lenny Kravitz, George Thorogood, ZZ Top, Jimi Hendrix and Billy Idol, Asay said.
“I would say anything from Buddy Holly all the way to Chris Stapleton,” he said. “We do some John Mellencamp tunes that are maybe less known, and some Tommy Tutone.
Band members also pride themselves on keeping the show family friendly, although Redemption Bar & Grill is a 21 and older venue, so not open to all family members to this particular show.
“Keeping it a family friendly show is important to us,” Asay said. “We do play bars, but we also play festivals and other special events. We try to keep the set list to something everyone can enjoy.”
This will be the band’s first Redemption Bar & Grill show, but Asay said he is a Herriman resident and really enjoys the look of the venue, which has three floors and a full menu of drinks, entrees, appetizers and desserts.
“I’m a welder and a steel fabricator, so I love the Redemption décor,” he said. “It’s all bare iron and railings and that kind of thing. I really do like the atmosphere of the space. It’s got a rugged look, and it doesn’t seem presumptuous at all. It’s just very much a real place.
“And we’re just excited to be invited.”
The Redemption concert has free admission, in keeping with the band’s wishes. The music starts at 8 p.m. Saturday. Redemption is at 3517 W. Maradona Drive, Herriman, and is convenient to music fans from both Salt Lake and Utah counties.
Redemption Bar & Grill is a proud sponsor of Gephardt Daily and supporter of independent local journalism in Utah.
