Juliette Lewis brings her new band to Salt Lake

Academy Award-nominated actress Juliette Lewis, who also fronted her band Juliette & the Licks until earlier this year, performed at Red Butte Garden in August, opening for the Pretenders and Cat Power.

"That was a fun tour," said Lewis during a phone interview from Los Angeles.

"I miss touring with them. And Salt Lake was a great crowd for the show."

Next week, Lewis will be back in town, headlining a show with her new band, the New Romantiques. Opening the evening will be American Bang and the Ettes.

"I am so excited to come back to Utah," said Lewis, who is also in the Drew Barrymore-directed comedy "Whip It," a recently-released film about the roller derby.

"This is the first time I'll have an album, tour and movie out the same time."

She also wasted no time talking about her tour-mates.

"I'm going out there with American Bang and the Ettes," she said. "They are the coolest bands. I would love for people to come see them when we play Salt Lake City. They have a lot to say."

Lewis is touring to support her new album called "Terra Incognita," which was released on The End Records on Sept. 1.

"Terra Incognita," said Lewis, is kind of like her declaration of independence.

"The album addresses a lot of issues that I was going through at the time," she said. "My other band was breaking up. My personal relationship was breaking up, and I was musically and emotionally exploring who I am."

Lewis recruited producer Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the songwriter/guitarist for the Grammy Award-winning band the Mars Volta.

"Omar is a real dream to work with," Lewis said. "He understood what I was trying to do. I had played my songs, and we made demo (recordings), and he gave me ideas."

Lewis wanted a good album that was not only strong song-wise, but also atmospheric and sonically intriguing.

Not only do the tracks include bluesy rockers such as "Hard Lovin' Woman" and "The Devil Knows," but also catchy melodic ditties such as "Fantasy Bar" and "Romeo," and the somewhat dusty and percussive "Ghosts."

"I titled the album 'Terra Incognita' because the songs were what the title means — unexplored territory."

The cover photo shows Lewis leading a bull by a leash. That image, she said, also has a personal meaning.

"It symbolizes how I feel about life," she said with another laugh.

Lewis said that throughout her career as a musician and actress, she has one regret — not sticking with a musical instrument.

"I played piano when I was 9 but didn't continue," she said. "I wish I would have learned to play better. But I really can't complain."

If you go ...

What: Juliette Lewis, American Bang, the Ettes

Where: Club Vegas, 445 S. 400 West

When: Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m.

How much: $13

Phone: 801-467-8499, 800-888-8499

Web: www.smithstix.com

e-mail: scott@desnews.com