VA, NC (obviously, the pork there is better than anything you can get in Utah),
Those are the relevant places ( WA, OR and CA are the others). I've eaten BBQ in TN, TX, GA, SC and one really good place in NV.
No one is saying Utah, as a whole, is TX but there are a couple of really good places that have popped up in SL and Utah county over the years. And Bam Bam's honestly has better brisket than I had at the majority of these places, including some TX places.
If you don't have SEC syndrome (inability to travel more than 100 miles), you should check it out when you come out again
You're right about complaining about the sides, for sure.