July, 2008

The Outlook: Bands coming to House of Blues Las Vegas in August

July 28th, 2008


Be kind, rewind.

Hell yeah, Mos Def is playing a late-night show at the House of Blues Las Vegas on Friday, Aug. 22! And he’s bringing Whosane and Anwar. That slice of hip-hop should be enough for you, but in case you’re curious who else will be performing at the Mandalay Bay’s concert hall in August, here you go:

Friday, Aug. 1: Cavalera Conspiracy with The Dillinger Escape Plan, Throwdown, Bury Your Dead, and
Incite at 5 p.m., $24-26. All ages.

Saturday, Aug. 2: Hot 97.5’s Get Silly Summer Takeover featuring V.I.C, Hot Styles, Mishon & Karina Pasian, 2 p.m., $19.75. All ages.

Tuesday, Aug. 5: Rehab with One Pin Short at 7:30 p.m., $10.75-12.75. All ages.

Wednesday, Aug. 6: Chris Cornell with Adelitas Way at 7:30 p.m., $39-55. 21-over.

Friday, Aug. 8: Nas with special guests Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica and DJ Green Lantern at 7:30 p.m., $37-55. 21-over.
On Sale

Friday, Aug. 15: Robin Thicke at 8 p.m., $35-42. 21-over.CANCELED

Saturday, Aug. 16: The Verizon VIP Tour Starring Bow Wow at 7:30 p.m., $32-35. All ages.RESCHEDULED (Nov. 3)


Friday, Aug. 22: An Evening with Tokio Hotel at 7 p.m., $22-25. All ages. Followed by Mos Def with Whosane and Anwar at midnight, $32-47. 21-over.

Saturday, Aug. 23: Extreme with Kings X at 7:30 p.m., $30-35. 21-over.

Sunday, Aug. 24: Survivor at 7:30 p.m., $25-$35. 21-over.CANCELED

Wednesday, Aug. 27: Charlie Zaa at 8 p.m., $30-32. 21-over.

Thursday, Aug. 28: Eddy Grant at 7:30 p.m., $20-22. 21-over.CANCELED

Friday, Aug. 29: Ramon Ayala with Sueno Norteno at 9 p.m., $40-55. 21-over.

Saturday, Aug. 30: Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers with
Mother Truckers at 7 p.m., $25. 21-over. Followed by Ice Cube at midnight, $30-40. 21-over.

Sunday, Aug. 31: Toad the Wet Sprocket at 8 p.m., $30-35. 21-over.

New gallery: Farrell and Navarro together again at Red Rock Resort

July 14th, 2008

Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro
(Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

Singer Perry Farrell teamed up with his former Jane’s Addiction guitarist Saturday night at the weekly “eco-charity” concert series “Bottle Rock-It” poolside at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa. Also joined by Farrell’s bandmate and wife, the smoking-hot Etty Lau Farrell and Satellite Party bassist Carl Restivo, Farrell followed the performance with a DJ set as “DJ Peretz.” Thanks to the always-awesome Erik Kabik, we have a big ol’ gallery of photos from the performance.

The “Bottle Rock-It” series is presented by SpyOnVegas.com through September and proceeds benefit the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. For more information, click here.

Henri & Odette: Making Las Vegas more metropolitan

July 14th, 2008

One of the freshest new art outlets to open downtown last year was the Jennifer Marie Gallery, located upstairs in the Arts Factory across from Damned Ink Studios. Owned and curated by Jennifer Harrington, the tiny space brought new names and faces from both Las Vegas and across the country to the forefront of the Vegas art scene in a variety of media, from sculpture to photography. But a few months ago, Harrington’s gallery disappeared from the space, and we can only imagine a number of others were left to wonder, as we did, “What happened?”

Henri & Odette is what happened. Harrington is not only opening a new gallery in a larger location, but she is stepping it up a few notches, expanding the focus of the new space on Sixth Street near Carson Avenue (just south of the Fremont Entertainment District) to encompass “art, style, design and life.”

“I really want this space to be more of a conceptual location, more than just a gallery, a metropolitan meeting place,” Harrington wrote via e-mail. “It is my hope that artists, writers [and] creative curious people will come down to the gallery, have a look at an international magazine or paper, see a cool show and converge somewhere other than a manufactured town setting.”

Plans for the space include a water bar, a varied selection of international magazines and, of course, cutting-edge art from up-and-coming creators. The gallery will launch with a show by the incomparable Caesar Garcia, “Language,” opening on Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. Garcia says the show “is themed with a play on words and language and what we as people use to communicate visually.”

For more information, visit www.henri-odette.com or call 702-686-3164.

Hot in herre: Behind the scenes of Nelly’s ‘Body on Me’ video shoot

July 10th, 2008

Nelly and Akon play games
(Photos were by Erik Kabik | Retna)

For anyone who claims we don’t throw enough love to the hip-hop community (and damn, wouldn’t you know you were wrong?), VEGASinsight hashad nearly-exclusive, behind-the-scenes photos from the soon-to-be-released video for Nelly’s hot new single, “Body on Me,” from his latest album, Brass Knuckles. The song (and video) features Ashanti and Akon, and as you can seecould have seen from the photo gallery here, the video definitely taps into an old-school Vegas vibe (check out Akon and Nelly at the tables and Ashanti as a ’40s-style nightclub singer — if you’re not distracted by her in that sweet one-piece bathing suit). The video, directed by Benny Boom, was filmed on location at the Red Rock Casino-Resort-Spa in late June.

Unfortunately, because some people out there don’t understand the way that copyright works regarding non-reproduction of photos you don’t own — no matter the source — we had to remove the gallery before any more sites stole the images. I guess you’ll have to wait for the video now, won’t you? Good job, kids.

Bennington and Shuck fall in LOVE

July 8th, 2008

Bennington and Shuck
Photo by Ana Dobrijevic

Looks like Chester Bennington from Linkin Park was kicking it with Ryan Shuck from Orgy at last night’s 10 p.m. performance of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil over at the Mirage. As per usual, the rock stars got VIP treatment, ducking backstage after the show to meet the cast and smile for the camera.

But then it occurred to me: What the hell ever happened to Orgy? Is it even accurate to say “Ryan Shuck from Orgy” if the band no longer exists? Well, I did the ol’ WikiPedia dig and sure enough, the band is not finished, but rather “taking some time off to do independent projects.” Apparently, 2008 might be the year that the death rockers return to the limelight. Oh, and Shuck’s connection to Bennington? The Orgy guitarist — along with fellow Orgy six-stringer Amir Derakh — are working with the Linkin Park singer on a side project, Dead by Sunrise.*

Just for old time’s sake, here’s a little late-’90s love from Orgy:

*Special thanks to reader Lisa for clarifying the status of Bennington’s solo/side project.

Step away from the BBQ and into the Arts District on Independence Day

July 2nd, 2008

John Fanok art
Art by John Fanok from his new show, “It’s All Going Down,” running this month at Trifecta Gallery.

I just paid my rent, so that must mean it’s almost First Friday again. Let’s take a look at some exhibits, parties and events related to July’s art festival held on July 4 from roughly 6 to 10 p.m. And remember, kids – access to Casino Center Boulevard requires a $2 admission fee. Not an optional donation. But a cover charge. OK, with that in mind, let’s roll on …

At the Fallout (Commerce Street Studios, 1551 S. Commerce St.), Joe DeCamillis features new works inspired by the structure, style and mechanics of poetry. The art will show at the Fallout through Aug. 15, and the gallery will hold an opening reception on Thursday, July 3 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Trifecta Gallery (inside the Arts Factory, 103 E. Charleston Blvd.) will hold a preview reception this Thursday as well, from 5 to 8 p.m., for John Fanok’s “manifesto of new paintings,” “It’s All Going Down,” an exploration of the current polarized political atmosphere. (more…)