August, 2008

FAIL: Survivor doesn’t live up to its name in Las Vegas

August 21st, 2008

Get a good look at this Eye of the Tiger. It’s as much as you’re going to get, now that this weekend’s Survivor concert at the House of Blues Las Vegas has been canceled. Yep, if you were among those who purchased tickets to see ’80s hair rock band Survivor play their hits, um — did they have another hit besides “Eye of the Tiger?” — on Sunday, Aug. 24, go back to the box office and get your wastedhard-earned money back. Of course, if there were any ticket holders, I guess the HOB wouldn’t have canceled, huh?

That now makes four HOB August shows that have been canceled or rescheduled. Maybe our local blogging friend Mr. Davis was right — maybe rock is dead in Las Vegas!

Gallery: Reid, Clinton at National Clean Energy Summit

August 18th, 2008

Bill Clinton
What Would Bubba Do? (Photo by Erik Kabik | Retna)

We interrupt our usual music and art coverage to discuss something of slightly more substance (not that Bob Dylan playing the Joint isn’t substantive, but stick with us here): the growing need for cleaner, greener energy in this country. It seems like the average American has only become concerned with alternative energy sources when filling his or her gas tank started requiring home equity lines of credit, but the truth is, all those tree-hugging leftists have been right all along. We’re delivering this planet to hell in a handbasket with our ugly addiction to “dirty” fossil fuels such as coal and oil.


With that in mind, the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and University of Nevada, Las Vegas are hosting the National Clean Energy Summit at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion today and tomorrow. But why here in Nevada? We’ll let the Summit’s official website clear that up: “Nevada is at the epicenter in the debate of how America should generate and use energy in the future. Nevada has abundant clean energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and efficiency technologies that could be developed to meet its future energy needs.”

Plus, you know, that Reid guy’s been fighting against building a nuclear waste dumping facility at Yucca Mountain for as long as we can remember. So he has a vested interest, y’all. In addition to industry leaders, scientists, policy experts, citizens and the media gathering at this two-day summit, the Clinton who did get nominated as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate (and spent two pretty rad terms in office), William Jefferson, kicked things off today with the keynote speech. Our favorite lens-wielder, Erik Kabik, was at Cox Pavilion, and brought us back some photos of the proceedings. Oh sure, there won’t be tousled rock stars or hot chicks, but there sure will be a lot of political power. And we think that’s sexy.

Death of Rock ‘n’ Roll? Hardly

August 18th, 2008

winger!
These hairstyles are headed for a heartbreak.

I came across an interesting post on a local blog mourning the closing of a number of local music venues — many of which closed years ago — and declaring the “once booming music scene of Las Vegas is nearly gone.” Really? Now, would that be the “booming music scene” that gave false hope to bands such as 12 Volt Sex, Professor Punn and Attaboy Skip? Because the music scene that came after the closure of Mr. Davis’ vaunted venues — The Boston, the Huntridge, Sanctuary — has not only spawned arguably Las Vegas’ most commercially successful music groups (The Killers, Panic at the Disco, The Cab), but has also seen the stabilization of centralized, small-scale venues (The Bunkhouse, Beauty Bar, Jillians) while those overpriced casinos continue to reinvest those ticket sales into music venues such as Wasted Space, Revolution Lounge and the forthcoming Rok nightclub.
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The Outlook: Bands coming to Las Vegas in September

August 18th, 2008

bob dylan
Bob Dylan, or Adam Sandler in 20 years? You decide!

Hmm, let’s see: One classic folk legend, a few ‘90s holdovers, some groundbreaking hip-hop artists and two nights of overpriced Foo Fighters shows that will probably be worth it anyway – yep, this must be the live music coming to a few of the better Las Vegas casino venues next month:


Monday, Sept. 1
The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel): Bob Dylan at 8 p.m., $65 and up.

Thursday, Sept. 4
House of Blues (Mandalay Bay): Motorhead, Misfits, Airbourne, Valient Thorr and Year Long Disaster at 7 p.m., $32-40.

Friday, Sept. 5
The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel): Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters at 8 p.m., $20.
Poolside, Hard Rock Hotel: Collective Soul at 7 p.m., $30.25 or free at SpyOnVegas.com.
House of Blues (Mandalay Bay): Shinedown, Red and Jet Black Stare at 5:30 p.m., $19-25.
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Hard Rock to My Morning Jacket: ‘Oops, sorry, bye’

August 15th, 2008

My morning jacket
If these are their morning jackets, we’re afraid to see their evening jackets.

Bad news, Las Vegas musical intelligista: Indie rock tastemaker My Morning Jacket won’t be coming to the Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel on Sept. 24 as planned. Their show has been canceled due to what Hard Rock reps are calling “a casino scheduling conflict.” And even better, because the band is booked out through the rest of its tour, there will be no rescheduled Vegas date. If you did buy tickets, go to the point of purchase to cry in your scarf-wearing cupsfor a full refund.

Vegas Arts in the news: Chihuly debate, Metro Arts Council

August 12th, 2008

chihuly

The work of glass sculptor Dale Chihuly has become a Las Vegas fixture thanks to his permanent installation in the Bellagio, Fiori di Como. But is it art, or is it mere decoration? That’s the topic of discussion this week over at ArtsÉtoile, sparked by reactions to Chihuly’s current show at San Francisco’s de Young museum. Join in the discussion at ArtsÉtoile. We don’t like to declare what is or is not art, only what is or isn’t pretty. And Fiori di Como sure is pretty.

As seen in the Las Vegas Sun and Las Vegas Weekly last week, Joan Lolmaugh has formed the nonprofit Metro Arts Council to reinforce a strong arts community here in Sin City. MAC is off to a good start, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to develop a website, experiencelasvegas.com, the prototype of which will be unveiled on Oct. 6.


Wait — $30K to develop just the prototype of a Vegas arts website?! Um, perhaps Rossi Ralenkotter would like to take notice of a certain other Vegas-based website that has been promoting the arts since 2005? Starts with a “V” and rhymes with “Ray Gas Pin Fight?” We could do a lot with $30K … or even $10K … how about just a Bennie?

LICD pwns Las Vegas

August 11th, 2008

The protagonists of Ryan Sohmer’s online comic strip, Least I Could Do, are on vacation in Las Vegas during its current story arc. Aside from spot-on satirical jabs at high hotel fees and drunken pool-goer behavior, Sohmer uses his characters to make not-so-subtle commentary on the rampant waste of water in a desert city for such luxuries as misters:

least i could do

You really need to click on the image above to read the sad-but-true punchline ending of today’s strip.

M Resort tops off, tells economy: ‘What recession? We’re just fine’

August 11th, 2008

marnell
All smiles on the South Strip.

Defying both current economic trends and laughing in the face of recent construction delays at other certain Las Vegas resorts, Marnell Corrao Associates topped off the $1 billion M Resort, Spa and Casino on Friday.


“This is a major milestone in our construction process,” said Chairman and CEO Anthony A. Marnell, III. “We anticipate completing the M Resort on time and on budget and are excited to debut the new property in March 2009.”

If Marnell’s boasts prove true, next spring we’ll see the boutique resort open at the corner of South Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway with 390 guest rooms, nine restaurants, more than 60,000 square feet of meeting space, a 23,000-square-foot spa and — get this — more than 100,000 square feet of outdoor accomodations including pool and an events piazza. Boutique, my ass.

The Happenings, Aug. 8: Oh Snap!, Tattoos and Trash

August 8th, 2008

vermin
Nothing says “punk rock” like an artistic Photoshop filter.

We’re feeling a little bit electro, a little bit punk rock. If you are too, then you’ll love the hell out of the events dropping tonight, Friday, Aug. 8 in Las Vegas:

“Ink Fridays” at Ice House Lounge (650 S. Main St.) at 9 p.m. Dirk Vermin and Pussykat Tattoo Parlor present the 7th annual Tattoos and Trash art show upstairs, featuring the works of your favorite tattoo artists. Meanwhile, Agent Orange, Manic Hispanic and The Vermin will rock your balls into a sweaty fury. It’s a 21-over affair with no cover before 11 p.m. for those of you with tattoos — which, last time we checked, was all of you. $5 Jager bombs and $3 SKYY vodka drinks round out the offerings.


“Oh Snap!” at Gipsy Nightclub (4633 Paradise Road) at 11 p.m. What more do you need than Bobbi Le Pin, Know Well and other DJs spinning indie, Nu-rave, electro, disco-punk and ’80s tracks at the longest-standing gay club in Sin City? How about no cover? Giveaways? Drink specials? If you’re over 21 and like your ass to shake, you will be there.

The Happenings, Aug. 7: Being cool, uncovering an explosive past

August 7th, 2008

fab 5 freddy
Yo! I’m Fab 5 Freddy, and I approve this dope message.

Bored in Las Vegas and looking for something to do tonight? We’ve uncovered a few diverse options for your perusal:

“The Cool” at Ice House Lounge (650 S. Main St.) at 10 p.m. Awthentix Music and Solprintz Inc. present Yo! MTV Raps Appreciation Night — late-’80s and early-’90s hip-hop, R&B and soul music including a live band playing classic breaks from 1988 to 1995. Cover is $7 until 11 p.m., $10 after and ladies are free. 21-over.

“Untold Stories” at Las Vegas Springs Preserve
(333 S. Valley View Blvd.) at 7 p.m. Sen. Richard Bryan, Dina Titus and scientist Al O’Donnell present “In The Shadow of the Bomb,” featuring untold stories from the nuclear testing era in Nevada. Tickets are $12, $10 for Springs Preserve members, $8.50 for children and free for the kids under 5.