White Arrows play Revolution Lounge on Dec. 7

It’s a bittersweet outlook for December’s live music. On one hand, there’s some killer stuff (Nine Inch Nails, anyone? Bloc Party? Wu Tang?!) coming to Las Vegas, and on the other hand, a number of shows scheduled for Jillian’s are homeless, as the venue has officially closed. Some shows have been moved to the House of Blues, others to The Box Office (1129 Casino Center Blvd.), but some are just … up in the air. But the all-ages music scene in Vegas is not dead yet, as the Alley Theater is slated to return soon to the valley. Or, so says its MySpace page. Keep your eyes posted to this space in the future for more on that. Until then, here are some shows that have not been canceled for December (yet…):

Tuesday, December 2
Wasted Space: Zerofingers, The Vermin and Guilty by Association at 10 p.m.

Wednesday, December 3
House of Blues: Five Finger Death Punch with In This Moment and Broken End at 5 p.m. $15, all ages.

Friday, December 5
The Joint: Tesla with Cinder Road at 8 p.m. $35.
Wasted Space: Velicious at 10 p.m.
Wasted Space: Conflict of Interest, Bydeathsdesign at 10 p.m.

Saturday, December 6
House of Blues: Hot 97.5’s OMG Jingle Jam featuring Pleasure P., Bobby Valentino and DJ Unk at 2 p.m. $9.75 – $19.75, all ages.
House of Blues: Wu Tang Clan at 8 p.m. $37 – 55, 21-over.

Sunday, December 7
Wasted Space: All-American Rejects, Jetlag Gemini and The City Lives at 10 p.m. $22.50
Revolution Lounge: White Arrows, DJ InMusicInLove at 10 p.m.

Tuesday, December 9
Wasted Space: CSS at 10 p.m. $15.

Wednesday, December 10
House of Blues: Anthony Hamilton at 7:30 p.m. $27 – 40, 21-over.

Thursday, December 11
House of Blues: Gary Allan at 8 p.m. $40-60, 21-over.

Friday, December 12
The Joint: Area 107.9’s Big Damn Holiday Jam featuring Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, The Ting Tings and Carolina Liar at 7 p.m. $39.50 and up.
Wasted Space: Jesse Dayton at 10 p.m.
House of Blues: Gary Allan at 8 p.m. $40-60, 21-over.

Saturday, December 13
Wasted Space: Jesse Dayton at 10 p.m.
Theatre for the Performing Arts (Planet Hollywood): Nine Inch Nails at 8 p.m. $54, $64 and $79.
House of Blues: Smash Magazine’s 5th Annual Birthday Bash Celebration featuring Escape the Fate, Seventh Plague, Destruction of a Rose and Eyes Like Diamonds at 5:30 p.m. $15-17, all ages.

Sunday, December 14
Revolution Lounge: Super Sonic Jets and The Hanks at 10 p.m.

Tuesday, December 16
House of Blues: Suicidal Tendencies with Death By Stereo and Whole Wheat Bread at 6 p.m. $17-20, all ages.

Thursday, December 18
House of Blues: Lamb of God with Job for a Cowboy and The Faceless at 5:30 p.m. $22-25, all ages.

Friday, December 19
The Joint: Xtreme Radio 107.5’s Holiday Havoc ’08 featuring Papa Roach, Hoobastank and Hollywood Undead. $29.50 and up.

Saturday, December 20
House of Blues: Appetite for Destruction and Back In Black at 8 p.m. $13-15, 21-over.

Sunday, December 21
Revolution Lounge: Aerodrone and The Anix at 10 p.m.

Sunday, December 28
Revolution Lounge: Devil Doll at 10 p.m.

Monday, December 29
House of Blues: Girl Talk with Dan Deacon at 7 p.m. $17-20, all ages.

Tuesday, December 30
House of Blues: Ratt at 7:30 p.m. $30-35, 21-over.

Wednesday, December 31
House of Blues: Akon at 10 p.m. $125-175, 21-over.

It’s 3 p.m. on Wednesday, and two dozen kids are at the House of Blues Las Vegas inside the Mandalay Bay resort and casino waiting for the doors to open. Small groups of young music fans continue to arrive, turning the floor into a sea of black T-shirts with random smatterings of Fruit Loops colors – pinks, blues, yellows and purples flash when someone turns around or lifts an arm to wave to a friend.

In two hours, these kids will fill the House of Blues, but for now, the venue is almost empty as I walk to the backstage area to meet Saosin, the California-based band second-billed on a tour with headliner Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada and The Famine.

Saosin guitarist Beau Burchell relaxes in the band’s RV as bassist Chris Sorenson chops onions and peppers for pre-show guacamole. A fan gave Sorenson a cookbook a few days before but this recipe is one of his own creations.

“Some bands are scared to meet their fans. They’re kind of creepy sometimes,” Burchell said. “But ours aren’t that way.”

Before this tour, Saosin brought the fans into their work. In a deal with clothing brand Hurley, Saosin agreed to stream video of the recording process on the web.

“We’re kind of breaking the taboo about how a record gets made,” Burchell said.

Sorenson agreed, while still keeping his eyes on the project at hand.

“No one knows how much nothing goes on,” he said. “It is a process, but it isn’t always ‘finish one thing then on to the next thing.’ The cool thing is that we did everything ourselves. Fans got to see us move the mikes and get into a giant drum circle.”

Burchell smiles like he just found the best way to explain the situation.

“It’s like my own brother,” he continues, “Just because his brother is in a band, you’d think he might know more about what goes on. Unless you are in the band, you really don’t know.”

Letting fans into the studio was something designed for the few who are truly interested in the process and not much else.

“We’re making a record, not reality TV,” Sorenson said. “It’s not something we advertised a lot, but was mostly for the core fan base.”

“It’s not for every band,” Burchell said. “It can be easy to get caught up in things when you are in the creative state. You just need to stay focused.”

Most bands wouldn’t want their rock star lifestyles broadcast and viewed 100,000 times a week, but this was never a concern for Saosin.

“We can’t be the band that is getting drunk and being self-destructive,” Sorenson said. “It’s not really a problem for us. We’re not shitty people.”

For all the lack of pretension, the fans that have filled the House of Blues on this autumn evening accept Saosin as bona fide rock stars. They get applause almost equal to top-billed Underoath, and finding someone not singing along during Saosin’s set is difficult. Vocalist Cove Reber works the crowd as though he’s been doing this for two decades and not just five years. Burchell and Sorenson have the rock god posing down, but there is a humor in their eyes that lets fans in on the joke. Guitarist Justin Shekoski performs with an air of mystery around him, rarely looking up and seemingly engrossed in the music. Drummer Alex Rodriguez keeps everyone in time and up to speed.

And it could all be different.

“There’s an urge to go out and be the heaviest band we can be,” Sorenson said. “But that’d be too easy. Besides, we’d never be heavier than The Famine.”

Even without being as heavy as they can be, Saosin manages to keep up the energy level deep into the tour.

“It’s just the kids,” Burchell said. “If I know there are kids out there that waited to see us and are giving 110 percent to us, I feel bad if I can’t give 110 percent to them.”

The kids even get loud for two new songs: “Secrets” and “Lovemaker” are currently only available on Saosin’s tour exclusive EP The Grey.

“Whatever song gets the most from the crowd each night is our favorite song to play,” Burchell said.

Often, that song is “You’re Not Alone,” a ballad that could easily be the anthem for a new youth movement. Anything that can bring this many kids—and a few of their parents, thanks to the House of Blues’ rules stating that anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian—together can’t be a bad thing.

“It’s worth playing when you see the same guys who were just in the mosh pit beating each other up now arm in arm,” Sorenson said.

And that is exactly what happens. Pierced and tattooed tough guys calm down, start singing and get into the moment. A father and daughter wearing matching As I Lay Dying T-shirts hug each other.

Maybe this will become a prom night song and maybe Saosin will be the band with which these kids grow old. Right now, only one thing is for sure:

“There are no silent moments,” Sorenson said.

RELATED GALLERY

The Faint gets kids bouncing. That’s as good a summation of any Faint concert as I can offer. I’ve now seen the Omaha, Neb.-spawned quintet twice, both times at the House of Blues Las Vegas, and each time, the result is the same: 250 or so hipsters in skinny jeans gyrating on a packed dance floor, arms flailing and hands clapping.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and as proven during its 18-song set Sunday night, The Faint delivers consistently, pumping out its not-quite-unique-but-always-welcome mash-up of electronic buzz, punk energy and new wave aesthetics. With lead singer Todd Fink getting his freak on via a mad scientist get-up complete with white lab coat and goggles (paging Dr. Horrible, Dr. Horrible to HOB), the band tore through a nearly gapless set spanning its five-album career.

Following a fun and engaging set from identity-confused rapper Kool Keith (or Dr. Dooom, or Dr. Octagon, or …), The Faint kicked things off with signature song “Agenda Suicide” and didn’t stop writhing or spaz-dancing for 14 more songs. Though the band’s tracks tend to blend after a while, that isn’t really a problem at a Faint concert, because their fans come to boogie, not take notes. And older fare such as “Worked Up So Sexual” and “The Conductor” found as much positive reception as cuts from the band’s latest album, Fasciinatiion, including “Get Seduced” and “Machine in the Ghost.”

Disappearing for a break after “I Disappear,” The Faint returned to the stage after a few minutes of the sweaty crowd chanting “one more song,” delivering songs such as “Birth” and “The Geeks Were Right” before returning to the robotic hibernation chamber from which this Midwest band emerged. We think.

It seems like mere seconds after we posted our round-up preview of concerts, parties and events that may be worth checking out this Halloween, a whole new batch of Vegas-tastic on-goings appeared. So we’ll forgo the niceties and dive right in. You only have three days left, so make your plans now.

Revolution Lounge at the Mirage: “Pretty in Pink Halloween” featuring resident DJ Minor spinning mash-ups, hip-hop and Top 40. A pretty-in-pink-themed costume contest will find the top five pink ladies walking away with P.I.N.K. vodka gift boxes worth a total of $5000 in cash and prizes. Doors at 10 p.m., complimentary P.I.N.K. vodka for the ladies until midnight. $20 cover for men, $10 for visiting ladies and free for local women.

Rok Vegas at New York-New York: Carmen Electra hosts Rok’s first Halloween bash with her fiancee, former Korn guitarist Rob Patterson spinning a special DJ set.

Adventuredome at Circus Circus: Fright Dome closing night, 7 p.m. to midnight, featuring 23 rides and attractions, Lady Diable and her Xtreme Sideshow, Scare Zones, a stunt show and acclaimed haunted houses.

New York-New York: “Screamers – The Haunted Bridge” turns the hotel and casino’s Brooklyn Bridge replica into a terrifying haunted house. Admission is $20 per person, $15 for hotel guests and open to all ages (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult). Open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

PT’s/Sierra Gold: Second Annual Wicked Costume Contest at 7 p.m., all 36 locations, featuring Bud, Bud Light and Bacardi specials. One winner from each bar will receive $100 cash.

SushiSamba at the Palazzo: “Spooky KaBOOki” Halloween celebration featuring DJ Dracula, free Japanese candy, cocktail and desert specials, and a costume contest with a grand prize trip for two to Miami and dinner at SushiSamba.

McFadden’s at the Rio: Drink with the Devil with free admission for guests in costume, drink specials and a $1000 cash prize for overall best costume, plus bar tabs for “sexiest,” “scariest,” “most Irish” and “dirtiest Devil” winning costumes. $10 for women and $20 for men gets an open bar from 10 p.m. to midnight.

Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay: Haunted Reef from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Open to all ages – children under 12 in costume receive free admission. Guests 17 or older donating at the United Blood Services booth from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. receive complimentary entry as well.

Tao at the Venetian: Third annual Taolloween party hosted by Tera Patrick at 10 p.m. Music by DJs Reach and Hideo.

Is it really almost Halloween already? It seems like just yesterday we were telling you about summer festivals and Labor Day events. Sigh … I guess we had better roll out the list of November musical concerts and events now, based on your Google search demands:

Saturday, November 1
Jillian’s: One Pin Short with guests at 6 p.m. $10, all ages.

Sunday, November 2
House of Blues: The Faint, Dr. Dooom (aka Kool Keith) and Mika Miko at 5:30 p.m. $17-20, all ages.

Monday, November 3
Jillian’s: Jedi Mind Tricks, Outerspace and Reef the Lost Cauze at 6 p.m. $17-20, all ages.

Tuesday, November 4
The Joint: The Blackest of the Black Tour featuring Danzig, DImmu Borgir, Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch at 7 p.m. $28.50.
Wasted Space: Hyper Crush at 10 p.m. 21-over.
House of Blues: Rise Against with Alkaline Trio, Thrice and The Gaslight Anthem at 5 p.m. $32-35, all ages.

Wednesday, November 5
House of Blues: Rise Against with Alkaline Trio, Thrice and The Gaslight Anthem at 5 p.m. $32-35, all ages.

Friday, November 7
Wasted Space: Jesse Dayton at 10 p.m. 21-over.
Jillian’s: Before Their Eyes, LoveHateHero, Eyes Set to Kill, A Kiss for Jersey, Oceana and Ice Nine Kills at 6 p.m. $12-14, all ages.

Saturday, November 8
Wasted Space: Jesse Dayton at 10 p.m. 21-over.
House of Blues: Robin Thicke at 7 p.m. $29.50-45, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): Billys Kid, Sarah’s Downstairs and Funky Jah Punkys at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Monday, November 10
House of Blues: Joe Satriani and Mountain featuring Leslie West and Corky Laing at 7:30 p.m. $32-45, 21-over.

Tuesday, November 11
Wasted Space: The 88 with Satisfaction and Datcon Encoda at 10 p.m. $10, 21-over.
House of Blues: Dragonforce, Turisas and Powerglove at 5:30 p.m. $22-25, all ages.

Wednesday, November 12
The Joint: Mudvayne, 10 Years and Snot at 10 p.m. $33 and up.
House of Blues: Lordi, Lizzy Borden and Stolen Babies at 5:30 p.m. $17-25, all ages.

Friday, November 14
The Joint: Blues Traveler at 8 p.m. $25 and up.
Jillian’s: Aiden, Civet, God Or Julie and Ministry of Love at 6 p.m. $12-14, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): The Science, A Dog Named Dutch and Mastiv at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Saturday, November 15
The Joint: Alanis Morissette and Alexi Murdoch at 8 p.m. $35 and up.
House of Blues: Face to Face at 6 p.m. $22-25, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): The Ruse at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Sunday, November 16
House of Blues: Q-Tip with The Cool Kids and The Knux at 7 p.m. $30-32, all ages.
Jillian’s: Portugal the Man, Greyhound and Wintersleep at 6 p.m. $13-15, all ages.

Tuesday, November 18
House of Blues: Underoath, Saosin, The Devil Wears Prada and The Famine at 5 p.m. $20-22, all ages.

Wednesday, November 19
House of Blues: Who’s Bad: World’s #1 Michael Jackson Tribute Band at 7:30 p.m. $15-18, all ages.

Thursday, November 20
Jillian’s: Bring Me the Horizon, Misery Signals, The Ghost Inside and Johnny Truant at 5:30 p.m. $13-15, all ages.

Friday, November 21
Jillian’s (Hi Life): The Vermin, The Vegas Dolts and F.S.P. at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Saturday, November 22
Wasted Space: Days of the New, Sponge and Rubber Side Down at 10 p.m. $20, 21-over.
House of Blues: Matisyahu, Flobots and Chester French at 6 p.m. $28-32, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): Old Iron Sights, Carvavels and The Fucking Orange at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Sunday, November 23
House of Blues: In Flames, All That Remains, Gojira and 36 Crazyfists at 5 p.m. $19.50-22, all ages.
Jillian’s (upstairs): MC Lars, MC Frontalot and Dyselxic Duo at 6 p.m. $10-12, all ages.

Tuesday, November 25
Jillian’s: Pierce the Veil, Breathe Carolina, Four Letter Lie, Emarosa and Serene at 6 p.m. $10-12, all ages.

Friday, November 28
House of Blues: The Sisters of Mercy with Hypernova at 8:30 p.m. $30-35, 21-over.
Jillian’s: Otep, Walls of Jericho, Ill Nino, Within Chaos, Shatterance and Broken End at 6 p.m. $17-2, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): A Crowd of Small Adventures and The Vinyl Clouds at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Saturday, November 29
House of Blues: Bell Biv Devoe at 8 p.m. $30-40, 21-over.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): Babilos at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Sunday, November 30
The Joint: The Australian Pink Floyd Show at 8 p.m. $29.50 and up.

It would be easy to take the cynical, music-critic approach to reviewing last night’s kick-off concert of The Killers’ fall U.S. tour at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. They boys have made themselves somewhat easy fodder, what with their meteoric rise, direction-shifting, critically confusing sophomore album and mixed reception to the first single, “Human,” from the band’s forthcoming Nov. 25 third album, Day & Age.

But the fact is, Las Vegas’ biggest musical export not named Panic at the Disco put on a terrific performance to a sold-out, energetic crowd on Monday, coming out of the gate strongly with a 90-minute set comprised of 18 songs spanning the band’s career. And as usual, The Killers – Brandon Flowers, Ronnie Vannucci, Dave Keuning and Mark Stoermer for those of you not familiar – made their Vegas show a special event.

Opening band Neon Trees kicked things off with a tight set of glammed-up synth rock that can only be described thusly: Duran Duran covering early U2 with Perry Farrell and Maynard James Keenan’s love child on vocals. Seriously. As good as they were, though, the question must be asked: How did this unsigned band get booked as the only supporting act for The Killers on its first two dates? We’re guessing Neon Trees bassist Branden Campbell had something to do with it – the Bonanza High School graduate played in a few local bands years ago with Vannucci (then again, who didn’t?), including an early lineup of Attaboy Skip.

By the time The Killers took to the HOB stage about 9:30 p.m., the crowd was more than warmed up – these people received the band as if it was bringing water to a desert-stranded party. According to some early arrivers we spoke to, people were lined up outside the venue since the previous night. That’s dedication, though we’re not sure it’s healthy. Either way, from the opening guitar strum of “When You Were Young,” the audience was in full sing-along, jump-along, whatever-along mode. And from the get-go, Flowers – who appears to have shed about 25 pounds from previous public appearances – gave a non-stop, expressive performance, proving that despite his sometimes-weak vocals, he has become a showman par excellence, a long cry from his shy beginnings. He may have worked too hard – the 27-year-old lead singer wasn’t feeling well enough to perform at the Warfield in San Francisco tonight, that show getting postponed to Dec. 12.

Augmented by 23-year-old Ray Suen on guitar, keyboards and violin, the band tore through fan favorites such as “Smile Like You Mean It,” “Somebody Told Me,” “Read My Mind,” “Bones” and “Mr. Brightside.” Local musician Tommy Marth joined the band for a few numbers on saxophone and background vocals, including the new song “Losing Touch,” a ‘70s throwback that sounds something like Bruce Springsteen teaming up with Bob Seger to perform a Jeff Lynne composition.

After a short break following a 14-song set, the band returned for an encore that included “Human” (which, admittedly, sounds much better live than on disc), Joy Division’s “Shadowplay” and the iconic closing number, “All These Things That I’ve Done.” Flowers paid tribute to his home state by singing “Home Means Nevada,” the state song that every elementary schooler learns by rote in the Silver State. It was a touching moment, even when the singer flubbed mid-song and started over.

Between the local loyalty, earnest showmanship and crowd-pleasing tunes, the band can be forgiven its questionable new songs (we didn’t even mention the all-out disco tune, complete with congas, did we?) and sometime-reliance on the crowd to do Flowers’ job. Love them or hate them, The Killers deliver when most needed, and people keep on loving them for it.

If there is one night of the year in Las Vegas that rivals New Year’s Eve for “Most Ridiculous Number of Events Happening at Once,” it’s Halloween. 2008 is no different. It’s only Oct. 14, and already we’ve been inundated with information on dozens of events being held this Oct. 31. From raves and parties to concerts and costume contests, there simply has to be something out there for you if you find yourself in Sin City this All Hallows Eve. Here’s a round-up of our picks — thus far — in no particular order:

House of Blues: Apocalyptica at 7 p.m. $20-22, all ages.

Jillian’s: Cobra Starship, The Sickest Kids, Hit the Lights and Sing It Loud at 6 p.m. $15-28, all ages.

Jillian’s (Hi Life): Super Martian Robots, Van Nuys and Exit Ghost at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Double Down Saloon: The Dirty Panties, Betting on Tomorrow, The Quitters and Million Kids at 10 p.m. Free, 21-over.

Flamingo Hotel & Casino, Sunset Ballrooms: “Devils Night XI,” featuring 20,000 square feet of dance space, Halloween sets, video screens, massive sound and lights and three separate areas. Mainstage: DJ Irene, Charles Feelgood, The Autobots, Robert Oleysyck, Donovan & Duff and Jayrod vs. CJ Allen. Indie Electro Stage: Le Castle Vania, Computer Club, Mezzy, Teen Wolf, James Demon and Kinekt. D’N’B Area: Gigantor (Evol Intent), Infiltrata & MC Dre, Prime Mover vs. Chuck B, King, Feight with The Specialist and Risky Business. Admission is $38.50 and is open to guests 18 and over (must be 21 to drink). Tickets available at Groovetickets.com.

Voodoo Lounge: “Spellbound Soiree” featuring DJ L-1 spinning hip-hop and house on the patio, V51 performing Top 40 hits live inside and a costume contest with $5,000 in cash prizes. Doors at 7 p.m. $20 ladies, $30 gentlemen, 21-over.

Christian Audigier The Nightclub: Tila Tequila birthday costume party featuring DJ CyberKid. 21-over.

Studio 54: “Nightmare on 54th Street” featuring DJ Jose 2 Hype and a costume contest with more than $12,000 in cash prizes. 21-over.

LAX: Halloween Fright Fest featuring Jonathan Davis of Korn. 21-over.

Risqué de Paris: Halloween Bash presented by Superestrella 92.7, featuring DJ Dave Guzman spinning Latin hits and 2-for-1 Bud Light Lime all night. Doors at 10:30 p.m. $20 (free for local ladies), 21-over.

South Padre (Texas Station): “Heroes and Villians” Halloween party featuring DJ BKNY spinning Top 40 and a super-power themed costume contest from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. $5, 21-over, no masks, full face paint or weapons.

We know how you like it: Hard and fast. So without further adieu, here’s a preview of what’s to come in Las Vegas’ live music scene for the month of October 2008. Buckle up:

Wednesday, Oct. 1
Wasted Space: Filter at 10 p.m. $20, 21-over.

Thursday, Oct. 2
Jillian’s: Heavy Heavy Low Low, So Many Dynamos, KDT and Vannacutt at 6 p.m. $10-12, all ages.

Friday, Oct. 3
House of Blues: Mindless Self-Indulgence, Die So Fluid, Dearestazazel and I Am The Dream at 6 p.m. $17-20, all ages.
Fremont East Entertainment District: Rock the Block featuring Gogol Bordello at 6 p.m. $15-20, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): Hang Em High, Friday Night Gunfight and Indulge at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Saturday, Oct. 4
Jillian’s: Guilty by Association, Battle Born, Dirty Panties, Zero Fingers and Seventy Sevens at 6 p.m. $10, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): Skorchamenza, Picture Pilot and Pigasus at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Sunday, Oct. 5
Revolution: Letters Burning, Air Raid Anthem, Lips Like Morphine at 10 p.m. 21-over.

Tuesday, Oct. 7
Wasted Space: Lydia Vance, Shatterance and Plan B at 10 p.m. 21-over.

Wednesday, Oct. 8
House of Blues: Opeth, High on Fire, Baroness at 5 p.m. $20-23, all ages.

Thursday, Oct. 9
The Joint: Gavin DeGraw and Charlotte Sometimes at 8 p.m. $25, all ages.
Hard Rock Hotel (Paradise Stage): Rock Band Live Tour featuring Panic at the Disco, Dashboard Confessional, Plain White Ts and The Cab at 7 p.m., $39.50 and up, all ages.
House of Blues: Henry Rollins (spoken word) at 6 p.m. $20-22, all ages.

Friday, Oct. 10
The Joint: Sara Bareilles, Marc Broussard and Raining Jane at 8 p.m. $25, all ages.
House of Blues: Perpetual World Tour featuring Yngwie Malmsteen and ANJ at 7:30 p.m. $25-30, 21-over.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): Ian Shane Tyler, Lips Like Morphine and Pan De Sal at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Saturday, Oct. 11
The Joint: Kings of Leon, We Are Scientists and The Stills at 8 p.m. $30.50, all ages.
House of Blues: Santogold, Mates of State and Low vs Diamond at 5:30 p.m. $20, all ages.

Sunday, Oct. 12
House of Blues: New Found Glory, A Day to Remember, Four Year Strong, International Superheroes of Hardcore and Crime in Stereo at 5 p.m. $14-17, all ages.
Revolution: The Chinese Stars and The Awesome Brothers at 10 p.m., 21 over

Tuesday, Oct. 14
Wasted Space: Jackie Greene at 10 p.m. $15, 21-over.
House of Blues: The Academy Is…, We The Kings, Carolina Liar and Hey Monday at 5 p.m. $15-17, all ages.

Wednesday, Oct. 15
Wasted Space: The Ting Tings at 10 p.m. $15, 21-over.

Thursday, Oct. 16
House of Blues: Angels and Airwaves at 6 p.m. $22, all ages.

Friday, Oct. 17
Jillian’s: All Light Dies, The Second Chariot, The Blood Syndicate, Forging The Warhammer and Empirical at 6 p.m. $10, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): Left Unattended, The Quitters, Dead Birds and Blind Kids at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Saturday, Oct. 18
Ovation (Green Valley Ranch Station): Joe Jackson at 8 p.m. $27.50 – $59.50, all ages.
Wasted Space: The Head Cat at 10 p.m. $20, all ages.
Jillian’s: The Fallen Vegas, Dim, Winter Will Follow, More Than Mortal and Of The Gods at 6 p.m. $10, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): The Day After and Von Iva at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Sunday, Oct. 19
House of Blues: Gym Class Heroes, the Roots and Estelle at 6:30 p.m. $37-52, all ages.
Jillian’s: In:Aviate, The Stiletto Formal, Man Without Wax, A Penny For Jane and Joshua Judges Ruth at 6 p.m. $10, all ages.
Revolution: My Pet Saddle, The Union Line and The Living Suns at 10 p.m. 21-over.

Tuesday, Oct. 21
Wasted Space: Cherry Hill, Theory of Flight and Slow to Surface at 10 p.m. 21-over.

Thursday, Oct. 23
House of Blues: Devildriver, SNOT, Straight Line Stitch and Instinct of Aggression at 6 p.m. $15-17, all ages.

Friday, Oct. 24
House of Blues: Los Enanitos Verdes at 6:30 p.m. $35-50, all ages.
Jillian’s: Bayside, The Matches, Valencia and The Status at 6 p.m. $13-16, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): The Pandas, Leaving Springfield and Lyric Road at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Saturday, Oct. 25
Club Madrid (Sunset Station): Slaughter at 8 p.m. $15, 21-over.
The Joint: Sound Tribe Sector 9 at 9 p.m. $25, all ages.
House of Blues: Chiodos, Silverstein, Escape the Fate and Alesana at 4:30 p.m. $22, all ages.
Jillian’s: Searchlight, Lydia Vance, Almost Normal, Hang Em High and Damn Near Divine at 6 p.m. $10, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): Daimeon Mosley and the Ignrous Rocks, Rockwell and Gone For Good at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Sunday, Oct. 26
Revolution: Moksha and Rufus Federation at 10 p.m. 21-over.

Monday, Oct. 27
Jillian’s: Sky Eats Airplane, Foxy Shazam, Eyes Like Diamonds and This Romantic Tragedy at 6 p.m. $12-14, all ages.

Tuesday, Oct. 28
Wasted Space: Jupiter Crash at 10 p.m. $10, 21-over.

Wednesday, Oct. 29
House of Blues: All Time Low, Mayday Parade, The Maine and Everyday Avenue at 5:30 p.m. $15-17, all ages.

Thursday, Oct. 30
Jillian’s: Away We Go!, Anarbor, This Time Next Year, Summit Grove and When You Wake at 6 p.m. $10, all ages.

Friday, Oct. 31
House of Blues: Apocalyptica at 7 p.m. $20-22, all ages.
Jillian’s: Cobra Starship, The Sickest Kids, Hit the Lights and Sing It Loud at 6 p.m. $15-28, all ages.
Jillian’s (Hi Life): Super Martian Robots, Van Nuys and Exit Ghost at 10 p.m. $10, 18-over.

Get your weekend started on a funky note with Atmosphere, Blueprint and Abstract Rude at House of Blues Las Vegas inside the Mandalay Bay on Friday, Sept. 26 at 5 p.m.

Sunday night, Sept. 28, check out folk-rock quintet Modern Subject and Brit-pop-infused Los Angeles band The Idyllist at The Beatles Revolution Lounge inside the Mirage at 10 p.m.

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Filter resurfaces at Wasted Space inside the Hard Rock Hotel. The show is at 10 p.m. and cover is $20.

And for you bizarre indie film buffs, the free “CineVegas From the Vault” screening series continues at the Clark County Library (1401 E. Flamingo Road) with a showing of Bubba Ho-Tep on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. The movie stars Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis as Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy living their advanced years in a run-down Texas nursing home. Good times.

Yes, I know we’ve been absent here for a bit. But there has been movement on the back end of this site that you may not have noticed. We’re working to expand our Neighborhoods section to include venue guides, photo galleries and more, as well as hiring new talent to bring you even more news, interviews and reviews. Oh, but onto the matter at hand: Here’s some cool stuff coming up in the next few weeks you may want to check out should you be kicking it in Las Vegas. And of course, you should be.

Obamania returns to Las Vegas as Sen. Barack Obama comes to Cashman Field (650 Las Vegas Blvd. N.) at 5 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 17. If you want to get more insight into this Presidential candidate’s campaign, click here to RSVP for the event, which is free to the public.

Artexpo Las Vegas returns to the Mandalay Bay Resort from Sept. 19 to 21. This three-day art industry tradeshow features more than 30 seminars, networking events, pavilions for photographers and emerging artists, and much more. Visit vegas.artexpos.com for more information or registration.

IndieKrush.com busts out another mind-blowing hipster soiree with “F**K PARIS?!” at Beauty Bar (517 Fremont St.) on Saturday, Sept. 27. Inside the bar, DJs Mr_Peaches, Dmndays, Grimehaus, DJess and VaJayJay rock the dirty electro, nu-rave and indie, while outside on the patio, A.I., Laco$te, The Day After…, Alta Revere, Close to Modern and Kobra Ghodsi perform live. Seriously, the $5 cover for the live music will be worth it just to see Laco$te. Trust us. The nonsense starts at 9 p.m.