VEGASinsight Archives

Bruce Campbell plays an aged Elvis Presley in Bubba Ho-Tep.

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.

Whew kids. Is Labor Day Weekend over? Given I am back in front of my computer and not doing it up at Seattle’s Bumbershoot music and arts festival, I guess it is. But just because the big holiday weekend is over doesn’t mean that the week forthcoming is anything to sneeze at. Evidence:

Trifecta Gallery (inside the Arts Factory, 103 E. Charleston Blvd.) is hosting a preview opening for its newest exhibition, “Escape Hatch,” by Boulder City denizen Biscuit Street Preacher, on Thursday, Sept. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. We love his work. You should too.

If independent films are more your style, perhaps you’ll want to check out a free screening of Breakfast with Hunter, a documentary about the late Hunter S. Thompson, showing at Clark County Library (1401 E. Flamingo Road) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4.

Friday, Sept. 5, is First Friday, of course, and while you’re downtown in the Arts District pretending to check out art, maybe you should wander over to the Commerce Street Studios for the opening of “Spiritual Geometry (the Awakening)” at MTZC (1551 S. Commerce St.) at 6 p.m. This show features collaborative and solo works of Teresa M. Williams and gallery owner Mark T. Zeilman.

On Saturday, Sept. 6, Brooklyn-based dance crew The Dynasty Rockers brings its funky, “uprock” style to the Aruba Hotel and Spa (1215 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) for a stop on its 35th anniversary tour. Things kick off with a barbeque by the pool at noon, the main event from 4 to 9 p.m. in the hotel’s Thunderbird Lounge, and then an Afro-Latino electric soul after-party from our homies in the Kilowatt crew starting at 11 p.m.

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.

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.

If you’ve never seen Portugal the Man, you haven’t lived.

It’s kind of frightening how much live music there is in Las Vegas. I mean, there is so much that we have to break up our round-ups into 20 different posts. OK, so maybe it’s more like two or three. Whatever. Last time, we previewed the House of Blues offerings, and this time, we peep who’s rocking the Hard Rock Hotel (4485 Paradise Road), Jillian’s (450 Fremont St.) and Revolution Lounge (The Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd.).

Thursday, Aug. 7
Hard Rock Hotel, The Joint: George Thorogood & The Destroyers at 8 p.m., $40 and up.

Friday, Aug. 8
Hard Rock Hotel, The Joint: Julieta Venegas at 8 p.m., $45 and up.
Hard Rock Hotel, poolside: Julian Marley at 7 p.m., $22 or free via SpyOnVegas.com.

Sunday, Aug. 10
The Mirage, Revolution Lounge: Afghan Raiders, Wallpaper with DJs Mike Attack and Aurajin at 10 p.m., $10 for men, free for women.

Tuesday, Aug. 12
Hard Rock Hotel, Wasted Space: Black Camaro, Black and the Black Crayons at 10 p.m., $10.

Friday, Aug. 15
Hard Rock Hotel, The Joint: Hall & Oates at 8 p.m., $49.50 and up.
Hard Rock Hotel, poolside: Paolo Nutini at 7 p.m., $22 or free via SpyOnVegas.com.
Jillian’s: Verbatym, Red Hot Radio, The Direct Method and When You Wake at 6 p.m., $10.

Saturday, Aug. 16
Jillian’s: Indulge, Slaves of the Son King, Sonic Sedation, Omegarilla, Version 9 and Shotgunz & Gasoline at 6 p.m., $10

Sunday, Aug. 17
The Mirage, Revolution Lounge: Love Grenades and Ian Shane Tyler at 10 p.m., $10 for men, free for women.

Saturday, Aug. 23
Jillian’s: RX Bandits, Portugal The Man, Kay Kay and His Weathered at 6 p.m., $12-14.

Sunday, Aug. 24
The Mirage, Revolution Lounge: The Scarlet Symphony and The Living Suns at 10 p.m., $10 for men, free for women.

Thursday, Aug. 28
Jillian’s: Immortal Technique, DJ G.I. Joe, Diabolic & The Circle at 6 p.m., $15-20.

Friday, Aug. 29
Hard Rock Hotel, The Joint: G. Love & Special Sauce, The John Butler Trio and Tristan Prettyman at 8 p.m., $29.50 and up.
Hard Rock Hotel, poolside: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at 7 p.m., $22 or free via SpyOnVegas.com.
Hard Rock Hotel, AJ’s Steakhouse: Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine at 11 p.m., $42 and up.

Sunday, Aug. 31
The Mirage, Revolution Lounge: The Saloon Door Slammers and Diablo Dimes at 10 p.m., $10 for men, free for women.
Hard Rock Hotel, AJ’s Steakhouse: Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine at 11 p.m., $42 and up.

They aimed for “cute.” We think they attained “gay.”

Here’s the goods on July’s rock, metal and alternative shows in Las Vegas over the next month at Rox Club (5285 Dean Martin Dr.), The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel, 4485 Paradise Road) and Jillian’s Las Vegas (450 Fremont St.):

Friday, June 27
Hard Rock Hotel, The Joint: Gym Class Heroes, The Academy Is…, Cobra Starship and Tyga at 7 p.m., $28.

Thursday, July 10
Rox Club: Mankind Is Obsolete, Ikonoklast, dreamscar at 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 12
Hard Rock Hotel, The Joint: The Roots at 8 p.m., $45.
Jillian’s Las Vegas: Searchlight, Almost Normal, The Stript, Lydia Vance, Hitting On Hannah, Red Hot Radio Guilty By Association, Give Em Hell, Antagen, Hang Em High, Billys Kid and Infernal Racket at 6 p.m., $10.

Thursday, July 17
Jillian’s Las Vegas: Suicide Silence with Walls of Jericho, 36 Crazyfists, The Seventh Plague, Secrets Kept In Suicide and Destruction Of A Rose at 6 p.m., $12.50 – $15.

Friday, July 18
Jillian’s Las Vegas: This Romantic Tragedy, Amarionette, The Material, Save The Hero and Veona at 6 p.m., $10.
Rox Club: The Disrepair, Omination and Volatile at 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 19
Hard Rock Hotel, The Joint: Gavin Rossdale at 8 p.m., $25.
Jillian’s Las Vegas: Cute is What We Aim For, Ace Enders, Danger Radio and Powerspace at 5 p.m., $12 -14.

Friday, July 25
Jillian’s Las Vegas: Terror, The Warriors, Death Before Dishonor, CDC and Trapped Under Ice, 6 p.m., $12 – 14.
Rox Club: Sicmonic, Broken End, Fallen Vegas at 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 26
Jillian’s Las Vegas: Away We Go!, We Play For Keeps, Fight Fight Fight and Burning Season at 6 p.m., $10.
Rox Club: Time Again, Zerofingers, Happy Campers, Penetrators and Mercinaries at 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 27
Rox Club: Gorilla Productions Battle of the Bands, featuring As Yet Unbroken, Urchin, Stargasm, Casualty of Youth, The Scoundrels, Shattered Wings, Bangkok Shock, The Kurgans, DarkSpade and Centaur Rodeo at 5 p.m., $10 – 12.

Tuesday, July 29
Jillian’s Las Vegas: I Am Ghost, Eyes Like Diamonds, As He Defeats, The Murder Ballad and Ministry Of Love, 6 p.m., $11 – 13.

Nice pajamas. (Photo by Hew Burney)

Sex Pistols fans had two choices Saturday night to see the legendary punk rock band perform the snarling, iconic songs that defined its original, 18-month career: Hold in their hands tickets to the band’s sold-out tour kick-off at the Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas, or construct a time machine and go back in time to 1977 England.

The time machine option would have been the smarter of the two.

The Sex Pistols – who are clearly just banking their retirement at this point – reinforced the necessity of their original break-up 30 years ago in a performance Saturday night that was more pathetic than anything else. Not that the legions of fans who packed the Hard Rock’s venue – mostly late-model Boomers way past their prime (oh, like the band on-stage?) – would agree. They were too blinded with pure fanaticism, reliving their foregone youths to notice that John Lydon and crew were mere caricatures of themselves, punctuating the reason why our fondest idols died (or broke up) young: Morrison, Dean, Curtis, etc. (more…)

If there’s ever a match made in heaven – well, we guess more like purgatory or something more hellish – it’s liquor and writers. So it’s fully appropriate that tonight, May 8, at 7 p.m., the launch party for Las Vegas Noir is being held at the Freakin’ Frog (4700 Maryland Parkway).

Las Vegas Noir is the latest in Akashic Books’ series of city-specific, original noir anthologies, edited by Jarret Keene and Todd James Pierce. A number of contributing authors will be on hand for tonight’s party, including Pablo Medina, Christine McKellar, Bliss Esposito, Lori Kozlowski, Felicia Campbell, Jaq Greenspon, and Vu Tran. Following the reading and signing, local space-rock band Love Pentagon will perform.

We’re not sure that this is a scene from The Talent Given Us, but it was in the press kit, so who are we to not use it?

Three things we love: Free movies, free air conditioning and the library. You know where we’re going with that lead, right? Because we’ve used this gimmick before. And we’ll do it again!

The CineVegas From the Vault series continues at the Clark County Library (1401 E. Flamingo Road) with three CineVegas celluloid alumni presented for free at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month throughout the warmer months, save for June when the 10th Annual CineVegas Film Festival takes over the Palms for a few weeks.

Things kick off on May 1 with 5th World, a 2005 festival feature that traces the contours of burgeoning love between two Navajo students while exploring how tribal culture shades their bond in powerful ways. After the 2008 festival, the series returns on July 3 with 2004’s Malachance, which follows a troubled man from New Orleans as he moves to New York and takes on a new identity. And finally, 2004’s Grand Jury Prize winner, The Talent Given Us, plays on Aug. 7. This festival favorite tells the story of a family forced to come together after making a cross-country trip to track down their absent brother.

Feeling the pinch of the impending deadline for filing your 2007 tax return? Adam Carmer, owner of Freakin’ Frog and the forthcoming Adam’s Ribs, wants to help take off the edge a bit — with free beer and barbecue tomorrow, Tuesday, April 15, starting at noon at the Frog (4700 Maryland Parkway).

“Freakin’ Frog can’t do anything about income taxes,” Carmer says, “but we can do something to soften the blow: a free beer to cry into when you realize just how big a chunk the government took out of your paycheck.”

Those taking advantage of the Tax Day freebies are also getting a sampling of the offerings from Adam’s Ribs, which is slated to finally open this month, more than a year after Carmer took over the former Moose’s Beach House location. The always-confident restaurateur and UNLV professor boasts Adam’s Ribs’ offerings are “the best barbecue in town.” We shall see …