Blue Oyster Cult Moe

Thursday, February 13, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Go: Where to Go, What to Do and Why

By James P. Reza

If you have ever for a moment doubted either the existence of culture in Las Vegas or the value of an honest grassroots movement to expose and boost that culture, then you simply must experience the next First Friday firsthand on March 7. February's First Friday was perhaps the most comprehensive and complete yet, with the Funk House a flurry of activity, including a photography opening featuring works by Geoff Carter accompanied by the grooving Nines. Patrons were bustled between locales by a free city of Las Vegas shuttle bus. Jerry Misko and Naomi Arin's Dust gallery premiered at the packed Arts Factory to an impressed gathering of artists, patrons and unwashed emo kids present primarily for the free food. Later, many suffered the absurdity of the new Neonopolis parking garage fee ($4.50 for a few hours) to attend the The Get Back. What may have been The Saloon's biggest and most stylish crowd to date packed the place to mingle and groove to the sexy mod sounds of DJs John Doe, Bazooka Joe and others (ironic considering that the parking fee has just about killed The Saloon's business otherwise). Wow...it almost felt like Las Vegas had a real downtown scene for a moment.

Dude, where's

the bar?

Maybe not all who wander are lost. Maybe they are just looking for better seats. Or an easier route to avoid The Man, man. Whatever the reason, there will be plenty of souls wandering the city this week, most hoping to score tickets to three dude-friendly performers. First up is classic metal for the thinking man, Blue …yster Cult, performing a single show on Saturday at Boulder Station (Feb. 15, 8 p.m.; 683-7777). Most widely recognized for the hits "Godzilla," "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and "Burnin' For You," BOC has, appropriately, always enjoyed somewhat of a cult following, its heavy, melodic music featured prominently in Stephen King's The Stand.

Also coming to town is jam band Moe for two shows at the House of Blues, Saturday-Sunday (Feb. 15-16, midnight; 632-7600). Formed in upstate New York in 1990, Moe's quirky, improvisational bluesy-jazz rock (or is that jazzy blues-rock?) soon found a following, driven--much in the same way as the Grateful Dead's audience--by the band's live performances. With 12 releases to its credit, including 2003's critically acclaimed Wormwood, Moe continues to demand the attention of the jam band crowd.

Still, all that is simply a sideshow or a second choice for those not fortunate enough to hold tickets to the pair of sold-out shows by Phish, Saturday and Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center (Feb. 15-16, 8 p.m.; 739-3267). Though the arena holds but 18,000 on a good day and both shows are sold out, tens of thousands of Phisheads are expected to converge on Las Vegas (much as Deadheads did when the Grateful Dead played Vegas), hoping to find a way into the show. Formed in 1983 by University of Vermont students (what is it about that Northeastern air?), Phish followed the path of all successful jam bands: form a core fan base via touring (which they did for five years) before releasing their first album, Junta, in 1988. In fact, most of their 30 releases have been live recordings. The power of jam bands is in the live show, of course. Who wants to whirl like a dervish in the privacy of your own living room? You'd just trip over the futon and break your bong anyway.

In all the wrong places

Love comes quickly, so they say. Not to punk rock tattoo artiste Dirk Vermin, evidently, whose edgy Gallery Au Go-Go will unveil Love Speaks Through a Fist on Friday (Feb. 14, 7 p.m.; 419-5681). The exhibit will feature the works of Camille Bohannan, Keri Schroeder and Katie Lantz as well as performances by Profile the Clown, Stillframe, Hank Musgrove and By Death's Design. Ah, sweet love.

Later that night at the Double Down Saloon will be Sex, Love & Rock & Roll, a Valentine's Day dance party featuring Thee Swank Bastards, drrty grrl rock from The Pullouts and groove-about-town DJ Bazooka Joe (Feb. 14, 10 p.m.; 791-5775). However, don't show up thinking you'll find love riding the mechanical pony, and don't ask Moss why the amusement ride disappeared...he's none too happy about losing it.

Back in the day

Finally, Interstate Records is making noise on the scene with two events. First, they are presenting Back to tha Old Skool featuring classic rappers Big Daddy Kane and Special Ed, with DJ Junior Tec on Wednesday at Glo (Feb. 19; 251-7551x31). Kane, a serious rapper hailing from the era of Ice-T and Public Enemy, earned both pop and hardcore fans via his work that was by turns seriously political and seriously sexy. Also, starting Feb. 26, Interstate sponsors an event at the new Mist personality bar inside Treasure Island. More on that later...as if your dance card wasn't full already.

James P. Reza is the editor of the Best Places-Las Vegas guidebook. E-mail nightlife, concert and cultural event tips jpreza@lvcm.com. Deadline is the Saturday prior to publishing.