The Pretenders Los Lobos

Thursday, February 20, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Go: Where to Go, What to Do and Why

By James P. Reza

Las Vegas nightlife remains in a relatively idle mode, despite the openings of several new venues in recent months. The places that have always gathered the glitterati--Rain, Ghostbar, Light--continue to attract the hotties in impressive numbers, while other venues struggle. Even new party pads are finding that they are going to have to work hard for the money. Last Friday, a soft invite-only opening for OOO, an after-hours event in the chic new Summerlin restaurant Tre, drew (according to an insider) almost 400 party people, a cocktail-swilling crowd bumping to fresh hip hop spun by DJ Five. The party resulted in what was probably the restaurant's best bottom line since opening in December. However, when the event opened to the public on Saturday, the attendance was sparse, getting more so as people arrived looking for a scene and scattered soon after, taking friends with them. The formula is there--beautiful venue and beautiful people brought together by veteran Vegas promoter Richard Chu (Red Dragon)--so perhaps OOO just needs a little more time. Check out OOO for yourself every Friday and Saturday at Tre (11 p.m.-3 a.m.). If you are a local and/or northwestern suburbanite who dreads traveling to the Strip on the weekends, OOO may be perfect.

One venue that hasn't had any trouble attracting a crowd is Panevino Ristorante (246 Via Antonio; 222-2400), a sizable restaurant, deli and bar near McCarran Airport. Operated by design-build developers Marnell Corrao (who also designed and built Tre for the Maccioni family), Panevino is undeniably the hottest restaurant Las Vegas has seen in some time. Featuring an open dining room with an expansive curving wall of glass overlooking the Strip, a seemingly unending bar punctuated by a comfortable lounge around a blazing fire and a delicious menu of upscale Italian comfort food, Panevino is, rather suddenly, the place to nosh (see: Eat).

Rock, old style

You can keep your Phish and your String Cheese Incident and your Dave Matthews Band. At least that's the attitude of many a time-warped baby boomer when it comes to the Doobie Brothers, one of California's original purveyors of stoner boogie. Far more pop-inflected than any of today's jam bands, the Doobies have come to represent a mellow, post-hippie sensibility in music (a sensibility taken to its apex by Steely Dan). Can't you just see the willowy, long-haired brunettes in flare-leg jeans swaying and bouncing to "Listen to the Music" and "Jesus Is Alright" in between bong hits? You can relive the moments you were too wasted to remember on Friday and Saturday at the Hilton (Feb. 21-22, 10 p.m.; 992-7970).

Say it loud: Step off, Eminem. You may be proud (perhaps a little too f-ing proud), but James Brown you are not. The great-great godfather of soul turns 70 in May, but he's still doing what makes him popular among the kids: recording exhilarating music and appearing on the "Howard Stern Show." Illustrating the kind of contradiction present in so much "good art," Brown's rowdy funk is equal parts fiery gospel and sex-charged rock 'n' roll. Without him, there would have been no George Clinton, no Prince, and no Michael Jackson interview. See Mr. Dynamite dance and holla on Friday at Texas Station (Feb. 21, 8 p.m.; 631-1000).

Somewhere, a young Ritchie Valens is chest-bumping Buddy Holly over the success the two have lent to acts that followed their untimely deaths. In the case of Holly, it's an evolution of rock that includes a style adopted by alt.rockers Weezer; for Valens, it is penning the song that would transform Los Lobos from cult status to, well, almost rock stars. Now in its third decade of making earthy Tex-Mex and Spanish rock, Los Lobos has emerged from its East L.A. roots to become one of the genre's few bands to transcend into popular success. Perhaps it's the band's striking authenticity, the way it seemingly effortlessly captures the sound and spirit of the American Southwest under Mexican influence. Or maybe it's just Valens' catchy "La Bamba" single. Whatever makes the band work, you can discover for yourself when they play with Quetzal on Friday at the House of Blues (Feb. 21, 8 p.m.; 632-7600).

Rockin' in the new world

Admit it: You know nothing about Queens of the Stone Age except that damn catchy single "Go With the Flow." Well, guess what, dudes and dudettes, 2002's Songs for the Deaf is the band's third album. That's right, folks, this Ramones-meets-Black-Sabbath project of former Kyuss members is almost six years old. Who would'a thunk it? Where will they go when poppy alt.guitar rock loses favor with the busboys of this earth? Can you believe the show is already sold out? Scalpers and ticket brokers have the ins, though; grab one so you can see the show Saturday at the Hard Rock (Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m.; 693-5066).

Saturday night might be all right for rocking, but if it was our money, we'd rather put it on the table for new wave superstars The Pretenders, joined by the All Mighty Senators at the House of Blues (Feb. 22, 7 p.m.; 632-7600). New York-born but carrying the influences of someone who moved to London in her 20s, Pretenders guitarist and vocalist Chrissie Hynde eventually became one of the driving forces behind the guitar-arm of the New Wave movement of the '80s. Like the Ramones and Patti Smith, The Pretenders have come to personify the stripped-down yet melodic rock of the era. These days, the band is appearing on National Public Radio interviews plugging a new album (Loose Screw) and making Pretenders music that's as good as it ever has been. And that's damn good.

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