CKY Sugar Ray

Thursday, June 12, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Go: Where to Go, What to Do & Why

By James P. Reza

Last Thursday's First Friday benefit held at the new Arts Factory location of Tinoco's Bistro went well, with artsy hipsters mixing just fine with monied luminaries, all enjoying a sampler buffet of the tasty Italian nosh that will be available in the semi-industrial space. Initially hoping to set tables June 6 for First Friday diners, Tinoco's is a little behind schedule; the much-anticipated downtown eatery is expected to open for lunch and dinner within the next week or two.

Similarly, the buzz-heavy downtown lounge and restaurant The Ice House isn't quite ready for its planned soft opening on June 12; expect that to happen sometime the week of June 16. If you'd prefer to wait until the standard opening edges are polished, hold off ordering that inaugural martini until the first week of July. After that, it's every suit and sexpot for themselves.

Al fresco, baby

Everyone loves the 90s. That's "90s" not as in Lollapalooza, "The X Files," or Jan Laverty Jones, but rather as in, "The high temperature today will be in the mid-90s." Ah...downright perfect weather for the Hard Rock Hotel's successful Wednesday night pool parties, "Sex on the Beach" (every Wed., 7-10 p.m.; 693-5000). Launched in the late 1990s (so, there is a connection...) as a swing thing featuring the likes of Royal Crown Revue and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the parties today maintain their hepcat vibe with performances of old-school burlesque by the gifted performers of L.A.'s Velvet Hammer.

On Saturday, Green Valley Ranch Station's successful Whiskey Beach outdoor concert series continues with soulful jazz from Norman Brown and Brian Culbertson (June 14, 8 p.m.; 221-6560). Both performers (Brown is a guitarist; Culbertson plays keys and 'bone) display R&B/soul influences in their work, with Culbertson delving a little too deeply into the "jazz lite" style. Culbertson's work, however, has gotten consistently better, and he tours behind 2003's Come on Up. Guitarist Brown cites impressive influences from Jimi Hendrix to Wes Montgomery, and his output includes his fifth effort, 2002's Just Chillin'.

If the gin-swilling crowd at the Hard Rock and Green Valley Ranch ain't yer thing, no worries. Saturday offers a double dose of alt.outdoor fun, starting with Clark County Parks' Vegas AmJam Series, Vegas' first organized circuit for skaters, to be held at Silverado Skatepark (June 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; 455-8200). The event should be interesting for both spectators (free admission) and participants ($10 entry fee per category). Later that night, the county guv'mint comes though again with the aptly (if obviously) named Reggae in the Desert festival (June 14, 4-10 p.m.; 455-8200). This is a new event for Clark County, held downtown in the Government Center Amphitheater, and features top names in reggae music (Pato Banton, Tippa Irie, Shinehead, Mikey Dread and Bom Shaka), food vendors (Red Stripe and more), and Jamaican goods. Not since the Fremont Street Reggae & Blues lounge was demolished to make way for the struggling Neonopolis has reggae played downtown. What goes around, comes around, mon.

Battle of the giants

Ever since Mandalay Bay opened, the resort has battled the Hard Rock for hosting the most interesting concerts in town, and this week sees the two venues in a knockdown drag-out. On the subtext, Mandalay's House of Blues is hosting two all-ages shows by excellent but lesser-known artists: Friday is a triple-bill by pop-punkers CKY and alt.metalistsRevolution Smile, opened by Leisure (June 13, 7:15 p.m.; 632-7600), while Saturday stages critically acclaimed emo stars All American Rejects (June 14, 7:15 p.m.; 632-7600).

The Hard Rock counters with an interesting two nights at the Joint, the first being a Saturday performance of former Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth (June 14, 8 p.m.; 693-5066). Roth combined a childhood influenced by jazz vocals (Sinatra, Prima) with his love of rock (Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper) into an alchemy of stage presence that made him the quintessential rock frontman. Also at the Joint, X-107 faves Staind will blast out their strip club-friendly alt.metal anthems for two nights (June 17-18, 8 p.m.; 693-5066). The Fred Durst progeny (he helped land them a record deal) tour behind their fourth effort, 2003's 14 Shades of Grey.

Diamond Dave, Limp Bizkiteers...that's all fine and good. But then--boom!--Mandalay Bay fires the battleship-sinking salvo with two nights of big-time alt.pop. First comes Brit rockers Blur--on the heels of their not-so-lucky 13th album, Think Tank--to the likely-to-be-sold-out House of Blues for one show Thursday (June 12, 8 p.m.; 632-7600). The obvious heir to the Brit-pop throne before Oasis came along and yanked it from under them, Blur remains popular among discerning music aficionados. Mandalay Bay follows Blur with a Friday night double-dose of big-time pop rock at the resort's Events Center with Matchbox Twenty and Sugar Ray (June 13, 8 p.m.; 632-7580). With their just-right looks (respective vocalists Rob Thomas and Mark McGrath adorned untold numbers of school lockers in the late '90s) and pop sensibilities, both bands are big hits with the screaming chick contingent, so prepare for your eardrums to be assaulted.

We call them

`films,' thank you

The ever-growing and chronically under-appreciated CineVegas International Film Festival returns to the Palms' Brenden theaters June 13-21 with an interesting lineup of films, including the world premieres of Dallas 362 and Breakfast With Hunter. (We're partial to the trio of films screened under the heading, "A Trip Down the Strip": Bunny Yeager's Nude Las Vegas, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Queen of Diamonds.) The week is packed with celeb-whore parties and a roundtable discussion with Hunter S. Thompson, Dennis Hopper, Grace Slick and Dave Hickey. Call 888-883-4278 or click to www.cinevegas.com for details.

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