Courtenay Budd The 2003 Lift Ticket Concert Series Free Comics Day Alex DeGrassi First Friday

Thursday, May 01, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

A/E Features

A real-life soprano

The Las Vegas Philharmonic closes out its season on a high note thanks to soprano Courtenay Budd. She joins the Philharmonic in performing Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 4. Also on the bill is Igor Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite (1919 Version)." Budd is a prize-winning singer who has already hit the boards of prestigious play places such as Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. The Las Vegas Philharmonic with Courtenay Budd performs May 3 at 8 p.m. in the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at UNLV. Tickets are $20-$60. Info: 895-2787.

Lift Ticket concert builds Rich Tradition

The 2003 Lift Ticket Concert Series kicked off April 26 with a six-band show at the Summerlin Smoothie King. About 500 kids showed up to check out the punk sounds of Local 15, alternative rockers Hugly, hip hop from Periodic Tables, emo punkers September Star and hard-driving 4SP, but in the end Rich Tradition was chosen as the battle of the bands winner. Lift Ticket returns for its second show May 24. Info: 429-5999.

Free comics? Gimme gimme!

Yes, that's right, free comics. No strings attached. Get 'em while the getting's good. Free Comics Day is an annual event during which participating comics stores hand out free comics. Many publishers create special editions strictly for the event. Books are available for all ages with titles and characters as diverse as Archie, X-Men and the above-featured Milk and Cheese (dairy products gone bad). You can pick up your free books at the following stores:

Alternate Reality Comics, 4800 S. Maryland Parkway, 736-3673; Cheese Boy Comics, 8826 S. Eastern Ave., 990-0288; Cosmic Comics, 3330 E. Tropicana Ave., 451-6611; Dreamwell Comics, 5706 W. Charleston Blvd., 870-1268; Kool Kollectables, 5140 W. Charleston Blvd., 877-1813; Kool Kollectables, 353 E. Sahara Ave. (in Commercial Center), 733-7533; Tim Boal's Comics Oasis, 3121 N. Rainbow Blvd., 212-8885; Tim Boal's Comics Oasis, 4250 S. Rainbow Blvd., 222-1668; Woody's World, 2704 N. Green Valley Parkway, 898-7717.

Oddly, no Sex Pistols tunes

If you've ever thought, "Gee, I like this mellow guitar music but these darn lyrics are making me think too much," you're in luck. The Las Vegas Guitar Society brings guitar virtuoso Alex DeGrassi to town Friday night. With a quarter-century of albums under his belt (ouch), an evening of unique interpretations of a variety of music is virtually guaranteed. Since many of you will know the words, it's conceivable you could rise up en masse and provide the missing vocals, but we don't encourage such rude behavior. Plus, if pressed, we'll deny you got the idea here. For aspiring guitarists, DeGrassi is having a workshop the next morning. The concert starts at 7:30. Tickets are $12-$15. The guitar workshop is $25 for members of the Las Vegas Guitar Society and $35 for nonmembers. Info: 455-7340.

Come for the wine and cheese. Stay for the art

It's First Friday time again. Time for local artists to scrape most of the wet paint off the floor, put on some relatively clean duds and party down in a refined and dignified manner. First Friday, as we've noted many times now, is the downtown art district's monthly art opening/open studios/live performance venue, plus some assorted other stuff. The events take place all over the arts district but the best place to start is the Arts Factory or The Funkhouse, where they hand out detailed schedules and maps. It all starts at 6 p.m. May 2. The Arts Factory is at 103 E. Charleston Blvd. (676-1111) and the Funkhouse is at 1228 S. Casino Center Blvd. (678-6278).