Jerry Seinfeld Cheap Trick

Thursday, May 01, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Go: What to Do, Where to Go & Why

By James P. Reza

Pity you if you weren't at the House of Blues Friday for the Beastie Boys benefit show, where the graying rappers once again reminded the sold-out, street-styled crowd why they are among the favorite acts of Gen X. Opening the show was former Beastie turntablist DJ Hurricane, who spun new sounds (including a sweet track by Public Enemy) and surprised the crowd by busting his own rhymes. A surprise appearance came from Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, who joined Run-DMC's Darryl "DMC" McDaniels on stage for a song. McDaniels stuck around to perform truncated versions of several Run-DMC hits, including "Walk This Way" and "It's Tricky," the latter of which got the place really jumping.

The crowd, however, saved most of its energy for the headliner. There's not a lot of equipment to change over at a rap show--two turntables and a microphone or three and you're ready to rock--and the House went completely out of its head when the Beastie Boys strutted the stage, dropping NYC science with little delay following the opening performances. Most of the show was culled from the Beasties' three most recent albums, but the occasional old-school gem bumped its way through the system. The most surreal part of the evening? After the show, fans were funneled from the venue directly into the path of Abba fans departing Mamma Mia! Hey, you got your "Root Down" in my "Dancing Queen"!

The sound

Live music this week has little to compare to the almost-reckless abandon demonstrated by the Beastie Boys, but the House of Blues will try, at least, with Friday's finals of the nationwide Guitarmageddon 2003 contest, sponsored by Guitar Centers (May 2, 6 p.m.; 632-7600). After the amateur axe gods play through, new wave power poppers Cheap Trick (featuring Rick Neilsen, hopefully toting his 5-neck gee-tar) and rock gods Magna-Fi will entertain the guitar geek crowd.

Pretty pop-punk princesses The Donnas return to Las Vegas Saturday, a rather soon redux after their recent Huntridge Theater gig (May 3, 7 p.m.; 632-7600). This time around, thanks to rapid popular ascent, the band plays the House of Blues with Radio Vago. Releasing their first album while still high school gals with provocative punky attitudes, The Donnas quickly became critical darlings and faves of the disaffected lipstick girlie set. Five additional albums later, The Donnas find themselves legal eagles, soaring on the wings of the MTV-driven success of 2002's Spend the Night. Opening act Radio Vago is an appropriately all-girl alt.rock band that sounds more like Lollapalooza than anything playing today.

The stage

You cannot escape Jerry Seinfeld. The reruns of his ridiculously successful "television show about nothing" air seemingly 24 freaking hours a day. And if you aren't stopping at one channel or another to hear him yada-yada-yada about this or that for the umpteenth time, you're guffawing at friggin' radio commercials, all soup Nazis and Kramer and wedgies--even when you've heard them a dozen times that day already. This guy is mining "Seinfeld" for all it's worth. And, quite frankly, more power to him; younger women are expensive, after all. This week, Caesars Palace's critically struggling diva Celine Dion gets a much-needed opportunity to think things through as Seinfeld makes a rare Vegas appearance in the Colosseum showroom Friday and Saturday (May 2-3, 7:30 p.m.; 731-7333). Tickets are pricey ($75-$150), but, hey, that's the cost of fame.

For a mere $25 a ticket (expensive for UNLV but still comparably affordable), John Guare's award-winning high comedy Six Degrees of Separation opens Friday at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre (May 2-11, various times; 895-2787). Presented by the university theater department with the Nevada Conservatory Theatre, Six Degrees was adapted for the screen in a film starring Stockard Channing, Will Smith and Donald Sutherland. Sure, it doesn't have soup Nazis or Kramer. But what it lacks in cultural touchstones it more than makes up for with its smart, insightful humor explored through the idea that all people on the planet can be linked through six other people. Okay, so it does sport a cultural touchstone or two.

The street

If thin choices in indoor shows combined with the beautiful weather seem to have conspired to force you to abandon your lazy-dog-on-the-couch yoga pose and waddle outdoors, no worries. There are two events this week that beg your attention. Clark County's annual International Food & Folklife Festival happens Friday and Saturday (May 2-3; 455-8200) at the Clark County Amphitheater in downtown, where a number of ethnic communities will be represented by booths offering native food and crafts. Live entertainment on Friday night includes a 7 p.m. dance performance by Tepuchcalli, a Mexican ballet folklorico group, followed by live music from Killian's Angels--Las Vegas's premier (only?) all-gal rocking Irish band. The entire event is family friendly, so unpack the kids and wind them up.

On Friday, and just a very short hop away from the festival, First Friday keeps on rolling with its seventh installment (May 2, 6-10 p.m.). Art openings, great live music and restaurants, performance art, cool people...it's almost like First Friday isn't real, as if we've fallen into the Matrix and are stuck in some computer-induced dream of Las Vegas where culture exists and patrons aren't afraid of downtown. Quick, before we find an exit, get out, get down and enjoy: "Choking on Inspiration" (Mark T. Zeilman) and music by the Vermin at the Funkhouse..."Jackpot!", an exhibition of contemporary teapots at the Contemporary Arts Collective...live jazz from The Nathan Tanouye Sextet at the new City Park...plus live music at the Iowa Cafe, the Gypsy Caravan Antique Mall and the Red Rooster Antique Mall. All this and a free shuttle too!

Afterward, at 10 p.m., you must wiggle back to The Saloon at Neonopolis for the funky, booty-shaking Get Back, that groovy, '60s-style dance thang where beloved Vegas DJ Bazooka Joe will spin his last joint as a Las Vegas resident (the big baby is packing his kit and checking-out to Brooklyn). Join DJs John Doe and Danny Boy in giving him a big mod-style kiss off.

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