Go: Where to Go, What to Do & Why

Blame it on me. Your GO tour guide, having just returned from a long weekend in Seattle, and tired of washing his car under the cover of night, innocently carried back the never-ending, depression-inducing rains, thumping them on an unsuspecting Las Vegas. Forgive me that transgression, but be happy I didn't tote back the attitude--or the 1:30 a.m. last call, for that matter.

Those of you who remember the late 1980s recall that, for a spell, Seattle was The Place to move if you had any hope of descending to a blissfully detached state of hipness so tragic that being miserable was somehow cool. The result of this pervasive dreariness was a disheveled, unshaven state of heroin-induced paranoia and misanthropic rock 'n roll. This went on for a few years, until the hipsters realized they could actually have fun with music again, and packed up for Austin.

Shortly thereafter, trust-funded protesters were seen kicking in the windows of Seattle area Starbucks with their pricey Nikes, while the kids in Austin were having a ball. Seattlites have long since disavowed any knowledge of grunge, but, beyond the city's beautiful downtown, much of the grumpy defeatism remains, along with an (un)healthy dose of unreasonable provincialism. And so goes a brief recent history of the Emerald City. Think I'll be packaging southern Nevada sunshine and sending it on to a few friends who recently relocated to the area. Meanwhile, Las Vegas continues to sparkle in the brisk desert air, despite the rain.

Vaguely

Boomer-esque

Baby Boomers who've seen the band Chicago one too many times (Stardust, Mar. 10-13, 8 p.m.; 732-6325) have a few alternatives this week, starting with singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, playing an affordable show at the Hard Rock's Joint Friday (Feb. 27, 8 p.m.; 693-5000). Wainwright is the son of celebrated folkies Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle. His theatrical performances and singing style owe as much to Freddie Mercury and Judy Garland as Brian Wilson and Ben Folds Five, making this twenty bucks well spent.

Boomers of another stripe will dig a similarly priced show from Vegas veteran Merle Haggard, who plays the Dallas events Center at Texas Station on Saturday (Feb. 28, 8 p.m.; 631-1000). Haggard, a trad-country singer from the Bakersfield school of country music (i.e. Buck Owens, Wynn Stewart), made his first Vegas appearance in 1962 rather by mistake, being called to the stage during a Wynn Stewart lounge show to pluck a song or two. He released Strangers, the first of dozens of critically acclaimed albums, three years later, after a six-month stint with Stewart.

And ... talent thief Jay Leno, who recently hired Stuttering John away from the "Howard Stern Show" to become his announcer in March, returns to Vegas Friday and Saturday at the Mirage while Danny Gans breaks (Feb. 27, 9 p.m., Feb. 28, 10:30 p.m.; 792-7777).

Latin love

Acclaimed Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti launches the North American leg of his final worldwide tour on Saturday at the Caesars Palace Colosseum (Feb. 28, 8 p.m.; 731-7110). Accompanied by a 66-piece orchestra under the direction of Leone Magiera, this is said to be a recanting of Pavarotti's worldwide hits, which is all well and good. Still, we can't help but think of the Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd rendition of Mozart's "Figaro" every time we think of opera.

Here's something for everyone: a Saturday show at the Hard Rock by heir-to-the-heartthrob-throne Enrique Iglesias (Feb. 28, 8 p.m.; 693-5000. We needn't explain why the gals go ga-ga over this well-dressed hip thruster with an accent, but the (straight) guys want to see him just so they can be in the same room with the dude lucky enough to be giving it to Ÿber-hottie Anna Kournikova. Seriously, Enrique, is it the cologne? The hair? Throw us a bone here.

Babes in boyland

Formerly lo-fi alt.rocker Liz Phair brings her FCC-challenging, eponymously titled, sexed-up and pop-friendly new album to the House of Blues on Saturday (Feb. 28, 8 p.m.; 632-7600), in a singer-songwriter menage et trois with the cerebral Rachael Yamagata and indie folker Patrick Park. Phair has taken it on the chin from critics and fans entirely dissatisfied with her new direction, some calling it "insipid," "obvious" and "banal," as if they are the owners and protectors of her groundbreaking 1993 debut Exile in Guyville. Only Ms. Phair knows what direction is right for her, but it's certain there will be a few confused folks in the audience when she touches on her past work.

No such problems for Melissa Etheridge, whose heartland guitar-grrl image has remained consistent for sixteen years. Though she had a critical faltering in the mid-to-late-1990s, Etheridge rebounded strongly in 2003 (Melissa Etheridge) and 2004 (Lucky). Her raspy, heartfelt vocals and straight-ahead Midwest rock 'n roll style (think Springsteen) have garnered fans from across the rock spectrum--not to mention a massive contingent of lesbian admirers, earned by Etheridge's coming out with 1993's slyly titled release, Yes I Am. Etheridge plays the Hard Rock Joint on Saturday (Feb. 28, 8 p.m.; 693-5000).

The hip to the hop

The Orleans Arena, of all places, welcomes hardcore hip hop star DMX, ruff 'n reddy alt.ragga-rapper (and actor) Busta Rhymes and every naughty boyz dream (and mother's nightmare) Lil' Kim on Wednesday (Mar. 3, 8 p.m.; 365-7469). We'd pay the price just to see Busta Rhymes do his thing, but then again, we're partial to his complex dancehall stylee. Unfortunately for some of you (and us) who have to choose, original Nebraska rap-rockers 311 perform the same night with up-and-coming jazzy rocker (!!) Zack Hexum (Mar. 3, 8 p.m.; 632-7600).

Best of the rest

Waaaaay back in the 1990s, when this writer was editor of SCOPE magazine--the forerunner of the Vegas weeklies many of you read--local band 12-Volt Sex was the Great Rock Hope of Las Vegas (as The Killers are today). Vocalist Matt Chernoff's energetic crew, mostly former members of the disbanded Hostage Symphony, had been signed to a major label and were poised to take the world by storm. Not. Shortly thereafter, electronica overtook the underground and 12-Volt Sex was a few years too late. Or, too early, it seems. With (new wave) rock back in style, 12-Volt Sex seems better poised now than then; hence, perhaps, the band's entirely unexpected (but welcome) reunion gig with Jr. Anti-Sex League, Drawing Boxes and Black Camaro, Saturday at the Huntridge Theatre (Feb. 28, 7 p.m.; 477-7703).

Speaking of the '80s, charismatic Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan has a new solo DVD, Live Monsters, filmed in Paris. The concert film, sure to be a cross-generational cult hit, opens at the Village Square Cinemas on Monday (Mar. 1); call 221-2283 for showtimes. ... The Las Vegas Philharmonic presents its fourth concert of the year Saturday at UNLV's Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall (Feb. 28, 8 p.m.; 895-2787). É Eve Ensler's acclaimed Vagina Monologues returns for a singular performance Sunday at the Artemus, a V-Day benefit for UNLV's Women Against Violence (Feb. 29, 7-9 p.m.; 895-2787 ... And, finally, edgy soundscape artists Negativland (known among hipsters as "the band that made that U2/Casey Casem song") will perform two nights at the Arts Factory's recent addition, the Social Experimentation and Absurd Theater (Feb. 27-28; 736-4313). Subsequently sued by U2 (and Pepsi, and Island Records...) for copyright infringement, Negativland's pop culture pastiche simply must be experienced to be believed. Advance ticket sales ended Feb. 21, so be certain to call ahead to see if seats remain.

Native Las Vegan James P. Reza writes too much about Las Vegas, but can't stop because he simultaneously loves and hates the place. E-mail him at jpreza@cox.net.