Letters

Local music issue missing local music

I am a music fan, a musician and a longtime supporter/member of the local music scene in Vegas. I have seen it change, evolve, diminish, take massive criticism and accept great praise. Mostly, though, I have seen coverage in periodicals such as yours unfairly and inaccurately accentuate the fact that bands, clubs and the scene in general are not up to your standards or that of a town with this much to offer in the way of entertainment.

I am writing to you today in shock that your "music issue" that just came out is merely peppered with 10 out 63 pages dedicated to music! That's 10/63! Are you that out of touch with what's going here or is that all there is?

I was under the impression that Magna-Fi and its deal, tour and recent success is story-worthy. I think there are probably a stack of CDs from local bands that don't all suck that could be of interest to a few readers that should be reviewed and exposed to the public through an issue like this. I bet the general public would love to know about the pool of musicians who have made the open mic boom in town spread from one or two little bars to peak hour-scheduled events in major hotels in the Station Casinos family as well as the Palms. The Palms also supports local musicians weekly with showcases in the Lounge produced by Mike Soli/Rick Duarte and company. The House of Blues vs. the Joint in regards to giving local bands the opportunity to open for national acts is an interesting story. Why have the Joint and its promoters closed their doors and not supported the local scene at that level and the House of Blues is? Smashmagazine.com and Jillian's have surfaced as a live music partnership that is bringing in shows unlike anywhere in town. What happened to Franky Perez? What's happening with 12 Volt Sex? What is the current state of retail in town for local vs. national acts at Sam Goody, Tower Wow and Virgin? What's up with Jeff Higgenbotham and his internet monopoly on the music scene? The list goes on...

I play out five nights a week and don't have my finger on the pulse as much as I would like to because of it, but I know there's a sea of bands, singer/songwriters, producers, recording studios, rappers and performers who are probably just as disappointed with subpar coverage of the scene like this as you are with the "Wal-Martization of the Strip" that you chose to write about in your editorial in the music issue...how appropriately lame!

Here are some bands and artists I feel an issue like this could focus on for future reference. Maybe the next music issue will have more pages dedicated to music than a sale at Dillard's and cell phone ads.

1. Brother Luke

2. Drawing Boxes

3. Sarah Thiele

4. Cornerstone

5. Clockwise

6. Big Bad Zero

7. Ill Figures

8. Uberschall (members of the Blue Man Group)

9. Hemlock (how does a band so bad do so well? There's a story for ya!)

10. Cherry Hill

11. Dylan Moses

12. Anne Donahue

13. Shotface

I spoke to fellow musicians about this issue and they all feel the same: disappointed, disrespected and collectively nauseous.

I have had my share of coverage in the local press and have considered myself lucky over the years to have access to you and the other printed weekly mags, radio and some TV news that have even supported the cause of the local musician. So I have no room to complain about my 15 minutes of fame here. This is not personal and I don't feel snubbed...I am a music fan and this was not a music issue that I would be proud to read, write or call my own. I hope the next one compensates for it, because I know you're better than this.

--Shawn Eiferman

If Moore were in charge, we'd be wearing burqas

Your article on Michael Moore and his "documentary" Fahrenheit 9/11 was appalling. You cannot even accept to have a reporter question Michael Moore in a direct way such as Matt Lauer did. Infringement on civil liberties? Conspiracies? Please. Keep at it and you won't even have a place to write your liberal, biased articles. With your utopian world without a "Bush," you would certainly be wearing a burqa and we would all be praying five times a day toward Mecca. Remember, there is no perfect world, but I would rather have an administration that puts up a front to terror rather than play nice guy and get blown to pieces. Your buddy Michael has criticism for everything (not only the war on terror) but no solutions. He could join forces with John Kerry. I have no problems having different opinions. Criticism is welcome, but with it, bring solutions to the topics you are so vehemently opposed to.

By the way, I am not a right-winger. I am not a hothead. I am merely an American who is faced with a third world war against a ruthless enemy that decided to strike at the U.S.A. without warning. (Not according to Michael; our administration seems to have known ahead of time...please.)

--J. Schein

Fahrenheit 9/11 review nailed essence of film

I saw the film last night and Jeanette Catsoulis' review is THE BEST appraisal of and the best writing about the film and it's meaning that I've read. Please tell her how much I appreciated reading and e-mailing to my friends what she wrote. It was beautiful.

--Craig Nelson,

Amelia Island, Fla.