Go: Where to Go, What to Do & Why

By James P. Reza

Perhaps Madonna's career has caught up to her, threatening to eclipse the Queen of Pop. Or perhaps it's the other way around, and Madonna has finally eclipsed her career. Depending on the perspective, both could be true, as evidenced last weekend at two capacity shows at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The original pop tart appeared almost reluctant to fulfill the "greatest hits" promise made when the Re-Invention Tour was announced. Much as her satellite Britney Spears did at the same venue in March, Madonna revisited early hits by radically reworking them. Sporting long, loose blond locks--a less made-up, yoga-fueled version of the rave-ish Ray of Light persona--Madonna commanded center stage to strum guitar for a rocked-up version of "Burnin' Up," the song that made her a sex bomb among hormone-driven disco teens in 1983. She slowed "Deeper and Deeper" (from 1992's Erotica) until it was almost unrecognizable. She offered up several other past chart-makers while she and the cast flitted in 1920s flapper gear. She let the video screens do the singing while she took a costume break. All of which is to say, she repeated some of the devices used by Britney, leaving some to wonder who, exactly, is the Madonnabe.

Clearly, however, Britney is the follower, aping--if not outright thieving--Madonna's most superficial schtick, often to lesser effect. The differences are more than just expressions of age. Madonna has always exhibited key characteristics that Britney lacks: sincerity and self-determination. Ironically, Madonna's series of reinventions stems from a constant quest for self-discovery that starts with knowing yourself. If she's tells you that Kabbalists do it better (which she did, via a emblazoned baby T), you know that that's exactly how she feels--even if tomorrow she might go back to praying to Jesus Christ. Certainly, Madonna's past overt sexuality, from submissive boy toy to dominating kinkstress, fits uncomfortably on her spiritual body, but at least we know that whatever clothes she's wearing, she picked them out.

Hip hop hooray

De La Soul, the alt.rap outfit that once musically bragged about wearing "black medallions, no gold," also pick out all its own threads, and its psychedelic-influenced daisy-age hip hop stylee from back in the day was nothing of the kind you might see the boyz from Cypress Hill sporting.

Of course, the two bands put out sounds similar only in the fact that they both rap. Where De La Soul is trippy and laid back, Cypress Hill is direct and staccato; where Cypress Hill busts out braggadocio, De La Soul samples jazz, soul and spirituality. Luckily, hip hop fans can check out both this week, as Cypress Hill hits on Thursday at the House of Blues (June 3; 632-7600) and De La Soul goes outdoors at Whiskey Beach on Friday (June 4; 617-7777).

The hip hop haps don't stop there. Two more nights are on at the House of Blues, starting with Saturday's show by Talib Kweli and MF Doom (June 5; 632-7600), and concluding Sunday with hardcore from DMX (June 6; 632-7600). You may very well run into the De La trio at Talib's show, as they share a progressive alt.rap style. Likewise, the streetwise sensibility of Cypress Hill places them hanging out to see DMX. Suddenly, Vegas is the yin and the yang of the rap scene; let's hope they spark up more spliffs than fisticuffs.

A sweatfest

We've lived here long enough to remember when it really was a dry heat, and even we never get accustomed to the "baked skull with hair garnish" feeling we get outdoors in the summer. We're not exactly sure why these outdoor concerts are not scheduled in April or October, but we're just some of those annoying, get-in-the-way-of-change old-timers. Don't mind us. If you, however, look forward to battling heat stroke at midnight, you can enjoy outdoor shows by the Beach Boys (Friday) or the B-52's (Saturday), both at the Mandalay Bay Beach (June 4-5; 632-7777). You'll be stomping around in the sand, so leave the stilettos and Bruno Maglis at home.

Variety act

An exercise in suspension of disbelief: Let's pretend you are in the tiny, unrecognized-by-pop-culture minority who doesn't dig hip hop. (Just play along.) Perhaps you are that angry, shirtless dude who thought Tool should have headlined every freakin' Lollapalooza ever. You are the dude we're looking for, because you are the dude who we'll see Thursday and Friday at the Hard Rock's Joint (June 3-4; 693-5000), rocking way too hard to A Perfect Circle and Burning Brides while sporting your Zildjian T-shirt. Josh Freese rulz!

That said, you are then probably not the folks who will be at the Orleans Arena on Saturday, bobbing your heads to the thoughtful emo-rock of Christopher Carrabba's Dashboard Confessional. Guitarist Carrabba's songwriting is simple. It's passionate. You listen to it because the hottie in the customer service department likes him. You want a date. Here's the lowdown: June 5; 365-7469.

Not so good for a date--unless you are filthy minded, foul-mouthed libertines--is comedian Robert Schimmel, appearing at the Monte Carlo two weekends running (June 4-5, 11-12; 730-7160). Schimmel, a regular on "The Howard Stern Show," once hosted the annual Adult Video News Awards (the "porn Oscars"), and some of the things he said offended even that crowd. You figure it out. And save us a seat.

Native Las Vegan James P. Reza listens to every artist he mentioned this week, so don't take it personally. E-mail him at jpreza@cox.net.