2014-12-25 Las Vegas Weekly by Greenspun Media Group

BRING ON 2015! Toasting 2014’s best everything — and helping you plan an epic New Year’s night

QUIRKY STORIES

you missed this year

REVIEWS:

Into the Woods, D’Angelo & more

CRYSTAL BA L L t for What’s nex Las Vegas?

THE SNEAKER

of the future is here!

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GROUP PUBLISHER TRAVIS KEYS (travis.keys@gmgvegas.com) ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER (mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com)

EDITORIAL EDITOR SPENCER PATTERSON (spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com) MANAGING EDITOR ERIN RYAN (erin.ryan@gmgvegas.com) ASSOCIATE EDITOR KEN MILLER (ken.miller@gmgvegas.com) FOOD EDITOR BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) NIGHTLIFE EDITOR MIKE PREVATT (mike.prevatt@gmgvegas.com) WEB EDITOR MARK ADAMS (mark.adams@gmgvegas.com) FILM EDITOR JOSH BELL STAFF WRITER KRISTEN PETERSON (kristen.peterson@gmgvegas.com)

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CALENDAR EDITOR LESLIE VENTURA (leslie.ventura@gmgvegas.com) CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DON CHAREUNSY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DAWN-MICHELLE BAUDE, JIM BEGLEY, CHRIS BITONTI, JACOB COAKLEY, MIKE D’ANGELO, SARAH FELDBERG, STEVE FRIESS, JASON HARRIS, JOHN KATSILOMETES, TOVIN LAPAN, MOLLY O’DONNELL, MAX PLENKE, DEANNA RILLING, STACY J. WILLIS, ANNIE ZALESKI LIBRARY SERVICES SPECIALIST/PERMISSIONS REBECCA CLIFFORD-CRUZ OFFICE COORDINATOR NADINE GUY

ART ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR LIZ BROWN (liz.brown@gmgvegas.com) SENIOR DESIGNER MARVIN LUCAS (marvin.lucas@gmgvegas.com) DESIGNER CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) STAFF PHOTO & VIDEO JOURNALISTS L.E. BASKOW, CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS PHOTO COORDINATOR MIKAYLA WHITMORE CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS DANNY HELLMAN, JON REINFURT

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NewYear’s Eve Bash! $85(TaxInclusive & Gratuity)

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Contents 7 mail Some guy wants a wet

58 food Where the best new

T-shirt contest at Life Is Beautiful.

food got eaten this year, plus five great bites to eat more of next year.

8 as we see it Questions for 2015; 8 feet of Blue Angel; a local teen’s sweet, sweet sneakers.

60 (more) A&E JK Russ gets

14 pop culture Obsessions of

62 screen Into the Woods! Big

the year, Prince to Frankie Knuckles.

Eyes! Unbroken! The Gambler! And more movie-review awesomeness!

Iggy azalea by erik kabik; Lee Mallory by steve marcus

18 Feature | stories you

girly, and birdy, at P3Studio.

may have missed From aircraftattacking bees to bitcoin for sex, the obscure events of 2014.

65 noise D’Angelo is back after 15 years. New sounds from Ms. Minaj.

24 Feature | guide to NYE

poetry returns to First Friday.

The clubs. The food. The concerts. Bubbly, too. Do New Year’s proud with our guide to epic partying.

68 calendar After a long nap,

49 Feature | the year in a&E Our critics reveal their picks, from big movies to epic concerts to art exhibits and plays.

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30 nights EDM voice Nadia Ali, the year’s top five DJ sets and ... beer that tastes like Aria.

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MOST-READ STORIES OF 2014 What do Zappos’ Tony Hsieh, a Fruit Loop nightclub and comedian Doug Stanhope have in common? Not much—other than the fact that they all made our most-read stories of the year list! Head to lasvegasweekly.com to see what kept our readers clicking throughout 2014.

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WINTER BREAK Happy (almost) New Year! We’ll be back in 2015 with a fresh issue on stands January 8, but don’t forget to visit lasvegasweekly. com until then for the latest in Las Vegas and beyond. From NYE concert coverage (Gaga! Bennett!) to TV reviews (Marvel’s Agent Carter!) and more, the Weekly’s website has you covered.

MUSIC FOR MADGE Local producer/DJs Shelco Garcia and Bryan “Teenwolf” Orellana gave some music they made to their pal Diplo, who in turn gave it to Madonna. The resulting song, “Unapologetic Bitch,” just became a top 10 iTunes track. Read their account of what happened at lasvegasweekly. com.

SEASON OF EATS December seems to move a bit slower, which makes it a great time for new restaurants to soft-open. But at lasvegasweekly. com, we’ve got all the info on the (hopefully) delicious new arrivals to our dining scene, including your first target: Shake Shack, bringing burgers and more to the Strip on December 29.

MOST READ STORIES lasvegasweekly.com 1. Sweet farewell: Sarah Feldberg eats through her Vegas foodie bucket list 2. Buddha Belly Deli applies Asian fusion to sandwiches and more 3. Popular all-ages music fest Extreme Thing pulls the plug on 2015

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4. Summerlin’s new Hearthstone wants to be your everything 5. Hakkasan steps into the light

Mail It isn’t necessary for someone to see the show to have an informed opinion on whether or not someone should use another being for entertainment and profit? Dirk, although you avoid countering the argument and try to attack the arguer instead, you actually help illustrate the logical consistency of those that oppose you. There is no worthwhile argument for exploitation. If you value liberty and equality, you must regard that of all beings in order to speak of liberty and equality in a meaningful way. –Colton Wong

Cat Controversy The subject of our Weekly Q&A, magician Dirk Arthur knows his big cats generate heated debate.

Dirk arthur by nick coletsos

Big cat exploiter Dirk Arthur has an appalling record and a long history of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act—including keeping big cats in metal cages with no protection from the scorching sun when temperatures reached 127 degrees. During a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection, Arthur was cited for housing big cats in cages that denied them adequate space, failing to provide cats with legally required access to an exercise area, and failing to erect adequate safety barriers to protect the animals and the public. Arthur was also recently cited for forcing two tigers and a lion to undergo painful declawing procedures in violation of a longstanding USDA policy. Magicians Kirby VanBurch and Rick Thomas retired all the big cats they once used in their shows and continue to successfully perform. The Las Vegas MGM Grand dismantled its big cat display. People who don’t want to gamble with animals’ lives will turn their backs on these kinds of cruel shows. –Jennifer O’Connor, PETA Foundation I’m sure he loves his cats, but treating them like pets isn’t in the best interest of the animals. Exotic animals, even when raised in captivity, still have all the instincts and desires of their wild counterparts. I’m not an animal activist by any means, but even I have doubts that a snow leopard, typically a very shy and secretive animal, wants to come out every night and “perform” to ear-wreckingly loud music. –MaryElizabeth3

Musical selection Our story on Life Is Beautiful seeking feedback on which bands to book prompted some of the same suggestions the festival received ... and then some.

I’ve been saying Dave Matthews Band since 2013. I received a response: “It’s not our demographic.” –Jake Wagner Wet T-shirt contests, pole-dancing competitions, and let the Chili Peppers play! Oh, beer pong tables, too. –Ted Bushnell Someone with talent. –John Shikany Queens of the Stone Age. Afghan Whigs. Faith No More. Modest Mouse. Antemasque. Failure. Explosions in the Sky. Cursive. Minus the Bear. Cloud Nothings. Frank Turner. Death From Above 1979. Portugal. The Man. Pixies. The Cure. Eagles of Death Metal. Two Gallants. Gogol Bordello. Interpol. Placebo. Le Butcherettes. Mark Lanegan. Rival Schools. We Were Promised Jetpacks. A Sunny Day Real Estate reunion? Just a short list. I left off all of the punk and metal because that would be asking too much. –Carl Askew I wish they would have a Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas stage, and let them choose their own lineup! –Rodney Fuller

A shot of Louis XIII It’s ridiculously Vegas to add expensive cognac to a frozen margarita, which is why Evening Call at Mandalay Bay is doing it.

Ummm, cool, I guess ... kinda like putting foie gras on a welldone burger, but people do that here, too, so to each his own. –Wayne Alexander

LVWeekly@GMGVegas.com Letters may be edited for length and/or clarity. All submissions become the property of Las Vegas Weekly.

AsWeSeeIt O p i n i o n + Po l i t i c s + H u m o r + S t y l e

Yo, 2015!

Questions for the crystal ball about the coming year in Las Vegas

> Looking Ahead Music festivals, Main Street and marijuana are just a few of the things on our mind as the calendar turns.

∑ When will Coachella and Bonnaroo announce their Vegas editions? We’re kidding, of course, but the sentiment stands. In the past five years our Valley has become home to Electric Daisy Carnival, Life Is Beautiful and a massively expanded Punk Rock Bowling—to say nothing of the many mini-fests held at MGM Resorts Village this past fall—and Rock in Rio’s first U.S. edition arrives here in May. At this rate, it won’t be long before we have a music festival of some sort every single weekend, and that’s not sustainable … is it?

∑ Will the Cosmopolitan’s cool continue? Cosmo’s unique, edgy sense of style has been a draw since day one, even if inching closer to profitability has meant ditching some of the cool. Now four years in, there’s a new owner (Blackstone Group) and a brand-new CEO (former MGM exec Bill McBeath), paving the way for some sort of change. Will it be a mild refreshing or wholesale renovation?

∑ Can Main Street become

∑ How will the Onyx’s uncertain future impact the theater scene? The Onyx Theatre’s latest leadership change brings the need for more venues to the forefront of the indie-theater community’s consciousness. Some representatives are making plans to band together to open and operate a new spot. Whether they can get the famously fractious denizens to work together, and then get the backing they’ll need to keep the space solvent, are two big problems they’ll need to address.

∑ What can new club Omnia possibly boast to impress nightlifers? Clubbers have seen it all in Las Vegas, so Hakkasan Group’s forthcoming

8 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

∑ Will 2015 be the year of Hendo? Summerlin made a lot of

noise in 2014. But the other suburban satellite, Henderson, is poised to pull the spotlight. From the mountainmansions of Ascaya to the burgeoning Booze District, from the $24 million upgrade of Galleria at Sunset (valet + trackless train for kids + Red Robin bottomless fries = the perfect American Sunday) to the $1.5 billion vision of Union Village’s groundbreaking health and retail complex, Henderson has some powder kegs ready to light. Will it be the neighborhood to watch?

∑ Will the push for a Downtown art museum gain momentum?

A year after plans were announced for an art museum on Charleston Boulevard in the heart of the Arts District (along with the unveiling of the architectural rendering), the Modern board was revamped and has plans to reconsider location options while changing its outreach strategy. Will new board members and big names in the community move it full steam ahead?

∑ How will we decide where to get our weed? We don’t know exactly when they’ll open, and we don’t know exactly where they’ll be, but given that Nevada has awarded 55 provisional dispensary licenses, the 6,500 Nevadans with medical marijuana prescription cards are going to get headaches just deciding where to shop. Hey, we know something that helps with headaches …

life is beautiful by fred morledge; makers & finders by steve marcus; marijuana by Beth Nakamura/ap

Downtown’s new hangout? There’s a vocal group of people who think the last thing Main Street needs is another bar, but would more variety be such a bad thing? As Velveteen Rabbit holds down the booze-fort, new Downtown destinations like Buffalo Exchange and Makers & Finders have turned the street into a hopeful hub. Will Main Street get a restaurant (or two) come 2015? An art gallery? Or, dare we ask, another bar?

Omnia Nightclub at Caesars must pull out all the stops and then some. That will include at least a few major—and versatile—DJs, jaw-dropping eye candy (it’s the screens, according to an inside source), a concert-friendly stage, gravity-defying bottle presentations and a patio that must simultaneously transport from and show off the Strip. We can’t wait to see what else is in store.

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As We See It… > HELLA HOLY Favela’s nativity lights up the local Mexican Consulate.

Bethlehem to Vegas Justin Favela’s tissue-paper nativity taps into family tradition and local culture By Kristen Peterson

Las Vegas artist Justin Favela is celebrated for his piñata-inspired works made from tissue and cardboard, often reflecting pop culture, family and his Mexican and Guatemalan heritage. So when the Mexican Consulate in Las Vegas contacted him about making a nativity for its lobby, Favela—whose works include a life-size Chevy Impala lowrider and a pixilated version of a José María Velasco Gómez painting—

tapped into family tradition. Each year, he says, his grandmother builds a mountain out of stacked cardboard boxes and fabric, placing on top a store-bought manger of biblical characters and animals (endearingly including animals not immediately present in the Middle East at the beginning of the first century). It’s an elaborate and anticipated display, one that Favela re-created for the consulate lobby. Stacked cardboard

Up on the rooftop The iconic Blue Angel reincarnates

boxes structure the towering mountain. Layered and crumpled tissue paper creates the craggy landscape. Animals inspired by his grandmother’s collection of figurines dot the mountain. And specific to the artist’s version, an angel in a blue dress familiar to Vegas’ East Side stands before the manger with her wand, bringing to the consulate the traditional story of Christmas with a unique blend of Las Vegas, Bethlehem and Mexico.

About the time the community was in an uproar over the fate of the iconic Blue Angel statue perched above the fenced-in Blue Angel Motel on Fremont Street, artist Gina Quaranto came up with an idea to ensure

that those in love with the 14-foot winged statue could have a piece of it for their Christmas trees. ¶ She studied myriad photographs to get the measurements of the Betty Willis-designed, chesty blonde, found a company overseas to fabricate ornaments (instead of the planned tree-toppers) and ordered 500 of the miniature sculptures to sell through her Blackbird Studios. ¶ Inspired by the effort, Todd VonBastiaans and Bryan McCarthy commissioned Blackbird to create an 8-foot sculptor Ali Fathollahi, was installed on their rooftop, strategically lit. And the cars began pulling over. ¶ “We live in a 1955 neighborhood,” VonBastiaans said, looking at the angel holding her scepter against the towering background of the Stratosphere. “We wanted to do a Las Vegas Christmas to share with the neighbors. I thought, wouldn’t that be great if she’d be the angel for our nativity.” ¶ Just then, Quaranto showed up at the residence in Glen Heather Estates for a look at what she’d started. “It looks better up there than I’d ever imagined,” she said. “I’m happy we get to enjoy seeing her looking down and watching out for all of us.” –Kristen Peterson

10 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIKAYLA WHITMORE

Blue Angel sculpture to go with their large-scale vintage nativity scene. On Monday, the sculpture, created mostly by lead

DEC. 26 THE BEATLES TRIBUTE SHOW DEC. 28 GLOOM BLOOM

WITH THE ASTAIRES, NO TIDES, AND THE NIGHT TIMES

DEC. 28 SPORTELLO

WITH CAMERON CALLOWAY

DEC. 31 CRAZY CHIEF

WITH RUSTY MAPLES, SAME SEX MARY, AND MERCY MUSIC

JAN. 1 THE RETROLITES

WITH BUJIE AND THE HIGH RISE

JAN. 2 SILVERSAGE

WITH THE HIDDEN LINES

JAN. 3 THE GRENADES

WITH THE PERKS AND NEWLYWED

JAN. 4 RED OBLIVION

WITH MIDNIGHT CLOVER, HOPE’S EDGE, AND HONOR AMONGST THIEVES

JAN. 6 JOSH ROYSE JAN. 7 GEEKS WHO DRINK (EARLY) JAN. 7 THE GARY WRIGHT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT JAN. 8 BATTLE BORN POETRY SLAM JAN. 9 THE CARAVELS (FINAL SHOW) WITH SAME SEX MARY AND ALASKA

JAN. 9 JOEY PERO (EARLY) JAN. 10 MOKSHA AND RNR JAN. 13 VEGAS ON THE MIC

JUST ANNOUNCED: 1/14 MINI MANSIONS, 1/17 THE KYLE GAS BAND, 1/30 KING TUFF, 1/31 TODD SNIDER, 2/13 THE GROWLERS

As We See It…

> the long view Hey! We can see our cars from up here! And the flurry of recent revamping of old real estate on the Strip.

t h e i n c i d e n ta l to u r i st

State of the Strip A lot went down and came up in 2014. What mattered most? By Brock Radke

12 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

to a bona fide brand-new casino opening—traditionally, it’s the only thing that can generate more than a few weeks or months of hype on the fast-paced Strip—each had a significant impact: • The High Roller instantly changed the Strip skyline forever, and it serves as the anchor for Linq Promenade, an energetic pedestrian thoroughfare laced with restaurants, bars and stores leading from Las Vegas Boulevard to the big wheel. The Linq generated enough heat to prompt Caesars to simply rename the renovated adjoining casino and hotel. It was the Quad, now it’s the Linq, too. • The Cromwell refreshed a property badly in need of a makeover, but most importantly, it’s headquarters for two game-changers in nightlife and dining, respectively—Drai’s Beach Club and Nightclub and Giada. Both were among the absolute hottest Strip destinations in 2014. • SLS also put a healthy dent in the nightlife and dining scenes, but its opening was most relevant for geographical purposes. Nothing has happened on the northern end of the Strip for so long, everyone forgot about it. SLS made a Sexy Little Shockwave, one that will reverberate as other mega-projects are in the works nearby. It also brought a new casino operator to the Strip in SBE, although some are questioning how influential Sam Nazarian’s brand will be on the future of the property in light of recent troubles. Nazarian

photograph by steve marcus

Years from now, when the Strip is once again freckled with new casinos, resorts and attractions helping bring Las Vegas back to vibrant, thriving glory, we might look back at 2014 as the year the momentum began to build again, when the snowball started its downhill plunge. Mandalay Bay, Venetian and Paris all opened in 1999. Think about the hugeness of that—more than 10,000 hotel rooms coming online in seven months. Six years earlier, Luxor, Treasure Island and MGM Grand opened in the last quarter of 1993. Those were big years. No one would claim 2014 will have anywhere near the impact of those periods, but there were significant events this year that will pave the way for the next wave of development on the Strip, the still-pumping heart of Las Vegas. In March, the High Roller observation wheel opened, hoisting humans 550 feet into the air for interesting new views. April ushered in the Cromwell, a boutique-style renovation of the former Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Barbary Coast. Both projects are owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. Then in August, another wholesale casino revamp debuted when the once-iconic Sahara was reborn as SLS, compliments of SBE Entertainment Group. Finally, in September, the Morgans Hotel Group’s Delano brand took hold of the golden tower formerly known as TheHotel at Mandalay Bay. Though none of these four developments equates

has stepped down as the resort’s chief executive after the Nevada Gaming Commission approved only a limited gaming license for the 39-year-old CEO. The Los Angeles Times reported that although Nazarian, who admitted to paying millions in extortion money to a convicted felon and to using cocaine earlier this year during recent commission hearings, is stepping away from his hospitality empire to deal with an addiction to alcohol, SBE’s ambitions in Vegas and beyond will continue as planned. Don’t expect any major changes at SLS, where major stakeholder Stockbridge Capital and new president Scott Kreeger will call the shots, and don’t count out Nazarian. • Delano brought a proven, hip hotel brand to Vegas, but its grade is incomplete. The hotel-withina-hotel still needs to complete its lineup with a private pool club and a revamped 64th-floor restaurant from culinary legend Alain Ducasse. I don’t gamble, but here’s my bet: The Linq goes down as the biggest thing to happen on the Strip this year. Caesars made something out of nothing by carving out an exciting, comfortable, diverse Vegas experience from what was an alley between two old casinos. It’s stocked with good food and booze and popular retail, and its massive Brooklyn Bowl has already become a go-to multipurpose fun spot for locals and savvy frequent visitors. More than anything else that happened this year, the Linq—the promenade and the casino, and the packaging of those elements together—sets the tone for what’s to come. In 2015 we’ll see similar, if scaled back, developments in front of Bally’s and Treasure Island, and after that, MGM’s arena-adjacent Park project will try to make us forget about the Linq altogether. This particular snowball will be big and fast by then, but this was the year it began.

Style

> Meet The Lopez The man and his UT.LAB sneakers.

Upward spiral Inspired by math, tattoo art and his high school teachers, Cristian Lopez designed a shoe for the future By Erin Ryan “I’m not really into shoes,” Cristian Lopez says with a chuckle. It’s funny because his name is on a collection of sneakers—mod silhouettes in paperlike Tyvek splashed with his original design. Sleek trainer to boxy hi-top, the Lopez line caters to sophisticated sneakerheads, but its namesake was a high school senior when he drew the Fibonacci spiral that makes it so fresh and meaningful. His teachers at North Las Vegas’ Canyon Springs High knew Lopez had a gift for art, and two in particular urged him to enter a design contest that partnered their organization, Teach for America, with tech-driven shoe company Unbelievable Testing Laboratory. Science and math are cornerstones of UT.LAB, so the contest’s only guideline was that designs had to reflect those disciplines. It was open to the entire K-12 age range, and a dozen finalists chosen from hundreds of national and international submissions were put to a vote on social media in May. “My love for design and art would be a mixture of tattoo art and street art. … I like old, traditional tattoos,

Sailor Jerry, Ed Hardy, stuff like that,” says Lopez, who spent a week weaving such aesthetics into a seashell spiral referencing Fibonacci’s number sequence. He figured it was too simple to win. But a week before graduation, it did. “I checked my email late at night, and then I couldn’t sleep ’cause I was so happy.” Lopez was part of the creative process of the line’s bold colors and looks made of materials that are “impossibly light.” The only way to buy them is through a $15,000 Indiegogo campaign running until January 13, with backers scoring the trainer ($45+), lotop ($50+) or hi-top ($55+) in limited runs of 200 per style. After production and shipping, all proceeds will benefit Teach for America, as UT.LAB believes in the power of teachers to

“make science cool” and spark the potential of students like Lopez. “[H]ow awesome would it be to say, ‘Not only do we believe in you, but everyone that’s backing us on Indiegogo believes in you ... and all this money that we raised is going back to Teach for America so there can be more success stories like you,’” says UT.LAB Brand Director Jay Legaspi, who has been mentoring Lopez. He takes the role to heart, partly because his company is rooted in the supportive incubator that is the Las Vegas startup community. “We first started our business talking with people like Work in Progress and working with the Downtown Project, talking with people from the VegasTechFund,” says Legaspi, who hopes UT.LAB can provide Lopez a similar sounding board

and professional springboard. “My personal goal is to really let Criss see that he has every right to dream big.” The 18-year-old just finished his first semester at College of Southern Nevada, where he’s studying art and graphic design. And he’s working on a mural concept for Zappos, an opportunity that grew from his work with UT.LAB. He doesn’t see himself pursuing fashion, but he might rock a pair of his eponymous black hi-tops. “I’m not a sneakerhead or anything. I don’t have my pair of Jordans,” he says with that same chuckle. “But yeah, I think it’s pretty cool that I have my own shoe. … I think people are excited to see something different.” Connect to the Indiegogo campaign at lasvegasweekly.com.

December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

POP culture C U LT U R A L Attac h m e n t

Ice buckets and Ultraviolence

The people, objects and moments that helped define one columnist’s 2014 By Smith Galtney Too Many Cooks It’s rare that I click on videos in my Facebook feed, much less ones that are 11 minutes long. But after watching this bloody, brain-twisting parody of sitcom opening-credit sequences, my only thought was, “This is art.”

elevator altercation with Jay Z, her brotherin-law, felt the ickiest. After watching the surveillance footage (many times, admittedly), I tried to cleanse and atone by returning to this 2012 track, the only Solange video that matters.

Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence The haters take this woman way too seriously. I hear a camped-up fantasy, sung by the aging bad girl next door who stole your mom’s painkillers and seduced your grandpa. Alter egos can backfire, however, so pray she ages more gracefully than Eminem.

Prince After he settled his longtime beef with Warner Bros., there was suddenly a deluge: footage of an entire set from the Controversy tour landing online, a streamable music archive (I’m not telling where) that somehow didn’t get the ax, plus a book about the making of Purple Rain, which turned 30 this year. He also released two new albums, which I was admittedly too preoccupied to listen to.

Fosse, by Sam Wasson This came out last November, but I saved it for summer. Because nothing makes for better beach reading than a 723-page biography about a Broadway choreographer with a lethal appetite for chorus girls, Dexedrine and applause. Finding Vivian Maier I had more fun at other movies (Gone Girl, The Grand Budapest Hotel), but this documentary about a mysterious, deceased nanny who just so happened to be a brilliant photographer was inspiring. Frankie Knuckles The godfather of house music, Knuckles passed away suddenly on March 31, sending senior club kids like myself on a memorial listening binge, dancing with tears in our eyes. Rolling Stone’s Kiss cover story As a band, Kiss has massively sucked for about 30 years now. (Last song I loved: 1985’s “Tears Are Falling.”) But Paul and Gene are still the best interviewees in rock. I actually felt sad when I finished this. So I read it again. Solange’s “Losing You” In a year full of private moments made public, Solange’s

Robin Williams The Five Stages of Social Media Grief: 1. Declaration (“RIP O Captain! My Captain!”); 2. Righteousness (“Depression is a very serious issue that affects us all”); 3. Anger (“Five firefighters also died this week, if anyone cares!”); 4. Gloom (“Williams’ daughter attacked on Twitter. What the hell is wrong with people!?”); 5. Acceptance (“This French bulldog can DJ. LOL!”) Future Islands, “Seasons (Waiting on You)” I spent all of April alternating between listening to this single and watching the band perform it on Letterman. Hearing it now already makes me nostalgic for 2014. Honorable Mentions: LCD Soundsystem, The Long Goodbye (five-LP collection of their final show that I paid a lot of money for); The Kate Bush Story: Running Up That Hill (if this BBC documentary finally made me a believer, it also made me sad that I couldn’t fly overseas to see her live); Jon Stewart’s takedown of Fox News and its coverage of Obama’s latte salute; Donatella Versace’s Ice Bucket Challenge (it was all about her scream).

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THE LOST TALES OF 2014 Stories you may have missed, from a fortunetelling scam to an escort service accepting bitcoin By Ken Miller

18 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 25, 2014â&#x20AC;&#x201C;JANUARY 7, 2015

He’s not dead!

January 6: Zappos employee Rob Ponte arrives home Monday evening to find his Downtown apartment covered in coroner’s tape—and that he’s been assumed dead most of the day. Police thought Ponte was the dead body they’d found near Towne Terrace apartments that morning. According to Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy, the mix-up came after the apartment manager thought the dead body looked like Ponte, even showing officers a copy of his driver’s license. It could have been cleared up quickly, but no one could reach anyone: Officers tried to call Ponte’s cell phone, but he was in a meeting and missed the call (and his voicemail wasn’t working anyway); and Ponte got a Zappos email asking him to contact detectives, but the call he made went straight to voicemail. Can we suggest something to both the public and the police if this ever happens again? Text! (“Rob. This is Metro. You alive?”) illustration by danny hellman

Can’t we all just get along?

∑ March 5: The Nevada Supreme Court issues an order that Nevada attorneys have to

swear to be “civil” to each other and to judges. That means the attorney’s oath, administered when new attorneys are admitted to the bar, now contains this passage: “I will conduct myself in a civil and professional manner, whether dealing with clients, opposing parties and counsel, judicial officers or the general public, and will promote the administration of justice.” The Board of Governors of the State Bar of Nevada requested the amended oath. The sad part is, now they’re sworn to be too civil to tell us the ugly backstory. December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

Undercover congressman

Notable Deaths

February 21: U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford spends the day working “undercover” for UPS, delivering packages to surprised employees of Centennial Hills Medical Plaza and Centennial Hills Hospital. In addition to helping him connect with his constituents and get a different perspective on working in Las Vegas, Horsford dons the brown UPS uniform as part of his argument for raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10— UPS pays its drivers an average $32.50 an hour. Even entry-level workers make $11 to $12 an hour.

December 28: Zack Hale Jr., the voice of the iconic Vegas Vic, at age 87. Vegas Vic (“Howdy, podner!”) is the neon cowboy that debuted on the front of the Pioneer Club in 1951.

March 12: Jackie Gaughan, the casino mogul best known for the El Cortez, at age 93. March 19: Montecore, the tiger that injured Roy Horn during an October 2003 Siegfried & Roy show, at age 17.

Ammo and animals

∑ May 9: Ryan Drewrey, a developer with DigiSky Games, releases the app Bundy Ranch Shootout in response to the controversy over the battle between the federal government and Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy. The game, which Drewrey calls “a little sick and twisted,” has you shooting at “evil agents from the Federal Bureau of Cows” who are “trying to steal your cattle!” The app currently has 1,000 downloads and an average player rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

20 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 25, 2014–JANUARY 7, 2015

Calgary or bust

∑ January 15: Canadian and U.S.

authorities break up a multi-milliondollar drug ring—all because of a single traffic stop just north of Las Vegas two years ago. Austin Hill, 32, was stopped for speeding on I-15 in 2012, and as the officer was about to let him go with a warning, he asked if Hill had any drugs in his pickup truck. When Hill replied, “No and f*ck no!” a K-9 unit was called in, and Hill was busted for having 63 vacuum-sealed bundles of cocaine, along with $12,500 in cash. DEA agents eventually discovered Hill’s cocaine shipment was headed to Calgary, leading to the 2014 arrests of Christopher Scher, 33, Michael Janecek, 37, and Steven Doporto, 31, on drug-trafficking charges.

Helping water take a selfie

∑ March 21: Nevada’s Desert

Research Institute partners with Google (along with the universities of Idaho and Nebraska) to map real-time drought across the United States, as well as water consumption worldwide—part of the Obama Administration’s Climate Data Initiative. Intended as a guide for future planning, the initiative also addresses heat, flooding, climate, food and more. DRI president Stephen G. Wells says the partnership with Google “is exactly the kind of public-private-sector partnership that will foster innovation in the higher-education research community and allow us, as scientists, to create data-driven solutions for businesses, communities, resource managers and policy makers.”

Talk about cyber sex

Bee serious ...

∑ May 15: Bunniesoflasvegas. com announces it is the first Las Vegas escort service to accept bitcoin—Although the company stresses that it doesn’t accept Google Wallet (or, for some reason, credit cards).

April 14: We’ve heard of birds causing problems with airplanes, but … bees? A Las Vegas flight, bound for Duluth, Minnesota, is forced to return to McCarran International Airport after being swarmed. Initially, the pilot thinks a bird got caught in the engine, but an inspection of the plane reveals that bees covering the plane’s windshield were sucked into the engine shortly after takeoff. The plane’s passengers are transferred to another aircraft, causing an hour-and-a-half delay, but no injuries—unless you count the bees. December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

On the jobs

September 3: Bramby Tollen, a Clark County School District employee, is discovered to be claiming medical leave while working another job in another state. According to an investigation by the Las Vegas ReviewJournal, Tollen went on medical leave from CCSD on May 15 and took another job as a purchasing manager with Snohomish County in Washington on June 13. But she didn’t resign from CCSD until August 29, which means she continued to draw her $106,560 CCSD salary while making a salary of $98,000 in Washington for almost two months—a cost of $23,000 to Clark County taxpayers. According to CCSD officials, the district has recouped all the money owed.

CELEBRITIES ARE JUST LIKE US! They go shopping at Bonanza Gift Shop! On March 25, Angelina Jolie and her children made some purchases there, including the “Swearing Finger,” a fake rubber hand that flips the bird and curses. (It wasn’t Jolie’s first time there. In 2011, she went shopping for a birthday gift for husband Brad Pitt—a parrot that curses. What is it with Angelina and profanity?) They set off a lot of fireworks! On July 5, Flavor Flav was slapped with two citations for his annual Fourth of July fireworks show. Apparently the rapper has been setting off thousands of dollars worth of fireworks since 2009. They perform for royalty! Okay, maybe that last one doesn’t apply to you, but it does to Penn & Teller, who performed for Prince Charles on June 23 as part of a celebration of the prince’s 40th year as a member of Britain’s Magic Circle, an organization founded in 1905 to promote the art of magic. Penn & Teller performed Cups and Balls—the same trick Prince Charles performed to gain membership. 22 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Misfortune

∑ September 19: Sparks police report that a woman is going door to door, purporting to be a fortune teller. According to one victim, the “fortune teller” offered to read her palm, persuaded her to pay several hundred dollars and promised to “triple the money.” Then she never returned. Sparks detectives say the case is ongoing. Note to self: Don’t give hundreds of dollars to randoms who knock on your door, even if they legitimately tell your fortune.

∑ Zedd at XS Fresh off having a Moment of Clarity with a new documentary,

EDM’s Piano Man headlines XS’ countdown to 2015. Zedd continues his reign as one of dance music’s biggest stars, his sweet-tooth songs that will “Find You” wanting to “Stay the Night” on the dancefloor. Doors at 10 p.m., $300+ men, $125+ women (outdoor access only: $50+ men, $30+ women).

∑ Drake at Marquee The Cosmopolitan’s danceteria bucks its NYE tradition

of headlining beatmeisters (DJs Chuckie, Benny Benassi, Kaskade and Erick Morillo have spun at previous year-end parties) by booking the hip-hop titan to both host and perform this New Year’s Eve. Thirsty? Get your buzz on at the premium open bar (9 to 11 p.m.) and soak it all up with passed hors d’oeuvres (9 p.m. to midnight). In the booth: DJ Politik. Doors at 9 p.m., $275+ men, $175+ women.

∑ Miguel at Hyde R&B breakout Miguel might be your best musical bet when it comes to the NYE nightclub bashes featuring a headlining live set. Who doesn’t like his signature track “Adorn”—or can forget his flying crotch during a Billboard Music Awards performance of that song last year at MGM Grand? Yes, we will always bring that up. Doors at 9 p.m., $175+.

CLOCK

WISE From Iggy to Zedd, we’ve got you covered for New Year’s Eve

FO O D

Eat in style

Some standout dinner options for the big night ∑ Celebrate all that was 2014 at one of the year’s best new restaurants, DB Brasserie, with a three-course prix fixe including lovely French options like saffron mussel soup, White Alba truffle tagliatelle and a white chocolate cremeux with Champagne gelée. $90, Venetian, 702-430-1235. ∑ Giada’s thrilling Strip views make

it the perfect NYE destination. Special tasting menus get more elaborate and expensive as midnight gets closer, showcasing dishes like osso buco tortellini with black truffles and potato vermicelli-wrapped turbot. $145-$275, Cromwell, 866-442-3271.

∑ Want to get higher? The Foundation Room offers two seatings and a fivecourse menu highlighted by ribeyeand-lobster surf and turf, and maybe lots of fireworks for dessert. $175-$300, Mandalay Bay, 702-632-4803.

∑ For less fancy and more con-

venience off the Strip, Culinary Dropout’s three-course NYE menu features lobster ravioli, a grilled ribeye cap with white truffle chestnut sauce and a sweet potato sticky bun, with a glass of bubbles, of course. $50, Hard Rock Hotel, 702-522-8100.

∑ Neighborhood fave Honey Salt is

throwing an ’80s prom-themed party built around a three-course prix fixe with optional wine pairing ($49) or bottomless Champagne ($39) and food from an iced seafood platter to truffle Parmesan risotto to a frozen chocolate parfait. $99, 1031 S. Rampart Blvd., 702445-6100. –Brock Radke

24 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 25, 2014–JANUARY 7, 2015

∑ Alesso at Light This was the year everyone (including CNN) learned that we could be “Heroes,” latching onto the Swedish DJ/producer’s hit for various inspirational promos. To start 2015 on a positive note, experience Alesso’s soaring anthems and Cirque du Soleil performers wriggling their way into the new year. Doors at 9 p.m., limited admission availability at the door. ∑ Iggy Azalea at Drai’s

Nightclub First thing’s first: She’s the realest! The Grammy-nominated rap artist caps her hit-heavy 2014 with a performance at the Cromwell club. A hosted bar and passed hors d’oeuvres from 9 to 11 p.m. complete the “Fancy” fête, though it’s the view you’re buying with this NYE ticket. At center-Strip, the rooftop patio’s perspective is one of the best in town for the

> TIME WARP Get your John Hughes vibe on at Honey Salt’s ’80s-themed New Year’s Eve party.

> fancy that It’s been a good year for Iggy Azalea, and she caps it off in style at Drai’s.

midnight fireworks extravaganza. Champagne spillin’, you should taste that! Doors at 9 p.m., $200+ men, $100+ women.

MUSIC

Go live

Close out 2014 with one last concert

∑ Robin Thicke at Foxtail One

man who’ll surely be happy to leave 2014 behind is controversyplagued Robin Thicke. You’re likely to see him shaking his booty in celebration at Foxtail, where he’ll grace partygoers with an actual live performance instead of the cop-out “DJ Set” (a term we use loosely). Doors at 9 p.m., $100+ men, $50+ women.

∑ The Roots at Brooklyn Bowl The Tonight Show’s renowned hip-hop crew kicks off its second go-round at the Linq music hub, with what figures to be a blowout performance packed with crazy covers, beloved originals and guest drop-in potential. 9 p.m., $83. Also: January 2 & 3, 9 p.m., $44.

∑ Neon New Year’s III:

Underground Circus If warehouse parties, underground grooves and a casual vibe encompass the Strip nightlife alternative you’re craving, Epyk Entertainment has you covered. It promises an “unforgettable ultra-violet reality” with acrobats, animals (or people dressed like them, probably) and DJs such as Incaman, Bad Beat, Jeremy Espinosa, Dana Dau and, closing the year with his only DJ set of 2014, Svast. The secret venue (which we’ve seen, and it’s awesome) will be announced December 30 at gomobileevents. com/neonnewyears. Doors at 9 p.m., $60.

∑ Maroon 5 at Mandalay Bay

Events Center Whether you’re an M5 diehard dating back to the Songs About Jane days or a fan of The Voice curious to see whether Adam Levine can sing better than the contestants he’s passed over, this show should have you covered. With Rozzi Crane. 7 p.m., $100-$225. Also: December 30, same time, price & opener.

∑ Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

at the Chelsea Music’s oddest couple perform songs from September’s American songbook duets albums, Cheek to Cheek. Personally, we’re also hoping Tony takes a shot at “Poker Face.” The Cosmopolitan, 9 p.m., $125$250; Also: December 30, 7 p.m., $125-$250.

∑ Fire & Ice at Lax If you’re like

us, you’ve had Bebe Rexha’s “I Can’t Stop Drinking About You” stuck in your head for months. You might as well see the songstress perform her hit—and probably “Take Me Home,” from her collaboration with Cash Cash—as well. DJ Wellman provides the additional tunes. Add to that a sweet open-bar special until midnight for $50, and your countdown is ready to go! Doors at 10 p.m., $75+ men, $35+ women.

∑ Evolution at Havana Room

Part of the inaugural LGBToriented NYE weekender Evolve,

this entertainment-packed main event features drag eleganza courtesy of RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Jujubee and Raven, aerialists, dancers, a view of the Strip fireworks on the patio and a soundtrack supplied by LA DJ Casey Alva. Zumanity’s Edie emcees and counts down to midnight. And did we mention the hosted bar until 12:30 a.m.? Doors at 10:30 p.m. (9 p.m. VIP), $95 ($125 VIP).

∑ New Year’s Eve at Banger

Brewing If you were hoping to avoid the club queues, cover charges and dreaded dress codes of the Strip, consider keeping it casual at the Fremont Street brewery this NYE. Banger offers an insanely lucrative, $30 all-you-can-drink deal for the occasion, so spend the last hours of 2014 sipping some sensational suds. Doors at noon. –Deanna Rilling, Mark Adams and Mike Prevatt

ALSO: Calvin Harris at Hakkasan (doors at 8 p.m., $325+ men, $175+ women); Steve Angello at Life (doors at 9 p.m., $150+ men, $75+ women); Snoop Dogg DJ set and live performance at Tao (doors at 9 p.m., $175+ men, $100+women; includes free admission to Marquee Dayclub Dome Pool Party on January 1); Lil Jon DJ set at Surrender (doors at 9 p.m., $80+ men, $55+ women); Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performance with DJ Shift at 1 Oak (doors at 9 p.m., $150+ men, $75+ women); Jermaine Dupri DJ set with host Bruno Mars at Tryst (doors at 10 p.m., $200+ men, $100+ women); Trey Songz performance with DJ E-Rock at the Bank (doors at 9 p.m.; $150+ men, $75 women); DJ Pauly D at Vanity (doors at 9 p.m., $75+ men, $50+ women); DJ Khaled at Lavo (doors at 9 p.m., $100+men, $50+ women, includes free admission to Tao after midnight); Alyssa Edwards and Shangela Laquifa Wadley performance with DJs Mashup King, Nick Ayler, Brynn Taylor at Liaison (doors at 9 p.m., $50+); Perry Twins and DJ Diesel at Share (doors at 9 p.m., $30+); DJs Exodus and Presto One at Ghostbar (doors at 8 p.m., limited admission availability at door); DJs Poun and Bayati at Chateau (doors at 9 p.m., $99+); DJ Clinton Sparks at Mix (doors at 9 p.m., $145+); DJ Mark Lewis at Backstage Bar & Billiards (doors at 2 a.m., $10); Jai Rodriguez hosts at Piranha (doors at 9 p.m., $60+, $30+ locals, includes admission for December 27-30); Austin Law live performance at Gilley’s (doors at 9 p.m., $115+); Drai’s Afterhours (doors at 10 p.m., $100 men, $50 women); Deity at Foundation Room (doors at 9 p.m., $125+).

∑ Crazy Chief, Rusty Maples, Same Sex Mary & Mercy Music at Bunkhouse Saloon Four of the Vegas scene’s performing warhorses team up to take partiers on a trip from punk to indie-pop. This one’s absolutely free, so buying those rounds for your buddies won’t break the bank anywhere near as badly. 9 p.m. ALSO: The Boss Martians at Double Down Saloon (with Thee Swank Bastards, 10 p.m., free); The Casualties at Dive Bar (with Rule of Thumb, IDFI, Brutal Resistance, Lambs to Lions, The Core, 8 p.m., $25-$30); Graceland Ninjaz at House of Blues (with The Roxy Gunn Project, 7 p.m., $15); Nekromantix at LVCS (with Delta Bombers, The Returners, Deadbeat Vultures, Dead at Midnight, Hard Fall Hearts, 8 p.m., $22-$27); Sevendust at Vinyl (with Silversage, 9 p.m., $67-$125); TributePalooza at Fremont Street Experience (6 p.m., $30-$40). –Spencer Patterson

December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

On the cheap

Cocktails, meet Champagne

∑ Afterhours at Artisan

There’s something about Champagne that just feels right on New Year’s Eve. The gold-foil bottles. The satisfying pop of the cork. The gush of bubbles spilling into a flute (or plastic cup). This year, take your Champagne game to the next level by mixing it into some balanced, boozy cocktails.

∑ Charlie Darker and

Cromwell Fizz Bound at Cromwell, 702-777-3777 ∑ This Salvatore Calabrese original is tasty even without the sparkling topper, but add a float of Champagne and it goes from restrained classic to celebratory sipper.

Celebrate NYE with these wallet-friendly parties ∑ Scarlet at Artifice

Don your tallest creepers and welcome 2015 as DJs Style and Morpheus Blak provide the soundtrack to your industrial-, postpunk- and goth-fueled eve. 9 p.m, free. Party till 8 a.m., and indulge in free bubbly while local DJs keep the beats going well into the New Year. 10 p.m., $30, $20 for locals.

Silent John at Insert Coin(s) If 2014 brought you more work and less play, let your inner gamer nerd run wild at the Downtown barcade. Vegas DJs Charlie Darker and Silent John provide the beats to all of your Halo-filled NYE fantasies. Doors at 8 p.m., $5.

∑ Black & Platinum

Party at Charlie’s Las Vegas Cowboy hat? Check. Boots? Check. Throw on your best (black and white) country duds, pony up $20 and you’ve got access to a premium open bar. Got two left feet? There’s still time to learn how to line dance. 8 p.m., free.

∑ Totescity at Velveteen

Rabbit Feeling indecisive? DJ duo Totescity brings the best indie, nu-disco and funky-soul mashups to the Downtown watering hole, leaving you with only one more decision to make: Which little black dress will you wear? 7 p.m., free.

∑ Karate Karaoke at

Beauty Bar Warm up those vocal chops as you enter 2015 with other Downtown denizens during this special NYE edition of the weekly Fremont East sing-along. 9 p.m., free. –Leslie Ventura

26 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

1 oz. Macallan Fine Oak 10-year-old Whiskey 2/3 oz. lemon juice 1 oz. honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water) 1/4 oz. egg whites orange bitters Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut

k Combine the first four ingredients and a few dashes of bitters in a mixer with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a Champagne coupe glass and top with Champagne and a few dashes of bitters. Midnight Rose Laguna Champagne Bar at Palazzo, 702-607–7777 ∑ Parked in the middle of the Palazzo’s casino floor, Laguna does Champagne—by the glass, bottle or cocktail. This simple drink packs plenty of bubbles and a barely sweet cherry kick. 1 oz. Grey Goose Cherry Noir 1/2 oz. St-Germain 1/2 oz. lemon juice Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut Luxardo maraschino cherry (for garnish)

k Combine first three ingredients in a mixer with ice and roll to mix. Strain into a flute, top with Champagne and garnish with cherry. Fizz Fraise Fizz at Caesars Palace, 702-776-3200 ∑ This lounge from Sir Elton John and David Furnish is all about the bubbles, and this cocktail is all about a classic combo: strawberries and Champagne. 1 oz. Ford’s Gin 1/2 oz. Fragoli Wild Strawberry Liqueur 1/2 oz. strawberry purée 1/2 oz. rock candy syrup 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice 1/4 oz. egg whites Domaine Chandon Brut strawberry (for garnish)

k Combine first six ingredients in a mixer with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass, top with brut and garnish with strawberry. –Sarah Feldberg

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31

sold out!

on the strip

partynextdoor

OPEN BAR 9PM-12AM 9pm • Ages 21+

8pm • Ages 18+

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13

mod sun

the look up tour 5pm • All Ages

rock star nye 2015

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22

natural vibrations/ junior reid with karlos paez (of b-side players) 7pm • Ages 21+

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9

the new mastersounds w/ moksha

7pm • Ages 21+

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

FRIDAY, MARCH 13

TUESDAY, MARCH 24

with authority zero

with senses fail, man overboard, seaway

with born of osiris, the word alive, secrets

reel big fish & less than jake 5:30pm • All Ages

bayside

7pm • Ages 18+

the devil wears prada 5pm • All Ages

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT TICKETWEB.COM OR +1-866-468-3399. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE HARD ROCK LIVE BOX OFFICE AT +1-702-733-7625 ARTISTS, SHOWTIMES & PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SHOWS MARKED ALL AGES - UNDER 16 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A GUARDIAN 18+ VALID PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRY.

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NIGHTS

> HOW TO CHOOSE? DJ Loco Dice and Kiesza are the tip of a massive nightlife iceberg this week and beyond.

SHARAM AT LIFE Nightclubbing on Christmas? Why not? Life adds to the day’s festive spirit by opening its doors on a Thursday and employing DJ Sharam, the more musically buoyant half of veteran house duo Deep Dish (which helped open Life back in August). With singer-songwriter Sami Beigi. December 25, doors at 10:30 p.m., $30+ men, $20+ women. FIRST ANNIVERSARY PARTY AT BANGER BREWING The Fremont

Street brewery celebrates a year of pulling taps Downtown Saturday evening by—what else?—dispensing solid suds. Banger will tap its Belgian quad to mark the occasion, and three firkins of brews will complement the special tap lineup. The hoppy happening is complete with an open bar, small bites and a live DJ. Cheers! December 27, 6-8 p.m., $30-$50. BRO SAFARI AT BROOKLYN BOWL

Don’t ask Atlanta-cum-Austin producer/DJ Nick Weiller how he drummed up his moniker, broseph. He’s the sort of artist who comes up with something he likes and swiftly incorporates it, sans pretense or strategy—especially his musical aesthetic, which is informed by moombahton (a dancehall-flavored version of bass music), drum ’n’ bass, dubstep and trap. The sounds you hear in his productions are wholly of-themoment, and we predict the same philosophy will apply to his Brooklyn Bowl set. With Snails and Kayzo. December 28, doors at 7 p.m., $40.

HOT SPOTS Kardashians? The famous-for-beingLOCO DICE AT LIFE It’s a shame famous brunette beauty has been “takclubbers can’t watch German proing” the Hamptons with sis Kourtney ducer/DJ Loco Dice more closely at and brother-in-law Scott this year, work. His handiwork and mastery of but ditches the New York shoreline hardware—and it’s a lot of hardware, for a Sin City hosting gig this allowing maximum manipulation and improvisation durNYE weekend. Bible! In the booth: DJ Turbulence. ing his set—justifies his acclaim. That said, his December 30, doors at sets are ultimately 10:30 p.m., $50+ men, best experienced $30+ women. not as technical demonstrations but NEW YEAR’S DAY Turn to Page 24 for our musical journeys in POOL PARTY AT roundup of New Year’s which to lose oneself. MARQUEE DAYCLUB Eve party picks. A can’t-miss for techDOME Why not start no fiends and househ2015 by the pool? DJ eads. December 28, doors Carnage and “Take Me at 10:30 p.m., $25+. Home” trio Cash Cash supply the sound for a splash bash at the Cosmo club’s (lightly heated) KIESZA AT FOXTAIL The rising dome on New Year’s Day. And as Canadian dance-music artist released if the musical food wasn’t enough, her debut studio album Sound of a partiers can get their grub on with a Woman in late October—and you’ve free brunch spread and complimenno doubt heard the grooving pulse tary Champagne from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and haunting lyrics of lead single Football fan? A 40-foot LED screen “Hideaway.” Experience it live during will broadcast that day’s games. the SLS club’s Membership Mondays Score! January 1, doors at 1 p.m., $20+ promo, when Kiesza performs for men, $10+ women, locals free. Foxtail’s final industry night of the year. December 29, doors at 10:30 p.m., $30 men, $20 women. UNDER THE MOON AT BEAUTY BAR In early December, the pioneering Fremont East venue replaced the KHLOE KARDASHIAN AT 1 OAK departing First Friday-related event Hey, doll! Still Keeping Up With the

30 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 25, 2014–JANUARY 7, 2015

NYE

the Get Back with Under the Moon, billed as a “lunar dance party” for enthusiasts of indie and bass dance music. It’s sticking around for a second edition, with Byra Tanks, Zack the Ripper, Blanco, Vicious VIV and Willy Uno on musical detail. January 2, doors at 10 p.m., free. JOHN LEGEND AT FOXTAIL Legend just might add to the nine golden gramophones already on his mantel this February, as he picked up two Grammy nominations this month— both for “All of Me,” including the remix by Tiësto (who, by the way, headlines three Hakkasan gigs between January 1 and 6). The soulful R&B artist celebrates his big 3-6 with a birthday performance at the SLS club—with his gorgeous, supermodel wife Chrissy Teigen on his arm, no less. January 3, doors at 10:30 p.m., $60+ men, $30+ women. PUSSYRAMA

ARTIFICE

Pussyrama sounds like a Little Darlings party. But then you discover it’s part-shindig, part-variety show. Burlesque dancer Ivana Blaize and her shimmying peers join forces with DJ Rex Dart, guest comedians and a house band including members of Thee Swank Bastards and Franks & Deans (called, naturally, the Pussyrammers) for a night of throwback grooves and bawdy vaudeville. Or what our Las Vegan elders used to call “nightlife.” January 4, 8 p.m., $10.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY

Nights

Five sets for 2014

> call her name Marquee’s Christmas crowd is in for Nadia Ali’s dulcet tones (and awesome lipstick).

A ranking of the year’s most memorable DJ performances Coyu (October 3, After at Artistic Armory) After transcended its viral DJ Rules with its old-school-meets-new-school party inside a Southwestern warehouse. Spanish house/ techno producer Coyu made his local debut and performed an outstanding set until dusk, and it’s hard to say who was more enthusiastic, the dancefloor or the DJ, who praised Vegas’ “small but amazing underground scene” on his social media feeds. John Digweed (June 22, Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway) Upon hearing the progressive/techno pioneer’s gorgeous, cinematic set openers from atop the central Ferris wheel, I rushed over after de-boarding and danced until he waved goodbye. Kaskade (June 21, EDC) The Californian’s sort-of-surprise second EDC appearance—a throwback to his early West Coast house days from atop an art car—possessed the sort of sublime, soulful sounds and spontaneity otherwise in short supply at the festival.

The queen of Christmas

Singer-songwriter Nadia Ali returns for another holiday club appearance By Deanna Rilling The sweet, soulful sounds of dance-music songstress Nadia Ali—famous for her work with iiO (“Rapture”) and later as a solo artist (“Love Story,” “Fantasy” and “Pressure”)—will once again grace Las Vegas for the holidays. Fresh from seeing her idol Stevie Nicks for the first time, Ali caught up with us before she performs at Marquee on December 25. Dance-music vocalists used to stay in the shadows, then singers such as yourself and Jes found the spotlight. What’s the state of the relationship between vocalists and producers in dance music these days? In general, there’s

are trying to express themselves. I think we still have a long ways to go, but we’ve come a long way as well. How is work on your next album coming? Will it still be called Phoenix? Yeah, it’s supposed to be Phoenix, but

when you’re busy touring all the time, it’s very hard to stay consistent about being in the studio. Last year I got married and I moved to LA and really got that whole thing out of the way and then just focused on my album. But it’s years Nadia Ali overdue. I’m extremely happy with the way with Borgeous that the songs have come out, it’s just findand Ashley ing the right sound for the production to Wallbridge. make it make sense for what I’ve done in December 25, the past, and also keeping it interesting and doors at 10 p.m., trying to do something that hasn’t been $45+. Marquee, done—which is always a challenge. 702-333-9000.

probably more of an appreciation for people behind the scenes—which is kind of ironic, because in pop music the singer is the main person in the equation and the producers are kind of in the background. It’s definitely made [dance music] better, but I think we’re still a long way away from really getting into appreciating how much work goes into creating a song. … It takes both things: a DJ producer who really believes in a song to expose it to all those people, but a lot of these songs are very emotional and are written by artists that

Cirez D (September 14, Life) Eric Prydz’s less-anthemic alter ego emerged for the first time in Las Vegas, delighting a half-full nightclub with ambient, tech and even Latin house. It was so good, I returned four weeks later for his October 5 gig. Bad Beat (September 27, Zero Point at Delphi Amphitheater) The prolific local DJ likely had a better performance in 2014, but I won’t soon forget hearing his versatile set steadily climb and then peak under a clear midnight sky in a remote part of the desert. A perfect soundtrack to a perfect setting. –Mike Prevatt

It seems like you’re always in Las Vegas during the holidays. It’s a great annual gig that I’ve been doing

forever. I feel like I’m always performing in Vegas around Christmastime. I have the show in Los Angeles as well, two days later at Avalon. So hopefully my fans can see me at both!

Deeper shade of pale

While we’re seeing more and more local brews popping up on Boulevard bar taps, Aria just took its beer program to a whole new level. The resort just Sin City Brewing’s exclusive ale for Aria is started tapping Sin City Brewing’s Extra Pale Ale, a local beer brewed exclusively for the CityCenter property. This follows Baltimore-based Stillwater Artisanal complex but mellow Ales’ own edition for Aria earlier this year. ¶ SCB Master Brewer Rich Johnson aimed to craft a brew that appeals to both beer beginners and seasoned snobs with the Extra Pale Ale—something hoppy, yet still easy and enjoyable to drink. And after a quick tasting at Aria’s Sports Bar last week, I’d say he definitely achieved his goal. The beer’s full-bodied hoppiness, mellow malt and subtle sweetness execute a flavorful punch, while not overwhelming with the earthy bitterness common with pales and extra pales. And with a smooth finish—honestly, I was hoping for more bite—and 5.5 percent ABV, it’s definitely sessionable, perfect for a day spent inside watching pigskin or soaking up sun at the pool. I’ll take another, please. –Mark Adams

32 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

nadia ali by Reka Nyari; kaskade at edc 2014 by christopher devargas

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2014 CRITICSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

PICKS The standout films, albums, performances and more

> mature work Richard Linklater’s 12-year project, Boyhood, made both of our film critics’ lists.

FILMS JOSH BELL Blue Ruin Writer-director Jeremy Saulnier takes familiar elements of the revenge story and twists them in clever but completely organic ways, and the lead performance from Macon Blair is haunting and melancholy, bringing out the sadness and regret in the relentless pursuit of vengeance. Available on home video. We Are the Best! This exuberant, heartfelt and funny story of three 13-year-old girls starting their own punk band in 1982 Sweden beautifully captures the anything-is-possible enthusiasm of adolescence, and it’s also a touching, honest portrayal of female friendship, with great performances from the lead actresses. Available on home video.

The year in A&E

Boyhood Richard Linklater’s 12-year experiment is brilliant in its unassumingness, chronicling the growth of young Mason (Ellar Coltrane) from 6 to 18 with the kind of casual upheaval that marks life itself; also like life, its beauty and emotional power sneak up on you at the most unexpected moments. Available on home video January 6.

Nightcrawler Jake Gyllenhaal is mesmerizing as the charismatic sociopath Lou Bloom, whose cheery amorality sets him on the path to success as a freelance videographer providing gruesome footage to the local LA news, at whatever cost. Now in theaters. A Most Violent Year Apparently the heating-oil business in 1980s New York City was as nasty and cutthroat as the mob, and J.C. Chandor documents every ugly aspect of it in this riveting drama with moody, nuanced lead performances from Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain. Opens in Las Vegas January 30.

Ida Pawel Pawlikowski’s 1960sset film, about a Polish nun discovering her Jewish heritage, is contemplative and gorgeous. It unfolds quietly and deliberately, with stunning black-and-white cinematography that gives the movie an austere, otherworldly feel. Available on home video.

Nymphomaniac Lars Von Trier’s two-part epic about female sexuality is weird, perverse, unpleasant, hilarious, audacious, baffling and mostly amazing, with a revelatory screen debut from star Stacy Martin. Available on home video.

The Rover This brutal, minimalist revenge story set in the post-apocalyptic Australian outback features an excellent performance from Guy Pearce as a man drained of all feeling and humanity save for his single-minded (and small-minded) quest to destroy the men who have unwittingly wronged him. Available on home video.

Wild This adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s acclaimed memoir about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail could easily have turned into a series of

1.7

1.30

Gary Wright, who drummed in 12 Volt Sex, The Nines and a slew of other local bands, dies at age 42 after a battle with cancer.

After nearly 33 years, Jubilee! at Bally’s closes to undergo a reimagining by Frank Gatson Jr. It reopens in March.

50 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

2.19 Imagine Dragons hit “Radioactive” sets a Billboard record by logging its 77th week on the Hot 100. It winds up spending 87 weeks on the chart.

feel-good platitudes, but instead it’s a quiet rumination on guilt and forgiveness, thanks to stellar work from director Jean-Marc Vallée and producer/star Reese Witherspoon. Now in theaters. Noah Darren Aronofsky brings a powerful, singular vision to a familiar Bible story, making it into a somber, thoughtful rumination on the cruelty of man—with giant CGI rock creatures. Available on home video. MIKE D’ANGELO Two Days, One Night The latest triumph from Belgium’s Dardenne brothers stars Marion Cotillard as a woman who must convince her co-workers to give up their annual bonus so she can keep her job. Las Vegas release date TBD. Coherence Fans of The Twilight Zone should seek out this expertly improvised mind-scrambler, in which a group of friends at a dinner party find their evening becoming increasingly bizarre after a comet passes overhead. Available now on VOD; on home video January 20.

3.8 NYC live-music transplant Brooklyn Bowl launches with a performance by Soulive, then celebrates full-on a week later with Elvis Costello and The Roots.

previous page: the ,avett brothers photograph by erik kabik/retna

Bird People Divided into two hour-long parts—one grim and procedural, the other miraculous and whimsical—this offbeat French drama juxtaposes an American businessman (Josh Charles) staying at a Paris hotel with the young chambermaid (Anaïs Demoustier) who cleans his room. Available on home video January 13. Under the Skin Decidedly not for every taste (though that’s true of virtually every film on this list), Jonathan Glazer’s chilly sci-fi experiment, starring Scarlett Johansson as a seductive alien in human disguise, attempts to imagine how our world might appear as viewed through utterly inhuman eyes. Available on home video. The Grand Budapest Hotel Wes Anderson has carved out an entirely unique place for himself in American movies, and his tale of a doggedly civil European hotel concierge (Ralph Fiennes) in the 1930s, as refracted through several additional time periods and three aspect ratios, may be his most purely pleasurable movie to date. Available on home video. Boyhood Everyone agrees that Richard Linklater’s unprecedented project, for which he spent 12 consecutive summers filming a boy

(Ellar Coltrane) from age 6 to his freshman year at college, is a truly singular achievement, and everyone is right. Available on home video January 6. Last Days in Vietnam A surfeit of stunning archival footage coupled with witness testimonies makes Rory Kennedy’s documentary history of the fall of Saigon a genuinely thrilling experience— one that feels as if it’s happening right in front of you. Airs on PBS in 2015. Proxy Working from his hometown in Indiana, Zack Parker has fashioned the year’s strangest, most unpredictable thriller, about two women whose respective notions of being a mother deviate far, far from the norm. Available on home video. The Missing Picture Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh, unable to find any records that aren’t official propaganda, uses dozens of clay figurines posed in dioramas to tell the story of his nightmarish childhood under the murderous Khmer Rouge regime. Available on home video.

> cold war hotness The Americans topped Josh Bell’s TV list for the second straight year.

surviving human life is packed onto a lengthy train forever circling the globe, takes the sort of exhilarating risks Hollywood’s play-it-safe franchise blockbusters no longer even attempt. Available on home video.

Snowpiercer Directed by South Korea’s Bong Joon-ho, this stark political allegory about income inequality, in which all

> pleasant getaway Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapast Hotel made Mike D’Angelo’s film Top 10.

TV JOSH BELL The Americans (FX) The second season of the drama about Cold War Soviet spies in the American suburbs was even better than the first, with slow-burning suspense and dread sustained over the course of all 13 episodes, and culminating in a devastating finale. Mad Men (AMC) Heading into its home stretch, Matthew Weiner’s exploration of the ennui of ad executives remains inventive and uncompromising, delving even further into the existential despair of main character Don Draper (the always excellent Jon Hamm). Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) It’s the most diverse show on TV (online), not only in terms of race, gender and sexuality, but also in terms of storytelling, revealing the world of a minimum-security women’s prison as one of the most fruitful grounds for exploring the spectrum of humanity.

3.19

3.31

The Contemporary Art Center’s board votes to dissolve the organization. By April, a new board steps forward to rescue the group from dissolution.

The High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel at 550 feet, opens at the eastern end of Caesars Entertainment’s Linq Promenade.

4.1 The Tempest, an adaptation of the Shakespeare play conceived by Teller and Aaron Posner, begins a sold-out run at the Smith Center’s Symphony Park.

4.21

5.9

After a two-year search, the Las Vegas Philharmonic announces former Nevadan Donato Cabrera as its new music director and conductor.

The Rock in Rio festival announces dates (May 8-9 & May 15-16) for its firstever U.S. edition, set for Las Vegas’ MGM Festival Grounds.

December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

Fargo (FX) Who would have thought that a TV-series version of the beloved, near-perfect 1996 Coen brothers movie would succeed, let alone turn out to be almost as darkly funny and heartbreakingly sweet as its cinematic inspiration? You’re the Worst (FX) In a year full of half-hearted romantic comedies, the caustic, daring You’re the Worst easily stood out as the best, managing to be simultaneously cynical and hopeful about romance, embodied in its two misanthropic protagonists, pompous British writer Jimmy (Chris Geere) and self-destructive music publicist Gretchen (Aya Cash). Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox) The most consistently funny show on TV is also often one of the most heartwarming, delivering laughs and camaraderie among the endearingly goofy cops in Brooklyn’s quirkiest precinct.

> worst and best (Clockwise from top) Chris Geere and Aya Cash in FX series You’re the Worst; Taylor Swift’s 1989; Carla Bozulich’s Boy; and White Fence’s For the Recently Found Innocent.

Jane the Virgin (The CW) This telenovela adaptation started from a ridiculous premise (a virginal 23-year-old is accidentally knocked up via artificial insemination) to become a mix of clever self-awareness and earnest emotion, with one of the most likably flawed (and just plain likable) heroines on TV. The Knick (Cinemax) Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh left movies behind to direct the entire first season of this gripping (and not for the squeamish) medical drama set in New York City in 1900, which explores frontiers of both science and morality. Faking It (MTV) Like Jane the Virgin, this comedy started with a ridiculous premise (two teenage

best friends pretend to be a lesbian couple in order to boost their popularity), only to turn into one of the most honest, inclusive and exuberant shows on TV, with surprising insight into what it means to discover your true identity—sexual and otherwise.

and its chronicle of the groundbreaking sex research by William Masters and Virginia Johnson is detailed and fascinating.

ALBUMS SPENCER PATTERSON

Masters of Sex (Showtime) The symbolism on this historical drama can be frustratingly blunt, but its characters are well-drawn,

White Fence, For the Recently Found Innocent Ace songwriter Tim Presley brings his

5.23

5.26

5.31

6.1

Drai’s Beach Club and Nightclub rooftop complex opens at new boutique hotel the Cromwell.

Pure, the celebrity-favored nightclub inside Caesars Palace, closes after nearly nine years.

Strip headliner Frank Marino celebrates performance No. 25,000 during his Divas Las Vegas show.

Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West, the second feature from local filmmakers Jerry and Mike Thompson, premieres at LA’s Dances With Films.

52 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

latest batch of ’60s-inspired psychpop into producer Ty Segall’s garage, and comes out the other end with his grittiest set yet. Sing it out: “Give my seat to Arrow Man!” Innercity Ensemble, II From my 2014 new-discoveries file: seven Polish instrumentalists who gather for some fiery collective improv and emerge with dreamy jazzscapes so purposeful you’ll

6.3 Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis opens her first-ever restaurant, the Italian-inspired Giada at the Cromwell.

which sounds nothing like any pop I’ve heard before, thankfully. Aphex Twin, Syro It might not be Richard D. James’ best album ever, but considering his best stand among electronic music’s all-time pillars, Syro marks a heady, welcome return. Morgan Delt, Morgan Delt This promising debut plays like a continuous swirl of hazy, hookstuffed psych-pop, with the sum of the parts as its real payoff. Rhyton, Kykeon This far-out trio journeys sonically from Middle Eastern to Spaghetti Western on a series of purposeful instrumental improv trips. MIKE PREVATT Todd Terje, It’s Album Time My 2014 scoresheet says the Norwegian producer’s disco/ Balearic fantasia is my lone A+, while Spotify’s tabulations reveal it’s my most-streamed album. It’s unanimity time. Joris Voorn, Nobody Knows If anything in the electronic/dance world surprised more than Terje’s breakout, it’s Dutch techno producer Voorn’s cerebral, affecting and immaculately envisioned longplayer. Perfume Genius, Too Bright Continuing the queer crooner tradition of Rufus Wainwright and Antony Hegarty, Mike Hadreas triggers the feels with his inimitable vocal—and musical—aesthetic.

> Danish Treat Iceage’s Plowing Into the Field of Love ranked fourth on Spencer Patterson’s album list.

swear they were fully mapped out. Ian William Craig, A Turn of Breath Craig, an operatic singer with an experimental spirit, pairs his voice with decaying tape loops for a singular, devastating experience that literally brought tears to my eyes this year. Iceage, Plowing Into the Field of Love It’s risky when a favorite band ditches the sound that made

leader Robert Pollard.

us dig them (in this case, shambolic noise-punk)—and so rewarding when the new look (for these fastevolving Danes, more song-focused fare) pays off.

Lawrence English, Wilderness of Mirrors A career spent blurring the line between gorgeous ambience and frightening clamor climbs higher yet with this unrelenting glimpse into the Aussie master’s mind.

Guided By Voices, Cool Planet The indie-rock vets’ unlikely reunion produced six albums, and this capper might be the best, thanks to the sledgehammer drumming of “new” man Kevin March and the eternally genius writing of

6.15

6.20

Hot Fuss, the tripleplatinum-certified debut album by The Killers, turns 10 years old.

Victor Drai opens Liaison, the first LGBT nightclub in a Las Vegas casino-hotel, at the former temporary Bally’s location of his afterhours operation.

Carla Bozulich, Boy The avantrock singer/composer crafts what she calls her “pop record,” most of

6.206.22 Electric Daisy Carnival draws a reported crowd of 400,000 over its three days. One festivalgoer dies from an Ecstasy overdose in the parking lot.

8.6 Owner Marty Walsh announces that Trifecta Gallery will close at the end of January.

St. Vincent, St. Vincent Annie Clark deftly corrals her many tools and muses—Talking Heads being the most obvious—delivering her most vital, most addictive and flatout best record. The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream Speaking of breakouts, Adam Granduciel seized the momentum of 2011’s excellent Slave Ambient and dreamed up a righteous rock album loaded with resonant escapism and restrained nostalgia.

8.13 Caesars Palace headliner Celine Dion cancels shows through at least March, citing health problems— hers and her husband’s.

December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

> Soul Power Spoon’s sixth album and (below) Dum Dum Girls’ latest made Mike Prevatt’s and Annie Zaleski’s album lists, respectively.

Flying Lotus, You’re Dead! A jazz-infused, glitch-transcending, hip-hop-elevating rebound from 2012’s underwhelming Until the Quiet Comes that occupies its own genre. Deadmau5, While (1<2) An artistic peak for the prog-house pugilist, whose contempt for commercial EDM thwarts neither his creativity nor his accessibility. Spoon, They Want My Soul Consistency, thy name is Spoon, which nonetheless stretches its punchy, Stones-ian rhythm & blues for its sixth consecutive knockout. Tycho, Awake A transportive merging of post-rock, Balearic house, Krautrock and ambient techno, Awake sees instrumentalist Scott Hansen at his most confident and euphonic. Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria Blues A powerful, proclamatory and hooks-runneth-over manifesto that not only improves upon each listen but announces the arrival of Laura Jane Grace, who levels the ignorant with stridency and coherence. ANNIE ZALESKI Beck, Morning Phase Sea Change only wished it could be as engaged and clear-eyed as Morning Phase, which found Beck and his band of collaborators combining honeyed folk, whirring psych-rock and glacial electronica with masterful precision. Split Single, Fragmented World Bob Mould sideman Jason Narducy teams up with Spoon’s Britt Daniel for a collection of well-constructed power-pop with

a shimmering indie-rock core.

mind—but Loveless’ homespun Midwestern grit stuck out the most.

Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams Anyone hoping for messy alt-country Ryan Adams will be disappointed; those enamored with his tangled guitar hurricanes, ’80s rock jags and impeccable songwriting will find much to like here.

CONCERTS CHRIS BITONTI The Avett Brothers (August 29-31, Brooklyn Bowl) Three nights of foot-stomping bluegrass with hardly any repeats and tons of surprises.

Dum Dum Girls, Too True Perhaps one of the most underrated records of the year, Too True continues DDG’s fixation with gothy ’80s alt-rock—and adds in some equally dark electronic flourishes for good measure.

††† (March 28, Hard Rock Live) If the Deftones were Borg-style assimilated by a self-aware android DJ, it would be this impressive Chino Moreno side project.

every minute of it. Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness The Jack’s Mannequin/Something Corporate frontman subtly updates his pianopop with retro touches and modern electro bursts.

Tori Amos, Unrepentant Geraldines Feminism was a popular buzzword this year, and no artist approached the topic with more nuance—or force—than Amos, whose latest never sugarcoated its piano-adorned ruminations on what it’s like being a woman in 2014.

Mean Creek, Local Losers This spring-loaded Boston quartet split the difference between throttling punk and fuzzy ’90s indie rock (think Dinosaur Jr., Blake Babies and others of their ilk) on this latest LP.

The Faint, Doom Abuse After some fallow years, Omaha’s O.G. synth-punks leapt back into music in a big way, with tightly coiled riffs and fresh pogoing beats.

Taylor Swift, 1989 Call it Top 40 catnip, call it sleek modern pop or call it slick electro-pop, 1989 is the sound of Taylor Swift embracing the here and now—and loving

Lydia Loveless, Somewhere Else Many alt-country women had breakout years—Nikki Lane and Angaleena Presley also come to

8.14

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8.25

Todd VonBastiaans and Bryan McCarthy bring Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England to ArtSquare Theater from Chicago.

Life nightclub opens at the new SLS, which debuts the Sayers Club and Foxtail five nights later.

Downtown’s Bunkhouse Saloon reopens with a headlining performance from Built to Spill.

54 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

9.1 A Zedd Labor Day party breaks the attendance record at XS, drawing a reported 11,323 people.

Animals as Leaders (March 29, Extreme Thing) These instrumental prog-rockers are unlike any other band in the hardcore metal scene, and that’s a very good thing. Tycho (October 25, Life Is Beautiful) The instrumental electronic act’s live show is mellower than a nap in a cloud, which is exactly as it should be. Mercy Music (January 25, Double Down Saloon) The Las Vegans’ first performance as a full band was the highlight of a SquidHat Records showcase that helped land them a distribution deal with the local label.

9.6 Kinky Boots becomes the first Broadway show to launch its national tour at the Smith Center.

JASON HARRIS Jimmy Cliff (July 22, Brooklyn Bowl) The boundlessly energetic reggae legend gave us a mesmerizing set that spanned the history of the Jamaican genre. Lauryn Hill (May 14, Brooklyn Bowl) She started late, of course, but when she got going it was fire—solo hits and Fugees classics delivered in powerful voice. The Drums (October 12, Bunkhouse Saloon) Jonny Pierce & Co.’s communal indie dance party is always one of the most fun nights on the concert calendar. The Roots (October 25, Life Is Beautiful) The standout performance at a fest that also featured strong showings from J. Roddy Walston and the Business, Lionel Richie and St. Paul & The Broken Bones.

> Jimmy Jams Cliff’s Brooklyn Bowl set topped Jason Harris’ concert list.

John Fogerty (October 17, the Pearl) So many hits played so well with so much gusto. Rock ’n’ roll will never die. SPENCER PATTERSON Kraftwerk (July 28, the Chelsea) The electronic godfathers served up a history lesson with a twist—3D visuals that infused the seminal material with fresh energy. Deafheaven (March 29, LVCS) A show that could have easily skipped Vegas didn’t, and as waves of intense, metallic sound washed over me, I thanked the universe. DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist (September 29, Brooklyn Bowl) True, it wasn’t a “live” set in the traditional sense, but I simply can’t leave this tribute to hip-hop icon Afrika Bambaataa—featuring his own record collection and a killer video companion show—off my list.

> visualizing excellence Kraftwerk’s 3D Cosmo show earned Spencer Patterson’s concert top spot.

9.12

10.14

Folky Vegas band Dusty Sunshine plays its final show after four years on the local scene.

Hakkasan Group announces that Pure will become Omnia, with the remodel projected to cost $38 million.

photographs by erik kabik/retna

10.16 The fifth edition of the PollyGrind film festival kicks off at the Galaxy Luxury Theaters in Green Valley after being pulled from its initial venue.

10.2410.26 Kanye West, OutKast and the Foo Fighters headline Life Is Beautiful’s second edition, which also includes expanded culinary, learning and art components.

10.3111.2 Phish returns to Las Vegas after a 10-year absence for a three-concert run that includes the band’s first Halloween show here since 1998.

December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

music made by the Bay, Deafheaven swept its tiny audience up in its clamorous and emotionally dynamic deluge. Man Man (February 21, Backstage Bar & Billiards) If Deafheaven’s racket was a clamorous one, the tireless members of Philadelphia’s Man Man created a lively and joyful reverie in theirs.

> ELECTRONIC ARRAY Tycho’s Life Is Beautiful set ranked on both Mike Prevatt’s and Chris Bitonti’s concert lists, while Kitze (right) nabbed a spot on Leslie Ventura’s.

Bob Mould (September 30, Bunkhouse Saloon) No matter what happens with the Bunkhouse from here, we’ll always have Bob, and his Hüsker-heavy setlist. Tame Impala (November 13, Brooklyn Bowl) It’s fitting that Brooklyn Bowl takes two of my five spots this year, considering how much time I spent at its Linq location for clutch bookings like these Aussie psych-rockers. MIKE PREVATT Phish (October 31, MGM Grand Garden Arena) Three sets (and an encore) of transportive and masterfully executed improvisational rock—including an otherworldly update of an old Disney Halloween album—that dropped jaws, moved

hips and no doubt changed concert-brag lists for nearly every lucky attendee.

LESLIE VENTURA The Breeders (September 15, Bunkhouse Saloon) Kim and Kelley Deal, oh, how I love you. Unmistakable harmonies, understated grunge-pop guitar licks, a “Happiness Is a Warm Gun” cover and “Doe” (my all-time favorite)? I’ll never forget this show.

Spoon (June 26, Brooklyn Bowl) It’s hard to imagine the Austin rock band being more on point, more swinging, more versatile—or more enthusiastic to be playing in Las Vegas—than during the first of its three-night stand at Brooklyn Bowl.

Jenny Lewis (October 24, Life Is Beautiful) With a mix of new cuts, older solo gems and Rilo Kiley classics, Lewis’ set was strong, earthy and gritty enough to make me fall in love all over again.

Tycho (October 25, Life is Beautiful) If the San Francisco act’s rhythmic, instrumental postrock wasn’t gorgeous enough, it was enhanced by a crystal-clear PA system—a festival rarity—and a well-timed sunset.

Violent Femmes (October 11, Wine Amplified) Gordon Gano’s voice sounds like it did more than 20 years ago, and the rest of the guys are right there with him—

Deafheaven (March 29, LVCS) Another group known for its (albeit unconventionally) beautiful

wily, spontaneous and energetic as ever. Kitze + The CPUs (September 25, Bunkhouse Saloon) Kid Meets Cougar fans miss Las Vegas’ makeyou-feel-good dance duo, but Brett Bolton’s solo debut, equipped with his homemade visuals, brought us back to that happy place. Love Pentagon (July 5, Backstage Bar & Billiards) The last time this Vegas quintet reunited was the night I found out who they were. Four years later, there’s no doubt these women set the bar.

BOOKS CHUCK TWARDY Call Me Burroughs: A Life, by Barry Miles This probably won’t make anyone else’s top-whatever lists, but it’s a fascinating and deeply detailed account of the Beat godfather’s peculiar and occasionally abhorrent life on literature’s countercultural fringe.

11.1

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After nearly five years, Haze closes with a headlining set from DJ Carl Cox, leaving megaresort Aria without a major nightclub.

Helen: A Literary Magazine launches with digital copies of the Las Vegas-based, biannual publication, followed shortly by print editions.

Kiss kicks off a miniresidency at the Joint, following in the hard-rock footsteps of Mötley Crüe, Guns N’ Roses and Def Leppard.

Elaine Wynn buys Francis Bacon triptych “Three Studies of Lucian Freud” at a Christie’s Auction for $142.4 million, the most ever paid for a work of art at auction.

After announcing that it will close December 1, TastySpace Gallery holds its last art opening with work by Boston-area photographer Olivia Gatti.

56 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 25, 2014–JANUARY 7, 2015

TYCHO BY CORLENE BYRD; KITZE + THE CPUS BY ADAM SHANE

> GRAND CONVERGENCE Art for Art’s Sake was critic Dawn-Michelle Baude’s topranked 2014 exhibit.

THEATER JACOB COAKLEY The Tempest (Smith Center) This dazzling and romantic production still gives me goosebumps. I thought it was flawless when it debuted, and time has only burnished it brighter for me. Foxfinder (A Public Fit) A thrilling show with powerful, claustrophobic performances that caught me up and wouldn’t let me go. Red (Poor Richard’s Players) It kicked off the year back in January, and the performances and ideas from it still resonate and shimmer, just like a Rothko painting.

FINE ART

A Brief History of Seven Killings, by Marlon James A sometimes maddening but ultimately rewarding mélange of Jamaican voices, as ghetto gangsters on the periphery of Bob Marley’s world violently scrabble for pieces of North America’s drug trade.

hegemony and win. Brent Sommerhauser: New Sculpture and Works on Paper (Michele C. Quinn Fine Art) Sommerhauser’s silver, lead and copper stippling looks pure and minimal. Until it starts to pulse

DAWN-MICHELLE BAUDE Art for Art’s Sake: Selections From the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation (Majorie Barrick Museum) Clobbered by color, slayed by form. The Weisman Collection united Las Vegas and LA artists on home turf. It felt good.

A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal, by Ben Macintyre The story of how the charming Philby successfully penetrated the West’s Cold War intelligence inner sanctum by exploiting the inherent reluctance of the British upper class to distrust one of its own.

How I Learned to Drive (Ragtag Entertainment) The performances of Brenna Folger and Glenn Heath, along with the rest of the ensemble, gave this deeply unsettling piece crackling life.

> STAGE STUNNER The Tempest topped Jacob Coakley’s theater list.

Volume Control, by Mark Brandvik (VAST Space Projects) Exhibiting art in the dark was a first. Moving from one spotlighted Brandvik sculpture to the next felt like a dream.

Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt, by Michael Lewis Another swipe by the one-time Wall Street denizen at the hand that fed him, this time examining how greedy geeks and bankers turn stock-trading milliseconds into easy millions.

Jonestown (Table 8 Productions) Inventive and risky, Troy Heard’s exploration of the rise and fall of the People’s Temple delivered some harrowing moments, and Scott McAdam was electric as Jim Jones.

Derivative Presence, by Javier Sanchez & Yasmina Chavez (TastySpace Gallery & Xeric Garden at Majorie Barrick Museum) Imagined the sound when we saw the video in the gallery. Imagined the image when we heard the sound in the garden. We were wrong.

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, by Elizabeth Kolbert The New Yorker staff writer’s look at the histories of extinctions on our planet—and an examination of the ways in which we’re bringing about the next one.

Stanley Hall, by Wendy Kveck (Trifecta Gallery) Who said you have to color in the lines? Kveck’s saucy females struggle against

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The Writer’s Block bookstore opens on Fremont Street (with a rabbit mascot munching lettuce while you shop).

Caesars Palace headliner Shania Twain ends her two-year residency, which started with a stampede of horses on the Strip.

Clark County reveals that popular annual all-ages music festival Extreme Thing will not take place in 2015.

Hakkasan announces it will purchase Light Group for $36 million, expanding its Vegas profile to 24 venues.

THE TEMPEST COURTESY THE SMITH CENTER

12.20 Steve Wynn’s $10 million Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers celebrates its grand opening at Wynn Las Vegas.

DECEMBER 25, 2014–JANUARY 7, 2015 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM

Clawson needs. 2480 Bicentennial Parkway, 702-466-2190. TuesdaySaturday, 5-10 p.m. –JB DB Brasserie There were other new restaurants this year that came with more hype or edgier fare, but I ate at DB many more times than any of those, and I know I’ll keep coming back no matter what other excitement arrives, because it’s just perfect. Daniel Boulud’s new Vegas menu collects favorite French, Mediterranean and American dishes from his other restaurants, hones in on what makes each of them great, and effortlessly knocks it out of the park. Venetian, 702-430-1235. Daily, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. –BR District One Vietnamese restaurants tend to be cookie cutter—oh look, pho and spring rolls!—so the inspired menu at District One is more than a refreshing reprieve. Sharp beef carpaccio swimming in sesame oil highlights Italian influences, while hearty oxtail fried rice channels China and Charleston. Even the traditional Vietnamese dishes deviate from the norm, with wholelobster pho and the now-infamous Big Bone soup, filled full of femur. Your mother’s Vietnamese this is not. 3400 S. Jones Blvd. #8, 702-413-6868. Daily, 11 a.m.-3 a.m. –JB

> LAVISH LOBSTER Rose. Rabbit. Lie.’s uni perciatelli.

Best New Restaurants Brock Radke and Jim Begley pick 2014’s tastiest arrivals

Wow! This was a seriously big restaurant year in Las Vegas, maybe one of the most deliciously significant years ever. You want celebrity chefs? We had new stuff from Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, Guy Fieri, José Andrés, Kerry Simon and Daniel Boulud. Craving innovative takes on soulful favorites? We got Brooklyn Bowl, Yusho, Mercadito, Lao Sze Chuan and Made L.V. Dreaming of the day a Michelin-starred chef opens an off-Strip jewel? That happened, too. ¶ With all this activity, choosing our favorite new restaurants was a tricky task. But that’s what we’re here for. And we brought surprises—only five of our 14 choices are on the Strip, and we’re betting you haven’t even heard of a few of these appetizing arrivals. Well, unless you’ve been reading the Weekly all year, which we highly recommend. Sounds like a good resolution for 2015 … Bazaar Meat by José Andrés Don’t call it a steakhouse. Bazaar Meat is an altar of yum, a monument to meat and more, and further proof—as if he needed it—that Andrés is a one-of-a-kind culinary trailblazer. Whole suckling pigs and Spanishstyle, bone-in rib steaks ordered by the pound push big-game Vegas dining to the next level, while sea urchin-topped coins of blood sausage and toasted nori-jamon Iberico tacos will blow your mind and catch your taste buds off guard. Don’t miss the perfect cloud of omelet with kidney, sweetbreads and bone marrow called tortilla Sacromonte, a weird, special, fantastic treat. SLS, 702-761-7610. Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5:30-11 p.m. –BR Brock’s Favorite!

Carson Kitchen Finally, destination dining Downtown. No other restaurant has drawn us to Fremont East like Carson Kitchen has, and it’s only fitting that it comes from one of our city’s all-time favorites, Kerry Simon. While battling MSA (multiple system atrophy), Simon developed a creative menu including addictive fried chicken skins, hauntingly good gyro tacos and a bourbon fudge brownie with brown butter bacon ice cream that epitomizes decadence. I, for one, am glad Simon returned to the forefront in 2014. 124 S. Sixth St. #100, 702-473-9523. SundayThursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. –JB Cleo Chef Danny Elmaleh’s bright, beautiful take on Mediterranean cuisine includes familiar bites like tahini-laced hummus and delicately fried falafel along with fun, fresh,

58 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

unique dishes like the raw lamb kibbeh nayyeh and eggplant-feta flatbread from a central woodburning oven. It’s all incredibly refreshing and so, so welcome in a city where pasty hummus and dried-out shawarma is all too common. SLS, 702-761-7612. Sunday-Thursday, 6-10:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 6-11:30 p.m. –BR David Clawson Restaurant David Clawson may not be a household name, but his restaurant—set in a sleepy Anthem shopping center—is better than those of some of his more famous contemporaries. Menu descriptions for his smallplate offerings are simple but the preparations are not, including the Valley’s best crab cake, uni-laden faux risotto and noodles rife with garlic. There’s hardly a more precise meal in town, and that’s all the fame

The Goodwich No matter your tastes, you’ll find your favorite sandwich at the Goodwich, the small kiosk in the Dino’s parking lot. Reminiscent of holes-in-the-wall you’d find in more mature food cities, I’m hoping this spot is a harbinger of things to come as Strip talent migrates and opens accessible, locals-oriented joints. From the best PB&J to a ridiculously rich patty melt, ingredients are painstakingly procured and prepared generously, with ample use of foie gras and chicken skin. Goodwich? More like Greatwich! 1516 S. Las Vegas Blvd. #A, 702-910-8681. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. –JB Japanese Cuisine by Omae Chef Takeshi Omae earned Michelin stars at Masaharu Morimoto’s Tokyo restaurant. Now Omae has landed in Las Vegas, ready to compete with the stars of the Strip armed with 12 seats and a constantly changing omakase menu utilizing immaculate ingredients and unbelievable technique. This artistic, reverential Japanese experience is not for everyone, but if you go, it’ll be one of the most memorable meals of your year, too. 3650 S. Decatur Blvd. #26, 702-966-8080. Tuesday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m. –BR Jinya When is a ramen bar one of the best new restaurants in the city? When it’s Jinya, the acclaimed LA transplant that finds a cozy home on the west side, stays open late and serves some of our best, most

rose. rabbit. lie. photograph by patrick trEgenza

And the chefs of the year are …

soul-satisfying noodle soups and a diverse, smile-inducing selection of dishes from crispy chicken and pork buns to quinoa salad and spicycreamy shrimp tempura. 4860 W. Flamingo Road, 702-868-8877. Daily, 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m. –BR Lao Sze Chuan We have superupscale Chinese fine dining, and we have super-cheap and tasty, holein-the-wall, Spring Mountain Road Chinese deliciousness. But what falls in the middle? Tony Hu’s Lao Sze Chuan is the answer, coming from Chicago to fill our void with authentic, addictive, frequently incendiary cuisine made for sharing. Get the signature three chili chicken or the spicier dry chili chicken, but don’t miss the tea-smoked duck and Szechuan peppercorn fish. Palms, 702-942-6862. Daily, 11 a.m.-midnight. –BR Mercadito The Sandoval brothers’ taco shrine was another welcome newbie from the Windy City, a colorful, high-energy eatery that seems focused on deconstructing our favorite Mexican foods and rebuilding them, piece by piece, to flavorful perfection. There are three seafood tacos, and we can’t decide which we love best, each decorated with specific slaws or sauces. More choices await with three guacs, three ceviches and five salsas, and don’t even get us started on the cocktails. Red Rock Resort, 702-979-3609. TuesdayThursday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Sunday & Monday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. –BR Rose. Rabbit. Lie. Fine dining meets energetic supper club, with

David Middleton (and Daniel Boulud, too, of course) for meeting and exceeding any and all expectations for Boulud’s return to Las Vegas with DB Brasserie at Venetian.

> BEASTLY BITE District One’s lobster pho.

entertainment and diners intertwining for a feel unlike any other restaurant’s. RRL might have lost some luster with the departure of Vegas Nocturne, but it’s still worth a visit, to try executive chef Wes Holton’s crispy riff on oysters Rockefeller, creamy duck confit pasta or undeniably unctuous uni perciatelli. Because ultimately, the dishes are as enthralling as the entertainment. Cosmopolitan, 877-667-0585. Tuesday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.-midnight; Friday & Saturday 5:30 p.m.-1 a.m. –JB Sporting Life Bar Locals bars are a fixture of Vegas life, and unfortunately, so is pedestrian bar food. But former Bouchon sous chef Daniel Dalton has elevated Sporting Life’s menu, a blend of classic fare and haute cuisine. Jim’s Favorite!

Mouth memories

Where else can you find veal presse alongside green pork chili nachos, or order pork belly with the Valley’s best chicken wings? Only at this nondescript sports bar, which used to house an Outside Inn—adaptive reuse at its finest. 7770 S. Jones Blvd., 702-3314647. 24/7. –JB Yusho Truly unique and wildly exciting, Yusho—an American take on a Japanese izakaya—is oddly challenged by its Strip-side location at Monte Carlo. That means many haven’t tried out the remarkable, deboned chicken wings with bonito salt, the pigladen Logan Poser Ramen, or the ontap gin and tonic. The menu is loaded with innovative offerings necessitating numerous visits, but you have to start with just one. Monte Carlo, 702-7306888. Sunday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. –JB

Jim Begley reflects on the year’s standout dishes

Cracklin’ Jacks at Sporting Life Bar My favorite dish at my favorite new restaurant? The simply great Cracklin’ Jacks are a play on the nostalgic Cracker Jack, substituting pork rinds for popcorn—a trade up if you ask me—tossed with roasted peanuts and doused in honey-chipotle sauce. Salt, heat and sweet intertwine in a crazily addictive app. 7770 S. Jones Blvd., 702-331-4647. Pozole Rojo at El Menudazo While the menudo at this weekend-only North Las Vegas nook is exemplary, it’s the rich, short rib-rife pozole that draws me back on Saturday mornings. A hearty breakfast treat, it’s the cure for whatever ails you. 3100 E. Lake Mead Blvd., 702-944-9706.

Mike Minor, of his very own Truck U Barbeque, for creating what is hands-down the best pulled pork sandwich humanity has ever encountered.

Escargot and Mushroom Pie at Comme Ça Snails, smoked bacon and trumpet mushrooms are delivered in a latticed rosemary and sea salt crust, finished with a rich foie gras and Madeira sauce that helps the pastry deliver a flurry of umami. As part of chef Brian Howard’s final menu at Comme Ça, it exemplifies the creativity for which he has been heralded. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7910.

Chicken Drummies at Yusho Chicken wings in a Japanese restaurant? Oh yeah. These miniature drumsticks, decorated with garlic and sesame seeds, are accompanied by a salty red miso paste tinged with funkiness, offering a foil to the chicken’s richness. One order is never enough. Monte Carlo, 702-730-6888.

District one, Sun file; david middleton and daniel boulud by bill milne.

Whoever is cooking anything at Chada Thai & Wine, particularly the person behind the pla nua tod (crispy beef with spicy tamarind sauce). Akira Back, for not only holding it down at Yellowtail and Kumi, and not just for expanding the Yellowtail brand to LA, but also for opening his own eponymous restaurants in New Delhi and Jakarta. Vegas chef, world domination. José Andrés, for doubledoubling down in Vegas, first with Cosmo’s Jaleo and China Poblano, and now with SLS’ Bazaar Meat and Ku Noodle. Whoever’s on the fryer at Brooklyn Bowl. Michael LaPlaca, for turning Onda, Mirage’s Italian restaurant, into Portofino, Michael LaPlaca’s Italian restaurant, also one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Matt Andrews, for executing the killer menu at Carson Kitchen and repping Kerry Simon to the fullest. Whoever’s on the grill at Bobby’s Burger Palace. –Brock Radke

Crispy Foie Gras Dumplings at Stripsteak It’s easy to serve foie gras. Chef Gerald Chin doesn’t do easy. He swaddles his foie in housemade dumplings accompanied by a huckleberry-umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum) sauce, a combination as well-balanced as it is surprisingly subdued. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7200.

December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

Arts&Entertainment Arts MOVIES + MUSIC + ART + FOOD

TRUST US GO WORLD SERIES OF BEER PONG

The tone of the main event of everybody’s favorite drinking game is summed up thusly: #getyourballswet. The Riviera hosts hundreds of teams from around the world going for a $50,000 first-place prize. It’s fierce athletic competition with a refreshing beer haze. January 1-5, times vary, spectators $50 for a 3-day pass; $30 for a 2-day pass; $20 single-day admission.

HEAR R. KELLY As we’ve come to learn over the years at House of Blues, when an arena-sized act packs into an intimate club, the results are often memorable. When it’s R. Kelly one night before New Year’s, there’s no telling how high he can fly. With T.K. Kirkland, December 30, 7:30 p.m., $80. DIZZY WRIGHT If you missed the Michigan-born, Vegas-bred MC at Life Is Beautiful, brush up on your Dizzy discography, and catch him at Brooklyn Bowl. December 27, 8 p.m., $22-$25. > CAPTION HEAD Caption goes here caption goes here

LAUGH JERRY SEINFELD Tired of It’s a Wonderful Life? Start a new holiday tradition. For the past few years, Jerry’s been playing the Colosseum in December. Think of it like a Las Vegas Festivus. December 26 & 27, 7:30 p.m., $83-$165, Caesars Palace.

JOEL MCHALE The guy kills it on Community and The Soup. Anyone out there think he can’t kill it in standup? December 29 & 30, 10 p.m., $50-$70, Mirage.

SEE DOWNTON ABBEY The popular British period drama returns for its fifth season, now set firmly in the midst of the roaring ’20s, which should provide plenty of scandal and drama for the upper-crust Crawley family and their (usually) loyal servants. Sundays, 9 p.m., PBS; season premiere January 4.

DRINK ELLIS ISLAND WINTER SPICED BEER If you’ve already tried

the local brewery’s famous, homemade (and boozed-up) eggnog, consider sipping its seasonal suds this year. With a toasty malt and notes of cinnamon and caramel, it’s way better than some chestnuts roasting on an open fire. $3.50 draft, Ellis Island Brewery & Village Pubs.

NESTING SPOT JK Russ turns P3 into a bird-woman workshop In the Cosmopolitan’s P3Studio, artist JK Russ creates a hybrid world of fashion and desert life awash in sensual imagery. A Joshua tree’s budding flower cluster is made even more erotic when rendered in collaged lips in shades of red and purple. Eyes with thick lashes form its pointed and sword-like leaves. And then there’s the earth and sky, a cut-and-pasted horizon made piecemeal across the window. The visitor-made/artist-directed rocky desert plane is populated by leggy and feathered bird women, chic and defiant on the harsh landscape. ¶ House of Paper Birds continues the bird-woman motif that ruled Russ’ exhibit last summer at Sin City Gallery, connecting fashion, sexuality and Las Vegas. Here visitors collaborate, co-creating the works alongside the artist, adding to and taking away from the baskets of paper smiles on the worktable and pasting bits of earth and sky onto the window. The piece becomes a reflection of the heels and decorative styles adorning Cosmo visitors dressed for the Las Vegas nightlife scene. ¶ Inside, it’s a workshop of sorts piled with fashion magazines to be pillaged. Discarded cutout pages accumulate on the floor of the neighboring sitting room, created for Russ’ artist residency and featuring a small exhibit of her works, otherworldly compositions perfect HOUSE OF PAPER BIRDS Through January 4, Wednesday-Sunday, 6-11 for the desert fantasy that is Las p.m. P3Studio, 702-698-7000. Closing reception January 2, 5-7 p.m. Vegas. –Kristen Peterson

60 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 25, 2014–JANUARY 7, 2015

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A&E | screen film

A losing hand The Gambler is an inferior remake

> witchy woman Streep prowls the fairy-tale forest.

film

Half a show Into the Woods gets its stage adaptation only partly right By Mike D’Angelo of course, by Little Red Riding Hood (Crawford), on When Tim Burton adapted Stephen Sondheim’s her way to grandmother’s house. They also need to musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street secure hair as yellow as corn, for which Rapunzel a few years back, he cast his favorite actors (Johnny (Mauzy) will come in handy; a cow as white as milk, Depp, Helena Bonham Carter) in the lead roles, without conveniently being led to market by Jack (Daniel giving much consideration to their ability to sing the Huttlestone) of beanstalk fame; and a slipparts. The result was by no means disastrous, per as pure as gold, available on the feet but it’s still a relief that Into the Woods, the of Cinderella (Kendrick). Director Rob latest Sondheim adaptation, finds a better aaacc Marshall (Chicago) keeps these multiple balance between big-name celebrities and INTO THE threads humming along, and Blunt, surprispeople who can do full justice to the songs. WOODS James ingly, proves herself the film’s MVP, digging Depp is present again (in what amounts to a Corden, Anna deep into the baker’s wife’s yearning. cameo), and the plum role of the witch has Kendrick, Emily Alas, Act 2 has been gutted—apparently been given to so-so chanteuse Meryl Streep, Blunt, Meryl by James Lapine himself, who wrote the but musical-theater vets like Anna Kendrick, Streep. Directed book for the stage production and is credLilla Crawford and Mackenzie Mauzy fill out by Rob Marshall. ited with the screenplay. Half the songs much of the ensemble, occasionally creatRated PG. Now have been cut, including the crucial seconding the illusion that you’re watching a fullplaying. act prologue, which reveals what a drag fledged Broadway musical. “happily ever after” has become for the Act 1 of the stage production remains characters. (When Streep’s witch sings the rousing largely intact, as various fairy-tale characters ven“Last Midnight,” it means little, because three previture—well, into the woods, for a variety of different ous “midnight” songs are never heard.) One character reasons. The baker (James Corden) and his wife who died tragically onstage now just sort of disap(Emily Blunt) have been tasked by the witch with pears, as if completely forgotten. Everything feels finding four objects; should they succeed, the witch rushed and haphazard. If you’re gonna film the show, will lift a curse she placed on the baker’s family long film the show. ago. On the list: a cape as red as blood, which is worn,

62 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

If Hollywood studios are going to insist on churning out remakes, they might as well stick with movies like The Gambler, a solid but not spectacular 1974 drama starring James Caan as a college professor with a serious gambling addiction. It’s neither an acclaimed classic nor a beloved fan favorite, and there’s no reason it couldn’t be updated and recontextualized. Director Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and screenwriter William Monahan (The aabcc Departed) don’t quite THE know how to refresh the GAMBLER material, though, updatMark Wahlberg, ing the setting to the Brie Larson, present day but trying to Michael K. replicate the feel of bold Williams. ’70s cinema in a way that Directed by mostly comes off as false Rupert Wyatt. and empty. Rated R. Now The other problem is playing. that star Mark Wahlberg is utterly unconvincing as a college professor (and, in this version, also a promising novelist). He makes grandiose speeches to his dumbstruck students (and even sleeps with one of them, played by the great but underused Brie Larson) but never sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. Even experienced supporting actors John Goodman and Michael K. Williams, as two of the scary men Wahlberg’s Jim Bennett owes money to, have trouble with Monahan’s overly verbose script. Wyatt shows his Martin Scorsese influence by saturating the soundtrack with rock and pop songs, but they only serve to distract from the story’s lack of depth. Caan’s Axel Freed was a tragic, self-destructive addict, but Jim Bennett is just an inconsiderate jerk with no inner life. Like Jim, the movie is all swagger and no follow-through. –Josh Bell

A&E | screen film

> Run, louis, run O’Connell as Zamperini in his days as an athlete.

Pop art Tim Burton brings his quirks to a true-life story in Big Eyes

film

a high school running champion and then an Olympian exchanging heavy-handed foreshadowing glances with German and Japanese competitors. After setting a new Olympic record, Louis is shipped off to war, where he bonds with his one-dimensional Unbroken examines the life of an fellow soldiers before finding himself stranded on a life American legend By josh bell raft with two of his compatriots. He rallies his companions to survive (for a little bit, at least) and even stabs Louis Zamperini must qualify for some sort of biopic a shark in the face, all while his hair continues to look bingo: He’s the son of immigrants who became an fabulous. Finally, an hour into the movie, he’s captured American success story; he set records as an Olympic by the Japanese and sent to a POW camp, where he’s runner; he was a World War II hero who survived 47 brutalized by a commanding officer known as “the Bird” days lost at sea and two years as a prisoner (Japanese pop star Miyavi), but he remains, of war; and he dedicated the rest of his life well, you know. to preaching forgiveness and tolerance. As aabcc Jolie cranks up the oppressively rousing depicted in Angelina Jolie’s glossy Unbroken, UNBROKEN Alexandre Desplat score and gets some sweepZamperini is more of a superhuman ideal Jack O’Connell, ing camera work from top-notch cinematograthan a person—and that’s the movie’s bigDomhnall Gleeson, pher Roger Deakins, but the movie often feels gest flaw, since Zamperini was very much a Miyavi. Directed like a parody of a feel-good biopic. The Bird real person, one whose life deserves a more by Angelina Jolie. is the most entertaining character, but that’s grounded and affecting portrayal. Rated PG-13. Now because Miyavi plays him like a James Bond Unbroken focuses mainly on Zamperini’s playing. villain, which matches O’Connell’s superhero World War II service, although after openperformance. Some of the torture scenes are ing in the midst of an air battle over the intense, and it’s hard not to be astounded by Pacific, it flashes back to his childhood. Jolie and the what Zamperini endured (a closing title card mentions four screenwriters stick to typical biopic beats, as young his later struggles with PTSD, but none of that makes it Louis shoplifts and gets into fights until he discovers his into the movie itself ). Being astounded, however, is not true passion for running (and ages 10 years or so in a sinthe same as being moved, and Unbroken never makes gle shot). Thanks to platitudes of encouragement from the emotional connection needed to turn its protagonist his older brother, Louis (Jack O’Connell) becomes first from a hero into a human being.

WaR HERO

It’s been 20 years since director Tim Burton made a movie that didn’t deal with the fantastic, and for his return to reality he’s reteamed with Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, the screenwriters behind his excellent 1994 biopic Ed Wood. Big Eyes takes on another potentially misunderstood outsider artist, Margaret Keane, whose paintings of sorrowful big-eyed children became a cultural phenomenon aaacc in the 1960s, despite BIG EYES derision from critics Amy Adams, and the art establishChristoph ment. At the time, Waltz, Danny the paintings were Huston. actually credited to Directed by Margaret’s husband, Tim Burton. Walter Keane, and the Rated PG-13. dynamic between the Now playing. two Keanes is at the heart of Big Eyes. While the story of how naïve Margaret (Amy Adams) moved to San Francisco and fell under the spell of the charismatic Walter (Christoph Waltz), only to find her one true love (her art) taken away from her, is fascinating, Burton and the screenwriters keep it at a mostly surface level, moving the plot along swiftly but glibly. Each new development is thrilling in a “how could this really happen?” sort of way, but the movie never really delves into Margaret or Walter as people, never understands what makes them do what they do. The final act, when Margaret breaks away from Walter and sues him for credit for her work, makes for an absurdly entertaining courtroom drama, and Burton balances whimsy and seriousness well. The end result is a breezy look into a bizarre corner of pop-culture history, but it isn’t much more substantial than Burton’s recent cinematic flights of fancy. –Josh Bell

December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

A&E | screen film

Cracking the code The Imitation Game celebrates an unsung WWII genius By Mike D’Angelo Ostensibly, the title of The Imitation Game, a biopic about famed mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing, refers to a thought experiment Turing devised while musing about what we now call artificial intelligence. The idea was that if a computer could successfully mimic a human being, so well that a human judge couldn’t tell the difference, it would be hard to deny that the machine was thinking. Thing is, though, this concept is barely even mentioned in the movie. aaacc The real imitation game, as seen THE onscreen, is played by Turing IMITATION himself, who finds that he can’t GAME achieve his goals unless he mimBenedict ics normal human behavior. Cumberbatch, Those goals are pretty damn Keira Knightley, important, too. Though the film Matthew jumps around in time, most of it Goode. is set during World War II, when Directed by Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) Morten Tyldum. was drafted to assist in England’s Rated PG-13. effort to break the Nazis’ diaNow playing. bolical Enigma cipher, which changed daily and resisted all simple brute-force attempts at a solution. Heading up a team of the country’s best minds, including crossword-puzzle addict Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley), Turing builds a huge machine, now considered one of the forerunners of the modern computer, to tackle the problem. But it’s up to Joan to show him how to befriend the men working for him, who initially find him so cold, bizarre and alienating that he can’t command their loyalty and respect. Previous fictionalized Turing stories, like Hugh Whitemore’s play Breaking the Code, focused pri-

> math rebel Turing (Cumberbatch) defies authority.

marily on Turing’s homosexuality, which was then (if acted upon) a criminal offense; Turing was arrested for “gross indecency” in 1952 and spent two years receiving hormone treatments in lieu of jail, which may have led him to commit suicide. The Imitation Game doesn’t ignore this, but Cumberbatch’s performance seems more determined to place Turing somewhere on the autism spectrum, emphasizing his propensity for taking all speech literally (he perceives “Alan, we’re all heading out to lunch” as unnecessary information rather

than as an invitation) and general social awkwardness. Consequently, the film doesn’t really work as a character study, coming across as vaguely anachronistic—Turing crossed with The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper. As a superficial code-breaking thriller, however, it works like gangbusters, successfully condensing a mammoth undertaking (which actually involved many nations, notably Poland) so that an audience of non-experts can vaguely understand it. For better and worse, this is The Simplification Game.

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A&E | noise

> TENACIOUS D He’s back, and he’s still funky. A L B U M | F u nk–s o u l

SECOND COMING D’Angelo makes an epic return with Black Messiah D’Angelo manage to drizzle pure Black Messiah is so sonically pleasure into our brains while using rich, dense and intricate, it was serious, politically charged lyralmost worth the 15-year wait. It ics? How does he go so smoothly sounds like it took a lifetime to from “1000 Deaths,” with its fiery assemble—it was recorded over sevMalcolm X speech intro, to “The eral years—yet it somehow perfectly Charade,” an uplifting, follows D’Angelo’s previmodern Prince power ous record, the equally jam? How does he funky Voodoo. What make old-timey horns might his music sound on “Sugah Daddy” and like if he’d cranked out twangy blues picking on several albums over these “The Door” sound so years? Or did D’Angelo fresh? How jealous was need to endure the trials André 3000 when he of his long exile in order D’Angelo first heard the viscous to craft Black Messiah? and the thump and liquid phanThose are only a few of vanguard tom guitars on “Prayer?” the questions that spring Black Messiah Voodoo crystallized to mind after several lisaaaab the neo-soul movement tenings of this masterof its era, but today, piece, originally set for there’s nothing like Black Messiah. release next year but bumped up by It’s too confident and diffuse to be the artist’s need to use his music to compared. All we can do is listen comment on our current national and learn and enjoy. –Brock Radke unrest. Others include: How does

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Don’t press play on Nicki Minaj’s third studio album expecting to hear the same woman who brutally cameo’d on Kanye West’s “Monster” back in 2010. Nor is she the cut-and-dry pop queen who Godzilla’d up the Billboard charts with “Super Bass” and “Starships” shortly thereafter. The Pinkprint is the next step. And propelling it forward is one of the nastiest collections of producers to come together on a record, its starting lineup comprising the producers behind an absurd amount of Grammy nominations over the last few years: Alex da Kid (Imagine Dragons), Will.i.am (The Black Eyed Peas), and Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, damn near everyone else). While the producer talent is a major component of a modern record’s success, Minaj isn’t on autopilot. ¶ Besides the most blown-up, blown-out single, the “Baby Got Back”-sampled “Anaconda,” the record is almost entirely wistful and introspective. Now Minaj points her barrel inward, blasting away at her own organs, painting pictures of inner warfare instead of the overdone battle-wage on the “hater” shadow council—not terribly far from Young Money labelmate Drake’s progression into bummerdom. She opens the album paying tribute to a child she aborted in her younger years, and as the record spins on, her poppier hits are the sharpest, the most painful, and the most candid—or as candid as the spotlight allows. –Max Plenke

D’Angelo by denise truscello/wireimage

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A&E | Short Takes Special screenings Civil Rights Film Festival 1/3, film screenings, panel discussions, more, noon-5 pm, free. West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702507-3989. Erotic Movie Night Fri, 7 pm, free. Erotic Heritage Museum, 3275 Industrial Road, 702-794-4000. Midnight Brewvies Mon, movie plus popcorn, midnight, free. Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, 702-272-0000. The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1/3, augmented by live cast and audience participation, 10 pm, $9. Theaters: TC. Info: rhpsvegas.com. Sci Fi Center Mon, Cinemondays, 8 pm, free. 12/25, Doctor Who Christmas Special, 6 pm, free. 12/27, Phantasm, The Rocky Horror Picture Show with live shadow cast, 8 pm, $9. 5077 Arville St., 702-7924335, thescificenter.com. Tuesday Afternoon at the Bijou Tue, 1 pm, free. 1/6, Some Came Running. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-507-3400.

New this week Big Eyes aaacc Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Danny Huston. Directed by Tim Burton. 105 minutes. Rated PG-13. See review Page 63. Theaters: AL, ORL, PAL, RR, SF, SP, ST, TS, VS Chinnadana Nee Kosam (Not reviewed) Nithiin, Mishti, Nassar. Directed by A. Karunakaran. 140 minutes. Not rated. In Telugu with English subtitles. Worldspanning romantic thriller. Theaters: ST The Gambler aabcc Mark Wahlberg, Brie Larson, Michael K. Williams. Directed by Rupert Wyatt. 111 minutes. Rated R. See review Page 62. Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, COL, DI, FH, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SF, SHO, SP, SS, ST, TS, TX, VS The Imitation Game aaacc Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode. Directed by Morten Tyldum. 114 minutes. Rated PG-13. See review Page 64. Theaters: DTS, GVR, ST, TS, VS Into the Woods aaacc James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep. Directed by Rob Marshall. 124 minutes. Rated PG. See review Page 62. Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, COL, FH, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SF, SHO, SP, SS, ST, TS, TX, VS Mukunda (Not reviewed) Varun Tej, Pooja Hegde, Prakash Raj. Directed by Srikanth Addala. 142 minutes. Not rated. In Telugu with English subtitles. Tej stars as a volleyball player. Theaters: ST Unbroken aabcc Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Miyavi. Directed by Angelina Jolie. 137 minutes. Rated PG-13. See review Page 63. Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, DI, DTS, FH, GVL, GVR, ORL, PAL, RP, SC, SF, SHO, SP, SS, TS, TX

> ghost girl Phoebe Fox in The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death, opening January 2.

New JANUARY 2 The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (Not reviewed) Helen McCrory, Jeremy Irvine, Phoebe Fox. Directed by Tom Harper. 98 minutes. Rated PG-13. Evacuated from London during World War II, a group of schoolchildren take refuge in a haunted house.

Now playing Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day aabcc Ed Oxenbould, Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner. Directed by Miguel Arteta. 81 minutes. Rated PG. In order to turn Judith Viorst’s 1972 children’s book into a live-action feature, producers have abandoned almost everything about it except the concept of a bad day, which now extends to young Alexander’s entire family. Viorst’s book is a beloved classic; the movie is destined for afternoon filler on the Disney Channel. –JB Theaters: TC Annie aaccc Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne, Cameron Diaz. Directed by Will Gluck. 118 minutes. Rated PG. This new film version of the 1977 Broadway musical about an adorable orphan (Wallis) who melts the heart of a high-powered industrialist (Foxx) uses fewer than half of the original songs. The insipid material isn’t improved by equally cloying new songs, crass product placement, dated pop-culture jokes and movie stars who can’t sing. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, COL, DI, FH, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SHO, SP, SS, TS, TX Big Hero 6 aabcc Voices of Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, T.J.

66 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

Miller. Directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams. 108 minutes. Rated PG. Based loosely on an obscure Marvel comic book, this Disney animated adventure features a bright, friendly world and some exciting action sequences, plus a very entertaining character in cuddly robot Baymax. But its superhero-team origin story is bland and familiar, with Scooby-Doo-level plotting and underdeveloped characters. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, CH, COL, DI, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SP, TS, TX Birdman aaabc Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. 119 minutes. Rated R. Keaton gets a much-needed comeback vehicle in Iñárritu’s entertaining chamber piece, playing a washed-up actor—famous for playing a Batman-like superhero called Birdman—who’s now directing and starring in a chaotic Broadway play. Seemingly composed of a single continous shot, the film also boasts Norton, Watts and Andrea Riseborough as fellow actors. –MD Theaters: GVR, VS The Book of Life aaccc Voices of Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum. Directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez. 95 minutes. Rated PG. This animated movie tells a bland story about a love triangle connected to the Mexican Day of the Dead. With corny jokes, flat dialogue, a thin plot, blocky animation and a soundtrack full of lazily mariachi-fied versions of pop songs, it’s a weak representation of a rich cultural tradition. –JB Theaters: TC Dracula Untold abccc Luke Evans, Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper. Directed by Gary Shore. 92 minutes. Rated PG-13. Focused on the title character before he was worth

making a movie about, Untold takes place in the 15th century, with Vlad the Impaler (Evans) going to unspeakable lengths to defend his homeland of Transylvania. Untold is a generic medieval action epic, filled with garish CGI clutter and ironically bloodless violence. –JB Theaters: TC Dumb and Dumber To abccc Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle. Directed by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. 109 minutes. Rated PG-13. Dim-witted friends Harry (Daniels) and Lloyd (Carrey) return to search for Harry’s long-lost daughter. Directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly do their best to recapture the first movie’s appeal 20 years later, but the effort comes across as desperate and sad, with meager laughs and sloppy storytelling. –JB Theaters: DI, ST, TX, VS The Equalizer aabcc Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. 131 minutes. Rated R. Washington is convincingly worldweary and taciturn as a former government operative, living a quiet life until he decides to take on the men who beat up a local prostitute (Moretz). Washington’s wry presence enlivens what can be a drab, dreary film, an overlong adaptation of the 1980s TV series. –JB Theaters: TC, VS Exodus: Gods and Kings aaccc Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Ben Kingsley. Directed by Ridley Scott. 150 minutes. Rated PG-13. Exodus lacks the boldness and personality of Darren Aronofsky’s recent biblical film Noah, instead plodding dutifully through the story of Moses’ liberation of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. Not that the movie doesn’t deviate from and embellish the biblical narrative, but it does so

only in service of typical blockbuster bombast. –JB Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, COL, DI, FH, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SF, SHO, SS, ST, TS, TX, VS Foxcatcher aabcc Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo. Directed by Bennett Miller. 134 minutes. Rated R. Carell gives an uncharacteristically dramatic performance (wearing a big prosthetic nose) as John E. du Pont in this fictionalized version of a real-life tragedy. Tatum and Ruffalo are better still, but the movie huffs and puffs to freight a fairly banal case history with Meaning. –MD Theaters: DTS, RR, SC, TS Fury aaacc Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman. Directed by David Ayer. 135 minutes. Rated R. Five American soldiers take on what seems like the entire SS in this ultraviolent World War II epic, written and directed by David Ayer (End of Watch). At once refreshingly old-fashioned and disturbingly modern, Fury is perched midway between grave and grotesque, and constantly threatens to topple over. –MD Theaters: ORL, ST, VS Gone Girl aaabc Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Kim Dickens. Directed by David Fincher. 145 minutes. Rated R. Fincher turns Gillian Flynn’s nasty pulp novel about a missing Missouri housewife (Pike) and her suspicious husband (Affleck) into a meticulous, often riveting thriller, which streamlines some of the novel’s most excessive elements. It’s a solid, sometimes seriously unsettling movie, with a number of very good performances, but it’s still second-tier Fincher. –JB Theaters: COL, SC, ST, TC The Hobbit: The Battle of the

A&E | Short Takes Five Armies aabcc Martin Freeman, Luke Evans, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen. Directed by Peter Jackson. 144 minutes. Rated PG-13. The conclusion of Jackson’s three-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel is underwhelming, dispatching with the previous films’ main villain in the first 10 minutes and then turning to an interminable battle. The title character spends most of the time on the sidelines, and the attempted gradneur is mostly empty. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, DI, FH, GVL, GVR, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SHO, SP, SS, TS, TX The Homesman aaacc Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Grace Gummer. Directed by Tommy Lee Jones. 122 minutes. Rated R. Jones’ latest Western teams drifter George (Jones) with hardy frontier woman Mary Bee (Swank) to transport three mentally unstable women from Nebraska to Iowa. The dynamic between the dedicated Mary Bee and the opportunistic George is the stuff of a thousand buddy movies, but Jones treats it with enough delicacy to feel genuine. –JB Theaters: COL, VS Horrible Bosses 2 abccc Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day. Directed by Sean Anders. 108 minutes. Rated R. After not actually killing their bosses, friends Nick (Bateman), Kurt (Sudeikis) and Dale (Day) go into business for themselves, but when they get screwed over by an investor, they conspire to kidnap his son. The lazy, tasteless jokes are matched by the haphazard plotting, which recycles several elements from the first movie. –JB Theaters: COL, DI, FH, ORL, PAL, SF, SP, SS, ST, VS The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 aaacc Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth. Directed by Francis Lawrence. 123 minutes. Rated PG-13. After enduring the titular tournament of death twice now, headstrong teenager Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) has moved on to fighting directly against her totalitarian government. Mockingjay may lack the action and excitement of the previous two movies, but it makes up for it in greater emotional and thematic resonance. –JB Theaters: AL, CH, FH, GVR, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SF, SP, SS, ST, TS, TX, VS Interstellar aaacc Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain. Directed by Christopher Nolan. 169 minutes. Rated PG-13. Nolan’s three-hour, effects-heavy sci-fi epic (about the search for a new planet for humanity to inhabit) turns out to be a soft-hearted plea for the power of love, ultimately relying on sentimental platitudes. At the same time, Nolan creates overwhelming, often breathtaking suspense in a number of astonishing set pieces. –JB Theaters: AL, COL, PAL, RR, SC, SF, SS, ST, TS, TX John Wick aaabc Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen. Directed by Chad Stahelski. 96 minutes. Rated R. Retired assassin John Wick (Reeves) takes on the entire Russian mob in this silly but stylish revenge thriller. Director Stahelski (a veteran stunt coordinator) stages a number of fluid action sequences, mixing brutality with clarity and just enough wit. –JB Theaters: ST, TC The Maze Runner aaccc Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Directed by Wes Ball. 113 minutes. Rated PG-13.

Based on yet another young adult sci-fi book series, The Maze Runner is set in a mysterious world where teenage boys with no memories try to escape a deadly maze. The plot never gets out of second gear, and the eventual answers are meager and unfulfilling. –JB Theaters: TC Night at the Musem: Secret of the Tomb aaccc Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Dan Stevens. Directed by Shawn Levy. 98 minutes. Rated PG. Made from the “kids-won’t-care-how-badly-weslapped-this-thing-together” school of filmmaking, the third movie in the Night at the Museum series brings the usual cast to London to save their magic tablet. The movie brings up ideas and lets them drop, clumsy cutting ruins most of the jokes, and visual effects are plentiful and lifeless. –JMA Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, COL, DI, FH, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SHO, SP, SS, TS, TX Nightcrawler aaaac Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed. Directed by Dan Gilroy. 117 minutes. Rated R. Gyllenhaal gives what may be the best performance of his career as Louis Bloom, a freelance videographer who sells footage of gruesome violence to the local TV news. Nightcrawler is a dark, funny and often brilliant character study about a truly reprehensible character. –JB Theaters: VS Ouija ABCCC Olivia Cooke, Ana Coto, Daren Kagasoff. Directed by Stiles White. 90 minutes. Rated PG-13. Cheap jump scares are the hallmark of this toothless horror movie that doubles as a toy commercial, about a group of teens who accidentally awaken an evil spirit with their Ouija board. The characters are one-dimensional, the plot is rushed, and the scares are tame and perfunctory. –JB Theaters: TC, TX Penguins of Madagascar aabcc Voices of Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights. Directed by Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith. 92 minutes. Rated PG. The no-nonsense penguins who stole scenes in the Madagascar animated movies get their own feature, proving again that characters who are funny in small doses aren’t necessarily suited to carrying entire movies. The penguins’ madcap adventures fighting an evil octopus are occasionally cute and occasionally clever, but mostly just end up exhausting. –JB Theaters: CH, COL, FH, RP, RR, SF, SS, ST, TS, TX, VS PK (Not reviewed) Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, Sushant Singh Rajput. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani. 153 minutes. Not rated. In Hindi with English subtitles. A childlike stranger visits the big city and causes chaos. Theaters: ST, VS St. Vincent aabcc Bill Murray, Jaeden Lieberher, Melissa McCarthy. Directed by Theodore Melfi. 103 minutes. Rated PG-13. Murray plays a rare leading role in this formulaic buddy movie about a cranky gambler who bonds with the precocious son (newcomer Lieberher) of his new nextdoor neighbor (McCarthy). He’s fun to watch, as ever, but it’s dispiriting to see him wasting his energy on forgettable fluff. –MD Theaters: DI The Theory of Everything aaccc Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, David Thewlis. Directed by James Marsh. 123 minutes. Rated PG-13. Redmayne gives an impressive physical performance as famed theoretical physicist Stephen

> good dog Quvenzhané Wallis as Annie, along with canine co-star Sandy.

Hawking, conveying a vivid sense of a lively mind trapped inside an unresponsive body. Alas, the movie, which gives science short shrift, is primarily about Hawking’s bland relationship with his first wife (Jones). –MD Theaters: BS, COL, SC, SP, TS

with a contrived third-act twist, gimmicky celebrity cameos and ill-advised subplots. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, DI, GVR, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SP, SS, TS, TX

Wild aaaac Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski. Directed by JeanMarc Vallée. 115 minutes. Rated R. Witherspoon and director Vallée clearly have great respect for author Cheryl Strayed and her attempt to leave behind a troubled past while hiking more than a thousand miles. They approach the story with grace and subtlety, downplaying big revelations and instead focusing on the small steps that Cheryl (Witherspoon) took. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, COL, DTS, ORL, PAL, SC, SF, SP, TS, TX

Top Five aaacc Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union. Directed by Chris Rock. 101 minutes. Rated R. Rock gives his best performance as a struggling movie star. At best, Top Five is like a cross between Funny People and Before Sunrise, with smart observations about settling, in both career and romance. At worst, it’s a lame romantic comedy

Whiplash aaabc Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser. Directed by Damien Chazelle. 107 minutes. Rated R. Teller plays an aspiring jazz drummer who has either the good or bad fortune to fall under the tutelage of a sadistic teacher-conductor (Simmons). There’s not much to the film apart from their weird sort of S&M relationship, but with two lead actors this formidable, that’s enough. –MD Theaters: VS

Theaters

Summerlin 2070 Park Center Drive, 702-221-2283

(SF) Century Santa Fe Station 4949 N. Rancho Drive, 702-655-8178

(AL) Regal Aliante 7300 Aliante Parkway, North Las Vegas, 702-221-2283

(FH) Regal Fiesta Henderson 777 W. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson, 702-221-2283

(SHO) United Artists Showcase 3769 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-221-2283

(BS) Regal Boulder Station 4111 Boulder Highway, 702-221-2283

(GVR) Regal Green Valley Ranch 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson, 702-221-2283

(PAL) Brenden Theatres at the Palms 4321 W. Flamingo Road, 702-507-4849 (CAN) Galaxy Cannery 2121 E. Craig Road, North Las Vegas, 702-639-9779 (CH) Cinedome Henderson 851 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, 702-566-1570 (COL) Regal Colonnade 8880 S. Eastern Ave., 702-221-2283 (DI) Las Vegas Drive-In 4150 W. Carey Ave., North Las Vegas, 702-646-3565 (DTS) Regal Downtown

(GVL) Galaxy Green Valley Luxury+ 4500 E. Sunset Road, Henderson, 702442-0244

JMA Jeffrey M. Anderson; JB Josh Bell; MD Mike D’Angelo

(SP) Century South Point 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-260-4061 (SC) Century Suncoast 9090 Alta Drive, 702-869-1880 (SS) Regal Sunset Station 1301-A W. Sunset Road, Henderson, 702-221-2283

(ORL) Century Orleans 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., 702-889-1220

(TX) Regal Texas Station 2101 Texas Star Lane, North Las Vegas, 702-221-2283

(RP) AMC Rainbow Promenade 2321 N. Rainbow Blvd., 888-262-4386

(TS) AMC Town Square 6587 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-362-7283

(RR) Regal Red Rock 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-221-2283

(TC) Regency Tropicana Cinemas 3330 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-438-3456

(ST) Century Sam’s Town 5111 Boulder Highway, 702-547-1732

(VS) Regal Village Square 9400 W. Sahara Ave., 702-221-2283

For complete movie times, visit lasvegasweekly.com/movies/listings.

December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

Calendar LISTINGS YOU CAN PLAN YOUR LIFE BY!

> NEW VERSE Local poets Lee Mallory (pictured) and Lana Hanson are working with performance venues and First Friday to “take poetry directly to the people.”

WORDS ON THE STREET First Friday has food trucks aplenty, but none serving “poet meat.” That will change January 2 as Las Vegas First Friday Poets creates a stage for established talents and bold rookies in the versespinning scene. LVFFP reimagines an event that ran in the monthly culture fest from ’06 to ’08, and producer/performance poet Lee Mallory hopes it will energize the community and “focus the full power of what poetry can be.” Why is this the right stage? First Friday represents this beautiful cross-section of locals, tourists, everybody that we can appeal to as an audience and change their minds about poetry; that

LIVE MUSIC T H E ST R I P & N E A R BY Brooklyn Bowl Who’s Bad DIzzy Wright, Phora, Euroz, SeDrew Price 12/27, 9 pm, $$22-$25. Bro Safari, Snails, Kayzo 12/28, 7:30 pm, $35-$40. YG, Eric Bellinger, Younge Suave 12/29, 9 pm, $64-$99. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue 12/30, 9 pm, $28-$33. The Roots 12/31, 9 pm, $83; 1/2-1/3, 9 pm, $44+. Spare Time 1/2, midnight, free. JR Aquino, Jeff Bernat, Beat Junkies Sound 1/6, 8:30 pm, $21-$49. Katchafire, Iba Mahr 1/11, 9 pm, $25+. Turkuaz Sophistaphunk 1/13, 8:30 pm, free.

it’s not boring, irrelevant stuff— moon, tune, June—that is just embroidered language and has no meaning in their lives. … Vegas is really a place of illusion and artifice and pretense and, some would say, falsity, ... [and] poetry lifts us, but it also grounds us in the face of all this fantasy. What kind of poetry are we talking? From hip-hop to general

spoken word to energized, highquality performance poetry. It can run the gamut. My motto for years and years has been: Anything goes as long as it’s good. Which means if somebody wants to get up there and read a Shakespearean sonnet and make

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony 1/18, 8 pm, $30-$35. Cody Canada and the Departed 1/19, 8:30 pm, $17+. March Fourth Marching Band 1/25, 9 pm, free. Keller Williams & The Motet 1/31, 9 pm, $11-$17. The Wailers 2/2-2/3, 9 pm, $22-$28. Jack White 2/4, 9 pm, $65. Hellyeah, Devour the Day, Like A Storm 2/6, 8 pm, $28-$33. Tribal Seeds 2/7, 9 pm, $22+. Iration 2/16, 8 pm, $26-$28. Flight Facilities 2/28, 9 pm, $22+. Railroad Earth 3/22, 8 pm, $22-$28. The String Cheese Incident 2/13-2/15, 8 pm, $55+. Lotus 2/14-2/15, midnight, $17. Chronixx, Protoje, Kelissa, Keznamdi 2/20, 9 pm, $17. Phantogram, Talk In Tongues 2/23, 8 pm, $28. Milky Chance 4/9, 9 pm, $18-$22. Clean Bandit 4/10, 9 pm, $22-

it count, with sincerity and depth and according it all the respect that it deserves, that’s great. If they want to present free verse. … If a retired nurse wants to stand up and read haiku. Why is sharing in this medium important? You can do so many

things with poetry, but the biggest thing you can do is use it as a way to get us back together, to bind us together again as humankind. –Erin Ryan

LAS VEGAS FIRST FRIDAY POETS January 2, 5-11 p.m., free. Colorado Ave. between Third St. & Casino Center Blvd.

$25. Zappa Plays Zappa 4/25, 9 pm, $39-$72. OK GO 4/28, 9 pm, $22-$28. The Funk Jam, Wed, 10 pm, free. The Linq, 702-862-2695. The Colosseum Jennifer Lopez 12/31, 9:30 pm, $175. Elton John 1/161/20, 1/23-1/24, 3/20-3/21, 3/23-3/24, 3/27-3/28, 3/30-3/31, 4/3-4/4, 4/6-4/7, 4/10-4/11, 4/13-4/14, 6:30 pm, $55$500. Rod Stewart 1/27, 1/30-1/31, 2/3, 2/6-2/7, 2/10, 2/14-2/15, 7:30 pm, $49-$250. Reba, Brooks & Dunn 6/24, 6/26-6/27, 7/1, 7/3, 7/4, 12/2, 12/4, 12/6, 12/9, $60-$205. The Who 9/19, 10:30 pm, $96-$501. Caesars Palace, 702731-7333. The Cosmopolitan (Chelsea) Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga 12/30, 7 pm; 12/31, 9 pm, $125+. Eric Church,

Halestorm 1/16-1/17, 7 pm, $65+. Billy Idol, Broncho 2/21, 8 pm, $50+. Pentatonix 2/28, 8 pm, $20-$30. Hozier 4/9, 9 pm, $30+. 702-6987000. Dive Bar The Casualties, Rule of Thumb, IDFI, Brutal Resistance 12/31, 8 pm, $25-$30. Barbwire Dolls, The Vermin, Evil Beaver 1/3, 9 pm, $10-$12. The Toasters, Mustard Plug 2/6, 9 pm, $10-$12. 4110 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702-586-3483. Double Down Agent 86, Kreepmyme 12/26, 10 pm. The Negative Nancys 12/27, 10 pm. Uberschall 12/28, midnight. The Boss Martians, Thee Swank Bastards, Professor Rex Dart 12/31, 10 pm. SquidHat Records Showcase ft. Sounds of Threat, Surrounded By Thieves, Guilty By Association, Attack Ships on Fire, The New Waves, Eliza Battle, The CGs, Franks & Deans, War Called Home, False Cause 1/23-1/24, 10:30 pm, free. Bargain DJ Collective Mon. Unique Massive Tue, midnight. The Juju Man Wed, midnight. Punk Rock Bingo first Wed of the month. Blooze Brothers Third Sun of the month. Shows 10 pm, free unless noted. 640 Paradise Rd., 702-791-5775. Flamingo Olivia Newton-John 12/3012/31, 1/1-1/3, 3/3-3/7, 3/10-3/14, 3/173/21, 5/26-5/30, 6/2-6/6, 6/9-6/13, 7/7-7/11, 7/14-7/18, 7/21-7/25, 8/4-8/8, 8/11-8/15, 8/18-8/22, 9/1-9/5, 9/8-9/12, 7:30 pm, $69-$139. 702-733-3333. Gilley’s Scotty Alexander 12/26-12/27, 10 pm. Sam Riddle Thu, 9 pm. Shows $10-$20 after 10 pm.Treasure Island, 702-894-7722. Hard Rock Live Partynextdoor 12/30, 9 pm, $29-$65. Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, Authority Zero 2/14, 6:30 pm, $23-$25. Hard Rock Cafe (Strip), 3771 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-733-7625. House of Blues Otherwise 12/27, 7:30 pm, $20-$23. Boogie Knights 12/29, 8 pm, $20. R. Kelly 12/30, 7:30 pm, $80-$140. Graceland Ninjaz & Roxy Gunn Project 12/31, 7 pm, $15-$65. Willi Nelson & Family 1/9-1/10, 7:30 pm $55-$111. Carlos Santana 1/21, 1/231/25, 1/28-1/31, 5/20, 5/22-5/24, 5/27, 5/29-5/31, $90-$350, 8 pm. Guster 1/22, 7 pm, $27-$29. Wale 1/27, 7:30 pm, $55-$111. Ru Paul’s Drag Race 2/1, 7 pm, $30-$50. Silverstein 2/3, 5 pm, $18-$22. Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth 2/6, 5 pm, $28-$30. Badfish, Phil and the Blanx 2/7, 7 pm, $24-$26. Marilyn Manson 2/14, 7:30 pm, $60. Kalin & Myles 2/19, 6 pm, $18-$20. Dr. Dog 2/21, 8 pm, $25$30. In Flames 2/22, $25-$28, 5:30 pm. Taking Back Sunday 2/24, 5 pm, $28-$29. Cold War Kids 2/28, 6:30 pm, $20-$23. Bayside, Senses Fail, Man Overboard, Seaway 3/13, 7 pm, $20. Nightwish 4/30, 7 pm, $43-$78. Rhyme N Rhythm Mon, 9 pm, free. Live swing music Tue, 9 pm, free. Blues Wed, 8 pm, free. Phil Stendek Thu, 8 pm, free. Singles Sat, 9 pm, free. Gospel Brunch Sun, 10 am & 1 pm, $27-$50. PJ Barth Trio Sun, 8 pm, free. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. The Joint Arash, 25 Band, DJ Alex 12/25, 8 pm, $50. Shahram, Andy, Mansour, DJ Alex 12/26, 8 pm, $50. Anisong 1/16, 7 p.m., $50+. Seether, Papa Roach, Kyng, Islander 2/7, 7 pm, $40+. Rascal Flatts 2/25, 2/272/28, 3/4, 3/6-3/7, 3/11, 3/13-3/14, 8 pm, $40+. WIdespread Panic w/ Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe 3/27 w/ Chris Robinson Brotherhood 3/28, 8 pm, $55+. Sixx: A.M., Apocalyptica 4/10,

8 pm, $35. Kenny Chesney 4/3-4/4. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5222. Mandalay Bay (Events Center) Googoosh & Ebi 12/27, 9 pm, $86$423. Maroon 5 12/30-31, 8 pm, $100-$225. Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull 1/31, 7:30 pm, $50-$200. Bob Seger 2/21, 8 pm, $75-$125. Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Tyga 3/7, 8 pm, $50-$126. Nickelback 7/3, 8 pm, $25-$105. 5 Seconds of Summer 7/17, 7:30 pm, $50-$100. 702-632-7777. MGM (Grand Garden Arena) Joey Yung 12/27, 8 pm, $88-$168. Justin Timberlake 1/1/-1/2, 8 pm, $90-$280. Fleetwood Mac 4/11, 8 pm, $50-$200. Iggy Azalea, Nick Jonas, Tinashe, DJ Wizz Kidd 4/25, $40-$70. Bette Midler 5/22, 8 pm, $95-$310. (Crown Royal Gold Buckle Zone) 702-8917777. Mirage Terry Fator: A Country Christmas Thru 12/25, Mon-Thu, 7:30 pm, $60-$150. Boys II Men 12/2612/28, 7:30 pm, $39.99-$59.99. 702792-7777. Orleans Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 12/29-12/30, 8 pm, $20+. Disco Inferno 12/31, 10 pm, $75. Grand Funk Railroad 1/10-1/11, 8 pm, $44-$66. Rickey Smiley 1/17-1/18, 8 pm, $44$66. Helen Reddy 1/24-1/25, 8 pm, $44-$66. Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band 2/7-2/8, 8 pm, $30-$61. NiteKings Wed, 4 pm. Rick Duarte Fri, 9 pm. Acoustic Den Sat, 9 pm. Shows free unless noted. 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., 702-365-7075. Palace Station (Jack’s) Peter Love Trio Fri, 9 pm. Willplay Sat, 9 pm. Shows free unless noted. 702-547-5300. Palazzo (The Palazzo Theatre) Frank: The Man. The Music. ft. Bob Anderson Tue-Thu, Sat, 8 pm; Fri 9 pm, Beginning 1/24, $72. (Laguna Champagne Bar) Jimmy Hopper Thu-Sun, 9:30 pm, free. 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-414-4300. Palms (The Lounge) Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns Mon, 10:30 pm, $10. 702-944-3200. The Pearl Styx 1/18, 8 pm, $33-$83. Ringo Starr 3/15, 7:30 pm, $73-$153. Joe Bonamassa 5/1-5/2, 8 pm, $89$130. The Moody Blues 5/3, 8 pm, $63-$133. Palms, 702-942-7777. Piero’s Pia Zadora Fri & Sat, 9 pm, two-drink minimum. 355 Convention Center Dr., 702-369-2305. Planet Hollywood Britney Spears 12/27-12/28, 12/30-12/31, 1/28, 1/30-1/31, 2/4, 2/6-2/7, 2/11, 2/13-2/14, 2/17-2/18, 2/20-2/21, 2/25, 2/27-2/28, $60-$195. Ricardo Arjona 3/15, 8 pm, $59-$181. (855) 702-234-7469. Riviera George Bugatti 12/31, 11 pm, free. 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 855468-6748. Stratosphere David Perrico and Pop Evolution First & third Tue, 10:30 pm, $20. 800-998-6937. Silver Sevens All shows 9:30 pm, free. 4100 Paradise, 702-733-7000. Tuscany Danny Lozada Sun & Thu 10 pm, free. Kenny Davidsen Celebrity Piano Bar Fri, 10 pm, free. Live music Sat, 10 pm., free. 255 E. Flamingo Rd., 702-893-8933. Vinyl High Voltage 12/27, 10:30 pm, free. Elvis Monroe 12/28, 9:30 pm, free. Spandex Nation 12/29, 10:30 pm. Face the Funk 12/30, 10:30 pm, free. Sevendust, Silversage 12/31, 10 pm, $67. Empire Records 1/2, 10:30 pm, free. Orianthi, The Bayonets 1/3, 9:30 pm, $22+. Steve Byrne 1/9, 9 pm, $45+. Elvis Monroe 1/16, 9:30 pm, free. Indigenous 1/28, 9:30 pm,

CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE CALENDAR LISTINGS AT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS 68 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 25, 2014–JANUARY 7, 2015

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVE MARCUS

Calendar $35. Brett Scallions 2/6, 11:30 pm, $30. The Glorious Sons, Luminoth, Systemec 2/18, 8 pm, $22. Machine Head 2/19, 9 pm, $23+. Tiger Box 2/20, 9 pm, $25+. That 1 Guy 2/28, 9:30 pm, $13+. Ed Kowalczyk 4/2, 9:30 pm, $40. Nekromantix 4/4, 9 pm, $20+. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5000. Wynn (Eastside Lounge) Michael Monge WedThu, 9 pm, $10. 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd.

D ow n tow n Artifice 1025 S. 1st St., Ste. 100., 702-4896339. Backstage Bar & Billiards Rewind 12/27, midnight, free. Smashing Alice 12/31, 7 pm, free. Affiance, Kingdom of Giants, Wretched Sky, Within the Cochlea 1/11, 7 pm, $11-$13. Jason Cruz and Howl, Des and the Cendents 1/16, 8 pm, $10-$12. Fever Red 1/28, 8 pm, $5. Hunter Beard, Keddy Mac, Dub-Raw, JMZ Dean, Ekoh, Elmer Demond 1/31, 8 pm, $10-$15. The Blasters, The Yawpers 2/5, 8 pm, $12-$15. Pinback 2/12, 8 pm, $16-$20. Fishbone, The Untouchables 3/1, 8 pm, $21-$25. 601 E. Fremont St., 702-382-2227. Bar & Bistro Lounge Orphans 12/27, 7 pm, free. Long Beach Rehab 12/31, 7 pm, $10. Out of the Desert Bluegrass Band Sun, noon, free. Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., 702-202-6060. Beauty Bar The Good Foot: Famous Night Out 12/27, 9 pm. King of the City 12/28, 9 pm. Under the Moon 1/2, 10 pm. Chain and the Gang, Mercy Music 1/3, 9 pm. Midnight Affair, Personal Touch 1/15, 9 pm. Violet 1/16, 9 pm. Beat Academy League 1/18, 9 pm. Payola Presley, Willa 1/25, 9 pm, free. Jackson Taylor & The Sinners, The AllTogethers, Whiskey Breath 1/31, 9 pm, $5. 517 Fremont St., 702-598-3757. The Bunkhouse Beatles Tribute Night 12/26, 8 pm, $5. Sweetest Morphine 12/27, 8 pm, $22-$25. Gloom Bloom, The Astaires, No Tides, The Night Times 12/28, 8:30 pm, $5. Sportello, Cameron Calloway 12/30, 8 pm, $5. Crazy Chief, Rusty Maples, Same Sex Mary, Mercy Music 12/31, 9 pm, free. Silversage, The Hidden Lines 1/2, 9 pm, $5. The Grenades, The Perks, Newlywed 1/3, 9:30 pm, $5. Red Oblivion, Midnight Clover, Hope’s Edge, Honor Amongst Thieves 1/4, 8:30 pm, $5. Battle Born Poetry Slam 1/8, 7 pm, $5. RnR 1/10, 9 pm, $5. Ditch Diggers, Eliza Battle, Alan Six 1/11, 8:30 pm, $5. Same Sex Mary, Max Pain and the Groovies 1/15, 9 pm, $5. Kyle Gass Band 1/17, 8 pm, $10-$15. Moonboots, The Astaires, Newsense, High Noon Narrative 1/18, 8:30 pm, $5. Wax Pig Melting, Late For Dinner 1/22, 9 pm, $5. Mini Mansions, The Growl, 1776 1/24, 9 pm, $15-$20. Mobile Death Camp, Eagle Claw, Hated Silence Unleashed 1/25, 9 pm, $5. Helms Alee, Marriages, The Fat Dukes of F*ck 1/27, 9 pm, $8-$10. King Tuff 1/30, 9 pm, $10-$12. Todd Snider, Reed Foehl 1/31, 9:30 pm, $25. Zola Jesus 2/7, 9 pm, $15-$20. The Growlers 2/13, $12-$15. Parlor Mob 2/22, 8 pm, $10-$15. Vegas on the Mic Second Tue of the month, 8 pm, free. 124 S. 11th St., bunkhousedowntown.com. Downtown Container Park Haleamano 12/28, 6 pm. Sportello 12/30, 7 pm. Patty Ascher 12/24, 7 pm. Shows free unless noted. 707 Fremont St, downtowncontainerpark.com. Fremont Country Club Dilated Peoples 1/16, 8 pm, $18-$22. Sheppard 2/23, 9 pm, $26$28. 601 Fremont St., 702-382-6601. Fremont Street Experience Downtown Countdown: Tributepalooza 12/30-1/3, 5 pm. Downtown Las Vegas, vegasexperience.com. Golden Nugget 129 Fremont St., 702-385-7111. Gold Spike 217 Las Vegas Blvd. N., goldspike. com. Griffin Live music Wed, 10 pm, free. 511 Fremont St., 702-382-0577. Hard Hat Lounge New Year’s Eve party 12/31, 3 pm, free. 1675 Industrial Rd., 702384-8987. LVCS Nekromantix, Delta Bombers, The Returners, Deadbeat Vultures, Dead at Midnight, Hard Fall Hearts 12/31, 8 pm, $22-$27. The Dictators NYC, Moto 666, The Psyatics, The Lucky Cheats, Midnight Clover, Circa:Sik 1/10, 8 pm, $12-$15.

Powerman 5000, Hed PE, Knee High Fox, Ne Last Words, Meade Avenue 1/14, 8 pm, $12-$15. 425 Fremont St., 702-382-3531. Mob Bar The Jeremy Cornwell Project Thu, 8 pm. Shaun DeGraff Band Fri, 8 pm. Dueling Pianos Sat, 8 pm. Yvonne Silva Sun, 6 pm. All shows free. 201 N. 3rd St., 702-259-9700. Scullery John Abraham-Steven Lee Project 1/6. Ronnie Fabre Trio 1/13. The Young Lions 1/20. The Hot Club of Jazz 1/28. All shows at 7:30 pm, $15. 150 Las Vegas Blvd., 702-910-2396. The Smith Center Michael Feinstein, Laura Osnes, Jessica Sanchez 12/31, 7:30 pm, $49-$199. Diane Schurr 1/8, 1/9, 7 pm, $35$59. Soul Men ft. Spectrum 1/17, 7 pm, 1/18, 3 pm, $37. Tony Desare 1/23, 7 pm, $39+. Burt Bacharach 1/30, 7:30 pm, $29+. Jackie Evancho 1/31, 7:30 pm, $20-$125. Benjamin D. Hale 1/31, 5 pm, 8 pm, $29+. Tizer 2/132/14, 7 pm, $35+. Engelbert Humperdinck 2/15, 7:30 pm, $29+. Clint Holmes First Fri & Sat, 8:30 pm; first Sun, 2 pm; $35-$45. 361 Symphony Park Ave., 702-749-2000.

The ’Burbs Cannery Celebration of the King’s Life 1/9-1/10, 8 pm; 1/11, noon, $15. DND Project, Fri-Sat, 7 pm, free, Tue-Thu, Sun, 8 pm. 2121 E Craig Rd., 702-507-5700. Eagle Aerie Hall Distinguisher, Words From Aztecs, On Letting Go, Amongnu, Secret Keeper, Twin Cities 12/27, 5:20 pm, $10-$13. Heartist, As Big As Whales, Characters, From Where We Came, Celestria, I Before Giants 1/10, 5:20 pm, $11-$14. Irie, Vocal Venom, Asa, Almost Awake, The Promise Hero, Honor Amongst Thieves, Our Name Our Story 1/16, 5:20 pm, $11-$13. The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Words From Aztecs, Distinguisher, The Devil Who Decieved Them, Bridge Burner 1/26, 5:20 pm, $12$15. Fish Leg, Aenimus, Apparitions, We Gave it Hell, Nocturnal Burial, 16 Hours Remain, Man Made God, Oscillation 2/7, 5 pm, $11-$14. I the Breather, I Before Giants, On Letting Go, IOF, Words From Aztecs 2/19, 5:20 pm, $13-$15. Within the Ruins, We Gave It Hell, Man Made God, 16 Hours Remain, Mephitic Origins, Amongu, Full Fledged 3/27, 5:10 pm, $13-$15. 310 W. Pacific Ave., 702-645-4139. Elixir Stefanrock 12/26. Michael Anthony 12/27. All shows at 9 pm, free. 2920 N. Green Valley Pkwy., 702-272-0000. Fiesta Henderson (Cerveza Lounge) Josh LaCount Wed, 8 pm. (Coco Lounge) Shows 9 pm, free. 702-558-7000. Fiesta Rancho (Club Tequila) Take the Stage Thu, 7 pm. (Cabo Lounge) Shows free unless noted. 702-631-7000. Green Valley Ranch (Drop Bar) Jared Berry Thu, 7 pm. Rick Duarte Fri, 6 pm. Tony Venniro Sat, 6 pm. Ryan Whyte Maloney, Cali Tucker Sun, 9 pm. (Hanks) Dave Ritz Tue, Thu, 6 pm; Sat, 7 pm. Nick Mattera Fri, 6 pm. Jeremy James Sat, 7 pm. Rick Duarte Wed, 6 pm. (Lobby Bar) Shai Peri, Christina L Thu, 8 pm. Christina L Fri, 8 pm. Cayce Andrew Sat, 8 pm. Shows free unless noted. 702-367-2470. Rampart Casino (Grand Ballroom) (Addison’s Lounge) Wes Winters Tue, 6 pm. Mark O’Toole Wed, 6 pm. All shows free unless noted. (J.C.’s Irish Sports Pub) All shows free unless noted. (Round Bar) All shows free unless noted. JW Marriott. 221 N. Rampart Blvd., 702-507-5900. Red Rock (Rocks Lounge) Elvis Monroe 12/31, 10 pm, $20. Michael Lington 1/24, 7 pm, $29-$39. Zowie Bowie Fri, 10 pm. The Dirty Sat, 11 pm, $10. David Perrico Pop Strings Orchestra Every Sat starting 1/10, 11 pm, free. (Onyx) Jared Berry 12/31, 9 pm. Willplay Fri, 8 pm. Tim Catching Sat, 9 pm. The Dirty Sat. 11 pm, $10. (T-Bones) Dave Ritz Wed, 6 pm; Fri, 7 pm. Rick Duarte Thu, 6 pm; Sat, 7 pm. Shows free unless noted. 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-797-7777. Santa Fe Station (Chrome Showroom) Bee Gees Gold 12/31, 9 pm; Fri, 8 pm. Magic of Motown Sat, 10 pm. (Revolver) Bro Country Thu, 8 pm. 4949 N Rancho Dr., 702-6584900. Sienna Italian Authentic Trattoria Vegas Good Fellas Thu, 7:30 pm. Red Velvet Fri-Sat, 8:30 pm. 9500 Sahara Ave., 702-360-3358. Silverton Michael Grimm 1/3, 8 pm, $25.

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MLK Inspiration 1/15, 7 pm, $20. Ronnie MIlsap 1/24, 8 pm, $25. 3333 Blue Diamond Rd., 702-2637777. South Point Dennis Bono Show Thu, 2 pm, free. Wes Winters FriSat, 6 pm, free. Spazmatics Sat, 10:30 pm, $5. 702-797-8005. Suncoast Chadwick Johnson 12/30, 7:30 pm, $20+. Bobby Rydell 1/10-1/11, 7:30 pm, $16+. Mary Wilson 1/17-1/18, 7:30 pm, $16+. Piano Men: A Tribute to Sir Elton John & Billy Joel 1/31, 7:30 pm, $16+. Next Movement Fri, 8 pm, free. 9090 Alta Dr., 702-6367075. Sunset Station (Club Madrid) Nashville Unplugged: Regie Hamm 1/2, 8 pm, $10. Elizabeth Huett 1/9, 8 pm, $10. Tony Arata 1/16, 8 pm, $10. Danny Myrick 1/23, 8 pm, $10. Walt Aldridge 1/30, 8 pm. Voices ft. Ryan Whyte Maloney, Cali Tucker, Jake Worthington, Kristen Merlin, Michael Austin 1/17, 7 pm, $23. Barry Black Fri, 9:30 pm. Zowie Bowie Sat, 10 pm. (Gaudi Bar) Ryan Whyte Maloney, Cali Tucker 12/31, 10 pm; Sat, 7 pm. Willplay Sat, 7 pm. (Rosalita’s) Tony Venniro Fri, 7 pm. Peter Love Sat, 7 pm. (Chrome Showroom) Dennis Wise 1/24, 4 pm & 6 pm, $12.50. Shows free unless noted. 1301 W. Sunset Rd., 702-547-7777. Texas Station (Dallas Events Center) Disco Dynamos 12/26, 8 pm, $15. Greased 12/31, 8 pm, $20. A Tribute to Lennon & McCartney ft. Jim Owens, Tony Kishman 1/16, 8 pm, $15. (A-Bar) Darrin Michaels Fri-Sat, 7 pm. (South Padre) Crossfire Fri, 9 pm. Yellow Brick Road Sat, 9 pm. 702631-1000.

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Adrenaline Sports Bar and Grill Calabrese, The Relapse Symphony, Boiler Makers, Dead at Midnight, Dead Beat Vultures 1/17, 9 pm, $8-$10. Saving Able, Revolve, Hyperion’s Horizon, Obsidian Order, Meade Avenue, Within the Cochlea 1/24, 9 pm, $13-$15. Bow Wow Wow, Midnight Clover, The Unwieldies, Water Landing, Irie 2/7, 8 pm, $8-$10. Mechanical Manson, E.M.D.F., Meade Avenue 2/28, 8 pm, $8-$10. Open Mic Night Thu, 7 pm. 3103 N. Rancho Dr., 645-4139. Arizona Charlie’s (Naughty Ladies Saloon) San Fernando 1/2-1/3, 9 pm. In-a-Fect 1/9-1/10, 9 pm. Jamestown 1/16-1/17, 9 pm. Chris Heers 1/23-1/24, 9 pm. The Good Fellas 1/30-1/31, 9 pm. Jerry Tiffe Fri, 4 pm. (Palace Grand Lounge) Gregg Peterson 1/1-1/4, 1/23-1/24, 9 pm. Chris Heers 1/9-1/10, 9 pm. Desert Outlaws 1/16-1/17, 9 pm. Jamestown 1/30-1/31, 9 pm. Artistic Armory Charity Art Auction Ft. live acoustic acts 1/3, 7 pm. 5087 S. Arville St., 702-5479005. Boomers Live music Wed, 10 pm, $5-$10. Hip Hop Roots Fri, 10 pm, $5. 3200 Sirius Ave., 702-3681863. Bootlegger Bistro 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-313-6778. Boulder Dam Brewing The AllTogethers 12/31. Full Throttle Blues Band 1/2. Bar Nation 1/3. Marty Feick 1/9. Out of the Desert 1/10. Bruskers 1/16. Holes and Hearts 1/17. Mike Wojniak 1/23. American Voodoo 1/24. The All-Togethers 1/30. Phil Friendly Trio 1/31. All shows free unless noted, Fri-Sat, 8 pm; Wed-Thu, 7 pm. 453 Nevada Way, Boulder City, 702-243-2739.

To submit listings: Email listings@gmgvegas.com. Submissions received after Friday will be published in the following week’s issue.

Boulder Station (Railhead) Boulder Blues ft. Kim Simmonds, Savoy Brown 1/15, 7 pm, $5. Jon Anderson 1/17, 7 pm, $19-$45. Bee Gees Gold Fri, 10 pm, $5. El Moreno Carrillo Sun, 11 pm, $5-$10. (Kixx Bar) Joey Vitale Fri, 8 pm. Reflection Sat, 8 pm. 702432-7777. Count’s Vamp’d Burn Unit, Wicked Garden 12/26, 8:30 pm, free. Blue Collar Bastards, Junkhead 12/27, 9:30 pm, free. Count’s 77, Let it Rawk 12/31, 8 pm, $10. Sin City SInners 1/1, 10 pm, free. Outta the Black, The Bones 1/2 9:30 pm, free. The Moby Dicks 1/3, 10 pm, free. Burn Unit 1/8, 8 pm, free. Frank Hannon Power Trio, Tailgun, The Greg Golden Band 1/9, 8:30 pm, $10. John Zito Electric Jam Wed, 9 pm, free. 9:30 pm, free. 6750 W. Sahara, 702-220-8849. The Dillinger The McCraw Band 12/26, 8 pm, free. James Howard Adams 12/27, 8:30 pm, free. Marty Feick Thu, 7 pm. Stefnrock First & third Sat, 8:30 pm, free. 1224 Arizona St., 702-293-4001. Dispensary Lounge Uli Geissendoerfer Trio Fri-Sat, 10 pm. 2451 E. Tropicana, 702-4586343. Eastside Cannery (Marilyn’s Lounge) Claudine Castro Band Mon, 10 pm. Phoenix Wed, 9 pm. Spazmatics Sun, 9 pm. Shows free unless noted. 702-507-5700. M Resort (M Pavillion) Elvis, The Aloha Concert Tribute 3/14, 8/8, 7 pm, $30-$42. Shows free with drink purchase. M Resort, 800745-3000. Milo’s Cellar Live Music Thur, 8 pm, free. 538 Nevada Hwy., 702293-9540. Ron DeCar’s Event Center Michael Grimm High Strung Cabaret 12/27, 8 pm, $21-$31. Jimmy Wilkins New Life Jazz Orchestra 1/3, 2/7, 1 pm, $15. Bruce Harper Big Band, Elisa Fiorillo 1/10, 2/21, 1 pm, $15. Michael Evans Big Band 1/17, 1 pm, $15. Merv Harding Talk of the Town 1/24, 1 pm, $15. Michael Ray Tyler Orchestra 1/31, 1 pm, $15. Charles McNeal Big Band 2/28, 1 pm, $15. Jazz Conversations Big Band Series Sat, 1 pm, $15. Swingin’ Sundays Sun, 5 pm, $10. 1201 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-384-0771. Sam’s Town Sonny Turner 1/24, 8 pm, $22. NiteKings Sun, 7 pm, free. Shows free unless noted. 5111 Boulder Hwy., 702-284-7777. Star of the Desert Arena Bell Biv Devoe 12/27, 8 pm, $28-$450. Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, 31900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Primm, 800-386-7867.

Comedy Louie Anderson Wed-Sat, 7 pm, $60-$102. Plaza, 702-386-2110. Roseanne Barr 2/28, 4/11, 9:30 pm; 6/6, 7:30 pm, $50-$118. Venetian, 866-641-7469. Big Al’s Comedy Club Wed-Sun, 8 pm, $20. Gold Coast, 702-2513574. Bonkerz Comedy Club Downtown Grand Fri-Sat, 8:30 pm, free (with two-drink purchase). 206 N. 3rd St., 702719-5100. Bonkerz Comedy Club JW Marriott Shows 7 pm, $15. 221 N. Rampart Blvd., 702-507-5900. Bonkerz Comedy Club Primm Fri, 8 pm & 10:15 pm; Sat, 10:15 pm; $10. Primm Valley Resort , 31900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 800-386-7867. Bonkerz Comedy Club Silver Sevens Fri-Sat, 10:30 pm; $10.

Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino, 4100 Paradise, 702-733-7000. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club Quinn Dahle, Sam Fedele, Shayma Tash 12/26-12/28. Tom Rhodes, Quinn Dahle, Sam Fedele 12/29-12/31. Tom Rhodes, Sam Fedele, John Bizarre 1/1-1/4. Carl Labove, Sarah Tiana 1/5-1/11. Happy Cole, Mike Merryfield, Bob Dibuono 1/12-1/18. Brad Garrett, Greg Morton, Collin Moulton 1/19-1/25. Ian Bagg, Dave Landau, Matt Markman 1/26-2/1. All shows at 8 pm, $65$87. MGM Grand, 891-7777. Wayne Brady 2/27, 4/17, 10 pm, $40+. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Bill Burr 6/26-6/27, 10 pm, $70+. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Mel Cabang 1/17, 8:30 pm, $30. The D Las Vegas, 301 Fremont St., thed.com. Caroline Rhea, Elayne Boosler 3/28, 9:30 pm, $40-$96. Venetian, 866-641-7469. Carrot Top Wed-Mon, 8:30 pm, $50-$60. Luxor, 702-262-4900. Jeff Civilico Sat-Mon, Wed-Thu, 4 pm, $39-$50. Quad, 888-777-7664. Comedy After Dark Wed-Sun, 10 pm, $40-$60. LVH, 702-732-5755. Whitney Cummings 1/2-1/3, 7:30 pm; 3/13-3/14, 5/22-5/23, 9:30 pm, $74-$118. Venetian, 866-641-7469. Chris D’Elia 12/27, 10 pm, $40-$50. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Jeff Dunham Wed-Sun, 7 pm; SatSun, 4 pm, $72. Planet Hollywood, 702-531-4320. Vinnie Favorito Nightly, 8 pm, $55$100. Flamingo, 702-733-3333. Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy 12/12-12/13, 9:30 pm, $55$125. Planet Hollywood, 702-5314320. Fortune Feimster, Cameron Esposito 4/25, 8 pm, $40-$96. Venetian, 866-641-7469. Garfunkel & Oates 3/21, 9:30 pm, $40-$96. Venetian, 866-641-7469. Eddie Griffin Mon-Wed, 7 pm, $90$182. Rio, 702-777-7776. Kathy Griffin 4/18, 10 pm, $60+. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Joey Guila 1/15-1/16, 8:30 pm, $30. The D Las Vegas, 301 Fremont St., thed.com. Kevin Hart 5/24, 8 pm, $49-$129. Mandalay Bay Events Center, 702632-7777. HydroComics Unleashed Wed, 9 pm, free. Lucie’s Lounge, 3955 Charleston Blvd., 702-776-6417. The Improv Bobby Slayton, Robert Duchaine, Cody Hustak thru 12/21. Henry Phillips, Steven Kravitz, Jodi Borello Thru 12/28. Bil Dwyer, Rick Delia, Andy Ostroff 12/30-1/4, Tue-Sun, 8:30 & 10 pm, $30-$45. Harrah’s, 702369-5000. Gabriel Iglesias 4/3-4/4, 5/23-5/24, 10 pm, $60+. Mirage, 702-7927777. The Joe Show Thu-Sat, 8 pm, $30. Tuscany, 255 E. Flamingo Rd., 702-629-0715. Jokes With Friends Thu, 10 pm, free. Nacho Daddy, 9925 S. Eastern Ave., 702-462-5000. L.A. Comedy Club Tue-Sun, 9:30 pm, $39-$62. Ballys, 702-777-2782. Lisa Lampanelli 12/26, 10 pm; 12/27, 7:30 pm; 2/7, 9:30 pm; 4/4, 8 pm; 6/13, 9:30 pm, $50-$119. Venetian, 866-641-7469. The Laugh Factory Shows nightly, 8:30 & 10:30 pm. $29-$45. Tropicana, 702-739-2222. Laughternoon Adam London Daily, 4 pm, $20-$25. The D, 702388-2111. Jay Leno 2/28, 5/15, 6/13, 7/4, 10 pm, $60-$80. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Loni Love 2/14, 9:30 pm, $40-$97. Venetian, 866-641-7469. M Resort Comedy Night Fri, 9 pm, free with drink purchase. M

Resort, 702-797-1000. The Mac King Comedy Magic Show Tue-Sat, 1 & 3 pm, $33. Harrah’s, 702-369-5000. Kathleen Madigan 6/12, 10 pm, $30+. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Joel McHale 12/29-12/30, 10 pm, $50-$70. Mirage, 702-792-7777. John Mulaney 3/6, 10 pm, $54-$65. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Party Improv Comedy Thu-Sun, 7 pm, $25, 2 drink minimum. Planet Hollywood, 702-531-4320. Ray Romano & David Spade 2/20-2/21, 4/10-4/11, 10 pm, $80+. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Red Skelton Tribute Sat-Tue, 2 pm; $35-$40. Westin Las Vegas, 160 E. Flamingo Rd., 702-245-2393. Don Rickles 2/21-2/22, 8 pm, $80. Orleans, 702-365-7075. Riviera Comedy Club 40 is Not the New 20 ft. Matt Kazam MonSat, 10 pm, $40. John Bizarre, Jimmie JJ Walker Thru 12/29, 8:30 pm, $30. Mike Marino, Derek Richards 12/29-1/4, 8:30 pm, $30. Jon Manfrellotti, Shayma Tash 1/5-1/11, 8:30 pm, $30. Mitch Fatel, Geoff Keith 1/12-1/18, 8:30, $30. Gerry Vednob, Kathleen Dunbar 1/19-1/25, 8:30 pm, $30. Richie Minervini, Johnny Pizzi 1/26-2/1, 8:30 pm, $30. Riviera, 855-4686748. Joe Rogan 1/2, 1/30, 10 pm, $40+. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Rita Rudner 12/27, 7:30 pm, $60$100. Harrah’s, 702-369-5000. Sapphire Comedy Hour Fri-Sat, 8 pm, $20. Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club, 3025 Industrial Rd., 702796-6000. Amy Schumer 4/24, 8 pm, $45. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7000. S.E.T. Improv Comedy Mon, 8 pm, $10. Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702-732-7225. Jerry Seinfeld 12/26-12/27, 7:30 pm, $75-$150. The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, 702-731-7333. Side Splitting Sundays Sun, 10 pm, free. Boomers, 3200 Sirius Ave., 702-368-1863. Sin City Comedy & Burlesque Show 8:30 pm, $38-$49. Planet Hollywood, 702-777-7776. Sinbad 1/30-1/31, 8 pm, $50+. Orleans, orleanscasino.com. Rickey Smiley 1/17-1/18, 8 pm, $40+. Orleans, orleanscasino. com. Aries Spears 1/23-1/24, 7:30 pm, $16+. Suncoast, 702-636-7075. Daniel Tosh 1/23, 10 pm; 1/24, 7:30 pm, 3/27, 10 pm; 3/28, 7:30 pm, $60+. Mirage, 702-792-7777. Trailer Park Boys 2/22, 8 pm, $40$125. The Joint, 702-693-5222. Katt Williams 12/30, 9 pm, $40+. The Joint, 702-693-5222. Ron White’s Comedy Salute to the Troops 3/4, 7:30 pm, $80-$119. Mirage, 702-792-7777.

Performing Arts 50 Shades! The Parody Shows beginning 2/3, Tue, 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm, Wed-Sun, 7:30 pm, $69+. Bally’s, 50shadesvegas.com, 702777-2782. The Breasts of Tiresias 5/16, 5/225/23, 7 pm; 5/24, 2 pm, $10-$15. Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Dr., 702-455-7030. Christmas, Motown and More ft. Human Nature 12/19-12/23, 7 pm; 12/24, 1 pm, $50-$140. Venetian, 866-641-7469. The Composers Showcase of las Vegas 1/21, 10:30 pm, $20+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. David Perrico: Pop Evolution 1/28, 10 pm, $15+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000.

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> back to the roots Three nights with Brooklyn Bowl faves The Roots are on deck. Dixie’s Tupperware Party Dates and times vary, 29+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Funny, Phat & Fabulous 12/25, 7:30 pm, $25. Ron DeCar’s Event Center, 1201 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-384-0771. Jeff McBride’s Wonderground Variety show. Third Thu of the month; 8, 9 & 10 pm; $10. Olive Mediterranean Restaurant Lounge, 3850 E. Sunset Rd., 702-451-8805 . Joni & Gina’s Wedding 12/26, 6:45 pm, $30$80. Ron DeCar’s Event Center, 1201 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-384-0771. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 1/20-1/25, 7:30 pm; 1/24-1/25, 2 pm, $28+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Kodo One Earth Tour 2/12, 7:30 pm, $29+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Las Vegas Philharmonic Masterworks III: Rising Star 1/10, 7:30 pm, $26-$94. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Las Vegas Philharmonic Pops III: A Gershwin Valentine 2/14, 7:30 pm, $26$94. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas 3/30, 7:30 pm, $29+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Momix Alchemia 3/10, 7:30 pm, $19+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Nevada Ballet Theatre: A Gala Performance 2/21, 7:30 pm, $29+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Nice Work If You Can Get It 2/24-3/1, 7:30 pm; 2/28 & 3/1, 2 pm, $39+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Re-Animator the Musical 1/6-1/18, times vary, $44+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Trouble in Tahiti 2/20-2/21, 2/27-2/28, 8 pm; 2/22, 4 pm, $15. Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Dr., 702-455-7030.

the roots/sun file

Special Events An Executive Chef’s Culinary Classroom With Executive Chef Edmond Wong. 2/12, 3/19, 4/30, 5/26, 6/30, 7/23, 8/27, 9/29, 10/13, 11/10, 7 pm, $135. Bellagio, 866-406-7117. AVN Awards Show 1/24, 8:30 pm, $175-$300. The Joint, 702-693-5222. Dam Short Film Festival 2/4-2/7, Historic Boulder Theatre, 1225 Arizona St., 702-2933171, damshortfilm.org. Dinosaur Train Live: Buddy’s Big Adventure 2/4, 6 pm, $13. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Disney On Ice: Let’s Celebrate! 1/14-1/17, 7 pm, 1/17, 11:30 am, 3 pm; 1/18, 1 pm, 5 pm. Thomas & Mack, unlvtickets.com. Dowtown Podcast Thu, 9 pm, free. Scullery, 150 Las Vegas Blvd., 702-910-2396. Ethel M Chocolates Holiday Cactus Lighting Through 1/1, free. Ethel M Chocolate Factory, 2 Cactus Dr., ethelm.com. First Friday Poets 1/2, 5 p m, free. Colorado Ave. (between Third St. and Casino Center), 702-733-7734. Gladiator Gauntlet 1/24, 9 am, $50-$60. CrossFit Veni Vidi Vici, 3306 St. Rose Parkway, Ste. 110, crossfitvenividivici.com. Ira Glass: Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio 1/17, 7:30 pm, $29+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Motley Brew’s Great Vegas Festival of Beer 4/11, 3 pm, $30-$75. Fremont East, Downtown Las Vegas, greatvegasbeer.com. Rock in Rio Festival Ft. Taylor Swift, Metallica, Linkin Park, No Doubt, The Deftones, John Legend 5/8-5/9, 5/15-5/16, $298-$498. Rockinrio.com. Shrine Circus 1/8-1/11, times vary, $20+. Orleans Arena, orleansarena.com. Sons of Norway Lutefisk Dinner 1/31, 3 pm & 6 pm, $20. Boulder City Elks Lodge, 1217 Nevada Highway, 702-869-5775.

Splendor in the Glass Wine & Beer Tasting 2/7, 3 pm, $85-$100. Westgate Las Vegas, VegasPBS.org/winetasting. Stars and Stardust: Sidewalk Astronomy 1/24, 6 pm, free. Neon Museum, 770 Las Vegas Blvd. N., neonmuseum.org.

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Sports Ellis Mania 10 2/21, 8 pm, $20+. The Joint, 702-693-5222. Harlem Globetrotters 2/5, times vary, $24+. Orleans Arena, orleansarena.com. Tuff-N-Uff Invicta FC Tournament Finals 1/9, 6 pm, $25-$30. Orleans, orleanscasino.com. UFC 182 1/3, 3 pm, $250-$1,000. MGM Grand Garden Arena, 702-891-7777. UFC 183 1/31, 3 pm, $250-$1,000. MGM Grand Garden Arena, 702-891-7777. USA Sevents Rugby Tournament 1/13-1/15, times vary, $25-$108. Sam Boyd Stadium, unlvtickets.com. World Series of Beer Pong 1/1-1/5, 8 am, free. Riviera, 2901 S Las Vegas Blvd., bpong.com. WWE Live 1/17, 7:30 pm, $24-$128. Mandalay Bay Events Center, 702-632-7777.

Galleries Amanda Harris Gallery of Contemporary Art Thu-Fri, 5-8 pm, and by appointment. 900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-769-6036. Artistic Armory 5087 S. Arville St., 702-5479005. Arts Factory 107 E. Charleston Blvd, 702383-3133. Galleries include: Joseph Watson Collection Wed-Fri, 1-6 pm; Sat, noon-3 pm; Sun, 11 am-2 pm. Suite 115, 858-733-2135. Sin City Gallery Wed-Sat, 1-7 pm; Sun, 11 am-2 pm. Suite 100, 702-608-2461. Trifecta Gallery Mon-Fri, 11 am-5 pm; Sat-Sun, 11 am-3 pm. Suite 135, 702-366-7001, trifectagallery. com. Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Daily, 10 am-8 pm, $11-$16. 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702693-7871. Blackbird Studios Fri-Sun, noon-7 pm. 1551 S. Commerce St., 702-782-0319. Brett Wesley Gallery Wed-Sat, 1-7 pm. 1025 S. First St. #150, 702-433-4433. Clark County Government Center Rotunda Mon-Fri, 8 am-5 pm. 500 Grand Central Parkway, 702-455-7030. Clay Arts Vegas Mon-Sat, 9 am-9 pm; Sun, 11:30 am-6:30 pm. 1511 S. Main St., 702-3754147. Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm; Sat, 10 am-2 pm. At UNLV, 702895-3893. Downtown Spaces 1800 Industrial Rd., dtspaces.com. Galleries include: Wasteland Gallery Thu, 6 pm-9pm; Fri & Sat, 6 pm-11pm, Sun-Wed by appointment. Emergency Arts 520 Fremont St., 702-6863164. Gainsburg Studio & Gallery Mon-Sat, 10am5pm. 1533 West Oakey Blvd, 702-249-3200. Left of Center Gallery Tue-Fri, noon-5 pm; Sat, 10 am-3 pm. 2207 W. Gowan Rd., 702647-7378. Michelle C. Quinn Fine Art Advisory By appointment only. 620 S. 7th St., 702-3669339. P3Studio House of Paper Birds By JK Russ. Thru 1/4. Wed-Sun, 6-11 pm. Cosmopolitan. West Las Vegas Arts Center Wed-Sat, 9 am-7 pm. 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702-229-4800. Winchester Cultural Center Art Gallery Tue-Fri, 10 am-8 pm; Sat, 9 am-6 pm. 3130 S. McLeod Dr., 702-455-7340.

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HOROSCOPE

free will astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

March 21-April 19

July 23-Aug. 22

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

“Hell is the suffering of being unable to love,” wrote novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Using that definition, I’m happy to announce that you have a good chance of avoiding hell altogether in 2015. If there has been any deficiency in your power to express and bestow love, I think you will correct it. If you have been so intent on getting love that you have been neglectful in giving love, you will switch your focus. I invite you to keep a copy of this horoscope in your wallet for the next 12 months. Regard it as your “Get Out of Hell Free” card.

In Don DeLillo’s novel Underworld, Cotter Martin is a young boy living in New York in the 1950s. The following description is about him. “In school they tell him sometimes to stop looking out the window. This teacher or that teacher. The answer is not out there, they tell him. And he always wants to say that’s exactly where the answer is.” I propose we regard this passage as one of your themes in 2015, Leo. In other words, be skeptical of any authority who tells you where you should or should not be searching for the answers. Follow your own natural inclination, even if at first it seems to be nothing more than looking out the window.

“The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he’s in prison.” That quote is attributed to both Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Regardless of who said it, I urge you to keep it in mind throughout 2015. Like all of us, you are trapped in an invisible prison: a set of beliefs or conditioned responses or bad habits that limit your freedom to act. That’s the bad news. The good news is that in the coming months, you are poised to discover the exact nature of your invisible prison, and then escape it.

TAURUS

VIRGO

CAPRICORN

April 20-May 20

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Beetles are abundant and ubiquitous. Scientists have identified more than 350,000 species, and they are always discovering new ones. In 2011, for example, they conferred official recognition on 3,485 additional types of beetles. I’m seeing a parallel development in your life, Taurus. A common phenomenon that you take for granted harbors mysteries that are worth exploring. Something you regard as quite familiar actually contains interesting features you don’t know about. In 2015, I hope you will open your mind to the novelties and exotica that are hidden in plain sight.

“It is always important to know when something has reached its end,” writes Paulo Coelho in his book The Zahir. Use this advice heroically in 2015, Virgo. Wield it to clear away anything that no longer serves you, that weighs you down or holds you back. Prepare the way for the new story that will begin for you around your next birthday. “Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters,” Coelho says, “it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over.”

When he was 37 years old, actor Jack Nicholson found out that Ethel May, the woman he had always called his mother, was in fact his grandma. Furthermore, his “older sister” June was actually his mom, who had given birth to him when she was 17. His relatives had hidden the truth from him. I suspect that in 2015 you will uncover secrets and missing information that will rival Nicholson’s experience. Although these revelations may initially be confusing or disruptive, in the long run they will heal and liberate you. Welcome them!

GEMINI

LIBRA

AQUARIUS

May 21-June 20

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

Auguste Escoffier was an influential French chef who defined and standardized the five “mother sauces.” But he wasn’t content to be a star in his own country. At the age of 44, he began his “conquest of London,” bringing his spectacular dining experience to British restaurants. He thought it might be hard to sell his new clientele on frogs’ legs, so he resorted to trickery. On the menu, he listed it as “Nymphs of the Dawn.” According to my reading of the omens, this is an example of the hocus-pocus that will be your specialty in 2015. And I suspect you will get away with it every time as long as your intention is not selfish or manipulative, but rather generous and constructive.

“On some nights I still believe,” said rascal journalist Hunter S. Thompson, “that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.” In 2015, I invite you to adopt some of that push-it-to-the-edge attitude for your personal use. Maybe not full-time. Rather, simply tap into it as needed—whenever you’ve got to up your game or raise your intensity level or rouse the extra energy you need TO ACHIEVE TOTAL, WONDROUS, RESOUNDING VICTORY!!! The coming months will be your time to go all the way, hold nothing back and quest for the best and the most and the highest.

“Meupareunia” is an English word that refers to a sexual adventure in which only one of the participants has a good time. I’ll be bold and predict that you will not experience a single instance of meupareunia in 2015. That’s because I expect you’ll be steadily upgrading your levels of empathy and your capacity for receptivity. You will be getting better and better at listening to your intimate allies and reading their emotional signals. I predict that synergy and symbiosis will be your specialties. Both your desire to please and your skill at giving pleasure will increase, as will your understanding of how many benefits you can reap by being a responsive partner.

CANCER

SCORPIO

PISCES

June 21-July 22

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Feb. 19-March 20

The entomologist Charles P. Alexander (1889-1981) devoted much of his professional life to analyzing the insect known as the crane fly. He identified over 11,000 different species, drew 15,000 illustrations of the creatures, and referred to his lab as “Crane Fly Haven.” That’s the kind of single-minded intention I’d love to see you adopt during the first six months of 2015, Cancerian. What I’m imagining is that you will choose a specific, well-defined area within which you will gleefully explore and experiment and improvise. Is there a subject or task or project you would have fun pursuing with that kind of intensity?

72 LasVegasWeekly.com December 25, 2014–January 7, 2015

Twenty miles long, the Onyx River is the longest body of moving water on the continent of Antarctica. Most of the year it’s ice, though. It actually flows for just two or three months during the summer. Let’s hope that continues to be the case for the foreseeable future. It would be a shame if global warming got so extreme that the Onyx melted permanently. But now let’s talk about your own metaphorical equivalent of the Onyx: a potentially flowing part of your life that is often frozen. I’d love to see it thaw. I’d love it to be streaming and surging most of the time. And in 2015, I think that’s a distinct possibility. Consider making the following declaration your battle cry: “I am the Flow Master!”

“Be good and you will be lonesome,” said Mark Twain. Do you agree? I don’t—at least as it applies to your life in 2015. According to my understanding of the long-term astrological omens, you will attract an abundance of love and luck by being good—by expressing generosity, deepening your compassion, cultivating integrity, and working for justice and truth and beauty. That doesn’t mean you should be a pushover or doormat. Your resolve to be good must be leavened by a determination to deepen your self-respect. Your eagerness to do the right thing has to include a commitment to raising your levels of self-care.

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UTAH AT UNLV | MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA | DECEMBER 20, 2014 | 10:04 p.m. Though it isn’t too difficult capturing basic images of basketball action, it’s challenging getting the peak moments. This sport can be fast and unpredictable, and even when you’re in the right spot with the right lens and the right focus, all it takes is a referee or player crossing your path, and the shot can be ruined. I’ve found that the best method it is to vary my lenses, angles and positions in the arena—and hope that skill and luck come together just right, like they did above. –L.E. Baskow

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