2015-07-02 Las Vegas Weekly by Greenspun Media Group

YEARS AND ONE LAST SHOW WITH THE VERMIN ZOMBIELAND

IS REAL Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thrilling (and sweaty) inside the Apocalypse

AUTOPIA!

From hot rods to racers, car clubs light up the local asphalt

d n i h e b us t spot s e k a t o ef h h c p i r r a t t The s nes at her Spastries) the scend feeds us (a

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Contents 7 mail A boot-scootin’ void and

42 noise Looking back on

loneliness in the oyster game.

legends, both local (The Vermin) and stratospheric (the Dead).

8 as we see it It’s a brave new day for LGBTQ love. The amazing tale of a homeless local. A video game come to life!

11 weekly Q&A UNCE plant

cars by spencer burton; Frijoles & Frescas by mikayla whitmore

whisperer Angela O’Callaghan.

14 Feature | being giada

46 the strip Aussie Motowners Human Nature evolve.

47 fine art Favela’s Chop Shop. 48 stage A one-man show about love and disappearance.

Having proven herself on the Strip, Giada reflects on the journey (and the fight for veggie Bolognese).

50 food On the hunt for tasty

18 Feature | community

54 calendar 311’s Nick Hexum

drivers Car clubbers pop their polished hoods and talk shop.

on rap-rock back in the day.

tamales, and finding every taco ever at Tacos & Beer.

24 nights Vegas is having a pop music moment.

39 A&E Which terrible shark movie poster is your jam?

40 screen The Terminator is still not dead. Magic Mike XXL!

Cover photograph By christopher devargas

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O P E N D A I LY | 1 0 A M – M I D N I G H T

SUMMER CLASSIC No matter how many great new French restaurants open on the Strip, Bouchon will always rank highly. Visit the Venetian standard bearer at lasvegasweekly. com for a peek at Thomas Keller’s new summer menu available right here in Las Vegas.

USA’S BIG 2-3-9 Fireworks stands have popped up all around town, which can only mean one thing: Independence Day is upon is again! If you’re not planning a neighborhood pyrotechnic spectacular of your own (with totally legal firecrackers, we hope …), head to lasvegasweekly. com for the lowdown on Fourth of July fireworks displays all over the Valley.

LET’S BE FRIENDS!

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MOST READ STORIES lasvegasweekly.com 1. Bye-bye Bull? Vegas is down one country bar—for now 2. Last call! A look back at Hard Rock Hotel’s trailblazing Center Bar 3. EDC: The 15 best missed connections of Electric Daisy Carnival 4. Cast your vote! Best of Vegas Readers’ Choice 2015 5. Hard Rock Hotel to close Body English Nightclub

Mail

Martin Jacobson 2014 MAIN EVENT CHAMPION

LOST IN THE DESERT We never get tired of exploring the beautiful wasteland surrounding Las Vegas, as evidenced by last week’s East Mojave road trip photo essay.

Spent a lot of time out in the Mojave. Love it. Came across an ocelot one night. That was cool. –Bill Harrison Okay, road trip! Sounds like fun! –Tiffany Weiss

MODERN LOVE The Internet romance of Kyle and Bryanna brought them together in Las Vegas, of course.

A modern-day love story of the best kind. I feel privileged to have watched your wedding on Periscope. –Reaper1968 That sounds like the future How I Met Your Mother story for the next million people. Wouldn’t be surprised if it happened to me. –Elsa Bravo

east mojave by mikayla whitmore

Could happen to me next week. –Michaela Yvonne Walter

basically a concert instead of a line-dancing bar. I loved Stoney’s at the old location. I went twice to the Town Square location and hated it. –Joanna De Borja Bringing in the 18-year-olds on Friday nights was so weird. Felt like a confusing, redneck prom. –Kris Harrison Country bar = lots of people dancing, no one spending money. Hence it goes out of business. –Jack Timar I never heard one person say they liked the new location over the original Stoney’s. They should have listened to all the regulars and maybe they wouldn’t be in this situation. –Nomi Daniel That line-dancing stuff is so creepy. I was watching one night a few years back and thought, man, this is just weird. –Rick Anderson

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OCEAN TO DESERT Other Mama’s oyster-ific freshness is making lots of fast fans.

COUNTRY BAR BLUES

The nice beachy decor ... my friend did that. –Dani Marion

The Bull at Town Square has closed temporarily, leaving a serious boot-scootin’ void.

It also sports the best craft cocktailer in Las Vegas. –Dan Fester

Their downfall was moving to a smaller venue, then bringing in a live band literally every weekend, then charging for what is

I think I’m too basic for this place ... squeeze some lemon on it and I’m good! I’m so alone in the oyster game. –Stacy Bato

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

Over the rainbow ∑ No freedom ’til we’re equal, damn right I support

it. I was on my way to the Center’s marriage equality Decision Day Rally Friday when I heard Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Same Love” on 94.1. I teared up thinking about the generations of LGBTQ people and their allies who fought for such a basic human right, how far our country has come in terms of progressive thought, and how the youth of America can grow up in a more just and compassionate nation. I thought back to my teenage years, when same-sex marriage bans swept the nation, including my native Nevada. Then a 14-year-old trying to cope with his sexuality, I felt so defeated and isolated the day my state said no to two grooms on a wedding cake. It hurt more than any name my classmates hurled. Stay in the closet, it said. Being gay is not desirable. It is difficult. A decade and a half later, 57 percent of Americans favor marriage equality, according to the Pew Research Center. That’s a massive shift from the 57 percent who opposed it in 2001. Since the Supreme Court released its decision on Friday, 26 million Facebook users have filtered their profile pictures with rainbow pride. Scrolling through my feed, I noticed some of my more conservative and religious friends jumping on the pride bandwagon. LGBTQ kids will grow up in this world, one where their government recognizes them as full citizens, with constant reminders of support from friends and family, progressive companies, forward-thinking celebrities, anyone wanting LGBTQ individuals to know, We care about you—and your equal rights. The same gay-marriage anthem was emanating from the Center’s Downtown facility when I arrived to see smiling faces and rainbow flags held high. The full LGBTQ spectrum was represented, along with straight allies—young and old, minorities, religious and elected officials. Revelers posed with a giant rainbow flag to document a special day in America’s history. The national anthem was sung and the Pledge of Allegiance recited. And during a prayer led by Jamie Lee Sprague-Ballou, the Trans Pride organizer described the day: “We say the Pledge of Allegiance and feel the equality in the words.” With liberty and justice for all. But the fight for LGBTQ Americans is far from over, as state assemblyman Nelson Araujo reminded. “We need to put our bootstraps back on and fight for full equality.” Specifically, Center President Raul Daniels said, there’s further work to be done on bullying in schools and workplace discrimination. Walking out, I noticed a comment written on a rainbow poster that summarized the mission ahead. Keep moving forward. And we will. –Mark Adams

priceless paper Another Vegas treasure comes to the Nevada State Museum

∑ In February, the Nevada State Museum scored the mother lode when the Tropicana handed over its entire Folies Bergere costume collection—cancan dresses, headpieces, jeweled G-strings, complete outfits and even the thread used to stitch them together. It was a coup, a signature collection marking nearly five decades of Vegas show history from a revue out-

8 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

lasted only by Donn Arden’s Jubilee! Now the sequined gods have returned—this time with two Jubilee! wardrobe bibles from the launch of the production in 1981, containing all the sketches and notations made by Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee. The books came courtesy of costume designer Diana Eden (Mackie’s former assistant), who came here to mount the original

show, only to see much of it destroyed in a fire at the old MGM Grand (now Bally’s). Eden rescued the books, considered invaluable for their information, and has been holding onto them. Complete with sketches, notations, cast lists and textile swatches, they’re another piece of the story, another key artifact of an era that helped define Las Vegas. –Kristen Peterson

As We See It… > OPERATION AWESOME Brothers Jake (left) and Randy Newton head into hostile territory.

A Tech plea for help A homeless local hinges his future on GoFundMe

Heroes and undead hordes

They suit us up, teach us to use our Airsoft weapons and clear rooms, and then an alarm rattles the walls. Without spoiling the Apocalypse’s sensory surprises, creators liken it to Call of Duty in a “gauntlet of chaos.” The sets and effects are powerful—fake blood and body parts, video projections, a scent machine, 30,000 watts of audio—but getting caught The end of the world is a good time at up in the moment is more about what happens in your mind Adventure Combat Ops By Erin Ryan and the intensity coming from the elite operatives. “There’s this huge craze and huge hype about zombies right now, so we’re playing the zombie part into it. The only thing moving in the blackness is But that’s simply a prop to us. ... This is about real the laser sight on my assault rifle. My team is special operations heroes that are taking people crouched by an abandoned car, waiting for me ADVENTURE and immersing them into a video game brought to to charge a building we’re pretty sure holds a COMBAT OPS life,” says Adventure Combat Ops owner and Delta “primeval threat against mankind.” The door goes The Apocalypse: with one kick, and the undead lurch. I rain down Thursday-Sunday, Force veteran Travis Krauss, adding that his other business is a classified defense contracting firm ammo, almost forgetting that 30 minutes ago I noon-2 p.m.; 3-5 that trains special ops units. But the Apocalypse didn’t know how to load this gun. p.m.; 6-8 p.m.; 9-11 isn’t a training session—it’s a performance, he says. This is the Apocalypse, part hero fantasy (my p.m., $199-$289. And “you are the show.” badassery might save the world!), part nightmare 4375 S. Valley Ragnarr does his part, hilariously invoking (zombies might eat my face!) and the main attrac- View Blvd. #G, his Viking heritage, giving pointers and praise tion of Adventure Combat Ops, opening July 2 in a 844-363-6327. on the fly and keeping the mood perfectly tense. massive warehouse near the Strip. The immersion For me, he made the experience. begins with a briefing led by real special ops veter“It’s like trying to explain what it’s like to skydive in ans with serious combat experience and the decorations to the middle of a rock concert,” Krauss says of the cinematic match. But inside this 70,000-square-foot production, they thrill. “You just can’t comprehend it until you do it.” get in character as leaders of the world’s last hope against And after we saved the world? The zombies shambled depraved bioterrorism. The part where different military out for fist bumps. branches jovially mock each other? That’s real, too, says Ragnarr, a Green Beret who yells to his SEAL counterpart Neptune: “Hey, my little mermaid, you ready?” For more photos from the Apocalypse, see Page 58.

Engine trouble The quiet exit of Downtown car-sharing venture Shift Shift, the “reluctant hardware company” that famously bought 100 Teslas for carsharing Downtown (and made the Weekly’s cover last fall), has shuttered. From September through February of this year, Shift was beta-testing, and as of March, CEO Zach Ware was still planning a public launch. When cars disappeared from lots Downtown, some speculated Shift would ditch the car component and focus on developing car-share software. Ware told San Francisco tech blog Pando that he considered changing the company’s course, but decided to quit while funds remained. In a letter to VegasTechFund, he wrote: “Making this decision now allows us to wind down our large and complex operations responsibly and take care of our amazing team while we still had a healthy amount of capital.” Ware founded the Downtown Project-backed company in 2013 in the hope of using Teslas, Chevy Volts, Smart cars and other vehicles to make car ownership optional. “It’s not a sore subject at all,” Ware told the Weekly last week. “I’m very proud of what we built and how we wound it down.” –Kristy Totten

adventure combat ops by steve marcus

“By the time I was 25 I was on MTV gluing pasties on Dennis Rodman’s nipples,” Miguel Gomez writes on GoFundMe. “I had apprenticed under the best fashion stylist in Hollywood, L’Wren Scott, for three years. … At one point Green Day would actually use my name as their hotel alias. I had dinner with Madonna, Champagne with Angelina Jolie and whiskey with Trent Reznor.” The stories sound far-fetched, but Gomez has photos to back them up. On Facebook he poses with Melanie Griffith, Cindy Crawford and RuPaul, who look so adored by his company it’s conceivable he might be the star. But the life Gomez lives today involves shuffling between friends’ places and the streets, constantly seeking safety, food and relief from the heat. The Las Vegas native became homeless two years ago after a breakup that spiraled into depression and drug use. Now clean, Gomez says he felt hopeless until a couple of weeks ago, when he dreamt about his late father. His dad appeared with a camera, a detail that urged Gomez to document his experience. So he’s working his connections and starting to film a documentary—on a broken cell phone—about using technology to get off the streets. He set up a GoFundMe account to raise $10,000 to acquire stable housing and take charge of his life. “I saw girls out there getting their boob jobs paid for, so I thought it could help me get off the streets,” he says. In the campaign’s first two days, Gomez raised $1,350 from 18 donors, gifts coming with encouraging messages like, “Let’s get you back to LA and a job in fashion!” But the tally hasn’t grown since then. Gomez isn’t touching the money until he reaches his goal, and he blogs almost daily about his experiences on the streets. Still, his eyes are on the prize: “A door I can shut and lock. A bathroom I can flush the toilet in. A sink I can wash my face and brush my teeth in. … Oh, and a mailbox, with an actual address. An actual address of my own, so I can get a proper ID and employers will be able to hire me.” –Kristy Totten

July 2–8, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 9

As We See It… > PARTY’S OVER? After five years at the Speedway, EDC could move on.

Case for change A new show offers a raw glimpse into addiction through speciality court

EDC’s uncertain future It seems like just yesterday that Electric Daisy Carnival packed up its strobes and relocated from LA to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Five years later, the event has become synonymous with our city, and the mega-rave’s booming popularity has, for the most part, been a success for Las Vegas and EDC promoter Insomniac. June’s edition drew an estimated 135,000 nightly attendees, while last year’s festival injected an unprecedented $337.8 million into the local economy. But the partnership’s future is uncertain. As the fest’s final sets ended, so did its five-year contract with the Speedway (no word on whether an extension or new deal has been inked). Despite its success, keeping the party in Las Vegas isn’t a given. Insomniac balked at recent reforms to Nevada’s Live Entertainment Tax that would have the promoter paying as much as $4 million in additional taxes to host EDC here. Reps called the tax “detrimental,” saying it could push them into the red and force a move. Meanwhile, the death of a fan at this year’s event, com-

bined with a spike in medical calls spurred by triple-digit temperatures, have raised some of the same health and safety concerns that drove EDC out of LA. Considering EDC is the size of a small city, some of these problems are unavoidable. But if moving the fest offers some solutions, it also means taking a risk with fans. Despite the turmoil, many who attended this year’s event say Las Vegas is part of the draw. “It’s really the best spot to have it at,” said Silbia, a 21-year-old attendee from Whittier, California. “They use the space so well, and they know just how to place everything. I can’t think of another venue big enough to be this great. EDC is a party, Vegas is a party, so why not have it in Vegas?” Her companion Ryan was less amenable, saying he’d gladly trade spectacle for a cooler locale. Others said EDC’s destination location supports a healthy, positive environment. “You haven’t seen this kind of love in a long time,” said 24-year-old veteran raver Alaina Weeks of Morro Bay, California. “Because you have to make a journey, people appreciate it all much more.” Ethan Elmendorf, 28, added that the Vegas scene was much friendlier than at similar events he’d experienced in California, particularly in the “harsh crowd” of LA. Both he and Weeks said they’d be less inclined to return to EDC if the festival moved back to Southern California, though they’d be open to a move north. Ultimately, it’s the “vacation vibes” of EDC Las Vegas—heat waves and all—that they don’t want to lose. –Andrea Domanick

Deconstructing Hey Reb!

The truth about UNLV’s Civil War connections

How would attendees feel if the dance-music fest left Las Vegas?

The controversy over South Carolina flying the Confederate flag atop government buildings ignited a national debate over the image’s use—including right here in Southern Nevada at UNLV. A quick history on the Confederate connection:

10 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

Is Hey Reb! a Confederate soldier? No. UNLV’s News Center reports that Hey Reb! is a Western mountain man. In 1982 UNLV purchased local artist Mike Miller’s concept of the mascot, envisioned as a frontiersman like the men many Downtown streets are named for (think: John C. Fremont and Kit Carson).

Did UNLV ever have a Confederate-themed mascot? Yes. According to the News Center, UNLV’s first mascot was a wolf named Beauregard dressed in a Confederate uniform. Students voted to do away with the mascot in the ’70s, after black athletes voiced concerns, according to unlvrebels. com. As for Beau, he can still be found at the Barrick Museum, where he was painted centercourt when the building still housed the university gymnasium.

Was there ever a Confederate flag on UNLV’s student newspaper, The Rebel Yell? Yes. The paper did away with it in 1962. Why the Civil War connection in the first place? UNLV began as Nevada Southern University, a branch of Nevada (Reno). The school was said to have “rebelled” by going south—hence the parallels between the Union North and Confederate South. –Mark Adams

Last week, the City of Las Vegas aired a 30-minute special on KCLV Channel 2 called Saving Lives, One Case at a Time, highlighting the municipal court’s evolving approach to dealing with addiction. One of those specialty courts, Women in Need of Change, offers assistance to women convicted of prostitution and drug-related offenses. Judge Cynthia S. Leung, who has presided over the WIN court since 2008, says trauma almost always plays a role as to why a person “constantly goes through this revolving door.” “You learn things like at 13 the prostitution started, or 11 is when a sexual assault occurred,” Leung says. “Drug addiction is a big part of masking that. … The stories are horrible. And yet for the segment of the population that I deal with, it’s a really common story.” There are different courts for youth, veterans, habitual offenders and people with DUIs—a mental health court is in development—but there’s still a lot of work to be done. Of the 200 women who’ve agreed to enter the WIN court, fewer than 30 have graduated. “[We’re] coming up on our 25th graduate,” Leung says. Some women don’t make it. Others relapse but stay in the program. “Success is something that I look at on an individual basis. You know that they’re going to relapse. You have to take a look at the context in which that happens.” Leung says the implementation of the mental health court— and better education across the board—would help all courts yield greater results. “It always comes down to funding … although quite a few folks in the legislature understand and are sympathetic to the issue. … This isn’t a part of the population that you can just ignore.” –Leslie Ventura

EDC by Yasmina CHavez; Hey reb! sun file

Weekly Q&A Why garlic? My professor was the onion specialist in New York and was constantly being harangued by the garlic growers. He wanted someone who would work with the garlic growers so they would come off his case. I am a person who knows a lot about garlic. How did you end up at UNCE? They

were looking for somebody who had experience working with volunteers, working with poor people, working in communities of color, working in cities and, by the way, who had an advanced degree in horticulture. Tall order. Except that before I went back to graduate school I had spent the previous 15 years working with poor and homeless women and families in Boston. How did horticulture factor in? I used gardening as a way to keep myself sane, as I’m working with homeless families with AIDS. I had always told myself that if I ever got out of homeless [service] I was going to go to Cornell and get a Ph.D. in plants. Why plants? I loved plants. I

wanted to know more about them. How did they work? What was the whole world around them? And there’s new information coming out all the time.

speaking plant

Social horticulturist Angela O’Callaghan on gardening for sanity and why green thumbs sometimes need jackhammers

I hear they interact. Oh, God yes. They communicate in so many different ways. They communicate below ground, above ground. In fact, they don’t necessarily even have to be related. ... There are all these little chemical cues. How do you feel about desert plants?

It’s 110 degrees on a Thursday; the sun is hurling flames and cackling madly, but inside the cool of the waiting room at University of Nevada’s Cooperative Extension Angela O’Callaghan asks if we could do our interview outside. “It’s freezing in here,” she says. ¶ I should have known she’d want to be outside in the garden. This is the plant lady of plant ladies, the extension’s social horticulture specialist, who received her Ph.D. in horticulture at Cornell University (her master’s was in fruit and vegetable science) and minored in plant pathology and soil chemistry. ¶ Maybe you know her from her Desert Bloom segment on Nevada Public Radio or from classes she’s taught. But how this woman from the Bronx became a plant and soil expert—doing her dissertation on garlic—in a place not known for fertile land is as interesting as the encyclopedia of the plant world in her head. Strolling through the UNCE demonstration gardens, she fielded a swarm of questions about her own desert adaptation.

I love looking at how they survive and the various things that they do to adapt. Like those Globemallows—if you look closely at the leaves, there is a fuzzy coat; if you were to peel away that coat you would see green leaves, but you’ve got this fuzzy coat that acts as shade that blocks a lot of the light. It also slows down evaporation. Common misconceptions about desert plants? People think they

never need water or they can grow with no amendment. That’s not true. Even out in the desert occasionally an animal comes by and pees or dies. Those things get into the soil and get included into the nutritional package.

What are the usual mistakes? Plant-

ing too deep. Over-watering and under-watering. Not checking the drainage in a hole before you put something in it. These top four inches are where the bulk of the roots are. But you want to have drainage. Desert plants absolutely have to have drainage. If it is in a muddy, airless hole, you’re drowning the plant. When a root is sitting there suffocating it stops pulling up water. What do you think of grass? Why

would you have lawn unless you have livestock? If you’re feeding sheep or goats or cattle, that’s one thing. There could be water restrictions someday. I should bloody well

hope so. Maybe then everybody’s going to pay attention to their soil. Describe your first gardening experience here. I wanted to put in a

feathery cassia because I love them. First I got a shovel. That wasn’t so successful. Then I got a garden fork. Then I went to Home Depot and I bought a pick ax and I was able to get somewhere with that until I actually flattened the pick ax. I brought it back. When I came out the second time, because I had flattened that pick ax, they said, “Lady, what are you trying to do?” Then what? Then I discovered a

breaker bar—it’s a 14-pound crowbar—and started breaking things up. I had this big layer of caliche. I got a couple of gallons of vinegar. Do you ever make those kids’ volcanoes? Caliche is calcium carbonate. You put in vinegar, what do you get? Carbon dioxide. You get a volcano. So I poured a couple of gallons of vinegar in and I got this big foaming thing, and then I had more fissures that I could crack and break and I was able to put in my cassia and it thrived. And the rest of the yard? It took me three weeks to dig the hole in the front. I said, “I’m not going to do that. I’ll be dead before I have a garden.” So I rented a jackhammer. Soil aside, what about the heat? I

am absolutely 100 percent grow where you’re planted. I’ve been planted here, I’m going to grow here. –Kristen Peterson

“I am a person who knows a lot about garlic.”

photograph by christopher devargas

July 2–8, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 11

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It seems automatic. A no-brainer. A piece of cake, or more specifically, a fresh batch of citrus-infused zeppoles. ¶ Of course Giada de Laurentiis, one of the most popular food personalities in the world, should open her very first restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip. Of course the style and cuisine of the ever-smiling dynamo you know from TV’s Today, Everyday Italian, Giada at Home, Food Network Star and multiple New York Times-bestselling cookbooks, would be a smash-hit, out-of-the-park home run. Of course Giada fits perfectly among the many, many celebrity chefs whose names and restaurants litter almost every casino on Las Vegas Boulevard. Auto. Matic. Giada the restaurant, which opened a year ago at the refashioned Cromwell boutique resort at the heart of the Strip, is an unequivocal success. For most of the past year, it was the toughest table in the city, packed for dinner every night. The space is vast, warm and relaxing; giant windows and awe-inspiring views of the Bellagio’s fountains don’t hurt. The food is delicious and even indulgent if you want it to be, yet light and delicate. It’s unlike any other Italian restaurant in the city, and that makes sense because Giada is unlike any other chef in Las Vegas. Maybe not in the way you think. First, it wasn’t automatic. Far from it. And she was scared. “I’ve never done this before, never had a restaurant ever. Ever,” she says over a plate of breakfast pastries. “This is a place where some of the best chefs in the world—not in the U.S., in the world—have restaurants.

14 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

And I don’t have a track record. I know my food works for cookbooks, but how do I know it will work in a restaurant at this caliber, with more than 200 seats, in a hotel with 188 rooms? I was panicked I would never fill this place.” Dig deeper into the situation, past the well-known brand and the ideal location, and challenges begin to reveal themselves. The Cromwell is tiny. Other restaurants have thousands of adjacent hotel rooms to support business, but this one—just like Drai’s Nightclub on the Cromwell’s roof—does not. “But Victor Drai has been doing clubs since I was a child. He knows his business, and he knows Vegas like the back of his hand,” Giada points out. She had to build her own team—and a relationship with Caesars Entertainment, which owns and operates the hotel— and create a dining experience that would live up to her fans’ and cus-

tomers’ expectations. “You can’t overstate how important Giada is to the property,” says Karie Hall, the Cromwell’s vice president and general manager. “We had a very unique opportunity to do something boutique and different, but it’s challenging without the room base. Giada has been incredible for us. She really sets a great presence.” Hall says the restaurant served 260,000 visitors in its first year. That’s more than 700 covers a day, every day, between breakfast, lunch and dinner. Giada’s kitchen also handles the hotel’s room service and a light menu for lobby bar Bound. “It is very demanding,” Hall says. “We worked hard to get started at a pace she’s comfortable with, starting with dinner, then easing into [other service times]. It could be overwhelming, but she’s a great partner and she’s so good at getting all her unique touches into everything.” A few of those touches took some convincing. Giada says she was told several of her favorite menu items wouldn’t work. “Everything had to have meat. My vegetable Bolognese? No, it has to be meat,” she says. “I said, ‘It’s going to be vegetables and that’s that.’ My lemon spaghetti? They didn’t think anyone would order that. And the branzino, the lightest thing on the menu, they said would never sell. I said, ‘Give me six months.’ And you know what? No. 1 sellers across the board.” Giada has been dedicated to creating a different experience from the traditional big Vegas restaurant from day one. Building her first restaurant while negotiating Caesars’ corporate climate was challenging, “to say the least,” she says. “I have a vision of my brand and my food, and [maintaining that] isn’t something that just happens at the restaurant; it happens any time I do anything. Some people had a lot of confidence in my abilities, and others came on board later who were more skeptical. I was going into these big board meetings with all these men, trying to convince them this little Italian girl can actually make something work.”

***** Oh yeah, there’s that—she’s a woman. Very small, quite pretty. Giada is well aware she doesn’t look like other chefs on the Strip. But this challenge is a familiar one. “When I started on television most people thought I was just some cute girl that decided to get put on television to sell Italian food,” she says. “Give her a couple of recipes and have her pretend and she can be a little actress. It didn’t help that my family was in the movie biz.” Her grandfather was the legendary film producer Dino De Laurentiis. Huge movie posters decorate Giada’s restaurant, which feels like a massive living

16 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

room, and many of the bar’s cocktails are named after his films. “That didn’t legitimize me in any way. But I figured if I can sustain and show them over time, they would have to take me seriously. They can get to know me.” There are only two other famous female chefs with restaurants on Las Vegas Boulevard, and they are business partners—Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger at Border Grill. “There’s no question—it is a man’s world when you’re talking about Las Vegas,” Feniger says.

“It’s never gotten in my way, and I always felt like we’ve been treated respectfully, but there is definitely that thing and you feel it.” Feniger and Milliken are independent operators, so their casino bosses are landlord-partners, but Feniger does wonder why more female restaurateurs and chefs haven’t found investment from casinos. “My first question was why aren’t there more women here, and [the answer] was, ‘We don’t think anybody can draw,’” Giada says. “There’s

just more confidence in a male chef, because male chefs have been successful here.” Giada differs from the Border Girl duo because she started in media and then did the restaurant, and they did the opposite. So when she decided to try Vegas, she had to prove herself as a chef, again; as a restaurateur, for the first time; and as a capable businesswoman, always. “This is a boys club. Women don’t usually get let in very easily, ever,” she says. “But I will tell you I have good friends that are bigtime chefs here and in other places that are surprised and somewhat impressed. I truly work hard. I come here and force them to tell me everything and force myself into this world and make sure they don’t just take my name, and hopefully that shows in the experience.” A chef friend and fellow LA resident, Jet Tila did his time in Las Vegas with a restaurant at Encore. He dropped by Giada for the grand opening last year and was impressed, but he’s more impressed with its consistent success and growth. “I think a lot of industry people were poohpoohing her behind her back when she got there,” Tila says. “She played it perfectly. She knows what’s up.” Giada is in Las Vegas often, far

ness. I put myself 100 percent into it. But you roll with the punches, and you do what you do.”

> CALM ON THE SURFACE There’s a relaxing lightness to the space and the cuisine at Giada, including her signature lemon spaghetti.

“I was going into these big board meetings with all these men, trying to convince them this little Italian girl can actually make something work.”

more than many of her celebrity peers. She often takes two-day trips early in the week, when it’s easier to spend time in the dining room visiting guests without getting mobbed and creating problems for service. Her Vegas chef friends tell her she has to get out of the restaurant more, to see what else is happening on and off the Strip, to take a break. But once she’s in her restaurant, leaving is close to impossible. This long, grinding first year has yielded success, but with a price. In

*****

December Giada made it public that she and her husband of 11 years, Todd Thompson, had been separated since July (right around the restaurant’s opening). They are divorcing. They have a daughter, Jade, who just graduated from first grade. “This year has been an immense learning curve, and I’ve gone through a lot of change,” Giada says. “This restaurant unfortunately wasn’t good for my personal life. But you live and you learn, and I was warned this could happen because of the way I do busi-

The day after tasting pastries in her restaurant (you have to try the rosemary scone with strawberry jam), Giada is working the annual Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala at MGM Grand. She was supposed to be cooking with Wolfgang Puck, the culinary legend she worked for at Spago in Beverly Hills before her celebrity status. But Puck had to cancel. Giada was a little disappointed but maybe also a little pleased to be the only celeb chef on the bill. Moving from task to task behind the scenes at the banquet, Giada claimed to be tired from being dragged through Omnia Nightclub the previous night with her niece, who “just had to stay until Calvin Harris came on.” But Giada’s energy level was just as high as the previous morning as she bounced between chores and smilingly allowed lots of backstage crew and F&B folks to take selfies with her. She chatted with Quincy Jones (“I met you when you were a little girl!”), hugged Larry Ruvo and delivered a bottle of Dom Pérignon to the dressing room of Grammy-winning jazz guitarist George Benson, whom she introduced to the crowd after leading her team in plating 1,500 dishes of braised Wagyu beef shortrib with Barolo wine reduction sauce, crispy lemon potatoes and roasted baby carrots. That sounds like a lot, but there was plenty of standing around. She spent every free moment talking to her staff about the restaurant, working through problems and figuring out when to launch brunch—and whether they should sell pastry and coffee to-go in the mornings. (They should. That scone!) If you didn’t know this was driven, ambitious, world-famous Giada, you might think she’s obsessed with such details, or at least that she’s a very intense perfectionist. But there are lots of details. There have been lots of challenges. This is her first restaurant, and her name is on the building. “You know how many people said to me I should do what Curtis Stone did in LA and open a little 20-seater to get my feet wet and understand the business?” Giada says. “I tell everyone the reason I did this is because I’m on television, and yes, I worked in restaurants, but people know me from TV. “This is the entertainment city, and people come to be wined and dined like no other place in the world. I can’t do this in LA or New York or anywhere else. Where else can I open a restaurant and have this kind of company? You wanna be legit as a chef? Sh*t! Put yourself in this community and it’s sink or swim. Let’s do it.” July 2–8, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 17

by Kristy Totten

ampered cars assemble around the Dairy Queen; Little Eva’s “Loco-motion” sets a nostalgic tone, and spectators amble around the parking lot with expressions of childlike wonder, stopping to exclaim, “My dad had one just like this!” and, “Whoa—look at that!” It’s so Americana it feels like stepping into an old drive-in scene, with gumsmacking teens in letterman jackets and roller skates, except we’re mostly adults, and not dressed like we came from a sock hop. Ask a member of the scene, no matter the faction, and all car people will tell you these gatherings are about community. There are other things they love about cars, but those mostly solitary joys live between the covers of catalogs, in parts shops or junkyards, on the endless pages of eBay, in their home garages and out on the road, cruising with the windows down. These weekly gatherings, as Cars and Coffee organizer Salomon Braun puts it, are where enthusiasts “come out to kick tires and tell lies.” The various clubs have their specialties, from hot rods to imports to high-end supercars, but they don’t come off as clique-ish. A car enthusiast is a car enthusiast, and though their trademarks might differ, their passions are the same. The owner of a storied old American car, admired for its rusty patina, could mingle with the driver of a matte black supercar who’s finicky about the finish, and still find plenty of common ground. Likewise, members of the car-show circuit welcome outsiders. They’ve poured hours of hard work into their vehicles, and they appreciate your appreciation.

18 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

CHECK OUT: Dairy Queen, Friday nights at Rancho & Craig; Donut Delinquents, Saturday mornings at Tropicana & Mountain Vista; Hot Rod Church, Sunday mornings at Jones & Cheyenne; Mr. D’s, Tuesday nights at Oakey & Rainbow; HellKats, third Fridays at Hard Rock Cafe (Paradise). If you’re not familiar with rat rods, think of a Mad Max car, minus some apocalypse, plus a nod to American history. Like the dystopian flick’s Frankenstein rides, rat rods are pieced together from scavenged parts, but unlike the original’s 1973 Ford Falcon XB, the rods are typically older. JunkYard Pirates is a local pre-1972 car club that organizes Rat City Rukkus each year in April, at the same time the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender descends. To counter the strict guidelines of shows that forbid alterations, the group dreamt up Rukkus a decade ago to highlight a broader range of classics. Since then it has swelled to 350-plus show cars, with unofficial overflow spilling into nearby lots. Member Patrick Watson, a stuntman-turnedstagehand who got the nickname Patrick the Pirate for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean, drives a 1929 Hudson with Ford parts and the chassis of a mid-’80s Dodge. Everything is hand-crafted by Watson and his friends, including a skull-topped gear stick that extends through the roof and an exposed engine with a throttle linkage made of Arizona barbed wire from 1812. It was this kind of

rugged flair that attracted Watson to rat rods, in the style of automobile icon Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, who created Rat Fink, and Hollywood builder and Batmobile designer George Barris. “I like the simplicity of it and the wide-open range of creativity that you can use,” Watsonsays. “You weren’t [in a] chokehold to anybody else’s specific style or rules. I’m not much of a rule guy. You could just be as creative as you want. ... I just let my mind create it. I didn’t look at anyone else’s. I used my memory, I used Hot Wheels that I owned and old cartoon drawings.” The 32-member club includes a mix of oldies, from a ’55 Bel Air and a ’49 Nash to a ’69 Camaro, ’66 Chevelle convertible and a vintage Dodge truck. “Some are rusted out, some are shiny and painted, some are bare metal,” says JunkYard Pirates’ President Corey Talbot. Talbot drives a 1972 chopped Chrysler sedan, with a wood top, a vodka vessel that stands in for an overflow bottle, and a chainsaw throttle linkage. The suicidedoored rod sits inches off the ground and garners attention that Talbot’s mint Buick never did. “Before I had this I had a convertible Skylark that was all shiny and pretty, but I hated taking it anywhere, because I was worried that someone was going to scratch the paint or do something to it,” he says. “This, I don’t care. You can set your drink on top of it. I don’t worry about it. I can walk away and not worry about if someone’s going to scratch it or key it.” For the same reason, Watson calls his ride a “rotten rod.” The rusted machine crumbles more each day, and Watson stands by to hold it all together.

> rugged art JunkYard Pirate Patrick Watson shows off his creation.

photograph by christopher devargas

> Cars and coffee The weekly gathering in Henderson draws diverse eye candy.

CHECK OUT: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring events; Sports Car Club of America race, July 11 at LVMS; Import Face Off, December 6 at the Strip at LVMS. At 27, driver Michele Abbate is old and new to the racing circuit. She started competing in Autocross parking-lot trials as a teen, then in 2011 she hit the racetracks, where she continues to explore new avenues. She’s driven Mazdas, Subarus and Legend cars and currently races a green, sticker-splattered Scion FR-S that she and her boyfriend built. And she’ll soon dip into the world of stock cars and NASCAR. “I never thought I would do circle track because I had such a passion for road racing, but

20 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

it’s all about the people you meet,” Abbate says. And she’s not one to let an opportunity pass. When her racing season was cut short by mechanical complications in 2014, Abbate dusted herself off and launched a $10,000 crowdfunding campaign with Dark Horse Pros, a fundraising website for extreme sports projects. She hit and then exceeded her goal by $3,000, becoming the first driver to campaign a Scion FR-S in the Sports Car Club of America’s U.S. Majors Tour. She won the Western Conference Division championship in her rookie year, and is currently leading in the National Championship’s Super Touring Under class. This year, Abbate will compete in NASCAR’s Whelen AllAmerican Series at Irwindale Speedway, and ultimately she’d like to qualify for and conquer the Pirelli World Challenge or the K&N Pro Series with NASCAR. But the most important thing is to stay in the driver’s seat, and she’s not married to any motorsport. Off-road rac-

ing? Bring it on! Despite the inherent competitiveness of her sport, Abbate says the racing set is inclusive. “The motorsports community is pretty small. Even your competitors are willing to help you get to the next level or reach your goals. We’re a pretty tight family. ... Age never affects anything. Some are in their 50s, others are teenagers.” And though greater experience typically translates to greater skill, it’s not always the case. Sometimes newly licensed kids swoop onto the scene and school the old guys. And it’s also a level playing field for women, where physical strength doesn’t influence wins. Though she competes against few female drivers (there are three in her stock-car class of 25), Abbate says she’s always felt supported. “I feel like we get a lot of a respect for what we do as women. Racing is an equal foundation,” Abbate says. “It’s not like football where men will really dominate.”

cars and coffee by spenCer burton; michelle abbate by Richard Pochop

> share the road Cars and Coffee and (bottom right) Michele Abbate’s fast ride.

> Caption Head Hot Rod Church

CHECK OUT: Cars and Coffee, Saturday mornings at Eastern & Serene; Las Vegas Car Museum at Palazzo; Barrett-Jackson auto auction, September 24-26 at Mandalay Bay. Salomon Braun can tell you exactly when his interest in cars began: in Mexico City as a child, when he would visit his cousins and admire their model cars. Though he drove “appliance-type” cars like Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys for years, those practical choices gave way to a more exciting one when he and his wife bought an 8-year-old Porsche in 2007. Since then, they’ve been hooked. Today, the Brauns own a 1984 911 in Mexico blue and a 2012 911 Carrera S in racing yellow. They began attending Cars and Coffee in

Irvine, California, in 2007 as spectators. “We couldn’t believe how people from Southern California would show up at 5:30, 6 in the morning just to hang out,” he says. The show became an important part of their social life, so when they moved to Las Vegas they created a chapter here, and now there are 14 across the U.S. and a handful in Europe. Perhaps the most varied weekly meetup, the Henderson show regularly draws Corvettes, Mustangs, Mopars, Ferraris, Porsches, Mercedes, Lotuses, BMWs and classics. “It’s a gathering of car enthusiasts, and they come from all walks of life,” Braun says of the Saturday show he founded seven years ago. It’s eclectic. You might have a 1963 Goldwing parked right next to a classic ’65 Mustang, an exotic right next to an import or perhaps even a classic pre-war automobile sitting next to a brand-new Corvette.” And next to that mixed group of cars, you’ll find a similarly mixed group of people.

cars and coffee by spencer Burton; hot rod church by christopher devargas; michelle abbate’s car by bert mcbride

July 2–8, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 21

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> WHEN NERVO TAKES OVER The Australian duo commandeers the Omnia DJ booth July 7.

SKRILLEX AT ENCORE BEACH CLUB

Just when you thought Skrillex was all about the bass (drop), he jumps onstage and plays guitar with The String Cheese Incident at Electric Forest in Michigan. Catch his next antics Friday at EBC. July 3, 11 a.m., $30+ women, $40+men. DAVE FOGG AT TRYST He’s been the program director and/or resident DJ at Whiskey Sky (remember that?), the Hard Rock Hotel, Ra, Tryst, XS (he opened it) and for the N9NE Group. Who knows a Vegas club dancefloor better than Dave Fogg? July 3, 10:30 p.m., $20+ women, $30+ men. SKAM ARTIST FOURTH OF JULY BBQ AT BARE Dayclub meets backyard

cookout as SKAM DJs control the sounds and Bare brings free burgers and dogs for the first 200 guests. ’Merica! July 4, 11 a.m., $30+ women, $40+ men.

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Hilton at Tao? What is this, 2003? The ever-inescapable, former reality TV star will be DJing at Tao Beach on the Fourth of July, which is simultaneously super American and yet not. July 4, 11 a.m., $20+ women, $40+ men. LIL WAYNE AT LIFE Contrary to this

SUNDAY NIGHTSWIM WITH DEADMAU5 AT XS During a recent

CABANAS FOR A CAUSE AT PALMS POOL The best way to extend your

week’s rumors, Life Nightclub is not closing and SLS officials said they are “actively booking talent for the venue.” It’s certainly going big for the Fourth with a live performance from unstoppably prolific, ever-eccentric rapper Lil Wayne. July 4, 10:30 p.m., $28+ women, $33+ men.

interview with Vancouver’s Georgia Straight entertainment pub, Joel Zimmerman noted that cats like lasers more than nightclub people do. It’s exactly that kind of insight that keeps Deadmau5 among the biggest attractions at Wynn. July 5, 9:30 p.m., $20+ women, $30+ men.

holiday three-day weekend to four glorious days of revelry is to get your crew together, head to the Palms and shell out $100 for a cabana with proceeds benefitting HELP of Southern Nevada. DJ Seany Mac guides the party. July 6, doors at 10 a.m., $10+, local women free.

CLUB HOPPING Nightlife News & Notes ICYMI: Steve Angello has moved. The Grammy-nominated chart-topper is done at Life and will kick off his new residency at Omnia at Caesars Palace on August 4. The bunnies are back. Light and Daylight are teaming up with Playboy for a big weekend July 10 and 11, including a

24 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM JULY 2-8, 2015

NERVO AT OMNIA Afrojack and Calvin Harris are playing the biggest new club on the biggest nights of the big holiday weekend. If you can’t get away from the pool and the fireworks, you get another chance to Omnia on Tuesday with Australian twins Miriam and Olivia Nervo, plus DJ Crooked inside Heart of Omnia. July 7, 10:30 p.m., $20+ women, $30+ men.

Playmate search, a “Playmate Takeover” DJ set from Will.i.am, and the Playboy Mansion-style Midsummer Night’s Dream Party transforming Light into a “1,001 Arabian Nights”-themed fantasyland. Strip party bar Rockhouse is switching things up with live music at night, including Rockstar Karaoke on Tuesdays, the Spazmatics on Wednesdays, Metal Shop on Thursdays and the Peter Love Trio during Sunday’s bottomless booze brunch. Hi Scores Bar-Arcade will

open its second location this fall on Blue Diamond Road. Expect just as many games and beers on the menu as at the original Henderson spot. Vegas does pool parties like no other, but we’ve never seen this before: Uberpong and USA Table Tennis are taking over the Linq pool for the World’s Biggest Ping Pong Pool Party on July 10, featuring live DJs, the launch of the Pongtopia app and poolside pong. RSVP at worldsbiggestpingpong poolparty.splashthat.com. –Brock Radke

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> EARNED IT Fresh off a duet with Alicia Keys at the BET Awards, The Weeknd returns to Drai’s.

You are now entering Las Vegas’ big pop music moment By Brock Radke If you still listened to pop radio—you’re probably too locked into streaming your own custom playlist, right?—you would notice Las Vegas is having a moment right now. This is not about local artists like Imagine Dragons and Shamir who are blowing up. The sound of Vegas right now—the electronic music making thousands bounce and dance in Strip nightclubs and dayclubs every week—has undeniably captivated the country and infiltrated the mainstream. The pop charts are littered with names like David Guetta, Calvin Harris, DJ Snake, Skrillex, Diplo (and Major Lazer), Zedd and Avicii. More than half the hits on this week’s Billboard dance chart were created by Vegas nightclub resident artists, individuals who are performing here more than they’re showing up anywhere else. Nightclubs have consistently determined what’s cool in American music, but not here. Las Vegas has always THE WEEKND provided populist entertainJuly 3, 10:30 ment, but the city’s dominant p.m., $50-$100, sound—face it, that’s what this Drai’s Nightclub. music is right now—has rarely aligned with the stuff the kids were favoring. We were Rat Packing for rock ’n’ roll and lounge singing for hip-hop. Suddenly, Vegas is right on the money, musically speaking. For further proof that the Strip is the epicenter of what’s hot in music, just look up—to the rooftop club Drai’s at the Cromwell, which boasts one of the hottest artists in the country as a resident. And he’s no DJ. Since bursting onto the scene in 2011 with an exotic trilogy of mixtapes transcending modern R&B and hip-hop, The Weeknd has seen his career skyrocket. In just the past few months, the intentionally enigmatic artist has closed out Coachella with two acclaimed performances (bringing Kanye West onstage for the latter); performed on Saturday Night Live with Ariana Grande; helped launch the Apple Music streaming service with fellow Canadian Drake; and dropped new single “Can’t Feel My Face,” a slab of future-funk that instantly joins the race for song of the summer. Just this week, The Weeknd performed at the

> One more Night Dee Jay Silver will close Body English on July 3.

BET Awards in LA and dueted with Alicia Keys on “Earned It,” his hit track from the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack. If that’s not a royal appointment at the (piano-playing) hands of a proven pop queen, what is? As The Weeknd continues to get huge, he’s been performing mostly at festivals. Drai’s is the only place to catch the rising star in such an intimate, unique environment, complete with swimming

More change at the Rock

Seminal nightclub Body English shutters this weekend

26 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

pools and Strip views. His ongoing residency is a big score for the club and for Vegas, and Drai’s continues to expand its live performance schedule with other relevant hip-hop and R&B acts, including the just-added Miguel concert on August 28. Electronic dance music and edgy R&B may not be everyone’s preference, but the kids love it right now. And Vegas is where those kids, and those artists, want to be.

Say sayonara to another long-standing piece of the Hard Rock Hotel. The 20-year-old casino-resort just closed its well-known Center Bar for a complete overhaul, and now time is up for Body English, too. The subterranean nightclub is closing on July 3. A Hard Rock spokesperson said the property is working on something new to fill the space. Dee Jay Silver, who also plays the Rehab Fridays Backyard Pool Party on July 3, will be the final act at Body English. The club originally opened as Baby’s in 1998, when the Vegas nightclub scene was in its infancy: Ra at Luxor and Drai’s at the Barbary Coast were brand new, joining pioneering venues like Club Utopia, the Beach, Club Rio and the Drink. After Baby’s morphed into Body English in 2004, it closed in 2010 during the Hard Rock’s extensive renovation and construction period, reopening in 2013. –Brock Radke

the weeknd by Patrick Gray/KabikPhotoGroup; body english by chad carl

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LAS VEGAS WEEKLY CLUB GRID

VENUE

THURSDAY

1 OAK

Closed

ARTISAN

Lounge open 24 hours

DJ Kid Conrad

THE BANK

Doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

CHATEAU

Closed

DRAI’S AFTERHOURS

Afterhours

Doors at 1 am; $30 men, $20 women, industry locals w/ID free

DJ Ross One

FRIDAY J. Espinosa

DJ set; doors at 10:30 pm; $40+ men, $30+ women

DJ Justin Key, Kulprit; doors at midnight; free

DJ Que

Doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

DJ Presto One

Doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

Afterhours

Doors at 1 am; $30 men, $20 women, industry locals w/ID free

The Weeknd

Doors at 10 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

FOUNDATION ROOM

10 pm, $30+; Blues & Brews, 6-9 pm, $20

Doors at 10 pm, $30+

Benny Black

Exodus & Mark Stylz

Live; doors at 10 pm; $100+ men, $50+ women

GHOSTBAR

Doors at 8 pm; $20 men, $10 women, locals free before midnight

HAKKASAN

With OB-One; doors at 10:30 pm; $40+ men, $20+ women

With Zaxx, Jesse Marco; doors at 10:30 pm; $60+ men, $40+ women

HYDE

Doors at 5 pm

10:30 pm, $30+ men, $20+ women; doors at 5 pm

Tiësto

SATURDAY DJ E-Rock

Doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

Artisan Afterhours Artisan Afterhours

DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB

DJ Seany Mac

SPONSORED BY: Station casinos

Listings are accurate as of press time. For more info, contact venues directly.

With Rebecca & Fiona; doors at 10:30 am; $30+ men, $20+ women

DJ Wellman

Doors at 11 am; $20+ men, $10+ women

Doors at 11 am

MARQUEE DAYCLUB

Closed

With Lema; doors at 11 am; $20+ men, $10+ women

PALMS POOL

Doors at 8 am; $10+, local women free

DJs Ace, Mark Stylz; doors at 8 am; free before noon; $20+ men, $10+ women

TAO BEACH

Doors at 11 am; $20+ men, $10+ women

WET REPUBLIC

Doors at 11 am

Doors at 11 am; $30+ men, $20+ women

Ashley Wallbridge

Ditch Fridays

Krewella

SATURDAY Skam Artist Fourth of July BBQ Doors at 11 am; $40+ men, $30+ women

Alesso

Doors at 11 am; $50+ men, $30+ women

Zedd

Doors at 10 am; $60+ men, $40+ women

New World Punx

Doors at 10:30 am, $30+ men, $20+ women

DJ Cobra

Doors at 11 am; $40+ men, $20+ women

Dash Berlin

SUNDAY Doors at 11 am; $20+ men, $10+ women

Sundown with Nic Fanciulli

Doors at noon; $30+ men, $20+ women

DJ Sourmilk

Closed

Drai’s Beach

Closed

Doors at 10:30 am, $30+ men, $20+ women

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Doors at 11 am

Closed

Doors at 11 am

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Doors at 8 am; $10+, local women free

Doors at 11 am

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Erick Morillo

Carnage

Javier Alba

Doors at 11 am; $20+ men, $10+ women

Afrojack

Doors at 11 am; $30+ men, $20+ women

Cabanas for a Cause

DJ Seany Mac; doors at 8 am; $10+, local women free

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Kaskade

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DJs Shift, Flow; doors at 11 am; $20+ men, $10+ women, locals free

Industry Independence Day

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With Burns; doors at 11 am; $150+ men, $60+ women

WEDNESDAY

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With Frank Rempe; doors at 11 am; $20+ men, $10+ women

Paris Hilton

TUESDAY

Doors at 11 am; $30+ men, $20+ women; locals free

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DJ set; doors at 11 am; $40+ men, $20+ women

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NIGHTS | Party Playback June 28

Skrillex at Encore beach club Photographs by EBC Photgrapher

38 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

Arts&Entertainment M o v i e s + M u s i c + Art + F ood

> BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND FIREWORKS It’s time to go back to Cashman for the Fourth.

Trust Us

Stuff you’ll want to know about GO Las Vegas 51s vs. Albuquerque Baseball, beer, hot dogs, fireworks … Is there a more American way to do July 4, except maybe calling your mom first and asking her to bake an apple pie while listening to John Mellencamp? 7 p.m., $15-$30, Cashman Field.

HeaR

EAT

TeenaGe Bottlerocket “We’re on the prowl

CRONUT HOLES There’s nothing more sublimely perfect than a cronut, the love child of a croissant and a doughnut. But what if that love child had a baby of its own? What if it had a lot of babies, as cute as they are scrumptious? It did, at Pink Box. If eating a dozen is wrong we don’t want to be right. Baked daily, $3 per half-dozen; $6 per dozen, multiple locations.

for something cool, we’re gonna shred your empty swimming pool,” sings Kody Templeman (also of The Lillingtons) on “Skate or Die.” The Fat Wreck Chords four-piece brings the pop-punk Downtown—bonus points if you skate there. With The Bombpops, Guilty by Association, Mercy Music, Franks & Deans. July 3, 8 p.m., $10, Beauty Bar. Dizzy Wright The 22-year-old Las

BOULDER CITY DAMBOREE Celebrating our nation’s

independence makes us long for parades, flyovers and fireworks. Capturing that old-timey American feeling is hard in the concrete jungle of Vegas, so be with your B.C. neighbors for their 67th annual all-day party. Music, food, games—hell yeah! July 4, 9 a.m., most activities at Broadbent Memorial Park and Veteran’s Memorial Park, bcnv.org.

Vegas resident lands at home for the last date of his Growing Process tour, named after his recently released second full-length—the fourth local album to storm Billboard’s Top 200 sales chart (at No. 47) this year. With Jahni Denver, Demrick, DJ Hoppa. July 4, 6 p.m., $25, House of Blues.

DRINK STONE RUINTEN The San Diego County brewery calls its latest release—a triple (!) IPA—a “stage dive into a mosh pit of hops,” and we couldn’t agree more with that description. If you like ’em hoppy and boozy with notes of caramel and nectarine, this 10.8 percent ABV/110 IBU brew is the one to reach for. Available at local liquor outlets.

Go ahead, get back in the water A suggested Shark Week movie marathon, chosen solely on the basis of cover art

51’s sun file; dizzy wright by tommy garcia

July 2–8, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 39

A&E | SCREEN

> BRAINSTORMING SESSION Clarke, Schwarzenegger and Courtney plan their attack on Skynet.

FILM

A NEW, OLD BEGINNING

Terminator Genisys looks to the future by rewriting the past BY JOSH BELL Series creator James Cameron has hailed Terminator Genisys as “the third film” in the series that began with Cameron’s 1984 The Terminator and 1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and the movie itself also acts like the third in the series, essentially ignoring everything from 2003’s Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and 2009’s Terminator Salvation. While Genisys spends its first half flattering the story that Cameron created in his original film, it doesn’t do much to capture the character depth, emotional impact or philosophical ideas that made his movies such iconic touchstones of sci-fi and action cinema. Cameron’s actual involvement in Genisys is limited to saying nice things about it. Like Rise of the Machines and Salvation, Genisys was directed by a competent journeyman (TV veteran Alan Taylor, who also helmed Thor: The Dark World) rather than

cyborg is around, the older it looks. From 1984, the a visionary like Cameron. Taylor and screenwritmovie jumps ahead in time as Sarah, Reese and the ers Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier do more Terminator try once again to stop Skynet and avert than pay homage to Cameron, though, as the movie the impending apocalypse. opens with the same setup as the original, and for a It’s when Genisys breaks from the remixing of while proceeds along the same lines: In the future, a previous movies and starts to tell its own story that self-aware computer network known as Skynet has things go awry, with a convoluted plot that’s full wiped out much of humanity, and in order to defeat of holes and a self-consciously shocking twist that human resistance leader John Connor (played this ends up invalidating a core thematic eletime by Jason Clarke), it sends a cyborg ment of the series. Genisys often feels like known as a Terminator back in time to aabcc a glorified piece of fan fiction, playing 1984 to kill John’s mother Sarah (Game of TERMINATOR around in the margins of a great movie. Thrones’ Emilia Clarke, replacing Linda GENISYS Emilia As an overblown blockbuster, it’s solid Hamilton) before John is born. John is Clarke, Jai but forgettable, with mediocre action able to send back his trusted lieutenCourtney, Arnold sequences and performances that range ant Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) to protect Schwarzenegger. from lifeless (Courtney, as usual) to mildSarah from the Terminator. Directed by Alan ly disappointing (Clarke, who is much Taylor does an amusing job of repliTaylor. Rated more compelling on Game of Thrones) cating and then subverting the beats of PG-13. Now playing. to hammy (Schwarzenegger, coasting Cameron’s film, as Reese travels to 1984 but clearly having fun). Familiar characonly to discover that the timeline has ters like the liquid metal T-1000 (Byung-hun Lee) been changed, and Sarah is already a warrior badass and cybernetics pioneer Miles Dyson (Courtney B. thanks to a reprogrammed Terminator (Arnold Vance) are reintroduced and then largely wasted. Schwarzenegger, making his franchise return) The movie’s chief purpose seems to be reminding who’s been protecting and training her since she audiences what they enjoyed in the previous movwas a kid. The film incorporates Schwarzenegger’s ies, but the best way to enjoy those is to just go advanced age by explaining that the Terminator’s watch them again. human flesh ages normally, and the longer the

FILMS

HE’LL BE BACK With Arnold Schwarzenegger’s return to the Terminator franchise (and planned reappearance in the Conan series), here are three other roles we’d like to see him revisit

40 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM JULY 2-8, 2015

PREDATOR (1987) Schwarzenegger has been absent from this movie’s various sequels and spinoffs, and his return as Dutch, the Delta Force commando who defeated the first alien hunter, might bring some excitement back to the franchise. If nothing else, a grizzled Dutch could whip the predator’s latest would-be victims into fighting shape.

LAST ACTION HERO (1993) Just because a movie has “last” in its title doesn’t mean it can’t have a sequel, and this unfairly maligned meta-action movie is due for a resurgence. It could be the perfect fit for the current era of excessively self-aware pop culture.

KINDERGARTEN COP (1990) Who doesn’t want to hear Arnie scream “It’s not a tumor!” again? Maybe with the rumored remake on the horizon, Schwarzenegger could take on the role of school principal to a younger, hipper kindergarten cop played by an MMA fighter or something. –Josh Bell

A&E | screen FILM

> meat market The dudes of Magic Mike XXL show off their assets.

Sexual healing A dinner party gets raunchy in The Overnight

FILM

Whatever his influence may or may not have been on the direction, though, XXL lacks any hint of the creativity or style he brought to the original. It’s every bit the cheesy, brainless exercise in audience pandering many expected from the first movie. XXL is barely even a movie at all; the plot is a string Magic Mike XXL is a dreadful sequel of minimally connected set pieces that exist mainly to showcase the stars’ abs, and by the end it devolves By Josh Bell into little more than a filmed dance performance, complete with an auditorium full of shrieking women. After Before becoming an unexpected cultural phenomspending an entire movie agonizing over his decision enon, 2012’s Magic Mike started as a passion project for to leave stripping behind, Mike (Tatum) requires virtustar Channing Tatum and director Steven Soderbergh, ally no convincing to join his former bros on a road trip who financed the movie themselves. Soderbergh took to a stripper convention. Supporting players Matthew Tatum’s fictionalized version of his male-stripper past McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer and Cody Horn, and made it into a stylish if superficial meditawhose characters were central to the first tion on the temptations of easy money and fast movie’s plot, have all been hastily written living, compensating for the weaknesses in acccc out, replaced by a string of glorified celebrity Reid Carolin’s script with evocative montages, MAGIC MIKE XXL cameos. unexpected juxtapositions and a moody color Channing Tatum, The contemplative tone that balanced out palette. Magic Mike isn’t a great Soderbergh Joe Manganiello, the first movie’s exuberant dance scenes is movie, but Soderbergh does bring something Matt Bomer. great to it. Directed by Gregory completely gone; XXL has about as much dramatic complexity as Thunder From Down The movie’s popularity, however, is based Jacobs. Rated R. Under. Without even the pretense of realism, far more on its preponderance of shirtless, Now playing. XXL manages to make its predecessor look muscular, gyrating men than on Soderbergh’s retroactively worse, dismissing any idea of thoughtfulskills as a filmmaker, and his subsequent quasi-retireness or character development in favor of repetitive ment means he declined to return as director for sequel bumping and grinding. XXL turns Magic Mike into a Magic Mike XXL. Still, Soderbergh’s replacement is franchise that shamelessly caters to fans who crave only his veteran first assistant director Gregory Jacobs, and a parade of beefcake, forgetting that what made it work Soderbergh himself is on board not only as an execuin the first place was its creators’ artistic vision. tive producer but also as cinematographer and editor.

The magic has vanished

The main characters of The Overnight, married couple Alex (Adam Scott) and Emily (Taylor Schilling), head off to a dinner date with potential new friends Kurt (Jason Schwartzman) and Charlotte (Judith Godrèche) without any idea of the insanity to come, and that might be a good way for audiences to enter into the movie, too. Recently moved from Seattle to LA, Alex and Emily are worried about making new friends, both for themselves and for their young son. When they meet Kurt and his own young son in a local park, they eagerly accept his invitation to come over for a meal and a playdate. What starts out innocently enough aaacc takes a turn for the THE perverse once the OVERNIGHT kids are asleep, Adam Scott, though, and writerTaylor director Patrick Schilling, Brice keeps both the Jason characters and the Schwartzman, audience on edge Judith as to how things will Godrèche. turn out. The early Directed by parts of the story rely Patrick Brice. a little too heavily on Rated R. unpleasant cringe Opens Friday. humor, but as the characters open up to each other, Brice more effectively balances that humor with emotional revelations that feel genuine even if they start out as uncomfortable jokes. The depravity escalates so effectively that it’s a little disappointing when Brice pulls back at the end, although the sweetness of the resolution fits with the characters’ fundamentally positive intentions. For all its deviance, The Overnight is really about two couples who love each other very much, and the lengths to which they will go in order to keep that love alive. –Josh Bell

July 2–8, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 41

A&E | NOISE

THE WEEKLY PLAYLIST Independence Day Edition Titus Andronicus, “A More Perfect Union” Shooter Jennings, “4th of July” Neil Young, “Flags of Freedom” Elliott Smith, “Independence Day” > THE GOLDEN ROAD (From left) the Grateful Dead’s ’80s lineup: Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, Brent Mydland, Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir.

Oscar Peterson Trio, “Hymn to Freedom”

HELP ON THE WAY Preparing for the final Dead shows, with a trip back in time BY SPENCER PATTERSON I saw the Grateful Dead 17 times in 1994, catching shows along both coasts and in Las Vegas, where I didn’t yet live. It wasn’t one of the band’s peak years, but that hardly mattered. What did, as a bumper sticker dating back to the ’70s nicely nutshelled, was that “There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert.” I came to that realization during my very first show, as the group unfurled a massive version of “Terrapin Station” that transported me to a sublime sonic space I’ve rarely found since. This weekend, the band’s surviving members pay tribute to that legacy, performing three final, “Fare Thee Well” shows as The Dead at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Fans in Las Vegas can watch a simulcast at Brooklyn Bowl ($15 Friday, $20 Saturday and Sunday, $45 for all three), at four local movie theaters (Colonnade, Orleans, Village Square and Sam’s Town, $15-$18 per night) or on YouTube (youtube.com/dead50, $30 per night). If you’re not already familiar with the band’s history, here are five key things to know. The setlist changed nightly. It’s not as unusual in rock music today, but when the Grateful Dead began performing in the mid-1960s, reshuffling songs and their order was more in the jazz tradition. Through the band’s three decades onstage, it meant you might see three shows in a row without a single number repeating. Mix in the band’s improvisational nature— a four-minute tune could stretch into a 20-minute excursion— and the anticipation of what might be in store as the lights went down was truly something. You could revisit past shows, for free. What better way to spread the legend of an ever-shifting live show than by authorizing concert recording and setting the results loose for fans to collect and trade? (My guest-room closet is still filled with cassettes marked “GD.”) That show you saw last week? You can find it. The Cornell ’77 show you’ve read so much about? Hear for yourself. Historic dates—2/13/70, 8/27/72, 8/13/75—became stars in their own right, and listeners connected by sending

42 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM JULY 2-8, 2015

tapes through the mail in the pre-Internet era. The nine-fingered guitar player led the way. Sadly, the man most responsible for the Grateful Dead’s musical radiance won’t be onstage this weekend; Jerry Garcia, the band’s lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist, died 20 years ago next month. He took a background in bluegrass and the blues and brought it to a psychedelic place, where his spacey, knowit-anywhere tone and stick-to-your-brain phrasings set him apart both from “guitar gods” of his era and the jam players of today. For me, the band was at its best in 1968 and ’69, when Garcia and bassist Phil Lesh experimented on rock’s outer edges, but there are mountains of mammoth Jerry moments from ’73, ’77 and beyond, too. The words came to the band from beyond. Robert Hunter, the Grateful Dead’s not-so-secret weapon, wrote the lyrics to most of Garcia’s tunes (rhythm guitarist/co-lead vocalist Bob Weir also paired with a wordsmith, John Perry Barlow). From the cryptic (from “The Eleven”: “No more time to tell how/This is the season of what”) to the sublime (from “Scarlet Begonias”: “From the other direction, she was calling my eye/It could be an illusion, but I might as well try”), Hunter elevated the band’s music with thoughtful sentiment, in the process earning the respect of rock-poet supreme Bob Dylan, who covered Hunter’s “Silvio” in 1988.

Bruce Springsteen, “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” Joni Mitchell, “Night Ride Home” Pavement, “No More Kings” Ryan Adams, “Firecracker” Broken Social Scene, “Stars and Sons” X, “4th of July” Jay Z & Kanye West (feat. Frank Ocean), “Made in America” Björk, “Declare Independence” Jimi Hendrix, “The Star-Spangled Banner” –Mike Prevatt

The crowd made the scene. Though old-school Deadheads sometimes denounced late-era fans who flooded in after the band’s “Touch of Grey” resurgence, I largely found the scene to be one of respect and positivity. Sure, for some, drugs seemed to be of greater priority than music, but most folks I met at my shows were there for the band and its songs. Long before today’s festival circuit made traveling for concerts a widespread notion, the Dead’s followers did it every chance they could, ever chasing that spine-tingling sensation I felt on my first trip to “Terrapin.” PHOTOGRAPHS AP PHOTO

AVERAGE WHITE BAND JULY 4 • 8PM • $20 AT THE DOOR

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JULY 11 • 8PM • $20 AT THE DOOR

ROGUE WARRIOR CAGE FIGHTING Veterans and active duty warriors fighting for their wounded comrades.

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JULY 25 • 8PM • $22.95 GA

$15 beer buckets (6 per bucket)

50% off ALL drinks & pizzas plus select $ 5 appetizers 5pm-7pm & 12am-2am

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DOORS 10:30PM • NO COVER BEFORE MIDNIGHT

FRANKIE NEGRON • JULY 31 $ DOORS 10:30PM • 25 COVER

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AUG 7 & 8 • 8PM • $15 AT THE DOOR PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE FRONT DESK OR ONLINE AT CANNERYCASINO.COM OR EASTSIDECANNERY.COM. Management reserves all rights. ©2015 Cannery Casino Resorts, LLC. All rights reserved.

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ENTERTAINMENT Done Right

A&E | noise lo c a l s c e n e

> GOING DEEPER UNDERGROUND (From left) Gerry “Turbo” Proctor, Dirk Vermin, Rob Ruckus.

Mr. metal

Superproducer Billy Anderson talks Demon Lung, and beyond

lo c a l s c e n e

Turbo: “One show where Ruckus threw his bass at me from the back of the bar at the Double Down. It was spiraling toward my head, and then it did this weird Bruce Lee thing and went sideways and landed perfectly on his amp and my drum head. It was, like, bionically weird, and everyone at the bar was like, “Whoooaaaa!” Vermin: “At one time we did a weekly gig at the Wet Stop— On the eve of its final gig, The Vermin that’s where we honed our chops and got our stage shtick looks back on two decades in Vegas down. For a weekly show you have to stay on your toes, and the three of us have big mouths, never at a loss for words. But By Chris Bitonti it was tough; it was Wednesday night. I don’t miss it at all.” Over 20 years, a handful of records and countless shows, Ruckus: There were times at Calamity Jayne’s where I no act has come to embody the Vegas punk scene quite like used to do this thing called the beer fountain, where I’d The Vermin. But nothing good can last forever, and the band’s put a full can of beer in my mouth and blow, and it would hilarious, offensive and always-entertaining run ends July 3 make 12-foot fountains on each side. I did this one night, with a final performance that shares its name with the release and there happened to be a local motorcycle gang up front, of a new retrospective album, The Vermin Must Die. Singer/ and I doused them. One of them jumps onstage and puts guitarist Dirk Vermin, bassist Rob Ruckus and a knife to my throat. I finished the song and drummer Gerry “Turbo” Proctor look back on two handed him a shot of whiskey as an apology, and memorably drunken decades in the desert. then the guy took the knife from my throat.” THE VERMIN

Eternally obnoxious

THE SHOWS

Turbo: “You grow up listening to Ill Repute,

with Tony Reflex, M.I.A., The Heiz. July 3, 8 p.m., $10$12. Backstage Bar & Billiards, 702-382-2227.

THE MOMENTS

Ruckus: “Getting to play for Timothy Leary, who came to see us at the Double Down right before he died. We sat and talked for a few minutes, and then I went on. He lasted about four songs, came up, hugged me and said, “You guys are very entertaining, but you are very loud and I must now leave.”

44 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

Vermin: “Double Down. I mean, that’s home. I never feel more comfortable onstage than when we’re at the Double Down.” Ruckus: “There were so many drunken nights there where just anything would happen. Usually, I would end up naked by the end of the night. Until we got the TV show [Bad Ink], every single show I would end up naked by the end. Then we went on TV, and I was told I couldn’t do it. Now that I’m not on that channel, I can do it again for the last show (laughs).” THE LEGACY

Turbo: “When there wasn’t a scene in Vegas, The Vermin was the scene. Bands would come, and bands would go. And who’s still standing? The Vermin. But we’ve got all these great bands and a scene that’s thriving now.” Vermin: “Obnoxious. Your mother hated us, and your sister wanted to f*ck us (laughs). Something like that. We were just that punk band. When other bands would play with us, if we didn’t pick on them they felt like they hadn’t arrived.” Turbo: “We were the band where punk rock meets pro wrestling. We were the punk-rock Rat Pack, and we had that title for a really long time.”

The vermin by Ryan Reason and Jennifer Burkhart/Square Shooting

and next thing you know you’re playing with them or Doctor Know or Youth Brigade, or any number of great punk bands from back in the day. … We even got to play with Sylvain Sylvain from The New York Dolls.” Ruckus: “The first Las Vegas Shakedown at the Orleans—we played with everyone from The Dictators to Guitar Wolf and Wayne Kramer from MC5, an absolutely amazing lineup of bands. All the New York shows, the last LA show we did with Adolescents and 7 Seconds and Channel 3. All the shows with TSOL and Agent Orange.” Vermin: “Opening for TSOL, as drunk as I’ve ever been onstage. Turbo had to tune my guitar, and it didn’t help. We got to open for Fear twice. One show I remember we were great; the other show I do not.”

HOME BASE

Based on the cult-classic horror film Alucarda, Vegas band Demon Lung’s sophomore LP A Dracula is a dark and brooding foray into a grisly, haunted dimension. We caught up with Portland-based producer Billy Anderson, the man responsible for fine-tuning Demon Lung’s iconic, eardrum-busting sound on both LPs—plus Sleep’s genre-defining Dopesmoker and many more. How did you first hear of Demon Lung? I got an email asking me if I’d be interested in recording their album. I was really into it. I thought Shanda [Fredrick’s] voice was great. How did you make sure the mood was right for A Dracula, which is a concept album based on Juan López Moctezuma’s 1977 horror film, Alucarda? Getting them comfortable, basically. Shanda likes to be in a space with candles, and the mood has to be good. It’s not like she has to be in a good mood; it just has to be right. It’s very rare when a singer can just walk in and immediately start recording with all the lights on. A lot of people light incense. Most bands light candles. I had one band that burned sage. Some bands, the mood is set by alcohol. Some bands smoke a lot of weed, like Sleep. It just really depends on the band. When you recorded Sleep’s Dopesmoker, did you ever think it would have such an impact on the genre? Not at all. It was like 20-something years ago, and I’ve done like 300 albums since then. I don’t really remember … I was just happy we got it done. When you aren’t recording, what are you listening to? When I’m not working I don’t listen to metal at all. I listen pretty much strictly to hiphop. It’s like the exact opposite of metal. It’s like a palette cleanser. It’s like when you’re at a wine tasting and you eat a cracker, you know? –Leslie Ventura

A&E | noise > LookIng Up Miguel’s ascent continues with Wildheart.

R& B

The next leap Miguel’s modern R&B exploration takes him further out goes full-Prince on “Flesh,” floatWhen Miguel opened ing falsettos and digging deep for for Drake at MGM Grand in hungry growls. Distorted drums November, he did it in rock-star and fuzzy guitars create a rummode—leather jacket and guitar, bling canvas for his distinct voice, leading a small, tight band with which is boyish and summery a big sound and lots of swagger. one song and sinister and sexy A lot. He continues in that directhe next. Most of Wildheart feels tion on Wildheart, away from the close to being a live album, slick, streetwise R&B of or at least one assembled 2010 debut All I Want Is Miguel with quick inspiration and You toward super-charged Wildheart off-the-cuff freedom. funk-rock. aaacc Now that Miguel has an There’s nothing on underrated debut, a smash this record to rival ubiqsophomore effort and a slightly uitous 2012 single “Adorn,” in more experimental third album which Miguel out-Marvin Gaye’d under his belt, his position in the Robin Thicke and Pharrell (for a waning world of modern R&B is lot less money, too). But there’s clear. With Frank Ocean and The a lot of progression and still a Weeknd, Miguel forms a holy trinlot of soul, including “Coffee”— ity of artists that are not concerned maybe the most Miguel-ish song with genre labels, only in evolving ever—and “Face the Sun,” where them. –Brock Radke Lenny Kravitz shows up. Miguel

punk

Refused’s swinging comeback

Refused Freedom aaaac

Swedish hardcore band Refused reunited in 2012, 14 years after breaking up after releasing seminal album The Shape of Punk to Come. As a recent Punk Rock Bowling headline slot underscored, the group’s second go-around has been nothing short of incendiary, and that wildeyed fire extends to Freedom, Refused’s first stab at new music since returning. Although the presence of pop svengali Shellback gave some fans pause—he produced two songs, the simmering “Elektra” and bass-heavy snarl “366”—the album is no mainstream grab. Songs are full of the band’s usual smart combination of brutal polemics and political commentary, with pointed critiques of religion, oppressive governments and economic inequality coming off as especially poignant. Refused also smartly pushes sonic expectations at every turn, between the horns greasing frontman Dennis Lyxzén’s cries of “Kill, kill, kill!” on “Françafrique,” the funk grooves edging post-punk standout “Servants of Death” and the hip-hop-like rhythmic base of “Old Friends/New War.” These curveballs complement the band’s familiar sounds (Lyxzén’s charred vocals, barbed-wire punk riffs). In fact, Freedom is the sound of a band smashing presumptions in the name of bold forward progress. –Annie Zaleski

A&E | the strip

t h e k at s r e p o rt

DYNAMIC SHOWMEN

Human Nature continues to evolve its Australian-born Motown revue By John Katsilometes

> ESTABLISHED AUSSIES Human Nature’s Vegas show is the foundation of its growing global brand.

and an unshakable belief in the consistency of the show. Many of the lines recited from the stage, such as Michael’s “Nothing screams popularity in high school like ‘boy soprano,’” date from the group’s early days at Imperial Palace. “As well as we know each other, and know the show, it is hard to be off-the-cuff with four people who want to cut in and talk,” Tierney says. “We have to have some structure, and it has always been that way. We want to deliver a great show every night, but we are more free-form in our touring show, and we do want to evolve the show in Vegas, change it some, perform some of the music we’re into.” That will happen later this year and into 2016; Human Nature’s contract with the Venetian ends in December. The men in the group, and their families, long ago moved to Las Vegas, where they all have been pleasantly surprised by the city’s close entertainment community. “We have a great relationship with the hotel. It’s a great marriage of act and property,” Tierney says. “We’ll work on some other material, how to grow and change without sacrificing the quality of what we’ll do.” He chuckles and adds, “We’ll have a lot of meetings about this, privately, but I think the fans will like whatever changes we made.” If they’re looking for suggestions, I might suggest an explosive tune by another group from Australia. In fact, let’s start warming up now …

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The beauty of a tight-knit collection of four a cappella singers is you can soundcheck pretty much anywhere. Example: Two years ago the guys in Human Nature, the Motown-driven group that headlines the Venetian’s Sands Showroom, were to appear on the radio show I co-host on 91.5 KUNV-FM. The guys were asked days earlier if they would sing their version of AC/DC’s “TNT,” the relatively rare instance where they covered a non-Motown song. They had actually recorded “TNT” in 2003 for an album titled Andrew Denton’s Musical Challenge 2, a compilation of artists singing songs outside Tierney says. “We can argue, but we don’t want peotheir genres. As a warm-up to singing that song on ple to see a train wreck. I think they are fascinated to the air, they huddled in the UNLV parking lot and see us in normal clothes, not in tuxedoes and bowties sang, “The Tracks of My Tears,” the song that sold and doing the dance moves.” Smokey Robinson on the group and prompted him Natives of Sydney who were booked into the to “present” the show in Las Vegas. As the group old Imperial Palace showroom in 2009, Human sang, students stopped and watched, later asking, Nature is no longer an oddity on the Strip. They “Who were those guys singing Smokey Robinson are a proven success, a real Las Vegas production, out in the parking lot?” which now uses that affiliation in its That moment says a lot of Human many dates around the country, and also Nature, which is now offering a soundits homeland of Australia. In May, the check/meet-and-greet experience before HUMAN group wrapped a tour of that country, shows at the Venetian. For an additional NATURE selling out every night. $40, fans can show up at 5:45 p.m. and TuesdayThe band “makes bank,” as they say, watch as the guys work out such songs Saturday, 7 playing outside Las Vegas frequently when as “The Tracks of My Tears” in jeans p.m., $49-$118. not performing its usual schedule of 35 and T-shirts. The backing band, effecVenetian’s weeks per year. In Australia, the Vegas tively named the Funk Foundation, is also Sands brand has helped solidify the group’s artisonstage. This process is finely honed by Showroom, tic merit. “Australians still see Las Vegas now, as Human Nature has moved into 702-414-9000. as the place to see Celine, Britney, Elton, its 25th year together, and over that time Mariah Carey, and it is still very much the brothers Andrew and Michael Tierney, entertainment capital of the world,” Tierney says. “So Phil Burton and Toby Allen have never recruited a when you are playing here, they think, ‘They have to sub. When one is feeling less than 100 percent, the be good to be headlining on the Strip.’ ” others often cover. Rarely do they miss a show. Human Nature has prospered through oldThey get along, but Andrew Tierney says they are school methods: natural talent, extraordinary work not above an occasional row. “We are four distinct ethic (the guys are soaked in sweat after every personalities, and there are sometimes some interperformance, but the Tierneys remain gym rats) esting moments when we’re talking about our show,”

A&E | Fine art > TASTY SIGHTS Chop Shop creates familiarity from past works.

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Justin Favela scraps and reassembles his paper creations By Kristen Peterson wasted when it comes to Favela’s work, particularly the When your 1964 Kelly green lowrider Impala has humor and cultural insight. The Impala became seven been sliced into thirds and shipped back to Vegas after mini Impalas, along with “paintings” made from wall much ballyhoo in a museum exhibit several states away, mounting the car’s side and top. The red GMC piñatathere’s not much more to do with it except dismantle and inspired truck from Car Show, which represented the reassemble—an amenable situation when the life-size ride standoff between police and Tejano singer Selena’s consists of shredded paper, foam and glue. killer, was used to create small works featuring the star’s This is what artist Justin Favela was planning last year signature—thoroughly dipped in glitter—from at Crystal Bridges Museum in Arkansas, where the MAC cosmetics campaign. The signatures his piñata-inspired Impala was featured in a CHOP SHOP were mounted on paper pizzas, inspired by national exhibit. Not only would the car be July 3 (First a line in the Selena biopic: “I can eat a whole recycled, but a collaborative exhibit with artist Friday), 6-9 p.m., medium pizza all by myself.” Sean Slattery (exploring celebrity tragedy via Alios, 1217 S. Not everything in the show had a direct cars) would yield even more auto parts. Main Street. Chicano connection, but it did have some sort So when Todd VonBastiaans and Bryan of cultural weave. Portraits of Marge, Bart and McCarthy invited Favela to their Main Street Homer Simpson were made from the sculpted space Alios for a themed residency of sorts, the highway accommodating O.J. Simpson’s white Bronco in Car cars came in, the wheels came off and the open studio/ Show. Chicken McNuggets were made from the car in which interactive installation Chop Shop was opened to the public. Tupac Shakur was shot, tying together the shooting site Neighbors, artists and Favela’s friends and family stopped and a Chicken McNugget billboard, both of which the artist in to see the process. In many cases, they would assist. “We passes on his way to work. The residency has been extended loved that we walked in one night and eight different artists for First Friday. Can’t find Alios? Look for the yellow garagewere working on the same piece,” VonBastiaans says. door-size Chop Shop sign covering the security shutter. The daily grind continued for weeks. Nothing is

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A&E | stage

a novel in gestures Frank Blocker’s one-man whirlwind was full of physicality and nuanced characterization By Jacob Coakley

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comes) while keeping the poetry and high language of a novel intact. No one would be surprised by the presence of a tough-talking, no-guff-taking large black woman in a Southern story—but having her humorously praise the local dingbat for her “fortitude” (and searching mightily for that compliment) shows that just as much care went into the words of the script as the presentation. There’s a scene told from the point of view of a june bug as it makes its way up a water tower. It’s a very novelistic technique, but as Blocker narrates the section, describing the town and its late-night goings on, his hand contorts, playing the june bug, flitting its way across the stage and up a water tower. It’s a great synthesis of words and actions, and this physical lyricism mixed with poetic and witty wordplay combined for a show that was a great relief for our own hot summer nights.

photograph by carol rosegg

Summer has come on with a vengeance, but > CHARACTER STUDY last weekend the Onyx Theatre reminded Vegas Blocker plays 17 roles in 60 minutes. that we’re not the only place with unbearable temperatures, scheming criminals and colorful locals. acter to another gently holding the fallen’s elbow, for Southern Gothic Novel, a one-man show written example—showing how they related to each other and performed by Frank Blocker, took audiences on through more than just words, guiding you a tour of Aberdeen, Mississippi, following through purely imagined sets. The only props young Viola’s search for her latest true love, onstage were the book he started to read and the town’s search for what’s behind the aaaac from (quickly thrown away as he started to recent disappearance of many local girls. SOUTHERN perform) and a stage cube that operated as Blocker was fantastic, his physicality both GOTHIC a bar stool, front seat of a car and even the incredibly precise and completely natural, a NOVEL walls of a moonshine shack. kind of second-nature inhabitance that was June 26, And his characters were worthy of such a joy to watch and deeply revealing. Between Onyx Theatre. close scrutiny. In addition to the comic his work and Cheryl King’s directorial guidViola there was her long-suffering mother, ance, characters didn’t just exist as gimmicky Donna; Viola’s inept suitor, Jimmy; and a host of ticks or funny voices, but appeared with just a crook others, each carefully wrought and brought to life of his neck, or a drunk’s soft shamble. Small gestures with physicality and language. Blocker’s script, an belonged uniquely to different characters, without homage to Southern Gothic novels, lovingly played defining them, extending their reality. And even as with the tropes of a Southern novel (trailer parks, he shifted between characters, he kept their spatial moonshine, gruff old judges and rain that never relationships intact—moving from one falling char-

A&E | PRINT

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BY HEATHER SCOTT PARTINGTON cast of colorful characters. Phoef Sutton’s Crush doesn’t Crush stands out from other pause for a second; its title charworks of the genre by timing its acter is too busy chasing down the humor well. Crush, his brother Russian mafia and protecting damZerbe and his taekwondo master/ aged damsels in distress. Caleb bartender friend Gail have just Rush, or Crush, as he’s known, is enough humanity to round out a badass. The bartender/bouncer/ scenes (necessarily) filled with tough-guy-for-hire cuts a hulking henchmen. Sutton writes some figure who doesn’t have patience nice moments of introfor much. When Amelia spection between his Trask, spoiled daughter of characters. “Why lie to the “filthy rich, arrogant” aaacc anybody?” Crush asks mogul Stanley Trask, CRUSH his former coworker, shows up at Crush’s bar By Phoef who replies, “I’m not asking questions, some Sutton, $15. as simple as you are, bad guys try to toss her Crush, nobody is. People in their Lamborghini and lie. They lie because they want she ropes Crush into a wild chase someone to believe they’re betthrough LA. Screeching tires, ter than they really are. They lie removal of her top, hiding of flash because while they’re lying, they drives and yacht explosions ensue. can believe it, too.” Crush is a fast-paced crime Perhaps the most surpristhriller, the kind of book you get ing depth comes during a torwhen you take out all the boring ture scene, after the bad guy tells parts. This is what you want to Crush he’s going to deliver “cripread poolside in Vegas. Crush is pling, destructive pain.” What he cars and pyrotechnics and porn promises will wound Crush the shoots, one-liners and a pouting most is “the hope that somehow, femme fatale. Sutton’s Emmysome way, you just might surwinning writing is on display here, vive. Hope is the real torture.” and the chases, fights, explosions, Of course, this comes only pages characters and pacing all seem after a scene involving a car bursttailor-made for the screen. Crush ing through the doors of a freight is worth a read, though; it’s an elevator, and moments before the action-packed escape. It’s grimy hero goes skull-crushing, so it’s crime fiction that’s not too grim. clear Sutton doesn’t want you to Sutton mitigates the darker underreflect for too long. tones of his book with wit and a

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> CONSISTENCY COUNTS T&B delivers street-style tacos that are just as good as its crunchyshell counterparts.

iCYMI

All of the tacos The aptly named Tacos & Beer excels at both By Brock Radke

familiar Baja fish taco ($3.95), beer-battered tilapia Taco shops have effectively taken over Las Vegas, with coleslaw, chili-lime crema, guacamole and pico de and that’s absolutely fine. Recent years have seen a gallo. There are favorites like chicken tinga ($2.95) or proliferation of street-style taco shops all around traditional cochinita pibil ($2.95), which T&B does parthe Valley offering cheap, fast, delicious food, and ticularly well: pork shoulder roasted in banana leaves if you pay close attention, you’ll also notice the and topped with pickled red onion. There’s even a few vast majority of new Mexican restaurants focus on of those odd-animal-part tacos that only some of us offering as many different kinds of tacos as possible. love, like beef tongue ($3.50). One of our best of the latter type is simply known as T&B has a secret weapon, and it’s mashed potaTacos & Beer. toes. A rich, smooth dollop is deployed in the There’s other creative Mexican fare on this menu, uniquely awesome barbecue beef taco including standout guacamole ($7.95) to which ($3.50), layered with shredded beef in you can add bacon and corn or toasted pumpstout-molasses barbecue sauce, cheddar kin seeds and pomegranate; chicken tortilla TACOS & cheese, lettuce and sour cream in a crispy soup with avocado and cilantro ($5.95); and a BEER 3900 tortilla shell. Similar genius occurs with fresh, crisp salad ($6.95) loaded with chopped Paradise the crunchy taco ($2.95), which subs romaine, black beans, pico de gallo, mango, Road, 702in ground beef and hot sauce, and the pickled radish, cucumber and more. You can 675-7572. crunchy chicken ($3.50), with chile morialso opt for a burrito, enchiladas, nachos, a big Daily, 11:30 ta salsa. These are far from traditional platter of carne asada ($17.99) and a steak huaa.m.-2 a.m. tacos, but they’re so satisfying; you might rache ($11.95), a thick soft tortilla covered with not be able to finish two. roasted poblanos and mushrooms. But it’s pretThe beer list is as impressive as the taco list. ty impossible to miss the fact that you’re supposed to Twenty rotating taps offer local and regional brews eat tacos and drink beer here, so, you know, feel free. from Ballast Point’s Grapefruit Sculpin to Almanac’s At last count, there were 19 different tacos on the Saison Dolores to Tenaya Creek’s God of Thunder menu, not counting the platters of mini-tacos available Baltic porter. Bottles and cans show off plenty of in orders of six ($8.95) or a dozen ($15.95). Some do fall diversity, including a handful of sour beers, which into the category of street-style tacos, like carne asada pair well with rich, spicy tacos. ($3.50) or pork al pastor ($2.95), succulent meats If this is what a Las Vegas taco shop looks, feels dressed minimally in soft, warm, house-made corn and tastes like, then we should be pretty happy with tortillas. Others come in flour tortillas, like the grilled our taco situation. fish with mango habanero salsa ($3.95) or the more

50 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

Street Smarts Traditional fare finds a sturdy home at Frijoles & Frescas There’s nothing like feeling the vibe of an area through what its street vendors thrust on a stick or stash in carb-friendly vessels. But sometimes it takes some convincing to get others to eat curbside. It’s a good thing Frijoles & Frescas opted to keep the charm of these culinary vestiges when opening its first brick-and-mortar restaurant last year. “Our family loves discovering different food on every Frijoles corner in Mexico, so the idea & Frescas was to bring that authen7000 W. tic base but put it in an Charleston approachable atmosphere,” Blvd., 702says general manager Greg 240-2750; Carlson. His father-in-law and 4811 S. F&F owner Alberto De La Paz Rainbow tapped friend and veteran Blvd., 702chef Francisco Salas from 483-5399. Guanajuato, Mexico, to craft Mondayfresh flavors. There’s no passThursday, 11 port required to experience a.m.-9 p.m.; their authentic cuisine. Friday & Agua frescas. Add these Saturday, 11 brightly hued drinks to a.m.-10 p.m. your liquid repertoire, made from fruit, water and sugar. Choose from strawberry, mango, pineapple and more, and feel free to mix juices for your own version or swirl in some horchata, chia seeds or spinach leaves for texture. ($2.50) Mexican street corn. Known as elote, this popular snack heads to the grill for patches of char and coats of butter before getting an all-around smear of crema—rather than getting bogged down with mayo—and dusting of salty cotija cheese and chili powder. Check out Carlson’s playful video about this skewered snack on the restaurant’s website (frijolesand frescas.com). ($2.25) Shrimp cocktail. Forgo visions of Vegas past with this bright rendition, which has all the players mingling in the pool. Mobs of shrimp swim in a stock made from shrimp shells, pico de gallo, ketchup and avocado in a glass mug. Squeeze in some lime, grab a Saltine cracker and take the plunge. ($11.99) Al pastor mini taco. Salas breaks down and douses pork butt pieces in a fiery adoboesque marinade and stacks onion, meat and pineapple on the vertical trompo broiler. Shaves of fire-tinged pig meet diced pineapple, onion and cilantro in two corn tortillas for a taste of Mexico City. ($1.99) –Brittany Brussell

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIKAYLA WHITMORE

> MASA WONDERLAND Vegenation’s meatless tamales and the super-meaty ones at Carlito’s (inset) are both delicious.

PIMM’S CUP

ON THE HUNT

TAMALE SAFARI

Exploring the Valley’s diverse array of the ancient snack BY GREG THILMONT

The tamale is much more than a humble selection in a Mexican restaurant combination plate; it’s one of the world’s oldest composed foods. Fillings have been stuffed into masa (corn meal dough) and steamed in husks for at least 8,000 years in Central America. Contemporary diners are no strangers to tamales—they’re common enough, especially in the big-hitter local chains. These five establishments, however, are perhaps lesser-known purveyors of the portable comestibles. Situated in the far northwestern sliver of Las Vegas, Leticia’s Mexican Cocina (7585 Norman Rockwell Lane, 702-445-7722) seems to be something of a secret. Inside, you’ll find a visual riot of Latin flair and a menu to match the local Mexican juggernauts. Leticia’s offers a quartet of unwrapped fatties ($12), tamales the size of burritos, including chicken in tomatillo sauce, pork in a tangy guajillo pepper sauce, and cheese. There’s also a smoky version with chipotleaugmented, fajitas-style vegetables. Some might consider tamales to be peasant or folk food, but at the grand Mundo (495 S. Grand Central Parkway, 702-270-4400), they’re elevated entrées. In this stylish dining room in the megalithic World Market Center, these tamales explode with three types of gourmet abundance. In one, chipotle-glazed shrimp ($18) are spiked with a red chile-brandy sauce and queso fresco. The beef short rib tamale ($14) is lusty with pasilla chile sauce, corn relish,

VEGENATION BY MIKAYLA WHITMORE; CARLITO’S BURRITOS BY L.E. BASKOW

queso fresco and salsa fresca. The pulled chicken ($12) has tomatillo sauce, queso fresco and salsa fresca. All three are gorgeous, to boot. While the tamales at Leticia’s and Mundo trace back to Mexico, the corn-husked packets sold at Carlito’s Burritos (3345 E. Patrick Lane, 702-547-3592) are from the unique cultural realm of New Mexico. This small, busy and friendly shop sells the basic varieties ($2.95): red chile pork, green chile pork or green chile chicken. It’s the sauces that make Carlito’s a true destination. It trucks in certified capsicum annuum from the state’s famed Hatch valley. Because of this, Carlito’s green sauce is amazingly bright and fruity tasting, and the red sauce is rich and complex. Can’t decide which one you want? Do like they do in Albuquerque and go “Christmas”—both sauces at once. Just as Carlito’s takes a slight culinary detour from Mesoamerica, so does Cookie’s BBQ Rib Shack (1216 W. Owens Avenue, 702-544-0625), a low-key eatery in West Las Vegas. While Cookie’s specializes in smoked meats, it does sell some wickedhot tamales ($2). An interpretation of the snack became popular in the Mississippi Delta region in the early part of the 20th century, and it spread, along with other soul food eats, in later decades. Of special note with Cookie’s tamales are their irregular shapes—some are skinny, some are somewhat squat. Most tamale makers standardize their product, but the hands behind Cookie’s tamales follow the natural form of the corn husks they use as molds. Look for the big “tamales” banner outside. Venturing furthest from the Central American tamale heartland are the lovely meatless tamales at Vegenation (616 E. Carson Ave. #120, 702-366-8515). These tamales ($5.85) are intricate little baskets of organic masa, lentils and diced chili. They look like food sculpture and help hip vegans get their tamale fix. Since they are not slathered in cheese nor are they infused with animal juices, ask for some sriracha on the side.

INGREDIENTS 2 1/2 oz. Pimm’s No. 1 2 1/2 oz. Fever-Tree Ginger Ale 2 1/2 oz. lemonade Cucumber ribbon, strawberry, apple slices, orange slice, blackberry, sprig of mint (garnish)

METHOD Build drink in a tall 16-ounce glass filled with ice. Stir, garnish and serve.

From our friends across the pond, Pimm’s No. 1 is a popular gin-based, herbal infused liqueur, and the foundation for England’s classic summertime cocktail, the Pimm’s Cup. Light and refreshing, this drink is ideal for a leisurely croquet game, casual polo match or more realistically, lounging poolside on a Sunday.

JULY 2–8, 2015 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM 51

A&E | Short Takes with Vincent Chase (Grenier) directing a movie, and Ari Gold (Piven) worrying about money. Like the show, it’s lightweight and pleasurable, even if it doesn’t really skewer any of this Hollywood behavior. –JMA Theaters: COL, DTS Ex Machina aaacc Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander. Directed by Alex Garland. 108 minutes. Rated R. Isaac plays a tech genius who invites one of his employees (Gleeson) to conduct a series of interviews with his latest creation: a humanoid robot named Ava (Vikander). The film raises plenty of probing questions about artificial intelligence, but it isn’t as smart as it pretends to be. –MD Theaters: SC, TC Far From the Madding Crowd aaabc Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen. Directed by Thomas Vinterberg. 119 minutes. Rated PG-13. Danish filmmaker Vinterberg (The Celebration, The Hunt) takes a stab at one of Thomas Hardy’s most famous novels, cutting and condensing it in a way that underlines the author’s protofeminism. And he gets a quietly terrific performance from Mulligan, who makes Bathsheba Everdene very much her own. –MD Theaters: SC

> military action Soldiers fight in Vietnam in Faith of Our Fathers.

Special screenings Boozy Movie Wednesdays Wed, 8 pm, free with cocktail purchase, 21+. 7/8, Return to Oz. Inspire Theater, 107 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-489-9110. Dive-In Movies Mon, 7 pm, $5, hotel guests free. 7/6, Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2. Cosmopolitan Boulevard Pool, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-698-7000. Fare Thee Well 7/3-7/5, broadcast of final Grateful Dead performances from Chicago, 5 pm, $13$15. Theaters: COL, ORL, ST, VS. Info: fathomevents.com. Metropolitan Opera HD Live 7/8, Verdi’s La Traviata performance from 2012, 7 pm, $13-$15. Theaters: COL, SF, SP, ST, VS. Info: fathomevents. com. Midnight Brewvies Mon, movie plus popcorn, midnight, free. Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, 702-272-0000. Movies in the Square Thu, sundown, free. 7/2, Paddington. 7/9, The Mighty Ducks. Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. S., mytownsquarelasvegas.com. Outdoor Picture Show Sat, dusk, free. 7/4, National Treasure. The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2225 Village Walk Drive, Henderson, 702-564-8595. RiffTrax Live 7/9, Sharknado 2: The Second One with comedic commentary, 8 pm, $10.50$12.50. Theaters: COL, ORL, SF, SP, ST, VS. 7/16, encore showing, 7:30 pm, $12.50. Theaters: COL, VS. Info: fathomevents.com.

52 LasVegasWeekly.com July 2-8, 2015

Sci Fi Center Mon, Cinemondays, 8 pm, free. 7/4, Christopher Lee marathon with Dracula (1958), The Curse of Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace, 7 pm, $5. 5077 Arville St., 855-501-4335, thescificenter.com. Speakeasy Cinema Wed, classic mobster noir movies plus historical presentation, complimentary alcoholic beverages, 6:30 pm, $12-$15. 7/8, Dark City. Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., 702-229-2734. Tuesday Afternoon at the Bijou Tue, 1 pm, free. 7/7, Reap the Wild Wind. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-507-3400.

Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, COL, DI, DTS, FH, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, SC, SF, SHO, SP, SS, TS, TX The Overnight aaacc Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman. Directed by Patrick Brice. 79 minutes. Rated R. See review Page 41. Theaters: GVR, TS, VS Terminator Genisys aabcc Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney. Directed by Alan Taylor. 126 minutes. Rated PG-13. See review Page 40. Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, DI, FH, GVL, GVR, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SF, SHO, SP, SS, ST, TS, TX, VS

New this week Now playing Faith of Our Fathers (Not reviewed) Kevin Downes, David A.R. White, Stephen Baldwin. Directed by Carey Scott. 96 minutes. Rated PG-13. The sons of two Vietnam veterans explore their fathers’ journey of faith and friendship. Theaters: ST, VS In Stereo abccc Micah Hauptman, Beau Garrett, Melissa Bolona. Directed by Mel Rodriguez III. 97 minutes. Not rated. Two smarmy douchebags fall in love in this irritating indie dramedy. Smug photographer David (Hauptman) and cynical actress Brenda (Garrett) flail about with other people and stumble through their careers after breaking up, until they eventually reconnect, in a poorly paced story that’s not nearly as clever as it pretends to be. –JB Theaters: TC Magic Mike XXL acccc Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer. Directed by Gregory Jacobs. 115 minutes. Rated R. See review Page 41.

The Age of Adaline aabcc Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford. Directed by Lee Toland Krieger. 110 minutes. Rated PG-13. Lively’s stilted, mannered acting actually works in her favor playing a seemingly immortal woman born in 1908. Adaline falls in love and wistfully looks back on her long, lonely life, but neither the romance nor the regret is particularly convincing. The plot is dull and predictable, especially in its turgid second half. –JB Theaters: SC Aloha aaccc Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams. Directed by Cameron Crowe. 105 minutes. Rated PG-13. Crowe’s Hawaii-set dramedy about a military contractor (Cooper) falling in love with his Air Force liaison (Stone) is a mess from start to finish. It’s a halfbaked romance full of dead-end subplots and startling leaps in character development, with a third-act turn into a nearly incomprehensible conspiracy storyline. –JB Theaters: COL, VS

Avengers: Age of Ultron aaabc Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth. Directed by Joss Whedon. 141 minutes. Rated PG-13. The Marvel superheroes (including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and more) team up for their latest adventure, taking on evil robot Ultron. Writer-director Whedon manages to include an impressive amount of character development and clever dialogue, although eventually the action set pieces and cluttered plot steamroll over the drama. –JB Theaters: DI, ST, VS Cinderella aabcc Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. 105 minutes. Rated PG. Branagh’s live-action remake of the 1950 Disney animated classic about a downtrodden girl who falls in love with a prince is a straightforward retelling of the fairy tale, without any twists or stylistic innovations. It’s a lavish production, but it’s also dramatically inert, led by a pair of good-looking but forgettable actors. –JB Theaters: TC Dope aaabc Shameik Moore, Kiersey Clemons, Tony Revolori. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa. 105 minutes. Rated R. Geeky inner-city teenager Malcolm (Moore) has to fend off dangerous characters when he ends up with a backpack full of drugs meant for someone else. Writer-director Famuyiwa mixes winning comedic moments with serious, life-or-death situations, often at the same time, like a cross between Adventures in Babysitting and Boyz N the Hood. –JB Theaters: BS, COL, PAL, RR, SC, SP, TS Entourage aabcc Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Connolly. Directed by Doug Ellin. 104 minutes. Rated R. Based on the HBO series that ran from 2004 to 2011, Entourage picks up where it left off,

Furious 7 aaacc Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez. Directed by James Wan. 137 minutes. Rated PG-13. Replacement director Wan freshens the seventh film of this ridiculous series with a great villain (Statham) and several razzle-dazzle set pieces, and replaces the usual machismo with “family”-type bonding. But he also can’t stop the movie from raging too long and running out of gas early. –JMA Theaters: ST Home aabcc Voices of Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin. Directed by Tim Johnson. 94 minutes. Rated PG. After the cute, clueless alien Boov invade and take over Earth, human tween Tip (Rihanna) teams up with misfit alien Oh (Parsons) to save the planet. It’s a familiar mismatched-friends story, tolerable enough for children who like funnycolored aliens but forgettable enough that parents should be able to easily ignore it. –JB Theaters: TC Hot Pursuit aaccc Reese Witherspoon, Sofia Vergara, John Carroll Lynch. Directed by Anne Fletcher. 87 minutes. Rated PG-13. Witherspoon and Vergara have minimal chemistry as a cop and a criminal, respectively, in this lazy, unfunny action-comedy, which combines weak, repetitive jokes with desultory copdrama plot points. The jokes mostly rely on tired gender stereotypes and jabs at Witherspoon’s short stature and Vergara’s curves and incomprehensible accent. –JB Theaters: ST, TC I’ll See You in My Dreams aaacc Blythe Danner, Martin Starr, Sam Elliott. Directed by Brett Haley. 92 minutes. Rated PG-13. This dramedy about aimless retiree Carol (Danner) is a low-key amble through a brief period in her life, as she takes a few steps to shake up her settled but lonely routine. Danner is charming, and the talented supporting cast offers gentle laughs and a few moments of heartfelt emotion. –JB Theaters: VS Inside Out aaabc Voices of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind. Directed by Pete Docter.

A&E | Short Takes 94 minutes. Rated PG. Pixar’s latest animated feature takes place almost entirely inside the brain of an 11-yearold girl, focusing on the five core emotions—Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger—who control her behavior. It’s a funny movie with a remarkably wise message, but parents of pre-teen kids be warned: It will wreck you. –MD Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, COL, DI, FH, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SHO, SP, SS, TS, TX

> imperfect couple Micah Hauptman and Beau Garrett in In Stereo.

Insidious: Chapter 3 aaccc Stefanie Scott, Lin Shaye, Dermot Mulroney. Directed by Leigh Whannell. 97 minutes. Rated PG-13. This horror prequel features none of the main characters from the previous Insidious movies, instead focusing on an earlier case handled by psychic Elise Rainier (Shaye). It’s an underwhelming, standard-issue ghost story, relying mostly on jump scares, without the sense of dread that made the original movie stand out. –JB Theaters: COL, ORL, SF, ST, TS, TX Insurgent aabcc Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet. Directed by Robert Schwentke. 119 minutes. Rated PG-13. The sequel to Divergent bypasses the exposition about its dystopian future, but it remains just as nonsensical. There are more exciting action sequences and better special effects, but the characters are still flat, and the plotting is still an incoherent mess. –JB Theaters: TC Jurassic World aabcc Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins. Directed by Colin Trevorrow. 124 minutes. Rated PG-13. The fourth movie in the series about genetically engineered dinosaurs returns to the theme-park setting, with a new deadly dino wreaking havoc on the fully operational park. Two decades after the groundbreaking original, this sequel arrives as just another overstuffed, CGI-filled blockbuster about people running and yelling. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, COL, DI, FH, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SHO, SP, SS, TS, TX Just the Way You Are (Not reviewed) Enrique Gil, Liza Soberano, Yves Flores. Directed by Theodore Boborol. 90 minutes. Not rated. In Filipino with English subtitles. A popular teen bets his friend that he can make a nerdy new girl at school fall in love with him in 30 days. Theaters: VS Love & Mercy aaabc John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks. Directed by Bill Pohlad. 120 minutes. Rated PG-13. This biopic focuses on two periods in troubled musician Brian Wilson’s life, with Dano as the young Beach Boy and Cusack as the middle-aged burnout. Dano and Cusack’s performances don’t necessarily line up, but each captures Wilson convincingly, and the filmmakers don’t try to fit his life into a particular movie formula. –JB Theaters: GVR, VS Mad Max: Fury Road aaabc Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult. Directed by George Miller. 120 minutes. Rated R. Taciturn drifter Max Rockatansky (Hardy, replacing Mel Gibson) returns for the first time in 30 years, on another post-apocalyptic adventure. The thin plot is an excuse for director Miller to stage bravura car chases and action sequences, which should be more than enough to satisfy fans. –JB Theaters: GVR, ORL, ST, TS, VS Max abccc Josh Wiggins, Thomas Haden Church, Lauren Graham. Directed by Boaz

voice of Seth MacFarlane. Directed by Seth MacFarlane. 115 minutes. Rated R. MacFarlane’s foul-mouthed teddy bear is back, struggling to overturn a legal decision that he’s not a person, with the help of thunder buddy Wahlberg and a bong-toting civil-rights attorney (Seyfried). Like the original, it’s very hit-and-miss, joke-wise, but the relaxed chemistry between the actors gives the gags an appealing context. –MD Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, DI, DTS, FH, GVL, GVR, ORL, PAL, RP, SF, SHO, SP, SS, ST, TS, TX, VS Tomorrowland aabcc George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy. Directed by Brad Bird. 130 minutes. Rated PG. A teenage prodigy (Robertson) teams up with a grumpy ex-inventor (Clooney) to discover the hidden futuristic city of Tomorrowland and eventually save the world. This slow-paced, convoluted and strangely preachy movie is more of a presentation about the concept of adventure stories than an actual exciting adventure story. –JB Theaters: ST, VS

Yakin. 111 minutes. Rated PG. This shamelessly manipulative family drama follows sullen teenager Justin (Wiggins) as he learns important life lessons while taking care of the military dog left behind by his late brother. The heavy-handed message is matched by the terrible dialogue, one-dimensional characters and sloppy third-act attempt at generating suspense. –JB Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, COL, DI, FH, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SF, SHO, SP, ST, TS, TX, VS

Poltergeist aaccc Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Catlett. Directed by Gil Kenan. 93 minutes. Rated PG-13. Poltergeist is considered a horror classic, so a remake ought to have a unique point of view, or at least deliver some solid scares. Kenan’s new version of the 1982 haunted-house story has neither, recycling most of the original’s major plot points with a few half-hearted modern updates. –JB Theaters: BS, TC

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl aaccc Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. 105 minutes. Rated PG-13. This Sundancewinning dramedy is smug and selfserving in its story of an awkward teen (Mann) who learns and grows after befriending a cancer patient (Cooke). It’s at least somewhat clever in its lighter, funnier first half, but what starts as a mildly funny comedy ends up as a disingenuous tearjerker. –JB Theaters: GVR, ORL, RR, ST, VS

San Andreas aaccc Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario. Directed by Brad Peyton. 114 minutes. Rated PG-13. Johnson plays a fire department rescue pilot who attempts to save his wife and daughter when a series of massive earthquakes strike California in this moronic, mushy, painfully predictable

Monkey Kingdom (Not reviewed) Directed by Mark Linfield and Alastair Fothergill. 81 minutes. Rated G. Nature documentary featuring the monkey population of Sri Lanka. Theaters: TC Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 abccc Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez, Neal McDonough. Directed by Andy Fickman. 94 minutes. Rated PG. Six years after thwarting a heist at a New Jersey mall, bumbling security guard Paul Blart (James) ends up doing the same at a Las Vegas hotel. Mall Cop 2 suffers from indifferent plotting, listless action and apathetic jokes that often don’t appear to have punchlines. –JB Theaters: SC, ST, TC Pitch Perfect 2 aabcc Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow. Directed by Elizabeth Banks. 115 minutes. Rated PG-13. Everything in this sequel to the 2012 surprise hit college a cappella comedy is a little bigger, but none of it is better. The songs are still catchy, the stars are still charming, and some of the jokes are still funny, but the original’s freshness has been replaced by a dutiful retread. –JB Theaters: ST, VS

Theaters (AL) Regal Aliante 7300 Aliante Parkway, North Las Vegas, 702-221-2283 (BS) Regal Boulder Station 4111 Boulder Highway, 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

disaster movie. Its wholesale devastation of California is an impressive feat of special effects, but the destruction eventually becomes repetitive. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, COL, DI, FH, ORL, PAL, RR, SC, SF, SHO, SP, TS, TX Spy aaacc Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne. Directed by Paul Feig. 115 minutes. Rated R. The plot is the least interesting element of this plot-heavy movie, in which McCarthy’s insecure CIA analyst is thrust into the field after the apparent death of her partner. That stuff is all just window dressing for the comedy, though, and McCarthy delivers, even when the overstuffed plot drags the movie down. –JB Theaters: AL, CH, COL, DI, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SF, SHO, SP, ST, TS, VS

Unfriended aaaac Shelley Hennig, Moses Jacob Storm, Renee Olstead. Directed by Levan Gabriadze. 82 minutes. Rated R. This impressively inventive horror movie takes place entirely on a teenage girl’s computer screen, using social media, video chats and other technology to tell a story of revenge from beyond the grave. The plot is familiar, but the execution is creative and involving, with strong acting and relentless pacing. –JB Theaters: TC Woman in Gold aabcc Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Tatiana Maslany. Directed by Simon Curtis. 109 minutes. Rated PG-13. The true story of Maria Altmann, an Austrian Jew who fled the Nazis during WWII and later battled to reclaim paintings that the Nazis stole from her family, is stirring and complex, but the filmmakers smooth it out and simplify it, making every courtroom battle into a clichéd, heavy-handed triumph. –JB Theaters: SC

Ted 2 aaacc Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried,

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

Summerlin 2070 Park Center Drive, 702-221-2283

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

(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

(GVR) Regal Green Valley Ranch 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson, 702-221-2283 (GVL) Galaxy Green Valley Luxury+ 4500 E. Sunset Road, Henderson, 702442-0244

(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. July 2–8, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 53

Calendar LISTINGS YOU CAN PLAN YOUR LIFE BY!

> KICKING OPEN THE DOOR Hexum (far left) fondly recalls 311’s early day’s of rap-rock.

THE FIRE INSIDE

311 frontman Nick Hexum talks Archive, the “Blue Album” and beyond Tell me how your new Archive box came together. We’ve always

had a lot of odds and ends— B-sides and demos and alternate versions—in the vault. Chad [Sexton], our drummer, is really the band archivist. One interesting story about him is that there was a wildfire out by his house— this wall of flame was coming toward his property—and the first thing he did was load up his truck with boxes of hard drives and tapes. The fire was extinguished before it got to him, but that was the first thing he saved, because it’s irreplaceable. Anything special planned for your July 3 and 4 shows at

LIVE MUSIC T H E ST R I P & N E A R BY Brooklyn Bowl Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead simulcast 7/3-7/5, 5 pm, $15$45. Funky Meters 7/4-7/5, 9 pm, $20. Tortured Soul 7/6, 8 pm, free. Earphunk, Barry Black 7/9, 9 pm, free. Machine Gun Kelly 7/10, 9 pm, $25-$30. Adler, Paper Tigers, Strange Mistress 7/11, 8 pm, $22-$28. Kevin Fowler 7/15, 8 pm, $18-$22. Jurassic 5, RDGLDGRN, RNR 7/16, 8 pm, $35$85. The Offspring, The Garden 7/17, 8:30 pm, $43-$48. Between the Buried and Me, Animals as Leaders, The Contortionist 7/18, $20. Stooges Brass Band 7/19-7/20, 8 pm, free. Easy

Mandalay Bay Beach? It’s the

20-year anniversary of our [selftitled] “Blue Album,” so we’re playing that album in its entirety, and we have a bunch of other surprises planned. The first time we played there, it took us a few minutes to get used to such an unusual setting, a stage surrounded by water and people on the beach and in the water. But the show was fantastic, so we thought, let’s make this a tradition. When that record came out, I remember hearing the combination of rap and rock for the first time. What was it like developing that sound back then? We need-

Star All-Stars, The Movement 7/27, 8 pm, $17-$20. Ky-Mani Marley 7/29, 8 pm, $17-$20. Danzig, Pennywise, Cancer Bats, Brave Black Sea 7/31, 7:30 pm, $36-$39. The Suffers 8/6, 9 pm, free. Everclear, Toadies, Fuel, American Hi-Fi 8/8, 8 pm, $40. Common Kings 8/15, 9 pm, $20$22. The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Black Ryder 8/16, 8 pm, $30$35. George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Yojimbo 8/18, 9 pm, $28$33. Modest Mouse 8/20, 9 pm, $55. Coal Chamber, Fear Factory, Devil You Know, Saint Ridley, Madlife 8/21, 6:30 pm, $20-$25. Lecrae 8/22, 9 pm, $25-$50. Jill Scott 8/27, 8 pm, $46$100. Psychedelic Furs, The Church 9/8, 8 pm, $30-$35. Banda El Recodo 9/12, 8 pm $55-$66. Lettuce 9/23, 9 pm, $20. Robert Randolph, Amy

ed our rock to be funkier than what was on the radio at the time. So we decided to just play shows and wait for the culture to come to us. And that’s what happened. It wasn’t that some radio station or MTV championed us; it was because there was a groundswell of excitement. It was cool to kick the door open and not be invited in. –Chris Bitonti For more of our interview with Hexum, visit lasvegasweekly.com.

311 July 3 & 4, 9 p.m., $55/show, $95/both. Mandalay Bay Beach, 702-632-7777.

Helm, The Handsome Strangers 10/6, 8 pm, $20-$30. My Morning Jacket, Strand of Oaks 10/9-10/10, 9 pm, $50. Blues Traveler 10/22, 8 pm, $28-$33. Trey Anastasio Band 10/3010/31, 9 pm, $43-$50. Peaches 11/11, 8 pm, $22-$27. Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Tigers Jaw 11/21, 8 pm, $26$30. Linq, 702-862-2695. The Colosseum Reba, Brooks & Dunn 7/3, 7/4, 12/2, 12/4, 12/6, 12/9, $60$205. Rod Stewart 7/31, 8/1, 8/5, 8/8, 8/9, 8/12, 8/15, 7:30 pm. Celine Dion 8/27, 8/28-8/30, 9/1, 9/4-9/5, $55-$250, 7:30 pm. Aretha Franklin 8/14, 8 pm, $55-$160. Enrique Iglesias 9/13-9/14, 9 pm, $40-$300. Plácido Domingo 9/15, 8 pm, $80-$500. The Who 9/19, 10:30 pm, $96-$501. Elton John 10/13-10/14, 10/16, 6:30 pm, $55-$500. Caesars Palace, 702-731-7333.

The Cosmopolitan (Chelsea) Brian Wilson, Rodriguez 7/10, 7 pm, $50. Brantley Gilbert, Carter Winter 7/24, 8 pm, $65. Willie Nelson, Emi Sunshine 7/26, 7 pm, $35. D’Angelo & The Vanguard 8/21, 7 pm, $50. (Boulevard Pool) Barenaked Ladies, Violent Femmes, Colin Hay 7/18, 8 pm, $50. Of Monsters and Men 8/13, 9 pm, $35. Slightly Stoopid 8/14, 9 pm, $35. Damian Jr. Gong Marley, Stephen Ragga Marley, Morgan Heritage, Tarrus Riley 9/24, 8 pm, $43. Counting Crows, Citizen Cope 10/3, 7:30 pm, $55. Charli XCX, Bleachers 10/9, 8 pm, $26. Garbage, Torres 10/10, 8 pm, $40. Father John Misty, Mikal Cronin 10/15, 8 pm, $23. The Neighborhood, Bad Suns, Hunny 10/30, 8 pm, $25. 702-6987000. Dive Bar Three Bad Jacks, Dead at Midnite, The Legendary Boilermakers 7/11, 9 pm, $10. 4110 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702-586-3483. Double Down The Raven Claw Hammer 7/2, 10 pm, free. Durango 66, The Fever, High Card Drifters 7/3, 10 pm, free. The Heiz, The Psyatics, Foreign Bodies, Gigantic, Boreal Hills 7/4, 10 pm, free. Matt Woods, Crossroads Exchange, Abram & The Reluctant Bounders 7/5, 10 pm. Smooth Hound Smith 7/8, 10 pm, free. TV Party Tonight w/Atomic Fish 7/9, 9 pm, free. False Cause, 40 oz. Folklore, Lambs to Lions, The Wreckless 7/10, 10 pm, free. S.F.T., Los Carajos, Burien, Die Nasty, Mystic Perception, Vegas Threat 7/11, 10 pm, free. Piccadilloes, 1/2 Ast, Sounds of Threat 7/17, 10 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., 702791-5775. Flamingo Olivia Newton-John 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 Country Nation 7/3-7/4, 10 pm. Brodie Stewart Band 7/17-7/18, 10 pm. Chad Freeman Band 7/23, 9 pm; 7/24-7/25, 10 pm. Kenny Allen Band 8/27, 9 pm; 8/28, 8/29, 10 pm. Austin Law 8/20, 9 pm; 8/21-8/22, 10 pm. Scotty Alexander Band 7/30, 9 pm; 7/31-8/1, 10 pm. Shows $10-$20 after 10 pm unless noted. Treasure Island, 702-894-7722. Hard Rock Hotel Pool Nelson 7/10, 9 pm, $30+. South of Graceland 7/17, 9 pm, $30+. Puddle of Mudd 7/31, 9 pm, $25+. Tribal Seeds 8/21, 9 pm, $25. Live 10/2, 9 pm, $35+. 702-6935222. Hard Rock Live Turnpike Troubadours 7/23, 7 pm, $17-$21. Say Anything, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Modern Baseball, Hard Girls 7/31, 7 pm, $20-$25. Hard Rock Cafe (Strip), 3771 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-733-7625. House of Blues Strange Days 7/3, $12. Dizzy Wright 7/4, 6 pm, $25-$30. Jowell y Randy 7/9, $35. Los Enanitos Verdes/Maldita Vecindad 7/11, $45. Bonfire 7/15, $10. Corey Taylor 7/18, 7 pm, $23-$26. Led ZepAgain 7/30, $12. Tokio Hotel 8/1, 7 pm, $22-$25. Stephen Ragga Marley 8/4, 7:30 pm, $26-$31. Heart 8/13-8/15, 11/19-11/21, 8 pm, $55-$70. Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers 9/5, 8 pm, $29-$44. Carlos Santana 9/16, 9/18-9/20, 9/23, 9/25-9/27, 11/4, 11/6-11/8, 11/11,

CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE CALENDAR LISTINGS AT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS 54 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM JULY 2-8, 2015

11/13-11/15, $90-$350, 8 pm. The Tragically Hip 10/3, 7:30 pm, $43-$55. Halestorm 10/17, $30. Ghost 10/31, $25. Kamelot, DragonForce 12/7, 7 pm, $22-$25. 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, 702632-7600. The Joint Kenny Chesney 7/3-7/4, 8 pm, $155+. The Smashing Pumpkins, Marilyn Manson, Cage 7/10, 8 pm, $60+ Third Eye Blind, Dashboard Confessional, Night Terrors of 1927 7/11, 8 pm, $40+. Steve Miller Band 7/25, 8 pm, $50+. Juanes, Ximena Sariñana 7/30, 7:30 pm, $60+. Brit Floyd 7/31, 9 pm, $35+. Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick 8/22, 8 pm, $50+. Primus and the Chocolate Factory, The Fungi Ensemble 9/4, 8 pm, $43+. Incubus 9/6, 8 pm, $70+. Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach 9/19, 6:15 pm, $50+. Scorpions, Queensrÿche 10/7, 8 pm, $60+. UB40, Ali Campbell, Astro, Mickey Virtue 10/16, $40-$55. J Balvin, Becky G 10/24, 8 pm, $60+. Little Big Town 12/4, 8 pm, $35+. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5222. Mandalay Bay (Events Center) 5 Seconds of Summer 7/17, 7:30 pm, $50-$100. Fall Out Boy, Wiz Khalifa 8/7, 7 pm, $25-$70. Kelly Clarkson, Pentatonix 8/15, 7:30 pm, $40$125. Juan Gabriel 9/13, $69-$229. (Mandalay Beach) 311 7/3-7/4, $55-$95. Switchfoot, Drew Holdcomb & The Neighbors, Colony House 7/10, $34. Pepper, Iration 7/17, $35+. Sugar Ray, Uncle Kracker, Eve 6, Better Than Ezra 7/16, $35, 9 pm. Ziggy Marley 7/31, $43. 702-632-7777. MGM (Grand Garden Arena) Rush 7/25, 8 pm, $60-$180. Aerosmith 8/1, 8 pm, $50-$150. Madonna 10/24, 8 pm, $43-$383. Andrea Bocelli 12/5, 8 pm, $78-$403. Mötley Crüe 12/27, 7 pm, $25-$150. 702-891-7777. Orleans Throwback Sizzling Jam 7/17, 7:30 pm, $42. Don McLean, Judy Collins 7/18-7/19, $40. Espinoza Paz, El Komander, La Adictiva, Los Torres 7/25, 8 pm, $50. The Bacon Brothers 8/1-8/2, $30. CSNSongs 8/15-8/16, $20. Coyote Countryfest 8/29, 7 pm, $20. Brass Transit 8/29-8/30, $20. Air Supply 9/4-9/6, $40. NiteKings Wed, 4 pm. Rick Duarte Fri, 9 pm. Acoustic Den Sat, 9 pm. Shows free unless noted. 702-365-7075. Palace Station (Jack’s) Forget to Remember Fri-Sat, 9 pm, free. Shows free unless noted. 702-547-5300. Palazzo (Palazzo Theatre) Frank: The Man. The Music. ft. Bob Anderson Tue-Thu, Sat, 8 pm; Fri 9 pm, $72, 702-414-4300. Palms (The Lounge) Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns Mon, 10:30 pm, $10. 702-944-3200. The Pearl Alice in Chains 7/18, 8 pm, $53+. Melissa Etheridge 8/7, 8 pm, $49+. Fifth Harmony 8/13, 7 pm, $33+. Jackson Browne 8/21, 8 pm, $63+. Alejandra Guzman 9/12, 8 pm, $33+. Oliver Dragojevic w/UNLV Symphony Orchestra 9/26, 8 pm, $69+. Palms, 702-942-7777. Piero’s Pia Zadora Fri & Sat, 9 pm, two-drink minimum. 355 Convention Center Dr., 702-369-2305. Planet Hollywood Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago 7/17, 8 pm, $70-$219. J. Cole, YG, Jeremih, Bas, Cozz, Omen

Calendar

BOTOX STARTS AT $99 PER AREA

7/18, 8 pm, $41-$200. Britney Spears 8/5, 8/7-8/8, 8/12, 8/14-8/15, 8/18-8/19, 8/21-8/22, 8/26, 8/28-8/29, 9/2, 9/4-9/5, 9/9. $60-$195. La Arrolladora 9/13, 9 pm, $59-$175. Ricky Martin 9/15, 8 pm, $50-$160. 702-234-7469. Route 91 Harvest Festival ft. Florida Georgia Line, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and more. 10/2-10/4, times vary, $199. MGM Resorts Village, rt91harvest.com. Stratosphere David Perrico and Pop Evolution First & third Tue, 10:30 pm, $20. 800-998-6937. 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 Michael Grimm 7/3-7/4, 10:30 pm; 7/247/25, 9 pm, free. Silversage, Brumby, Avalon Landing 7/8, 8 pm, $8-$14. Letlive, Stolas, A Friend a Foe, There Is No Us 7/13, 7 pm, $13$25. A Steampunk Concert Fantasy 7/15, 11 pm, $10+. Dead Sara, Lost in Society 7/22, 8 pm, $15-$35. The Aggrolites 7/29, 8 pm, $15$35. Lights 8/18, 8 pm, $18-$35. Eliza Battle, Alex & His Meal Ticket, Lawn Mower Death Riders 8/19, 8 pm, $8-$15. Kehlani 8/22, 7 pm, $15-$35. Cody Canada & The Departed 8/26, 8 pm, $17-$32. Millencolin 9/1, 8 pm, $19-$22. Anuhea 9/4, 9 pm, $20-$45. Blue October 9/18, 9 pm, $30-$45. Misfits 11/11, 8 pm, $25-$45. Reverend Horton Heat, The BellRays, The Lords of Altamont 12/4, 9 pm, $25-$45. 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 Vegas Blues Dance Tue, 7 pm, free. Thursday Request Live Thu, 10 pm, free. 1025 S. 1st St., Ste. 100., 702-489-6339. Art Bar Ryan Whyte Maloney Thu, 6 pm. Live music Fri-Sat, 6 pm. Downtown Grand, 206 N. 3rd St., 702-719-5100. Backstage Bar & Billiards Vermin, Tony Reflex, MIA, The Heiz 7/3, 8 pm, $10-$12. Prince Ama 7/4, 8 pm, free. 601 E. Fremont St., 702-382-2227. Bar & Bistro Out of the Desert Bluegrass Band Sun, noon, free. Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., 702-202-6060. Beauty Bar Teenage Bottlerocket, The Bombpops, Guilty by Association, Mercy Music, Franks & Deans 7/3, 8 pm. Astronauts Etc. 7/12, 8 pm. Shannon & The Clams, Cool Ghouls 9/27, 9 pm, $10. 517 Fremont St., 702-598-3757. The Bunkhouse Calvin Love 7/2, 9 pm, $8-$10. Love Cop, Cosmic Beasts 7/5, 11 pm, $5. Tristen, Motopony, Big Harp 7/7, 8:30 pm, $10-$12. Trans AM 7/11, 9 pm, $10-$12. Rum Rebellion 7/12, 8 pm, $8-$10. Numb Bats, Pet Tigers, The Pysiatics 7/14, 9 pm, $5. Cayucas 7/16, 10:30 pm, $12. Hassan Hamilton, Trade Voorhees, The Sideshow Tragedy, Alex & His Meal Ticket 7/17, 8 pm, $5. Same Sex Mary, Hidden Levels, Dark Black 7/25, 9 pm, $10. Melt-Banana, Torche 7/26, $20. Happyness 8/11, 8 pm, $10-$12. 124 S. 11th St., bunkhousedowntown.com. Downtown Container Park 4th of July Celebration 7/4, 9 am, free. 707 Fremont St, downtowncontainerpark.com. Downtown Grand Lit 7/4, 8 pm, $20. Reckless in Vegas 7/10-7/11, 9 pm, free. Empire Records 7/18, 8 pm, $5. Journey Unlimited 8/8, 8 pm, $5. Wanted 8/22, 8 pm, $5. Mick Adams and the Stones 9/5, 8 pm, $5. 206 N. 3rd St., 702-719-5100. Fremont Street Experience Dropkick Murphys 7/10, 9 pm. Theory of a Deadman 7/18, 9 pm. Spin Doctors, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies 8/1, 9 pm. Kansas, Blue Oyster Cult 9/6, 9 pm. All shows free unless note. Downtown Las Vegas, vegasexperience.com. Gold Spike Haleamano 7/4, 9 pm; 7/18, 7/25, 10 pm, free. The Royal Hounds 7/10, 10 pm, free. 217 Las Vegas Blvd. N., goldspike.com. Griffin Live music Wed, 10 pm, free. 511 Fremont St., 702-382-0577. Hard Hat Lounge The Funk Jam Wed, 10:30 pm, free. Sindicate 7/3, 9 pm, free. Open Mic 7/4, 10 pm, free.Transmission 7/18, 9 pm, free. 1675 Industrial Rd., 702-384-8987. LVCS Ces Cru, Joey Cool, Houston Zizza 7/9, 9 pm, $10. Moonshine Bandits, J Gamble, N.E. Last Words, Jelly Roll, Crucifix 8/21, 9 pm, $10. Insomnium, Ominium Gatherum 8/29, 9 pm, $12-$15. Krisiun, Origin Aeon,

Alterbeast, Soreption, Ingested 9/17, 8 pm, $17-$20. 425 Fremont St., 702-382-3531. The Smith Center Frankie Moreno 7/14, 7/21, 8/11, 8 pm, $25-$35. Lon Bronson Band 7/18, 8 pm, $15-$35. Lyle Lovett and His Large Band 7/25, 7:30 pm, $25+. Johnny Mathis 7/31, 7:30 pm, $29+. Reckless in Vegas 8/14, 8 pm, $35-$45. Spectrum 8/15, 7 pm; 8/16, 3 pm, $37-$40. Clint Holmes 9/11-9/12, 8:30 pm; 9/13, 2 pm, $37-$46. Paul Anka 9/18, 7:30 pm, $29-$149. Pink Martini 2/6, 7:30 pm, $100-$250. The Tenors 2/20, 7:30 pm, $24-$95. 361 Symphony Park Ave., 702-7492000.

(B12 & Fillers also available) ALL INJECTIONS ADMINISTERED BY MD

Dr. Richard Yen MD, PhD (702) 367-3930 | Thurs-Sat 10-6 or by appointment

Scandals Salon | 4235 S. Fort Apache Rd. #100 | Las Vegas N V 89147

The ’Burbs Babes Rockin’ Sports Bar Sin City SInners 7/2, 7/9. Ossum Possum, Bong, Ben Clink 7/3. Dio Rising 7/10. Billy Dare and the Pumps 7/11. Smashing Alice, Bugbone 7/18. Swamp Pussy 7/24. Tailgun 7/25. Rock ‘n’ Roll Never Forgets 7/30. 5901 Emerald Ave., 702-435-7545. Cannery Cool Change Thru 7/11, 8:30 pm. Average White Band 7/4, 8 pm, $20. 2121 E Craig Rd., 702-507-5700. Distill Summerlin Phil Stendek 7/4. Besty Holm 7/11. Michael Anthony 7/18. Marty Feick 7/25. All shows free & begin at 8 p.m. 10820 W. Charleston Blvd., distillbar.com, 702-534-1400. Eagle Aerie Hall Traitors, Lifeforms, Genocide District, Words From Aztecs, Locust, Mephitic Origins 7/3, 5 pm, $13-$15. No Zodiac, Unit 731, No Altars, Presagers, Mental Prison, DIstinguisher, The Devil Who Decieved Them, Amongu 7/16, 5 pm, $11-$13. Forever Came Calling, Season Change, You Me and Everyone We Know, Life Pacific, New and Improved 7/17, 5:30 pm, $13-$15. Hail the Sun, Artifex Pereo & Eidola, 16 Hours Remain, Courvge, I am Of Terra, Journey 2 Rapture, Amarionette 7/21, 5 pm, $12-$15. Distinguisher, A Shark Among Us, Heartwork, Scream the Lie, Locust, From Where We Came 7/30, 5:20 pm, $10-$13. Like Moths to Flames, The Plot in You, Myka Relocate, Yuth 7/31, 5:30 pm, $15-$17. The Devil Who Decieved Them, Words From Aztecs, Invoker, Amongu, Mephitic Origins, Loose Ends 8/8, 5:20 pm, $11-$14. King Conquer, Here Comes the Kraken, Adaliah, Dealey Plaza, The Devil Who Deceived Them 8/18, 5 pm, $13-$15. Knocked Loose, Orthodox, Another Mistake, Locust, Brooklyn Edge 9/1, 5:20 pm, $12-$15. 310 W. Pacific Ave., 702-645-4139. Elixir Thomas Rojas 7/3. Michael Anthony 7/4. Justin Mather 7/10, 7/24. Shaun South 7/11, 7/25. Marty Feick 7/17. Iian Dvir 7/18. Kelly Dorn 7/31. All shows at 8 p.m., free. 2920 N. Green Valley Pkwy., 702-2720000. Green Valley Ranch (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. Shows free unless noted. 702367-2470. M Resort (M Pavillion) Elvis, The Aloha Concert Tribute 8/8, 7 pm, $30-$42. Shows free with drink purchase. M Resort, 800745-3000. Rampart Casino (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., 702-5075900. Red Rock (Rocks Lounge) Zowie Bowie Fri, 10 pm. The Dirty Sat, 11 pm, $10. David Perrico Pop Strings Orchestra Sat, 11 pm, free. (Onyx) Jared Berry Thu, 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)All shows free unless noted. (Revolver) Bro Country Thu, 8 pm. (4949 Lounge) Jared Berry Thu, 7 pm, free. 4949 N Rancho Dr., 702-658-4900. 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 Wine Down Wednesdays Wed, 6 pm, free. (Veil Pavilion) 3333 Blue Diamond

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B E ST N E W R E STAU R A N TS O F 2 0 14 B EST S P O R TS BA R 20 1 4

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Rd., 702-263-7777. South Point Dennis Bono Show Thu, 2 pm, free. Wes Winters Fri-Sat, 6 pm, free. Spazmatics Sat, 10:30 pm, $5. 702-7978005. Sunset Station (Club Madrid) Lon Bronson Band Fri, 9:30 pm. Zowie Bowie Sat, 10 pm. (Gaudi Bar) Ryan Whyte Maloney, Cali Tucker Fri, Sat, 7 pm. Willplay Sat, 7 pm. (Rosalita’s) Tony Venniro Fri, 7 pm. Peter Love Sat, 7 pm. (Sunset Amphitheater) George Thorogood & The Destroyers 9/19, 8 pm, $24-$60. (Cabo) Vegas Voice Afternoon Affair 5/20, 1:30 pm. Shows free unless noted. 1301 W. Sunset Rd., 702-5477777. Texas Station (Dallas Events Center) (A-Bar) Darrin Michaels Fri-Sat, 7 pm. (South Padre) Elemental Fri, 9 pm. Yellow Brick Road Sat, 9 pm. 702-631-1000.

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IN THEATERS JULY 17

Arizona Charlie’s Decatur (Naughty Ladies Saloon) The Good Fellas 6/26-6/27. Jerry Tiffe Fri, 4 pm. 740 S. Decatur Blvd., 702258-5200. Boomers Live music Wed, 10 pm, $5-$10. Hip Hop Roots Fri, 10 pm, $5. 3200 Sirius Ave., 702-368-1863. Boulder Dam Brewing American Voodoo 7/3. Blue String Theory 7/10. Wake Eastman 7/11. Justin Mather 7/16. Jimi Prima Band 7/17. Out of the Desert 7/18. Unscene Patrol 7/23. Tommy Alexander 7/24. Joe Teichman 7/25. Holes and Hearts 7/31. Thu, 7 pm; Fri & Sat, 8 pm, all shows free unless noted. 453 Nevada Way, Boulder City, 702-243-2739. Boulder Station (Railhead) Jonny Lang 8/21, 8 pm, $30-$60. Yellow Brick Road Fri, 9 pm, $5. Bee Gees Gold Sat, 9 pm, free. 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 John Corabi 7/2, 9 pm, $10$15. Art of Dying, Mclinton 7/3, 8:30 pm, $10-$15. The Moby Dicks 10:30 pm, free. Burn Unit 7/9, 8:30 pm, free. Wednesday 13, Death Division 7/10, 9 pm, $10-$15. Armored Saint, Dinner Music For the Gods, Tyrants By Night 7/11, 9 pm, $10-$15. Drum Wars: Carmine and Vinny Appice & Their All Star Band 7/18, 9 pm, $10-$15. Sin City Sinners 7/30, 10 pm, free. Let it Rawk, London 8/1, 9 pm, $10. Texas Hippie Coalition, Red Sky Mary, 3Eighty3, Dellacoma 8/8, 8:30 pm, $10-$15. Tom Keifer 8/14, 8:30 pm, $20-$25. Orgy, First Class Trash, Crackerman 8/21, 9 pm, $10$15. Black ‘N’ Blue 8/22, 9 pm, $10-$15. Femme Fatale 9/4, 9 pm, $10-$15. The Winery Dogs 11/7, 8:30 pm, $20-$25.John Zito Electric Jam Wed, 9 pm, free. 9:30 pm, free. 6750 W. Sahara, 702-220-8849. The Dillinger Marty Feick Thu, 7 pm. Stefnrock First & third Sat, 8:30 pm, free. 1224 Arizona St., 702-293-4001. Dispensary Lounge Uli Geissendoerfer Trio FriSat, 10 pm. 2451 E. Tropicana, 702-458-6343. 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. Italian American Club 2333 E. Sahara Ave., 702-457-3866, iac.com. Milo’s Cellar Live Music Thu, 8 pm, free. 538 Nevada Hwy., 702-293-9540. Ron DeCar’s Event Center 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 NiteKings Sun, 7 pm, free. Shows free unless noted. 5111 Boulder Hwy., 702284-7777.

Comedy Louie Anderson 7/24-7/26, 7:30 pm, $40+. South Point, southpointcasino.com. Big Al’s Comedy Club Wed-Sun, 8 pm, $20. Gold Coast, 702-251-3574. Bonkerz Comedy Club Downtown Grand Fri-Sat, 8:30 pm, free (with two-drink purchase). 206 N. 3rd St., 702-719-5100. Bonkerz Comedy Club Primm Fri, 8 pm & 10:15 pm; Sat, 10:15 pm; $10. Primm Valley Resort., 800-386-7867.

Bonkerz Comedy Club Sayers Club Kathleen Dunbar 7/2-7/4. Erik Myers 7/9-7/11. Ian Gutoski 7/16-7/18. Michael Parise 7/237/25. J.C. Currais 7/30-8/1. All shows 8 pm, $10-$20. SLS, 702-761-7000. Bonkerz Comedy Club Silver Sevens FriSat, 10:30 pm; $10. Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino, 4100 Paradise, 702-733-7000. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club All shows at 8 pm, $65-$87. MGM Grand, 891-7777. Jim Breuer 7/10-7/11, 7:30 pm, $25+. South Point, southpointcasino.com. Carrot Top Wed-Mon, 8 pm, $50-$60. Luxor, 702-262-4900. Jeff Civilico Sat-Mon, Wed-Thu, 4 pm, $39$50. Quad, 888-777-7664. Andrew Dice Clay All shows at 9 p.m., $59+. Vinyl, hardrockhotel.com. Comedy After Dark Wed-Sun, 10 pm, $40$60. LVH, 702-732-5755. Jeff Dunham Wed-Sun, 7 pm; Sat-Sun, 4 pm, $72. Planet Hollywood, 702-531-4320. Vinnie Favorito Nightly, 8 pm, $55-$100. Flamingo, 702-733-3333. Eddie Griffin Mon-Wed, 7 pm, $90-$182. Rio, 702-777-7776. HydroComics Unleashed Wed, 9 pm, free. Lucie’s Lounge, 3955 Charleston Blvd., 702776-6417. The Improv Flip Shultz, Jeff Richards, Sany Danto Thru 7/5. Dennis Blair, Gilbert Lawand, Aiko Tanaka 7/7-7/12. Graham Elwood, Gary Brightwell, Jessica Michelle Singleton 7/14-7/19. Ben Gleib, Nick Youssef, Joe Dosch 7/21-7/26. Tue-Sun, 8:30 & 10 pm, $30-$45. Harrah’s, 702-369-5000. 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. Knockout Comedy Super Show ft. Marlon Wayans, Bruce Bruce, COrey Holcomb, Mark Curry, Capone 6/27, 8 pm, $80-$120. Planet Hollywood, planethollywoodresort. com. L.A. Comedy Club Tue-Sun, 9:30 pm, $39$62. Ballys, 702-777-2782. The Laugh Factory Tim Gaither, Jon Stringer, Johnny Cardinale 7/2-7/5, 8:30 & 10:30 pm. $35-$55. Quinn Dahle, Shayma Tash, Jimmie JJ Walker 7/6-7/12, 8:30 & 10:30 pm, $35-$55. Ian Edwards, Bob Golub, Marc Patrick 7/13-7/19, 8:30 & 10:30 pm, $35$55. Rich LIttle Sat-Sun, Tue-Thu, 7/14-8/23, 7 pm, $40-$60. Tropicana, 702-739-2222. Laughternoon Adam London Daily, 4 pm, $20-$25. The D, 702-388-2111. Jay Leno 7/4, 9/18, 11/20-11/21, 10 pm; 9/19, 9 pm, $60-$80. Mirage, 702-792-7777. M Resort Comedy Night Fri, 9 pm, free with drink purchase. M Resort, 702-797-1000. Carlos Mencia 7/3-7/4, 8 pm, $40+. Orleans, orleanscasino.com. The Mac King Comedy Magic Show TueSat, 1 & 3 pm, $33. Harrah’s, 702-369-5000. Party Improv Comedy Thu-Sun, 7 pm, $25, 2 drink minimum. Planet Hollywood, 702531-4320. Puppetry of the Penis 8 pm, $45-$49. Erotic Heritage Museum, 3275 S. Industrial Rd., eroticheritagemuseumlasvegas.com. Red Skelton Tribute Sat-Tue, 2 pm; $35-$40. Westin Las Vegas, 160 E. Flamingo Rd., 702245-2393. Riviera Comedy 40 is Not the New 20 MonSat, 10 pm, $40. Riviera, 855-468-6748. Sapphire Comedy Hour Fri-Sat, 8 pm, $20. Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club, 3025 Industrial Rd., 702-796-6000. S.E.T. Improv Comedy Mon, 8 pm, $10. Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702-732-7225. 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, 702-7777776. Christopher Titus 7/31-8/2, 7:30 pm, $20+. South Point, southpointcasino.com. Steven Wright 7/10-7/11, 8 pm, $35. Orleans, orleanscasino.com.

Performing Arts Art 9/4-9/20, 8 pm, $14-$15. Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Dr., 702-362-7996. Avenue Q 7/10-7/11, 7/16-7/18, 7/23-7/25, 8 pm; 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 2 pm, $25. Las Vegas Little

Calendar Theatre, 3920 Schiff Dr., 702-362-7996. Book of Mormon 9/22-9/27, 9/29-9/30, 10/110/4, 10/6-10/11, 10/13-10/18, 7:30 pm, 9/269/27, 10/3-10/4, 10/10-10/11, 10/17-10/18, 2 pm, $36-$160. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. The Bridges of Madison County 2/23-2/28, $29-$129. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. A Balanchine Celebration: From Tchaikobsky to Rodgers & Hart to Gershwin 11/7, 7:30 pm., 11/8, 2 pm, $29-$139. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. Cabrera Celebrates Sibelius 11/21, 7:30 pm, $26-$96. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. Cabrera Conducts Rachmaninoff 1/9, 7:30 pm, 1/10, 2 pm, $26-$96. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. A Choreographer’s Showcase 10/11, 10/18, 1 pm, $25-$45. Smith Center, thesmithcenter. com. Dirty Dancing 7/14-7/19, 7:30 pm; 7/18-7/19, 2:30 pm, $29+. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. For the Record: Baz Mon-Sun, 8 pm, Tue dark; $55+. Light Nightclub, Mandalay Bay, bazlasvegas.com. 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. Josh Keating 7/8, 7 pm, $12. Starbright Theatre, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd., 702240-1301. Ken Block Show 7/25, 7 pm, $15. Starbright Theatre, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd., 702240-1301. Kelly Clinton Show 7/18, 7:30 pm, $18. Starbright Theatre, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd., 702-240-1301. Las Vegas Philharmonic: Beethoven & Brahms 9/12, 7:30 pm, $50. Passport to the World 10/24, 7:30 pm, $26-$96. The Snowman: A Holiday Tradition 12/5, 2 pm & 7 pm, 12/6, 2 pm, $26-$96. Spotlight Series 2/16, 4/26, 5/3, 7:30 pm, $168. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. The Nutcracker 12/12, 8:30 pm, 12/13, 1 & 5:30 pm, 12/18, 7:30 pm, 12/19, 2 pm $ 7:30 pm, 12/20, 1 pm & 5:30 pm, $29-$179. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. Panties in a Twist 2/2-2/6, $35-$43. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. Ragtime 10/27-11/1, $30-$130. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. Re-Designing Women 7/9, 7/10, 7/11, 7/13, 7/16-7/18, 8 pm, 7/12, 5 pm, $25. Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702-732-7225. Riverdance 1/26-1/21, $29-$129. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. Simply Ella 11/13, 7:30 pm, $35+. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com.

Special Events The Art of Naked Yoga Tue, Thu, 7 pm; Sat, 6 pm; $20. Harry Mohney’s Erotic Heritage Museum 3275 Industrial Rd., eroticheritagemuseumlasvegas.com. An Executive Chef’s Culinary Classroom With Executive Chef Edmond Wong. 7/23, 8/27, 9/29, 10/13, 11/10, 7 pm, $135. Bellagio, 866-406-7117. CLIF Bar CrossVegas 9/16, $55. Desert Breeze Soccer Complex, W. Desert Inn Rd., crossvegas.com. Wilson Daniels Around the World Dinner 8/17, 6:30 pm, $175. db Brasserie, Venetian, 702-430-1235. Harvest Festival 9/11-9/13, 10 a.m., $4-$9. Cashamn Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd N., harvestfestival.com. Hot Havana Nights 8/6, 6 pm, $45. Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave, themob museum.org. Wock As One: Summer Dance Intensive 2015 7/15-7/17, times vary, $200-$325. The Rock Center for Dance, 8210 S. Maryland Pkwy., wockasone.com. Jazz Film Festival 7/10-7/11, times vary, $25. Starbright Theatre, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd., 702-240-1301. M.E.N.U.S. 9/11, $500. The Beach at Mandalay Bay, 702-932-5098. Monday’s Dark with Mark Shunock 7/20, 8/17, 9/21, 10/19, 11/16, 9:30 pm, $20+. Vinyl, hardrockhotel.com. Neon Clash of the Champions Dance Competition 7/18, 7 pm, $15. Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. N., ateamlv.

com. Christopher Norment Book Signing 11/17, 7 pm, free. The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., 702-550-6399. Jessica Lee RIchardson Book Signing 10/24, 7 pm, free. The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., 702-550-6399. Sevens Live Music, comedy & spoken arts. Mon, 7 pm, free with one drink minimum. Silver Sevens, 4100 Paradise, 702-733-7000. Skin Wars Viewing Party Wed, 8 pm, free. Hard Hat Lounge, 1675 S Industrial Rd., 702384-8987. Switch: Trans* Clothing Swap Thu, 5 pm, free. Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, 401 S. Maryland Pkwy, 702-733-9800. Vegas Gone Yoga Festival 9/19-9/20, 8 am-4 pm, $89-$169. Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., vegasgoneyoga.com. Vegas Valley Book Festival 10/15-10/17, times vary, free. Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St., vegasvalleybookfestival.org.

Sports Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend 9/17-9/19, 7 pm, $72+. Orleans, orleansarena.com. Las Vegas 51’s vs. El Paso 7/6-7/8, 7:05, $10$25. Reno 7/11-7/13, 7:05 pm; 7/14, 12:05 pm. Salt Lake 7/15-7/16, 7:05 pm; 7/17, 12:05 pm. $10-$25 unless otherwise noted. Cashman Field, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. N., milb.com. Las Vegas Outlaws vs. New Orleans Voo Doo 7/25. Spokane Shock 8/8. $18-$198. Thomas & Mack, unlvtickets.com. Topspin Charity Ping Pong Tournament 7/18, 6 pm, $75-$150. Lagasse Stadium, 866641-7469. UFC: Aldo vs. McGregor 7/11, 4 pm, $128-$103. MGM Grand, ticketmaster.com. USA Basketball Showcase 8/13, times vary, $15+. Thomas & Mack, unlvtickets.com.

Galleries Amanda Harris Gallery of Contemporary Art Thu-Fri, 5-8 pm, and by appointment. 900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-769-6036. 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. Suite 135, 702366-7001, 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 Abraham Abebe Thru 7/10. Mon-Fri, 8 am-5 pm. 500 Grand Central Parkway, 702-4557030. Clay Arts Vegas Mon-Sat, 9 am-9 pm; Sun, 11:30 am-6:30 pm. 1511 S. Main St., 702-3754147. Downtown Spaces 1800 Industrial Rd., dtspaces.com. Galleries include: Wasteland Gallery Thu, 6 pm-9pm; Fri & Sat, 6 pm11pm, 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. 620 S. 7th St., 702-366-9339. P3Studio Gabrielle St. Evensen Marry Your Self Thru 6/7. Wed-Sun, 6-11 pm. Cosmopolitan. UNLV Lied Library The French Connection Thru Oct. Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm; Sat, 10 am-2 pm. At UNLV, 702-895-3893. West Las Vegas Arts Center Wed-Sat, 9 am-7 pm. 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702-229-4800. Winchester Cultural Center Art Gallery Kim Johnson Thru 7/17. Tue-Fri, 10 am-8 pm; Sat, 9 am-6 pm. 3130 S. McLeod Dr., 702455-7340.

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THE APOCALYPSE | ADVENTURE COMBAT OPS | JUNE 29, 2015 I never played Resident Evil, because I watched someone play it once and that was terrifying enough. But on Monday afternoon, I found myself in a 3D derivative, the immersive attraction known as the Apocalypse inside the brand-new Adventure Combat Ops (see story, Page 9) . A zombie materialized from the floor and went straight for my ankles. I think I unloaded an entire magazine of Airsoft pellets at the poor actor, and sweat through my shirt. But the exhilarating fun wasn’t the most memorable thing about the day. It was being in a combat simulation with men who have survived the real thing many times over. Elite veterans of special ops forces across the U.S. military are your guides inside this world, and while they’re playing roles, they’re also being themselves. It’s funny that in a setting so unreal, operatives trained to be invisible could become a little more real. –Erin Ryan