2015-07-30 Las Vegas Weekly by Greenspun Media Group

GROUP PUBLISHER GORDON PROUTY (gordon.prouty@gmgvegas.com) ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER (mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com)

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ALL YOU CAN EAT

spaghetti & meatballs 44

Contents 7 Mail Love (M!KEATTACK,

40 Pop Culture Document-

shabu-shabu) and sadness (the Bunkhouse, Bartolotta).

aries to get you through the day.

8 As We See It KUNV’s new programming plan, boozy challenges and what awaits you at the DMV.

12 Q&A Synchro swimmer Benoit

Mission? Plus: Hulu happenings.

44 Noise Four very different concert experiences, from Rush to Lyle Lovett.

Beaufils, on getting in the big pool.

49 Print A mystery set in Vegas.

14 Feature | Heart of Gold Las Vegan Jeff Williams is an oldtimey prospector—with a modernday profile.

50 Food & Drink Isabela’s

18 Feature | All That Baz BAz by Zack W; lyle lovett by bill hughes

42 Screen How good’s the latest

Latin fish flavors. Geeking out on fernet.

54 Calendar Listings galore!

A musical housed inside a club could shine a light on new Vegas nightlife possibilities.

24 NiGhts Yearning for new (old) spots in the neighborhoods.

39 A&E The day the Huntridge

Brooklyn Spaghetti & Meatballs

EVERY DAY FROM 4 PM – 9 PM Cover Photograph By ZACK W

LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM

WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD IS AMAZINGLY, WONDERFULLY, Uniquely BRILLIANT.

LOBSTER-RAMA Wynn’s restaurants are known to transport diners to exotic cuisine scenes. The latest offering is Lakeside’s lobster bake, a New England seafood dream. Get a taste of what awaits with this three-course feast, only at lasvegasweekly.com.

So they deserve an education designed for them.

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TAUGHT BY DEDICATED, STATE-LICENSED TEACHERS, K12 powers full-time, tuition-free, online public schools that allow parents and students to individualize their education, maximizing their ability to succeed. Join the growing community of families who have succeeded and graduated with an individually tailored K12 education.

SOUND SPINOFFS You won’t see Vegas scene favorites Caravels and Twin Brother onstage these days (the former called it quits; the latter is on indefinite hiatus), but members of both bands have launched spinoff projects that teamed up for a show over the weekend. Head to lasvegasweekly. com for the latest on Dark Black and Hidden Levels, two new bands you need to know.

DINING DEVELOPMENTS A new steakhouse opens off-Strip, a local izakaya expands to LA and a new “No Mas Pantalones” brunch debuts in the ’burbs (with bottomless mimosas, not bottomless brunchers—get your mind out of the gutter!). Find our latest installment of Dining News & Notes, only online.

LET’S BE FRIENDS!

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MOST READ STORIES lasvegasweekly.com 1. Weekly Taste Test: Lay’s Do Us a Flavor contest finalists 2. The story of Khoury’s: How a liquor store became local booze-geek headquarters 3. Chef Paul Bartolotta is leaving Wynn

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4. The Kats Report: Monte Carlo’s new theater could remake the Strip’s concert look 5. Juice NV’s posh new spot serves stellar sandwiches and more

HIDDEN LEVELS BY BIANCA SCOTT

NOW ENROLLING FOR THE 2015–2016 SCHOOL YEAR!

Mail

LOVE FOR THE DJ M!KEATTACK conquered the city on last week’s cover, and your feedback proves his energy is indeed infectious.

I think DJs are typically d-bags who only push buttons. But I truly believe Mike is an artist. I first saw him at the Artisan and was blown away by the sounds coming out of the speakers ... you just don’t hear the kind of music he plays anywhere. The guy has an ear for sound and knows how to mix. When I want a fun night of dancing to good music, I look to see where Mike is spinning. –Eduardo Gutierrez I remember M!KEATTACK from the Red Room, one of the first local dives! –Shirley Tejada

BUNKHOUSE BLUES The Downtown venue’s closure had Vegas’ music scene feeling down (see follow-up story, Page 9).

It was a great place to listen to music. Not a bad seat in the house. Somebody should open it again. –David Velez What! I was just there on Saturday for the Chicken Shack! I hope the DJs can find another venue to host it. –Julian Quintana I liked the old grubby place. I liked the Atomic better too before it got sanitized. –Catherine Mathis

KITCHEN SWITCH

photograph by fred morledge

Chef Paul Bartolotta is leaving his namesake restaurant at Wynn, to be replaced next year by chef Mark LoRusso.

Chef Bartolotta did something special in this town and should be respected and appreciated for his contribution to the culinary scene.

Chef Mark LoRusso made me one of the top three meals of my life. Chef Mark in the last 10 years in my opinion has been one the great unsung culinary kingpins of this city. –Joe Pereira

BOTTOMS UP The friendly scene and tasty suds at Khoury’s are earning the southeast spot a shining reputation.

I visit my brother who lives in Vegas every year from Ireland. My jaw drops at Khoury’s beer selection. I love going here! –Karl Devlin

CITY OF ENTERTAINMENT MGM Resorts plans another boost for the Strip with a new theater at the Monte Carlo resort.

Another theater, more traffic, this we don’t need. What we need is a light rail system in Las Vegas! –John DeBaun Can’t wait to see it completed on my next visit. –Paul Bachvarov Not sure why we need another theater when the city struggles to fill the ones that already exist. –Kristin Pittman

DIP, BITE, REPEAT The shabu-shabu experience at Yojie Japanese Fondue made a believer out of our restaurant reviewer, and others concur.

My wife and I have eaten there three times and thoroughly enjoyed it every time. Wonderful food, and great service. I highly recommend it. –Scott Hitchcock It’s yummy and not badly priced. Seating is limited though. I’m very picky with my restaurants, but my son and I loved it. –Christi Nickerson-Rowe

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

AsWeSeeIt N e w s + C u lt u r e + S t y l e + M o r e

We want the airwaves

> Sound changes KUNV has adjusted its weeknight programming.

Students gain more shows and opportunities on KUNV

∑ If you turned on 91.5 KUNV-FM at 10:20 a.m. on July 27, you heard a cover of Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” by saxophonist Dave Koz—a tune indicative of the smooth jazz typically broadcast on UNLV’s radio station at that time. If you tuned in exactly 12 hours later, however, you heard “Brill Bruisers” by indie stalwarts The New Pornographers, which is neither smooth jazz nor the station’s traditional weeknight fare. Two months ago, KUNV quietly swapped out its Monday-Friday nighttime smooth-jazz programming for a six-hour, student-curated show called The Nightshift, divided into two-hour blocks of indie rock, underground hip-hop (including Friday-night institution Word Up) and non-commercial electronic dance music. This complements The Rebel, KUNV’s college radio-style HD radio/ online station, and the also left-of-center (and recently retooled) Saturday-Sunday programming, which includes Neon Reverb, formerly the sole indie/punk content on KUNV proper. So why are students now granted so much more access to KUNV, especially when CSUN—UNLV’s student government—doesn’t even fund the station? Credit UNLV brass. “The University has considered the value of the radio stations and it’s one area we can provide more service to students,” says KUNV general manager Frank Mueller. While Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies students had been running The Rebel offshoot for five years and working with professional staff to some degree on KUNV’s main station, it wasn’t enough. “Some say they love what they have, but they’d love to have more,” Mueller says. “With the additional programming, it allows us to satisfy them.” He adds that students will have an even bigger role when the fall semester begins,

thanks to new broadcasting courses and opportunities to produce and beef up KUNV’s news content. They’re not the only ones who benefit, of course, as the entire student body now gains programming more relevant to its tastes, and the Valley’s underserved terrestrial radio listeners can hear music beyond commercial formats. Mueller notes that the new student-friendly schedule is only somewhat like the Rock Avenue era

Molly in the news Details about the EDC death, and a new report on ecstasy ∑ A month out from Electric

8 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

a “bad batch” or pills cut with other substances are involved, all sobering proof of the risks partygoers take with each hit. According to a new report from Project Know, an organization that promotes substance abuse awareness and information, only about half of 23,500 ecstasy pills tested from five countries contained MDMA or structurally similar substances like MBDB. In the U.S., around 20 percent of pills being passed off as Molly or ecstasy were either cut with or entirely made from some form of

amphetamine or other stimulant like piperazine. Around a dozen other substances were reported, ranging from methamphetamine to ketamine to PMA/PMMA, a toxic copycat substance nicknamed “Dr. Death.” The latter compounds are relatively rare, found in less than 5 percent of pills tested in the U.S. But whether pure or contaminated, they’re all reminders of just how unpredictable the effects of such party drugs can be—and just how broad the blanket terms Molly and ecstasy really are. –Andrea Domanick

EDC by tom donoGhue

Daisy Carnival, the Clark County Coroner’s office ruled that the death of a 24-yearold man at the event was caused by MDMA intoxication. According to toxicology tests, no other drugs or substances were found connected to the death of

Nicholas Austin Tom, the San Francisco man declared dead at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at around 3:25 a.m. on June 21. The death, which was ruled to be accidental, isn’t the first at EDC or similar music festivals to be associated with MDMA. But it is one of the more uncommon instances involving MDMA alone. Experts say fatalities attributed to pure MDMA are very rare and are most often caused by overdose rather than the substance itself. Far more typical are incidents in which alcohol,

during the ’80s and ’90s, when indie/underground music also dominated KUNV’s evening airwaves. “The learning opportunities and the integration of what [students are] doing on the air, and what the school of journalism is doing to prepare them for professional career advancement, go beyond the traditional idea of a college station where they hang out and have a good time,” Mueller says. “We want them to feel enriched.” –Mike Prevatt

AS WE SEE IT…

EXIT INTERVIEWS

Checking in with the Mikes who ran the Bunkhouse, following the venue’s sudden end On July 20, just four days after adding more shows to its upcoming calendar, the Bunkhouse Saloon announced it had closed. In the days that followed, as Valley bands and music fans lamented the loss of the Downtown venue—and theorized about its cause—the Weekly caught up with the two men we saw there most often.

> THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES Rakim was among the iconic names to take the Bunkhouse’s stage; (inset) Stratton, GM for the venue’s second run.

On its closure: (Talent buyer Mike Henry) I moved here for Downtown Project [note: Henry remains a DTP employee], but for me the real focus was always Bunkhouse. Having grown closer to the community, to the artists and the audience, not to mention our staff, to see it end is heartbreaking. On the timing: (GM Michael Stratton) I don’t think we got a chance to fully spread our wings. We pushed really hard, very quickly, and I think we did a lot of things right. (MH) From the beginning, there was an understanding that there was a ramp-up time. There was never an agreement of, “You get X amount of days, weeks, months,” but certainly everybody knew this was gonna take some time to build. On whether venue owner DTP or operator Corner Bar Management called for significant changes: (MH) The message that we’d been getting from both sides was that they were confident in what we were doing, that they thought we did a great job, that we should continue to work with the resources we had. (MS) Would I have preferred to make adjustments in order to stay open? Absolutely. If we all collectively said, “Here’s the plan, let’s all figure this out together,” that’s a better choice for me and for my staff. On attendance: (MH) What we saw over and over was the same fierce, little core of people. That’s not enough to support us and every other bar and venue Downtown, not yet. (MS) We had hoped we would have a regular dining and drinking crowd outside the programming, but I think that would have come.

RAKIM BY BILL HUGHES, PKWY BY SPENCER BURTON

On what Bunkhouse lacked: (MH) We had a talent buyer, a general manager and a production manager. What’s missing? Marketing.

On programming: (MH) I tried to program it with a lot of diversity, and of course we would analyze what happened. The hip-hop shows that we put up, a great many of them were financial failures; it doesn’t mean we stopped doing them. On accomplishments: (MS) Bob Mould was a wow moment for me. The Bee Master show sticks out. The Punk Rock Bowling outdoor shows were pretty special, having that vision fulfilled, of an outdoor stage on a large level. On the building’s future: (MH) I think there are conversations going on with potential partners and operators of many kinds. My hope is that live music stays there on some level.

THE DASH PASS, RECONSIDERED Remote-access is over, and DMV wait times are down When I needed to renew my driver’s license last September, I texted the DMV’s remote-access Dash Pass system, got in a virtual line and let the DMV gods do their thing. I showed up hours later, ready to get my new ID, when an employee informed me I wasn’t in the database. I begged and pleaded my way into the line—but my faith in Dash Pass had been squashed. Whether my experience was typical or not, the Nevada DMV has ended remote access at all four Valley locations. “We noted we were getting a high percentage of no-shows—as much as 20 percent,” says DMV public information officer David Fierro. Customers can still leave the DMV and receive text updates on line status; they’ll just have to get in the queue in-person, first. Fierro says, following the July 22 switch, the Sahara branch went from an average wait time of 112 minutes to 41; Flamingo from 125 to 80, Decatur from 123 to 82 and Henderson from 138 to 76. The DMV is at work on an appointment-based system, to be introduced later this year, and Fierro says 70 new DMV employees will be trained and ready to help alleviate long lines in Southern Nevada come September. Beyond that, Fierro has a useful tip about timing: “A lot of people believe if they’re there first thing in the morning, they’ll be able to get in and out, [but] we have 200-300 people lined up before we even open.” –Leslie Ventura

On finding spots for orphaned shows: (MH) Efforts are ongoing to find them homes. Stay tuned. On the “contract” with the community: (MH) There’s a trust that was taken up between DTP and the community when they took on Bunkhouse. … Should people feel disappointed or like that trust was violated? Yeah, I think so; I don’t think that’s unreasonable at all. –Spencer Patterson For more of our interviews with Henry and Stratton, visit lasvegasweekly.com.

FIVE BEERS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK

Open since April, PKWY Tavern’s T.E.A.M. program (that’s Taphouse Exclusive Active Member) challenges imbibers to knock back 200 beers (not all at once) to earn prizes. And in less than three months, Las Vegan John Zemel became the first hop-head to conquer the boozy feat last week, scoring a personalized street sign bearing his name at the suburban space, along with a celebratory dinner in his honor. ¶ Zemel says he visited the bar about five times a week to master its menu—an average of 66 beers per month. Participants can check five beers off their list per visit, so Zemel’s strategy was to go for the gold each time. “It felt like a missed opportunity if I was getting less than five.” ¶ PKWY isn’t the only bar in town offering quantity quests. Knock back all 30 of Crown & Anchor’s draft beers to earn a T-shirt (and fill additional punch cards for hats, hoodies and soccer jerseys). And at McMullan’s Irish Pub and Huntridge Tavern, boozehounds who drink 100 shots of Jameson Irish whiskey join the ranks of the informal sipping society known as the Century Club, get their name on a plaque and score a bottle of Jame-O. –Mark Adams

JULY 30–AUGUST 5, 2015 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM 9

as we see it…

> GO NORTH The banner at Sahara and the Strip is set to become something bigger.

T H E I N C I D E N TA L TO U R I ST

Pointing to the party

A banner on the Strip isn’t the only way to promote Downtown tourism By Brock Radke As a shameless admirer of the spectacle that is the Strip, I have to admit that I hate the banner that’s been hoisted over Las Vegas Boulevard as you cross Sahara Avenue heading Downtown. It looks cheap and temporary, and while plenty of things on the Strip possess those qualities, most have the sense to mask them as best they can. “Keep The Party Going!” it screams at you, as if Vegas needs help in that department. Dear Banner: The Strip is momentum. It doesn’t need encouragement. You can’t stop it, you can only hope to contain it. The purpose of the banner, erected by the City of Las Vegas this spring just before the Rock in Rio music festival took over at the southwest corner of that intersection, is to remind tourists and others traversing the Strip to check out Downtown, too. There are lots of interesting developments happening at the heart of the city, none of which are advertised on this banner. To be fair, the city did promote the annual Helldorado Days rodeo and festival with a special banner in May. And the thing is temporary; there

are plans to build a permanent gateway structure, perhaps inspired by famous landmark arches of St. Louis and Reno. But that project won’t begin until the city’s Main Street renovation is finished, which should start at the end of the year. Still, it’s a good thing there are plans to create a respectable structure emblematic of the connection between the Strip and Downtown. “It gives the message that something more is happening, that you think you’re at the end of it and then you find that there’s more to see and explore,” says Cathy Tull, senior vice president of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The LVCVA has been doing more to promote Downtown tourism in recent years because there’s so much going on. When Vegas commercials are filmed, scenes from the Neon Museum or Downtown Container Park might make the cut. The LVCVA teamed with Saveur to create fun social media videos exploring hot local restaurants, many of which are strung along Carson Avenue.

The Fremont Street Experience is still the main reason tourists trek to Downtown. The arrival of cultural cornerstones like the Smith Center and the Mob Museum obviously lengthened the must-see list, but Downtown’s small business development— bars and restaurants and shops—has added some unique flavor to the story, which has become more fun and easy to tell, Tull says. “Millennials are all about authenticity, being able to find things off the beaten path. There is authenticity Downtown that appeals to that group of travelers, but it also works well for Baby Boomers, who will go Downtown because they like to remember the Vegas of old. They’ve been coming to Las Vegas for years and they remember the last time they stayed at the Golden Nugget. Authenticity pulls both groups.” I could poke more fun at the banner by noting that those Millennials won’t want to be told where to keep their party going. They’ll want to find it themselves. But the truth is, they’re just like any brand of Vegas visitor in that they already know what they want to see and do when they come to town. And when they do, they’ll probably discover a new bar or club or restaurant they want to check out, on this trip or the next, because that’s how Vegas works. So maybe a giant, unmissable banner isn’t such a bad idea after all, but I’m still looking forward to its permanent version.

Parking by phone

10 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

photograph by l.e. baskow

Okay, seriously, say “Matlock Lot” five times fast. Possible? Probably not. But what is possible, thanks to a new City of Las Vegas app, is finding lot parking, and parking prices, Downtown. The 61-space Matlock Lot sits on the southeast corner of Fourth and Clark and costs $1 per hour. Blocks away at the Mob Museum, 42 spaces await for $5 per hour. But—doh!—the Old Downtown Transportation Center Lot, just steps away, accommodates 125 cars for … free. ¶ The city’s app is useful for discovering Downtown’s 10-lot parking landscape, but thereafter a permanent switch to ParkMe makes sense. (Don’t feel bad, city app, your food truck map will be worth revisiting once it’s up!) The well-designed ParkMe shows color-coded prices ranging from free to $20 Downtown, along with the capacity of nearby lots. (As I write this, Gold Spike is 23 percent full. Wait—it just dropped to 19.) ¶ To pay for those lot spaces, however, users must switch to Parkmobile (or just feed the onsite kiosk, but where’s the fun in that?). Unlike ParkMe, Parkmobile shows metered street parking, but also unlike ParkMe, Parkmobile doesn’t indicate the price per hour until you’ve entered a space number and desired time limit and are ready to check out. ¶ Each of the apps has pros and cons, but whatever combination you use, it’s nice to have options. That’s something I can say five times fast. –Kristy Totten

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Weekly Q&A

> PRECISION IN THE POOL Beaufils and Dedieu get synced up.

Perfect timing

The coach of the national team, Julie Fabre, called me right away.

Le Rêve acrobat Benoit Beaufils fulfills his synchronized swimming dreams, at last

Men still can’t compete in team, nonmixed duet or solo events at the Olympics and World Championships. Do you think we’ll see that happen, too? For

“You know that thing that you’ve been waiting for your entire life, but then you give up on the hope that it would ever happen … and then it suddenly happens?” Benoit Beaufils’ dream came true this week in Russia, where he represented France’s national synchronized swimming team in the first mixed-duet contest at the FINA World Championships. Beaufils, a performing acrobat in Le Rêve, effectively came out of a 17-year synchro retirement to compete as partners with decorated Olympic synchronized swimmer Virginie Dedieu, whom Beaufils calls “the best there ever was.” While the gold for the technical mixed duet was claimed this week by fellow veteran Las Vegas performers Bill May and Christina Jones, who work together in Cirque du Soleil’s O, Beaufils and Dedieu had yet to compete in the free mixed duet contest at press time.

We spoke with Beaufils before the championships about his athletic beginnings and the long wait for men to compete in international synchro at this week’s global competition. How did you get your start in synchronized swimming? I started when I

was about 6 or 7 years old. My sister had become a swimmer, and my mom became a coach very early on. They would take me to every training, because they didn’t want to pay for a babysitter. At the time I was a gymnast and a swimmer, so little by little I [got] in the water, and before I knew it I was a synchronized swimmer. Did you have the urge to compete before you were asked to represent France? I

always wondered what I would do if ever they were to change the rules, but I always assumed that France had enough boys that would be better than I would. I was wrong (laughs).

sure. I think there’s definitely a wind of change in synchronized swimming. … I think that they really wanted to test the water to see how many countries have men in their ranks. If the event is successful this year, we could expect the rules to change for the Olympics. If not for Rio, then definitely Tokyo in 2020. What do you think is behind the delay? Is there a sexist stigma there? I think it’s

more the fact that the sport is very difficult for men in general, because we naturally do not float. … For a man to be on the same level as a woman, they have to work twice as hard. You’ve been performing in Las Vegas for over a decade, in O and Le Rêve. What inspired you to move here? The show.

Cirque contacted me way back, when I was still competing. Just the idea of getting to perform every day and actually get paid to do synchonized swimming was another dream come true. I had always thought when I

was done competitively I would have to retire my swim shoes and find an office job. You retired from the sport 17 years ago, but you’re still in great shape. Did you have to change up your workout regimen or diet? At Le Rêve I became an

acrobat … so I had obviously changed my muscle tone. My muscles, instead of being lengthy like they were when I was a swimmer, became more compact as a gymnast. So I did have to lay off the weights a little bit and spend a lot more time in the water. … I started being able to eat a lot more than I used to, because suddenly in a workout I would spend over 2,000 calories, so I was hungry all the time. I could eat all I wanted, and I was just getting slimmer and slimmer. So it’s a good change of diet! (laughs) What has your training schedule been like leading up to competition? First of all,

waking up to my 8-month-old baby very early every morning (laughs). My partner and I just had a friend of ours be our surrogate. … Whenever I can, I head to the pool and swim about two to three hours a day. Then I go home, nap and do the show, and before the show I always have a workout with a personal trainer at Le Rêve. –Mark Adams

“For a man to be on the same level as a woman, they have to work twice as hard.”

12 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

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Jeff Williams can find gold anywhere, as demonstrated in “Gold in Home Depot Sand !!!,” a YouTube video where he shakes out 150 pounds of store-bought sand in his backyard. With 987,000 views, the tutorial is his second-most-popular clip to date, behind only “Free Energy Motor !!!,” a video with 1.2 million hits that teaches viewers to build “a device that mainstream science says is impossible.” Also well-liked are “Monster Gold Nugget !!!,” “Metal Detecting Gold Mine !!!,” “Where to Find Gold !!!,” and the less-shouty “How to make fire with nothing.” Williams will teach you to find gold in drain pipes and even on the streets of New York City. He’ll show you how to change a radiator, build a generator and fashion a rock crusher, metal detector or foundry furnace. If you prefer to start fires with something, he’ll show you how to light one with a rock. He’s compulsively curious and driven to share with his 44,000 AskJeffWilliams YouTube followers, or anyone, really. “Let’s go over here, because I move too much when I talk,” Williams says when we meet on a recent Thursday at Desert Outfitters. “I’m very energetic.” That kinda goes without saying. In his videos, Williams ricochets around the frame of the screen, extolling

14 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

points of interest and beckoning his audience with dramatic gestures. But it wasn’t always this way. His earlier clips, beginning six years ago, are more straightforward, more focused on geology, and far less viewed. Say what you will of the all-caps and exclamation points he uses to title his movies, they attract views, as does his over-the-top acting and unchanging outfit: a prospector’s hat, an old-timey gun, a crossbody canteen and the fringe leather pullover he found while working at the Levi Strauss in Henderson. “I learned early on that you don’t want to sound like a college professor,” Williams says, sitting beside Slim, his talking skeleton sidekick. “People don’t want that; they want entertainment. But they also want tidbits of information, little Easter eggs, as I call them.” The native Las Vegan and car mechanic (hence the automotive tutorials) has been collecting such eggs since his father introduced him to mining at age 10. He joined the Army, where he became a demolition expert, and learned what he knows today from Reno’s MacKay School of Mines—and from “old timers who passed knowledge on to me before they died.” Chief among those elders was Larry Kennedy, a fellow Levi Strauss worker. “He showed me the oldschool methods you’re not going to read in any books,” Williams says. Most importantly, Kennedy taught

him to sample, or test small amounts of earth to determine the broader landscape’s metal content. “Sampling is key,” Williams says. “I don’t care if you’re a guy out there with a pick and a shovel, or a billiondollar corporation. You’ve got to sample first to find out what’s in that ground.” Williams becomes more serious as he drops into the science of finding gold. The hyperactive Internet persona fades and a focused professor emerges, if only for a moment. There are two primary types of gold: placer gold, which is flaky and found by panning, and hard rock gold. The latter is more valuable, but nearly impossible to extract without expensive, high-tech tools. Research is key when it comes to knowing where to dig, he says, and it’s paramount to go where gold has already been found. It’s rare for a small-time prospector to find a new deposit. “Gold is 19 times heavier than water—it’s very heavy,” Williams says. “That’s how you find it, is by knowing it’s weight. Understanding the geology is very important, contact zones, sheer zones, thrust zones, faulting. Is it hydrothermal in nature? Are you in a mesothermal area like California or an epithermal deposit in Nevada? You have to understand structures. You have to understand all this if you’re going to go out and start looking.” Williams goes out every weekend, unless it’s too hot or too cold, in which case he stays home and researches. Locally he frequents Goodsprings, Pahrump, Vanderbilt in California near Stateline, Shadow

> MOSTLY FRIENDS Slim is Williams’ trusty sidekick, “until he tries to steal my gold,” Williams says.

> THE GANG’S ALL HERE Jeff Williams (center) with, from left to right, Bobcat Tours owner Steve Lindley, Slim and Mario Amabile, who plays Nevada Jack in Williams’ videos.

Mountain, Gold Basin, Lost Basin and Eldorado Canyon. His biggest find was a 2.5-ounce nugget in Arizona, but he says it’s less about the money than satisfying his gold fever. “It’s not about having it; it’s about finding it,” he says. Occasionally he’ll send placer gold to be melted at a refinery, for which he’s paid 98 percent of the “spot price,” or market rate. I sheepishly ask how much money he makes from prospecting, and he laughs. “Can you make a living at this?

SOLID GOLD Prospector and YouTube star Jeff Williams wants you to watch these gems. Find them on YouTube by searching “Ask Jeff Williams.” “LOST SPANISH GOLD !!!” With a brand-new metal detector, Williams sets out to find an old Spanish mine. He finds it, but it’s guarded by a small army he wasn’t expecting.

If you know what you’re doing and you’re lucky, yes,” he says. “If you have a good capital reserve, if you happen to have a good claim that has good reserves in the ground, yeah, you can make money at it. How many people do that? Maybe one out of a million. Keep it as a hobby—I guarantee you’ll have much more fun. … If you find gold, that’s a cherry on top, but no, I would not quit my day job. I’ve seen too many guys try that and fail miserably. “Just like in the days of the Old West, the 1880s,” he continues.

“BLOWING UP DYNAMITE !!!” You shouldn’t tamper with dynamite tins when poking around old mines, but Slim does what he wants, and he wants to blast a new tunnel. “I FOUND BIGFOOT with his GOLD !!!” Apparently the Sasquatch has gold fever, too. “GET MORE GOLD !!! Sluice Box Set Up” Do you even know what a sluice box is? You will once you watch this video.

16 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

“They said, ‘I’m going to strike it rich in California. What did they end up doing? Working for another guy with a mining claim or working for a mining company for $4 a day. All the good grounds are already claimed up; all the good minerals have already been extracted—the easy gold anyway—so in order for you to actually make money at it, you need to have a big company that has access to big claims and big equipment, or you happen to be a lucky one that you read about in these mining journals, a guy that stumbles upon this 63-ounce nugget with a metal detector. That does happen, but not very often.” Williams partners with Steve Lindley, owner of Bobcat Tours and Desert Outfitters, a prospecting shop in central Las Vegas. Lindley picked up the hobby two years ago when he and his nephew bought a metal detector to seek out treasure in the desert. (He’s found coins, bullets, belt buckles and other artifacts.) What began as a hunt for used prospecting equipment ended with Lindley becoming owner of Gold Rush Prospecting in Boulder City, which he closed when he took over Desert Outfitters. “I just want to expose another generation to gold prospecting,” Lindley says, estimating that there are a few hundred active hobbyist prospectors in Southern Nevada. “It’s another option like kayaking or dirt biking or

fishing or hunting. We’re not looking for the mother lode. It’s another thing to do outdoors.” Desert Outfitters offers mining and prospecting tours based out of Nelson, Nevada’s Techatticup mine. The four-to-eight-hour affairs, which cost $139-$239, typically include a mine tour, a panning lesson and sightseeing at the group’s 80-acre mining claim. For $375 to $2,595, Williams (and Slim) host multi-day ranch stays and hands-on mining tours in ghost town Osceola, Nevada. “You’re not going to teach someone to pan in an hour or even a day,” Lindley says. “There’s a curve, and you develop your own technique. Jeff and I pan similar, but if you really watch it on video, it’s different.” The tours teach basic techniques and lay the foundation for hopeful prospectors, including do’s and don’t’s. Before filming, Williams and his crew check for carbon dioxide and monoxide, the threat of Hantavirus, shafts in the floor, pooled water, old explosives, rock falls and rattlesnakes, especially in the first 20 feet of a mine. “If you’re going to get into this, don’t go running into a mine,” Williams warns. “You might see me do it, but we have a full crew and special equipment.” In other words, don’t try this at home.

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> UP IN ARMS Members of the cast of Baz on opening night.

18 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

photograph by denise truscello

Our booth is curved and cushy, positioned just to the left of steps descending to the stage. Make that stages: three runways that jut toward those seated at the circular tables below. In the middle of the scene is an old, black typewriter, illuminated by the beam of a spotlight shining from the venue’s upper reaches. Behind that vintage Underwood Standard No. 5 typewriter is a set of drums and a pair of keyboards, and higher still, a series of fancy video panels, glowing brightly with the scripted word “Baz.” This is a production show, mostly, a rock musical interlocking the relationships of couples in three movies (Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet and The Great Gatsby) from the director and

writer Baz Luhrmann, who has happily endorsed the effort. The experience of Baz is multifold: The production often feels like a concert for the smoking band onstage, and is set up much like a traditional musical—lavish costumes, vocal talent and expert dancing. But this experience exceeds even that unique model, because of the “where” of it all. These joyous ingredients are mixed in the blender of a nightclub on the Las Vegas Strip, Light at Mandalay Bay. The club is open for business at this oddly early hour, just short of 8 p.m. In our seating area, drinks are set on a sturdy, rectangular table with a metal base built for bottle service during the club’s peak hours, when strobes flash and EDM thunders through the venue, long after Baz has left the stage.

July 30–August 5, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 19

Seated at our booth is a couple who are not typical nightclub crawlers, a 50-something Las Vegas limo driver and his wife, given tickets by the hotel to help pollinate positive Baz buzz in the Las Vegas community. Cabbies, craps dealers, concierges, valet attendants have been enlisted as ambassadors—em-Baz-addors, as it were—for this grassroots marketing effort. We scope the room for the best sightlines and crane to look over the top of a metal railing that partially intercepts our view of what we’re about to see. Out of nowhere, a gentleman in a white bow tie and a cherry-red, ringleader-fashioned jacket scrambles to our area and calls out, “Good evening! If you like, sit at the top of your booths! You’ll have a better view!” Before we can thank him he darts away, and in moments that same uniformed individual—the actor Jason Paige, who portrays Zidler—is onstage, dancing and singing “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody,” from The Great Gatsby. There’s laughter from our table, and someone notes that if Paige ever decides to leave the stage, he’d be a terrific singing usher. We take his advice, and move to our perch at the top of the booth.

***** Setting up at Light in time for a June 26 premiere, Baz is the result of a fledgling relationship as unlikely as that shared by Christian and Satine in Moulin Rouge. The show’s artistic and business partners are Cirque du Soleil’s powerful and duly financed theatrical division, and the LA production company For the Record (the show’s formal title is For the Record: Baz, but Baz has since become the show’s shorthand name). Thus, the Strip show is a mix of the mighty Cirque brand and an upstart performance-art troupe that, three years ago, was staging Baz in clubs with audience capacities far less than 100. The company launched five years ago with a tribute to Quentin Tarantino. It has since taken on John Hughes (Dear John Hughes) and then developed Baz. The latter debuted at a club called Show at Barre in LA, its original 60-seat venue. As audiences blossomed, the theater space was expanded to 150 seats and renamed Rockwell: Table & Stage. The company further expanded to shows featuring the Coen brothers, P.T. Anderson and Martin Scorsese, the Marshalls (Garry and Penny) and Robert Zemeckis. For the Record further grew to the DBA nightclub in West Hollywood in March 2014, where, in rotation, it presented Baz, Tarantino and Dear John Hughes. It didn’t take long for a night with For the Record to become one of the groovier hangs among the Hollywood elite, with such celebs as Tarantino, Al Pacino, Barbra Streisand, James

Brolin and the Marshalls making For the Record’s ability to adapt to repeat visits. Director Shane Scheel non-traditional performance settells a story of taking a call from tings. A theater executive who is someone he thought was Barbra always seeking innovative stage Streisand, walking up the sidewalk concepts (and who also brought to the show at DBA. It turned out it Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular was the actual Barbra Streisand, with and Jersey Boys to the Strip), Zeiger Brolin pacing at her side. was expressly interested in infus“We’re a company that has never ing some early-night animation into worked in traditional theatrical spacLight, which opened in 1999 as the es, so everything about us club/restaurant Rumjungle seems a little unique.” Scheel and was taken over by Cirque says. “We’ve been in supper du Soleil in the summer of FOR THE clubs, nightclubs, a hotel 2013. Light remains a busiRECORD: BAZ multipurpose room in Palm ness partnership between Nights vary, Springs. Every time we move Cirque (which owns the 8 p.m., $61-$83. up, we learn just a little bit space) and Hakkasan Group Light, 702more about how to make our (contracted to operate the 632-4760. environment work for us.” venue). The club is open The company’s path to late nights, typically at 11 Vegas was not a direct route from p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and LA, though. It detoured through the Saturdays. Baz is a way to kick off Montreal Jazz Festival last summer, the night rather than be the center of where Scott Zeiger, who had months the Vegas experience. The show has earlier moved from his post as cobeen ratcheted from two-and-a-half CEO of BASE Entertainment to a new hours in LA to a tighter hour and position as head of Cirque’s theatri40 minutes in Vegas. Baz actually cal division, caught the company’s opened for previews at Light with performance of Tarantino. He loved a five-minute intermission; by the what he saw, but was concerned over end of that intermission, Zeiger had the production’s violent adaptation already made the decision to lop that of such films as Pulp Fiction, Django segment from the show. Unchained and Kill Bill. “For avid theater-goers, an hour Still, Zeiger was wowed by the and 40 minutes would be among the talent, the polished production and shortest-ever Broadway musicals,”

20 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

Zeiger says. “That’s the length of A Chorus Line, and that musical is the most successful intermission-less musical ever.” But for Las Vegas, particularly for a show in a nightclub, that length still feels a little long. “There is a checklist that people have for their Las Vegas experience, for their 72 hours in town. Shopping, gambling, the pool, a massage, the gym, dinner, a show, a club, the fountains at Bellagio,” Zeiger says. “Everybody has their list. Once you have somebody sitting in a theater a minute longer than an hour and a half, they start looking at their watch, no matter how good the show is. That’s the difference in Las Vegas, whereas in LA, it is the evening.” The show’s length is being adjusted naturally over repeated performances, as is the calibration of sound in a relatively cavernous, 32,000-square-foot venue. The show is also figuring out how to keep the audience’s attention focused on the artists as they roam around the room. In one of the few moments reminiscent of a Cirque show, Ginifer King, who plays Satine, floats through the venue on a lift to a point above the stage while singing “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Principal singers Paige, James Byous (Romeo), Ciaran McCarthy (Jay Gatsby), Payson Lewis (Christian), BAZ by zack w

> The new school (From left) Baz, Alice at Vinyl and Vegas Nocturne, formerly at Rose.Rabbit.Lie.

Ruby Lewis (Daisy) and Olivia Harris (Juliet) routinely roam and explore the perimeter of the performance space. Often, a voice emanates from the outer reaches, and those in the audience instinctively turn to find the origin of that sound. “We have had some straining-the-neck to find the action, which we are doing our best to mitigate,” Scheel says. “You’re in a nightclub, so you might feel like you’re overhearing or seeing things that you’re not supposed to, and that is a good thing. It gives the show a very voyeuristic idea, and that is very intentional. What we’re working in is really a giant black-box theater.” It’s a theater that seats upward of 500 ticket-buyers, more than double any venue where For the Record has performed. Consequently, the show’s business prospects are less certain than its terrific presentation.

***** Zeiger says it himself: “It’s funny, not that many people in the world know who Baz Luhrmann is. Less than you think. They know his movVegas nocturne by erik kabik

ies, of course, but the name ‘Baz’ does not always resonate.” That disconnect is further reflected in the confusion created by the current kingpins of Las Vegas entertainment, the superstar club DJs who headline at the ultra-club fortresses along the Strip. “I was asked, ‘Is Baz a DJ?’” Scheel says with a chuckle. “Baz at Light doesn’t sound so different from Tiësto at Hakkasan. What we’re really understanding is that the next frontier is to get our message out in a very concise way.” Such an effort has been an attainable goal for Cirque du Soleil, which has thrown obscure names on many of its shows—O, KÀ, Mystère, Zarkana—but Baz not a traditional Cirque vehicle. The show’s relatively obscure title, coupled with the idea that it’s a production whose value must be seen to fully appreciate, makes it a tough sell on the Strip. In his days with BASE, Ziegler helped bring another successful show that shares those qualities, Absinthe, to Caesars Palace, in partnership with Spiegelworld and its

founder, Ross Mollison. “It’s sort of like Absinthe in the early days, when I worked on that show. It was all, ‘What’s Absinthe?’ Cirque du Soleil Light?” Zeiger says. “So, those first 12 weeks with Absinthe, we lost a fortune. But you have to expect that when you are bringing in unbranded entertainment without a star, in a landscape filled with brands and celebrities. It takes some time to build.” Thus, the question is not whether Baz is yet making money. It isn’t. The more relevant questions are, will it make money? And how long will it take for the show to turn a profit? “We have budgeted a contingency for this show to cover preview lossesslash-branding, and that’s where we are right now,” Zeiger says. “You always have to budget that contingency. Check any Broadway show, or any theater piece anywhere, and that is the case. We are branding the show, and our hook is that we’ve got super high-caliber entertainment onstage. We need to put that word out there and allow that message to resonate in

the market.” The big Cirque shows have that single-word brand—Cirque—to trumpet. Other large-scale productions benefit from high-financed marketing campaigns (Steve Wynn’s ShowStoppers) and simple titles that need no explanation (Frank: The Man. The Music). But Zeiger exudes confidence. “Is Baz hitting its numbers? It’s hitting our expected numbers. Is it making profit yet? Not yet. But it will.” The man who ultimately authorized the performance of Baz at Mandalay Bay is that hotel’s president and COO, Chuck Bowling. He says one goal has already been met. “We wanted to break something unique, and have people walk away saying they’ve never seen anything like it before in Las Vegas, or anywhere in the country, or anywhere in the world,” he says. “When you think of what you can experience in this space, that is happening, and that has to happen. It’s a marketing challenge, and that effort will take some time. But it’s building, and we knew it would be a slow build.”

July 30–August 5, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 21

> ON THE EDGE Satine (Ginifer King) of Baz.

spaces for production shows, SLS President and COO Scott Kreeger says, “It’s all moving in that direction, absolutely.”

*****

***** The overarching concern, outside the continuing marketing effort, is if the so-called “immersive” live-entertainment approach can at all work in Vegas. Absinthe remains an outlier, a show whose unique in-the-round venue (the Spiegeltent) enhances the audience experience, rather than adding to the challenge. But the Strip’s history has been strewn with highly advanced, imaginative shows—many of them critically successful—that never turned a profit. Dating back more than a decade, the Rio pitched its own tent for a show called De La Guarda, an acrobatic-based production with a water feature that actually drizzled on audience members. That show, in which audience members stood in an open space, lasted from October 2000 to July 2001. Nightspots that have featured atmospheric entertainment, especially at Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce and its successor at Mandalay Bay, 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque, have

either closed (in Kane’s instance) or struggled to stay afloat (in the case of 1923, with its operators still in litigation with onetime partner Holly Madison). More recently, Vegas Nocturne at the Cosmopolitan’s Rose. Rabbit. Lie. was an artistic success that failed financially inside an atypical venue. The show, which featured an inspired series of specialty acts and a live band that morphed into a late-night club scene, was uniformly applauded and highly acclaimed by reviewers, but closed within seven months, in July 2014. Vegas Nocturne was seeping a reported $1 million per month and serving as the focal point of sincesettled lawsuits between Spiegelworld and the Cosmopolitan. Still, with its 40-something cast members and multiple stages (including one that rotated), Vegas Nocturne remains an example of what can be presented in a uniquely designed Vegas entertainment space. “We discussed vigorously with our partners how we could make the show successful,” Mollison says. “We had a

22 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

specific timeline, and we had a very, very challenging timeline to operate under.” Which, Mollison contends, was too short to make a success of Vegas Nocturne at Rose. Rabbit. Lie. But if Baz takes off, Mollison says, it could create a tangible trend of like shows in clubs along the Strip. “I feel there’s a whole market of people who would like to go out and get something that’s a more casual form of entertainment that can happen before they go to a nightclub, before dinner or even before they go to bed. You just need a show like that to be a hit, and I do hope Baz is successful, because the more shows that are successful, the better it will be for everyone.” Even on the north end of the Strip, eyes are on Light and Baz and how the show performs at Mandalay Bay. SLS Las Vegas is attempting to reinvent Life, the megaclub that opened as a haven for superstar DJs and exclusive EDM programming but is now open to just about any variety of entertainment. When asked about Baz and the effort to reinvent nightclub

Longtime Vegas entertainment figures who well remember the much-hyped, ill-fated, “Broadway to Vegas” era of the mid-2000s remain unconvinced that the type of stage talent evident in Baz will ever be a first choice among Vegas tourists. Top-notch, Broadway-styled productions like Avenue Q, Hairspray, The Producers, Monty Python’s Spamalot and Phantom had runs of varying lengths, but none are onstage today. “What they are doing is something innovative, something new,” says SPI Entertainment founder Adam Steck, whose productions include Boyz 2 Men at the Mirage, Human Nature at Venetian and Frank Marino’s Divas Las Vegas. “I just don’t think that particular type of entertainment, being very thespian-esque, has much life in Las Vegas, unfortunately. I wish it did. I just think Las Vegas is not as theater-sophisticated as other cities, because people who come here are looking for a different type of experience. “Do I hope it works? Absolutely. The way they use the space, the breaking of the fourth wall and bringing people into the crowd in a nontraditional space—I’m all for it.” The cast members have been spotted at shows around town, creating something of a stir when arriving at Rose. Rabbit. Lie., with talk swirling that Baz is already seeking another venue. Not so. For the Record and Cirque are in an open-ended agreement, and Scheel says, “We’re not looking at moving out of Light.” He calls the space “a jungle-gym of a playground,” and muses that the advanced video and sound technology could even be boosted by the acrobatic gadgetry of Cirque. Members of the troupe, too, have checked out shows ranging from the classic Jubilee! at Bally’s to Alice—A Steampunk Rock Opera Fantasy at Vinyl at the Hard Rock Hotel. That show could greatly benefit if Baz becomes a hit, as it is looking for both a home and someone to roll the dice, as Cirque is doing with Baz. “What we’re finding in getting out and meeting the performance community is that there is a demand for something vocally and musically driven,” Scheel says. “We’re still in the learning curve of how the venue, Light itself, works, and how we present a show in this environment. “But what we’ve loved doing is making the Baz show feel epic, in the sense that Baz’s movies are epic.” All Baz needs is some time and some persuasive word of mouth. The ringleader Zidler and his lovelorn friends will handle the rest. Photograph by zack w

NIGHTS

HOT SPOTS

> V FOR VICTORY Steve Angello lands another big Sin City residency at Omnia.

TEMPTATION SUNDAYS SIXTH ANNIVERSARY PARTY AT LUXOR

The popular LGBT pool party has plenty of reasons to celebrate, including host J. Son’s birthday. DJ Axis keeps things flirty and fun at the pyramid’s pool. August 2, 1 p.m., $10$20.

R AV E A L AT I O N PRESENTS APOCALYPTO AT HARD ROCK LIVE

Hard dance returns to the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip, as Tuneboy, Adrenalize and Skellism lead this hardstyle installment of Apocalypto. July 30, 8 p.m., $25-$30.

SUNDOWN WITH ROUTE 94 AT DAYLIGHT Sundown stays on the

cutting edge with the propulsive house of London’s Rowan Tyler Jones, aka Route 94, plus support from Eddie McDonald, Stellar and Spacebyrdz. August 2, noon, $30+ men, $20+ women.

STEVE AOKI AT HAKKASAN Fresh off his hometown LAoki dance party and some big sets at Belgium’s Tomorrowland fest, Aoki is back for double-Hakka-duty with performer Kryoman on Thursday and DJ duo Botnek on Saturday. July 30, 10:30 p.m., $30+ men, $20+ women; August 1, 10:30 p.m., $30+ men, $20+ women.

GREYSTONE SUNDAYS WITH FETTY WAP AT FOXTAIL The world did

not end when Kate Hudson and her pre-teen offspring Instagrammed themselves rapping and dancing to “Trap Queen,” but it could have. Rest easy: The real deal plays SLS Sunday. August 2, 10:30 p.m., $33+ men, $22+ women.

FOUR COLOR ZACK AT TAO Get a taste of something a little different when Seattle record slinger and Red Bull Thre3style champ Four Color Zack rolls through for Tao Fridays. July 31, 10 p.m., $20+. MADEON AT SURRENDER Catch the up-and-coming 21-year-old Frenchman at Surrender Saturday before he begins touring with Wynn residents Zedd and Dillon Francis. August 1, 10:30 p.m., $35+ men, $25+ women. AFTER PRESENTS D-UNITY AT BACKSTAGE BAR & BILLIARDS After

continues to work on its very own Vegas venue, but until then, catch D-Unity with Spacebyrdz, Justin Baulé, Brett Rubin, Daniel Mihai and KC Ray on visuals at Downtown’s cavernous Triple B. August 1, midnight, $10-$20.

CARNAGE AT MARQUEE If you missed the Lil Wayne/G-Easy remix of Carnage’s “I Like Tuh,” go check it out. Then make plans to catch Carnage’s Marquee Mondays residency, In Black & White. August 3, 10 p.m., $30+ men, $20 + women.

STEVE ANGELLO AT OMNIA It’s not

often that the biggest DJ date of the week Hours London’s is on a Tuesday, but Route 94 bus runs. that’s the night this EDM power player makes his Omnia debut. Cancel your Wednesday morning plans. August 4, 10:30 p.m., $30+ men, $20+ women.

CLUB HOPPING Nightlife News & Notes

24 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM JULY 30-AUGUST 5, 2015

MARIAH CAREY BY DENISE TRUSCELLO

July 25 was one crazy Saturday. First, was the DJ being funny or was it just too soon? At 1:28 p.m., Diplo tweeted, “This is what happens when I DJ the pool,” with an Instagram link to a photo of the Cosmopolitan Bamboo Pool fire, less than an hour after the quick blaze was extinguished. Later that night, things got hot again when Mirage’s 1 OAK hooked it up for Mariah Carey’s hosting gig, bringing the star singer a four-tiered butterfly cake topped with a gold tiara and tapping DJ Suss One to mix Mariah’s hits into the set. The scene was also decorated with the giant faces of Mimi and her beau James Packer, Australian mogul and developer of the shrouded-inmystery Strip casino project Alon. NBA birthday boy DeAndre Jordan was in the house, too. Meanwhile at Foxtail, Alien Ant Farm (Remember them? No?) paused their opening set for Hoobastank and P.O.D. (How about them? No?) during the Vegas Beer & Music Festival so frontman Dryden Mitchell could propose to his girlfriend. Beers by the pool ... anything can happen. Finally, Joe Jonas’ DJ set at Hyde unsurprisingly included an appearance from his brother Nick Jonas for a special rendition of Nick’s hit “Jealous.” The crazy part: Afterwards they hung out with Cuba Gooding Jr. Oh, Vegas on a Saturday night. What won’t you do? –Brock Radke

NIGHTS

A call for nightlife in the neighborhood

> LOOKING GOOD Cherry’s former patio is now Red Rock Resort’s Cabana Club.

Remember Whiskey Sky and Cherry? Let’s bring ’em back Wander through the parts of Green Valley Ranch Resort where only hotel guests go and you might remember. It says “Lobby Bar” right there, “Open daily at 5 p.m.” But those huge white doors make it seem like something greater lies within, and it once did. Rande Gerber opened a real nightclub, Whiskey Sky, in this space when GVR arrived in December 2001. It was dramatic. Patrons descended a staircase to enter a bustling bar area, a separate room contained the dance floor and the place opened up to the 8-acre backyard pool yard equipped with cabanas and daybeds and another bar. It was fancy. And it wasn’t the only one. Station Casinos teamed up with Gerber again for Cherry at Red Rock Resort in April 2006, another club with an outdoor component. Today the Cherry space is used for special events, and its patio has turned into the Cabana Club, a more exclusive pool experience wrapping around Red Rock’s famed backyard. Sometimes there are DJs. Green Valley’s pool, the Pond, is also slightly dayclub-ish. There are DJs and occasional live music, like reggae on Friday nights, and there’s no cover for locals. Stuff like that’s a big tease for anyone who thinks the time might be

right again for a real nightclub in the suburbs. It makes sense that these venues had to be shuttered during the recession, but things are better now, proven by Station’s recent multimillion-dollar improvements to its bookend resorts on opposite ends of the Valley. At Red Rock, where a restaurant overhaul (and last year’s Downtown Summerlin opening next door) has the property thriving, the highest profile is that of Hearthstone, a restaurant from former Light Group owner Andy Masi. His next project here is Salute, a new Italian restaurant. Is it crazy to think Masi could re-engineer the Cherry space? Downtown Summerlin brought plenty of restaurants and bars to the area, but nothing like what used to exist inside this room. It’s not like Station doesn’t know how to do nightlife. In the northwest, Santa Fe Station’s Revolver country bar and club just celebrated its fifth anniversary. With other local country bars relocating and closing in recent years, Revolver looks rock solid, an example of Station doing what it does best—fitting appropriate programming neatly into a specific neighborhood. Now all we have to do is let ’em know how we want to party in Green Valley and Summerlin, right? –Brock Radke

A new bar in—and on—Fremont I know it’s hard to believe, since you’re all over everything that happens Downtown, but a new bar opened on Fremont Street and you missed it ... probably because it’s not on Fremont East. It’s called Filament, and it’s inside the Fremont Hotel & Casino. You know, that big red place on the corner of Fremont and Third? ¶ Anyway, it’s got everything you’d expect from a Fremont Street Experience bar ($5 Bud Light or Coors Light drafts, $3 Heinekens, super-sweet frozen daiquiri insanity) and a few surprises, too. It’s a legitimately handsome bar, brand new but with a rustic feel, and there are crafts on tap like New Belgium, Stone and Henderson-based Bad Beat, The house mule ($8) is a simple, satisfying concoction of Tito’s, lime and ginger beer. And unlike Filament some other Fremont Street bars Fremont Casino, you might be more familiar with, 702-385-3232. there’s a casino for players, and Sunday-Thursday, really no nonsense whatsoever. 2 p.m.-2 a.m.; Seems like a bright idea. Friday & Saturday, 2 p.m.-4 a.m. –Brock Radke

26 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

OMNIA NIGHTCLUB AT CAESARS PALACE

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LAS VEGAS WEEKLY CLUB GRID

VENUE

THURSDAY

1 OAK

Closed

ARTISAN

Lounge open 24 hours

DJ Kid Conrad

FRIDAY DJ Ikon

Doors at 10:30 pm; $40+ men, $30+ women

Midnight; $10, no cover for women, locals

DJ Que

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

CHATEAU

Closed

With DJ Stretch; doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

DJ Dre Dae

Afterhours

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

Sidney Samson

DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB

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

FOUNDATION ROOM

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

Seany Mac

FOXTAIL

Closed

GHOSTBAR

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

HAKKASAN

With Kryoman, DJ Shift; doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

Benny Black

Steve Aoki

SATURDAY DJ E-Rock

Doors at 10:30 pm; $40+ men, $30+ women

Artisan Afterhours Artisan Afterhours

THE BANK

DRAI’S AFTERHOURS

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

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

DJ Cobra

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

Ashley Wallbridge

Doors at 11 am; $40+ men, $30+ women

Borgore

Porter Robinson

With Lema; doors at 11 am; $30+ men, $20+ women

DJ set; with Frank Rempe; doors at 11 am; $20+ men, $10+ women

With DJ Fred Matters; doors at 9 am; free before noon; $20+ men, $10+ women

Doors at 9 am; $10+, local women free

Doors at 9 am; $10+, industry and local women free

Dig Dug

Four Color Zack

Javier Alba

Ditch Fridays

TAO BEACH

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

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

WET REPUBLIC

Doors at 11 am

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

With Kill the Buzz; doors at 11 am; $30+ men, $20+ women

Hardwell

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

Steve Aoki

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

Cabanas for a Cause

With DJ Exodus; doors at 9 am; $10+, industry and local women free

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

Party playback

J u ly 2 2

Flosstradamus at Surrender Photographs by Karl Larson

38 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

Arts&Entertainment MOVIES + MUSIC + ART + FOOD

> RIGHT IN TIME Williams returns with a Brooklyn Bowl performance.

HISTORY LESSON The Huntridge roof collapse, 20 years later

TRUST US

by LA’s Michael Kass. July 31 & August 1, 8 p.m., $20, Onyx Theatre.

HEAR

THE GOONIES Ignore conflicting sequel reports (update: No final script exists at this point, apparently) and relax poolside while watching the 1985 original. Pirate treasure, Baby Ruth bars and Cyndi Lauper ... times were so much simpler then. August 2, 8 p.m., free, Green Valley Ranch pool.

Stuff you’ll want to know about

LUCINDA WILLIAMS Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone is a Lucinda Williams album title if there ever was one. We’ll get to hear some of the delta-heavy 2014 release live when the treasured singer-songwriter returns after a long absence from Las Vegas to perform at Brooklyn Bowl. With Buick 6. August 5, 8 p.m., $37. SAY ANYTHING The dramatic LA punkpop act recorded last year’s Hebrews with orchestral instruments instead of guitars, so it follows that a string section will accompany the band on the Hard Rock Live stage. With Modern Baseball, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Hard Girls. July 31, 7 p.m., $18.

SEE CEREMONY After quitting his job, Michael lands in Peru hoping to find life’s answers at the hands of a shaman and a strong cup of hallucinogenic tea called ayahuasca. Some intense soulsearching follows in this solo show led

Fifteen-year-old Wes Hines was bagging groceries near the front door of the Grocery Outlet when he heard a loud crack. As he ran outside, he noticed people also running from the front doors of the Huntridge Theater across the street, a huge cloud of dust rising quickly above it. “Someone came over and said the roof collapsed,” Hines says. Miraculously, no one was hurt on the afternoon of July 28, 1995—not the Huntridge staff or opening act Unwritten Law, and certainly not the hundreds of fans that would have been in the path of the falling beams had they given way a few hours later. That night’s headliner, the Circle Jerks, rose to the occasion by setting up their gear and playing a set in the parking lot. “I was just getting into punk rock, and I don’t even know if I knew who the Circle Jerks were back then,” Hines says. “But I remember that I was excited about it … and it not lasting very long.” Sure enough, Metro quickly broke up the show. The Huntridge was soon re-roofed. Hines would finally re-enter the venue two years later when the trombonist performed on its stage with his band Attaboy Skip—which might’ve been his Huntridge humblebrag had he not been there that memorable day. “For years [the roof collapse and Circle Jerks show] was my go-to cool story when people spoke about the scene,” he says. “It would trump anyone else’s.” –Mike Prevatt

EMMA SEPÚLVEDA AND IVÓN PADILLA-RODRÍGUEZ

Dreamers share the American experience but lack official stamps and seals. In The Country I Call Home: Stories of Growing Up a Citizen in Every Way but One, Nevada authors-activists highlight first-person stories from 41 undocumented young people of diverse backgrounds. July 30, 6-8 p.m., free, the Writer’s Block.

EAT & DRINK BARTOLOTTA Chef Paul Bartolotta’s Mediterranean seafood restaurant is one of Las Vegas’ singular dining experiences—which will change forever by year’s end. If this is one of the Strip spots on your bucket list, you’ve got a few precious months to check it out and check it off before it transitions into something new. Wynn, 888-352-3463.

JULY 30–AUGUST 5, 2015 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM 39

A&E | pop culture C U LT U R A L AT TAC H M E N T

> Getting to Know Nina What Happened shines a light on Simone’s brilliant career.

Go see the doc

Three documentaries worth adding to your viewing queue By Smith Galtney Summer’s already almost over, and once again, all the uncrossed items on my “Summer Reading” list will soon be labeled “Books I’ll (Hopefully) Get to in the Fall … or Before I Die.” Instead, I’ve been binging on ice cream and on-demand viewing. Not a pretty picture, really, but at least the ice cream’s local and I’ve been watching some rather classy documentaries, like … What Happened, Miss Simone? This Netflix doc tells a common story about an extraordinary woman. A gifted classical pianist turned reluctant pop star, Nina Simone got stuck in an abusive relationship, popped pills to handle a hectic work life and demanded silence from her ever-growing, enthusiastic audience. “I just wanted them to listen to the music, like they did in the classical world,” she says, defending her choice to leave the stage if people didn’t shut up. “If they couldn’t listen, f*ck it.” Like Amy and Montage of Heck, two recently released docs about Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain, respectively, Miss Simone presents a legendary talent who’s both showbiz victim and case study in self-destruction. Even if you know exactly where this oft-told story is headed, the performance footage is spellbinding. Simone summoned entire storms with stillness—eyes closed, fingers lightly grazing her piano, lips barely moving as she sings. Dior and I Watching a fashion documentary whilst sucking down a pint of Red Raspberry Revolution might seem like a toxic combination, but this behind-the-scenes account of how Belgian designer Raf Simons created a haute couture collection in just eight weeks left me feeling blissed-out and fabulous. It’s remarkably low-key for a fashion doc, with minimal drama (Simons having a slight “Don’t you know who I am” moment with a seamstress is as

bitchy as it gets) and only one carnival-esque moment (the appearance of Donatella Versace). Otherwise, it’s all about craft and process, how teams convert ideas into beauty. And the ace soundtrack (Aphex Twin, Caribou, The Orb) makes the final results genuinely transcendent. I was inspired enough to get off the couch and change into a new undershirt. Do I Sound Gay? Have you ever been mortified by the sound of your own voice? Writer-director David Thorpe always hated the nasal, fey tone of his voice, so he decided to see a speech therapist about

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it—and bring some cameras along. He also spoke with Dan Savage, David Sedaris, Tim Gunn and other gay luminaries about their own voice-related neuroses, like the paranoia of sounding too feminine and the misguided relief that comes if someone implies you sound “normal.” But though Thorpe gains self-confidence—by sharpening of vowels (his Os, in particular) and not delivering statements as if they were questions—he can’t quite shake the gay from his vocal chords. Do I Sound Gay? is a charming, funny lesson about how we can’t change who we are, just the way we feel about ourselves.

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A&E | screen FILM

> femme fatale Ferguson uses her gun and her feminine wiles on Cruise.

Trip to nowhere The new Vacation makes for a poor addition to the series

FILM

Mission accomplished

Rogue Nation upholds the quality of the Mission: Impossible series By Josh Bell vindictive CIA director (Alec Baldwin), and Ethan and Over the course of nearly 20 years, the Mission: his allies must stop the shadowy, all-powerful criminal Impossible series has remained one of the most remarkorganization known as the Syndicate from doing … someably consistent franchises in Hollywood, and the new thing. The specifics get a little lost in the twists and turns, fifth installment, subtitled Rogue Nation, continues that especially the constantly shifting allegiances of alluring tradition of quality, even if it reuses a lot of the ideas of British spy Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who both preceding episodes. Perhaps the smartest strategy proentices and challenges Ethan. ducer/star Tom Cruise and his collaborators have taken But confusing, overly elaborate plots with the series is to hand each edition to a are one of the essential elements of the different director with a clear vision, making Mission: Impossible series, and if nothing else this a uniquely auteur-driven franchise, even aaabc McQuarrie keeps the audience on its toes. as it maintains its internal continuity and sty- MISSION: As a director, he sticks to the basics, but that listic consistency. Following in the footsteps IMPOSSIBLE – allows him to deliver impressive, no-frills of Brian De Palma, John Woo, J.J. Abrams ROGUE NATION action sequences, including an elegantly choand Brad Bird, Cruise’s Jack Reacher director Tom Cruise, Simon reographed fight in a Vienna opera house Christopher McQuarrie takes over for Rogue Pegg, Rebecca and a relentless car chase through the streets Nation, and while he isn’t the visual stylist Ferguson. Directed of Casablanca. McQuarrie also balances the that some of his predecessors were, he puts by Christopher supporting characters well, giving returning his stamp on the story in its twisty plotting McQuarrie. Rated PG-13. Opens Friday. players Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner and Ving and robust action. Rhames just the right amount to do. Pegg in McQuarrie, who won an Oscar for writing particular shines in a role greatly expanded from his The Usual Suspects, also wrote the screenplay for Rogue appearances in the previous two movies. Nation, which recalls the series’ first movie in its someIf Rogue Nation loses momentum toward the end times convoluted story, featuring Cruise’s secret agent and ultimately falls short of Bird’s Ghost Protocol and Ethan Hunt once again on the run after being disavowed De Palma’s 1996 original, it’s still an entertaining and by the very government for which he works. This time, exciting ride, a strong example of the best in blockhis entire agency (the goofily named Impossible Missions buster filmmaking. Force) has been disbanded thanks to the efforts of the

42 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

The original Vacation movies were inspired by writer John Hughes’ own family vacation experiences, and they had a genuine warmth underneath their sometimes crass comedy. None of that’s evident in the new franchise sequel/reboot, simply titled Vacation, which recycles the basic plot of 1983’s National Lampoon’s Vacation, replacing previous Griswold family patriarch Clark (Chevy Chase) with his son Rusty (Ed Helms), now grown up with a wife and two kids. Like his father, Rusty is a hapless but well-intentioned dad who just wants to show his family a good time by taking them on a road trip from their home in Chicago to the California theme park Walley World. Screenwriters Jonathan M. aaccc Goldstein and John VACATION Francis Daley, whose Ed Helms, credits include the Christina Horrible Bosses Applegate, movies and The Skyler Gisondo. Incredible Burt WonDirected by derstone, make an Jonathan M. inauspicious directoGoldstein and rial debut, relying John Francis heavily on nasty Daley. Rated R. gross-out humor and Now playing. turning Rusty and his family into unappealing idiots. There’s a half-hearted effort to wring some emotion from mild troubles in Rusty’s marriage to Debbie (Christina Applegate), but it’s superficial at best, and sits uncomfortably next to the mostly mean-spirited humor (especially the characterization of the couple’s sociopathic younger son). Chase and Beverly D’Angelo briefly reprise their roles as Rusty’s parents, and there are numerous callbacks to the previous movies (primarily the first one). That only highlights how empty and cynical this new movie is, a series of belabored, poorly executed jokes that amount to a sad re-creation of a oncebeloved comedy franchise. –Josh Bell

A&E | screen FILM

> world’s oldest teenagers The cast of First Day of Camp, recapturing their youth.

Sister act Documentary Twinsters is a feel-good family story

First Day of Camp, which is an entire TV season of fan service, with jokes devoted to every bit of minutiae from the movie. Wain and Showalter managed to corral the entire original cast, including actors who went on to become big Netflix’s Wet Hot American Summer stars (Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Rudd), and the central joke is that actors who were at least prequel pays tribute to itself By Josh Bell a decade too old to be playing teenagers in 2001 are now even older, and playing those same teenagers in a story set One of the ways Netflix develops original programa few months earlier. ming is by looking at what its viewers are already watching, Both the movie and the series are set at a and ordering more content just like it. Netflix summer camp in 1981, and while the movie subscribers watch lots of Adam Sandler films, so was a pastiche of coming-of-age comedies from the streaming service signed Sandler to a four- aaacc that time period, the series is basically just movie deal. Episodes of Arrested Development WET HOT a pastiche of itself. Jokes are built around get lots of views, so Netflix commissioned a AMERICAN fourth season. And 2001 cult comedy Wet Hot SUMMER: FIRST elaborate backstories for throwaway gags from the movie, which gives First Day of Camp an American Summer is popular among viewers, DAY OF CAMP appealingly absurdist sense of humor, but it’s so Netflix has hired original WHAS creators Season 1 available also often plodding and calculated, working Michael Showalter and David Wain (they co- on Netflix July 31. way too hard to justify its convoluted joke wrote and co-produced the movie; Wain directsetups. With a cast expanded to include tons of popular ed it) to put together an eight-episode prequel series, Wet comedic performers, First Day of Camp is frequently Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. funny, even when its jokes don’t amount to much. Fans The thing about WHAS is that the people who love it of the movie will probably watch it over and over again, really, really, really love it, and it’s possible all those Netflix making Netflix executives very happy. Everyone else will views just came from a small number of people watching remain baffled. the movie over and over again. Those people should love TV

Cabin fever

Watch out, Netflix What to look for from Hulu’s expanded original programming Difficult People Comedians Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner star as two misanthropic New Yorkers who dislike everyone but each other. Their sarcas-

tic tirades can get tiresome, although there’s enough talent in the supporting cast to suggest a more fleshed-out sitcom if the show can broaden its perspective a bit. Premieres August 5. The Hotwives of Las Vegas The second edition of this Real Housewives parody is set in Las Vegas and features a cast full of comedy all-stars, including Casey Wilson, Erinn Hayes, Angela Kinsey and Paul Scheer. Premieres August 18.

The cute, feel-good documentary Twinsters offers a nice contrast to movies like Catfish and the recent A Gay Girl in Damascus, in which con artists use the Internet to forge fraudulent connections with vulnerable people. In Twinsters, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Skype are all heroes, allowing Korean-born identical twins Samantha Futerman, an actress living in LA, and Anais Bordier, a French fashion student living in London, to discover each other after having been unknowingly separated at birth and adopted by different families. Their aaabc enthusiasm for the TWINSTERS unexpected reDirected by union is infectious, Samantha and Futerman and Futerman and her co-director Ryan Miyamoto. Ryan Miyamoto Not rated. Opens bring a slick, Friday. relatable style (including simple but effective graphics and animation) to their film about the sisterly bond. Thanks to her showbiz connections, Futerman started documenting the sisters’ correspondence from the very beginning, and the movie has the thrill of discovery as Futerman and Bordier take each new step in their relationship. The movie’s final third touches on some serious issues about Western adoptions of Korean babies, but it never loses sight of the personal story of these bubbly, optimistic women, a genuinely life-affirming journey that illustrates the essential power of family, in whatever form it takes. –Josh Bell

The Way Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul and True Detective’s Michelle Monaghan are set to star in this drama from the producers of Parenthood, about a married couple who join a cultlike organization. Winter 2015. 11/22/63 Produced by J.J. Abrams and based on a Stephen King novel, this miniseries follows a high school teacher (James Franco) who travels back in time to attempt to stop the JFK assassination. 2016. –Josh Bell July 30–August 5, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 43

A&E | noise C O N C E RT

A farewell to kings?

> Time Stand Still Did Vegas get its final view of (clockwise) Lee, Peart and Lifeson?

Rush’s (possible) final Vegas show can’t quite match its greatest I’ve seen Rush seven times inside MGM’s Grand Garden Arena, and I can’t remember the room bristling with the same intense energy I felt around me as the curtain raised on the Canadian rock trio Saturday night. It’s a shame, then, that the band’s R40 Tour stop opened with a handful of tunes most fans clearly didn’t know. On paper, Rush’s 40th anniversary setlist seems genius: two sets and an encore, arranged reverse-chronologically to trace the band’s catalog back to the start. In practice, the strategy didn’t pan out, squandering massive momentum by beginning with three cuts off 2012’s Clockwork Angels, instead of classic songs that would have burned the building to the ground. Though better late-era picks followed—2007’s “Far Cry,” 2002’s “One Little Victory” and a fun take on 1991’s “Roll the Bones,” featuring Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Peter Dinklage and others lip-syncing its rap breakdown—by the time longtime comrades Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart got to the super-familiar “Distant Early Warning” and “Subdivisions,” set one was over, and the race to the bar and bath- aaabc rooms had begun. RUSH What followed the short intermission, July 25, on the other hand, fully qualified as epic. MGM After dispensing with obvious hits “Tom Grand. Sawyer” and “The Spirit of Radio,” Rush began stripping back its sound (and its look, its novelty stage props replaced by a simple wall of Marshall stacks) as it veered into the ’70s: the ominous “Jacob’s Ladder,” a pairing of both “Cygnus X-1” books, the psychedelic “Xanadu” and a solid chunk of the operatic “2112.” One could quibble about the simplistic “What You’re Doing” and a truncated “Lakeside Park” in the encore over, say, “Bastille Day” and “By-Tor & the Snow Dog,” but with a legacy this long, every fan’s sure to miss out on some favorites. More surprising: For the first time in my Rush-going life, I detected a downtick in stamina from the three musicians, now all in their early 60s. Though Peart breezed through two drum solos, at other points his efforts seemed maxed out, and overall the group felt a hair less tight. It could be a sign that Rush picked the right time to start stepping away. Or maybe the band will be back next year, for yet another three-hour marathon. I won’t bet against it. –Spencer Patterson

C O N C E RT

In prizefighting terms, it was over as soon as the opening bell sounded. Same Sex Mary, the garage-y rock band from Boulder City, stood toe-to-toe with the audience at Fremont Country Club and threw musical haymaker after musical Same Sex Mary bolsters its live show for haymaker. It turns out The Second Coming is not just the an album-release bash name of the group’s new album, but also an apt description for a bravura and attitude unseen before this night. ¶ This was a concept show, a mix of sound and theater, with actors Bryan Todd and Jamie Carvelli taking the stage and performing pieces of a Footloose-style story after each song. (In the end, the domineering man loses, and rock ’n’ roll wins.) It was an enjoyable, out-the-box idea, though the band was in such a zone, the theatrics often thwarted momentum. Half as much would have gone twice as far. ¶ SSM now has a grittier, more mature (and accessible) sound, and this is the right lineup to realize that potential. New drummer Aaron Guidry, rocking a Miami Vice-style suit, can bang with the best of them. New guitarist Brian Cantrell, as if wardrobe-fitted by The Big Lebowski’s landlord for one of his cycles, elevates the group’s entire catalog. Bassist Jason Aragon is as sturdy as ever. And the faces of the group, James Howard Adams and Tsvetelina Stefanova have never been more in sync. Stefanova has grown as a vocalist, evidenced on “I Don’t Wanna Wait,” a mood-setting song with subtle instrumental adds throughout. Main-set closer “Do No Good” featured a choir of local singing all-stars backing Adams at his best. It was a microcosm of the entire night, a band at its best bolstered by a supportive scene. –Jason Harris

Feast for the sense

44 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

rush by erik kabik, same sex mary by spencer burton

C O N C E RT

Living large Lyle Lovett and his band spread out inside the Smith Center “It feels like a family reunion combined with summer camp,” Lyle Lovett said of his latest tour with the group he’s dubbed his Large Band, and Lovett’s two-and-ahalf-hour show at the Smith Center on Saturday showed how comfortable he is with his musical family members, some of whom he’s played with for more than 30 years. The show opened with the 13-member Large Band running through instrumental “The Blues Walk,” before backup singer Francine Reed strutted up the aisle of Reynolds Hall to sing blues standard “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues.” Lovett finally took the stage a good 10 minutes into the show, and he remained a capable ringleader aaabc throughout the evening. LYLE He was also the strongest perLOVETT former in a band bursting with talent, July 25, and while his generosity in showcasSmith Center. ing his band members (including solo numbers for fiddle player Luke Bulla and guitarist Keith Sewell) was admirable, it took focus away from what the audience came to see. When Lovett focused on his own songs and his own performance, the show was excellent, especially when the Large Band became a little smaller for a mid-set stretch of pure country, including Lovett favorites “North Dakota,” “If I Had a Boat” and “L.A. County.” The full band had a jazzier vibe, complete with several extended instrumental jams, and Lovett kept the evening moving with jokes and stories ranging from a bus breakdown earlier that day to memories of car trips with his parents. If this was a family reunion, Lovett was happy to include the entire audience as part of the family. –Josh Bell

C O N C E RT

Backstage Bar & Billiards isn’t packed like the old Bunkhouse was in 2011, but there’s a decent crowd for Sunday night’s show. Many of these folks are here for the opener, Florida metal band Torche. I’m first drawn to the guitarist’s Mick Jagger shirt (worn on his 72nd birthday), then I’m pulled in by the band’s sludgy waves, hooky guitar riffs and washed-out noise-rock. Melt-Banana singer Yasuko Onuki is at a table in the back (July 26, Backstage Bar & Billiards) selling merch before her band’s set, while guitarist Ichirou Agata wanders through the crowd wearing a surgical mask over his nose and mouth. Allergic to smoke, or Vegas? Before Melt-Banana takes the stage, I step outside Triple B, where a bombastic street preacher is shouting at passersby to stop drinking alcohol and having sex. He should’ve seen Torche. During soundcheck, Agata stands at the control board and triggers drum beats remotely from a handheld drum pad that resembles a Game Boy. Melt-Banana doesn’t have an official drummer, and the band’s also down a bassist tonight. The pit is especially weird—I swear I saw a guy get dry-humped. Onstage, Agata’s fretwork carves a path for Onuki’s wily, high-pitched vocals like a sharp precision tool, especially on the recognizable “Candy Gun,” from 2013’s Fetch. And we got two covers: “Monkey Man” by The Specials and Devo’s “Uncontrollable Urge.” Was it as memorable as the set four years ago? Probably not; it’s tough to match that mess as a two-piece. But my ears were ringing just the same long after I’d left. –Leslie Ventura

Five thoughts: Melt-Banana and Torche

Lyle lovett and Melt-banana by Bill Hughes

July 30–August 5, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 45

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A most lamentable mess Titus Andronicus aims high with its chaotic new double-album Cutting could have also eliminated Hardscrabble New Jersey such cringeworthy moments as indie-punk band Titus Andronicus, the lo-fi “Stable Boy,” which aims has never lacked for ambition, for Neutral Milk Hotel’s rickety but the group has outdone itself transcendence but ends up halfin that department on new doubaked instead. Or the sloppy, ble album/rock opera The Most Stones-y throwdown “Lonely Boy,” Lamentable Tragedy. The storyline which contains from songwriter the immorPatrick Stickles tal lyrics: “And focuses on a everywhere despondent proyou turn there tagonist dealare hundreds ing with manic of humans/All depression, opening the door and details the saying ‘Hello, fever dreams, Newman!’” Such emotional desodreck obscures lation and lifeclever lines like: sustaining char“I’ve been livacters he meets ing without a as he discovers God/And these the unbearable Christians don’t burden of being Titus Andronicus know what alive. This chaos The Most Lamentable Tragedy they’re missing.” is reflected in aabcc On the roarwildly diverse ing “Dimed music that rangOut,” Stickles slurs, “I bow es from brief hardcore blasts and down not to masters, gods, nor ragged bar-band showboating to managers/’Cause all the greatest intentionally silent interludes and artists, they were amateurs.” It’s delicate, string-laden indie rock. an admirable sentiment, but it Listening to all of The Most overlooks the virtues of having Lamentable Tragedy, it’s obvious an outside perspective to make how beneficial an editor could art better—and the importance have been. Its genre ping-ponging of cohesion when releasing a sounds scattered and unfocused, complicated, expansive album. and the 29-song tracklist could eas–Annie Zaleski ily be pared in half for more impact.

HIP-HOP

Future DS2 aaccc As far as detrimental-to-society hip-hop goes, Future’s music is perfect for Saturday night in the club at 2 a.m. with three or more drinks inside your body. Sitting in traffic on a Wednesday? Not so much. He’s essentially the rapping embodiment of a codeine and soda buzz, hence the title to his new mixtape-masquerading-asan-album, DS2 (Dirty Sprite 2). And with that come the insane ramblings of a wealthy, perpetually high human, like on “Slave Master,” where he irresponsibly draws the parallel, “Jump out a new whip, n***a, like I’m a slave master,” trivializing this country’s ugly history of slavery. There’s also “Rich Sex,” which introduces the concept of doing the nasty while wearing nothing but expensive, diamond encrusted watches and necklaces. Hey, if that’s what you’re into. It’s clear the tracks on DS2 are studio-floor throwaways, with much stronger material found on Future’s previous album, Honest. The moneycounting club anthem, “F*ck Up Some Commas,” on DS2’s deluxe version stands out, but Future over-uses Kill Bill’s “Ironside” siren on several tracks, cutting into its novelty on “Commas.” Even the Drake-featured “Where Ya At” is coma-inducing, but perhaps that’s par for the course on an album meant to be enjoyed with a glass of Robitussin. –Mike Pizzo

A&E | The strip > AS SEEN ON TV Franco won his shot at the Strip on America’s Got Talent.

t h e k at s r e p o rt

America’s got Franco

photograph by Chris Pizzello/AP

The Linq prepares to roll out the Strip’s newest magic act By John Katsilometes is the only magician to win that conMat Franco is seated at a card test, and as part of his victory haul he table, aptly enough, set up in front was awarded $1 million and his own of the stage inside Crown Theater at headlining run on the Strip. the Rio. The young magician casuHis show at the Linq, titled Magic ally shuffles a freshly opened deck Reinvented Nightly, is that show. of playing cards while meeting with Franco opens for previews on August members of his production team. The 5, with his official premiere set for group is prepping for a magic show on August 21. He follows two previthe Strip starring Franco, the reigning ous AGT winners to the Strip: Terry champion of America’s Got Talent. Fator at the Mirage, where he has Littering the floor are hundreds headlined for six years in a theater of cards—seven hundred, about—that named for him, and Michael Grimm, have been fired from three cannons who records and performs at variat the center of the stage. It’s all part ous clubs around town and is set for of a show-stopping trick that does not a tour of Switzerland from October actually stop the show, which is set to through November. open for previews soon at the newly A busy performer on college renovated Linq Theater. campuses for the past several years, The Rio’s Crown Theater, where Franco gained widespread fame durnot long ago guns of a different variing his AGT run, which covered June ety were used as props in a show through September of last year. That starring a family of duck hunters, is name recognition is a must to move today but a rehearsal space. It is also, tickets, as Franco is not terrifat this moment, a giant conically unique in his new posiference room. tion as a headlining magician Franco shuffles his cards, over and over, then slaps MAT FRANCO: in Las Vegas. The city has earned a deserved reputation the deck on the table. He Magic as a magic mecca, with Franco scrawls a note onto a pad, Reinvented joining David Copperfield at then turns to one of his con- Nightly the MGM Grand, Criss Angel fidants, Johnny Thompson, Begins August at Luxor and Jan Rouven at the revered magician known 5; Thursdaythe Tropicana—and that’s just as The Great Tomsoni and a Tuesday, 7 p.m., $40-$100. Linq on one corner of the Strip. consultant on the show. Of course, Penn & Teller “What do you think, Theater, 702continue their remarkable some sleight-of-hand here?” 794-3261. run in their own theater Franco asks Thompson. at the Rio; Mac King still The Great One thinks for a lords over Harrah’s with his impenmoment and offers: “I think some etrable afternoon show. Elsewhere, sleight-of-hand would work, just a magic unfolds on all levels: Murray little something to add to what you’re Sawchuck plays Planet Hollywood’s talking about.” Sin City Theatre, Mike Hammer is Franco flips the pen away and at Four Queens, Adam London at the reaches for the deck, not diverting his D Las Vegas, Nathan Burton at Saxe eyes as he scans his notes. He holds Theater inside Planet Hollywood’s the cards in his right hand, showing Miracle Mile Shops and Tommy Wind an ace of spades. He runs his right in his own financed room at the old hand across the facing card, then back Boulevard Theater on the Strip. again in a smooth, seemingly unconBut Franco owns the distinctive scious motion. The card has changed. momentum of national TV exposure, It’s no longer the ace of spades. It’s the zeal of youth, good looks, a quick the ace of diamonds. wit and an inherently confident stage “Like that, you think?” he says. The manner. As Franco recalls, he has Great Tomsoni nods and answers, never wanted to be anything but a “Yeah, simple.” magician since he was 4 years old, Wait. Wha-a? when he saw a TV show featuring The great ones make it look easy, “a bunch of magicians, and I don’t and the 27-year-old Franco is one of remember who they were,” and was those, verifiably. He took the top prize summarily transfixed. He made his in the ninth season of AGT, beatdebut during a show-and-tell session ing thousands of starry-eyed hopefuls in kindergarten, performing a routine vying for a spot on the NBC show. He

with a shrinking magic wand, a ball and a vase and “some thimble magic,” as he remembers. “To perform is ingrained for me,” he says. “I’ve never had that huge fear of public speaking or any of that, and I think that’s because I started when I was too young to know there was supposed to be pressure.” As he developed his stage chops, Franco visited Vegas and became a devotee of many of the magicians who work around town. He studied with sleight-of-hand master Jeff McBride, missing two weeks of school in the seventh grade in his home town of Johnston, Rhode Island, to learn from that master. At age 15, Franco appeared onstage at the Riviera, an invited rising star in a show titled Stars of Tomorrow and hosted by the Society of American Magicians. Franco says his success is “incidental,” as he has honed his craft and performed as frequently as possible, advancing as demand for his appearances has increased. “I never dreamed anything this big, but AGT just opened my eyes to a lot of crazy

opportunities.” Franco’s next stage, aside from the new haunt at the Linq, is a two-hour NBC special airing September 17, a behind-the-scenes account of his ride to Las Vegas mixed with some magic performances. Penn & Teller, Neil Patrick Harris, Heidi Klum, Jason Mraz and Rob Gronkowski are the guests. It will be the first network TV show to star a magician since David Blaine hosted Real or Magic on ABC in November 2013. The show at the Linq, the network special, and any subsequent fame of large scope are all owed to Franco’s victory on AGT. “Before I won, I thought maybe I’d get some recognition and some great video out of the process,” he says. “I never thought that I’d keep getting voted through. It’s kind of like being in a dream, but you know it is happening … and when you win, you just can’t go back to what you were doing. You’re in a completely different mind-set.” The Strip is a competitive place, for sure, but Franco is in an advantageous spot. He’s holding all the cards. July 30–August 5, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 47

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> PARTY CREW The Explorers Club tagline: “Adventuring since 1582. Drinking since breakfast.”

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Feral Productions goes adventuring with The Explorers Club By Jacob Coakley the lost tribe with her to prove Somewhere deep in her bona fides.) It’s her bad luck Summerlin lies The Explorers she’s a woman and so simply can’t Club, Victorian England’s greatest be admitted—though that doesn’t assemblage of adventurers, scholstop Lucius (Lysander Abadia) a ars and horticulturists, dedicated botanist smitten with her, from to expanding the range of human trying. To cap it all off there’s misknowledge and proper British taken identities, poisonous snakes society—not to mention making and of course, romance. It was you laugh till it hurts. Okay, it’s written by Nell Benjamin, who at the Faith Lutheran school in also wrote the book for Legally Summerlin, but I did trek there to Blonde: The Musical, and though find out more about the comedy. she takes the satirical edge about “It’s a little Keystone Cops, a the dangers of underestilittle Monty Python,” mating women about 100 says Erik Ball, who plays years into the past with Harry Percy and heads THE this one, her wit remains up the show-producing EXPLORERS sharp as ever. Feral Tale Theatricals. CLUB July “This comedy is best Percy is famous in his 30-August 1, 7 described as believable own mind for discovering p.m.; August 1, 2 characters in unbelievthe East Pole, and evokes p.m.; $12. Faith able circumstances,” says the spirit of the adven- Lutheran Chapel Sean Critchfield, who turer scientists of the & Performing 1800s, who had as much Arts Center, 2015 directed the play. “Lucius and Phyllida are very fun riding tortoises and S. Hualapai Way, believable characters but eating bugs as develop- showtix4u.com. they’re surrounded by ing a theory of evolution. this trainwreck of people. And it’s “It’s a very fun, clever evening of just hysterical.” theater,” Ball says. “You’re going If you want to discover this to get your knees dirty and get dirt show, you’’ll have to hurry. It only under your fingernails, but you’re plays from Thursday, July 30, going to love it.” through Saturday, August 1. “This Phyllida Spotte-Hume (played is going to be one of those little by Jacqueline Walker) loves it so gems of a show that people are much, she’s discovered (and subgoing to want to talk about,” Ball dued) a lost tribe with nothing predicts. “Here and gone,” echoes more than a spoon, then made a Hackler, before they both don dirigible and piloted it halfway their pith helmets and head back around the world to join the club. into rehearsal. (She even brought a member of

photograph by bryan hainer

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Uproarious undertaking

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Catch and release

COMIC

Comic chemistry A Marvel-ous married couple teams for an intriguing new project

Vu Tran’s Vegas-set Dragonfish mostly pleases, sometimes perplexes By Chuck Twardy Early in Vu Tran’s Dragonfish, we learn about the title creature. Ushered against his will into a subterranean room that has been expensively excavated through layers of caliche and engulfed by an aquarium, narrator Robert Ruen learns that the Asian arowana is a rare, endangered fish that his captor’s father sells for $10,000. “They’re supposed to bring good luck, keep evil away, bring the family together. Asians always love believing in that,” says Jonathan Van Nguyen, a dapper fellow in his late 20s whose father, Sonny, owns the restaurant above them in Las Vegas’ Chinatown. The younger Van Nguyen delivers a painful warning to Ruen to stay out of his father’s affairs, which he manages more than his father knows, then sets him free. If you expect a Bond-like tale of international intrigue to spin from this peculiar encounter—the room is reached through a painting that doubles as a door, naturally—you’ll be disappointed. The action remains resolutely in Las Vegas, which of course offers plenty of ersatz global settings, but none of them figure in Tran’s story. Neither does the dragonfish, beyond this early encounter, although fishing in general is key. A later scene takes place at Sunset Park Pond, where Jonathan fishes while outlining for Ruen, captive a second time, what Ruen must do for him: help find Sonny’s missing wife, also Ruen’s ex. Ruen calls her Suzy, his first girlfriend’s name, although her real name is Hong. The missing spouse is the novel’s other narrator, by way of a journal whose italicized contents fill two long sections of the book. In it, Hong relates her story for her daughter, Mai, whom she abandoned when she was 5 years old. Mother and daughter fled Vietnam after its fall to the Communists and the loss of Mai’s father, a South Vietnamese officer who had been “re-educated” to death. On the same crowded refugee boat are Sonny, whose Vietnamese name is Son, and Jonathan. Son’s wife leaps overboard, thinking that Jonathan has drowned. Later, Hong and Son meet and become lovers at an island refu-

spoiler to discuss. gee camp, where Son and Jonathan For this is, after all, a mystery, fish for food. written more with the air of a midSon is a Vietnamese name (the century gumshoe tale than that of a name of Tran’s father, according spy thriller. It’s set circa 2000, with to the author’s acknowledgements) the end of the Vietnam War a quarter but it’s hard to ignore its English century earlier still fresh in memory meaning. Son, Jonathan and Ruen and Las Vegas transitionwrestle with paternal influing from family-friendly ences. Son’s father’s timidto what-happens-here— ity propels Son into cru- aaacc elty, which Jonathan both Dragonfish: although, again, the novel makes little of either topic. embraces and eschews, A Novel In fact, instead of pursuand Ruen’s father was a By Vu Tran, $27. ing the thread of irony that vicious wife-beater. From Jonathan notes in the dragonfish his parents’ tortured marriage the scene, or the dichotomy of reality flawed narrator concludes that and fantasy that Ruen ponders, the being in love is “often no different novel churns familiar Vegas tropes than being afraid.” about hope and despair. There are Christian implications, “What might have been is a too. Events unfold at Christmastime. vast and depthless ocean that surHong is devoutly Catholic and so rounds the tiny island of what actudesperately in need of some sort of ally happened, what was actually redemption that Ruen once finds her possible,” Hong writes in her jourlate at night, gobbling communion nal. Although much of it is carehosts in her church. Oddly, she finds fully observed and cleverly writit in Son, to whom she returns after ten, Dragonfish swims around that her marriage with Ruen falls apart. island of regret. And he’s a fisherman, although that’s about the end of the Christ Find more by Chuck Twardy at parallels, except for an episode near chucktwardy.com the end of the novel that would be a

Married makers-of-comics Kathryn Immonen and Stuart Immonen are best-known for their superhero work at Marvel, where she’s a freelance writer and he’s a freelance artist. The pair apparently save their best efforts for one another, though, and the most interesting work either one has produced has come in the form of their all-too-occasional collaborations. Their latest is Russian Olive to Red King, which follows 2010’s Moving Pictures. It’s the story of a couple—researcher Olive and reclusive art critic Red—at the seven-day disintegration of their relationship, forced upon them by tragic circumstances. It’s told more through image, mood and instance than events, however; there’s really only one major event, and the rest of the comics portion of the book is spent depicting the ways they deal with it. There’s a non-comics portion, or at least a portion that leads to consideration of what counts as comics and what doesn’t. It’s a short prose story laid out like a 50-page poem accompanied by photos of broken windows in comics panels. It’s a challenging book, enough so that it’s probably their least commercial work, but that doesn’t make their individual contributions, or the chemistry between them, any less marvelous. –J. Caleb Mozzocco

aaacc Russian Olive To Red King By Kathryn Immonen and Stuart Immonen, AdHouse Books, $25. July 30–August 5, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 49

FOOD & DRINK

> SUPER STEW Isabela’s zarzuela is a flavorful feast.

SEA TREASURES

Paella Velazquez ($28), tender saffron rice with lots of briny broth loaded with clams, mussels, calamari, white fish and salmon, chorizo, peas, and The unlikely Isabela’s brings something unique to the neighborhood topped off with two whole jumbo shrimp, heads BY BROCK RADKE and shells included. This is not traditional paella, but who cares? It’s a treasure trove of seafood, as is the Spanish stew zarzuela ($28), a similar cast of Isabela’s menu might initially remind you of When Beni Velazquez was chef at the nowcreatures augmented with brandy-tomato broth and Bar+Bistro’s offerings, especially the tapas secclosed Bar+Bistro at Downtown’s Arts Factory, his roasted almond sauce. These are dishes hard to find tion ($11-$15), which includes fish tacos, lamb food—an eclectic mishmash of Latin and European out in the ’burbs, done very well. chops, calamari, sliders and garlic chicken bites flavors—was always welcome and interesting, even The menu is rounded out by oven-roasted carniin sherry-butter sauce. But it’s clear Velazquez is if it didn’t always resonate with an equally eclectic tas ($23) served with mashed yucca and focused on bigger plates with big flavors crowd. Now, Velazquez is operating in a much difplantains, a roasted chicken, a dry-aged at Isabela’s, very much a seafood house ferent location with a challenging, less-varied audiribeye, lobster, crab and some surf and stamped with the chef’s unique style. ISABELA’S 2620 ence, yet he’s sticking to his creative culinary guns. Crab cakes ($14), seared sea scallops with Regatta Drive, 702- turf options pairing a flatiron steak with The results are worth checking out. white bean and saffron ragu ($13) and 925-8333. Tuesday- your seafood choice ($32). A side of fiveIsabela’s Seafood, Tapas & Grill has been open cheese macaroni with red crab ($7) is a head-on Argentinean shrimp ($14) in a Thursday, 4:30for a few months in Desert Shores’ Lakeside good idea with any entrée. There’s sanSpanish sauce loaded with garlic, saffron, 9:30 p.m.; Friday & Center—the same sleepy hideaway where neighgria, beer and wine, of course, but also an sherry and piquillo peppers are standout Saturday, 4:30-10 borhood institution Marche Bacchus lives—where p.m.; Sunday, 10 extensive cocktail list offering everything appetizers that set the tone. Garfield’s used to reside. The former resident’s from margaritas and caipirinhas to mojiThe red crab sweet corn bisque ($8- a.m.-3 p.m. concept never quite caught on, struggling to captos and punches. $10) explodes with sweet richness, tomato, ture the neighborhood’s attention despite a beautiIsabela’s is quite ambitious, and making it all ginger, lemongrass, sofrito and big chunks of crab ful lakeside location and a cheery nautical theme. work in this demanding neighborhood will be a meat working together in dynamic harmony. The Isabela’s atmosphere is more night-oriented, with challenge. From what I’ve sampled, it’s a great new chopped chicken salad ($10) is a meal by itself, splashes of red and worn, dark woods in the main option for those nearby, and good enough to travel napa cabbage luxuriously doused with a chimidining room. (Velazquez also operates the adjacent northwest to try it. churri honey dressing. The must-eat dish so far is Republic Cafe, a breakfast, lunch and coffee spot.)

50 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM JULY 30-AUGUST 5, 2015

PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE MARCUS

A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT FERNET The more bitter, the better for those devoted to this unique spirit BY E.C. GLADSTONE Fernet is one of those polarizing spirits that quickly divides any bar into rabid packs of lovers and haters. In the lover camp, you’ll find a healthy representation of those behind the bar— its nickname is “the bartenders’ handshake”—who appreciate the complex and unforgiving flavor of the amaro, which translates literally to “bitter.” The hater side generally says they’ll save the cough medicine for when they’re sick. But fernet, first created as a digestive and medicinal tonic 170 years ago, has an equally complex and influential history, having inspired a whole class of liqueurs. It survived Prohibition when it was sold in the U.S. as a medicine, and oddly became the most popular spirit in wine-loving Argentina, where it’s ubiquitously mixed with Coca-Cola. All of this came to mind when Count Edoardo Branca, current ambassador for the secret recipe his great-great-grandfather produced, visited Las Vegas for the first time to offer a few of our own bartenders a handshake and share more about fernet, along with the equally revered Carpano Antica vermouth and other products his family now produces. To best mark his visit, we decided to document a conversation between Branca and Gaston Martinez, one our city’s most vocal Fernet-Branca supporters, not only as a leading bartender but also as a native of Argentina. Martinez’s Italian Cup cocktail at Nora’s Cuisine (Fernet, BrancaMenta, elderflower syrup, lime and cucumber juices, ginger beer and a bit of mint) represents the best of a new wave of fernet cocktails. Highlights from the chat: Gaston Martinez: I grew up with fernet in Argentina.

How do you see the market there? Edoardo Branca: It’s unbelievable. They drink more fernet in Argentina than all the [other] countries in the world. In Argentina, you drink mate a lot, which is a very bitter tea, so you grow up and you search for that bitterness, but you add something sweet. So the drink that matches that is fernet and Coke. GM: We’re just used to that bitter, medicinal, herbaceous flavor. We even have Terma, which has the same flavor without alcohol. Where does the word “fernet” come from? EB: Actually, there are two stories. If you speak with the white collars in the company, they will tell you Mr. Fernet was a Swedish chemist and Mr. Branca was an herbalist, and they created the formula. If you speak with the workers who make it, they will tell you, no, we invented the name. In fernet, you have hot and cold infusions, and maceration with the saffron, [using a] big paddle in a huge kettle—it’s not done any more like this, but when they took out the big iron paddle it was really shiny. And “fernet” is a word in Milanese [dialect] that means “clean iron.” GM: So how do you feel about bartenders mixing fernet? EB: When I started, I was used to having fernet as a digestive. To see guys making amazing cocktails with fernet, I couldn’t believe it. We just don’t have this cocktail culture in Italy that you have here. We’re more than happy to have these guys mixing and playing with our products and trying new things, because you learn things about your product. GM: So no one’s turning in their grave? EB: Actually, yes. My grandfather was a fernet puritan. For me, sometimes in summertime I like to put an ice cube in it or put it in the fridge. If my grandfather saw that, he would start screaming that you’d ruined the product. Although he was the guy that came out with BrancaMenta. GM: Legend has it that only two people in the world know the entire secret Fernet-Branca recipe. How much of it do you know, Edoardo? EB: I would say maybe 80 percent. My father hasn’t handed the 100 percent recipe to me. It’s a bit of a fight!

A DIFFERENT TASTE OF THE ISLANDS We all know the usual spots: Aloha Kitchen, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Island Flavor. But for something off the beaten path, Hawaiian expats told me to head to the Summerlin area for Kauai Cafe. ¶ Da Surf Rider ($15.95) makes you feel like you should be eating it on a warm, sandy beach. Coconut shrimp are the stars, with fresh, shredded coconut in the batter adding a deft sweetness. Macadamia nut-crusted scallops are the dish’s equivalent to popcorn chicken, and teriyaki beef rounds out the plate, along with the obligatory macaroni salad. This mac packs more punch than most. ¶ I don’t think they’re cooking Kalua pork ($5.95-$8.95) in an underground oven, but whatever they’re using, it works—the smokiness shines through. There are a number of bento bowls featuring assorted meats over rice. The Kalbi short rib, teriyaki chicken and spam combo ($9.25) is filling, with the KAUAI CAFE chicken a cut above the rest. Burgers are hand-formed 10140 W. Tropicana and hefty. The waffle fries are homemade, somewhere Ave. #122, 702-754between the classic version and a potato chip, a nice 3559. Mondaytouch. As usual, it always pays to ask the natives. Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; –Jason Harris Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

KAUAI CAFE BY L.E. BASKOW

HEMINGWAY DAIQUIRI

INGREDIENTS 2 oz. Atlantico Platino Rum 1 oz. lime juice /2 oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

/2 oz. grapefruit juice

Grapefruit slice, lime slice, maraschino cherry (garnish)

METHOD Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Cover and shake thoroughly. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with grapefruit slice, lime and maraschino cherry on a skewer.

This cocktail is not a classic daiquiri; it’s more like a mythical cult classic. Rumored to be Ernest Hemingway’s drink of choice during his Key West years, it’s expectedly heavy on the NAME booze, lightccccc on the sugar and strong enough to impress. HERE Suggested

dishes go in this area here, suggested dishes go in this area here, Suggested dishes

JULY 30–AUGUST 5, 2015 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM 51

A&E | Short Takes Special screenings

> groundbreaking Paul Rudd as size-changing superhero Ant-Man.

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: VS

48 Hour Film Project 8/4, awards ceremony and screening of this year’s award winners, 6:30 pm, $10. Theaters: ST. Info: 48hourfilm.com. All Work All Play 7/30, encore broadcast of eSports panel discussion and competition, 7:30 pm, $15. Theaters: COL, VS. Info: fathomevents.com. Big, Loud & Live 8/6, live broadcast of Drum Corps International championships, 3:30 pm, $16-$18. Theaters: COL, ORL, SF, SP, ST, VS. Info: fathomevents.com.

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: TC, VS

Boozy Movie Wednesdays Wed, 8 pm, free with cocktail purchase, 21+. 8/5, Old School. Inspire Theater, 107 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-489-9110. Dive-In Movies Mon, 7 pm, $5, hotel guests free. 8/3, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises. Cosmopolitan Boulevard Pool, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-6987000. Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection “F” 8/4, 8/5, feature film based on the anime series, 7 pm, $10.50-$12.50. Theaters: COL, ORL, SF, ST, VS. Info: fathomevents.com. Flashback Features Sun, 8 pm, free. 8/2, The Goonies. The Pond at Green Valley Ranch, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson, 702617-7777. 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. 7/30, The Princess and the Frog. Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. S., mytownsquarelasvegas. com. Outdoor Picture Show Sat, dusk, free. 8/1, Raiders of the Lost Ark. The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2225 Village Walk Drive, Henderson, 702-564-8595. The Rocky Horror Picture Show 8/1, augmented by live cast and audience participation, 10 pm, $9. Theaters: TC. Info: rhpsvegas.com. Sci Fi Center Mon, Cinemondays, 8 pm, free. 7/31, Geekbox Friday featuring episodes of Doctor Who, 8 pm, $5. 8/1, Christopher Lee marathon featuring Dracula (1958), The Curse of Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace, 8 pm, $5. 8/4, Highlander, 8 pm, $1. 5077 Arville St., 855-501-4335, thescificenter. com. Tuesday Afternoon at the Bijou Tue, 1 pm, free. 8/4, On the Town (1949). Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-507-3400.

New this week Drishyam (Not reviewed) Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Tabu. Directed by Nishikant Kamat. 163 minutes. Not rated. In Hindi with English subtitles. A humble family man finds himself the prime suspect in the disappearance of a teenage boy. Theaters: VS Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation aaabc Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Rebecca

CGI-filled blockbuster about people running and yelling. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, COL, DI, ORL, PAL, RR, SC, SF, SP, TS, TX

Ferguson. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie. 131 minutes. Rated PG-13. See review Page 42. Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, DI, FH, GVL, GVR, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SHO, SP, SS, TS, TX Twinsters aaabc Directed by Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto. 90 minutes. Not rated. See review Page 43. Theaters: VS Vacation aaccc Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo. Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein. 99 minutes. Rated R. See review Page 42. Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, COL, DI, DTS, FH, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, SF, SHO, SP, SS, ST, TS, TX, VS

Now playing Amy aaabc Directed by Asif Kapadia. 128 minutes. Rated R. The triumphant but sadly abbreviated life of singer Amy Winehouse (“Rehab”) is told via copious archival footage in this expertly assembled documentary, directed by Asif Kapadia (Senna). The footage of her performances and songwriting craft, as showcased here, makes a strong case for her legacy. –MD Theaters: COL, VS Ant-Man aaabc Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly. Directed by Peyton Reed. 117 minutes. Rated PG-13. Semi-reformed thief Scott Lang (Rudd) is recruited by scientist Hank Pym (Douglas) to steal a version of a size-changing suit from a greedy technocrat. Ant-Man plays things relatively safe, but it’s still a different sort of Marvel superhero movie, a looser, funnier and lower-stakes story than Marvel’s typical world-ending spectacles. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, COL, DI, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SHO, SP, TS, TX 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

52 LasVegasWeekly.com July 30-august 5, 2015

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: ST, VS Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Not reviewed) Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Directed by Kabir Khan. 154 minutes. Not rated. In Hindi with English subtitles. An Indian man helps a mute girl from Pakistan return home to her family. Theaters: VS The Cokeville Miracle (Not reviewed) Jasen Wade, Nathan Stevens, Sarah Kent. Directed by T.C. Christensen. 94 minutes. Rated PG-13. In the aftermath of a tragedy, children describe the presence of celestial beings that helped them survive. Theaters: SC, ST 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: TC The Gallows abccc Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos. Directed by Chris Lofing and Travis Cluff. 80 minutes. Rated R. There’s nothing exciting or original about this found-footage horror movie, which puts a group of unpleasant teens at the mercy of a vengeful spirit in their high-school auditorium. The acting is subpar and awkward, the dialogue is full of clumsy exposition, and the scares are minimal. –JB Theaters: ST, TX 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 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 Infinitely Polar Bear aaabc Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky, Ashley Aufderheide. Directed by Maya Forbes. 90 minutes. Rated R. Writer-director Forbes based Infinitely Polar Bear on her own experiences, and the movie exudes familial love and forgiveness. That helps it avoid melodrama in its story of a bipolar dad (Ruffalo) taking care of his two daughters. It’s loosely plotted and has the warm, nostalgic feel of home movies. –JB Theaters: SC Inside Out aaabc Voices of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind. Directed by Pete Docter. 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, CH, COL, DI, ORL, PAL, RR, SC, SF, TX 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,

Magic Mike XXL acccc Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer. Directed by Gregory Jacobs. 115 minutes. Rated R. The sequel to the surprise-hit male-stripper drama is barely even a movie at all; the plot is a string of minimally connected set pieces that exist mainly to showcase the stars’ abs. It’s every bit the cheesy, brainless exercise in audience pandering that many expected from the first movie. –JB Theaters: DTS, SF, ST Max abccc Josh Wiggins, Thomas Haden Church, Lauren Graham. Directed by Boaz 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: COL, ST, VS 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: VS Minions aabcc Voices of Pierre Coffin, Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. 91 minutes. Rated PG. In the two animated Despicable Me movies, the little yellow pill-shaped creatures were reliable sources of pratfalls, pranks and puns, but given the task of carrying their own 90-minute feature, they quickly wear out their welcome. It’s just a series of silly set pieces barely held together by a halfformed plot. –JB Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, COL, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SF, SHO, SP, ST, TS, TX, VS Mr. Holmes aaacc Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker. Directed by Bill Condon. 104 minutes. Rated PG. McKellen plays the retired 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes,

A&E | Short Takes > video game armageddon Michelle Monaghan, Adam Sandler and Josh Gad in Pixels.

control of the future rewrites events of the first, but fails when it comes to creating its own story. With a convoluted plot that’s full of holes, Genisys often feels like a glorified piece of fan fiction. –JB Theaters: COL, DI, ORL, PAL, RR, ST, TX, VS Testament of Youth aabcc Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Taron Egerton. Directed by James Kent. 129 minutes. Rated PG-13. Adapted from a memoir by Vera Brittain (played by Ex Machina’s Vikander), Testament of Youth focuses on its heroine’s experiences during World War I, when she dropped out of Oxford in order to volunteer as a nurse. It’s sober and relentlessly tasteful in the blandest British tradition. –MD Theaters: 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 slowpaced, convoluted and strangely preachy movie is more of a presentation about the concept of adventure stories than an actual exciting adventure story. –JB Theaters: TC

who tools around his rural estate tending to the bees in his apiary and fighting against his failing memory. The tone is more contemplative than suspenseful, and the resolutions to the various mysteries rely on sentiment over deductive reasoning. –JB Theaters: GVR, ORL, SC, SP, TS Paper Towns aabcc Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams. Directed by Jake Schreier. 109 minutes. Rated PG-13. Shy, bland teenager Quentin (Wolff) has his life shaken up by textbook manic pixie dream girl Margo (Delevingne). He enlists his friends to help go after her when she leaves town, but that journey isn’t particularly interesting, and the supporting characters along for the ride are as one-dimensional as Margo herself. –JB Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, COL, DI, GVL, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SC, SF, SHO, SP, TS, TX

video-game nerds to save the day. Based on a 2010 short, Pixels is mostly genial and family-friendly, but also plodding and frequently boring, with listless performances and a moronic plot. –JB Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, DI, GVL, GVR, 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: 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: TC

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 disaster movie. Its wholesale devastation of California is an impressive feat of special effects, but the destruction eventually becomes repetitive. –JB Theaters: BS, RR

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: TC

Self/less aaccc Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Goode, Natalie Martinez. Directed by Tarsem Singh. 117 minutes. Rated PG-13. This rote, forgettable thriller feels like a refugee from a 2005 straight-to-video bin, with a predictable and uninvolving plot (about a dying billionaire who’s offered the chance to inhabit a new, younger body) stitched together from elements of other sci-fi movies. –JB Theaters: GVR, TC

Pixels aaccc Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Josh Gad. Directed by Chris Columbus. 105 minutes. Rated PG-13. When aliens invade Earth with replicas of ’80s video-game characters, the president (James) calls on loser Sam (Sandler) and his fellow

Southpaw aabcc Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Oona Laurence. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. 123 minutes. Rated R. Former boxing champion Billy Hope (Gyllenhaal) attempts to mount a comeback in this contrived melodrama. The direction

and the performances end up pounding the audience as hard as Billy in his early fights, and there isn’t much relief in his eventual drawn-out triumph. –JB Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, DI, DTS, GVR, ORL, PAL, RP, SF, SHO, SP, ST, TS, TX, VS 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: ST, VS

Ted 2 aaacc Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried, 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: COL, DI, PAL, ST, VS Terminator Genisys aabcc Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney. Directed by Alan Taylor. 126 minutes. Rated PG-13. The fifth movie in the series about the battle between humans and machines for

Trainwreck aabcc Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson. Directed by Judd Apatow. 125 minutes. Rated R. Comedy Central star Schumer wrote the latest film directed by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, This Is 40), and also plays the lead, a commitmentphobic journalist who falls for a surgeon (Hader) she’s profiling. It’s a perfectly ordinary rom-com that merely swaps the genre’s standard gender clichés. –MD Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, CH, DTS, GVL, GVR, ORL, PAL, RP, SC, SF, SHO, SP, TS, TX The Vatican Tapes (Not reviewed) Kathleen Robertson, Michael Peña, Djimon Hounsou. Directed by Mark Neveldine. 91 minutes. Rated PG-13. Exorcists from the Vatican attempt to save a young woman’s soul. Theaters: BS, CAN, SF, TS, TX JMA Jeffrey M. Anderson; JB Josh Bell; MD Mike D’Angelo

Theaters

Summerlin 2070 Park Center Drive, 702-221-2283

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(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 30–August 5, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 53

Calendar LISTINGS YOU CAN PLAN YOUR LIFE BY!

> ACOUSTIC ANTHEMS Brock Frabbiele will help Punks in Vegas blow out candles Saturday night.

A PUNKY CELEBRATION One of our favorite local spots on the ’net, punksin vegas.com, is preparing to mark its fourth anniversary with an acoustic-punk takeover of Alternate Reality Comics on August 1. If you’re not familiar with the website, a DIY labor of love from music fanatic Steven Matview and his friends, here are a few reasons to hop onboard.

participated in this acoustic series, full video evidence of which remains posted on the site. From big touring names (Anti-Flag, Chuck Ragan) to local favorites (Alaska, The Quitters), it’s grown into an impressive live-punk shrine. Vegas Archive Another of PIV’s missions: restoring seminal local recordings. Out-of-print music from done-but-not-forgotten Vegas bands like Tomorrows Gone, Boba Fett Youth and Weirding

Way are up for stream or download on the site, all free of charge. Photo galleries If you’ve been to a punk show this decade, odds are good Matview’s been there, too, camera ’round neck, to document the experience. His many nights on the scene, along with shoots from other PIV contributors, are cataloged on the site—tiny house shows, massive festival sets and everything in between. Get clicking. –Spencer Patterson

PUNKS IN VEGAS 4 YEAR BASH with Steady Hands, Brock Frabbiele, No Red Alice, Eliza Battle. August 1, 6 p.m., free, all-ages. Alternate Reality Comics, 4110 S. Maryland Parkway #8, 702-736-3673.

LIVE MUSIC

$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 10/30-10/31, 9 pm, $43-$50. Peaches 11/11, 8 pm, $22-$27. Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Tigers Jaw 11/21, 8 pm, $26-$30. Linq, 702862-2695. The Colosseum Reba, Brooks & Dunn 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, 9/8-9/9, 9/119/12, 9/29-9/30, 10/2-10/3, 10/6-10/7, 10/9-10/10, 11/3-11/4, 11/7-11/8, 11/1011/11, 11/13-11/14, 11/17-11/18, 11/20-11/21, 12/20-12/31, 1/2, 1/6, 1/9-1/10, 1/12-1/13, 1/16-1/17, $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) D’Angelo & The Vanguard 8/21, 7 pm, $50. Lenny Kravitz 9/8, 8 pm, $40. (Boulevard Pool) Barenaked

T H E ST R I P & N E A R BY Brooklyn Bowl 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. Reckless Kelly, Micky & the Motorcars, Jason Eady 8/14, 9 pm, $17-$20. 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. Jerry Day, Catfish John 9/1, 9 pm, free. 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 Helm, The Handsome Strangers 10/6, 8 pm,

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. Drake 9/6, 9 pm, $65. 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. 702698-7000. Cox Pavilion E40, Too Short, Eric Bellinger, Baby Bash, Suga Free, AV, Tee Flyii 8/1, 8 pm, $53-$113. Silento, Casey Veggies, Samantha J. 8/2, 1 pm, $23. 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702-739-3267. Double Down Bargain DJ Collective Mon. Unique Massive Tue, midnight. The Juju Man Wed, midnight. Punk Rock Bingo first Wed of the month. Blooze Brothers Third Sun of the month. Shows 10 pm, free unless noted. 640 Paradise Rd., 702-7915775. Flamingo Olivia Newton-John 8/4-8/8, 8/11-8/15, 8/18-8/22, 9/1-9/5, 9/8-9/12,

CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE CALENDAR LISTINGS AT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS 54 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM JULY 30-AUGUST 5, 2015

$35. (Cabaret Lounge) Front Page 8/1, 8/20-8/22, 8 pm, free. NiteKings 8/5, 8/12, 8/19, 8/26, 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 4 pm, free. WolfCreek 8/6-8/8, 9/10-9/12, 9 pm, free. In-AFect 8/13-8/15, 9 pm, free. Jukebox Heroes 8/27-8/29, 9/17-9/19. 9 pm, free. Chyna 9/24-9/26, 9 pm, free. (Brendan’s Irish Pub) Kenny Dee Band 8/1, 8/14-8/15, 9 pm, free. Killian’s Angels 8/7-8/8, 9 pm, free. Route 66 8/21-8/22, 9 pm, free. Dollface 8/28-8/29, 9 pm, free. ‘60s Sensation 9/4-9/5, 9 pm, free. 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., 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. 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-4144300. Palms (The Lounge) Northern American 8/31, 10 pm, free. Jeff Young & Sherri 8/7, 10 pm, free. Dollface 8/13, 10 pm, free. Walk Off Hits 8/21, 10 pm, free. WolfCreek 8/28, 10 pm, free. Franky Perez 9/6, 10:30 pm, free. Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns Mon, 10:30 pm, $10. 702944-3200. The Pearl 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+. Gregg Allman 10/9, 8 pm, $39. Judas Priest, Mastodon 10/17, 8 pm, $73+. Palms, 702-942-7777. Piero’s Pia Zadora Fri & Sat, 9 pm, two-drink minimum. 355 Convention Center Dr., 702-369-2305. Planet Hollywood Britney Spears 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, 9/49/5, 9/9. $60-$195. La Arrolladora 9/13, 9 pm, $59-$175. Ricky Martin 9/15, 8 pm, $50-$160. 702-234-7469. Rí Rá The Black Donnellys 7/30, 8:45 pm; 7/31, 9 pm. Mandalay Place, 702632-7771. Route 91 Harvest Festival ft. Florida Georgia Line, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and more. 10/2-10/4, times vary, $199. MGM Resorts Village. 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 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. The Growlers 9/12, 7 p.m., $20-$35. Blue October 9/19, 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 Wed-Thu, 9 pm, $10. 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd.

D OW N TOW N Artifice Louise Le Hir, Headwinds, China, Chris Leland 7/31, 9 pm, free. Vegas Blues Dance Tue, 7 pm, free.

PHOTOGRAPH BY YLER NEWTON

Stripped Down Sessions Since PIV’s inception in 2011, dozens of musicians have

7:30 pm, $69-$139. 702-733-3333. Gilley’s Scotty Alexander Band 7/30, 9 pm; 7/31-8/1, 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. 10 pm. Shows $10-$20 after 10 pm unless noted. Treasure Island, 702-894-7722. Hard Rock Hotel (Pool) Puddle of Mudd 7/31, 9 pm, $25+. The Wailers 8/7, 8 pm, $30-$32. Inner Circle, Fourtunate Youth 8/14, 9 pm, $20$25. Tribal Seeds, The Expanders 8/21, 9 pm, $25. Skid Row 9/4, 9 pm, $35-$40. Blue October 9/18, 9 pm, $30. Live 10/2, 9 pm, $35+. 702-6935000. Hard Rock Live Tuneboy, Arenalize, Kellism 7/30, 8 pm, $25. 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 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. Hollywood Undead 9/12, 6 pm, $26-$30. Carlos Santana 9/16, 9/189/20, 9/23, 9/25-9/27, 11/4, 11/6-11/8, 11/11, 11/13-11/15, $90-$350, 8 pm. The Tragically Hip 10/3, 7:30 pm, $43-$55. Halestorm 10/17, $30. Seether 10/20, 6:30 pm, $33-$43. Ghost 10/31, $25. Collective Soul 11/12, 7 pm, $33-$36. Rhyme N Rhythm Mon, 9 pm, free. Live swing music Tue, 9 pm, free. Blues Wed, 8 pm, free. Phil Stendek Thu, 8 pm, free. Singles Sat, 9 pm, free. Gospel Brunch Sun, 10 am & 1 pm, $27-$50. PJ Barth Trio Sun, 8 pm, free. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. The Joint 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) 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. Lost ‘80s Live ft. ABC, Wang Chung, Naked Eyes, A Flock of Seagulls and more. 9/26, $35. 702-632-7777. MGM (Grand Garden Arena) 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 The Bacon Brothers 8/1-8/2, $30. Super Freestyle Explosion ft. Stevie B, Exposé, Taylor Dayne, Lisa Lisa, The Cover Girls, Freestyle, Debbie Deb, Trinere, Nu Shooz, J.J. FAD 8/7, 8 pm, $32. CSNSongs 8/158/16, $20. Coyote Countryfest 8/29, 7 pm, $20. Brass Transit 8/29-8/30, $20. Air Supply 9/4-9/6, $40. The Temptations 9/19-9/20, 8 pm, $40. Frank Caliendo 9/25-9/26, 8 pm,

Calendar 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 Cletus & Mexican Sweat, Sweet Pete & The Natural Facts, Thirty-2 Dollar Pickup 7/31, 8 pm, $5-$8. Coliseum, Culture Abuse, Super Unison 8/3, 8 pm, $10-$12. Almost Normal, Valise, Smoke Season, Adam Knaff 8/5, 7 pm, free. International Swingers 8/5, 11 pm, free. Big Daddy’s Hayride, James Intveld, Dave Damiani, Eddy Bear & The Cubs, The Clydesdales, DJ Lucky La Rue, Big Sany and His Fly Rite Boy 8/7, 8 pm, $15-$20. Black Sheep, DJ Lethal 8/12, 8 pm, $12-$15. Guttermouth, Death By Stero 8/13, 8 pm, $12-$15. Chelsea Wolfe 8/27, 8 pm, $10$12. Murs, Red Pill, King Fantastic 10/1, 8 pm, $15-$18. Marty Friedman 10/2, 8 pm, $20-$25. My Life WIth the Thrill Kill Kult, Candy Warpop, EMDF, Midnight Feature 10/9, 8 pm, $15-$20. 601 E. Fremont St., 702382-2227. Beauty Bar Death Valley Girls, LA Witch, Candy Warpop 8/10, 9 pm, free. The Brocks 8/24, 9 pm. Shannon & The Clams 9/27, 9 pm. 517 Fremont St., 702-598-3757. Downtown Container Park Patty Ascher 7/31, 9 pm. 707 Fremont St, downtowncontainerpark.com. Downtown Grand 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. Downtown Las Vegas Events Center All Time Low, Sleeping with Sirens, One OK Rock 10/24, 6 pm. Rise Against, Killswitch Engage, Letlive 11/21, 8 pm, $40-$80. 200 S. 3rd Street, dlvec.com. Fremont Street Experience Spin Doctors, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies 8/1, 9 pm. Kansas, Blue Oyster Cult 9/6, 9 pm. Downtown Las Vegas, vegasexperience.com. Gold Spike 217 Las Vegas Blvd. N., goldspike. com. Griffin Live music Wed, 10 pm, free. 511 Fremont St., 702-382-0577. Hard Hat Lounge The Funk Jam Wed, 10:30 pm, free. Florescent Flames Second Sat, 9 pm, free. Foundation Factory Fourth Sat, 8 pm, free. 1675 Industrial Rd., 702-384-8987. LVCS Defeated Sanity, Skinned, Carnivore Diporsopus 7/31, 8 pm, $8-$10. The Killer Dwarfs, Snew, TailGun, Lovesick Radio, My Own Nation 8/1, 8 pm, $10-$13. Klymaxx, Cheryl Cooley, The Manhattans, Kristian De Lane, Freeman Brown 8/8, $25-$33. Kobra and the Lotus, Hatchet, A Fail to Break, Leona X, Jennasyde, The Watchers 8/9, 8 pm, $10-$12. Sincerely Collins 8/14-8/15, 8 pm, $25. Moonshine Bandits, J Gamble, N.E. Last Words, Jelly Roll, Crucifix 8/21, 9 pm, $10. Insomnium, Ominium Gatherum, Stickman Shadow, Scicosis, Bad Pitt & Adam Crow 8/29, 9 pm, $12-$15. Krisiun, Origin Aeon, Alterbeast, Soreption, Ingested 9/17, 8 pm, $17-$20. Sadistik, Sapient, Ceschi, Early Adopted, Graves 10/4, 9 pm, $7-$10. 425 Fremont St., 702-382-3531. Mickie Finnz Happy hour music 4-7 pm daily. All shows free. 425 Fremont St., 702-3824204. The Smith Center Johnny Mathis 7/31, 7:30 pm, $29+. Frankie Moreno 8/11, 8 pm, $25$35. Reckless in Vegas 8/14, 8 pm, $35-$45. Spectrum 8/15, 7 pm; 8/16, 3 pm, $37-$40. Greg Bonham 8/22, 8 pm, $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., 702-749-2000.

The ’Burbs Babes Rockin’ Sports Bar Rock ‘n’ Roll Never Forgets 7/30. 5901 Emerald Ave., 702-4357545. Cannery Tal Pearsall Wed & Thu thru 8/1., 8:30 pm, free. Tal Pearsall, Clifton James Fri & Sat thru 8/1, 7 pm, free. 70s Soul Jam 8/1, 8 pm, $25. Gospel Brunch ft. The Stamps Quartet w/ Johnny Fortuno 8/9, 11 am, $10-$25. The Highwaymen 8/15, 8 pm, $15. Shaun South Wed & Thu, 8/19-8/29, 8:30 pm, free. 2121 E Craig Rd., 702-507-5700. Distill Summerlin All shows free & begin at

8 p.m. 10820 W. Charleston Blvd., distillbar. com, 702-534-1400. Eagle Aerie Hall 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. Levitron, Desolation, The Holy Pariah, Cordycepts, Casket Raider, A Distant Calm, Singularity 8/7, 5:30 p.m., $11-$13. The Devil Who Decieved Them, Words From Aztecs, Invoker, Amongu, Mephitic Origins, Loose Ends 8/8, 5:20 pm, $11-$14. Autumn in Stiches, I am Vertical, Dale Phoenix, Call SIgn, Bowers, Courvge, Faded Prisms, The Plazas 8/26, 5 pm, $11$13. Knocked Loose, Orthodox, Another Mistake, Locust, Brooklyn Edge 9/1, 5:20 pm, $12-$15. 310 W. Pacific Ave., 702-6454139. Elixir Justin Mather 8/14. Kelly Dorn 7/31. Michael Anthony 8/1. Marty Feick, Tim Mendoza 8/7. Stefnrock 8/15, 8/21. Thomas Rojas 8/22. Tim Mendoza 8/28. Kelly Down 8/29. All shows at 8 p.m., free. 2920 N. Green Valley Pkwy., 702-272-0000. 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, 7flpm, $30-$42. Shows free with drink purchase. M Resort, 800-745-3000. 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 (Veil Pavilion) Jefferson Starship 8/1, 8 pm, $29. 3333 Blue Diamond Rd., 702263-7777. South Point Tony Orlando 8/7-8/9, 7:30 pm, $45+. James Darren 8/15-8/16, 7:30 pm, $25+. Sheena Easton 8/28-8/29, 7:30 pm, $20. Stayin’ Alive 9/11-9/13, 7:30 pm, $25+. Frankie Avalon 9/25-9/27, 7:30 pm, $45+. Winter Dance Party 10/2-10/4, 7:30 pm, $20+. Tower of Power 10/16-10/18, 7:30 pm, $45+. Dennis Bono Show Thu, 2 pm, free. Wes Winters Fri-Sat, 6 pm, free. Spazmatics Sat, 10:30 pm, $5. 702-797-8005. Suncoast The Brooklyn Bridge 8/1-8/2, 7:30 pm, $18-$44. Brandon Bennett’s Elvis My Way 8/15-8/16, 7:30 pm, $18-$44. Jack Jones 8/22-8/23, 7:30 pm, $33-$55. Arrival From Sweden: The Music of Abba 8/298/30, 7:30 pm, $22-$44. 9090 Alta Dr., 702636-7075. 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 (A-Bar) Darrin Michaels Fri-Sat, 7 pm. (South Padre) Elemental Fri, 9 pm. Yellow Brick Road Sat, 9 pm. 702-631-1000.

E v e ry w h e r e E l s e Adrenaline Sports Bar and Grill Toxin 7/31, 8 pm. TailGun 8/14, 9 pm. 3103 N. Rancho Dr., 645-4139. Arizona Charlie’s Boulder (Palace Grand

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CALENDAR Lounge) Live music Fri thru Sat, 9pm, free. 4575 Boulder Highway, 888236-9066. Arizona Charlie’s Decatur (Naughty Ladies Saloon) The Good Fellas 6/26-6/27. Jerry Tiffe Fri, 4 pm. 740 S. Decatur Blvd., 702-258-5200. Boomers Live music Wed, 10 pm, $5-$10. 3200 Sirius Ave., 702-3681863. Boulder Dam Brewing Holes and Hearts 7/31. Jefferson Montoya 8/1. Rick Berthod Band 8/7. American Voodoo 8/8. DJ Haydin Band 8/14. Out of the Desert 8/15. Justin Mather 8/20. The Deltaz 8/20. Cletus & The Mexican Sweat 8/22. Ashley Raines 8/27. The AllTogethers 8/28. Jimi Prima Band 8/29. Thu, 7 pm; Fri & Sat, 8 pm, all shows free unless noted, Fri-Sat, 8 pm; Wed-Thu, 7 pm. 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. 702-432-7777. Count’s Vamp’d 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 Fri-Sat, 10 pm. 2451 E. Tropicana, 702-458-6343. Dive Bar Smashing Alice, TailGun 7/31, 10 pm. 4110 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702-586-3483. Eastside Cannery (Marilyn’s Lounge) Claudine Castro Band Mon, 10 pm. Phoenix Wed, 9 pm. Spazmatics Sun, 9 pm. Shows free unless noted. 702507-5700. German American Social Club Vintage Classic Jazz Night Tue, 7 pm, $4. 1110 E. Lake Mead Blvd., 702649-8503. Milo’s Cellar Live Music Thu, 8 pm, free. 538 Nevada Hwy., 702-293-9540. Ron DeCar’s Event Center Jimmy Wilkins 9/5, 1 pm. 1201 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-384-0771. Sam’s Town Los Van Van 8/16, 10 pm, $50. NiteKings Sun, 7 pm, free. Shows free unless noted. 5111 Boulder Hwy., 702-284-7777. Star of the Desert Huey Lewis and the News 8/1, 8 pm, $22-$77. El Coyote Y su Banda Tierra Santa 8/15, 8 pm, $33. New Edition 8/22, 8 pm, $28-$77. Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, 31900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Primm, 800-386-7867. Winchester Cultural Center 3130 S. McLeod Dr., 702-455-7340.

COMEDY 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 JW Marriott Shows 7 pm, $15. 221 N. Rampart Blvd., 702-507-5900. Bonkerz Comedy Club Primm Fri, 8 pm & 10:15 pm; Sat, 10:15 pm; $10. Primm Valley Resort , 31900 S. Las

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

Vegas Blvd., 800-386-7867. Bonkerz Comedy Club Sayers Club Michael Parise 7/23-7/25. J.C. Currais 7/30-8/1. All shows 8 pm, $10-$20. SLS, 702-761-7000. Bonkerz Comedy Club Silver Sevens Fri-Sat, 10:30 pm; $10. Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino, 4100 Paradise, 702733-7000. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club All shows at 8 pm, $65-$87. MGM Grand, 891-7777. Carrot Top Wed-Mon, 8 pm, $50-$60. Luxor, 702-262-4900. Margaret Cho 10/16, 9 pm, $44-$72. Treasure Island, 702-894-7111. 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, 702-693-5000. 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, 702531-4320. Vinnie Favorito Nightly, 8 pm, $55$100. Flamingo, 702-733-3333. Eddie Griffin Mon-Wed, 7 pm, $90$182. Rio, 702-777-7776. Kevin Hart & Friends Comedy AllStars 9/5, 7 pm & 10:30 pm, $50. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7000. HydroComics Unleashed Wed, 9 pm, free. Lucie’s Lounge, 3955 Charleston Blvd., 702-776-6417. The Improv Ben Gleib, Nick Youssef, Joe Dosch thru 7/26. Kivi Rogers, Nika Williams, Sean Kent 8/4-8/9. Scott Record, Alex Hooper 8/11-8/16. Don McMillan, Robert Duchaine, Tracey MacDonald 8/18-8/23. TueSun, 8:30 & 10 pm, $30-$45. Harrah’s, 702-369-5000. Jim Jefferies 10/3, 8 pm, $45. The Joint, 702-693-5000. The Joe Show Thu-Sat, 8 pm, $30. Tuscany, 255 E. Flamingo Rd., 702629-0715. Jokes With Friends Thu, 10 pm, free. Nacho Daddy, 9925 S. Eastern Ave., 702-462-5000. L.A. Comedy Club Tue-Sun, 9:30 pm, $39-$62. Ballys, 702-777-2782. The Laugh Factory Rich LIttle SatSun, Tue-Thu, thru 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 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. Bill Maher 10/24, 8 pm, $49+. Pearl, 702-942-7777. The Mac King Comedy Magic Show Tue-Sat, 1 & 3 pm, $33. Harrah’s, 702369-5000. Dennis Miller 8/7-8/8, 8 pm, $55+. Orleans, 702-284-7777. Party Improv Comedy Thu-Sun, 7 pm, $25, 2 drink minimum. Planet Hollywood, 702-531-4320. Russell Peters 9/6, 8 pm, $49+. Pearl, 702-942-7777. 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., 702-245-2393. Riviera Comedy 40 is Not the New 20 Mon-Sat, 10 pm, $40. Riviera, 855468-6748. 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., 702368-1863. Sin City Comedy & Burlesque Show

8:30 pm, $38-$49. Planet Hollywood, 702-777-7776. Christopher Titus 7/31-8/2, 7:30 pm, $20+. South Point, 702-796-7111.

SPECIAL EVENTS

PERFORMING ARTS

The Art of Naked Yoga Tue, Thu, 7 pm; Sat, 6 pm; $20. Harry Mohney’s Erotic Heritage Museum 3275 Industrial Rd., eroticheritagemuseumlasvegas.com. The American Whiskey Experience Dinner pairing 7/29, 7 pm, $90. Andiron Steak & Sea, 1720 Festival Plaza Dr., 702-685-8002. An Executive Chef’s Culinary Classroom With Executive Chef Edmond Wong. 8/27, 9/29, 10/13, 11/10, 7 pm, $135. Bellagio, 866-4067117. Beer for Breakfast 8/30, 9 pm, $50. Fleur at Mandalay Bay, lvbeerbarrelproject.com. CLIF Bar CrossVegas 9/16, $55. Desert Breeze Soccer Complex, W. Desert Inn Rd., crossvegas.com. Disney on Ice presents Frozen 1/61/11, times vary, $38-$83. Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com. Family Movie Night E.T. 7/30, 7 pm. Downtown Container Park, downtowncontainerpark.com. 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, themobmuseum.org. Kumukahi Ukulele & Hula Festival 8/7-8/8, times vary, $22. Sam’s Town, 702-284-7777. Las Vegas Beer and Barrel Project: Seminars and Panel Discussions 8/29, 1 pm, $99. Mandalay Bay, lvbeerbarrelproject.com. Las Vegas Film Festival 8/11-8/16, times vary, $12-$250. Inspire Theatre, 107 Las Vegas Blvd., lvff.com. Mandalay Bay Beach Beer and Barrel Festival 8/29, 7:30 pm, $75. Mandalay Beach, lvbeerbarrelproject.com. M.E.N.U.S. presented by Epicurean Charitable Foundation 10/9, $500. The Beach at Mandalay Bay, 702932-5098. Monday’s Dark with Mark Shunock 8/17, 9/21, 10/19, 11/16, 9:30 pm, $20+. Vinyl, hardrockhotel.com. NSPCA Out of the Gutters Celebrity Bowling Tournament 8/2, 1 pm, $20-$30. Sam’s Town Bowling Center, 5111 Boulder Highway, nevadaspca. org. 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. One Drunk Puppy Wine Tasting 8/15, 6 pm, $30-$40. Silverton, 702-2637777. 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., 702-384-8987. 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 9/199/20, 8 am-4 pm, $89-$169. Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., vegasgoneyoga.com. Vegas Valley Book Festival 10/1510/17, times vary, free. Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St., vegasvalleybookfestival.org. Windmill Music Club Last Sun. of the month, 4 pm, free. Windmill Library, 7060 W Windmill Ln., 702-507-6030.

Art 9/4-9/20, 8 pm, $14-$15. Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Dr., 702362-7996. The Book of Mormon 9/22-9/27, 9/29-9/30, 10/1-10/4, 10/6-10/11, 10/13-10/18, 7:30 pm, 9/26-9/27, 10/3-10/4, 10/10-10/11, 10/17-10/18, 2 pm, $36-$160. Smith Center, 702749-2000. The Bridges of Madison County 2/23-2/28, $29-$129. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. A Balanchine Celebration: From Tchaikobsky to Rodgers & Hart to Gershwin 11/7, 7:30 pm., 11/8, 2 pm, $29-$139. Smith Center, 702-7492000. Cabrera Celebrates Sibelius 11/21, 7:30 pm, $26-$96. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Cabrera Conducts Rachmaninoff 1/9, 7:30 pm, 1/10, 2 pm, $26-$96. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Ceremony 7/31-8/1, 8 pm, $20. Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702732-7225. A Choreographer’s Showcase 10/11, 10/18, 1 pm, $25-$45. Smith Center, thesmithcenter.com. Cinderella 2/13, 7:30 pm, 2/14, 2 pm, $29-$139. Smith Center, 702-7492000. Don’t Quit Your Day Job Sat thru 9/26, 10 pm, $10. Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702-732-7225. Elf the Musical 11/24-11/29, $29-$129. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. The Explorers Club 7/30-7/31, 7 pm; 8/1, 2 pm & 7 pm, $12. Faith Lutheran High School Chapel, 2015 S. Hualapai Way, faithlutheranlv.org. For the Record: Baz Mon-Sun, 8 pm, Tue dark; $55+. Light Nightclub, Mandalay Bay, bazlasvegas.com. Full House: The Very Special Episodes beginning 8/7, Fri, 11 pm, $15. Onyx Theatre, 702-732-7225. The Get Fri. thru 9/25, 10 pm, $10. Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702-732-7225. Hedwig and the Angry Inch 8/6-8/8, 8/13-8/16, 8/20-8/22, 8/27-8/29, 8 pm. Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702-732-7225. 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. Las Vegas Philharmonic: Beethoven & Brahms 9/12, 7:30 pm, $26-$96; opening night cocktail reception, 9:30 pm, $50. Passport to the World 10/24, 7:30 pm, $26-$96. The Snowman: A Holiday Tradition 12/5, 2 pm & 7:30 pm, 12/6, 2 pm, $26-$96. Spotlight Series 2/16, 4/26, 5/3, 7:30 pm, $168. Smith Center, 702-7492000. 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, 702749-2000. Panties in a Twist 2/2-2/6, $35-$43. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Ragtime 10/27-11/1, $30-$130. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Riverdance 1/26-1/21, $29-$129. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Simply Ella 11/13, 7:30 pm, $35+. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. The Snowman: A Holiday Tradition 12/5, 2 pm & 7:30 pm; 12/6, 2 pm, $26-$96. Smith Center, 702-7492000.

CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE CALENDAR LISTINGS AT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS 56 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM JULY 30-AUGUST 5, 2015

SPORTS Global Force Wrestling Live 8/21, 8 pm, $25+. Orleans, 702-284-7777. Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend 9/17-9/19, 7 pm, $72+. Orleans, orleansarena. com. Las Vegas Outlaws vs. Spokane Shock 8/8. $18-$198. Thomas & Mack, unlvtickets.com. Monster Energy Cup 10/17, 6 pm, $56-$76. Sam Boyd Stadium, unlvtickets.com. Monster Jam World Finals 3/17, 5:30 pm; 3/18-3/19, 7 pm, $80-$180. Sam Boyd Stadium, unlvtickets.com. National Finals Rodeo 12/3-12/12, 6:45 pm, $58-$232. Thomas & Mack, unlvtickets.com. PBR World Finals 10/21-10/24, 6 pm; 10/25, 1 pm, $30-$170. Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com. Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl 12/19, 12:30 pm, $24-$110. Sam Boyd Stadium, unlvtickets.com. USA Basketball Showcase 8/13, times vary, $15+. Thomas & Mack, unlvtickets.com. World Wrestling Championships 9/7-9/12, 10 am, prices vary. Orleans Arena, 702-284-7777.

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, 702-383-3133. 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, 702-366-7001, trifectagallery. com. Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Daily, 10 am-8 pm, $11-$16. 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-693-7871. 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, 702-455-7030. Clay Arts Vegas Mon-Sat, 9 am-9 pm; Sun, 11:30 am-6:30 pm. 1511 S. Main St., 702-375-4147. Downtown Spaces 1800 Industrial Rd., dtspaces.com. Galleries include: Wasteland Gallery Thu, 6 pm-9pm; Fri & Sat, 6 pm-11pm, Sun-Wed by appointment. Emergency Arts 520 Fremont St., 702-686-3164. Gainsburg Studio & Gallery Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. 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., 702-647-7378. Michelle C. Quinn Fine Art Advisory By appointment only. 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 Open 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. TueFri, 10 am-8 pm; Sat, 9 am-6 pm. 3130 S. McLeod Dr., 702-455-7340.

HOROSCOPE

free will astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

March 21-April 19

July 23-Aug. 22

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

“I am very much in love with no one in particular,” actor Ezra Miller says. His statement would make sense coming out of your mouth right about now. So would this one: “I am very much in love with almost everyone I encounter.” Or this one: “I am very much in love with the wind and moon and hills and rain and rivers.” Is this going to be a problem? How will you deal with your overwhelming urge to overflow? Will you break people’s hearts and provoke uproars everywhere you go, or will you rouse delight and bestow blessings? As long as you take yourself lightly, I foresee delight and blessings.

I expect you to be in a state of constant birth for the next three weeks. Awakening and activation will come naturally. Your drive to blossom and create may be irresistible, bordering on unruly. Does that sound overwhelming? I don’t think it will be a problem as long as you cultivate a mood of amazed amusement about it. (P.S. This upsurge is a healthy response to the dissolution that preceded it.)

Much of the action in the world’s novels takes place inside buildings, according to author Robert Bringhurst. But characters in older Russian literature are an exception, he says. They are always out in the forests, traveling and rambling. In accordance with astrological omens, I suggest that you draw inspiration from the Russians’ example in the coming days. As often and as long as you can, put yourself in locations where the sky is overhead. Nature is the preferred setting, but even urban spots are good. Your luck, wisdom and courage are likely to increase in direct proportion to how much time you spend outdoors.

TAURUS

VIRGO

CAPRICORN

April 20-May 20

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

In her io9.com article on untranslatable words, Esther Inglis-Arkell defines the Chinese term wei-wuwei as “conscious non-action ... a deliberate, and principled, decision to do nothing whatsoever, and to do it for a particular reason.” In my astrological opinion, the coming days would be a favorable time to explore and experiment with this approach. I think you will reap wondrous benefits if you slow down and rest in the embrace of a pregnant pause. The mysteries of silence and emptiness will be rich resources.

Expiration dates loom. Fond adieus and last laughs and final hurrahs are on tap. Unfinished business is begging you to give it your smartest attention while there’s still time to finish it with elegance and grace. So here’s my advice for you, my on-theverge friend: Don’t save any of your tricks, ingenuity or enthusiasm for later. This is the later you’ve been saving them for. You are more ready than you realize to try what has always seemed improbable or inconceivable before now. Here’s my promise: If you handle these endings with righteous decisiveness, you will ensure bright beginnings in the weeks after your birthday.

Has a beloved teacher disappointed you? Are there inspirational figures about whom you feel conflicted because they don’t live up to all of your high standards? Have you become alienated from a person who gave you a blessing but later expressed a flaw you find hard to overlook? Now would be an excellent time to seek healing for rifts like these. Outright forgiveness is one option. You could also work on deepening your appreciation for how complicated and paradoxical everyone is. One more suggestion: Meditate on how your longing for what’s perfect might be an enemy of your ability to benefit from what’s merely good.

GEMINI

LIBRA

AQUARIUS

May 21-June 20

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

“I always liked side-paths, little dark back-alleys behind the main road—there one finds adventures and surprises and precious metal in the dirt.” The character Dmitri makes that statement in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, and I’m thinking you might like to claim his attitude as your own. Just for a while, not forever. The magic of the side paths and back-alleys may last for no more than a few weeks, and then gradually fade. But in the meantime, the experiences you uncover there could be fun and educational. I do have one question for you, though: What do you think Dmitri meant by “precious metal in the dirt?”

A company called Evil Supply sells a satirical poster that contains the following quote: “Be the villain you were born to be. Stop waiting for someone to come along and corrupt you. Succumb to the darkness yourself.” The text in the advertisement for this product adds, “Follow your nightmares … Plot your own nefarious path.” Although this counsel is slightly funny to me, I’m too moral and upright to recommend it to you—even now, when I think there would be value in you being less nice and polite and agreeable than you usually are. So follow your naughty bliss. Be a leader with a wild imagination. Nudge everyone out of their numbing routines.

French and Italian readers may have no problem with this horoscope. But Americans, Canadians, Brits and Aussies might be offended, even grossed out. Why? Because my analysis of the astrological omens compels me to conclude that “moist” is a central theme for you right now. And research has shown that many speakers of the English language find the sound of the word “moist” equivalent to hearing fingernails scratching a chalkboard. If you are one of those people, I apologize. But the fact is, you will go astray unless you stay metaphorically moist. You need to cultivate an attitude that is damp but not sodden, sensitive and responsive and lyrical.

CANCER

SCORPIO

PISCES

June 21-July 22

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Feb. 19-March 20

“Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason,” says comedian Jerry Seinfeld. His implication is that rejecting traditional strategies and conventional wisdom doesn’t always lead to success. As a professional rebel myself, I find it painful to agree even a little bit with that idea. But I do think it’s applicable to your life right now. For the foreseeable future, compulsive nonconformity is likely to yield mediocrity. Putting too much emphasis on being unique rather than on being right might distract you from the truth. My advice: Stick to the road more traveled.

“Every time you resist acting on your anger and instead restore yourself to calm, it gets easier,” writes psychologist Laura Markham in Psychology Today. In fact, neurologists claim that by using your willpower in this way, “you’re actually rewiring your brain.” And so the more you practice, the less likely it is that you will be addled by rage in the future. I see the coming weeks as an especially favorable time for you to do this work, Scorpio. Keeping a part of your anger alive is good, of course—sometimes you need its energy to motivate constructive change. But you would benefit from culling the excess.

Which signs of the zodiac are the most expert sleepers? Who best appreciates the healing power of slumber and feels the least shame about taking naps? Which of the 12 astrological tribes are most inclined to study the art of snoozing and use their knowledge to get the highest quality renewal from their time in bed? My usual answer to these questions would be Taurus and Cancer, but I’m hoping you Pisceans will vie for the top spot in the coming weeks. It’s a very favorable time for you to increase your mastery of this supreme form of self-care.

July 30–August 5, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com 57

The BackStory

photograph by Courtney Cyr

BAMBOO POOL FIRE | THE COSMOPOLITAN | JULY 25, 2015 | 12:21 p.m. Courtney Cyr was relaxing in her 29th-floor Aria hotel room when she noticed thick black smoke outside her window. “I woke my boyfriend up from a nap, and we watched the beginning of the fire,” the 25-year-old Tacoma, Washington, resident says. “You could see people scrambling to leave the pool. It was scary.” Cyr, who actually has a photography side-business specializing in family portraits, began snapping shots with her camera-phone, then posted this overhead view of the scene on Twitter (@ccyr17), netting nearly 2,000 retweets. “My intention was to help keep people informed,” she says. “I realized people in Las Vegas would be wondering where those dark smoke clouds were coming from.” Within moments, Cyr began receiving requests for permission to use her photos—from CBS, the Associated Press, the Mirror in England—as word spread about the Strip fire, which was extinguished quickly, reportedly without significant injury. “I love photography in any sense,” Cyr says. “In this case, I was just in the right place at the right time.” –Spencer Patterson

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