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08 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 06.30.16
NO REDEEMING VALUE
the inter W H E R E
I D E A S
Las Vegas gets hosed by Ticketmaster’s settlement offerings BY MIKE PREVATT
A
re you one of the few people in Las Vegas who actually pays for your concert tickets? If so, chances are you’ve received an email from Ticketmaster, which recently settled a $400 million classaction lawsuit that challenged the transparency of its ancillary fees. Concertgoers who used Ticketmaster between October 1999 and February 2013 likely received codes for small discounts that can be applied to any show available on the ticket-servicing site—with no limits to how many can be used—along with up to 17 vouchers, each good for two free tickets (click on the “active vouchers” link of your Ticketmaster account page). That means you can score Pet Shop Boys comps for you and the mister, and maybe take your nieces to see Demi Lovato, right? Here’s where things quickly go from hopeful to nopeful. Those free ticket vouchers are only good for roughly 750 national shows at venues owned or operated by Live Nation, which merged with Ticketmaster in 2010. Which limits Las Vegas users to House of Blues—and a slew of cover bands like Pyromania and Boogie Knights. While Ticketmaster buyers in some areas get to choose from Bob Dylan, Modest Mouse and G-Eazy—if they don’t encounter ongoing technical difficulties or a depleted stock—the pickings for most major cities were slimmer than Mick Jagger’s sweats on the Tattoo You tour. The small print maintains that the freebie list will be updated in the coming weeks, hinting at additional eligible shows. But Ticketmaster can fudge the bounty of the settlement as long as the financial terms are met. What’s worse: It’s entirely possible you won’t be able to use all or any of your freebie vouchers should availability and math work against you. Even when Ticketmaster gets punished for screwing us, it’s still screwing us.
WHEN ATHLEISURE ATTACKS If you consider leggings one of your sportier fashion staples, you’re about to double your wardrobe. The raved-about “athleisure” brand Fabletics plans to launch its first Nevada store this summer, in Downtown Summerlin, with a weekend-long grand opening sale. Co-owned by actress Kate Hudson, the online, subscription-based activewear company quickly became a fan favorite due to its affordable workout gear and personalized outfit recommendations, including sports bras, tank tops and, of
course, yoga pants. The JustFab subsidiary opened its first brick-and-mortar in Canoga Park, California, in September. According to Forbes, the company, controversial for its not-so-transparent subscription service, plans to open 75 to 100 stores over the next three to five years. The Vegas location will be the brand’s eighth retail location. In addition to women’s wear, the new 1,800-square-foot store will carry FL2, JustFab’s new athletic line for men, and offer in-store fitting appointments, monthly shopping events and free in-store workout classes. –Leslie Ventura
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SHARE SHUTTERS Taking stock of the local LGBT club scene after another key loss BY MIKE PREVATT
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1 BIG PHOTO
A worker locks the doors to Fremont Street’s Mermaids Casino as it closes forever at 11 p.m. on June 27. It was also the last night for the neighboring La Bayou casino and Girls of Glitter Gulch club. For an onthe-scene report, visit lasvegasweekly.com. (Mikayla Whitmore/Staff)
BEFORE YOU LIGHT UP …
“Leave the show to the pros” is an oft-heard phrase in Las Vegas around Independence Day, warning of the dangers of using your own fireworks on the Fourth. If you’re going to light up the sky, there are a few things to consider besides safety. Any firework that can be deemed a “rocket” or can “explode” is illegal in Clark County. This includes but is not limited to cherry bombs, M-80s, Roman candles, bottle rockets and aerial fireworks (often seen in commercial fireworks shows). Potential consequences for misuse include thousands of dollars in fines and jail time, and penalties increase for illegal usage on government lands. Consider saving yourself the time and money this year and catch one of the Valley’s patriotic pyrotechnic spectaculars produced by—you guessed it—the pros. –Mark Adams For more fireworks safety tips, visit lasvegassun.com.
The mirrorball has stopped spinning for yet another local LGBT night spot. On June 25, Share announced through multiple avenues that it would close its doors after that night’s party. Its Facebook post that evening read: “All good things must come to an end ... We hope you can join us as we close this chapter on Las Vegas nightlife.” Share has since taken down its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, though its website remains. Owner Chris Rosas elaborated that same night to GayVegas. com: “It is time for Share Nightclub to end and a new nightclub to be born. … I am NOT going anywhere and am going to build something bigger and better.” Share opened in 2011 in the former Minxx Gentleman’s Club space on Wynn Road, bringing high-energy dance parties with both local and national talent. It also introduced a seated, pre-party cabaret series with nationally renowned LGBT performers. Former Will & Grace star Leslie Jordan had two nights booked, but the shows were canceled last week. Share had undergone some changes since being turned over to Rosas, who had previously told the Weekly that a larger revamp was in the cards. While the club deserves the benefit of the doubt, gay revelers have become far too accustomed to disappointment. In fact, Share’s closure on Saturday leaves the beleaguered scene—which serves one of the largest LGBT tourist markets in the U.S.—with a single mainstream dance club, the decade-old Piranha. Earlier this year, Rendezvous opened after a few misstarts and shuttered a few months later. In 2015, Victor Drai and Bally’s ended its eight-month LGBT nightlife experiment by closing Liaison, and eastside hangouts Club Unity and Pride 702 Club both came and went. Two years earlier, former gay party HQ Krave imploded spectacularly after owner Kelly Murphy moved it to Downtown’s Neonopolis—and took down the beloved Drink & Drag with it. Meanwhile, Piranha owner Paul San Filipo has yet to finish the newest incarnation of pioneering discotheque Gipsy. Revelers are not without options, however. Besides Piranha, regularly programmed DJs and/or dance parties can be found at Freezone, Goodtimes, the Phoenix, Charlie’s, the Las Vegas Eagle and Badlands Saloon. Latino nightclub El Dorado currently features Thursday and Sunday gay-oriented parties. And speaking of those two days, Downtown club Oddfellows boasts a weekly Thursgays event, while Temptation continues to reign at Luxor’s north pool on Sunday afternoons.
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THE FREEDOM TO BLOW STUFF UP Fireworks in the desert. What could go wrong? his is not a good time to be weary of irony. It’s unavoidable. I’m standing in a pop-up explosives shop in Pahrump. My Spanish-speaking fellow shoppers are buying fireworks made in China to celebrate U.S. Independence Day as our nation tinkers with new waves of nationalism and isolationism. To be honest, I dislike light-it-yourself fireworks—mostly because I dislike sudden, loud noises, random roof fires and the threat of losing a limb. And sad, scared dogs—especially sad, scared dogs. But my girlfriend and I are on a quest to more fully explore our rights in the waning days of Democracy and reason. So shortly after getting a speedPYRAMID OF ing ticket for which I will need to go to court BISCUITS and/or pay a fine for BY STACY J. WILLIS illegally driving 41 in a 35, I took off to neighboring Nye County, where I can legally purchase thousands of dollars’ worth of gunpowder-packed mortars. For parties. On our way to Pahrump, we saw a small fire in the desert of Lovell Canyon. A few people had gathered nearby to watch. “I wonder what started that?” I said to my girlfriend. We shrugged and drove on across the kindling-dry desert, and she tossed her cigarette butt out the window. … Not true! We don’t smoke! We
T
(Illustration by Corlene Byrd/Staff)
just shook our heads and drove on, eager to find quickly assembled buildings full of colorful combustibles. Soon we were overcome with billboards advertising everything a freedom-loving American might want: guns, ammo, beef jerky, prostitutes, liquor, church, land, Trump and a lot fireworks stores. We stopped for a quick bite to eat and while chatting about protecting our liberties from encroachers over enchiladas, a middle-aged white woman with a handgun tucked into the waistband of her jeggings entered the restaurant. No holster. Just a truly open carry, relying on the power of an elastic waistband— no doubt made in some country that knows nothing about wielding handguns—to keep her sidearm from falling on the ground and randomly shooting one of the Sunday diners, two of whom wore United States Veterans caps and sat in wheelchairs. My unease made me unable to fully concentrate on my carne asada, because I’m soft. So I wrapped up the conversation about protecting the borders and suggested we go shop for some Roman candles. We’d selected four different stores
based on proximity. The first was Area 51 Fireworks, a nod to the government’s alleged clandestine operations related to aliens, a thing I think plenty of Americans nod to every Independence Day. In every store, happy people pushed shopping carts overflowing with incendiaries. And each shop seemed well-staffed with friendly greeters who explained the 2-for-1 and 3-for-1 stickers on packages of fireworks. One store even had a guy outside who greeted shoppers with the warning, “You don’t have any matches or lighters on you, do you?” but stopped short of a TSA pat-down. Deep down, we all trust that each of us is smart enough not to bring a lighter into a shed full of gunpowder. Right? Aside from the pleasure of thwarting death, I was mostly enthralled with the marketing: fireworks with sociologically peculiar names like “Trailer Trash” and “Blond Joke.” Some seemed to be offering political commentary, such as “Loyal to None” and a package called “The Globe” from which you can blow up replicas of the Earth. Its label warned of the mini-apocalypses, “Emits showers of sparks!” Some were more practically
named: “Rain of Fire” and “Deadliest Dozen” and the can’t-say-we-didn’twarn-you “House on Fire.” But it was hard to beat “Shoot and Scoot” for practicality, especially with the instructions, “Face this side toward spectators.” But my pick for favorite name went to “Tears From Heaven,” which evoked a deity shaking his/her/its head somewhere up there wondering WTF went wrong with mankind. While crying beautiful, burning fireworks. At the end of our spree, I had bought exactly zero fireworks. It’s illegal to shoot off many of these types in Clark County, and deep down, we trust that each of us is smart enough not to do that. Right? As usual, I’ll enjoy the big shows set off by others not in my driveway. On the way home several hours later, the Lovell Canyon fire had spread, and was now burning some 250 acres of land. Many more onlookers had stopped their cars and trucks—no doubt some loaded with fireworks—to take pictures of the thick, black smoke, and the plane circling overhead dropping fire retardant. It is not a good time to be weary of irony. Be careful out there.
Parties, treats, bands & drinks. These are a few of our favorite things
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2016
FOOD
BEST RESTAURANT UPGRADE
BEST SUSHI SPOT
Carlito’s Burritos
A southeast Valley must became even more indispensable when Carlito’s moved into a roomier space with a patio, expanded its bar and added Santa Maria-style barbecue to its New Mexican-focused menu. 4300 E. Sunset Road, 702-547-3592.
BEST CHINATOWN CRAWL FINALE Chada Street
Open until 3 a.m., the newer Chada boasts superb wine and beer selections to match its thrilling Thai street food—and cap your wild night. 3839 Spring Mountain Road, 702-579-0207
Sen of Japan
In a town where restaurants often flame out, Nobu-pedigreed Hiro Nakano and co-owner Shinji Shichiri have perfected an innovative menu over the past decade. 8480 W. Desert Inn Road, 702-871-7781.
BEST CREAMY-COOL COMEBACK Gelatology
How we all missed Desyree Alberganti shoving samples of her audacious gelatos into our faces after she left Art of Flavors. Then she opened her own dessert destination, giving the southwest a much-needed depot of deliciousness. 7910 S. Rainbow Blvd. #110, 702-914-9144.
BEST TACO SHOP Pinches Tacos
The California transplant landed at Container Park and then expanded to the southwest Valley, proving that amazing tacos know no boundaries. Two locations, pinchestacos.com.
BEST BARBECUE SAUCE
God Sauce at Jessie Rae’s BBQ
This confidently named condiment is just sweet enough and robustly flavored for perfect pairing with pulled pork or any other choice cut from JR’s slow-smoked smorgasboard. Two locations, jessieraesbbq.com.
BEST CHEF REAWAKENING (STRIP) Roy Ellamar at Harvest
Chef Roy became the rare non-celeb chef to get his name on the door of a Strip restaurant when Sensi transformed into Harvest, an ideal showcase for his talent and dedication to fresh, quality ingredients. Bellagio, 702-693-8865.
BEST CHEF REAWAKENING (OFF-STRIP)
Marc Sgrizzi at Chef Marc’s Trattoria Chef Marc closed one of our favorite neighborhood Italian joints, then quickly opened a new Tuscan-style pasta paradise nearby, and—surprise!—it’s our favorite now. 8615 W. Sahara Ave., 702-233-6272.
BEST MISUNDERSTOOD FUSION Soho SushiBurrito
Stop trying to riddle it out and simply know this: If you like sushi you’ll love these customizable, supersized handrolls filled with legit raw fish and other addictive flavors. 2600 W. Sahara Ave. #115, 702-778-2525.
BEST STEAKHOUSE
35 Steaks & Martinis
This isn’t the first time you’ve selected these steaks, but it will be the last. The restaurant will be converted into a new steakhouse concept by brothers Michael and David Morton early next year. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5500.
BEST DREAM COME TRUE Other Mama
Why can’t we have a friendly neighborhood raw bar with unbelievable sushi, stunning cocktails and a relaxing vibe? Industry folks imagined it, and chef Dan Krohmer brought it to life. 3655 S. Durango Drive #6, 702-463-8382.
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Other Mama does it all: prime ribeye with miso Hollandaise and waffle fries. (Photograph by Jon Estrada/Staff)
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2016
BEST KARAAGE Hachi
As if combining a yakitori and an izakaya into one spot wasn’t enough, this Chinatown jewel makes Japanese fried chicken so heavenly, you’ll summon your server for another order before you’re done with the first. Opt for the negi sauce upgrade. 3410 S. Jones Blvd., 702-227-9300.
BEST RIFF ON A MEXICAN SNACK Andiron Steak & Sea’s bacon-jalapeño churros
Andiron elevates the roadside treat with a savory rendition—bacon and jalapeño mingle with white cheddar in an addictive swirl of flavor. Why hadn’t anyone thought of this before? Downtown Summerlin, 702-685-8002.
BEST BUFFET
Bacchanal Buffet
For nearly five years, Bacchanal has dominated the Strip buffet landscape with its size and selection. But you keep going back because everything tastes so good. Caesars Palace, 702-731-7928.
BEST MEAT ON A TOOTHPICK
Chengdu Taste’s lamb with cumin
BEST HOUSE OF BIRD Flock & Fowl
Sheridan Su and Jenny Wong’s labor of love has brought poached Hainan chicken into the spotlight, but don’t overlook the fried tenders or the immaculately crisp, roasted spring chicken. Su certainly knows fowl. 380 W. Sahara Ave., 626-616-6632.
Toothpicks have long served as an effective delivery system for miniature cocktail party bites. But when Chengdu Taste throws a ’70s soiree, it douses lamb in cumin and twicefries it after its been skewered. 3950 Schiff Drive, 702-437-7888.
BEST MEAT ON A BREADSTICK Bazaar Meat’s grissini
You might look past Bazaar Meat’s grissini if you don’t know what grissini are. They’re breadsticks, and José Andrés swaddles his in Washugyu carpaccio accompanied with a gorgonzola foam fondue for dipping. SLS, 702-761-7610.
BEST PIZZERIA Pizza Rock
The wings could be your thing at Flock & Fowl. (Jon Estrada/Staff)
With locations Downtown and in Green Valley, you’re getting your fix whenever you want it. No wonder the pizza purists at Pizza Rock are your favorite folks. Two locations, pizzarocklasvegas.com.
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BEST BURGER JOINT In-N-Out
We’ve got every type and brand of burger imaginable, yet when Las Vegans get a craving, it’s off to In-N-Out we go. In fact, a Double-Double sounds really good right now, doesn’t it? Multiple locations, in-n-out.com.
BEST EXCUSE TO EAT KERMIT Andre’s fried frogs legs
Frog legs? Chris Bulen’s rendition at Andre’s—swimming in a sharply-flavored rosemary and parsley sauce—will make you a fan and might make you think you’re eating chicken. A delicious, hopping chicken. Monte Carlo, 702-798-7151.
BEST NEW COFFEE EXPERIENCE Coffee Hunter
Take Stumptown from Portland and add owner Hunter Hawkins’ passion for espresso, a modern aesthetic and quick bites from Cornish Pasty and you’ve got a morning routine for the ages. 7425 S. Eastern Ave., 702-586-5002.
BEST BREAKFAST IN THE BURBS Kitchen Table
There’s always a wait, and it’s always worth it, for the brandied-peach pancakes, suckling-pig tostadas and Egyptian eggs made with nutty and rich dukkah. 1716 Horizon Ridge Parkway #100, 702-478-4782.
BEST CHINATOWN RESTAURANT YOU HAVEN’T TRIED Niu-Gu
Chef Jimmy Li strikes again in the Spring Mountain Road district, delivering authentic, refined Chinese fare that can compete with the rest of Chinatown, and the rest of Las Vegas. 3400 S. Jones Blvd. #16, 702-570-6363.
BEST ICE CREAM SANDWICH Cream
There’s some kind of magic in the way the servers at Cream smoosh their delectable cookies (including lots of glutenfree options) around a scoop of their ridiculously good ice cream. Two locations, creamnation.com.
BEST COFFEEHOUSE Starbucks
Las Vegas has lots of solid mom and pops now, but the planet’s most prolific coffee chain prevailed in our annual survey. Have you tried the cold brew yet? Solid. Multiple locations, starbucks.com.
Coffee Hunter serves it up with creative flair. (Mikayla Whitmore/Staff)
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 2016
MOST INDESTRUCTIBLE VENUE Bunkhouse Saloon
Whether gutted and reduced to three walls and no roof or dealing with a cycle of changing operators, the Rasputin of the Downtown music scene seemingly cannot be silenced—and for that we’re thankful. 124 S. 11th St., 702-854-1414.
BEST NEW VOICE Jessica Manalo
This Weekly pick as a 2016 Vegas artist to watch recently released some new demos, including smoky stunner “Velvet,” leaving no doubt about her impressive range and evocative songwriting. Jessicamanalo.com.
BEST LOCAL SCENE COMEBACK Neon Reverb
Downtown’s DIY music fest returned after a three-year absence and reminded us what we’ve been missing: a smartly curated, multivenue walkabout—and the best way to discover your new favorite bands. Neonreverb.com.
BEST MUSIC HUB
11th Street Records
With a righteously stocked vinyl record store and the modern equivalent of an old-school recording studio— which occasionally doubles as a live performance space—this Downtown emporium is a tuneful trifecta. 1023 Fremont St., 702-527-7990.
BEST MIXED-MEDIA ARTIST JK Russ
Russ’ collage compositions—vintage and contemporary, earthy and synthetic—are surreal and sexy. Combining desert imagery with found images against atmospheric backgrounds, Russ’ works lure you into a world of mystery. Jkruss.com.
BEST NEW ART FRIENDSHIP Nevada Museum of Art and Las Vegas
On August 5, Tilting the Basin: Contemporary Art of Nevada opens at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, featuring contemporary works by artists in Northern and Southern Nevada and co-curated by representatives from the north and south. That’s only the beginning: Nevada Museum of Art is in talks with the board of the Modern, a contemporary art museum slated for Symphony Park.
BEST THEATER COMPANY Cockroach Theatre
Cockroach completely transforms itself for every production. The team respects the uniqueness of each show and inhabits it in a way that fills the space with enthralling performances that inhabit your thoughts long after the curtain falls. 1025 S. First St. #110, 702-818-3422.
BEST ART GALLERY Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
Originally built to house Steve Wynn’s personal art collection, this sacred space is the only place in town to see masterworks and museum-quality pieces that carry the energy of history and influence. Bellagio, 702-693-7871.
BEST LOCAL BAND Brumby
Cousins Oliver, Spencer and Tyler Tingey, plus kindred spirit Dylan Self, have landed some great gigs this year, as their penchant for pop has made them a fast-rising Vegas favorite. Brumbymusic.com.
BEST MOVIE THEATER BEST CIRQUE SHOW The Beatles Love
How much do we love Love? It says a lot that Cirque’s most popular Strip production just completed a sleek, stylish renovation that wasn’t necessary, essentially fixing something that wasn’t close to being broken. Respeck. Mirage, 702-792-7777.
Galaxy Green Valley Luxury+
Did you vote for the beer or the reclining seats? Both, right? But careful not to let your chair too far back with beverage in hand, lest you end up viewing from a puddle. 4500 E. Sunset Road #10, 702-476-9389.
BEST MUSIC VENUE Brooklyn Bowl
BEST STRIP SHOW
Mat Franco –Magic Reinvented Nightly
The AGT Season 9 champ conjured his very own Best of Vegas award thanks to a fresh, high-energy approach to the full-scale Strip magic show. The Linq, 702-777-2782.
Primo sound? Check. Clear sightlines? Check. Compelling calendar? Check. Plus, fried chicken sent from heaven. If seeing bands at Brooklyn Bowl doesn’t excite you, you don’t really like music. Linq Promenade, 702-862-2695.
BEST STRIP ENTERTAINER BEST PLACE TO SEE A FAMOUS COMIC FOR FREE The Dirty at 12:30
Every Friday you can expect the lounge at the South Point to pack with comedy fans for Gabe Lopez’s raw and raucous stand-up show where anybody might perform. Drop-ins have included Ralphie May, Joe Rogan and Chris D’Elia. South Point, 702-796-7111.
BEST COVER BAND Wicked Garden
Playing everything from Blink-182 to Alice In Chains to Weezer, this foursome captures the fun and furious spirit of the ’90s perfectly, and that’s why our readers love them. Facebook.com/wickedgardenvegas.
Terry Fator
After almost nine years in Vegas, Fator has completed an unlikely journey from talent show ventriloquist to essential Strip voice. Plus, he’s got a Donald Trump dummy now. Mirage, 702-792-7777.
BEST BAND WE NEVER GET TIRED OF
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Mercy Music
Somehow, every time they play live, they sound even better. From frontman Brendan Scholz’s savory guitar solos to his bittersweet lyrics, a Mercy Music show is always a great decision. Mercymusic.bandcamp.com.
BEST POLARIZING PUBLIC ART Seven Magic Mountains
Public art launches vitriol, adoration and chest-pounding diatribes while the engaged and sophisticated debate its merits. Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone’s desert installation near Jean Dry Lake brought all of the above. Sevenmagicmountains.com.
(Photo Illustration by Jon Estrada/Staff)
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Most Brilliant Blueprint Jewel From the stunning staircase to the intimate mezzanine to the (seemingly) sentient tech show synced to the sounds, Jewel truly lives up to its name. How Aria and Hakkasan Group wedged a new treasure into this forgotten space is simply miraculous. Aria, 702-590-8000. (Photograph by Al Powers/Courtesy)
2016
NIGHTLIFE
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BEST BODY-TO-BODY ROOM Hyde Bellagio
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Lots of clubs get packed and sweaty and a little wild, but when the party reaches a new level at Hyde—Infamous Wednesdays, for example—that’s when this powerful little locomotive is at its best. Bellagio, 702-693-8700.
WEEKLY | 06.30.16
BEST SPOT FOR FLAV SIGHTINGS MOST VERSATILE VENUE Omnia
You’ve got the biggest names in dance music spinning under the chandelier, hearty hip-hop in the industry-beloved Heart and an enchanting escape on the Terrace. Omnia’s multitude of experiences won’t be outdone. Caesars Palace, 702-785-6200.
The Center Bar
With the remade Center Bar’s off-thereservation DJ lineup (which has included or will feature Tom Morello, Andrew WK and former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach, count on those old-school Hard Rock wild nights to continue. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5000.
BEST DAYCLUB BEST NIGHTLIFE STALWART
BEST VIP HIDEAWAY Intrigue
We wondered what Wynn would do with Tryst, already one of the most beautiful nightclubs anywhere. Now the secret’s out, and intimacy is the password. Have you found your way into the private club within? Wynn, 702770-7300.
Foundation Room
Is it the Eastern influence that separates this club from the nightlife sprawl? Or the ’90s hip-hop and contemporary R&B that create a laid-back vibe? Whatever the reason, this spot pulls the in-crowd after all these years. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7631.
Daylight
Mandalay Bay’s sunny oasis has hosted everyone from EDM mainstay Morgan Page to Grammy-nominated duo Disclosure to underground-house heavyweight Claude VonStroke. No matter your flavor, don’t sleep on Daylight. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-4700.
New Noise at Oddfellows
The sardine-packed crowd on the dancefloor of the Downtown bar/club doesn’t lie—and neither does its enthusiasm during hipshakers by Shamir, LCD Soundsystem and Grimes. 150 Las Vegas Blvd. N. #190, 702-336-3235.
Hakkasan
You’ve seen stars Tiësto, Calvin, Aoki and Hardwell at Hakkasan, and then Axwell, Ingrosso, Borgeous, Lil Jon, The Chainsmokers and Tigerlily joined the mix. Throw in the spontaneity of live performance and celeb hosts and it’s hard to hang with Hakka’s talent. MGM Grand, 702-891-3838.
BIGGEST BIG-ROOM DJ Calvin Harris
The only thing more impressive than the Scottish producer’s infinite string of dance hits is his ability to fill up the most prominent clubs on the Strip almost every weekend. At Omnia, Hakkasan & Wet Republic.
1 Oak
Ended Up at 1 OAK Wednesdays gets its name from a Jay Z lyric and it fits—this club on this night feels as icy cool as Hov, pre-Lemonade. Mirage, 702-693-8300.
BEST LOCAL DJ BEST NEW PARTY DJ 88’s Pop-Up
BEST ARTIST LINEUP
We didn’t offer a Best of Vegas category for Happiest Pool Party on the Planet, so readers voted the Strip’s summer headquarters into this spot instead. Good choice. Encore, 702-770-7300.
BEST INDUSTRY NIGHT BEST DANCE PARTY
BEST SONIC RELAXATION
Encore Beach Club
Whether playing host for the DJ AM documentary premiere afterparty at Ghostbar or showcasing Anderson .Paak at House of Blues July 29, taste trumps trends at DJ 88’s new events built around cool, curated music.
BEST NEW DAY PARTY
Sunday Brunch Club at STK
Cosmo’s sexy steakhouse has been one of the scene-iest dining rooms on the Strip for five years now; adding a deliciously booming party brunch was a no-brainer. What took ’em so long? Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7990.
DJ Amnesia
Looks like we forgot to blow up DJ Amnesia, who spins everything from throwback dance to country, rock and hip-hop at the Phoenix, Badlands Saloon and more. At your recommendation, we’ll remember him. Facebook. com/djamnesialasvegas.
BEST LOUNGE Golden Tiki
The South Pacific-themed Chinatown bar nods at Vegas’ tiki-obsessed past with splashes of Disneyland and punk rock. All that, and delicious Dole Whip, too. 3839 Spring Mountain Road, 702222-3196.
BEST MEGACLUB XS
BE THE BEST, PARTY LIKE THE REST The newest nightclub on the Strip is hosting our big Best of Vegas party this year. RSVP online at lasvegasweekly.com/bestofvegas and join all the winners at Jewel on Thursday, June 30 from 8 to 10 p.m. Cheers!
Definition of The Place to Be: When LeBron drops in to party on the way to taking the title home to Cleveland. XS makes us all feel like kings. Encore, 702-770-0097.
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BEST SELFIE SPOT Bliss Dance
Think of her as the Statue of Liberty’s wild little sister, nakedly boogeying to the music of the Strip. Lit by the sun or emanating her own neon rainbow, this 40-foot goddess will save Instagram from your fitness humblebrags. The Park.
BEST NEW THING ON THE STRIP
BEST SALON WITH A SCENE
April 6, 2016 will go down in Las Vegas history, the night The Killers, Wayne Newton and Shamir christened the Strip’s newest entertainment venue. But T-Mobile is more than another arena, which you know if you’ve felt its electricity. T-mobilearena.com.
Aside from snipping and sculpting some of the best tresses in the Valley, JSH routinely showcases local artists’ work on its walls. What better to look at while you’re waiting for that perfect balayage? 1025 S. First St. #165, 702431-8071.
T-Mobile Arena
Josephine Skaught Hairdressing
BEST BADASS BODY MOTIVATOR
BEST NEW PATIO
This dancer and workout instructor’s energy shows in her full-to-the-brim Pilates and Barefoot Bootcamp classes, where we happily sweat in unity. 8575 S. Eastern Ave., 702-982-2930.
Set beautifully between Aria’s luxurious pool and Herringbone’s super-casual dining room, this sunny spot is our new go-to for an early brunch or late dinner with our favorite people. The sea-focused cuisine is stellar, too. Aria, 702-590-9898.
Liz Steers at TruFusion
Herringbone
BEST TURNTABLE DOCTOR
Jim Brockett at Rocky Top
Be it an old Technics needing some TLC or a new Pro-Ject humming too loudly, Jim at Downtown-adjacent Rocky Top cures what ails them—quickly and inexpensively. 4300 W. Charleston Blvd., #103, 702-878-7808.
BEST DAYTIME DOWNTOWN HANG PublicUs
The architecturally thoughtful woodwork and hospitable decor make it a friendly place to spend an afternoon, and the almond latte will keep you coming back. 1126 Fremont St., 702-331-5500.
BEST STRATEGY FOR STANDING OUT Fresh Wata
If you’ve left a Vegas special event or business expo with a particularly creative exhibit or presentation lodged in your brain, there’s a good chance innovative local company Fresh Wata was behind it. Freshwata.com.
BEST NEW BACHELOR PARTY Topgolf
Its over-the-top clubby environs (see what we did there?), sexy staff, savory snacks and undeniably fun games make the new Topgolf Vegas the natural selection for a guys’ night out. Or maybe a whole weekend? 4627 Koval Lane, 702-933-8458.
BEST GEEK MEMORABILIA
Millennium Fandom Bar
A large poster of the vanguard 1927 sci-fi flick Metropolis. A Golden Snitch from a Harry Potter film. An R2-D2 made from the same mold as the 1977 original. Just a few pop-culture emblems that enliven this library-like Downtown cocktail bar. 900 Las Vegas Blvd. S. #140, 702-405-0816.
BEST PUB QUIZ
Geeks Who Drink
Nerds unite—and imbibe! The national pubquiz organizer puts on general trivia nights and themed editions. More than 100 teams attended the recent Disney edition, where the winning crew took home more than $1,600. Geekswhodrink.com.
2016
THIS& THAT
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BEST HOTEL POOL
Green Valley Ranch Resort
BEST PARK Sunset Park
It’s easy to guess why readers love these sprawling acres—tennis and basketball courts, ample room for picnics and fiestas, plus the giant pond—which have been around since 1967: It’s tradition. 2601 E. Sunset Road, 702-455-8200. (Photograph by Steve Marcus/Staff)
With its sweeping views of the Strip, a “sand”-bottom swimming pool and an impeccably manicured 8-acre “Backyard,” it’s no surprise our readers chose this laid-back, suburban oasis as their favorite splash spot. 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, 702-617-7744.
BEST INSTAGRAM FEED
BEST SPORTS BOOK Red Rock Resort
Here we go again with Red Rock, your favorite place to bet and watch and win and party. Also, this book has stellar snacks from Chicago’s Wiener’s Circle. 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-797-7777.
Springs Preserve
With so much breathtaking desert scenery and wildlife to share, it’s no wonder Springs Preserve’s ’gram is your favorite follow. Instagram.com/ springspreserve.
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD CASINO Red Rock Resort
The Rock turned 10 this year, and wow, this joint has aged well. New restaurants, a refreshing of the spa and key suites, and yeah, that giant outdoor mall next door ... it all adds up to Best of Vegas dominance. 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-797-7777.
BEST STRIP CASINO
BEST LOCAL ATHLETE Bryce Harper
The unanimous choice for 2015 NL MVP was also your runaway winner in this category. Harper’s numbers might be down from last year’s lofty heights, but he’s got his Washington Nationals in first place, and he’d surely take that tradeoff.
BEST OUTDOOR ESCAPE Red Rock Canyon
Las Vegas has so many nearby natural adventures, and your favorite this year is the hiking and climbing hot spot that beautifully frames our Valley from the west.
Cosmopolitan
The Cosmo has maintained the title of coolest casino for five-plus years. The scary part: With the new Beauty & Essex and Eggslut eateries and Momofuku coming soon, it’s getting even cooler. 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-698-7000.
BEST GENTLEMEN’S CLUB Sapphire
The world’s largest strip club and the only one in Vegas with its own poolpartying dayclub, Sapphire is used to standing out. But you probably love it because of the pole-dancing classes. 3025 Sammy Davis Jr. Drive, 702-869-0003.
BEST PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS Cowabunga Bay
It’s hot and your kids wanna get crazy and cool off at Henderson’s colorful water park. We’ll see you there. 900 Galleria Drive, 702-850-9000.
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Booze & BARS
2016
BEST MARGARITA WITH A VIEW
BEST MOCKTAILS
Insta-date: two refreshing, lightly rimmed margaritas—try Cadillac, peach, sweet ’n’ sour or mango—plus a table along the large, north windows overlooking damn near all of the Valley. 645 Carnegie St., 702-837-6828.
They’re artisanal drinks in their own right, with house-made, high quality ingredients presented in a stunning environment with a cool vibe. Drinking one lets you feel louche, while still keeping your center. Mandarin Oriental, 702-590-8888.
Lindo Michoacan La Loma
BEST TAPROOM EXPERIENCE Lovelady Brewing
The Valley’s newest brew emporium is decidedly casual with a welcoming atmosphere, a friendly staff and one sweet shuffleboard table. Bring the kids or your pooch—Lovelady’s patio is dogand kid-friendly. 20 S. Water St., 702-857-8469.
Mandarin Bar
MOST UNIQUE LIBATIONS Velveteen Rabbit
From seasonal newbies Mother May I (Macadamia nut rum, lime, orgeat) to the Plumb Dumb (Pisco, plum vinegar, pineapple), your cocktail couldn’t get any more eclectic—or delectable. 1218 S. Main St., 702-685-9645. (Photograph by Steve Marcus/Staff)
MOST CREATIVE BREWERY CraftHaus Brewery
A beer with glitter? That’s exactly what CraftHaus made for its first-anniversary brew. Shiny suds aside, the Hendo brewery routinely features experimental stuff with its “tweaked” series and Firkin Friday events. 7350 Eastgate Road #110, 702-462-5934.
BEST LIQUOR NAMED FOR A LOCAL CHEF
CT’s Spiced Bourbon
Treasure Island’s demure executive chef Craig Taylor might not be a household name, but he’s got his own liquor—infused Jim Beam rife with cinnamon and vanilla. The casino serves it in cocktails, but like Taylor, it’s so smooth you can drink it straight. TI, 702-894-7111.
BEST ITALIAN WINE EDUCATION Ferraro’s
Its cuisine is second to none, and the same can be said for this family-run institution’s curated cellar, offering one of the most respected Italian wine collections in the country. Taste and learn. 4480 Paradise Road, 702-364-5300.
BEST COCKTAIL LOUNGE
BEST DOWNTOWN BAR
BEST HAPPY HOUR
BEST LOCAL BREWERY
BEST SPORTS BAR
We’ve been big on this whiskey-centric hideaway since it opened in the summer of 2014, and clearly you’ve discovered its luscious libations, too. First round’s on you? Downtown Container Park, oakandivy.com.
Best beer selection. Best cocktails. Best bartenders. Best old-Vegas vibe. Best patio. Atomic could contend for any of those awards, too. 917 Fremont St., 702-9823000.
Why do you love the happy hour at “the last real honkytonk” in Vegas? Maybe because it starts at midnight and runs till 3 p.m., then starts up again from 3 till 7. That’s a whole lotta happy. 2333 N. Jones Blvd. #108, 702-646-6292.
Take a break from cruising Fremont Street this summer, grab a Watermelon Wheat Sandia at Banger and chill. Now you know why it won this award. 450 Fremont St. #135, 702-456-2739.
The menu, the service, the value—that’s what you love about your friendly neighborhood PT’s. And now you can catch the game while sipping on a PT’s-crafted beer, too. Multiple locations. pteglv.com.
Oak & Ivy
Atomic Liquors
Saddle N Spurs Saloon
Banger Brewing
PT’s Pub
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g r e e n s p u n m e d i a
g r o u p
Associate Publisher Mark De Pooter (mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com) Industry Weekly Editor Brock Radke (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Industry Weekly Writer Leslie Ventura (leslie.ventura@gmgvegas.com) Contributors Mark Adams, Sarah Feldberg, Rosalie Spear Associate Creative Director Liz Brown (liz.brown@gmgvegas.com) Designers Corlene Byrd, Jon Estrada, Marvin Lucas Circulation Director Ron Gannon Art Director of Advertising and Marketing Services Sean Rademacher CEO, Publisher & Editor Brian Greenspun Chief Operating Officer Robert Cauthorn Group Publisher Gordon Prouty Managing Editor Ric Anderson Las Vegas Weekly Editor Spencer Patterson 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074
lasvegasweekly.com/industry lasvegasweekly.com /lasvegasweekly /lasvegasweekly /lasvegasweekly
on the cover
Brooke Evers photo by COOPS
T o
a d v e r t i s e
Call 702-990-2550 or email advertising@gmgvegas.com. For customer service questions, call 702-990-8993.
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JEWEL
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REHAB
The pioneering Nashville-based DJ/ remixer/producer returns to Rehab and also plays Foundation Room Saturday night.
XS
Alesso just notched his fifth top-10 hit (“I Wanna Know”) on Billboard’s Dance/ Mix chart; he’ll double up at Encore Beach Club Sunday.
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D EE JAY SI LV E R
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WET REPUBLIC
Big holiday weekends call for big DJs at big pool parties in Las Vegas. The Sunday chapter sees Aoki getting Wet ...
l i l j o n b y T o n y T r a n ; A l e s s o b y D a n n y M a h o n e y ; St e v e A o k i b y A l P o w e r s ; S k r i l l e x c o u r t e s y EBC
Bringing the party like no one else, Lil Jon has already made Jewel his house. His over-the-top style in these intimate environs is a recipe for chaotic fun.
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... while the Monday version brings Skrillex back to Encore Beach Club. It’s gonna get hot, and Champagne will shower.
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encore beach club
K E NT J O N E S
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LOST K INGS & S H AU N F R ANK
hakkasan
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he’s been DJing for about five years now, but really, Brooke Evers has been doing this forever.
The Australian beauty began modeling at age 6 and quickly moved on to dance, and then to TV- and radiohosting gigs and reality TV appearances. “I’ve always loved nightlife and wanted to be in that industry, and working in radio just got me further obsessed with music,” Evers says from LA, which she calls home when she’s not Down Under. “But DJing for me is more about being onstage and performing. I’ve done that forever, since I was just a young kid. Drama, dance, modeling, that was my thing, and being on stage and performing, I’m addicted to that. Being a DJ allows me to put on my own show.” As part of SKAM Artists’ electronic division, Evers is fully focused on DJ life at the moment. “I don’t have any time really to do anything but this, because music takes up my whole life,” she says. “I’ll do [modeling or TV] if it works with what I’m trying to do
musically, I’ll jump on it. But I also push a bit, because it’s so easy to get pigeonholed, like, ‘She’s just a model.’ It’s hard sometimes. But this is me, and this is what you get.” What Vegas gets is an Aussie takeover for Fourth of July weekend, as Evers returns to Daylight Friday and her countrymen the Stafford Brothers take over on Saturday. “I love the stage at Daylight, because I can have all my friends partying behind the DJ booth, and you have a great open space to play out to. There’s always a really good vibe there,” she says. “It all comes down to who’s in front of you. The event, the venue, they’re all so different. You have to watch what people are doing and how they interact with what’s going down on the dancefloor. For a holiday weekend, the party is gonna go harder.” Brooke Evers (with Party Favor) at Daylight at Mandalay Bay, July 1. –Brock Radke
24/7 Private Jet Charter • Free Wi-Fi on all midsize jets • Minutes from the Strip
LAS VEGAS’ PREMIER PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL JET SERVICE
Book your flight by callling (702) 829.0487 or for more information visit www.cirrusav.com
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JUL 23 Dead Prez & Rebel Diaz Revolutionary Hip Hop Concert AUG 13 World Hip Hop Dance Championship Final SEP 30 Octonauts Live: A Deep Sea Volcano Adventure OCT 15 2016 Monster Energy Cup DEC 17 Las Vegas Bowl 2016
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ou’ve heard her on the Major Lazer earworm “Light It Up,” but before Nyla was laying down tracks for Diplo’s dancehall project, the Jamaican-born singer was signed to Akon’s record label with her sister Nyanda. Recording under the name Brick & Lace, the duo toured and dropped an album, eventually leading Nyla to break out on her own. “I’ve learned that you just have to keep it moving,” the singer says. “Take it one day at a time and appreciate
opportunities that come your way … I’m so floored that [“Light It Up”] has done so well. I don’t think anybody really expected it to go and gas up the way it did.” The success of that song has brought her new opportunities, like collaborating with U.K. rapper Sneakbo on the soon-to-be-released track, “Too Cool,” and performing “Light It Up” at Wynn’s newest nightclub on Thursday for its Intrigue Me industry night. “I’m so excited,” says Nyla, who’s
working on recording her own EP. “I’m just gonna go to the club, hit up a couple restaurants, pop some bottles, do that thing. I feel like that’s what Vegas is about, right? I’m just gonna live it up.” Nyla at Intrigue at Wynn, June 30. –Leslie Ventura
JULY 23
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ON SALE NOW
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SPECIAL GUEST STEEL PULSE
A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS • WANG CHUNG CUTTING CREW • BERLIN TOMMY TUTONE • NU SHOOZ ANNABELLA’S BOW WOW WOW FARRINGTON + MANN THE ORIGINAL WHEN IN ROME UK
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he vast majority of venues on the Las Vegas Strip are so outsize and in-your-face, it’s hard to believe the glistening Boulevard could contain any subtle spots, real gems that focus on something other than spectacle. It’s even harder to believe you could find something like that at a shopping mall, but there it is, smack on the Strip at the center of the Fashion Show’s recent plaza renovation—Davidoff of Geneva Cigar Bar.
features panoramic views of the Strip, a full bar with signature cocktails and bottle service, plenty of 80-inch hi-def screens, a state-of-the-art ventilation system (of course) and a walk-in humidor. Since making its debut in the fall, this iteration of Davidoff—there are Las Vegas cigar boutiques at the Grand Canal Shoppes, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Paris—has become a favorite of visiting cigar aficionados and non-smokers alike.
The latest evolution of one of the world’s premier cigar brands, this stylish, 1,500-square-foot lounge
Make the most of your regular visits by joining the VIP program. The stainless steel membership card will
get you invitations to special programs and events, presale opportunities for new products and exclusive offers, 15 percent off the purchase of any box of cigars and reserved seating on that undeniably lovely patio. Davidoff Cigar Bar at Fashion Show, 702-473-5001; daily 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
EVENT LINEUP FRI, JULY 1
BACKYARD POOL PARTY WITH DEE JAY SILVER SUN, JULY 3
DJ LOCZI
MON, JULY 4
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION HOSTED BY
RANDY COUTURE BENEFITING XTREME COUTURE G.I. FOUNDATION
THU, JULY 7
OFFICIAL POOL PARTY
FRI, JULY 8
BACKYARD POOL PARTY WITH DEE JAY SILVER
PRESENTS SAT, JULY 9
BIKINI INVITATIONAL ROUND 2
SUN, JULY 10
SAT, JULY 2 TICKETS & RESERVATIONS REHAB@HRHVEGAS.COM | 702.693.5505 | HARDROCKHOTEL.COM /REHABLV #REHABLV
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ove means “nine” in Italian, and that’s your magic number when you make your way to Nove Italiano at the top of the Palms Fantasy Tower. Once you enter you’ll be tempted to secure one of those incredible tables by the windows, offering some of the most dynamic views of the Vegas Valley, but if you hang at the bar you’ll discover the magical menu of nine bites for $9, available all night long. The meatball sliders are an obvious choice, but consider the fra diavola panini for sandwich satisfaction, too, with spicy sausage, roasted peppers, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese. The classic bruschetta is a true crowd-pleaser, but you won’t want to share it. Switch it up with the crab and
lemon version, doused in rich extra virgin olive oil. Absolutely order the crispy fried artichokes, a veggie delight served with roasted bell pepper aioli. After making a meal of these savory snacks, you won’t feel bad about staying at the bar. This view can be just as beautiful. Nove Italiano at the Palms, 702-942-6800; Tuesday-Thursday 5:30-10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 5:30-11 p.m.
SCOOTER & LAVELLE SAT / JUL / 02
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here are lots of reasons why Ended Up at 1 OAK Wednesdays was voted Las Vegas’ favorite nightclub industry-night promotion in Las Vegas Weekly’s annual Best of Vegas readers’ poll. VIP cocktail server Allie Wright is one of them. As bubbly and friendly as the Champagne she loves to serve, Wright originally hails from Idaho and has been in Las Vegas—and at 1 OAK—for two years. “Spudland,” she calls her native state. “You say Idaho, and people are like, ‘Where is that?’ They get it mixed up with other places, Ohio, Iowa. It’s nice, but I wouldn’t move back now. I love it here, the 24 hours ... I have insomnia, so working in the industry is perfect for me. I couldn’t ask for anything better.” The intimate, high-energy club at Mirage isn’t just a Wednesdaynight favorite among locals and hospitality professionals. 1 OAK is also one of the Strip’s hip-hop hot spots and a natural celebrity
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magnet. Wright has taken care of all kinds of customers, but she won’t choose a favorite. “You can’t put me on the spot like that, I can’t have a favorite,” she says with a smile. “I feel like every night brings something different. It depends on the level of craziness. I like waiting on the athletes and singers that come in, because we really bring the service and it kinda catches them off-guard. “Our customer service is one of the best things we bring here at 1 OAK. Everyone gets personal attention from every server here, so of course you end up having a blast.” 1 OAK at Mirage, 702-6938300. –Brock Radke
DUCK DUCK BOOZE PARTY THU / JUL / 28
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RED WHITE & VEUVE BUY ONE, GIVE ONE ( . . .O R K E E P I T F O R YO U R S E L F ) R E S E R VA T I O N S : 7 0 2 . 6 7 3 . 0 6 6 7
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HAK KASAN 6/30 Calvin Harris. 7/1 Mark Eteson & Treo. 7/2 Tiësto. 7/3 GTA. 7/7 Tiësto. 7/8 Above & Beyond. 7/9 Tiësto. 7/10 Fergie. 7/14 Lil Jon. 7/15 The Chainsmokers. 7/16 Tiësto. 7/17 Dzeko & Torres. MGM Grand, Wed-Sun, 702-891-3838.
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59 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 06.30.16
STARGAZING David Bowie left us with a final treat before he departed in January. On Page 62, Weekly Pop Culture columnist Smith Galtney spotlights Blackstar and other 2016 favorites as the year crosses its halfway point. (Jimmy King/Courtesy)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 62
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POP CULTURE
SCREEN
NOISE
THE STRIP
FINE ART
FOOD & DRINK
CALENDAR
What do Anohni, O.J. and Richard Linklater have in common?
The BFG, a new Tarzan and a farting corpse. So many choices, so little time.
Pet Sounds’ enduring wonder, plus new fury from local punks The Gashers.
Garth Brooks is back in town, and The Kats Report is on the scene.
Famous for massive earth sculptures, Michael Heizer scales down.
Vegas welcomes Goong, a new Korean barbecue contender.
When does the NBA Summer League start this year? We’ve got the answers.
ON THE WEB Kristen Peterson comes face to face with the one and only Charo at South Point, while Leslie Ventura checks in on a tattoo-meets-music wonderland at the Bunkhouse. Plus, Josh Bell’s review of the latest installment in The Purge series, the timely Election Year.
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62 pop culture
WEEKLY | 06.30.16
PROUDLY PRESENTS THE
6TH ANNUAL
O.J., Beyoncé, De Palma and moRE A look back on the year’s best as we cross the halfway point
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t says everything about the deluge of culture that year-end “best of” lists have been supplemented with midyear “best of (so far)” features. And since I’m always willing to hop onto a crowded bandwagon, here’s mine …
MUSIC Anohni, Hopelessness The year’s most exquisite album is also its angriest. Anohni sings otherworldly arias against drone strikes, climate change, government surveillance and Obama. Thanks to the co-production of Oneohtrix Point Never and Hudson Mohawke, you can even dance an interpretive ballet to it. David Bowie, Blackstar Released days before Bowie’s untimely death, this singular—and intentional—final bow might be the Cultural attachment weirdest farewell in pop history. It’s by smith galtney dark and disorderly and more than a little creepy. Only in the final minutes, when the light shines in, do you realize your hero’s packing up and kissing you goodbye. Beyoncé, “Don’t Hurt Yourself” While just about all of Lemonade is outstanding, this is the one track of 2016 that’s given me chills thus far. It’s not that it’s sung with Jack White (although how cool is that?). It’s not how her voice sounds frayed and deranged (although how delicious is that?). It’s lyrics like, “Who the f*ck do you think I am?/You ain’t married to no average
Beyoncé (Courtesy)
bitch boy/You can watch my fat ass twist boy/As I bounce to the next dick boy.” Day-yum. Rihanna, “Work” & Arianna Grande, “Into You” I hate most of the music I hear at the gym. I’d hate all of it if it weren’t for these ladies.
FILM Everybody Wants Some!! Richard Linklater’s “spiritual sequel” to 1993’s Dazed and Confused has even less structure than its plot-averse predecessor, yet it might be an even better movie. Some got bored following this gang of college baseball players through a weekend in 1980. I had a blast. De Palma. In which co-directors Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow merely point a camera at Brian De Palma and let him talk about his movies for two hours. If you’re the type who loves audio commentaries and Criterion blu-rays, this is absolute bliss. The Lobster. I loved the first half, and then suddenly lost interest. But that first half is easily the most original movie I’ve seen in quite some time. I bet future home viewings will warm me up to the rest.
TV O.J.: Made in America. I ruined the cheesy FX docudrama by watching
this superb five-part documentary first. If you haven’t seen it yet, save it for a hot summer weekend indoors. House of Cards. When this premiered back in 2013, the idea of a murderer like Frank Underwood slithering his way into the White House felt genuinely scary. Now the show feels comforting, almost quaint. That’s not progress. The 70th Annual Tony Awards. It aired the night after the Orlando shooting, so I braced myself for another smug shedding of showbiz tears. But even though Broadway people are 10 times more dramatic than Hollywood folks, they’re way less self-serving. How nice to watch an awards show that had its head only a little up its ass.
BOOKS My social media habits have cut into my reading time this year, but I’m dying to read James McBride’s Kill ’em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul, plus Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs by former MTV VJ Dave Holmes. I did get to Virginia Heffernan’s Magic and Loss: The Internet as Art. Contrary to popular opinion, it sings the praises of digital culture, and even assures that the Internet is actually—wait for it—good for us!
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68 las vegas weekly 06.30.16
Made for all times Reflecting on Pet Sounds and Brian Wilson’s pop genius By Annie Zaleski he Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds turned 50 in May, and Brian Wilson is marking the occasion by performing the entire album— along with various other hits—nightly on a tour that stops at the Joint on July 1. A massive departure from The Beach Boys’ usual sunny surf-pop, Pet Sounds contains many of Wilson’s finest moments as a composer, arranger and producer. The Beatles were such avowed fans of the record, they’ve said it was top of mind as they crafted their own psych-pop classic, 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. (One good turn deserves another: Brian Wilson has stated many times that he found inspiration in The Beatles’ Rubber Soul while making Pet Sounds.) What, exactly, makes Pet Sounds so enduring and beloved? We gave the record a spin (or four) with fresh ears and investigated.
T
1. Its lyrics are straightforward— and vulnerable. Wilson’s sentiments are unsparing and direct, free of flowery metaphors and driven by raw-nerve emotion. Still, there’s complexity to the romantic musings and depth in the self-reflection: “Here Today” wonders if pursuing a love affair is worth the pain, while “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” overflows with longing over an unrequited relationship. The protagonist of “You Still Believe in Me” expresses deep gratitude for having imperfections excused, while the loneliness and social isolation of “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times” feels heartbreaking.
2. Those classic Beach Boys harmonies. Wilson was a perfectionist during the Pet Sounds studio sessions. Considering The Beach Boys were already known for their precise harmonies, additional attention to detail produced dense, lush vocal latticeworks like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.”
3. It doesn’t try too hard to be genius. Fans can usually tell when an artist labors over a record. Pet Sounds, meanwhile, sounds impeccable, imaginative and polished in almost nonchalant ways. The LP doesn’t try to draw attention to its jaw-dropping arrangements, unique sound palette or colorful compositions, allowing Wilson’s songcraft to speak for itself.
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noise
las vegas weekly 06.30.16
Blood and (dis)trust Vegas punks The Gashers celebrate their outraged new LP BY Jason Bracelin poken from a rose garden in Eugene, Oregon, during a recent weekend getaway, Jason Hansen’s words are more suggestive of the flesh-prickling thorns that adorn the flowers than any pretty petals. “I think we’re genuinely pissed off,” the singer/guitarist for Vegas punks The Gashers says. “What happened to punk music? It’s about being angry about what’s going on. Aren’t you pissed off?” The Gashers’ new record, In Trust We Bleed, seems directed at anyone not answering that last question affirmatively. It’s a punk rock call-to-arms, a record that resonates—violently—as a direct product of the times: contentious, combative, ideologically unwavering. On one loud, linear shoutalong after the next, Hansen, drummer Sandy Moreno and bassist James Messina, all of whom take turns on the mic, assail class warfare, income inequality and the perceived limitations of the two-party system with curled lips and clenched fists. It’s an album of maximalist minimalism, these probing, p.o.’d jams getting to the bayonet-sharp point quickly. “Me and Sandy watch a lot of documentaries,” Hansen ex-
S
Brian Wilson, second from the left on the original Pet Sounds cover art, brings the album to life Friday at the Joint. (Courtesy)
4. Its sounds subtly reveal themselves.
5. The record still sounds refreshing.
Sure, the warbling French horn on “God Only Knows” and the flutes and strings on “Let’s Go Away for Awhile” are prominent, impossibleto-miss facets of the record. But no matter how many times you’ve listened to Pet Sounds, each listen seems to reveal a new instrumental texture or flourish—for example, the pitter-patter beats beneath the surface of “Sloop John B,” the imperceptible bass throbs on “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)” and the corkscrew percussion lurking beneath the instrumental title track. The latter comes courtesy of two empty Coca-Cola cans.
After a half-century, Pet Sounds’ whimsical orchestration and hearton-sleeve pop still feels remarkably contemporary. That vibe carries over to Wilson’s live show: He tours with an expansive, gifted backing band that re-creates the album’s plush vocal interplay and whimsical instrumentation—but ensures the music has a vibrant, joyful edge that’s nothing short of life-affirming.
BRIAN WILSON July 1, 8 p.m., $$35-$180. The Joint, 702-693-5222.
plains of The Gashers’ writing process. “We’ll get all fired up on something. ‘Man, this is bullsh*t!’” To wit, “Cannibalistic Cows,” a two-minute rager about the dangers of GMOs. It’s not all furrowed brows and bloody knuckles, though. Midway through the album comes “Bender,” an ode to Judd Nelson’s attitudinal Breakfast Club character. “You gotta have some fun songs like that,” Hansen explains. “Something not-soserious.” The Gashers will celebrate Trust with a July 1 release show at the Double Down, their first live gig in eight months. Though the album was recorded late last summer, it feels like an electionyear record, a snarling indictment of armchair idealism. “If people spent half the time they spend writing all these little political posts on the Internet, if they actually went outside and did something, do you know how different things would be?” Hansen asks. “It drives me nuts.” It drives his band just the same.
THE GASHERS with The Negative Nancys, Vicious Cycle, The Beer Studs. July 1, 10 p.m., free. Double Down Saloon, 702-791-5775.
70 las vegas weekly 06.30.16
‘Stupid and fun’ Garth Brooks gallops back to Vegas and muses about a more permanent return
G
arth Brooks is recording his current tour for a concert film, documenting everything that happens during his shows at T-Mobile Arena and those to follow at Yankee Stadium. “We’re shooting the whole tour as it is right now,” Brooks said during a session with media at T-Mobile on June 24, a few hours before his concert that night. “I’m just being myself, which is full of flaws and being stupid and fun.” Stupid and fun, blended with artistic brilliance and generous theatrics, is how Brooks attacks his performances at T-Mobile. This is the Man Against Machine tour, marking the kats his first full arena report tour since 2000 and by John promoting Brooks’ Katsilometes 2014 album of that title. The tour is also a way for Brooks to appear with his wife, Trisha Yearwood, onstage. Yearwood takes over for a set in the middle of the show and proves once more she’s a legit star, too. But the tour is primarily a saunter through Brooks’ entire catalog. Backed and flanked by big screens showing highlights of his career, the lights blazing and his drummer caged in an LED-trimmed sphere that flashes through the show, Brooks unfurls his greatest hits: “Rodeo,” “The Beaches of Cheyenne,” “The River,” “Two Piña Coladas,” “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til the Sun Comes Up),” “That Summer,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Friends in Low Places” and “The Dance.”
Garth Brooks onstage at T-Mobile Arena. (L.E. Baskow/Staff)
Most everyone in that rowdy crowd at T-Mobile, which for Friday night was not totally sold out but close, knew every word to every song. Brooks’ performance is as explosive and extensive as any world tour you can name, and drew a stark contrast to the unvarnished residency he hosted at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas from 2009 to 2014. Brooks, who strummed an acoustic and sported a hoodie, ball cap, jeans and work boots in those shows, says that was his favorite period as a live performer. He still carries deep affection for his long history in the city, dating to performances at the old Desert Inn (where Wynn and Encore now stand) in 1991, and four sold-out shows at the Thomas & Mack Center in 1998. Brooks grins as he remembers those days, and remains fond of the folks he got to know at Wynn when he performed there. “While I’m in town, my days are going to be spent having lunch with people I met who work there, because you fall in love with them because they’re good people,” he says. “If you’re with good people, they’re going to treat the people who
fill those seats good, too.” need to get the right people on the The instinctive question, then, is bus,” he said. “That’s what makes it what would it take for Garth Brooks fun. If these other people are as nice to return to a Strip residency? “First as Steve Wynn, can make a handshake of all, if you know Steve Wynn, Steve deal and stand behind it, then I’d be Wynn is going to want what you can’t interested to meet with them.” get anywhere else,” Brooks said, Regardless of his decisions about nodding and smiling as he recalled live performance at the conclusion of the days of working at Encore. “So, this tour, Brooks will remain a wily probably, if that were to ever happen and adventurous artist. He rememagain, it would be after you were bered the notorious “pop-up” show he through touring and you’re off and his band played under the GARTH the road and the only place you name Yukon Jack in January BROOKS can play is at the Wynn. 1993 at a tavern in Clovis, New with Trisha “But I’ll tell ya, if the only Mexico. The crew stopped at the Yearwood. July 2, 7 place you can play is the Wynn, bar on the way to singing the nap.m.; July then you’re a lucky guy.” tional anthem at the Rose Bowl. 3, 7 & 10:30 What about the possibility of p.m.; July 4, The cover was $3. 5 p.m.; $80. performing in residency at, say, “We started playing, and T-Mobile the Colosseum at Caesars or the there were nine people in the Arena, 702Park Theater? Brooks played two 692-1600. place,” Brooks said, laughing. non-ticketed, VIP shows at the “By the end it was packed—I Colosseum in 2008, before he mean, totally packed—and this signed with Wynn. The Park Theater was before any social media. We had is slated to open by year’s end, with one pay phone in the place and people officials seeking top artists to perform were on it all night long, calling residencies in the 5,300-seat venue. people to come in. We hung out until “Jim Collins wrote the book called 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning.” Good to Great, one of my favorites, Stupid and fun, right? It’s the and the whole essence is that you Brooks way.
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Heizer’s “Post Historic Screenprint No 2” (top) and “Levitated Mass.” (Courtesy)
fine art
WEEKLY | 06.30.16
Maniacal exactitude ‘City’ builder Michael Heizer reveals his softer side in an MCQ prints show By Dawn-Michelle Baude hink Michael Heizer. Think Nevada and the desert landscapes from which his internationally renowned art works source their power. Near Overton, Heizer’s “Double Negative”—a lodestar in the Land Art movement—spans a canyon, rutting through 1,500 feet of mesa on either side and displacing 244,000 tons of rock in the process. In Garden Valley, near Hiko, Heizer is completing “City,” a monumental sculptural complex worthy of pharaohs—the footprint is a colossal 1.25 miles long, a quarter mile wide and more than four decades in the making. Masterpieces on this scale aren’t designed for urban centers, much less galleries or museums: only the remote, wide-open spaces of the Southwest could frame them. Which makes Michael Heizer at MCQ Fine Art all the more intriguing. The small, choice show of prints suggests that the crotchety artist who famously renounced the art market—rejecting sellable objects for impervious acreage—has a softer side, scarcity of inventory notwithstanding. The seven drypoints, screenprints, lithographs and etchings on display engage familiar Heizer content (line, shape and mass), but reveal a jaunty freedom massive earthworks could never incorporate. Heizer’s mania-
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cal exactitude is everywhere, but transforming fragments of geology tamed by a gestural lyricism that into fetishes worthy of a shaman. only the artist’s hand, not a bullAnother striking print, “Levitated dozer, can supply. Mass” (2015), riffs on the 340-ton Two knockout screenprints, boulder Heizer permanently in“Post Historic Screenprint No 1” stalled at LACMA in 2012. Centrally and “No 2,” feel almost animistic. positioned in the 35-by-94-inch lithoCompleted in 2014, the graph, the boulder bobs amid aaaab geometrical currents—ges46-by-46-inch works MICHAEL feature a tribal palette, tural lines, crosses and circles HEIZER nervy graffiti and imtracing their source, in part, Through ages of stones seemingly to motorcycle-track drawings August 12, vibrating right out of the Heizer inscribed on a dry lake Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–5 picture plane. The uncanny bed near Las Vegas almost 50 p.m. MCQ Fine perspective derives, partly, years ago. The recent marks Art Advisory, from the 23 passes, seven made on lithographic stone 620 S. 7th St., 702-366-9339. are loose, carefree. Recallscreens and up to 23 colors in the printing process, ing ley lines, geoglyphs and coupled with a 14-year petroglyphs, they seemingly compositional gestation. While suspend the boulder in magnetic, the stones appear to be scaled gravitational and atomic fields of down from sculptural studies, energy, as if the boulder itself were Heizer actually did the opposite: commandeering forces of nature. scaled-up small prehistoric tools, As complements to sculptural monumentalizing their mass and projects, Heizer’s prints at MCQ are dramatizing their presence. Mulinformative. As graphic works in tiple contour lines create auras, their own right, they’re revelatory.
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