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DAVE COULIER SUNSET ★ JANUARY 19
JOHN WAITE SANTA FE ★ JANUARY 20
RICHARD CHEESE RED ROCK ★ JANUARY 26
PEABO BRYSON TEXAS ★ FEBRUARY 2
JOHN MAYALL SUNSET ★ MARCH 31
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DENNIS WISE
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06 las vegas weekly 12.21.17
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thu., 7 p.m.
Las Vegas Writes Author Reading & Conversation The theme of 2017’s Las Vegas Writes series is Back to Where You Once Belonged: Las Vegas Writers Weigh the Power of the Past. Vegasbased writers Dan Hernandez, Sarah Jane Woodall, Noah Cicero and T.R. Witcher will read from the anthology at the free Writer’s Block event. –C. Moon Reed
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sat., 8 p.m.
A VERY Britpop Christmas at Bunkhouse SALOON Blur. Oasis. Radiohead. The Stone Roses. If you find yourself listening to those blokes on the regular, head Downtown to catch local indie musicians like Savoir-Faire, Aaron Archer, Joshua Ellis, Trevor Jones and Jose Pancakes paying homage to some of their favorite English rockers. Free. –Leslie Ventura
thru january 6, 8 p.m.
Paul Shaffer & The Shaf-Shifters at Cleopatra’s Barge Life has been a bit slower for Paul Shaffer since his Late Show With David Letterman bandleading duties concluded in 2015. But it’s not as if the composer and multi-instrumentalist has retired. He released an album earlier this year and popped up to perform on both Stephen Colbert’s and Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night shows in recent months. Now he has honed in on his first real Vegas gig, a nine-show “mini-residency” at Caesars Palace’s Cleopatra’s Barge with his hard-hitting funk and pop band, the Shaf-Shifters. “I’ve kidded about this type of performance, the Las Vegas lounge, as have all of my contemporaries. It’s so anachronistic, especially when we were coming up in the rock ’n’ roll era, wearing blue jeans to do Saturday Night Live instead of tuxes,” Shaffer says. “But now I am kind of fulfilling my destiny … and I’m absolutely tickled to do it.” Expect to hear some storytelling stacked between layers of rhythm and blues, with Shaffer nodding to Vegas lounge greats of the past like Louis Prima, Sam Butera and Sarah Vaughan. “I want that feeling, as if the guys from the Rat Pack might drop by after their shows to go onstage,” he says. “There’ll be songs from my idols and the people that inspired me. Right now I like the feel of a mini-residency, like The Who did [at Caesars Palace]. I’m thinking of myself as sort of a shorter Pete Townshend.” $49-$149. –Brock Radke
Rob Winder of Savoir-Faire (center left) and Jose Pancakes (center right) will play the songs of Damon Albarn, Thom Yorke and others at the Bunkhouse. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff/Photo Ilustration)
23 saturday, 8 p.m.
SAQI AT BROOKLYN BOWL Crafting celestial sonic experiments is Luke Solman’s forte. Better known as SaQi, the self-described “mad musical scientist” hones in on his sexy, chilled-out and soulful electronic sound with this month’s release, Temples in the Sky, out on Jumpsuit Records. SaQi weaves in various influences: hip-hop (“Honey”), downtempo electronic (“Dreamtime”), world music (“Radhika Stava”) and more. From the opening title track to the album closer—a remix of the beautifully haunting Louise Lodigensky song “Rites of Passage”—the underground producer and trumpet player isn’t afraid to take risks or shun convention. If his enticingly warm and evocative LP is any indication, you won’t want to miss him when he takes over Brooklyn Bowl with multi-instrumentalists Russ Liquid and Taylor Aglipay to perform live renditions of tracks from Temples in the Sky, plus other, deeper cuts. With Ultimate Fantastic. Free. –Leslie Ventura
07 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 12.21.17
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E V E R Y T H I N G Y O U A B S O L U T E LY, P O S I T I V E LY MUST GET OUT AND DO THIS WEEK
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22 FRIDAY, 7 P.M.
22 & DECEMBER 23
A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS AT HOUSE OF BLUES
CONTINENTAL CLASSIC AT ORLEANS ARENA
Know what could use some fierceness? “White Christmas,” “Santa Baby” and, frankly, anything else Macy’s plays over its PA in December. Lucky for us, eight former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants will apply their sass to holiday favorites for this year’s Drag Queen Christmas tour, hosted by Trinity Taylor. $23-$53. –Mike Prevatt
College basketball tournaments have become a full-on holiday tradition in Las Vegas. The Classic returns to the Orleans Arena for a two-day, eight-game hoops marathon. The participants are San Francisco, Duquesne, Southern Illinois, Radford, UC Davis, Lamar, North Carolina A&T and, yes, those rivals from Reno. The action tips off at noon Friday. $43-$98. –Brock Radke
08 COVER STORY WEEKLY | 12.21.17
These local developments helped brighten an often-bleak 2017
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as Vegas has been a transient and often disconnected city. But after the tragic events of October 1, that changed forever. It’s impossible to list the number of people who came together to assist, offering whatever they had to give. Countless heroes acted bravely during the crisis: first responders, EMTs, police, security, doctors and nurses, along with the regular folks who offered comfort, first aid and rides to safety. After the immediate danger had passed, medical professionals helped victims on their long road to recovery. Restaurants cooked meals, and volunteers delivered them to hospitals. Blood donors overwhelmed blood banks. And a newfound sense of unity prevailed. Then there are the small, invisible ways in which people helped—quiet gestures of friendship and sympathy, a listening ear, emotional support,
random acts of kindness and anonymous donations. More than 88,000 individuals have donated nearly $12 million to the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund, setting a GoFundMe record. Vegas entertainers put on a slew of benefit concerts to honor the victims and raise money to assist family members and survivors. Tattoo artists sold Vegasthemed ink for charity. Counselors offered free crisis therapy. So many volunteers helped build Downtown’s Las Vegas Community Healing garden that they had to take turns, because there weren’t enough tools. “Vegas Strong” is more than a hashtag. It’s a symbol of who we are and what we’re willing to do for each other in the wake of tragedy. If anything from 2017 holds over into the future, let it be the generosity, compassion and community that rose up from something so awful. –C. Moon Reed
D
ustin Hoots was one of the many Las Vegans who shifted into high gear without hesitation on October 1, providing victims with rides to local hospitals. Also that night, the Helpful Hoodlums were born, with a mission of continuing to channel the Valley’s spirit of community. Hoots is one of roughly 40 members, most of whom met within the Vegas music and art scenes. The Hoodlums just helped paint the Shade Tree women’s shelter and are sponsoring a Ska Against Homophobia event on January 11. Hoots says he has already filed for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, in hopes the Hoodlums can make an even bigger impact in 2018. –Leslie Ventura
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
(J. Emilio Flores/The New York Times)
09 COVER STORY WEEKLY | 12.21.17
n a year when the federal government set itself afire, the Nevada Legislature used that heat to do some cooking. The 2017 session was harmonious and amazingly productive, even if you don’t factor in the writing of quick-start regulations that allowed Nevada’s lucrative recreational marijuana industry to launch almost a full year early. The list of legislative accomplishments is long enough that we can only list a few here. This session brought us two new state parks (Walker River State Recreation Area, near Yerington and Tule Springs State Park in North Las Vegas). A measure was placed onto the 2018 ballot that will allow voters to decide if feminine hygiene products should be held exempt from sales tax. The session produced numerous criminal justice reforms, including a measure that forbids state employers from considering a job applicant’s criminal history, except where it’s relevant to the job. A state
cyber-defense office was created; pharmacists are now permitted to dispense up to a year of birth-control medication at once; a new Northern Nevada veterans’ home was funded; UNLV’s new medical school received a financial boost; and a change to net metering regulations made home rooftop solar cost-effective again. There were failures: Education Savings Accounts, which would allow parents to use public money to pay private schools, went down in flames, as did a death penalty ban. But Governor Brian Sandoval proved himself willing to compromise with his Democratic counterparts, and the tireless work In 2017... of Nevada’s female state politicians impressed even The Taco Bell’s Strip New York Times. The location began 2017 Nevada Legisladoubling as a wedding chapel. ture ruled. –Geoff Carter
t’s like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: You don’t want your economy to be too hot or too cold. You want it to be just right,” says Stephen M. Miller, director of UNLV’s Center for Business & Economic Research. “I’d say that we’re in the Goldilocks phase.” The professor recently wrote an economic outlook report for 2018, which predicts a bright future for the local economy, especially in construction. “I see orange cones everywhere I drive,” Miller says, pointing to projects like the Raiders’ stadium, Interstate 11 and new schools and convention spaces. “We actually have a shortage of construction workers.” Unemployment is down, and housing prices are up, pulling most homeowners out from ruin (we’ve improved from 70 percent underwater in 2010 to 10.6 percent, Miller says). And yet, as the Los Angeles Times noted this month, we’re still affordable enough to lure Californians to our desert for a middle-class lifestyle that eludes them back home. In 2017, local economic growth slowed a little. But don’t panic—that can be a good thing. “As you In 2017... recover, you’d hope that you’re growing at a decent pace,” Miller says, explaining that our 2 UNLV’s medical percent population growth rate is preferable school to when it was twice that. After running too enrolled hot and too cold, we’re finally seeing sustainits first class of able, manageable growth that’s just right. students. –C. Moon Reed
10 COVER STORY
In 2017...
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
Local chicken favorite Flock and Fowl opened a Downtown location.
(L.E. Baskow/Staff)
(L.E. Baskow/Staff)
WEEKLY | 12.21.17
as Vegas’ first major-league sports franchise was always destined for immortality, but the Golden Knights have somehow transcended even that. From management’s deft handling of June’s expansion draft to the deep connection between players and community forged in the shadow of October’s terrible tragedy to the squad’s surprisingly strong start on the ice these past few months, these men from Manitoba, Minnesota and beyond will forever qualify as Las Vegans, through and through. The Knights are the hottest ticket in town, and though that can’t last forever, it already seems clear hockey in the desert can. Arriving first—before the NFL or NBA—was critical for the NHL, which has begun educating newbies
about the wonders of its game. Here in the U.S., hockey often gets billed last among the “big four,” but watching these first 30-odd games, a serious case can be made that its most exciting moments actually rank first. Years from now, when Las Vegas has everything In 2017... its sports fans have ever wanted—domed stadiums, championship trophies, Super Bowl halftime shows—we’ll look back and remember that these Golden Knights started it all. Wherever this season ultimately leads (and Black bears returned it’s looking like it’ll lead straight into the to Nevada for the playoffs), this team brought something truly first time in 80 years. enjoyable to a tough 2017. –Spencer Patterson
In 2017...
11 COVER STORY WEEKLY | 12.21.17
017 was all about the cones. Those pointy little orange devils were everywhere: on the eastern leg of the 215 Beltway, where a new flyover lane was added to the McCarran Airport Connector; in the northwest, where a new Spaghetti Bowl-style exchange is being constructed between the 215 and U.S. 95; in the Arts District, where Main and Commerce streets are being reconfigured into one-way “complete streets”; in Boulder City, where a leg of Interstate 11 is being built to speed travel times to and from Arizona; and most notably, at I-15 and U.S. 95, where the massive “Project Neon”—Nevada’s largest-ever public works endeavor—is enlarging the capacity of Las Vegas’ existing Spaghetti Bowl, and hopefully eliminating this city’s worst nightly traffic jam. (For a few more years, anyway. We really, really, really need light rail.) Needless to say, all those “zipper merges” and overnight ramp closures are supremely annoying. But Southern Nevada is still growing—and doing this road work today will allow the city’s seams to expand tomorrow. –Geoff Carter
evada government acted with rare speed and urgency this year when it came to ushering in recreational marijuana, made legal by voters in 2016. In a cash-strapped state yearning for economic diversification—and to get ahead of neighboring California, whose voters also approved legal weed last year—lawmakers, the burgeoning cannabis industry and even Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval got behind state Sen. Tick Segerblom’s goal of an early start program that would precede Question 2’s original January 2018 implementation goal by six months. Mission accomplished—and then some. With regulations and infrastructure largely—and swiftly—established, July 1 saw dispensaries flanked by large, snaking queues of people. Sales hit $27 million in recreational cannabis’ first month, grew
to $33 million in August and totaled nearly $128 million by the end of October— surpassing all projections and resulting in more than $19 million in taxes earmarked for the state’s rainy day and education funds. With California, Massachusetts and other states significantly behind the curve, Nevada set a new standard for bureaucracy-thwarting efficiency. There’s more work to be done. The state must ultimately settle the issue of distribution licenses pitting the marijuana and alcohol industries against one another. And thanks to the casinos’ marijuana ban (mostly a result of federal prohibition), municipal governments will individually decide whether to permit Amsterdamstyle clubs where tourists (and locals) can legally consume cannabis. If they do, the bud boom stands to reach even greater highs. –Mike Prevatt
(Sun File)
Project Neon’s “Big Squeeze” freewayconstruction project finished ahead of schedule.
oteco is an innovative wine bar and small plates emporium near Silverado Ranch, exactly the kind of delicious little spot you want in your neighborhood. The Black Sheep is a refined, chef-driven restaurant with Vietnamese influences that instantly raised the cool factor in its area when it opened this year. A few miles away in the southwest, Elia is serving beautifully simple, Strip-quality Greek cuisine. Turn to Page 68 and you’ll find all three among our favorite new restaurants, but they have something else in common: They came out of nowhere. Someone from our talent-rich hospitality industry breaks out and opens a local restaurant every year, and we wait with breathless anticipation to see how great it will be. But in 2017, a In 2017... generous handful of eateries arrived that we didn’t know to anticipate, which makes each bite even better. When so many delicious and distinct dining Popular ’70s bar destinations are popping up at a rapid Starboard Tack pace, it’s clear our local restaurant scene renovated and relaunched. has reached the next level. –Brock Radke
COVER STORY WEEKLY | 12.21.17
Las Vegas music stars The Killers, Imagine Dragons and Shamir all released new albums.
In 2017...
017 was a difficult year—so much so that finding time for necessities like cooking felt like an extra burden. Couple that with the coping mechanism known as stress eating, and there’s no telling how many pizzas I was on track to eat. Thankfully, a friend tipped me off to the Heavenly Vegan, and since then I’ve felt so much better. The local meal-prep company makes healthy and flavorful plantbased meals packaged in perfectly portioned to-go containers. It has made it easy replacing that cheesy slice of pie with something like fresh zucchini pasta—and it helped me kick-start my weight-loss goals. I’ll start 2018 with one less thing to worry about. –Leslie Ventura
Literary magazine The Believer relocated to Las Vegas—and launched an annual festival.
(Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau)
In 2017...
(Miranda Alam/Special to the Weekly)
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ry telling Mormon LGBT youth that “it gets better.” They’ll most likely respond by saying it won’t—not if they remain faithful to the church. Which is why an alarming number of them commit suicide. Those youth now have an unlikely ally: Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds, a heterosexual Mormon whose marriage and experiences with religion and depression led him to question—and then speak out against—the way the church denigrates its LGBT faithful. Words turned into action in August when he organized LiveLoud, a benefit music festival in Utah that drew attention to LGBT suicide—and some 20,000 attendees. He followed that by executive-producing and starring in a documentary called Believer that also addresses Mormon stigmatization of LGBT youth. It debuts at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah next year. “I just want to do everything I can to help our LGBTQ youth know they are not sinful,” Reynolds told Out magazine in August. “They’re perfect, wonderful and lovely the way they are, and if there is a God, that God loves them.” –Mike Prevatt
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las vegas weekly 12.21.17
fish story A woman falls in love with an aquatic creature in The Shape of Water By Josh Bell mute woman falling in love with a sea monster sounds like the storyline for a Bmovie that would get mocked on Mystery Science Theater 3000, not a sensitive and visually accomplished fantasy drama with a real shot at winning a bunch of Oscars. But in The Shape of Water, director and co-writer Guillermo del Toro manages to turn that premise into something beautiful and occasionally moving, if not quite as emotionally rich as it aims to be. Set in 1962, Water stars Sally Hawkins as the mute Elisa, part of the housekeeping staff at a secret government facility in Baltimore, the kind of place that seems to employ exclusively mad scientists. Their latest find is an aquatic creature pulled from the depths of South America that looks a little like a more detailed and lifelike version of the title character of Creature From the Black Lagoon. Played by del Toro monster favorite Doug Jones, the humanoid amphibian has expressive eyes and movements, and while it can’t
A
speak, it forms a bond with Elisa based on shared to build a believable love story, and all the prosthetoutsider status and the lonely woman’s extension ics in the world can’t match up to Hawkins’ perof simple kindness. formance. Shannon plays the same casually cruel That’s in contrast to the sadistic Col. Strickvillain he has played in numerous past productions, land (Michael Shannon), who views the creature and Octavia Spencer does her best with the stereoas an abomination to be dissected and typical role of Elisa’s sassy, supportive destroyed, used only for what advantagbest friend and co-worker. aaacc es it can give to the U.S. military. With If the story and the character work THE SHAPE OF the help of her equally lonely painter don’t quite come together, del Toro reWATER neighbor Giles (Richard Jenkins), a mains a master of style and atmosphere, Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, closeted gay man, Elisa hatches a plan to and the detail in every setting, from the Richard Jenkins. rescue the creature and set it free. She’s dank laboratory to Elisa’s beautifully Directed by more than just sympathetic to a miscrumbling apartment, is intricate and Guillermo del Toro. Rated R. Opens treated animal, though; they obviously inviting. Both Elisa and Giles are fans Friday in select have a romantic and sexual connection, of classic cinema, living in apartments theaters. which del Toro eventually makes explicabove a vintage movie house, and at one itly clear, but the romantic aspect of the point del Toro even pauses for an oldstory is never as convincing or engaging school dance number. Water is full of as it should be. stylish moments like that, lovely to behold but a Jones and the makeup and effects teams make bit too precious and composed to stir much more the creature empathetic, but it takes more than that than admiration.
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LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 12.21.17
EAT THE RICH GREED TRUMPS FAMILY IN ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD
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Beauty and the beast share a tender moment in The Shape of Water. (Fox Searchlight/Courtesy)
GAME ON
is now an old-school video game. The four teenagers who stumble upon the game have to navigate the treacherous jungle while trapped in the bodies of their video-game avatars: Nerdy Spencer is now a buff action hero (Dwayne Johnson); jock Fridge is It would probably be a stretch to call 1995’s Junow a diminutive sidekick (Kevin Hart); shy Martha manji “beloved,” but for a certain generais now a martial-arts badass (Karen GilAAACC tion of kids, it was always around, which lan); and popular girl Bethany is now a JUMANJI: gives it the perfect level of brand awarepaunchy male professor (Jack Black). WELCOME TO ness for a Hollywood remake. Thankfully, The filmmakers get a lot of comedic THE JUNGLE Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle boasts mileage out of the contrast between the Dwayne Johnson, a fresh take on the central premise (a characters’ personalities and their new Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black. physical appearances, and the story plays jungle-adventure board game that Directed by comes to life), some surprisout like an action-fantasy Breakfast Club. Jake Kasdan. ingly sharp writing and a Rated PG-13. Now With its sometimes questionable risqué playing citywide. talented, enthusiastic humor, Jungle is less kid-friendly than its cast with genuine predecessor, and it gets too bogged down chemistry. in blockbuster set pieces toward the end. In this quasi-sequel, players But it also proves that there’s no reason a movie that are forcibly pulled into the exists primarily to refresh a studio’s intellectual world of Jumanji, which property can’t still be fun to watch. –Josh Bell
JUMANJI MAKES A SURPRISINGLY FUN RETURN
A gang of thugs connected to organized crime kidnap a teenager and hold him for ransom in All the Money in the World, but the movie’s real villain is ruthless billionaire J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer), who in 1973 flatly refused to pay any money for the return of his grandson J. Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer). Ridley Scott’s slick, tense film about the real-life kidnapping saga is sometimes overly concerned with laying out every detail of the case (even if some of those details are fictional), but it features a number of taut, suspenseful set pieces and strong performances from Michelle Williams and the elder Plummer (whose work is even more remarkable given that he was a last-minute replacement for the ousted Kevin Spacey). Young Paul’s mother Gail (Williams) would do anything to get her son back, but she can’t convince her former father-in-law to part with a single dime. Instead he sends former CIA agent Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlberg) to find and retrieve Paul, a tactic that proves mostly ineffective. Chase’s skills and Wahlberg’s performance are both somewhat superfluous, but the central battle of wills between Gail and Getty is fascinating. Scott captures it all with a gray color palette that creates a feeling of claustrophobia, with Getty’s immense riches keeping his relatives trapped just as effectively as any kidnapper can. –Josh Bell
AAABC ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg. Directed by Ridley Scott. Rated R. Opens Monday citywide.
16 screen
WEEKLY | 12.21.17
Gary Oldman’s Winston Churchill rallies support in Darkest Hour. (Focus Features/Courtesy)
The write stuff Aaron Sorkin takes charge for the entertaining Molly’s Game
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As a screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin tends to make his presence known regardless of whom his collaborators are, even big-time directors with strong artistic visions like David Fincher (The Social Network) or Danny Boyle (Steve Jobs). So Sorkin finally taking on directorial duties himself for Molly’s Game is less about making his voice heard than about making sure nothing gets in his way. There’s no distracting visual style here to obscure Sorkin’s words, which are often delivered in huge chunks of voiceover by a fierce Jessica Chastain as the movie’s title character. But those words are as smart and witty as ever, and Chastain’s Molly Bloom is a prime Sorkin protagonist, a type-A overachiever in both academics and athletics (as a former Olympiclevel skier) who makes millions of dollars running underground poker games for celebrities and the ultra-wealthy. Based on the real-life Bloom’s memoir, the movie charts her rise and fall (after being indicted for connections to the Russian mob), and is more entertaining at its dizzying heights than at its sometimes heavyhanded emotional lows. With no one holding him back, Sorkin lets his writing do the talking, and his words (delivered passionately by Chastain and Idris Elba, among others) carry the movie. –Josh Bell
aaabc MOLLY’S GAME Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner. Directed by Aaron Sorkin. Rated R. Opens Monday in select theaters.
Total transformation Gary Oldman becomes Winston Churchill in the uneven Darkest Hour By Mike D’Angelo or the first 10 or 15 minutes of DarkWe know what decision he made, of course, est Hour, it’s hard to do anything but but Darkest Hour does a solid job—for a while, gape. Gary Oldman has undergone anyway—of exploring the strategic and emotional many a physical transformation over contours of those crucial weeks. The film craftthe course of his long career, but seeing him ily stays out of Churchill’s head, for the most as Winston Churchill still astounds; he truly part, deflecting his feelings onto supporting disappears beneath the makeup (by characters; it’s a powerful moment Kazuhiro Tsuji) and mannerisms, when his secretary (Lily James) can’t aaacc which paradoxically means that initially bring herself to type the last DARKEST HOUR you’re constantly looking for him. few words of an order he’s dictating, Gary Oldman, Eventually, though, that impulse which will almost surely result in nuLily James, settles down, and it’s possible to get merous British soldiers being killed Ben Mendelsohn. drawn into the tumult of mid-1940, (in order to save many more). Directed by Joe Wright. when Churchill replaced Neville Sadly, screenwriter Anthony Rated PG-13. Chamberlain as the U.K.’s Prime McCarten betrays history in the Opens Friday in Minister and was faced with the home stretch, inventing a ludicrous select theaters. seemingly impossible mass evacusequence in which Churchill takes ation of 300,000 soldiers trapped the London underground and on the beaches of France (as previously seen crowdsources his final decision regarding posfrom another angle in Dunkirk). Like Steven sible peace talks with Germany. Combined with Spielberg’s Lincoln, the film takes a deep dive some needless visual showboating by director Joe into political machinations, as the appeaseWright (Atonement), this phony populist gesture ment wing of Churchill’s war council pressures undermines the sense of authenticity that Darkhim to negotiate with Hitler rather than risk a est Hour requires. Without it, we’re just marveldevastating defeat. ing at a superficial tour de force.
F
Scott Kirkland brings The Crystal Method back to Las Vegas for a night. (Courtesy)
17 NOISE
WEEKLY | 12.21.17
Two decades of ‘Vegas’ Scott Kirkland brings The Crystal Method back to its birthplace Between shows on the road, Kirkland also created the score for the award-winning documentary Hired Gun, and he Crystal Method holds a special place in the wrote the theme for a new Guillermo del Toro animated hearts of many Las Vegans. Scott Kirkland and series for Netflix. He adds that he hopes to have a new Ken Jordan are both native sons, and the title of Crystal Method album out by the summer. “Hopetheir groundbreaking electronic album, fully at the end of 2018 I’ll have a sort of Vegas 1997’s Vegas, tipped its hat to the musicians’ origiThe nal stomping grounds. We caught up with Kirkland Crystal reimagined, score-like take on it with orchestral stuff—kind of a fun expansion of Vegas.” to talk about the 20th anniversary of that record Method For Kirkland’s holiday homecoming, he’ll preas The Crystal Method returns to town for a set at December 23, 9 p.m., view cuts from his forthcoming album, and plans to Beauty Bar …with one significant alteration. $20. Beauty throw in some fan favorites and surprises. “I play a “Ken retired [to Costa Rica] about 20 months Bar, 702 lot of TCM, but I also do a ‘through the years’ sort of ago,” says Kirkland, who has been working on a new 598-3757. thing. I play a lot of stuff that was out in the late ’90s Crystal Method album—solo—while celebrating his and early 2000s. I’ve done a bunch of crazy bootlegs clean bill of health after undergoing brain surgery of AC/DC and Black Sabbath and different things. to remove a cyst in 2013. “This year I said, ‘I want to I just tend to have a lot of fun, play things that I want to go out and just play. I don’t need a big tour, man.’ It’s been play and try to make people smile.” He adds, “I’m just a great year of touring, lots of great shows and interesting grateful and appreciative that Ken and I were able to crevenues, opening for Tool and [playing] arenas. I’m superate Vegas and that it found its way into people’s lives and psyched about the new album, and super-psyched about has continued to allow us to do so many different things.” the opportunity to go back out and do things on my own.”
By Deanna Rilling
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THE COLOSSEUM
It’ll be impossible to Grinch out if you catch Mimi’s last Vegas Christmas show at Caesars Palace Friday night.
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DJ ANIMAT IO N
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24 sun
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S O NNY D IGI TAL
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He’ll be in Singapore on New Year’s Eve for the grand opening of the new Lavo, but Ruckus will rock Marquee just for you this weekend.
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VINYL
Hit the Hard Rock Hotel’s smaller concert venue to catch a set from one of hip-hop’s fastest-rising young producers.
SAQ I
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RUC KUS
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Portland-based composer, producer and trumpet player SaQi brings an eclectic, electronic dance party to the Bowl Saturday night.
soundscape
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“I
’ve had a really good journey through Vegas, but you know what they say—there’s no place like home.” Afrojack is returning to Wynn Nightlife in 2018, ready to spin at XS and Encore Beach Club. We recently caught up with the superstar DJ and producer to talk about his homecoming—he was a Wynn resident from 2011 to 2013.
courtesy photo
c k a c k
What about the current club and music culture on the Las Vegas Strip made this the right time to go back to Wynn? It’s where I grew up, where I started and what I feel I really need right now. XS is still the [place] to test new tracks and feel the vibe of the current [musical] situation in America. But it’s not just the clubs; it’s the property. Every time I’ve been at Encore or Wynn during EDC or any time of year, I always feel there’s a lot of culture spread across the dancefloor. There are a lot of people from New York and LA and other places heading to Wynn, and that’s a big translator for me to see what’s going on in the music scene. I’m doing a lot of experimenting with hip-hop and
more crossover stuff, and this is a great place to do more of that. That’s how those songs get created; we kind of mash up everything we experience at the clubs. You’ve released so much new music the past three months. Have you been more prolific in terms of creating lately or are you just putting stuff out more often? I’m just putting more out there. I have five singles coming in January. There used to be more pressure to put out big club records and focus on more big, commercial singles, because that’s how the labels make money. But I need to stay true to myself, and it’s going really well. I’m getting all types of feedback. I think I have around 400 songs ready to go on my laptop, so it’s just about making the selections of which ones will be out over the next year. –Brock Radke
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ne of the most successful headlining productions of the modern era of Las Vegas Strip entertainment is coming to a close on New Year’s Eve. It was this time of year in 2013 that Britney: Piece of Me made its debut at the Axis at Planet Hollywood, originally set for a two-year run of 100 shows. Britney Spears’ worldwide fanbase, however, wanted more. When it concludes, Piece of Me will have notched 249 shows in Las Vegas and more than 900,000 tickets sold (according to a Billboard projection).
Spears’ show—a musical and visual spectacle that combines elements of a concert tour with the full-on fabulous excess associated with traditional Strip productions—will be remembered as the next step of the resident headliner trend ignited by Celine Dion in 2003. Conventional wisdom would have Britney returning to the Strip for another run in the coming years, perhaps after an album and tour cycle; her 2016 release Glory generated some new hits and acclaim she hadn’t received since 2008’s Circus. Plus, the pop star has gushed about how much she loves perform-
ing in Las Vegas. Spears and Axis grew into an ideal pairing, as will be demonstrated with four more shows. Britney: Piece of Me at the Axis at Planet Hollywood, December 27, 28, 30 & 31. –Brock Radke
CHARLES SYKES/AP PHOTO
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H y p n o t i c c o m e b a c k C h r i s t o p h e r
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pend some time this holiday season with your #TranceFamily when the legendary Christopher Lawrence brings the warm vibes to counteract the chilly Vegas winter. We caught up with the veteran artist, who stops by the Sahara Lounge on December 23.
courtesy photo
A lot has changed in the world of trance music. Critics said it was dead for a while, but now it’s back and bigger than ever. Trance had been the biggest sound all around the world for probably 10 years. But like everything, people want to hear something a little bit different. And the [difference] was EDM and that big-room EDM sound has dominated, especially in Vegas. Nobody wanted trance for a while there, and it’s really nice that it’s come back. You’ve been playing massive festivals like Dreamstate in recent years, but you’re playing an intimate room here in Vegas. What kind of set will you spin? When you play a club and it’s more intimate, you can play stuff that’s got more subtleties. You can play tracks that are more delicate or have more finesse. You can play a sound that is more diverse.
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Your Pharmacy imprints are releasing a steady stream of new music from fresh artists. I would meet people when I was on the road and they’d hand me CDs—back when there were CDs. I would bring it back to my studio after the weekend and just be blown away that this random person that I met at the show was making this really good music. That’s why I started Pharmacy Music. It was a way to put out my own music as well as music that wasn’t being put out anywhere else. As the label grew, it split. Pharmacy Music is psytrance only, and Pharmacy Plus is more traditional trance and progressive house. We’ve got stuff coming out almost every week on one or the other, so it’s really exciting. Christopher Lawrence at the Sahara Lounge, December 23. –Deanna Rilling
New Year’s Eve
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cl i q u e lo u n g e s ka m b a d sa n ta INDU STRY pa rty Photographs by Wade Vandervort
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he irreverent, all-fun Sex Tips for Straight Women From a Gay Man has defied the odds in Las Vegas. A stage sensation in New York City, the show debuted at Paris Las Vegas in May and has been drawing a diverse audience ever since, growing into one of the more unique and unexpected entertainment offerings on the Strip. Co-stars Kendra Wilkinson and Jai Rodriguez have played essential roles in Sex Tips’ early success, but some newbies are taking over in 2018. Beginning on January 4, Wilkinson’s role as Robyn will be taken over by
model and actress Scheana Shay, best known as one of the stars of the Bravo reality hit Vanderpump Rules. Rodriguez’s position as Dan Anderson—the character based on one of the original co-writers of the Sex Tips cult hit book—will be handled by Chester Lockhart, an actor and singer seen on Todrick Hall’s MTV show. The new performers should pick up where their predecessors are leaving off and inject new energy into a thriving show known for just that. “Leaving the show is bittersweet. The producers really allowed me to expand upon the role and make it my
own,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “I’ll be forever thankful to have been given that freedom, and I’m over the moon that two of my great friends— Scheana and Chester—are stepping into roles that I’ve always known they [were] born to play.” You can still catch Rodriguez and Wilkinson through January 2 in Sex Tips at the Anthony Cools Showroom at Paris.
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hen is a buffet more than a buffet? When an already highquality experience is upgraded with a chef-curated selection of dishes served straight to the diner.
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The chef’s table concept might seem an odd fit for a traditional Las Vegas buffet, but it has been worked into some of the Strip’s biggest and best. And the new Chef’s Table Experience at the Mirage’s Cravings is affordable and accessible. You’ll gain access to the entire Cravings buffet, already one of the best out there, along with a special meal providing the kitchen’s skilled craftsmen a chance to show off. For an additional $20, guests are seated at a special table and presented with five courses. The meal within a meal begins with a mini caprese salad and assorted sushi, along with toasted garlic bread. From there, a more decadent salad featuring citrus and goat cheese is served alongside a lovely charcuterie and cheese board that includes
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duck prosciutto and imported Spanish manchego cheese. Entrées include an expertly prepared Angus beef sirloin with chimichurri and turkey roulades wrapped in bacon; grilled vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes act as the accompaniments. As a finale, a tableside presentation breathes new life into chocolate lava cake. Chefs paint a white serving board with chocolate and raspberry sauces, top it with individual cakes and even brûlée some marshmallows. The flavors match the spectacle. If you’re looking to double down on your all-you-can-eat meal, Cravings’ Chef’s Table makes for a worthy indulgence. The Chef’s Table Experience at Cravings at the Mirage, 702-791-7111; daily 4-9 p.m. –Jason Harris
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s there a more versatile cocktail than the Moscow Mule? It’s simple yet sophisticated. It refreshes in the summer and has enough festive spice to make sense during these fall and winter holidays. And you can add just about any flavor you can dream up to the classic lime-vodka-ginger mix—it’s a cocktail canvas ready and waiting for your creativity. Tom’s Urban, the upbeat restaurant
planted right on the Strip at the New York-New York casino, has a similarly flexible bar program serving every type of libation imaginable. And Tom’s seasonal mule mixes plenty of Christmas cheer into the recipe, pepping up the traditional recipe with a particularly sharp ginger brew, tart cranberry juice and muddled fresh blackberries and mint. Fruity, fierce and fun, the Twig & Berries mule is too good to have just one ... but too great to last forever. Head
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C o c k t a i l
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P o l l a r d
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W y n n
A
ndrew Pollard is one of the most recognizable faces on the Las Vegas cocktail scene. If you occasionally enjoy yourself tippling, you’re likely to have encountered the exceptionally attired and well-coiffed mixologist—possibly with a Fernet-Branca in hand—at cocktail events and watering holes across the Vegas Valley. Now, after six years with Breakthru Beverage, he has returned to the Strip as the assistant director of beverage development at Wynn Las Vegas.
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n i c k C o l e t s o s / Sp e c i a l T o w e e k l y
It’s as if Pollard was destined for the role. As a teen, with the approval of some apparently very understanding parents, he built himself a fully functional bedroom wet bar for entertaining. And he’s been entertaining since his very first Rusty Nail (“I had Drambuie!”). With a local career that has taken him from Henderson’s Al’s Garage to the Cosmopolitan’s Vesper Bar, Pollard brings a varied background to Wynn. As his roles have changed and progressed, so has his palate. The “Fernet Guy,” as he’s known in some circles, hated that bitter amaro the first time he tried it. But because of the ever-evolving industry tradition of the bartender’s handshake—a shot shared amongst barkeeps—Grand Marnier begat
Bénédictine, which gave away to Chartreuse, then amari and finally Fernet because, “There’s nowhere else to go. It’s the end of the line.” Pollard reflects wistfully on his Cosmopolitan days, which, he says, “changed the way Las Vegas is drinking today. We tried something different, something that hadn’t been done before, and it worked. We really took a chance.” He’s excited about “moving the needle” on an already fantastic cocktail culture at Wynn, where he’ll be overseeing development and assisting more than 20 venues dotted across both Wynn and Encore. He’s particularly excited about being intimately involved in the upcoming Paradise Park project. Could a destination cocktail bar a la Herbs & Rye or Vesper be in the resorts’ future? Pollard replies with a wry smile. “It is. It absolutely is.” Consider us excited. –Jim Begley
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CH ATEAU 12/29 DJ Dre Dae. 12/30 DJ Bayati. 1/3 DJ Strip. 1/4 DJs Bayati & Casanova. 1/5 DJ Eddey. 1/6 DJ Shadowred. Paris, Wed-Sat, 702-776-7770. DRAI’ S
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12/24 Sami Beigi. 12/28 DJ Esco. 12/29 Trey Songz. 12/30 Future. 12/31 Chris Brown. Cromwell, Tue, Thu-Sun, 702-777-3800. EM BASSY 12/21 DJ Shark. 12/22 DJ Animation. 12/23 DJ Fuzion. 3355 Procyon St., Thu-Sat, 702-6096666. F O U NDATIO N
RO O M
12/22 DJ Seany Mac. 12/23 DJ Mark Mac. 12/29 Kay The Riot. 12/30 DJ Sam I Am. 1/5 DJ Excel. 1/6 DJ D-Miles. Mandalay Bay, nightly, 702-632-7631. F OX TAIL SLS, Fri-Sat, 702-761-7621.
H Y DE 12/22 DJ Karma. 12/23 DJ Gordo. 12/26 DJ E-Rock. 12/27 DJ Kittie. 12/29 DJ Ikon. 12/30 DJ Konflikt. 12/31 DJ Hollywood. Bellagio, nightly, 702-693-8700.
LIGHT
12/22 DJ Sincere. 12/23 Kid Funk. 12/27 DJ Neva. 12/29 Metro Boomin. 12/30 T-Pain. 12/31 Ludacris. 1/3 Kid Funk. 1/5 DJ J-Nice. 1/6 DJ E-Rock. Mandalay Bay, Wed, Fri-Sat, 702-6324700.
12/21 Justin Credible. 12/23 Enferno. 12/28 DJ Five. 12/29 Enferno. 12/30 Jermaine Dupri. 12/31 Gucci Mane. 1/4 DJ Five. 1/6 Justin Credible. Venetian, Thu-Sat, 702-388-8588. XS
MARQUEE
INTRIG U E 12/29 RL Grime. 12/30 Cheat Codes. 12/31 Marshmello. 1/5 Lost Kings. Wynn, Thu-Sat, 702-770-7300.
TAO
12/22 Ruckus. 12/23 Andrew Rayel. 12/25 TM Bax. 12/29 Galantis. 12/30 DJ Mustard. 12/31 French Montana. 1/1 DJ Mustard. 1/6 DJ Mustard. Cosmopolitan, Mon, Fri-Sat, 702-3339000.
12/29 Marshmello. 12/30 Diplo. 12/31 The Chainsmokers. 1/1 Diplo. 1/5 Marshmello. 1/6 The Chainsmokers. 1/7 Marshmello. 1/9 The Chainsmokers. Encore, Fri-Mon, 702-7700097.
JANUARY 17TH
JEFF EVANS VS ERIC DAVISON
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12/15/2017 12:03:31 PM
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12/31 Rhythm Nation. 1/20 Najee. 2/17 The Special EFX All Stars. 2/24 Average White Band. 3/10 Russ Freeman & The Rippingtons. 3/24 Blue Öyster Cult. Aliante Casino, 702692-7777.
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12/28-12/31 Britney Spears. 1/17-1/27 Pitbull. 1/31-2/17 Backstreet Boys. 2/21-3/3 Jennifer Lopez. 3/9-3/17 Lionel Richie. 3/24-4/21 Jennifer Lopez. Planet Hollywood, 702-7776737. B R O O K LY N
BOWL
12/23 SaQi. 12/29 Dizzy Wright. 12/30 3LAU. 12/31 Ja Rule & Ashanti. 1/6 Another Journey. 1/16 K. Flay. 1/17 G3. 2/1 Rebel Souljahz. 2/7 Fetty Wap. 2/9 Stick Figure & Twiddle. 2/13 Lettuce. 2/16 Tribal Seeds. 2/22 Dark Star Orchestra. 2/27 Celebrating David Bowie. 3/14 Donavon Frankenreiter. 3/15 Hippie Sabotage. 3/24 Ministry. 3/27 Galactic. 3/30 The Darkness. 3/31 Senses Fail. Linq Promenade, 702-862-2695.
TH E
CH ELSEA
12/22 Lindsey Stirling. 12/24 Louis Yan. 12/29 Zac Brown Band. 12/30 Duran Duran. 12/31 Foo Fighters. 1/12-1/13 Willie Nelson & Family. 1/20 Spoon. 1/27 Adam Sandler. 2/16 Queens of the Stone Age. 2/17 Cake. 3/9 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-6797. CH R O M E
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1/20 John Waite. 1/27 Dennis Wise. Santa Fe Station, 702-658-4900.
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12/21-1/6 Paul Shaffer & The Shaf-Shifters. Caesars Palace, 702-731-7333. T HE
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12/22 Mariah Carey. 12/30-1/20 Celine Dion. 1/31-2/3 Van Morrison. 2/9-3/2 Elton John. 3/9-3/10 Jerry Seinfeld. 3/14-3/24 Reba, Brooks & Dunn. 3/27-4/18 Celine Dion. Caesars Palace, 866-227-5938. DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS EVENTS CENTER 12/29-12/30 Boys Noize & Gorgon City. 4/204/21 Las Rageous. 200 S. Third St., 800-7453000.
EN CORE
T HEAT ER
1/10-1/20 John Fogerty. 1/26-1/31 The Moody Blues. 2/7-2/24 Diana Ross. 2/28-3/10 Elvis Costello. Wynn, 702-770-9966. T HE
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12/22 A Drag Queen Christmas. 12/30 The Dan Band. 12/31 Pennywise. 1/6 Holiday Hangover. 1/12-1/13 Marilyn Manson. 1/14 The Minimalists. 1/24-2/3 Santana. 1/25 Gilberto Santa Rosa. 2/8 Jeezy. 2/10 Judah & The Lion. 2/17 Beth Hart. 2/18 Theory of a Deadman. 2/23 Black Label Society. 2/25 Josh Turner. 3/1 Machine Head. 3/2 Black Veil Brides & Asking Alexandria. 3/3 Walk Off the Earth. 3/6 K. Michelle. 3/9 Stone Temple Pilots. 3/10 PVRS. 3/17 Psychedelic Furs. 3/24 J Boog. 3/27 Michael Schenker Fest. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. T H E
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1/7 Markiplier. 1/12 Tracy Morgan. 1/20 The National. 1/27 AVN Awards Show. 2/2-2/3 Incubus. 2/23-3/3 Nickelback. 2/28 A Day to Remember. 3/8 Datsik. 3/16-3/17 Kenny Chesney. 3/30-3/31 Incubus. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5000. M A N D A L AY B AY EVENTS CENTER
FOUN DRY
1/12 Dylan Scott. SLS, 702-761-7617. GOLDEN N UGGET SHOW ROOM 12/29 Loverboy. 1/5 Lita Ford. 1/12 Rick Derringer. 1/19 The Association. 1/26 Ambrosia. 2/2 Eddie Money. 2/9 America. 2/16 Orleans. 2/23 Tonic. 3/9 Grand Funk Railroad. 3/16 Tommy James & The Shondells. 3/23 Jeffrey Osborne. Golden Nugget, 866946-5336. GRAN D
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1/6 The King Symphonic. Green Valley Ranch Resort, 702-617-7777.
12/30-12/31 Maroon 5. 2/16 Lana Del Rey. 3/24 Kid Rock. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7777. MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA 12/23-12/24 Persian Stars with Ebi, Shahram Solati, Dariush & more. 12/28 The Original Misfits. 2/3 The Killers. 2/10 Shakira. 3/3 Demi Lovato. MGM Grand, 702-521-3826.
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12/22-12/23 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic. 1/26 Gran Concierto Baile. 1/27 Latin Hip-Hop Comedy Jam. 2/10 Love Affair Concert with GQ, Zapp, Atlantic Starr & more. 3/7-3/10 WAC Tournament. 3/22-3/24 Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Orleans, 702-365-7469. O R LE ANS
SH OWRO O M
12/22-12/23 Under the Streetlamp. 1/13 38 Special. 1/20 Lil Duval. 2/10-2/11 Engelbert Humperdinck. Orleans, 702-365-7111.
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12/30-12/31 Bruno Mars. 1/12-1/13 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. 2/14-2/19 Bruno Mars. 2/25 G-Eazy. 3/10-3/11 311. Monte Carlo, 844600-7275.
RAILH EAD
12/22 Christmas with the Celts. 1/4 Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. 1/18 Tommy Castro. 2/15 Tinsley Ellis. Boulder Station, 702-432-7777. R O CKS
LO U NG E
12/23 Otherwise & Honor Amongst Thieves. 1/20 My Favorite Murder. 1/26 Richard Cheese. Red Rock Resort, 702-797-7777. S O U TH
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12/21-12/23 Tony Orlando. 12/28 Frankie Moreno. 1/19-1/20 Norm Macdonald. 1/26-1/28 Capitol Steps. 2/9-2/11 Atlantic City Boys. 2/16-2/18 Herman’s Hermits. 2/23-2/24 Dennis DeYoung. South Point, 702-796-7111. TE R RY
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TH EAT ER
12/22-12/24 Boyz II Men. 12/29 Joe Rogan. 12/30 Jay Leno. 1/12-1/14 Gabriel Iglesias. 1/19-1/21 Boyz II Men. 1/19-1/21 John Mulaney. 1/26 Jay Leno. 1/27 Tim Allen. 2/2-2/3 Daniel Tosh. 2/9-2/10 Ron White. 2/16-2/17 Jim Jeffries. 2/18 Tiffany Haddish. 2/23-2/24 David Spade & Ray Romano. 2/23-2/25 Boyz II Men. 3/2-3/3 Tim Allen. 3/9-3/10 Bill Maher. 3/16-3/17 Daniel Tosh. 3/23-3/24 George Lopez. 3/29-3/31 Gabriel Iglesias. Mirage, 702-792-7777.
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T H E AT R E
12/30 UFC 219. 1/5-1/6 Ice Vegas Invitational. 1/20 Katy Perry. 1/27 Calibash with Jennifer Lopez, Luis Fonsi, Maluma & more. 2/2-2/3 George Strait. 2/25 WWE Elimination Chamber. 3/3 UFC 222. 3/7-3/10 Pac-12 Tournament. 780 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-692-1600.
1/24-1/25 Jeff Foxworthy. 1/26-2/3 Styx & Don Felder. 2/7-2/24 Chicago. Venetian, 702-4149000.
TOPGOLF
12/22 Sonny Digital. 12/29 Firehouse. 2/3 Tonight Alive & Silverstein. 2/9 Lights. 2/15 Poppy Computer Tour. 3/4 Of Mice & Men. 3/16 Fortunate Youth. Hard Rock Hotel, 702693-5000.
12/28 Dead Winter Carpenters. 4627 Koval Lane, 702-933-8458.
VI N Y L
NOVEMBER 30 – JANUARY 7 HOLIDAY SHOPPING AND CULINARY EXPERIENCE ICE SKATING • LIVE MUSIC 80-FOOT HOLIDAY TREE
The Holiday Market is produced in association with the Millennial Entertainment Group. Located between New York-New York® and Monte Carlo™. For more information, visit theparkvegas.com.
55 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 12.21.17
56 Las VEgas WEekly 12.21.17
GEOFF CARTER Arcade Fire (October 22, Mandalay Bay Events Center) Speaking directly to the tragic events of October 1, Arcade Fire gave Vegas just what it needed—a joyful dance party and sing-along, packed with hits. Pure catharsis. 1
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (April 18, Hard Rock Hotel pool) The Melbourne group distilled prog, psych and Krautrock into straight-up sonic hypnosis—and singer Stu Mackenzie even took a late-set swim. 2
3 Hans Zimmer (April 21, Park Theater) Zimmer led a live orchestra through
roof-shaking medleys of his themes from Inception, The Lion King and The Dark Knight trilogy, delivering a true cinema of the imagination. 4 The Avalanches (April 15, the Chelsea) It’s a miracle the Aussie pop-collage group appeared here at all— and that it played a funky set transforming its sample-heavy music into solid live jams. 5 Ween (February 17, Brooklyn Bowl) I caught only one night of Ween’s fun, freewheeling weekend takeover—but it was the night the band played “Mister Richard Smoker,” so I’m happy.
Spencer Patterson 1 Arcade Fire (October 22, Mandalay Bay Events Center) Three weeks after the horror of October 1, this emotional gathering transcended mere musical performance—not that the songs were anything short of sublime, either. 2 Swans (August 20, Psycho Las Vegas, the Joint) The stoner-rock fest’s second year brought another batch of behemoths—Neurosis, Sleep, Magma and more—but Michael Gira’s experimental sextet topped them all with sonic slabs that literally shook us to our core.
3 Guided by Voices (October 27, Bunkhouse Saloon) GBV’s potent latest live lineup made the indie vets’ first Downtown encounter memorable, with an assist from reunited locals A Crowd of Small Adventures. 4 Fleet Foxes (August 13, the Chelsea) Aurally and visually, this Vegas debut felt perfectly devised and equally orchestrated. 5 Palm (March 12, Neon Reverb, Bunkhouse Saloon) The New York quartet’s off-kilter numbers Pied Piper’d a crowd to the outdoor stage, where we marveled over a new discovery.
Le Butcherettes (Yasmina Chavez/Staff)
Swans (Yasmina Chavez/Staff)
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LESLIE VENTURA 1 Iggy Pop (May 27, Punk Rock Bowling, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center) The 70-year old tore through his 16-song set (sans T-shirt, of course) with the energy of a man half his age, presenting Stooges cuts “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” “Gimme Danger,” “No Fun,” “T.V. Eye” and plenty more.
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MIKE PREVATT Jason Isbell (March 16, House of Blues) In his successful local debut, the heralded singer-songwriter delivered a masterful, captivating and utterly human performance that felt tailor-made for its audience.
1 Vegas Strong Benefit Concert (December 1, T-Mobile Arena) Passionate performances by Imagine Dragons and The Killers formed the core of a you-had-to-be-there Vegas night.
2 Roger Waters (June 16, T-Mobile Arena) The former Pink Floyd bassist/songwriter raised his own impossibly high arena-rock bar—and #resisted harder than anyone else—with an eye-popping, multi-sensory tour de force.
2 The Revolution (June 21, Brooklyn Bowl) The original band plus foreverunderrated Mint Condition frontman Stokley Williams offered an emotional celebration of Prince’s musical legacy for an appreciative, diverse audience.
3 Arcade Fire (October 22, Mandalay Bay Events Center) After three weeks of frayed nerves and grief, Las Vegas music fans enjoyed a night of catharsis and celebration courtesy of the Canadian band’s rousing and galvanizing show.
3 Earth, Wind & Fire (July 14, the Pearl) Hard to decide what sounds better after all these years: the legendary funk and soul outfit or the Palms’ fantastic concert hall.
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Guided by Voices (October 27, Bunkhouse Saloon) Witnessing Robert Pollard & Co. inside the intimate Bunkhouse is the stuff music-geek dreams are made of, and Bob did not disappoint. 2
3 Bryan Ferry (August 17, the Chelsea) The former Roxy Music singer charmed everyone into a trance with live versions of “Avalon,” “More Than This,” “Love Is the Drug” and a beautiful cover of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy.” 4 Shonen Knife (May 25, Beauty Bar) If there’s one thing I love as much as music it’s food—and Shonen Knife combined the two into a set full of furiously fast pop-punk songs about ramen, sushi, banana chips and more. 5 Le Butcherettes (March 11, Neon Reverb, Bunkhouse Saloon) Teri Gender Bender transcended time and place with her wild, chaotic stage presence and harrowing voice, making for one of the most intense shows of 2017.
Deerhunter (January 29, Bunkhouse Saloon) Bradford Cox & Co. used this break from support-act duty to gloriously stretch out—with an adventurous encore as long as the main set that preceded it.
4 Janet Jackson (October 14, Mandalay Bay Events Center) The first big entertainment event at Mandalay Bay after the shooting was a love-fest, thanks to Janet’s energy, charisma and endless catalog.
5 Television (May 26, The Bunkhouse Saloon) Disappointingly short for such a long-awaited Vegas debut, the art-punk legends nonetheless thrilled a Bunkhouse yard crowd with exploratory pluck.
5 The Who (August 1, the Colosseum) The rock gods’ first Caesars run proved they have plenty left in the tank—and that the Colosseum can accommodate a legacy act of any genre.
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Vegas Strong Benefit Concert (Al Powers Imagery/Courtesy)
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Geoff Carter LCD Soundsystem, American Dream More than a collection of sensational (and, dare I say it, Bowie-like) sounds and textures, American Dream is the perfect salve for this violent, frustrating national moment. If James Murphy can come back, so can we. 1
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. It’s not as ambitious as To Pimp a Butterfly, but landing just below 2015’s best album is still a solid win for one of the most adventurous and creatively inspired rappers of his generation.
Spencer Patterson Richard Dawson, Peasant The Englishman takes a brilliant weird-folk detour to Medieval times, painting vivid pictures of commoners struggling to cope with everyday life. Recommended for fans of Joanna Newsom, Roy Harper and Fairport Convention—or the sonic adventurous in general. 1
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3 Fleet Foxes, Crack-Up This sumptuous collection of atmospheric folk plays like a favorite novel reads—you revisit it again and again, in whole or in pieces, to feed your soul. 4 The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding It’s easy to pick out the influences—a little Fleetwood Mac here, a little Tears for Fears there—but easier still to simply appreciate this shimmering indie pop on its numerous merits. 5 Soulwax, From Deewee Synthpop with genuine stomp. Everything this Belgian group has to say, it says directly to your feet. 6 Shamir, Revelations The hometown star starts over in astonishing fashion, trading programmed beats for DIY fuzz, yet retaining his lyrical vulnerability and his angelic voice.
The Regrettes, Feel Your Feelings Fool! The LA band’s first full-length is one smart smack on the ear—a savvy blend of 1960s girl-group pop and 1980s LA punk. Just like they used to make it. 7
Bash & Pop, Anything Can Happen That long stint in Guns N’ Roses drove Tommy Stinson to make a full-blown Replacements record, thank God. Meat-andpotatoes rock at its most tender and tasty. 8
9 Deerhoof, Mountain Moves More than two decades in, Deerhoof hasn’t lost its experimental edge—or its gift for solid hookyhooks that pull you into the weirdness. 10 Thundercat, Drunk Funky, unabashed goofy fun—though I’m slightly ashamed to have an LP that guest-stars Michael McDonald in my top 10, even in passing.
2 Laurel Halo, Dust The kaleidoscopic third album from this Michigan-bred, Germany-based experimental electronicist shatters the walls between techno, pop, soul and jazz, with songs that might feel off-putting initially before turning into earworms that last for days. 3 Slowdive, Slowdive Twenty-two years after breaking up, the English shoegaze legends pick up where they left off with a gorgeous fourth LP that deepens the “What’s Slowdive’s best album?” debate. 4 The Necks, Unfold Best known for album-length ambient-jazz compositions that build over time, the Aussie trio compressed that approach into four side-long tracks that all achieved heart-stirring bliss. 5 Matt Mitchell, A Pouting Grimace The New York pianist, renowned for his work with avant saxman Tim Berne, heads his own 13-piece ensemble for this dazzling, free-but-not-unhinged jazz excursion. 6 Fleet Foxes, Crack-Up Robin Pecknold reconvenes his folk brigade for its first LP in six years—a heady journey ideal for distancing oneself from the mire of modern-day life.
Guided by Voices, August by Cake For GBV’s first double-album, leader Robert Pollard invited his bandmates to contribute a couple of tunes apiece to go with his usual high-quality stash, and his songwriting genius rubbed off. 7
8 Kelly Lee Owens, Kelly Lee Owens A dizzying debut for a London-based artist who infuses her hypnotic minimal techno with real human warmth. 9 SZA, Ctrl If 2017 was the year of women speaking out, this fastrising R&B star helped epitomize it on a red-hot debut that took no sh*t from anyone.
Wolf Parade, Cry Cry Cry Spencer, Dan and the gang picked up like they never stopped, on a record that plays like a rallying cry for especially tough times. 10
Mike Prevatt
Annie Zaleski
Algiers, The Underside of Power Protest songs came and (unfortunately) went, but none sounded as artistically or thematically incendiary as the ones that comprise this Atlanta gospel/post-punk quartet’s sophomore stunner.
1 Filthy Friends, Invitation A band helmed by Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker and ex-R.E.M.’er Peter Buck debuts with an exuberant record nodding to glitter-encrusted glam-rock, charred power-pop and careening garage-punk.
2 Tony Allen, The Source After releasing an also-impressive 2017 album of Art Blakey covers, the former Fela Kuti drummer and his effervescent octet soar by seamlessly fusing jazz and Afrobeat to harmonic perfection.
2 Kesha, Rainbow The pop star took back control of her career—and personal narrative—with an empowered record touching on grimy rock, delicate country and folk, gospel-pop and sassy soul.
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The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding Adam Granduciel remains loyal to the same ’70s and ’80s rock palette, but somehow his sonic panoramas have grown even more expressive, affecting and singular. 3
4 Ryan Adams, Prisoner Break-up albums can entrap their creators, but for the refreshingly less-prolific Adams, he’s never sounded more liberated—or melodious.
Margo Price, All American Made The unshackled Nashville singersongwriter crafts the country record needed most in 2017—a castigation and celebration of American politics and culture. 5
6 Kelela, Take Me Apart A fearless R&B record, made dynamic by the other genres that fleck it, its sonorous compositions and, more importantly, its soulful vocalist. 7 The National, Sleep Well Beast Whether it was that Grateful Dead covers project or its famously taut aesthetic losing its elasticity, the Brooklyn act stretched out to inspired effect. 8 Cameron Graves, Planetary Prince The talented West Coast Get Down jazz collective delivers another parse-worthy and progressive gem, this time under pianist Graves’ assured—and unselfish—direction. 9 LCD Soundsystem, American Dream Turns out James Murphy still had things to say, and still blends our record collections together with demonstrable affection and enthusiasm. 10 Slowdive, Slowdive Rather than merely repeat its formula, the English dream-pop quintet refreshes it, with a tunefulness that renders this comeback album as solacing as its classic predecessors.
3 St. Vincent, Masseduction The latest solo album from Annie Clark hews toward introspective, spaceage electro-pop with boiling-tar beats, jagged guitar lightning bolts and glazed-over synthesizers. 4 Robyn Hitchcock, Robyn Hitchcock Psychedelic pop’s fractured genius returns with a plugged-in solo album, full of ornate songs that are equal parts absurd and sentimental. 5 Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Way Out West A California country fever dream that’s both traditional (the rollicking, Johnny Cash-recalling “Lost on the Desert”) and thoroughly modern (the jangly holler “Time Don’t Wait”). 6 Dreamcar, Dreamcar Take AFI lead singer Davey Havok—an acolyte of ’80s alternative’s dark side—and add in No Doubt’s three instrumentalists, and you get this retro-leaning debut indebted to The Cure, Duran Duran and MTV’s onetime synth-pop staples. 7 Alvvays, Antisocialites The dreamy Canadian act’s chiming guitars, plush keyboards and sighing vocals conjure the crème de la crème of C86 and Sarah Records. 8 Paul Weller, A Kind Revolution Forty years into his career, the Modfather continues to innovate, with a soulful mélange of Bowieesque rock skronk, funky folk-pop and gospel-tinged electronica. 9 Slowdive, Slowdive The shoegaze icons sound ready to forge an entirely new chapter; highlights include the urgent, spackled noise-pop of “Star Roving” and the more ethereal “Everyone Knows.” 10 Wolf Parade, Cry Cry Cry The Canadian troupe’s first full-length since returning from hiatus is full of sinewy prog-pop gems with burbling New Wave synths, askew guitar riots and touches of theatrical piano-glam.
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JOSH BELL 1 Colossal Anne Hathaway discovers a psychic connection to a giant, Godzilla-like monster halfway around the world in the year’s strangest, most exhilarating and unexpected movie, equal parts sci-fi mind-bender and darkly comedic examination of codependency and toxic masculinity. Available on home video. 2 A Ghost Story The main character is covered by a bedsheet with eye-holes for almost the entire running time, yet David Lowery’s story about a dead man (played by Casey Affleck) who can’t let go of his earthly existence is emotionally devastating, a profound meditation on grief and loneliness. Available on home video. 3 Mother! Darren Aronofsky’s abrasive, baffling thriller/ allegory is the love-it-or-hate-it movie of the year—sometimes simultaneously—but it’s never less than visionary, a visual and thematic marvel starring Jennifer Lawrence as a woman beset by ingratiating evils seemingly invited by her powerful husband. Available on home video. 4 I, Tonya Given how many boilerplate biopics get released during the end-of-year awards rush, it’s refreshing to see one that has higher ambitions, and Craig Gillespie’s movie about disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding does far more than just tell her life story, questioning the accepted “truths” about her career-ending scandal. Opens January 5 in Las Vegas. 5 Atomic Blonde Charlize Theron is fantastic as a sultry spy with many secrets in the year’s most stylish and assured action movie, an espionage thriller set in 1989 Berlin. Director David Leitch stages elaborate stunt sequences that are as punishing as they are graceful, and Theron makes every punch and kick count. Available on home video.
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6 Hounds of Love This absolutely brutal Australian thriller about a teenage girl kidnapped by a sadistic couple is often difficult to watch, not only for its violence but also for its startlingly bleak view of humanity. It’s as heartbreaking as it is gut-wrenching. Available on home video. 7 Columbus First-time feature director Kogonada moves from online videos examining cinematic technique to demonstrating remarkably assured technique of his own, with this meticulously composed almost-love story about a jaded translator and a vulnerable student who bond over the beauty of architecture. Available on home video. 8 Get Out Jordan Peele’s acclaimed horror movie is smart commentary on race relations and the insidiousness of privilege, but none of that would matter if it weren’t also tense, well-acted and gruesome, with some top-notch comic relief and genuinely startling plot twists. Available on home video. 9 Split M. Night Shyamalan returns to the artistic heights of his early career with a lean thriller about three teenage girls held captive by a man with multiple personalities, all dangerous in their own ways. James McAvoy gives several great performances as the villain who’s his own army. Available on home video. 10 The Lego Batman Movie Sure, we had a lot of superheroes at the movies this year, but none were as entertaining to watch as the animated minifigure voiced by Will Arnett, a Bruce Wayne who’s lonely and brooding and just needs to make friends. Available on home video.
LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 12.21.17
MIKE D’ANGELO 1 Mother! Is it a Biblical allegory? A warning about climate change? Writer-director Darren Aronofsky’s confession about what a nightmare it is to date someone like him? All of the above, plus the year’s most audacious rollercoaster ride. Available on home video. 2 The Florida Project A rare portrait of the dispossessed— in this case, residents of a cheap motel on the outskirts of Disney World—that has no time for sentimentality. Its characters are far too busy raising hell. Available on home video February 18. 3 Staying Vertical French filmmaker Alain Guiraudie (Stranger by the Lake) delivers another gloriously bizarre pansexual odyssey, as a blocked screenwriter travels the countryside getting horizontal with everyone he meets. Available on home video. 4 Brawl in Cell Block 99 Not for the squeamish, S. Craig Zahler’s follow-up to cult favorite Bone Tomahawk sends a bulked-up Vince Vaughn to the most horrifying prison in cinema history. This methodically paced exploitation throwback only gets uglier from there. Available on home video. 5 Nocturama The Cannes Film Festival famously refused to show Bertrand Bonello’s disturbingly sensuous terrorist saga, which first follows the culprits as they carry out acts of violence, then observes them awaiting the inevitable retribution while hiding overnight in a ritzy department store. Streaming on Netflix.
6 The Killing of a Sacred Deer The year’s single most arresting performance—courtesy of Barry Keoghan, also a standout in Dunkirk—energizes this utterly insane tale of a surgeon (Colin Farrell) whose past sins put his family in danger. Available on home video. 7 4 Days in France Another film about a Frenchman driving around in search of connection, only this fellow is being pursued by the lover he abandoned, who’s tracking his movements with the help of the gay-hookup app Grindr. Available on home video. 8 Phantom Thread Daniel Day-Lewis’ final performance (or so he claims) sees him inhabit a control-freak fashion designer whose latest muse (Vicky Krieps) proves less pliant and malleable than he anticipated. An elegant two-hander with a sting in its tail. Opens January 19 in Las Vegas. 9 Félicité Set in Kinshasa, the Congo’s capital and largest city, Alain Gomis’ singular character study begins as an urgent story about a mother desperately trying to raise money her son needs for an operation, then shifts gears into something more raw and strange. Available on home video January 23. 10 From Nowhere Few people saw this low-budget indie about three teenagers threatened with deportation to countries they don’t remember, but the debate about DACA has made it timely as well as heartbreaking. Available on home video.
> Mother! (Paramount/Courtesy)
62 Las VEgas WEekly 12.21.17
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon/Courtesy)
JOSH BELL Big Little Lies (HBO) Masterful acting (especially from Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon), expert pacing, clever dialogue and beautiful scenery make this series based on Liane Moriarty’s novel far more than just a murder mystery; it’s a fascinating examination of family, community and the strength of female friendship. 1
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino makes a big leap with this 1950s-set dramedy about a housewife who launches a career as a stand-up comedian. Like its main character, it’s bold, funny, self-assured and immensely entertaining to watch. 2
3 Master of None (Netflix) The second season of Aziz Ansari’s strikingly cinematic comedy plays with a range of styles, proving that prestige TV doesn’t have to be densely serialized in order to tell affecting and meaningful stories. Ansari keeps the jokes coming even as he explores deeper issues, never losing sight of the humor in everyday struggles. 4 The Americans (FX) The fifth season of the drama about Russian sleeper agents in 1980s America slows down a bit, without the major threats of previous years, but it digs even further into the conflicted lives of the main characters, operatives so consumed by their fake identities that they question what their lives really mean.
5 The Good Place (NBC) The twists keep coming in Michael Schur’s heady comedy about losers in the afterlife, which combines serious questions about the nature of existence and what it means to be a good person with a nonstop barrage of hilarious wordplay and surrealism. 6 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW) Co-creator and star Rachel Bloom continues to explore mental illness via fabulous musical numbers, taking lead character Rebecca Bunch down some dangerous roads of romantic obsession and self-destruction, with songs and jokes to address whatever pathological situation she finds herself in.
7 GLOW (Netflix) This fictionalized dramedy about the birth of the 1980s pro-wrestling league Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling could have turned out to be cheesy or condescending, but instead it’s a celebration of solidarity and the power of silly costumes and nicknames, critiquing gender stereotypes while also showing how its main characters learn to take advantage of them. 8 Search Party (TBS) This dark comedy gets pitch black in its second season, in which the main characters literally have to get away with murder, but even with the higher stakes, it retains its bone-dry sense of humor and deadpan satire of hipster absurdity.
9 The Deuce (HBO) The Wire creator David Simon applies that show’s thoughtfulness and verisimilitude to this sprawling drama about the birth of the porn industry in 1970s New York City, paying detailed attention to the full range of humanity working in and around the Times Square sex trade. 10 You’re the Worst (FXX) Despite keeping its main characters broken up for the entire fourth season, this romantic comedy about people who hate romance (and everything else) can still mine humor and heartache from the journey of terrible people to become slightly less terrible in the name of love.
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DAWN-MICHELLE BAUDE 1 Tilting the Basin: Contemporary Art of Nevada (920 Commerce Street) We came, we saw, we’re forever conquered. 2 Preservation (Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art) Currents of energy carry us from artwork to artwork. Here comes the vortex! 3 Tim Bavington: Sounds of Silence (Michele C Quinn Fine Art Advisory) Hardedge abstraction triggers chromatic ecstasy. Our retinas are still vibrating. 4 Matthew Couper: From Dust to Water (Rise Gallery, Holsum Lofts): Symbols + Wit + Social Commentary + Technical Know-how = Awesome. 5 KD Matheson: Masks, Sculptures, Paintings (Sahara West Library) We’re still trying figure out how that whole sci-fi-tribalism thing works.
An interactive sound sculpture by David Sanchez Burr, part of Tilting the Basin. (Yasmina Chavez/Staff)
64 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 12.21.17
JASON HARRIS Chris Rock (June 10, Park Theater) Is he the smartest cat in the game? This tour, which touches on everything from his divorce to aging to social justice, states his case. 1
CHUCK TWARDY
Dave Chappelle (May 5, Mandalay Bay Events Center) Chappelle throws a party unlike any other in comedy, which wouldn’t matter if he weren’t still brilliantly funny. 2
1 Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders This year’s Man Booker Prize winner is a cleverly wrought first novel by a gifted short-story writer. In the cemetery where Lincoln grieves the death of his son, Willie, anxious ghosts work through life issues before they can move on to whatever’s next. 2 We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates Slightly less gripping, perhaps, than Coates’ earlier Between the World and Me, this collection of essays documenting the Obama Era are nonetheless crucial for understanding the racist underpinnings of the current president’s rise.
3 Tig Notaro (May 20, Crapshoot Comedy Festival, Fremont Country Club) Her jokes are funny, but her onstage persona goes far beyond that. She could make you laugh doing anything she wants. 4 Trevor Noah (May 12, the Mirage) The Daily Show host’s mix of political humor—along with his South African point of view on the insanity of America—makes him a must-see live act. 5 Butch Bradley (L.A. Comedy Club) Whenever you catch his Stratosphere residency, you have a good chance of catching lightning in a bottle with one of the best in the stand-up game.
3 What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton Hell yeah, she has some axes to grind. Clinton accepts her share of blame for losing last year, but in lively, sometimes wicked prose she scatters other shares where they belong. Sadly, though, we already know the end of the story.
4 Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward The National Book Award Winner reimagines the classic American genre of the road trip. In this case, a drug-troubled black mother drives through Mississippi to pick up her teenage son’s white father on his release from prison. On the way they confront personal and societal ghosts.
Grant by Ron Chernow The world hardly needed another biography of the Civil War general and later president, whose triumphs and faults have been amply chronicled. But Chernow re-evaluates and mostly redeems Grant’s often-questioned leadership in war and in politics. 5
Chris Rock (Courtesy)
TODD HAILSTONE 1 Super Mario Odyssey Mario’s triumphant return nails everything it attempts: fantastic controls, wonderfully stylized art and music and innovative level design. The best game of 2017—and just maybe the BEST. VIDEO. GAME. EVER.
2 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The pure joy and boundless freedom we felt exploring the land of Hyrule set a new benchmark for what to expect from open world adventure games.
3 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Capcom resurrects a dying franchise with an oppressively creepy first person survival nightmare, featuring stunning VR support to further push your psyche to the breaking point.
4 Prey Arkane Studios successfully bends its sci-fi narrative around a maze of convoluted themes, deceiving the player in layer upon layer of immersive storytelling.
5 Horizon: Zero Dawn Gorgeous visuals, heart-stopping action and a surprisingly complex and emotional plot prove that giving developers time and creative freedom can yield breathtaking results.
N
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68 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 12.21.17
Boteco (Sun File)
69 LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 12.21.17
7th & Carson
Boteco
The Downtown small-plates hub headed by chef Gregg Fortunato serves up perfectly fried chicken wings and such comfort finger-foods as oxtail toast and duckling pot pie, plus vegetarian dishes like potato gnocchi. Grab a spot on the charming patio and the afternoon is yours. 616 E. Carson Ave. #110, 702-8683355. –Leslie Ventura
Lurking within the fine-dining wasteland of south Eastern Avenue is an oasis of excellence: Boteco. From this tiny, inviting spot, Strip-trained chef Rachel LeGloahec serves an eclectic, shared-plate menu escaping classification. Share edgy escargot croquetas and rich Botequito sliders … but you might want to hoard the savory braised beef and Piedmontese rice for yourself. 9500 S. Eastern Ave. #170, 702-790-2323. –JB
Andre’s Bistro & BAR As Andre’s at the Monte Carlo closed, its more casual counterpart in the southwest Valley sprouted up, giving us classic French bistro fare in an accessible location with the attention to detail for which André Rochat’s flagship was known—plus a hauntingly good golden trout amandine. 6115 S. Fort Apache Road #112, 702-798-7151. –Jim Begley
The Black Sheep When chef Jamie Tran quietly opened her VietnameseAmerican restaurant in the southwest, no one could have predicted the game-changing menu she’d bring. Braised pork belly with crispy pig ear salad, Vietnamese curry chicken and sweet bao sliders are just a few things you need to sink your teeth into, if you haven’t already. 8680 W. Warm Springs Road, 702-9543998. –LV
Chica From an inventive menu to the transportive, fresh décor, you can feel Lorena Garcia’s attention to detail everywhere you look inside the Venetian’s new Latin restaurant. Garcia tastefully blends cuisines— from Venezuelan arepas and Peruvian octopus to Yucatán halibut—in a way no chef on the Strip has attempted before. Venetian, 702-8058472. –LV
4226 S. Durango Drive, 702284-5599. –Brock Radke
irresistible cuisine. 702-4834888. –BR
Spring Mountain Road #107, 702-483-6531. –JB
Elia
Hobak KOREAN BBQ
Meraki Greek Grill
Momofuku
Delicate Mediterranean fish grilled whole, crisp zucchini medallions served with creamy tzatziki, roasted feta with tomatoes and serranos. It’s a perfect meal, just one route you can take at this new neighborhood gem. Elia might set the new standard for Greek food in Las Vegas—including the Strip.
Andre’s Bistro (Sun File)
If you’re tired of your LA friends telling you Las Vegas doesn’t have good Korean barbecue, take ’em to Hobak. The South Korea-based restaurant group chose Vegas for its first U.S. location, and locals and tourists have flocked there for quality Angus beef and heritage pork—not to mention the ample assortment of banchan. 5808 W. Spring Mountain Road #101, 702-257-1526. –LV
MB Steak
MB Steak (Peter Harasty)
If anyone could create some worthy innovation to the big Vegas steakhouse experience, Michael Morton would be the man. Here he’s collaborating with his brother David for the first time, igniting a new wave of coolness at the Hard Rock Hotel with fresh vibes and
Southwest Las Vegas is beyond lucky to get two great Greek eateries in the same year. Meraki is the more casual restaurant, serving classics like spanakopita, falafel and gyros you’ll crave every day. And that lamb burger! 4950 S. Rainbow Blvd. #160, 702-2021002. –BR
Mian SICHUAN NOODLES Be thankful we’re in Vegas, where Tony Xu’s imports don’t have the three-hour lines of their SoCal counterparts. In fact, the noodle-centric Mian— Xu’s second entry into the local market—doesn’t have the crowds of its predecessor Chengdu Taste. Take advantage of this, and delve into Mian’s handmade noodle dishes delivering varying degrees of blistering heat. 4355
Celebrity chef David Chang’s foray into Las Vegas at the Cosmopolitan is hardly a study in subtlety, but executive chef Shaun King delivers its bold flavors in grand fashion. Umami-laden bigeye tuna with shaved foie gras and smoky dry-roasted mussels excite, and you can go big with fried chicken and caviar—an addictive combo well worth the tariff. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-2663. –JB
Sparrow + Wolf Local foodies (and food writers like us) had impossibly high expectations for Sparrow + Wolf as the next great local Vegas restaurant. Brian Howard and his team surpassed all of them. 4480 W. Spring Mountain Road #100, 702790-2147. –BR
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