2023-09-07-Las-Vegas-Weekly

PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)

Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Deputy Editor SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, TERESA MOSS, RHIANNON SAEGERT, DANNY WEBSTER

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT

O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)

Senior Designer IAN RACOMA

Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Publisher of Branded Content & Special Publications EMMA WOLFF

Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, SUE SRAN

Account Executives MARY CHARISSE DIMAIN, DEREK EIGE, LAUREN JOHNSON, ANNA ZYMANEK

Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ, NANCY RAMOS

Events Director SAMANTHA PETSCH

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON

Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS

Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS

Senior Tra c Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA

Tra c Coordinator ALEX HAASE

Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

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CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN

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RECORD BREAKING

Charity Weekend Celebration

SEPTEMBER 21-23

BENEFITTING CHARITIES:

Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center

Manilow Music Project

Musicians on Call

Three Square

Victoria’s Voice

Youth Villages

TICKETS INCLUDE:

Collector’s Commemorative Coin

Copacabana Boa

Record Breaking Celebration hat

2 free drinks (in a collectible cup) at the Copa Bar

VIP Pass to the Saturday afternoon private screening of COPACABANA–TheMovie!

All Manilow 2023 show tickets are available at

SUPERGUIDE

Your daily events planner, starring the Jonas Brothers, Ed Sheeran, Sylvan Esso, the AFAN Black & White Party and more.

COVER STORY

The Raiders shook up their roster in the offseason. It’s time to find out how it shakes out in the standings.

NEWS

Do two new LGBTQ+ focused Downtown properties signal the start of a new ‘gayborhood’?

NOISE

36 20 32

RAIDERS

QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO

48

STAGE

Disco never died, and three of the genre’s leading ladies are teaming up to perform some of the genres’s all-time greatest hits.

40 44

ART

A new Scrambled Eggs-curated group show at Nuwu examines important issues of self-identification.

Noshing our way through the latest great Las Vegas food hall, the Sundry at Uncommons.

ON THE COVER

Photo Illustration

SUPERGUIDE

SYLVAN ESSO

Sylvan Esso’s last few stops in Vegas were festival-based, so it’s about time we got this mesmerizing dance duo in a room to ourselves. Together, Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn produce a harmonious level of pop that’s both visceral and senses-tingling. The bass thumps harder here, and songs like “Echo Party” and “Ferris Wheel” unleash a heady kind of buzz you haven’t felt since college. Meath’s floaty, folk-centric delivery elevates the work, while Sanborn’s hypnotic production manages to keep you grounded—on the dancefloor, that is. On 2022’s No Rules Sandy, Sylvan Esso deconstructs the very framework of electro-pop, experimenting with glitchier, punchier sounds that make headphones a must for the first listen. You won’t be able to re-create that scenario exactly in a large room of fans, but Sylvan Esso’s intimate body of work ensures you’ll get close. With Reyna Tropical. 7 p.m., $40-$60, Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com. –Amber Sampson

BIG BLUES BENDER

Ft. Keb’ Mo’, Beth Hart, Jimmie Vaughan, Tab Benoit & more, thru 9/10, times vary, Westgate Las Vegas, bigbluesbender.com.

LADY GAGA 8 p.m., & 9/9-9/10, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

BRIAN NEWMAN AFTER DARK 11:30 p.m., & 9/9-9/10, NoMad Library, ticketmaster.com.

LOUIS THE CHILD With Kromi, 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

MARBLE With Pure Sport, The Red Sea, Ugly Boy, 8 p.m., the Gri n, eventbrite.com.

BIT BRIGADE 8 p.m., SoulBelly BBQ, soulbellybbq.com.

HANS KIM 7:30 p.m. (& 9/8-9/9, 7 & 9:30 p.m.), Wiseguys Town Square, wiseguyscomedy.com.

LAS VEGAS

TANGO FESTIVAL Thru 9/10, times vary, Alexis Park Resort, lasvegastangofestival.com.

BLAKE LEWIS 6 p.m., Easy’s Cocktail Lounge, easysvegas.com.

FILM: MABEL’S STRANGE PREDICAMENT & HIS NEW JOB 6:30 p.m., Core Contemporary, corecontemporary.com.

OG NIXIN With Dovahkyn, Vega Duz It, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us.

PLAN YOUR WEEK AHEAD

DANIEL TOSH 10 p.m., & 9/9, Mirage Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

MELT BANANA 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

GUCCI MANE 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

ADELE 8 p.m., & 9/9, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

LUKE BRYAN 8 p.m., & 9/9, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

MARTIN GARRIX With Justin Mylo, 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

(Photo courtesy)

VAN MORRISON

8 p.m., & 9/9, Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster.com.

SANTANA

7 p.m., & 9/9-9/10, 9/13, House of Blues, concerts.livenation. com.

JIMMY WALKER

7 p.m., & 9/9, Ahern Live Comedy Showroom, ahernhotel. com.

REBEL SOULJAHZ 6 p.m., Event Lawn at Virgin, etix.com.

PORCH COMEDY: THE FRONT PORCH TOUR

7:30 p.m., Water Street Plaza Amphitheater, cityofhenderson.com.

PERRY WAYNE With Black Noise, Bella Hue, 9 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com

RADICAL WEST With Zoe Day, Mojave Sun, 8 p.m., SoulBelly BBQ, eventbrite.com.

GORDO 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com

RICHARD CHEESE & LOUNGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 9 p.m., Rocks Lounge, ticketmaster.com

SERENADES OF LIFE

7 p.m., Myron’s, nah.org

SIN CITY BURLESQUE FESTIVAL

Get gussied up for two days of burlesque and variety. Brought to you by producer and local icon Raquel Reed, this fest is loaded with showcases featuring performers from Las Vegas and around the world. The fun kicks off Friday night with an installation of Babes and Blues with live music by Kitty Chow and the Sin City Sensations. Next up: a variety showcase hosted by New Orleans’ Angie Z, ranging from acrobatics to magic. On Saturday, Cunio hosts the Big Queen Competition, in which performers of “all genders, all styles—all incredibly talented, polished and powerful,” will vie to impress esteemed judges, Reed says. Plus, solo performances and ambient acts will play in the vendor room throughout the festival, and there’s even a cherry on top—an afterparty hosted by Coco Lamarr at Downtown’s Cheapshot. Times vary, single-day passes $65+, the Space, sincityburlesquefestival.com.

–Shannon Miller

JONAS BROTHERS

7 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

(Courtesy/Pamela Littky)

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

SUPERGUIDE

SATURDAY

09 SEP.

ED SHEERAN 6 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com.

KASKADE Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

THE CHAINSMOKERS 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

STEPHANIE MILLS 8 p.m., the Club at the Cannery, ticketmaster.com.

FRANKIE & THE WITCH FINGERS With Spoon Benders, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com.

LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. OAKLAND ROOTS SC 7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc.com.

MARIACHI HERENCIA DE MÉXICO 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

MATUTE 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com.

ZEDD 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.

BOBBY BONES 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

FRENCH MONTANA 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

MARSHMELLO 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

JEKSERAH

With Owls & Aliens, Eversun, Those Damn Kids, Souls Worn Thin, Elderbug, YBS Billstro, Xenoplasm, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

THE DEAD DAISIES

With The Black Moods, 8 p.m., Count’s Vamp’d, vampdvegas.com.

BOURBON & BLUES 4 p.m., Legacy Club, circalasvegas.com.

JACKSON STREET PROJECT 6 p.m., the Doyle, thedoylelasvegas.com

SPACE LACES With Tynan, Monstr, 7 p.m., Citrus Grand Pool, seetickets.us.

GENE FARRIS

With Chapter 47, Yaggo, Eatn Gash, Oscar Molina, 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com.

AFAN BLACK & WHITE PARTY 8 p.m., Palms, afanlv.org

Norma Llyaman at Kaos Nightclub (Courtesy/AFAN)

CHICANO MUSIC FESTIVAL

The classic love ballad “La La Means I Love You” holds significance across generations, and Norman Carter of The Delfonics

Experience continues to carry its torch. He, along with other notable acts such as Tierra, Richard Bean of Malo and Mary Jane Girls, are staples in Latino culture, and they’ll be kicking off this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month at the Chicano Music Festival. The inaugural edition took place this past March in San Diego, and organizers are already looking to make their mark again while honoring timeless traditions. The daylong fest is a celebration of culture featuring classic car displays, traditional Aztec dancers, live art and more. Plus, a car show and live mariachi performance begins at 1 p.m. and those parts of the festival are free to the public. 3 p.m., $89+, Craig Ranch Regional Park, chicanomusicfest. com. –Gabriela Rodriguez

MOCHAKK 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

LAS VEGAS ACES VS. PHOENIX MERCURY Noon, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

O.T. GENASIS 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events.taogroup.com.

NEVADA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: GERSHWIN, BY GEORGE 3 p.m., Summerlin Library Theater, nvchamberorchestra.com.

NORA EN PURE 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, events.taogroup.com.

MARISSA & THE HOLLENBACKS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.

PARTY FAVOR 11 a.m., Wet Republic, events.taogroup.com.

PENTAGOGICAL BRASS SUMMER CONCERT 3 p.m., West Charleston Library, thelibrarydistrict. org.

GREG WARREN

SUPERGUIDE

MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com.

BREATHE THE SKY 7 p.m., & 9/12, Myron’s, thesmith center.com.

EDWIN SAN JUAN 8 p.m., thru 9/17, L.A. Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy.com.

PETER LOVE 6 p.m., Easy’s Cocktail Lounge, easysvegas.com.

With Ryan O’Flanagan, Drew Dunn, 8 p.m., thru 9/14, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, bradgarrett comedy.com.

TOM COTTER

With Landry, Noah Gardenswartz, Sophie Buddle, 7 & 9:30 p.m., thru 9/17, Comedy Cellar, comedycellar.com.

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

(Courtesy/Mike Kirschbaum)

MALUMA 8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, ticketmaster.com.

LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE 7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc. com.

FIRST LADIES OF DISCO 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com.

DJ DIESEL 10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com.

MAISIE PETERS With Grace Enger, 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com.

LES MISERABLES

7:30 p.m., thru 9/17, Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

AUSTERIA 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com.

DEAD REGISTER With Know Angel, Teddi Mercury, the Gri n, eventbrite.com.

JUSTIN CREDIBLE

10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.

READING: JARRETT KEENE

7 p.m., Writer’s Block, thewritersblock.org.

THE BRONX WANDERERS

6:30 p.m., thru 9/14, South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

GEORGE CLANTON With Frost Children, Death’s Dynamic Shroud, 9:30 p.m., Area15, area15.com.

SPECIAL DUTIES WIth Starving Wolves, Inframundo, Horripilation, 8 p.m., Dive Bar, eventbrite.com.

UNLV JAZZ: JOE WILLIAMS SCHOLARSHIP COMBOS 7 p.m., Clark County Library, thelibrarydistrict. org.

Las Vegas’ NFL team looks a lot different than it did last season

This season marks the start of a new era for the Las Vegas Raiders. Fans might be sick of such descriptions, considering similar phrases were also applied in two of the past three seasons—in 2020, when the franchise relocated to town, and 2022, with the arrival of new coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. But the player personnel stayed relatively steady, at least at the top, throughout those transitions.

The franchise tried to build a contender around longtime quarterback Derek Carr and players mostly drafted or acquired by coach Jon Gruden’s regime. That’s no longer the plan after a disappointing 6-11 season last year.

McDaniels benched Carr late last season, and then Ziegler released the quarterback in March after nine seasons with the team. Carr wasn’t the only player purged; Ziegler and McDaniels made a conscious effort to overhaul much of the roster and bring in their own players while getting younger.

Both men have been careful not to use the phrase “rebuild,” but at the very least, the 2023 season is a restructuring. With as many as 10 new starters, this is the most different the Raiders have looked since moving to Las Vegas. –Case

Keefer

The television camera pans to Jimmy Garoppolo on the sidelines late in the Raiders’ preseason finale at the Dallas Cowboys and catches him perfectly in his element.

Garoppolo—dressed in his black No. 10 jersey, but without pads since he’s not playing—jokes with teammates as he stands near the center of a makeshift circle. The group includes everyone from superstar receiver Davante Adams, also not playing in the exhibition contest, to a few players fully dressed while competing for a spot at the end of the roster.

The scene is somewhat out of the ordinary for a veteran NFL quarterback. Many teams, including the Raiders in past years, don’t make their starters travel to the final preseason game if it’s on the road, let alone expect them to intermingle near the bench.

Other starting quarterbacks, like the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott across the field

from Garoppolo, wear a headset to assist in play-calling and strategy. But Garoppolo looks most comfortable amid his fellow players, and it has been that way ever since the 31-year-old former San Francisco 49er and New England Patriot signed a freeagent deal in March to come to Las Vegas.

“He’s just one of the boys,” center Andre James said with a big smile contrasting with his gruff voice early in Raiders’ training camp. “He comes in and just kicks it with us. He’s willing to hang out with us in the locker room. He’s just an ordinary dude, and that’s what we love.”

Quarterbacks connecting with their teammates has been a major talking point across the NFL throughout training camp. One storyline on this year’s Hard Knocks, HBO’s annual training-camp documentary series, was three-time MVP Aaron Rodgers trying to jell with a new set of colleagues on the New York Jets.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who won the Super Bowl two years ago, made headlines when his wife, Kelly Stafford, said on her podcast that he’s finding the younger generation of players “so different and so hard to get to know.”

Garoppolo is having no such problems.

The 10-year pro was so liked in the 49ers’ locker room, some players were reportedly unhappy when he was benched for former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance going into last season.

It has only taken a few months to build a similar reverence with the Raiders.

“We spend so much time together in there,” Garoppolo said when asked about his ability to ingratiate himself in locker rooms. “You spend more time with these guys than you do your own family, so guys are going to see through fakeness. I think just being authentic, being yourself and wanting to win at the end of the day, that’s what people respect.”

Garoppolo’s every move is inevitably compared to Derek Carr, who spent the past nine years as the Raiders’ starting quarterback before being benched late last year and signing with the New Orleans Saints in the offseason. Some have translated all the love for Garoppolo as a slight to Carr, but it’s not that way.

Carr’s leadership style was just different. He was intensely focused, so much so that his blank-stare game face turned into a social-media meme. He also couldn’t help but publicly bite back on what felt like every piece of criticism thrown in his direction.

Garoppolo is scrutinized just as much—

2023 RAIDERS

it comes with the territory as an NFL quarterback—but rarely cares to address it. If Carr’s signature expression was his steely glare, Garoppolo’s is his wide, cheeky grin.

“Everyone has different ways of dealing with stuff,” Garoppolo said when asked why he’s not considered as fiery as his quarterback peers. “Some people like to vocalize it and put it out there. Some people like to keep it in and let their play do the talking … . That’s kind of how I’ve always been, and I’m not changing.”

Carr had his buddies on the team— namely returning top receivers Adams and Hunter Renfrow—but seemed less approachable as the established face of the franchise who held virtually all of its passing records. Garoppolo, on the other hand, is often the one doing the approaching, even in the team cafeteria while loquacious All-Pro punter A.J. Cole holds his usual court with special teams players.

“Me, [tight end] Jesper [Horsted] and[running back] Ameer [Abdullah] were sitting there talking about aliens—all this UFO stuff that they’re talking about—and [Garoppolo] just sits down like, ‘What are you guys talking about? Aliens? Oh, I’ve got a couple thoughts,’” Cole shared one day during training camp. “I don’t want to tell you anybody’s personal opinions on aliens—that’s, like, a private matter, I would say—but he was fully participating.”

Garoppolo’s rapport with the Raiders’ coaching staff was what really brought him to town in the first place. He credits coach Josh McDaniels with teaching him “everything” about the NFL after the Patriots drafted him in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Eastern Illinois University.

McDaniels was New England’s offensive coordinator, so Garoppolo describes himself as “born into” the coach’s complex offensive scheme. It’s a system that never fully synced with Carr, who was paralyzed trying to perform in exactly the manner McDaniels desired.

The hope is that Garoppolo can execute it more fluidly—especially since he

(Continued on Page 22)

‘Jimmy G’ is fitting right in as Derek Carr’s starting quarterback replacement

BY CASE KEEFER

I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s won everywhere he’s been, so I’m just following his lead and jumping on his back and going from there.”

-Raiders receiver Hunter Renfrow

Las Vegas quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) walks onto the field following the Raiders’ August 13 preseason win over San Francisco. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

2023 RAIDERS

(Continued from Page 21)

said McDaniels has also incorporated some new wrinkles taken from the quarterback’s favorite parts of the 49ers’ playbook.

Carr and Garoppolo’s statistical pro les paint them as solid, though not outstanding, quarterbacks. Cases can be made both ways on which is better positioned for future success. Carr has the bigger arm and is more athletic; Garoppolo is more cerebral and precise.

But no one can argue with Garoppolo’s edge in team success. With the 49ers, he posted a 44-19 record as a starter, combining the regular season and playo s. Garoppolo took San Francisco to one Super Bowl after winning a pair of championship rings as Tom Brady’s backup in New England, and that history alone is enough to get everyone’s attention.

“I can’t say enough good things about him,” Renfrow said. “He’s won everywhere he’s been, so I’m just following his lead and jumping on his back and going from there.”

There’s been a lot of speculation on how Adams feels about his new quarterback, considering he asked for a trade from the Packers to the Raiders last year in part to play with Carr. He then openly campaigned for Las Vegas to trade for Rodgers this o season.

Garoppolo might not have been Adams’ rst choice as his new passer, but the receiver says the two bonded in the months leading up to training camp. And it wasn’t from throwing sessions—Garoppolo couldn’t practice until July while recovering from a foot injury—or even going over the playbook. Rather, it stemmed from “funny, interesting conversations,” Adams has said.

Garoppolo has changed the atmosphere around the Raiders’ headquarters in Henderson, and now the team hopes he can do the same on the eld by claiming more victories.

“At the position of quarterback, you want to be a leader on your football team, and you have to be an elite communicator on the eld,” McDaniels said of Garoppolo. “So, to be able to do that and establish those relationships is important.”

BY CASE KEEFER

Equipment day doesn’t typically mean much to NFL veterans, but the Raiders’ issuance of gear this summer at their Henderson headquarters stood out as a milestone for one of their most experienced and decorated players.

Ninth-year NFL veteran cornerback Marcus Peters felt his football career come full circle when he rst received his silver and black attire, and especially his new No. 24 jersey. The 31-year-old Peters grew up seven miles south of the Oakland Coliseum and was a die-hard Raiders fan from as early as he can remember.

His favorite player as a child was perhaps the Raiders’ most famous No. 24, Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson. More recently, his “cousin” Marshawn Lynch— they’re not related by blood but have been close for most of Peters’ life—wore the number.

Peters thought “a lot” about whether he should follow Woodson and Lynch by wearing the number upon signing with the Raiders a day before training camp began this summer, and ultimately decided it felt right.

“Being able to be in the backyard of C-Wood and watching him do what he was doing as a rookie and then keep going on, and then he used to be out in the Oakland streets,” Peters explained. “My pops and them just tell us stories about them chilling and hanging out, and that’s big. It’s just a blessing to be able to rock a number that he wore.”

Peters experienced a culture shock to start his NFL career after he was drafted by the Raiders’ archrival Kansas City Chiefs, but he emulated Woodson in enemy territory

Marcus Peters joins his childhood favorite team, with eyes on reshaping its defense in his image

anyway. Like Woodson in 1998, Peters won the 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

He led the league with eight interceptions that season and has remained one of the NFL’s top takeaway merchants since. Only one currently rostered cornerback in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Patrick Peterson, has more career interceptions (34) than Peters (32)—and Peterson has played in 80 more games.

Peters’ numbers might also be slightly higher had he not battled injuries in recent years while with the Baltimore Ravens, including missing all of the 2021 season with a torn ACL. But he still has double the number of lifetime interceptions as everyone else on the Raiders’ roster combined.

Las Vegas has made creating more turnovers a point of emphasis this season after notching a league-low 13 last season, and there’s no one better than Peters to instill that mentality.

“You’ve got to be a smart player to be able to be on defense and catch the ball as many times as he has in his career,” receiver Davante Adams said. “It doesn’t just happen.”

As a fellow Bay Area native, Adams has known and rooted for Peters “for a long time.” When it was Adams’ turn to join his childhood team a year ago, he admitted it was strange to adjust to the Raiders being in Las Vegas instead of Oakland.

Peters, who wore an Oakland A’s hat to his contract signing and sole training-camp news conference, says

he’s Oakland through and through, but doesn’t mind the city’s professional-sports migration to Las Vegas.

“It’s Oakland really, just hop on a quick ight back to the town,” Peters said of Las Vegas. “But Vegas is cool, man. I like it. … You can get into all the other stu in Vegas, but if you don’t go to the Strip, it’s normal.”

Peters competing in home games with the backdrop of the world’s most famous casinos is tting in another way—his playing style is heavy on gambling. The same mentality that has resulted in so many interceptions has also created a lot of big gains going the other way as Peters attacks the ball—he also has 11 career forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries—and takes risks in search of game-changing plays.

“I play o ense on defense and defense on o ense,” Peters said. “It’s the same thing, they go hand in hand. I want to get the ball, and when the ball is in the air, you’ve got to have a will and want to go get it. And I want to go get it more than everybody else.”

Peters had a career-low one interception with the Ravens last year, and advanced metrics also graded the season as one of his worst as a professional.

But the two-time, rst-team All Pro takes umbrage at any suggestion that he has slowed down. He feels like he not only has a lot of play left to give on the eld but also knowledge to pass down to the younger generation.

The rest of the Raiders’ defensive backs call him “OG.” Rookie cornerback Jakorian Bennett, who’s

projected to start on the side opposite Peters, admitted to being “starstruck” at the beginning of training camp after having watched the veteran since high school. Starting slot cornerback Nate Hobbs said merely being around Peters has raised his own game.

“His mind works on another level with stu , and he trusts his instincts and he sees it before the quarterback is even going to throw,” Hobbs said of Peters. “So I try to pick his brain apart. That’s not normal at all; some of the stu he does is superhuman. At the cornerback position ... if you get 30 picks, you’re superhuman.”

While Peters might be best known for his takeaway prowess, a tendency for emotional blowups is also part of his reputation. Last season, he got into a much-publicized shouting match with Ravens coach John Harbaugh on the sidelines at the end of a 23-20 loss to the Bu alo Bills.

He was dismissed from the University of Washington’s football team before his senior season after repeated clashes with the coaching sta , though he still wound up going in the rst round of the NFL Draft. His most famous moment involving the Raiders before this year came in his second season with the Chiefs, when he put a late hit on then-quarterback Derek Carr to start a small melee near the sidelines in Oakland.

Lynch, then a Raider, famously rushed to Peters’ defense over his teammates and was ejected from the game. No such dustups involving Peters took place during training camp.

He has shared words with Adams on a couple occasions, as the two are often matched up against one another during drills and scrimmages. Adams burned Peters for touchdowns a few times early, but the cornerback settled down and more than held his own as the summer progressed—even snagging a few interceptions, naturally.

Adams likely took the chirping and trashtalking in stride, considering Peters has chalked up controversial actions throughout his career as an “Oakland thing,” which the receiver would understand. This year, the edge Peters plays with will just be a Raiders’ thing.

“I was always a Raider, man,” Peters said. “It was something that was in me since I was a little kid, but it feels good to be a Raider now, to be able to play in the same uniforms that I watched growing up.”

Marcus Peters played for the Chiefs, Rams and Ravens prior to signing with the Raiders in the o season.

(AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

THE BIG THREE

How the season shapes up for the Raiders’ trio of superstars

BY CASE KEEFER

The Raiders’ over/under win total at sportsbooks is set at 6.5, putting them squarely among the worst teams in the NFL by public perception. ¶ But there’s one key di erence between Las Vegas and teams priced around them at the bottom like the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans and Washington Commanders: Las Vegas has top-end talent at marquee positions. The Raiders’ potential should theoretically be higher with wide receiver Davante Adams, edge rusher Maxx Crosby and running back Josh Jacobs all taking the field in their primes this year. ¶ That trio will need some help to elevate the Raiders, but they form a starting point many teams in the league can’t match. Here’s the outlook for each of them going into this season.

Josh Jacobs

The six-time Pro Bowler set out to prove he could be just as productive with a quarterback other than all-time great Aaron Rodgers last season. He achieved that goal, and then some.

In his first season apart from Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, Adams led the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns while finishing third with 1,516 yards and ninth with 100 catches. The 30-year-old is the oldest among this Raiders’ core of three stars and therefore feels the most pressure to find success immediately.

He told The Ringer this o season that he didn’t see “eye to eye” with the front o ce on some personnel decisions but has distanced himself from the comments in training camp and locked back in on the task at hand.

“A goal for me is being more ecient at the top of a comeback [route],” Adams said. “It’s not having 1,500 yards again. … It’s not about trying to hit certain numbers. It’s making the tape look a

tain numbers. It’s making the tape look a certain way.”

The 26-year-old had his best season a year ago with 12.5 sacks and a league-leading 22 tackles for loss, but advanced statistics indicate he was a bit unlucky not to have even better numbers. And in training camp, it looks like he has taken it up a notch.

Crosby was constantly blowing up o ensive linemen across from him, getting into quarterbacks’ faces and celebrating wildly. He said the coaching sta even told him to “chill out” on a few occasions, a request Crosby respectfully declined.

Jacobs’ supporters have always argued he could have a season in which he’d emerge as one of the best running backs in the NFL. Last year, he validated that faith.

The 25-year-old, former first round pick out of Alabama led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,653, and yards from scrimmage with 2,053. He hoped such production would earn him a lucrative long-term contract with the Raiders, but the two sides couldn’t agree on a deal and a prolonged dispute ensued.

they’ll of the Year contender.

Crosby thinks the Raiders need to play with more passion to help solve their long-running defensive woes and says this is the year they’ll do it, following his lead as a bona fide NFL Defensive Player of the Year contender.

“Every single day I come in here and I think about winning,” Crosby said. “I don’t do this year-round to come in and not make the playo s. I’m sick of that sh*t.”

I think about winning,” Crosby said. “I don’t

time, Jacobs feels ready to go for the

Jacobs skipped all of training camp to work out on his own in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, before finally agreeing to an enhanced, incentive-laced one-year contract worth up to $12 million on August 26. Despite all the missed practice time, Jacobs feels ready to go for the regular season and wants to top what he accomplished last season.

“I know it’s hard to say with the year I had last year, but I feel like there was a lot I still left on the field,” Jacobs said.

Maxx Crosby

Davante Adams

RIGHT GUARD

GREG VAN ROTEN

The nine-year veteran who last played for the Bu alo Bills shined in training camp, coming relatively out of nowhere to earn a starting job.

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

Five new starters to watch in silver and black, and the players they replaced BY CASE KEEFER

Jimmy Garoppolo replaces Derek Carr, who signed with the New Orleans Saints, at quarterback. Marcus Peters takes over as the top cornerback for Rock Ya-Sin, who’s o to the Baltimore Ravens. ¶ Those might be the two most notable switches from last season to this season, but there are several other big shake-ups at the top of the Raiders’ depth chart. Here are the five biggest changes in the starting lineup.

RIGHT GUARD ALEX BARS

The four-year veteran came into training camp looking to build on last year’s feel-good story when he climbed from the practice squad to the starting lineup, but he was outplayed by Van Roten and Jordan Meredith before being released.

TIGHT END

AUSTIN HOOPER

Rookie second-round pick

Michael Mayer will probably end up with more snaps and catches, but Hooper, an eighth-year pro and former Titan, Brown and Falcon, is the more proven commodity coming into the season, and therefore listed as the top tight end.

WIDE RECEIVER

JAKOBI MEYERS

Not many expected the Raiders to target a receiver in the free-agency market, but they ended up signing arguably the most productive one available in this former Patriot with 235 career catches for 2,758 receiving yards.

TIGHT END

DARREN WALLER

Three years after setting a franchise record with 107 receptions, the star tight end was traded to the New York Giants in exchange for a thirdround pick. Waller was the talk of training camp in New York and named a team captain.

WIDE RECEIVER

MACK HOLLINS

The Raiders’ locker room will be a little less lively without this boisterous leader, team captain, special teams maestro and No. 2 wide receiver a year ago. Hollins signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.

LINEBACKER ROBERT SPILLANE

The hard-hitting, textbook run-stu ng linebacker excelled in a limited role for the past four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he’ll now be asked to step up and serve as a linchpin for the Raiders’ defense.

SAFETY MARCUS EPPS

Fresh o recording six tackles in the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs, Epps signed a deal to help hold up the back end of the Raiders’ defense.

LINEBACKER DENZEL PERRYMAN

Perryman made the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Raiders two years ago and was named a team captain in 2022 before departing to the Houston Texans this o season.

SAFETY DURON HARMON

It appears the three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots won’t get a 10th NFL season; he remains unsigned despite being arguably the Raiders’ surest defensive back a year ago.

WEEK 1 AT DENVER BRONCOS

Sunday, September 10, 1:25 p.m., CBS

Current Line: Broncos -4

The Raiders haven’t lost to the rival Broncos in six meetings since moving to Las Vegas, but they’ll have to face Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton in his Denver debut here.

WEEK 2 AT BUFFALO BILLS

Sunday, September 17, 10 a.m., CBS

Current Line: Bills -9.5

The Bills’ perennial MVP candidate at quarterback, Josh Allen, tore up the Raiders’ defense for 288 yards and two touchdowns on 24-for-34 passing in his only career start against them, at Allegiant Stadium in 2020.

WEEK 3 VS. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Sunday, September 24, 5:20 p.m.,NBC

Current Line: Steelers -2.5

Pittsburgh all but ended Las Vegas’ playoff hopes last year with a 13-10 victory in snowy conditions on Christmas Eve that proved to be quarterback Derek Carr’s final game in silver and black after he threw three interceptions and was benched moving forward.

BY CASE KEEFER

WEEK 4 AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Sunday, October 1, 1:05 p.m., CBS

Current Line: Chargers -6

Fourth-year Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been consistently terrific but could reach an even higher level in 2023 under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Herbert is a co-favorite to lead the league in passing yards, along with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

WEEK

5 VS. GREEN BAY PACKERS

Monday, October 9, 5:15 p.m., ESPN

Current Line: Pick’em Allegiant Stadium gets featured on Monday Night Football for the third time in history, with the Raiders having pulled upset victories—against the Saints in 2020 and Ravens in 2021—on each of the first two occasions.

WEEK 6 VS. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Sunday. October 15, 1:05 p.m., CBS

Current Line: Patriots -1

New Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers faces his former team and revisits his worst moment—throwing an ill-fated lateral that now-teammate Chandler Jones returned for a game-winning touchdown on the final play in this matchup last December.

WEEK 7 AT CHICAGO BEARS

Sunday, October 22, 10 a.m., Fox

Current Line: Bears -2.5

Bears quarterback Justin Fields is just 5-20 in two seasons as a starter but stands as the most-popularly bet player to win MVP this season at Nevada’s largest sportsbook operator, Caesars/William Hill.

WEEK 8 AT DETROIT LIONS

Monday, October 30, 5:15 p.m., ESPN

Current Line: Lions -6

The Raiders might be riding a 20year streak without a playoff victory, but the Lions eclipse that with a league-high 31 years since last advancing in the postseason.

WEEK 9 VS. NEW YORK GIANTS

Sunday, November 5, 1:25 p.m., Fox

Current Line: Pick’em

All-time great Raider tight end Darren Waller returns to Allegiant Stadium with his new team in the Giants and might have revenge on his mind after not fitting in with the new local regime.

A week-by-week rundown of the Raiders’ 2023-2024 schedule

WEEK 10 VS. NEW YORK JETS

Sunday, November 12, 5:20 p.m., NBC

Current Line: Jets -3

Expect the tight bond between Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Raiders receiver Davante Adams to be the biggest narrative on Sunday Night Football when the two face each other for the first time after years as teammates with the Packers.

WEEK

11

AT MIAMI DOLPHINS

Sunday, November 19, 10 a.m., CBS

Current Line: Dolphins -6.5

Don’t worry about the Raiders adding to the traffic nightmare for the first-ever Formula 1 race in Las Vegas; they’ll be practicing in Florida all week before facing the Dolphins.

WEEK 12 VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Sunday, November 26, 1:25 p.m., CBS

Current Line: Chiefs -7

Two-time regular-season and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes has amazingly never lost an AFC West divisional road game, including beating the Raiders three times by an average of 16 points per game at Allegiant Stadium.

WEEK 13 BYE

WEEK 14 VS. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Sunday, December 10, 1:05 p.m., Fox

Current Line: Vikings -1.5

The Raiders will now have faced all 31 other teams in the NFL since moving to Las Vegas in 2020, with the Vikings the final opponent to scratch off the list.

WEEK 15 VS. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Thursday, December 14, 5:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video

Current Line: Chargers -3

Watch out for defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, who looks poised for a big year after landing with the Raiders via waivers late last season when the Chargers gave up on the former first-round pick.

WEEK 16 AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Monday, December 25, 10 a.m., CBS

Current Line: Chiefs -10

Look out for players getting digitally slimed and SpongeBob SquarePants character Patrick Star providing commentary when the Raiders land in the annual Christmas Day game that gets dual-broadcast treatment with a kid-friendly presentation on Nickelodeon.

WEEK 17 AT INDIANAPOLIS

COLTS

Sunday, December 31, 10 a.m., CBS

Current Line: Colts -1

Former UNLV quarterback Shane Steichen will be wrapping up his first season as an NFL head coach after taking the Colts’ job this offseason following two years as the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator.

WEEK 18 VS. DENVER BRONCOS

Time, date & TV TBD

Current Line: Broncos -1.5

Depending how the season plays out, the Raiders could be facing their backup quarterback from a season ago, Jarrett Stidham, whom they allowed to leave for the same role with the Broncos in free agency.

Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) celebrates with teammates after returning an interception for a touchdown during a preseason NFL football game against the Rams on August 19.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

RAIDERS S A M E D AY

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NEWS IN THE

STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

BUSINESS

Ellis Island in the middle of big race

LOCALS VENUE SITUATED IN AREA DUBBED ‘TURN 4’

Visitors flock to the o -Strip property on Flamingo Road and Koval Lane, in part, for their steak special, karaoke nights and craft beers.

Come November 16-18, they’ll arrive to watch the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with a view that Christina Ellis, vice president of development for Ellis Island Casino, says will be second to none.

Ellis Island will bring in 1,000 stadium seats to create grandstand viewing in an area they’ve dubbed “Turn 4.” That’s because the property is situated near Turn 4 on the 3.8-mile course. There, patrons will have a view of the Koval straightaway as the single-seat, open-cockpit Formula 1 race cars zoom by at speeds up to 223 mph and on the way back to Las Vegas Boulevard.

Ellis Island became a venue partner of the Formula One race late last month to pave the way for what could be three of the most memorable days in the storied property’s existence, Ellis said.

The grandstand will be constructed in the parking lot, literally steps away from the course. Tickets cost $1,500 for a threeday pass and include food and soft drinks.

–Ray Brewer

road

Monsoon season has arrived

People take photos of flood waters flowing through the Duck Creek Channel near Spencer Street and Robindale Road during a rainstorm September 1. Las Vegas has been hit with at least 3.9 inches of rain this year, which is above normal for the area. The monsoon season, which typically runs June to September, had been mild until recently. (Steve Marcus/Sta )

COMMUNITY

Teenager dies in fl oodwaters

A 13-year-old boy drowned September 3 from floodwaters amid a series of late-summer storms that drenched Las Vegas and caused widespread flooding throughout the Valley. The teenager was identified by the Clark County Coroner’s O ce as Ryan Taylor of Las Vegas. His death was ruled an accidental drowning. The coroner’s o ce said he had been floating in floodwater on an inner tube when he drowned. Further details weren’t released, but the o ce said the teen was found injured September 2 near a busy intersection about 8 miles east of the Strip. He was hospitalized and died early the next morning. Two days of heavy rainfall flooded streets in Las Vegas, prompted various water rescues, shut down a portion of Interstate 15 south of the city and left dozens of vehicles stranded in muddy waters. –Associated Press

-Diplo, acclaimed DJ and producer and Wynn Nightlife resident artist, upon making it out of Black Rock Desert after a flood stranded tens of thousands of Burning Man attendees over the weekend

(AP)

“I legit walked the side of the

for hours with my thumb out.”

EDUCATION

9.2.2023

Wins are within reach

Governor opens talks on teachers contract

Gov. Joe Lombardo has begun talking with representatives from both the Clark County School District and the Clark County Education Association as the contract feud between the two entities continues.

A Lombardo spokeswoman confirmed August 30 that CCEA had reached out to the governor’s o ce, and has “already had initial conversations with CCSD and CCEA, and he will continue those discussions this week.”

A district spokesman said Superintendent Jesus Jara and Lombardo talked in person for more than an hour that day.

The union, which is locked in bitter conflict with CCSD over a new two-year contract, voted to call on Lombardo to “end the stalemate” with the district. In response, Lombardo said he was “eager to help resolve this conflict in a way that best serves the children of Clark County.”

The union has encouraged teachers to work only the daily 7 hours and 11 minutes specified in its contract. In a unionwide email obtained by the Las Vegas Sun, CCEA instructed teachers who are “being forced, threatened, bullied, or coerced by your administrator to work beyond what is required under the contract” to keep a record to be included in a “class action grievance” against the district. –Hillary

TOURISM

DEATH VALLEY CLOSED

$27M BY THE NUMBERS

It’s unclear when Death Valley National Park will reopen to visitors after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary forged new gullies and crumbled roadways at the site of one of the hottest places in the world, o cials said. O cials say it could be months before the park reopens. It has been closed since Hilary, the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, swept through the state in August.

Davis

A UNLV fan reaches for a T-shirt during the second half of the team’s season-opening 44-14 win against Bryant University at Allegiant Stadium in coach Barry Odom’s debut. The Scarlet and Gray kept its focus after a rain delay in the domed stadium, and got a 69-yard touchdown run from Vincent Davis on the rst snap of the game en route to a lopsided victory. (Steve Marcus/Sta )

HOTEL HUBS

Two new LGBTQ+ resorts could expand the idea of a gay district Downtown

BY BROCK RADKE

A portion of Downtown’s boutique Thunderbird Hotel became something new over the holiday weekend, when a combination restaurant, drag brunch show, gaming lounge and gay nightclub made its September 1 debut. But all of that is only the rst phase of the plans to eventually turn the property into an LGBTQ+ resort, and there’s another gay resort setting up for a fall opening in the Downtown area.

Queen Las Vegas bills itself as the rst LGBTQ+ property on the Strip, but its Las Vegas Boulevard location at the retro-styled Thunderbird technically sits between the Strip and Downtown’s Fremont Street area. In addition to the recent rebranding of the restaurant and nightclub spaces, Q Group Hospitality is renovating 28 of the hotel’s 100 rooms, with plans to make them available this fall under the Queen banner.

Q Group founder Eduardo Cordova, a local gay nightlife xture who opened popular Arts District bar the Garden in 2020 and hosts and promotes the Strip’s leading gay pool party, Temptation Sundays at Luxor, says the Thunderbird opportunity popped up in February. Working in phases, he took over the restaurant space in May and began gearing up to launch the full-scale nightclub with bottle service, DJs and new LED lighting over Labor Day weekend.

“As far as the suites go, the hotel is currently operated and owned by Thunderbird, but we are working on a transition within the next year,” Cordova says. “The rooms we’re starting with are kind of a pilot program for what we’re trying to do to launch this new brand … and if everything goes well, we’ll start talking about converting the hotel to the Queen Las Vegas brand.”

Cordova has worked with several prominent nightlife venues on and o the Strip, including collaborating with Victor Drai on Liaison at Bally’s, the rst gay nightclub in a Strip casino. He’s playing to that same demographic of locals and tourists with Queen.

“We don’t have anything like this, as far as a true Vegas nightlife experience for the gay community,” he says. “Krave provided that for many years at Planet Hollywood on the Strip before it was turned into the largest Bu alo Wild Wings in the world.

QUEEN LAS VEGAS

EDUARDO CORDOVA

Renderings and promotional art for Queen Las Vegas (Courtesy/Queen Las Vegas)

“It was always the plan to think, what could be the perfect gayborhood or gay district? For me, it’s important to be adjacent to this neighborhood where you could walk to [other venues] and have all parts of the day, besides nightlife, so it could be appealing to different demographics.”

Mark Hunter and Greg Kafka, owners of the incoming Bent Inn on North 11th Street near Ogden Avenue, also say Downtown is the ideal place for a true gay district in Las Vegas. They sold the gay resort properties they had been operating in Palm Springs, California, and moved here in 2020 after acquiring the property built as the Moonlight Motel in the 1960s.

“Downtown represents that original, nostalgic Las Vegas, which is very exciting to us and similar to the Palm Springs, minimalist vibe,” Kafka says. “We like that style; we like Fremont Street.”

The Bent Inn is scheduled to open in October as the first adults-only, LGBTQ+-focused, gay-owned resort in Las Vegas. It will have 33 rooms, a large courtyard with a pool and oversized hot tub, and a gastropub on property. And it will cater to visitors looking for a different and very welcoming, if more specific, experience, the owners say.

“The hotels in Las Vegas have done a fantastic job in creating a welcoming environment for everyone,” Hunter says. “What [guests] can’t always rely on is for their fellow guests to be just as welcoming. This is how our experience is driven. The other guests you might be sharing the pool with are also there seeking something specifically, which is what we’re promoting.”

Both resort developers say they’ve been supported by the City of Las Vegas in establishing their businesses for an LGBTQ+ audience. Combining the casinos of the Fremont Street Experience with the bars and restaurants of the Fremont East Entertainment District and the varied offerings of the 18b Arts District just across Charleston Boulevard creates a fertile Downtown area for the potential “gayborhood,” as Cordova describes it.

“I met with the Mayor [recently], and I’m meeting with City Councilwoman [Olivia] Diaz to talk about all the things we’re doing here and how we can make sure we work together on everything

going on around here,” he says. “I can see [popular restaurant] Esther’s Kitchen from here. You can walk to the Arts District. The City is spending a lot of money beautifying this side of the Strip and in the Arts District to make it all more walkable and connected, and they’re luring a lot of retail and food and beverage concepts.”

Cordova says he hopes more new businesses will be gay-owned and operated. “For me, it’s the more the better, whether it’s a salon, a bakery, or another bar. It doesn’t matter.”

Like Cordova, Hunter and Kafka live very close to their resort, and they see the potential of their business and others growing an LGBTQ+ district—something Las Vegas has never really had.

“That would be phenomenal, and we are within a few minutes walk to so many different destinations,” Kafka says. “We would love to have a more centralized neighborhood, and not have everything be so dispersed across the city.”

MARK HUNTER & GREG KAFKA

Rendering of the Bent Inn; (below) a Bent Inn guest room; owners Mark Hunter and Greg Kafka (Courtesy/The Bent Inn)

WITCHES’ BREW

Frankie and the Witch Fingers on favorite film scores, the wild synths of Data Doom and more

BY AMBER SAMPSON

Frankie and the Witch Fingers isn’t a complacent band by any means. With each release, the LA psych-punk band builds upon its visceral, psychedelic garage rock, melting music’s partition of genres until you can’t tell where one influence ends and another begins.

With seventh album Data Doom, the group steps into one of its most ambitious chapters yet, toying with grooves straight out of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew-era and the feverish polyrhythmic drumming of Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen. It’s a cauldron of styles, and Frankie stirs it up just right.

Asked about Vegas, the quartet—longtimers Dylan Sizemore (rhythm guitar/vocals) and Josh Menashe (lead guitar/ sax/synths) plus newer additions Nikki “Pickle” Smith (bass) and Nick Aguilar (drums)—have a handful of great memories. There was the time they stumbled onto an ’80s night at Downtown’s Oddfellows, where everyone sang so loudly it was basically karaoke. And who could forget last year’s show at Artifice, when they incited a circle pit so large, it resembled a human whirlpool. “I hope that happens again,” Smith says.

Ahead of the band’s September 9 gig at the Usual Place, we caught up with the band to talk about the making of Data Doom, how film scores influence the Frankie aesthetic and more.

Was there a particular song on Data Doom that pushed you farthest out of the box? Nikki Smith: As the first time writing with this band, I was super outside my comfort zone. This was so much more technically challenging than I’ve ever been asked to step up to before, especially on “Mild Davis.” I remember being like, “I’m never gonna get the timing of this.” Now, it’s completely second nature, and it’s really fun to play on these off-beats. It’s a really supportive and creatively uplifting environment to be in.

Josh Menashe: With the song “Doom Boom,” we really tried to make that more of a recorded piece, one that we weren’t planning on playing live and really focusing on the sonics of. Rather than getting a guitar tone, we were like, “What’s the craziest synth sound we can come up with?” I remember Dylan at one point even singing like a synth sound. You remember that, Dylan? Being like “whaaa, whaaa, whaaa.”

That was a cool way to create that we hadn’t really done before. Start with the sound in our head, not just assume that it’s going to be a guitar or a bass—start with just a pure sound and then create it from there.

I love the music videos that have come out for Data Doom. But the super sci-fi “Futurephobic” scared the hell out of me with that maniacal Ronald McDonald. How did you come up with that concept? Dylan Sizemore: Media Pollution and our friend Taylor [Leach], who goes by Slim Reaper, killed that. I was going through a period of mainlining [David] Cronenberg movies, ’80s horror and RoboCop. And it was like, that would be awesome to make something in that vein. The Ronald McDonald idea was something that’s symbolic, like a godhead of hyper-capitalism, but it’s also nostalgic.

Does film inform your actual music at all? DS: I think visually for sure, and we work with so many awesome artists that seem to share the same interests visually that we’re into. Even talking about the album cover, there was a lot of talk about Alien and [H.R.] Giger—just different visual artists and films that we resonate with. That’s definitely a big part of the visual aspect of the band.

NS: Josh has scored some soundtracks. I know Nick’s super into collecting soundtrack vinyl. We’re all fans of soundtracks, so that resonates with cross pollinating with film.

Do you have any favorite soundtracks? NS: (Laughs) There’s this movie from the ’80s called Legend with Tom Cruise in it. I grew up as a little teenager just obsessed with the Tangerine Dream soundtrack for that film.

JM: I love Danny Elfman, all the weird quirkiness he conjures, whether it’s The Simpsons or Edward Scissorhands. It can be really whimsical and goofy, or it can be really dark, but still have a tinge of whimsy.

DS: Suspiria is really cool, too, the Goblin soundtrack. It’s perfect synth horror.

This is the 10-year anniversary of the band. Looking back on all you’ve done, what moments stand out the most? NS: ZZ Top. I wasn’t in the band at that point, but I got to come on the road, and I was like “This is so surreal. Frankie and the Witch Fingers standing on the stage of a stadium opening for ZZ Top?” That felt really surreal for me.

FRANKIE AND THE WITCH FINGERS

With Spoon Benders. September 9, 8 p.m., $18, the Usual Place, eventbrite.com.

DS: There are so many present moments where we just remember playing dirty basements to 15 people. Now, we’re playing a big music festival or we’re traveling to Europe, and all these things we get to do that we feel really fortunate about, especially when you look back and think about how it used to be pretty rough (laughs). Still fun, but a little more grimy.

JM: The band started as a recording project, then we did some really small tours for two or three years. It’s been a real slow climb. So every step of the way, we’re acting like we’ve been there before, but to each other we’re like, “Oh my God.”

For more of this interview, visit lasvegasweekly.com.

Frankie and the Witch Fingers (Courtesy/James Duran)

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DANCING QUEENS

(Left to right) Cli ord, Wash and Wright (Courtesy/Kat Armendariz)

BY AMBER SAMPSON

The famous 1979 Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in Chicago ended about as well as it began. What started as a rallying cry against disco from an aggrieved rock DJ turned into an evening of chaos, as close to 50,000 people descended on the baseball park to destroy disco records. Pretty soon, a riot broke out, leading to multiple arrests and the grounds being completely trashed.

“But even since then, all these many decades later, disco never really died,” says Martha Wash, former singer of legendary female duo The Weather Girls. “It became dance music that morphed into house music that morphed into EDM. Disco music really hasn’t gone anywhere.”

Together, Wash, Norma Jean Wright and Linda Clifford have made sure of that, forging their legacies with classics like “It’s Raining Men,” “Saturday” and “Runaway Love.” September 13 at Myron’s at the Smith Center, they’ll perform together as The First Ladies of Disco, a supergroup with two collective Top 10 hits on the Billboard dance charts.

“It was the door that opened for a lot of Black women to come through, because prior to that there wasn’t a lot of work in the industry for Black women,” says Wright, who sang in the seminal disco band Chic before going solo. “Black people, period, we’ve always had to fight to get ahead, but disco is a genre that was open, and it embraced us.”

Clifford concurs. “Disco changed my life. Everything that I am, that I do and the result of whatever labor I put into this, is a result of disco.”

In its prime, disco was the music of choice in nightclubs. It was a universal language, a style that gathered the masses under the common goal of getting down. “You didn’t have to think about things,” Wash says. “You

just wanted to dance and feel good and be with people.”

But the genre went well beyond just that.

“A lot of my gay friends have said to me that it kept them alive,” Wright says. “That it enabled them to go to these clubs, and be themselves and be free and not pretend that they’re somebody else.”

In the queer community, disco quickly became about freedom of expression. Androgynous disco icons like Sylvester bolstered the drag scene, and anthems like Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” reminded them that they were loved. Disco’s most prominent artists gave a voice to communities that were otherwise voiceless at the time—even when it came to their own art.

In a move that made history and headlines, Wash fought through several legal battles to have her name credited on various tracks on which she had sung. The most famous lawsuit, involving the C+C Music Factory anthem “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now),” was perhaps the most absurd, as Wash, a plus-size

powerhouse, had her uncredited song lip-synced by a skinny model in the music video. The singer’s refusal to give up led to federal regulations that now require vocalists to be credited on all albums and videos.

“It might have worked if it had been possibly a lesser-known artist. But up to that point, I already had a body of work,” Wash says. “People who knew me said, ‘I’m glad you did what you did, because it wasn’t right, and it also helped me think about situations I had been in that I may not have spoken up about.’”

The First Ladies of Disco made their mark on history then and continue to do so today. “We’ve started getting a newer generation of audience that has come out to see us,” Wash says. “Younger people come up and say, ‘My parents listened to your music. I grew up listening to disco music because of them.’”

The show at Myron’s, a 90-minute boogie full of hits from the ’70s through the ’90s, serves as a celebration of these trailblazers, who just can’t stay off the dancefloor. So come September 13, “We’re going to be raining some more men,” Wright says.

(Left to right) Clifford, Wash and Wright (Courtesy/Bill McMenamey)

THE FIRST LADIES OF DISCO September 13, 7 p.m., $49-$82. Myron’s, thesmith center.com.

The First Ladies of Disco explain why the genre goes far deeper than feel-good music

A SENSE OF SELF

Scrambled Eggs’ Nuwu exhibit explores self-identifi cation through art

BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ

In Latinx culture, femme and masc ideals are embedded into the structure, social expectations and language, which can make it difficult for people to stray away and discover different forms of identity and understanding. Hija/e/o/x(s) de Su—, a new art exhibition curated by Geovany Uranda, Cesar Piedra and presented by Scrambled Eggs Gallery and Collective, examines the aforementioned cultural expectations.

Challenging those generational norms can be even more difficult within stereotypical family dynamics, but new generations are striving to evolve from restrictive ideas and find validation through self-made communities.

“The title is really convoluted, and I think it speaks to a lot of Latinx households,” Uranda says. “Identity can be weird to look into, and we don’t really talk about it, so this was a fun way to take that.”

Uranda says the theme was intended to be playful, but it can also question intelligently. Inclusion is at the show’s forefront, so by doing something as simple as including alternative pronouns in the title, Hija/e/o/x(s) de Su— it takes a jab at gender-forward linguistics.

The curators sourced artists from their respective cities, Vegas (Uranda) and Reno (Piedra). They looked to creators that they truly admired, from all levels of experience, and were able to coordinate exhibits in both Northern and Southern Nevada. Part 1 took place at Reno’s Holland Project Gallery with Part 2 set for Nuwu Art Gallery + Community Center from September 9 through December 7.

The 17 participating artists use mixed mediums to speak on the Latinidad adolescent experience, with artists’ upbringings connecting it all as an underlying through line.

“Empowerment, reclamation, nostalgia, mischief, rebellion and acceptance,” artist Anny Ayala Ortega lists off when discussing the show’s theme. “Although living different lives, many of us are connected by similar cultural experiences, and the show is great at portraying that.”

Ortega’s work titled “Oraciones Músicas” (which translates to “musical prayers” in English), reflects on a time in her childhood where she was scolded for not knowing and singing along to church songs. “I have felt judged or unaccepted by some family because of the music I like, or the way I dress, or what I enjoy in general,” Ortega says. She printed some of her favorite song lyrics in bible verse fashion and collaged them behind two clay sculpted characters on wood. Uranda and Piedra met when the pair’s work was showcased in a Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art show, Future Relics, from 2020 to 2021. Piedra approached Uranda about working together to expand on a former Piedra-curated Reno exhibit with a similar theme, and Uranda agreed to collaborate.

As a bonus, Scrambled Eggs creator Emmanuel Muñoz curated a mini-exhibit within Hija/e/o/x(s) de Su— by featuring Kristy Moreno’s vibrant ceramic caricatures, a collection titled Mujeres Mágicas!

Permeating the entire show is a sense of artistic community and support, and that’s no accident, according to Uranda. “Stuff is mov-

ing fast, and more artists are being recognized here,” Uranda says. “When art is spoken about, it has greater visibility, [and] through that, you get more support.”

HIJA/E/O/X(S) DE SU—

September 8-December 7,; Thursday-Friday, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; free. Nuwu Art Gallery + Community Center, scrambled-eggs.xyz.

Opposite page: “PODEROSX” by Kristy Moreno; left: “Memoria Sin Fecha” by Anny Ayala Ortega; below: “Recordando” by Brian Martinez.

(Courtesy/Alisha Funkhouse)

BY GENEVIE DURANO

Remember the mall food courts of your youth? Well, you’re a grownup now, and you happen to be in a city that’s a world-class culinary destination. We now live in an era of highly bespoke food halls, ushered in by the Cosmopolitan’s Block 16 Urban Food Hall and finding an exciting iteration with Resorts World’s Famous Foods Street Eats, a Singaporean-style food hall featuring hawker stands you’ll only find in Southeast Asia. Others have popped up since, and just like buffets, Las Vegas does them better than anywhere else.

Which brings us to the latest, the Sundry, anchor tenant at UnCommons, the $850 million, 40-acre mixed-use development in the Southwest. Founded by Table One Hospitality and chef Michael Mina, the Sundry offers about a dozen food, dessert and drink stands, plus the Center Bar and two full-service restaurants, all housed under a modern industrial space spanning 18,000 square feet. The vibe is lively, whether you’re there for an after-work libation and small bite or a full-blown date-night dinner.

The cool twist here that you won’t find in other food halls? You simply scan a QR code on your table and you can order straight from your phone. The chefs share a massive gallery-style kitchen, where all the magic happens. Then simply sit back and wait for servers to bring all the food to you.

With so many choices, it’s easy to have eyes bigger than your stomach, so here are some tips on how to Sundry.

FOOD & DRINK

UNCOMMONLY GOOD

Bring friends! The food hall experience is a communal one, and the more people in your party, the more items you can sample.

Pace yourself. Start small: pork lumpia ($12) from Filipino joint Petite Peso or sliders ($5-$6) from Easy Slider are good meat-based starters, while the chilled oysters ($18 for a half dozen) from Bar Oysterette go down easy paired with a martini ($18) or a bloody mary ($16-$18) from Diane Mina’s Garden Grown Blends. The crispy cauliflower ($14) from Dhaba Ji is surprisingly spicy, so maybe pair it with the cool cucumber raita ($3). Don’t skip the crinkle sweet potato fries ($5) from Easy Slider.

The Sundry (All photos courtesy/Angelo Clinton)

The Sundry takes the food hall concept to the next level

Sharing is caring. The entrees are substantial, and depending on how many small bites you’ve had, you might not need one per person. On a recent visit, we tucked into a Mediterranean sea bass plate ($36) at Kavos Coastal Greek Grill, which came with a choice of salad and a side (the lemon rice is tasty and bright). The concept from the beloved local Meraki team doesn’t disappoint, both in quality and portion size. The fresh pasta from Barzotto, ordered by the table next to us, looked amazing and has already been bookmarked for our next visit.

Save room for dessert! Locals favorite Saint Honore will tempt you with almost-too-pretty-toeat doughnuts ($5-$7). It’s a fight you can’t win, so you might as well go all in and pair it with a scoop from Smitten ($7-$9).

Looking for a more traditional sit-down restaurant? Sharing the same space as the food hall are Mizunara, an izakaya-style eatery with an impressive selection of Japanese whisky from chef Shotaro “Sho” Kamio of Iyasare in Berkeley, and B.S. Taqueria, with an equally impressive tequila bar, from LA chef Ray Garcia. Both deserve standalone visits, because this caliber of dining and imbibing (we’re talking Strip-level, with prices to match) requires your undivided attention.

Is the Sundry a taste bud overload? You can say so—in the best way possible.

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SPORTS BETTING’S SPREAD WILL BENEFIT LAS VEGAS, LOCAL INDUSTRY INSIDERS SAY

BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF

As sports betting becomes increasingly legal across the U.S.—with three dozen states and Washington, D.C., all having taken the plunge—the pastime is arguably more popular than it’s ever been before.

Nevertheless, Las Vegas bookmakers say the Entertainment Capital of the World remains the undisputed destination for sports bettors. Even as sports betting expands within new markets, the venues and facilities in those places just don’t compare to Las Vegas, said Jay Kornegay, executive vice president at the Westgate’s SuperBook.

A new season of NFL viewing begins this weekend.

“In Las Vegas, you have the 360-degree experience,” he said. “You have top restaurants, top chefs, top shows—entertainment across the board. So you could come in for the game and enjoy so many other things all within a 10-block radius. And that’s something that I don’t think will ever be replicated.”

Though many Las Vegans might worry that other markets will take business away from the city’s sportsbooks, Kornegay said that hasn’t been the case. In fact, he said, the widespread legalization of sports betting only seems to be expanding Las Vegas’ reach.

“I’ve talked to a lot of guests that have come in

from newly legalized states, and they said as soon as they started betting, one of their goals was to come to Las Vegas and enjoy a weekend here,” Kornegay said.

Jimmy Vaccaro, a longtime Las Vegas bookmaker and sports marketing director at South Point, said that—even with a majority of states having legalized sports betting—it hasn’t hurt Las Vegas’ revenue from the industry.

Since the growth of sports betting elsewhere, he said, Las Vegas has actually had to make more space for new sports bettors.

“It just built a whole new culture,” Vaccaro said of the growth of the public’s interest in sports betting.

It’s undeniable that Americans love sports, and they love betting on those sports—especially football, Kornegay said. Sports betting has grown so popular that it’s now a $20 billion business, he said, with estimates showing that number reaching $200 billion in the future.

Sports betting is an exciting way for people to get invested in even the most boring of matchups, so they spend a whole game cheering or lamenting at the TV, he said, emphasizing that sports betting is a great form of entertainment as long as it’s just that, and not a way of paying the bills.

“The camaraderie aspect is tremendous as well,” Kornegay said. “Going and having a good time with your friends while watching the game is always one of the main reasons why they show

up here in Las Vegas.”

Vaccaro echoed Kornegay’s sentiment, noting that Las Vegas is still the forerunner when it comes to entertainment, and can offer a long weekend of events and activities unlike any other market.

“I’m not saying the other places, the other states, wouldn’t do that,” Vaccaro said. “But they’re all catching up. We’ve been doing this.”

Sports betting’s popularity is certainly a sharp contrast from just a few years ago, when Kornegay said sports betting—and even being a bookmaker like himself—was still relatively taboo.

For a long time, he said, there was a “dark cloud” over Las Vegas because of its openness to sports betting, which prevented the city from becoming home to major pro sports teams or even being permitted to advertise during the Super Bowl.

“But now, with it expanding to other states and other jurisdictions, it feels like that dark cloud has certainly lightened up,” Kornegay said. “And I think it’s making Vegas more attractable, especially when they have major league teams coming here.”

The growth of sports betting has ultimately benefited Las Vegas, Kornegay said, not hurt it. One industry development that could make a notable dent in the number of sports bettors traveling to Las Vegas? The legalization of sports betting in California, though that remains in flux.

Even if California did legalize sports betting, however, Kornegay said he doesn’t believe San Francisco, San Diego or any of the state’s other major cities would be able to emulate Las Vegas.

“There’s still going to be that attraction,” he said. “I think it’s also going to introduce sports gaming to new players that have never even thought about coming to Las Vegas, but once they experience it—enjoy it—eventually will make a trip to … Las Vegas.”

Jay Kornegay, Westgate Superbook executive vice president (Staff/Wade Vandervort)

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HEALTHYENERGY MUSTWININ NEVADA!

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Luzich Partners LLC has opening for Director of Business Development in Las Vegas, Nevada. Research, review & analyze financial markets, economic trends, country-specific & global competitive dynamics. May telecommute. Dom. & int’l travel req’d. Fluency in Mandarin/Chinese req’d.

Email resume to

officeadmin@luzichpartners.com Ref. job #1.

MGM Resorts Satellite, LLC seeks a Principal Product Designer in Las Vegas, NV to lead the design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of engaging and intuitive end-to-end digital designs for responsive web and native app environments. Position requires 20% domestic travel. May work remote.

Apply online at https://careers.mgmresorts.com/ global/en job number: 237054 or E-Mail resume to resume@mgmresorts.com and reference job number: 237054.

BY TIM BROOKS

Gambling has long been synonymous with an air of secrecy and mystique. The allure of the Las Vegas Strip, with its glitzy lights and thrilling games, has captivated millions of visitors seeking an escape from reality. However, in today’s world of smartphones and social media influencers, the traditional no-images, no-video policy of casinos seems out of touch with the evolving landscape of digital culture. It is time for a change.

Social media influencers are known as digital trendsetters who have the power to captivate audiences and shape consumer preferences like never before. In Downtown Henderson’s Historic Water Street District, I have witnessed firsthand how social media influencers have breathed new life into the world of casinos, bringing with them a fresh wave of excitement and engagement.

Influencers have effectively expanded the reach of the casino market to a previously untapped demographic. By partnering with influencers who possess a genuine passion for gaming, we have witnessed a surge in interest from younger audiences, including millennials and Gen Z, who are now more eager than ever to explore the world of gambling. This newfound exposure has allowed us to offer better services, attract a broader customer

GUEST COLUMN

base and ultimately thrive in an ever-evolving industry.

The shift in mindset regarding photography and video within casinos is long overdue. As we continue through the 21st century, it is essential to adapt to changing times and embrace the digital age. Social media influencers

provide an innovative lens through which casinos can be showcased, offering a fresh perspective that resonates with a tech-savvy generation. By permitting guests to document their experiences through photos and videos, we empower them to share their excitement in real or near-real time

on popular social media platforms, cultivating a sense of community and inviting others to join in the fun.

While some may question the potential risks associated with allowing photography, filming and streaming in gaming establishments, players are still expected to adhere to certain etiquette rules to ensure a seamless gaming environment.

One of the most exciting aspects of embracing social media influencers is the opportunity to foster genuine connections between our guests and these digital stars. Imagine hosting meetand-greets where players can interact with their favorite influencers, adding a touch of authenticity and personalization to the casino experience.

I am thrilled to venture into this uncharted territory, confident that the positive impact of social media influencers will reverberate throughout the industry. In addition to attracting new demographics, we have been pleasantly surprised to see how our own current demographic—of locals, regulars and even seniors—has embraced social media more than anticipated. It speaks to the universal appeal and widespread influence of digital platforms.

The time has come for casinos to wholeheartedly embrace the social media revolution. By inviting social media influencers into our world, we open the doors to a new era of casino culture—one that thrives on creativity, connectivity and community. Let us celebrate this exciting union between the timeless allure of gambling and the vibrant energy of the digital age, as the industry embarks on a thrilling journey of transformation and progress.

Social media influencers provide an innovative lens through which casinos can be showcased, offering a fresh perspective that resonates with a tech-savvy generation. By permitting guests to document their experiences through photos and videos, we empower them to share their excitement ... on popular social media platforms, cultivating a sense of community.

Technology has cultivated a new era of casino culture: It’s time for gaming to embrace social media influencers

Tim Brooks is co-owner and general manager of Emerald Island Casino & Rainbow Club Casino.

(Shutterstock)