TABLE OF CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2016 14
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From vibrant murals to Crime on Canvas, Life Is Beautiful 2016 is a jampacked visual spectacle.
What to crunch, dip and savor from the festival’s culinary offerings. BY MARISA FINETTI
Designing Downtown
BY MARK ADAMS, SHANNON MILLER, JESSIE O’BRIEN & MELINDA SHECKELLS
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Unlocking the Chamber With Banks & Steelz
The superduo on playing chess, musical evolution and Las Vegas.
Seven Perfect Bites
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All the Cocktails
Sip your way through Life Is Beautiful’s most delicious drink lineup yet. BY XANIA WOODMAN
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Beyond the Festival
BY IAN CARAMANZANA
Tips for where to have a good time all weekend long.
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BY JESSIE O’BRIEN
Rising Star
Bishop Briggs dishes on Coldplay, her songwriting process and the festival acts she wants to see.
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To Do
24/7 around the city, plus The Deal.
BY JESSIE O’BRIEN
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The Look, Do Good, Green Felt Journal and online collective Settlers + Nomads.
Dissecting The Epic
Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington talks Kendrick Lamar and being a gateway to the genre. BY IAN CARAMANZANA
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Love the Big Names? Give These Other Musicians a Shot We perused the 100-plus-act lineup—so you don’t have to.
BY IAN CARAMANZANA & ZONEIL MAHARAJ
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Plus: Snapchat it or it didn’t happen.
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Conversations
Ask a Native on festivals past, local DJ chef Shaun O’Neale is crowned MasterChef and Megadeath’s Dave Mustaine on music and life. ON THE FLIP SIDE
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Talking personal and musical evolution with Shirley Manson.
Ideas headliner RuPaul spreads a message of acceptance.
BY GENEVIE DURANO
BY LISSA TOWNSEND RODGERS
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PHOTO BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
Ideas Are Beautiful
BY IAN CARAMANZANA
Drink This
Drybar offers more than just blowouts.
BY ROBERT SPUHLER
BY XANIA WOODMAN
Laughter Is the Best Medicine
The festival’s comedy lineup foreshadows a new era for stand-up in Downtown BY MARK ADAMS
Chance the Rapper Feeds Us Sunday Candy
The Chicago hip-hop star’s Magnificent Coloring World Tour’s stop at Brooklyn Bowl was a full-on spectacle filled with giant puppets, an animatronic bird choir and more. Read the review and see photos at VegasSeven. com/ChanceColoringTour.
DTLV.com We talked to the New York-based artist about peculiar people and the art of storytelling (and Benedict Cumberbatch’s striking otter resemblance). Read the interview at DTLV.com and see the artist’s work at Crime on Canvas during Life Is Beautiful.
Seven Nights
Where to party it up this week.
Seven other speakers to be inspired by.
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VegasSeven.com
Travis Louie’s Unusual Creatures Beautiful Garbage
Everybody Say “Love!”
OUR SITES TO SEE
RunRebs.com Football Podcast
If UNLV football is going to make a push for a bowl game in 2016, it has to start with a win over Idaho on Saturday. The RunRebs Football Podcast previews the game from every angle at RunRebs.com/FootballPodcast.
Meet Him
Grant Hedrick is the DJ next door. BY JOHN CARR
Eat This
Flaming pu-pu platters at the Golden Tiki. BY XANIA WOODMAN
SpyOnVegas.com Beauty Scene
See highlights from the hottest parties in the city, find upcoming events, meet the DJs and more at SpyOnVegas.com.
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The New News
Friday, October 7, 2016 8pm @
JUDGING THIS “BOOKâ€? BY ITS COVER, you’ll probably notice there is something different about Vegas Seven this week. Over the past month, we have re-envisioned, redesigned and reimagined layouts, content and photo direction, culminating in this special edition for the Life Is Beautiful festival. In honor of our upcoming seventh birthday in 2017, we thought there’s no time like the present to update the look and feel of the magazine from cover to cover, featuring concepts that resonate with engaged, savvy readers who have varied interests—from fashion and food to entertainment and sports to politics and education. As a bonus, our paper quality received a major upgrade, now offering a vibrant look throughout. Vegas Seven’s lens focuses on the questions asked, the answers given, the spaces and places to see, who has social JOn VFODF UIF UBTUFT UP USZ BOE XIBU UP EP Vegas Seven sparks a conversation. That dialogue captures the moments, people, places and things that inspire, elevate, educate, inform and catalyze change throughout our community and culture. Vegas Seven leads Las Vegas into the next seven days, weeks, months and even years ‌ And without understanding the past, there is no future, so Vegas Seven dives into how this tiny speck of land in the desert created and made such a big impact out there. Vegas Seven is where Las Vegas’ remarkable visual language and powerful narrative collide to form the stories we all need to read. And as the city transforms, so does Vegas Seven. We hope you enjoy. —MELINDA SHECKELLS
Ryan T. Doherty | Justin Weniger
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Xania Woodman ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
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Ian Caramanzana EDITORIAL INTERNS
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THE NEW PUB 365 IS NOW OPEN AND POURING AT THE TUSCANY SUITES AND CASINO. Pub 365 features a vast collection of 365 beers and a menu of delicious, modern pub fare that includes homemade small bites, iconic burgers and locally world-famous tacos. The new Pub 365 is the perfect place for you and your friends to meet, watch a game and enjoy a cold pint of your favorite brew. Pub365
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Felipe Pantone
t the cutting edge of street art, Felipe Pantone fuses typography with elements of graffiti while employing strikingly vivid color palettes and forward-thinking public-art concepts (think QR codes hidden in the work). Basically, if you don’t stop in your tracks to take in the Argentinean-born, Spainbased artist’s mind-blowing creativity, you definitely would also sigh at the Mona Lisa. And about those forward-thinking concepts, Pantone created his first-ever 3-D mural for Life Is Beautiful, giving even the casual art enthusiast reason to witness the profound artist’s work live. Experiencing a Pantone piece has been compared to seeing the future of art—why wouldn’t you want to sneak a peek of tomorrow’s visual wonders?
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By MARK ADAMS Photography ANTHONY MAIR
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Crystal Wagner rystal Wagner’s specialty is installations, which she favors for how they allow her to immerse viewers in space, texture and color in ways that two dimensions never could. Her unique organic forms and the large scale of her works distinguish themselves from more traditional gallery installations, and her piece for Life Is Beautiful spans the façade of an abandoned two-story motel on Seventh Street. Composed of chicken wire and nylon fabric, it seems to consume the black-painted building, like a neon parasite taking hold of its home.
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By SHANNON MILLER Photography KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
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Tristan Eaton ristan Eaton’s street-art roots will shine at Life Is Beautiful’s festival entrance, where his collage-style textures and pop images adorn the exterior of El Cortez. The work features fragments of Vegas—high heels and fishnetted legs, dice and poker chips, the corner of the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign—crowding the headdress of a muted showgirl. Just as the showgirl represents a narrative bigger and louder than her costume, Eaton’s mural does the same for Downtown Las Vegas.
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By SHANNON MILLER Photography KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
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RISING STAR Bishop Briggs on Coldplay, her songwriting process and festival acts she wants to see
Tell us about your tour with Coldplay. You were playing massive stadiums. Yes, it was an all-stadium tour. It was one of those situations where it’s too surreal to be nervous, because it’s just so beyond any dream that I could ever have. Not [just playing] stadiums; I mean, it’s Coldplay. They really paved the way for alternative music, and they [are a band] that I truly look up to. So to have them give us this opportunity, I really couldn’t handle it. It was incredible. How has your life changed since the release of “River,” “Wild Horses” and “The Way I Do”? It has given me many opportunities and I’ve been able to meet so many wonderful people along the way, even just through Twitter. It’s been nice getting support from a variety of people; that’s what means the world to me. In my own little world, it’s remained the same in the sense that I’m still striving and I’m still writing every single day and performing like there is no tomorrow, because nothing is guaranteed. … I’m still trying, trying, trying every single day to be the best musician that I can be, but it’s different in the sense that there are a few more people coming along the journey with me, which is exciting. It makes a huge difference. Have you been writing new VRQJV" ,W VHHPV OLNH \RX·UH preparing to drop an album. We are always writing every single day. If you come to the set, you’ll hear a ton of songs that we have finished and recorded. We are just thinking about the right timing, when it all makes sense. We want it to be the best we can. I always have something up my sleeve.
By -HVVLH 2·%ULHQ Photography Chad Kamenshine
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p-and-coming soulful songstress Bishop Briggs amassed a serious Spotify following throughout 2016—more than 1.2 million monthly listeners, to be exact—all while XM’s Alt Nation played (and continues to play) her “Wild Horses” and “River” singles that were released earlier this year. Briggs recently came off a nine-show run opening for Coldplay and will soon dive into another tour with Icelandic indie rockers Kaleo (“Way Down We Go”). While the U.K.-born, Los Angeles-based singer sounds like a seasoned professional, the 24-year-old has yet to release an album. She continues her musical journey this weekend at Life Is Beautiful.
Bishop Briggs performs at 5:35 p.m. on Sunday, September 25, on the Huntridge Stage.
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<RX·UH QRW WU\LQJ WR UXVK DQ\thing. I think mentally I’m always trying to rush, and I’m trying to push myself. The sooner the better, but it is about making those songs have an impact. Sometimes when music is released at the wrong time, it loses impact and doesn’t get the shine that it deserves. I want our music to be out at the right time so that people can enjoy it—or hate it—whatever they want. Tell us about your songwriting process. It changes each time, but [what’s] consistent is that I try to draw inspiration from anything and everything I can. Even our conversation right now, there is always something to write about after we hang up because it’s a human interaction that is worth describing. Normally it’s pen to paper, but sometimes it’s on my phone, just writing down lots of poetry and lyrics. That’s my favorite way to start, no matter what: conceptually laying out what is going on in my life.
What comes more naturally for you, singing or writing? That’s a really good question. I don’t feel I’ll ever know which one comes more naturally to me, but I will say that performing is one of my favorite parts about this. With writing, it’s a lot more—well, they both are—introspective. [Writing] can be a lot more saddening, but when I’m singing the song, I’m living what I’m writing, so it’s also sad and introspective as well. Maybe the best response is neither. I have to practice both every day, and I am still seeking to learn and seeking to grow more in both aspects. Neither comes naturally, but [they’re] my biggest passions, so I work on them. :KR DQG ZKDW LQÁXHQFHV \RXU musical style? I grew up listening to a lot of Motown music and The Beatles and vocals that have soul in it. The modern-day version of all those influences is Alabama Shakes. They were a big influence for me. When it came to the trap and hip-hop elements, I was a big fan of Jack Garratt, but I never knew it could influence this particular project. Then when I met Mark Jackson and Ian Scott, who are the producers behind my music, and they added this whole hiphop element because of influences that we all shared. <RX·UH SOD\LQJ IHVWLYDOV DQG VROR shows in the next few weeks. How do the crowds differ? I just love festivals, where people are there to appreciate and enjoy music. Those are the crowds that are so memorable because they actually want you to succeed. [It] sounds strange to say, but they’re rooting for you. My favorite part about festivals is that we can all be people who are enjoying music together, all at the same time. I love that energy. Are you going to stick around after your set at Life Is Beautiful, or are you hitting the road right away? Technically, yes, it makes sense for me to play the show and leave, but I am a human and I need to get my fix. I’m probably going to run away from my manager and go into the pit. There are so many acts that I’m so excited for, so I’ll definitely be staying after. And honestly, any time I play a show I’m generally lingering, especially if it’s a festival. I’ve met so many people who were at my shows during the day because I’ll run into the middle of the pit. That’s generally my secret plan of attack. $Q\RQH VSHFLÀF \RX·UH ORRNLQJ forward to this weekend? A few of these artists I’ve seen live, but it doesn’t mean that it gets old. It [just] means I want to go back for more. Coast Modern, Lewis Del Mar, Jack Garratt and one of my high school favorites, The Shins. I’m going to be in bliss. 7
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;People have difficulty with the idea of jazz ... Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jazz all over [Kendrick Lamarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] To Pimp a Butterfly, and people are comfortable with that record because of the format it comes in.â&#x20AC;?
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amasi Washington may stick out like a sore thumb as a jazz saxophonist on the Life Is Beautiful lineup, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overlook him. The 35-yearold is somewhat of a prodig yâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;he attended Los A ngelesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; prestigious Hamilton High School Academy of Music and Performing A rts, went to UCL A on a full-ride scholarship to study ethnomusicolog y and formed the Young Jazz Giants with colleagues to explore world music with a jazz eye. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also made contributions to huge names, including Quincy Jones, Mos Def, Chaka Khan and, most recently, Kendrick Lamar. His ambitious debut triple album, The Epic, was met with universal acclaim, and it exposed the genre to a new generation.
Your triple album, The Epic, is some what of a love letter to bigger names of the genre, such as John Coltrane. What prompted your decision to honor the greats? [The Epic] was mainly for me, honestly. I created that body of work to know, or find out, who I am. Musically, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing my whole life, but I felt like I needed to use my talents and my abilities to craft something that represented who I am. The Epic is not something I contributed to, or created for, somebody else. Of course, you can hear the influences, such as Coltrane, and the other jazz greats that have moved me and helped me become who I am today, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mine. <RX¡YH RSHQHG XS D JHQHUDWLRQ WR MD]] The Epic PD\ EH WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW MD]] DOEXP VRPH OLVWHQ WR :KDW¡V QH[W IRU \RX" Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve started recording my new album. We took some time off in May, but now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m home a lot, and I will be through the end of the year. So Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working on that. Music is a representation of who you are. The
By ,DQ &DUDPDQ]DQD Photography Gregory Hild
last two years have been pretty different for me. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve affected me, which means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to affect the music I create. The new stuff is different, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sound different live as well. [My band] has been playing together so much now, and all of our ideas and thoughts are getting streamlined. That means things are coming together at a faster current. :KDW¡V WKH QHZ VWXII VRXQGLQJ OLNH" Different. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming from that place I mentioned earlier. [As far as songwriting goes], I try to clear my mind, find something and develop ideas Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve created. Those lead me in different directions. Each musical idea turns into a song. Then we try to turn those into conversation, which changes from song to song. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a process. You made contributions to Life Is BeauWLIXO KHDGOLQHU .HQGULFN /DPDU¡V To 3LPS D %XWWHUĂ \. How did that relationship come to be? I met Kendrick through [producer] Terrace Martin, who was working on that album. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been working on it for two years at that point. [Martin] heard about The Epic, which hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come out yet, but was finished. He heard the strings and choir stuff and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Man, I gotta introduce you to Kendrick.â&#x20AC;? So I came in to work on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mortal Man,â&#x20AC;? but in order to understand that songâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Tupac interview and allâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;he wanted me to hear the whole album. We ended up listening to the album over and over, and I made those contributions. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too long before the release of the album. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thinking December 2014, so very late into the process. $V WKH RQO\ MD]] DFW RQ WKH OLQHXS KRZ are you going to entice new and casual listeners to watch you perform? Jazz is just a word. If you listen to hip-hop, R&B, rock
â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roll â&#x20AC;Ś the elements we refer to in jazz exist in those worlds as well. People have difficulty with the idea of jazz. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jazz all over To Pimp a Butterfly, and people are comfortable with that record because of the format it comes in. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t throw them off. Jazz is just an expression of who you are and what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going through. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all going through the same struggle; we all wake up in the morning, and we all go to sleep. I hope to tap into that struggle and vibe in the live setting. You performed at The Smith Center with your aunt, Lula Washington, last year. +RZ ZDV WKDW H[SHULHQFH" It was an incredibly beautiful experience. I love working with Lula. She choreographed a piece to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Re Run Home,â&#x20AC;? and we played that last time we were there. It was really cool! I grew up hanging out with her in the studio, and this milestone opportunity came up: She introduced me to [jazz pianist] McCoy Tyner. I got to play with him at Playboy Jazz Festival. Lulaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done a lot for me. She even took me to China for the first time! How will your performance at a music festival differ from that in a theater? We always do something different every show. We never play the same thing twice. Vegas has such a vibe to it. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much energy, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a melting pot of people. People come into the city to have a good time, so that means I have a good vibe to tap into. I try to make the setâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the musicâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;happen in the moment. And the setting. â&#x20AC;Ś When you play outdoors, you get the beautiful scenery and you get to play in front of more people. Inside, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more intimate. You feel things strongly. Our performance changes depending on the venue, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just have to see how it plays out live. 7
Kamasi Washington performs at 5:35 p.m. on Friday, September 23, on the Ambassador Stage.
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LOVE
THE BIG NAMES?
> GIVE THESE UP-AND-COMERS A SHOT < :( 3(586(' 7+( 3/86 $&7 /,1(83³62 <28 :28/'1·7 +$9( 72 By Ian Caramanzana & Zoneil Maharaj
Clockwise, from left: The Wild Feathers, Warpaint, Iration, Crystal Castles.
dance, catch the house/techno vibes of Durante (Friday, 4:40 p.m.).
Major Lazer
The Shins
Mumford & Sons/ The Lumineers Thankfully, if you’re a fan of these two alt-folk acts, there are plenty of similar artists to check out before you lose your mind. The Strumbellas (Sunday, 4:50 p.m.) are a Canadian sextet who crank out a driving style of country pop. The Wild Feathers’ (Sunday, 3:15 p.m.) “The Ceiling” has a catchy leading melody and harmonized vocals that are reminiscent of the two bands’ biggest hits. Speaking of catchy melodies, Bishop Briggs (Sunday, 5:35 p.m.) has got plenty of them. The Los Angeles singer-songwriter lumps in acoustic guitars and soulful vocals in her dark triphop-inspired songs, and the result is a progressive take on pop. Looking for a more traditional sound? Check out Hey Marseilles (Sunday, 4:10 p.m.) or local rockers Brumby (Friday, 3:40 p.m.).
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Love the Portland indie-rock greats? Don’t miss Warpaint (Sunday, 7:10 p.m.). Sure, they’ve got some bone-rattling post-punk-inspired tunes, but they’ve got a lighter side, too. Listen to the airy guitars of “Undertow,” and you’ll agree. British indie rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen (Friday, 4:15 p.m.) have toured the world on the festival circuit for good reason. The poppy, off-time upstrokes of their hit track, “Kathleen,” are reminiscent of some of The Shins’ songs, such as “Simple Song” and “Australia.” And if you’re in love with The Shins’ twangy guitars, falsetto harmonies and upbeat piano hits, don’t miss The Shelters (Saturday, 3 p.m.)—they’re one of the most rockin’ hidden gems on any festival lineup this year.
Empire of the Sun You like songs with a dancey backbone and you’re big on melody. While DJ and producer Duke Dumont (Sunday, 11:45 p.m.) may not use guitars in his live sets, he’s got both. Listen to “Need U (100%)” or “I Got U,” and lose yourself in moody, ethereal glory. You should already know Crystal Castles (Saturday, 7:40 p.m.), so we’ll spare
you the explanation. EOTS’ biggest hit is undoubtedly “Walking on a Dream,” which has a huge chorus and catchy, synth-driven melody. Two acts on the bill, Jack Garratt (Friday, 6:50 p.m.) and Jess Glynne (Saturday, 5:15 p.m.) have songs that fit that bill, and they’ve got solid foundations via hard-hitting beats, just like the headliner. And if you’re just looking to
It’s tough to offer recommendations for these EDM heavyweights since their eclectic sets are all-encapsulating. Of course, we have to state the obvious DJs who favor the boomin’ low end: Keys N Krates (Friday, 9:25 p.m.), Snails (Saturday, 7:35 p.m.), Mr. Carmack (Sunday, 8:10 p.m.), Ghastly (Saturday, 6:35 p.m.), Mija (Sunday, 7:10 p.m.) and Rezz (Friday, 5:40 p.m.), but if you’re into Major Lazer’s reggae/ dancehall-tinged tracks, check out Dirty Heads (Saturday, 10:35 p.m.) and Iration (Sunday, 10:50 p.m.). The two
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Clockwise, from top left: The Heavy, Raury, Kaytranada.
Jane’s Addiction
If you’re drowsy from all that folk, alt-rock legends Jane’s Addiction will wake you up. The influential ’80s band created a legacy that can still be heard in young bands today. Take Highly Suspect (Friday, 3 p.m.), for example. What they lack in flamboyance, the Massachusetts trio makes up for in fuzzy riffs, stomping drums and howling hooks. Their 2015 single “Lydia” earned a Best Rock Song Grammy nod, so they’re on the right track. The U.K.’s Band of Skulls (Sunday, 8:55 p.m.) keep things heavy with their bluesy garage rock. Fellow Brits The Heavy (Friday, 4:20 p.m.) take all of the above and make it funky with horns, soulful backup singers and James Brown-like vocals. Even if you don’t recognize their name, you’ll recognize 2009’s “How You Like Me Now?” from countless film trailers and ads.
G-Eazy With his slicked-back hair and even slicker tongue, the “Me, Myself & I” rapper is a tough act to emulate. He’s found a winning formula that blends radio-friendly bangers with introspective lyrics. If you favor the latter, rising talent NF (Friday, 3:05 p.m.) serves up healthy doses of depth. The Michigan spitter has a vocal tone, delivery and intensity that are strikingly similar to Eminem, but he trades the shock raps and punchlines for painfully honest expression. Songs such as the heartbreaking “How Could You Leave Us,” about his mother’s pill overdose, are why the young rapper’s fan base is quickly growing.
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J. Cole
J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive went platinum with no features. That’s a rarity in the collaboration-driven rap world, and a fact that’s become a popular meme. Here’s another anomaly: 20-year-old Raury (Friday, 5 p.m.), who snagged a major label contract with his hip-hop/ folk fusion despite not having a hit. The Georgia artist leans heavily on the guitar, rather than the drum machine, creating an unexpectedly beautiful blend of genres. Las Vegas’ own The Lique (Saturday, 3 p.m.) also paints with a broad palette of jazz, hip-hop, funk and rock. The quintet’s high-energy show will make you dance, literally—“The Frequency” demands your participation. Though their styles are different, they each possess a hip-hop core that uplifts.
Flume The Australian beatmaker’s electro-R&B and future-bass tracks awarded him collaborations with artists such as Beck and Little Dragon on his latest release, Skin. The album also features festival act AlunaGeorge (Sunday, 10:30 p.m.), who scored an EDM-crossover smash with “You Know You Like It.” But the English tag team, composed of singer Aluna Francis’ pop vocals and producer George Reid’s far-reaching electronic sounds, have a lot more in their bag. They’ve already teased us with the tropical “I’m in Control” and girl-power anthem “Mean What I Mean” from their newest release, I Remember. The duo also appeared on Canadian groovemaster Kaytranada’s (Friday, 7:55 p.m.) 99.9%, who will treat festivalgoers to his vibrant stew of funk, R&B, hip-hop and house. Maybe Kaytranada and AlunaGeorge will perform “Together” together? Flume can drop in for a remix. 7
THE HEAVY BY FRANCESCA ALLEN; K AYTRANADA BY LIAM MCCRAE
bands craft alt-reggae that isn’t quite as rambunctious as Diplo and company, but hey, give your poor ears a break before they’re pushed to their limits.
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Ideas Are Beautiful Seven other speakers to be inspired by By Robert Spuhler
Reality television host and activist RuPaul Andre Charles may be the biggest name speaking during Life Is Beautiful Ideas, but there are noteworthy and interesting talks up and down the lineup happening at Venue Vegas. Here are seven highlights, organized by the personality type most likely to be moved by the discussion.
The Futurist Science-fiction stories about the future often focus on the new and different, featuring devices we couldn’t even imagine how to create today. But what if, instead, the future looked exactly the same as now—just more interactive? Dr. Kate Stone has partnered with companies to start down that path, making paper posters that play music on devices based on touch and connectivity. (Sunday, 4:49 p.m.)
The Problem Creator … and Solver An audience wants to know how the magician does his or her trick. A reader wants to finish The New York Times crossword. David Kwong may have created both magic performances and those NYT puzzles in his dual career, but both of his jobs tap into a very human impulse: to solve. (Friday, 5:46 p.m.)
The Visionary
The Smart Jock
The Entertainingly Morbid A “memento mori” is defined as an object that reminds or warns one of death. “The Adventures of Memento Mori,” a podcast hosted by D.S. Moss, is not some sort of omen for the listeners, or a Ring-like indicator of impending doom. Rather, it’s an exploration of our obsession with death in all forms, be it séances, an art series focused on people in hospice or even the science of trying to defeat the Grim Reaper. Let Moss tell you how “remembering to die” can teach one to live. (Sunday, 3:43 p.m.)
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As part of the new wave of fitness entrepreneurs, Joe De Sena turned a love of long-distance events and extreme workouts into the Spartan Race. Today, his races are in countries around the world, and more than 1 million people have taken part—even if they haven’t all finished the strenuous obstacle course. (Friday, 5:13 p.m.)
The Inspirer Born in the Congo, raised in Belgium and England, and then discovered in New York before moving to Las Vegas, Vital Germaine has seen the world. As a performer in Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère, he danced for thousands of tourists before an unfortunate injury ended his career. He’s gone on to become a motivational speaker and author. (Saturday, 6:22 p.m.)
If architecture influences behavior, how does the architecture of our cities—everything from the roads to the parks—influence our society? Thomas Ermacora is a leading urbanist and futurist deeply involved in place-making, the idea that the decisions to change a city’s infrastructure should only be made after considering the people living in the community and the spaces they share. (Sunday, 5:12 p.m.)
The Inquisitive Interviews, at their best, can simply be transcribed conversations, ones that probe a subject to its limit. Esquire writer-atlarge Cal Fussman is one of the best at the art, having talked with everyone from Mikhail Gorbachev to Muhammad Ali during his career as a journalist and best-selling author. But asking the right questions—during a job interview, first date or any other life event—can transform a person’s life, whether the answers go into a magazine or not. (Saturday, 5:59 p.m.)
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Laughter
Is the Best Medicine
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ftentimes comedy is a tack-on or a throwaway item,” says Paul Chamberlin, owner of Crapshoot Comedy, which presents a lineup of stand-ups Saturday night at Life Is Beautiful. “I’m involved in comedy because I believe it’s the truest, purist art form there is. A fat guy in cargo shorts getting on a mic in front of a bunch of drunk people and …making them laugh is one of the ballsiest things that can happen.” This is the first time Life Is Beautiful has included a comedy program in addition to its music lineup, slate of speakers, culinary experiences and art. And there couldn’t be a better time to add some laughs, as Downtown Las Vegas will soon be defined by comedians just as much as concerts and cocktails. Crapshoot is using Life Is Beautiful as a test run of sorts, as it will return to DTLV in May 2017 to produce its own weekend-long comedy festival. The brand might be new, but Crapshoot is no newbie—in 2014, Chamberlin and crew produced the Maui Comedy Festival, which featured a lineup of stellar stand-ups including Aisha Tyler. For May’s event, Chamberlin says he is in talks with various Fremont East venues, as he believes DTLV is the perfect fit for a walking comedy festival. Chamberlin says his curation for Life Is Beautiful was guided by choosing stand-ups who would be interested in attending the festival even without an artist wristband—the kinds of comics who understand the festival’s mission statement. “We wanted people to stick around and enjoy the festival. Come perform, and the playground is yours afterward.” One of those performers is Byron Bowers, who many might recognize from his appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! or Adam Devine’s House Party on Comedy Central. Another Comedy Central name performing this weekend is Emily Heller, whom the network called a “Comic to Watch.” You may have caught her on Late Night With Seth Meyers or @midnight. But Crapshoot is only putting on one night of laughs. Friday night’s roster is being produced by Zappos and headlined by stand-up comedian and actor (and Las Vegas Academy alum) Baron Vaughn, who stars in Netflix’s Emmy-nominated Grace and Frankie. Other big names on Zappos’ lineup include observational comic Todd Glass (give his 2014 book, The Todd Glass Situation: A Bunch of Lies About My Personal Life and a Bunch of True Stories About My 30-Year Career in Stand-Up Comedy, a skim for reference) and Eddie Pepitone, a dark-comedy enthusiast who has appeared on sitcoms such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Two Broke Girls. And while all those impressive names are certainly ones to consider while making your way through the festival this weekend, you’d be lax to miss the locally focused marquee on Sunday night. Headlining the affair is Jason Harris, who spent two seasons putting the Hell’s Kitchen audience in stitches as the Fox show’s warm-up comic. Other notable names include introvert-turned-party girl Jozalyn Sharp and Matt Markman, who opens for Paris Las Vegas headliner Anthony Cools. The inaugural Life Is Beautiful comedy programming runs the gamut of stand-up styles and features a diverse crew of comedians, so be sure to pop into KINDLAND Cannabis Community and Comedy House at Place on 7th sometime throughout the weekend to get your funny-bone fix. 7 Read more about KINDLAND at VegasSeven.com/KINDLAND Clockwise, from top: Eddie Pepitone, Baron Vaughn, Todd Glass, Emily Heller.
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LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Beyond the
Festival TIPS FOR WHERE TO
HAVE A GOOD TIME ALL WEEKEND LONG By -HVVLH 2·%ULHQ
SCHOOL’S IN SESSION, the leaves are changing, your dreams of summer romance are dead. But wait. This is Las Vegas, the land of eternal sunshine, where Life Is Beautiful prolongs festival season into the fall and we can all escape reality for one more weekend surrounded by life’s greatest joys—art, music, food, friends and beer. Even better news:
WHERE TO PREGAME
Velveteen Rabbit Local acts The Lique, Brittany Rose and Brumby are playing the festival stages, but you can see more homegrown music at the trendy cocktail bar on September 22. Velveteen Rabbit hosts a festival pre-party with music from psychedelic rock band Acid Sisters, Americana musician Jack Evan Johnson and haunting singer Chandelle starting at 10 p.m. on the back patio. Tickets $5.
PublicUs Hiding just outside the festival’s East boundary, the award-winning coffee shop is hosting a Back Alley Kick Off September 23-25. Enjoy Vietnamese shrimp or vegetarian street tacos in rice paper shells (soaked in water and handfanned by one of Chef Shawn Giordano’s unlucky employees), sangria, beer, wine and live DJs from 12 p.m. to close.
The Pool at the Plaza
Sticks and Stones fashion agency takes over the newly renovated Downtown pool Saturday to wash off any lingering Friday-night shame. See a live photo shoot from Brooke Mitchell-Olimpieri of Filthy Mouth Creative. Rapper Mod Sun plays the space Sunday.
WHERE TO DINE
*OXèRQ Located near the entrance, the New American restaurant hosts a backyard BBQ with draft beer and kabobs all weekend long.
Bronze Cafe at The Market One of the newest additions to Downtown, the vegan-friendly eatery now offers brunch items from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. daily with items such as paleo banana pancakes and sausage, breakfast chimichangas and shakshuka vegan protein scramble. Prices range from, $9-$11.
Inside the footprint Fried chicken and Chinese restaurant Chow is offering a $12 two-piece fried chicken meal with potato salad, watermelon, corn on the cob or its new kimchi fried rice.
There are plenty of places to mOE UIFTF EFMJHIUT PVUTJEF PG the festival footprint Downtown, known for community, culture,
PHOTOS BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ
dining and live music.
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LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
WHERE TO FIND CHEAP BEER
ReBar
Find $3 drafts of Left Hand IPA, Dos Equis and Rolling Rock at the antique shop/bar hybrid in the Arts District. (Bonus: Buy anything and receive a raffle ticket for a free guitar that will be given away at midnight on Saturday.)
Banger Brewing Anyone with a Life Is Beautiful wristband can purchase a $25 all-you-candrink pass for house-brewed beers all weekend at the small local brewery.
7KH *ULæQ Grab a $7 big-ass Hamm’s. It’s three beers in one.
Inside the footprint Find $3 Busch Light drafts at Atomic Liquors (most likely the cheapest pint you’ll find).
AFTERPARTIES
2GGIHéRZV
REBAR BY CURTIS JOE WALKER; ATOMIC LIQUOR AND ODDFELLOWS BY KRYSTAL RAMIREZ; BROTHER ALI BY ADAM STANZAK
Stop by the video club, which is slightly off the beaten path on Fremont East, for guaranteed dance parties in its back room.
Bunkhouse The Western-themed bar known for live music and a large outdoor patio is located east of the boundary. Local rock ’n’ roll band The Dirty Hooks play Friday ($10), soul group Home Cooking takes the stage on Saturday ($10) and a nocover open-mic night happens Sunday.
Vanguard The small, chic cocktail bar plans to stay open until 4 a.m., with live DJs and no cover all weekend.
Backstage Bar %LéLDUGV Clockwise, from top left starting on opposite page: Velveteen Rabbit; ReBar; Oddfellows; Brother Ali; Atomic Liquors; Chow
British indie rock band the Crookes play Saturday (no cover), with hip-hop artist and activist Brother Ali ending the weekend on Sunday (tickets $20). Doors open at 8 p.m. both nights. FOLLOW DTLV.COM ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM @DTLVFANS.
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TO DO
Thursday 22 Looking to find a poet on the rise? UNLV’s Emerging Writer Series features ALA Notable Book Award winner Jamaal May. Hear May read his work at 7 p.m. at the Beverly Rogers Literature and Law Building. UNLV.edu It’s your last chance to take in The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Super Summer Theatre, where doors open at 7:30 p.m. The musical lets the audience help decide the ending, so take a road trip out to Spring Mountain and find out what happened to Edwin Drood. Read our interview with director Joe Hynes at VegasSeven.com/EdwinDrood. SuperSummerTheatre.org The mob is coming for dinner! Former Mayor Oscar Goodman hosts his Oscar Dinner Series at Oscar’s Steakhouse at
6:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a three-course meal as Goodman discusses historic Vegas and the mob’s control over casinos. PlazaHotelCasino.com Enjoy a piece of Broadway in Vegas as Beautiful – The Carole King Musical runs through October 2 at The Smith Center. The play tells the remarkable story of the legendary American singer and composer. TheSmithCenter.com Catch the final dates of UNLV’s Donna Beam Gallery presentation The KUSO Project. The exhibit, on display through September 30, features the work of 12 young Taiwanese artists exploring the creativity of youth in internet culture. UNLV.edu While other parts of the country are bracing for Old Man Winter, we’re just getting into the season for good stuff. The Super
Run Classic Car Show, for example, which runs through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. at the Henderson Events Plaza. Hundreds of cool rides, food, music, live entertainment— it’s all here. CityofHenderson.com
Find 50 of Edward %XUW\QVN\·V ODUJH scale photos at UNLV this week.
Friday 23 Head to T-Mobile Arena for iHeartRadio Music Festival featuring U2, Drake and Sting. The festival spans Friday and Saturday, and features an additional daytime lineup at the Las Vegas Village across from the Luxor. iHeart.com From 1997 to 2009, Canadian artist Edward Burtynsky traveled the world, chronicling the effects of oil extraction and use on our cities, landscapes and lives. His work combines the essence of a documentary with the eye of an artist, and 50 of his large-scale photos will be on display
24/7 What to do around the clock in Las Vegas By Tyler Bischoff, Zauni Price and Bob Whitby
September 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com
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TO DO
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art debuts its new show, Town and Country: From Degas to Picasso, September 23. The exhibit, which features works by the greats, depicts the transformation of urban and rural life during the Industrial Revolution. Bellagio.com Enjoy a night off with sitcom favorites Ray Romano and David Spade, who team up September 23-24 at the Mirage for the Aces of Comedy series. Mirage.com
Saturday 24 If you are looking for an alternative music plan for the weekend, JazzFest With The Sharps & The Jozef Bobula Trio will be rocking Police Memorial Park. The show starts at 6 p.m., and the two groups will give you three hours of entertainment. LasVegasNevada.gov For women in need of a day off, Santa Fe Station hosts Women’s Day Out Expo. Starting at 9 a.m., guests will be treated to free demonstrations and giveaways from a wide range of style, beauty and wellness vendors. WomensDayOutExpo.com After two away games, UNLV Football returns to Sam Boyd Stadium to face the Idaho Vandals. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. UNLVRebels.com
Grab a few friends and form a team to raise money for the St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer. Fees are $10 for walkers and $20 for the 5K run. Registration starts bright and early at Henderson’s Aventura Park Saturday at 7 a.m. Fundraising.StJude.org
Monday 26 Death-metal band Kataklysm stops by Las Vegas on their North American tour. Catch the Canadian rockers at Las Vegas Country Saloon, where doors open at 8 p.m. LVCountrySaloon.net
Tuesday 27 Sunday 25 Who wouldn’t want chicken and waffles with their live music? Starting at 10 a.m., House of Blues Gospel Brunch offers an all-you-can-eat buffet to enjoy with some local gospel and R&B performers. HouseOfBlues.com Uberpopular DJ duo The Chainsmokers play Endless Sundays at Wet Republic, where doors open at 11 a.m. WetRepublic.com We’ve recommended the Chaiya Meditation Monastery’s monthly chowdown in the past, but it bears repeating: If you love Thai food and want to eat for a good cause, be at the monastery, 7925 S. Virtue Court, between 8 a.m. and noon. Fill your belly and help pay the monastery’s mortgage at the same time. ChaiyaCMM.org Go in depth with a longtime Las Vegas performer as Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton-Holmes join Conversations With Norm. Former celebrity columnist Norm Clarke continues his series at The Smith Center at 2 p.m. TheSmithCenter.com
The best wine professionals in Las Vegas are competing at the Sommelier Smackdown. Decide who is better at pleasing the palate at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at 6 p.m. WolfgangPuck.com The Global Gaming Expo lands at Sands Expo September 27-29. The convention floor features more than 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest in the global casino entertainment industry. GlobalGamingExpo.com Remember the Deepwater Horizon disaster, when 11 lives were lost and millions of gallons of crude oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico? It’s now the subject of a big Hollywood film, and you have a chance to see it before it opens in wide release at 7 p.m. at AMC Town Square 18. AMCTheatres.com
Wednesday 28 Experience the sounds of funk, soul, hip-hop and jazz all coming together as New Orleans-based brass ensemble The Soul Rebels and Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli perform at Brooklyn Bowl at 7 p.m. BrooklynBowl.com/Las-Vegas Have a taste for classical music? UNLV’s Symphony Orchestra will take you back to the 19th century with songs from Antonín Dvorák and Carl Nielsen, starting at 7 p.m. UNLV.edu
The Soul Rebels are teaming up with Talib Kweli.
By Anthony Curtis
A Trek to Tahoe Las Vegas is the commerce capital, but the unquestioned jewel of Nevada is Lake Tahoe. You may have heard that the lake is spectacular, but until you’ve seen it in person, you can’t possibly understand just how much so. Add that it’s about 30-40 degrees cooler up there and you can understand why those who are able to sneak up for a weekend now and again do so. OK, so it’s a beautiful getaway—what about the deal? Saving money on a trip to Tahoe starts with getting there. If you can deal with the seven- to eight-hour drive, that’s the most economical route, but there’s also a potential play if you fly. You have to fly into Reno to get to Tahoe, so Southwest is the dominant carrier. But you’ll get lower fares if you fly Allegiant. It means traveling Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, and probably facing some of Allegiant’s fees (“that’ll be $15 for air”), but it’s worth it: I snagged a $77 one-way ticket on Labor Day weekend when it was $250 and higher everywhere else. Both the North and South Shores of Lake Tahoe have casinos, but South Shore is the main area and the one discussed here. Like Vegas, it’s a mix of casinos and video poker bars, only in a mini version, with just five casinos total: Harrah’s, Harveys, MontBleu, Hard Rock and Lakeside Inn. Most gambling towns have at least one casino that embraces and markets value, and at South Shore, that place is the Lakeside. The first thing you’ll want to do is join the players club to get a $5 match play and a free drink. It’s not the greatest new-member incentive in the biz, but you get it once-per-day every day of the year! That adds up. Food specials include a $5.95 ham and eggs with one of those monster slabs that you can’t finish, and a $19.99 prime rib and lobster. If you bet sports, you’ll love the line variation at Lakeside’s independent sports book, and, ta-da, there’s no resort fee at the hotel. Other noteworthy deals I fell over for include $1 dogs and $2 beers or Patron shots at Hard Rock during football games, Win Cards with a $15-for-$10 bonus at Harrah’s and Harveys, and a flat-out killer burger at the Lucky Beaver bar next door to Harrah’s. That one’s 12 smackers, but I’d pay it again. Tahoe is no Reno for gamblers, but it has its points. Low rollers will find plenty of $5-minimum tables scattered around, and between Harrah’s and MontBleu, you can play 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54 percent return), from 25 cents to $25. Video poker players can also do a cool little run to collect sign-up bonuses at the bars heading up the mountain behind MontBleu. Then it’s back to Lakeside to play its nightly poker tournaments with entry fees starting at $35. Did I mention that it’s 30-40 degrees cooler up there? Bring a jacket! 7 Anthony Curtis is the publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor and LasVegasAdvisor.com.
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THE DEAL
at UNLV’s Barrick Museum through January 14. The opening reception is at 5 p.m. UNLV.edu
DO GOOD
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
Dazzle Africa Mindfulness meets philanthropy and conservation For those who have ever thought about making a difference but feel overwhelmed by the enormity of it, Dazzle Africa’s Stacy James needs you to know: You can dream, declare and deliver that change. “If you see something that isn’t right, whether it is something in your community, something in your school, something in your world, you can have that vision, get committed, be consistent and start seeing the positive result of what you’re doing,” James says. Her transformative moment came in the Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, where a small family of elephants walked through the lobby, ate mangoes and interacted with guests and hotel staff. She was overwhelmed with gratitude for the simplicity of life in the community and wanted to help preserve that beauty. Founded in 2012, Dazzle Africa focuses on protecting wildlife, educating children and enriching the community of Mfuwe. Every year James leads Las Vegans on safaris, but first guests must raise a minimum of $1,000 to donate to Dazzle Africa. The donations help pay the salary of a full-time Mfuwe wildlife veterinarian and hire scouts who patrol the bush for illegal animal snares and
By Soni Brown
enforce antipoaching laws. Now James is seeking an additional $85,000 to fund an airplane that will be dedicated to scientific research and antipoaching activities. The nonprofit group partners with Las Vegas schools such as Ed W. Clark High School to raise awareness about protecting the planet’s wildlife. James discusses how the students can make a difference with the resources they have around them. The real difference may be the impact Dazzle Africa has had on Las Vegas residents. Participants in the safari also visit Zambian schools and communities, bringing a little Vegas to the villages. “The entire experience of Zambia and Mfuwe Lodge was magical,” says Shannon Fessler, a Valley resident and safari participant. “It was life-changing getting to know the students’ dreams and laughing and dancing together with them.”7
You can donate to Dazzle Africa or get involved in the upcoming conservation or luxury safari at DazzleAfrica.org, or contact Stacy James at 702-332-1501.
Snapchat or It Didn’t Happen .HHS DQ H\H RXW IRU WKHVH JHRÀOWHUV By Ally Tatosian The image-messaging app Snapchat has made it a necessity for eager and devoted users to check for geofilters wherever they go. In turn, it is a great way for businesses to market themselves with cool, funny, clever location stamps. Tags most commonly correspond to cities, states and famous landmarks. As with all pop-cultural driven trends, Vegas is on the bandwagon, so check these geofilters around town. Raining money Not specific to any corporation or establishment, you’ll find this one basically anywhere on the Las Vegas Strip. Nothing says “Vegas” like making it rain on all your followers (even if your bank account doesn’t agree). MGM properties Happen to catch yourself at one of the 17 different MGM Resorts International properties here in Vegas? Then you better pull out that phone and take advantage of the city’s
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largest Snapchat geofilter collection, which can be found anywhere from the Fountains at Bellagio to Hakkasan nightclub at MGM, and all the way to the T-Mobile Arena at The Park. School is back in session, and it’s time to show you bleed scarlet gray every day with the help of a UNLV foam finger. Las Vegas Academy has its very own for alums, which showcases the iconic building Downtown. Head back to the Strip and show friends and family that you’re becoming a high roller (literally). Commemorate your visit to the world’s highest Observation wheel with a photo-mento. What better way to take in Vegas than with a show? Whether you’re a longtime resident of the Silver State or you’re just here for
the weekend, show off to friends that you saw Britney’s name in lights, literally. Clique Bar & Lounge, located in the Cosmopolitan, will make you feel like true royalty when its headless butler shows up on your Snapchat. [Insert your head here.] Downtown Las Vegas has become a hot spot. Visit Container Park, Common-
wealth or any of the restaurants and use the DTLV geofilters that are available in the area. Take a special trip to the Arts District and get splashed with color. Want your own? Send a personalized request to Snapchat.com for the chance to have your very own geofilter created for life’s special moments. 7
By David G. Schwartz
Redesign, Rebuild, Reconnect WHY NOTHING LOOKS THE SAME
CREATIVE COMMUNITY Online collective Settlers + Nomads offers networking opportunities for local artists
By Soni Brown
ALISHA KERLIN PHOTO COURTESY OF SETTLERS+NOMADS
IT’S EASY TO THINK VISUAL ART IN LAS VEGAS is limited to the Strip’s highly curated galleries and the work of Downtown’s First Friday festival. It would be unwise to assume this, though, as Las Vegas is a city of reinvention—visually stimulating pieces abound, even if you may not consider them to be art. Launched less than a year ago, SettlersAndNomads.com is a curated website featuring contemporary artists, thinkers and projects with a connection to Las Vegas. Its aim is to showcase creatives and offer artists an ever-evolving space where they can gather and learn from each other. Settlers + Nomads curator Wendy Kveck is a trained visual artist and educator at UNLV. Her work has been featured nationally, including stints at the local university’s Barrick Museum. She created Settlers + Nomads to be a networking tool for the website’s featured artists. “I was inspired by artists’ web projects coming out of other communities such as Brooklyn and Los Angeles,” Kveck says. At first, she conceived the webpage for a small group of artists she had met or worked with. It later evolved to include more of Las Vegas’ art history, and now features artists that come from and have passed through the city—hence the term “settlers and nomads.” In addition to connecting local and international artists, the site introduces projects to buyers and gallery curators who might otherwise dismiss the city’s art scene. It also offers visibility without the expense of a physical location. “I decided to launch something online, rather than a brick-and-mortar space, because I’ve seen so many struggle. It is a better balance with my own studio practice and budget,” Kveck says. The website features local artists such as Vegas Seven photographer and multidisciplinary artist Krystal Ramirez, who is appreciative of the legitimacy it gives Nevada. “I’ve had several people tell me that they had no idea there were so many artists living in Nevada or having ties to Nevada,” says Ramirez, who is showing her work in the Nevada Museum of Art’s Tilting the Basin: Contemporary Art of Nevada exhibit in Reno. Even those who Settlers + Nomads have yet to feature are appreciative of the interest generated by the site. Christian Kolle, an artist and gallerist at Jana’s RedRoom in the Arts Factory, believes that although art in Las Vegas is in its infancy, artists can still increase their visibility and growth through collaboration. While creating a community of working artists, Kveck is also allowing students to garner prominence outside of the classroom. Settlers + Nomads organizes and promotes pop-up, one-night exhibitions for UNLV’s fine arts students. The events are fetchingly called One-Night Stands, as they only occur in hotel rooms—and that seems to fit Las Vegas perfectly. 7
L
as Vegas’ tourism industry is defined by change. Restaurants open, close and are replaced. Guest rooms get refreshed periodically. Casino floors change their lighting, their carpet and—on a near-daily basis—their slot machines. This doesn’t just keep designers, contractors and construction workers employed—it leads to more visits and more money, if done right. Casinos remaking themselves is an old (by Las Vegas standards) phenomenon. The first Strip resort, El Rancho Vegas, was only open about a decade before it reinvented itself, replacing its original rustic Western theme with a frontier French provincial gloss; the Round-Up Room dinner theater, for example, became the Opera House. The Last Frontier lasted 13 years before becoming the space-age New Frontier, and other resorts, from the Flamingo to the Riviera, were constantly changing their look, size and layout. As with everything else in Las Vegas, the reinvention tradition has only grown larger and flashier as the years have passed. Initially, the emphasis was on expansion: from El Rancho adding a modest 63 rooms, to Mandalay Bay, Bellagio and the Venetian adding new towers in the 2000s. Until the Great Recession, Vegas hotels were almost always getting bigger. But the new economic realities have seen a shift in casino (re)design. Now, maintaining appeal and using space more wisely is the focus, or completely reinventing an older building as a new property. The latter has been done at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall (into the Cromwell), Imperial Palace (first as the Quad, then the Linq), and the Sahara (now SLS and soon to be W Las Vegas. Other properties stop short of that by simply remaking their guest rooms and public spaces. Architect Brad Friedmutter knows a few things about design. Friedmutter Group has designed multiuse casino and hospitality properties around the world; locally, you’re probably most familiar with the Cosmopolitan and Red Rock Casino Resort. Having spent the past 35 years building new properties and helping casinos redesign existing ones, he believes that there are two main reasons that casinos invest heavily in refreshing themselves. “One reason,” Friedmutter says, “is maintenance and upkeep. These properties in particular have higher wear and tear than traditional
hospitality ones: With the high volume and the party nature of people, the rooms take a higher wear and tear than you’d see in other markets.” The second reason, Friedmutter believes, is that the better properties in the market “always want to look fresh and new.” That means ditching last decade’s color palette and keeping up with the latest design trends. It’s not that the previous look was bad or even run-down in this case—it just needs to look new. And, increasingly, that’s mandatory. “Over the years, the customer has come to expect it,” Friedmutter says of the constantly changing Strip. “It’s what separates most general resorts from Las Vegas resorts. We all hear people saying when they visit here, that everything looks so different. It’s part of the excitement, part of the attraction of Las Vegas: to see who’s doing what, next.” So casinos reinvent to keep visitors coming back. But there are many degrees of reinvention, Friedmutter says. Even within the guest room, there is what’s called a “soft, good” refresh, which involves a change-out of the carpet, bedspread, drapes and possibly light fixtures, and a more complete overhaul that might see a bathroom redesign or even the expansion or contraction of individual rooms. The risk in refreshing, of course, is that people come to Las Vegas because they like what’s here; changing too much, too quickly, can alienate them. Friedmutter points out that, with their many parts, integrated resorts provide ample opportunities for incremental evolution: a spa redesign here, a rebranded restaurant there. Most important to any redesign—in hospitality or publishing—is letting the customer dictate the flow. “Sometimes the customers tell them, ‘This place is too much this, too little that,’” Friedmutter says. “And the one thing these properties do is listen—and respond.” With that in mind, while the new look of your favorite casino or weekly magazine might take some getting used to, odds are that a lot of thought and customer input went into it. If you like it, so much the better. If you don’t, make sure to tell someone why, because a new look is never too far off. 7
GREEN FELT JOURNAL
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
David G. Schwartz is the director of UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research.
As with everything else in Las Vegas, the reinvention tradition has only grown larger and flashier as the years have passed.
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CONVERSATIONS
Ask a Native
By James P. Reza
Photography Bob Brye
With Life Is Beautiful returning this week, can you tell us anything about other Las Vegas music festivals? uch more than a days-long outdoor concert, festivals feature food (to fuel all that jockeying around to see bands on far-flung stages), speakers (to educate) and art (to fill the gaps between the two). Woodstock was the scene’s granddaddy, and after the 1999 30thanniversary redux, its spirit was rekindled by a politically active Generation X. The OG Lollapalooza (1991) was born of this, and at least attempted to capture the free-spirited progressive vibe. But the massive event didn’t come to Las Vegas for a few years. Vegas would not wait to get involved, however; we had our own global concerns with local connections. In April 1992, the Hundredth Monkey Project staged a three-day gathering at the flood detention basin on the west end of Charleston Boulevard. It intended to “organize, prepare and activate a series of protests” to end nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site. Featuring speakers, vendors and live music (see a pattern?) from, among others, original Woodstock performer Richie Havens, the Hundredth Monkey stoked the festival fires. Lollapalooza finally arrived in Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium during a blistering 1994 summer. (It only lasted a year here.) But the year previous, rock station KKLZ began its series of Junefest classic rock shows at Sam Boyd, lasting until 2002. (Today’s indoor Junefest is a shadow of its former self.) In 1999, the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival revived the scene. Its growing popularity likely sparked the 2005 creation of Vegoose, an October festival (yes, at Sam Boyd) showcasing high-quality, musically varied lineups in the spirit of Coachella. But Coachella had the advantage, coming of age just as millennials began to venture out. As social media fed its image, Coachella— which quickly became the see-and-be-seen event of the year for
PHOTO: L AS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU L AS VEGAS CONVENTION AND VISITORS AUTHORITY
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many—won the battle, and Vegas lost Vegoose after only three years. Which brings us to this weekend’s fourth installment of Life Is Beautiful. Similarly, the three-day festival features art, education, food and headliners on multiple musical stages; uniquely, it takes place in an urban environment rather than on dusty festival grounds. The transformation of Downtown Las Vegas into a pedestrian-only block party is the most unique aspect of our homegrown festival, and one I look forward to experiencing each year. If you go, aside from dressing for Snapchat and seeing your fave bands, try to learn something important, lift someone up and share something valuable. That’s the festival vibe, after all.
Woodstock was the scene’s granddaddy, and after the 1999 30th-anniversary redux, its spirit was rekindled by a politically active Generation X. Have a question about Las Vegas, past, present or future? Send it to AskANative@VegasSeven.com.
September 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com
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CONVERSATIONS
By Jarret Keene
Photography Chapman Baehler
Staying Hard Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine believes metal must address life’s toughness
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o much death, loss and general hardship surrounded Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine and his band as they worked to put together their 15th album, Dystopia, which arrived in January. First, guitarist Jeff Hanneman of the band Slayer, who rose in the charts alongside Megadeth during the ’80s, died in June 2013, prompting Mustaine to tell a Minneapolis rock jock: “I want to write as much as I can.” Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson’s brother succumbed to cancer shortly after. Then Mustaine’s mother-in-law passed. Then his band broke up. For a pitch-black moment there, it seemed the only thing Mustaine would ever compose was his own career epitaph. The lead singer then dug into the deepest, grittiest part of himself. Indeed, it was when things felt bleakest that he found the strength, the daring and, most importantly, the hell-for-leather riffs to deliver another album-length blast of metal near-perfection to match earlier Megadeth classics (like Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? and Rust in Peace), at least one more time. It also helped that he managed to recruit guitarist Kiko Loureiro (Angra) and Chris Adler (Lamb of God), securing a group synergy and camaraderie that Mustaine, in his own words, “hadn’t felt in years.” Dystopia is Megadeth’s most acclaimed album in years. But does Mustaine believe great art must always come from suffering? Did he really need to endure all that agony and grief for Dystopia to be realized? “Well,” he says, during a recent phone interview with Vegas Seven, “in the words of van Gogh [the 19th-century Dutch post-impressionist painter who famously cut off his own ear], I would have to say, ‘Huh?’ In other words, yeah, I think so. Sometimes you have to endure pain. I think horror is sometimes required. Anything that’s worthwhile is worth paying a price for.” For Mustaine, loss isn’t just the cost of greatness. It’s also a badge of proletarian
honor. When he writes a blistering thrash number like “The Threat Is Real,” about our unwillingness to confront unpleasant truths, he’s tapping into metal music’s tradition of sticking with difficult subject matter—namely life’s tendency to be a grind. “Look, no one who listens to metal wants to hear songs about puppies and flowers,” he stresses. “Metal is blue-collar, salt-of-the-earth music for blue-collar, salt-of-theearth people. What we all have in common is the struggle and giving the middle finger to the Man.” Surely, I counter, a rock star like Mustaine can’t really claim to be a plebeian? To my surprise, he has the Kraft proof-of-purchase symbols proving otherwise. “I guess people have misinterpreted me as being a rich rock star,” he laments. “Let me tell you: I ate mac and cheese last night, and not because I was slumming, [but because] I love it. We’re not pretentious or making things up. The struggle that I go through isn’t far removed from what the average Megadeth fan goes through.” The average Megadeth fan, I argue, is gorging heartily on what the band serves up on Dystopia. I’m talkin’ riffs, riffs, riffs. There are tremendous single- and dual-guitar runs that boggle your mind, explosive solos that steal your breath and fret-board gymnastics that make your jaw drop to the mosh-pit floor. When I ask Mustaine if he’s gotten more calculated and intentional in his song structures, he confesses that some of the best riffs on Dystopia date back many, many years. “See, therein lies the rub on this record,” he says. “Some of the parts are really old. If I don’t use a part, I always archive it. I’ve done this from the very start of my career. I wrote the beginning of ‘Hangar 18’ right after I left Metallica [for whom he was the original lead guitarist]. It didn’t show up until our fourth [Megadeth] record. The riffs I write seem to be revealed to the public when they’re ready to be revealed.” The album is crisply co-produced by Mustaine, with the title track lunging at the listener, blasting like Mad Max’s supercharged Ford Falcon down a desert highway. For Mustaine, every song on Dystopia locks into place to render a widescreen picture of a—to crib the title of another killer song on the disc—“Post-American World.” “The record was done as a project, not in pieces,” he says, shying away from politics. (Mustaine is a conservative Christian, which irks liberal music critics.) “Doing this record wasn’t about following a formula. It was a log of self-discovery for us, an exploration of musical and lyrical ideas that seemed worth exploring.”
“LOOK, NO ONE WHO LISTENS TO METAL WANTS TO HEAR SONGS ABOUT PUPPIES AND FLOWERS,” HE STRESSES. “METAL IS BLUE-COLLAR, SALT-OF-THE-EARTH MUSIC FOR BLUE-COLLAR, SALT-OF-THE-EARTH PEOPLE. WHAT WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON IS THE STRUGGLE AND GIVING THE MIDDLE FINGER TO THE MAN.”
Megadeth with Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies and Metal Church at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Sept. 22, 5 p.m., $49.50-$150, 702-693-5000, HardRockHotel.com
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GRANT HEDRICK SAYS YES, YOU CAN BE A GENIUS AND A ROCK STAR AT THE SAME TIME
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By John Carr Photography Zach McKee
rant Hedrick has the distinct privilege of clocking out of his day job and subsequently jumping behind the decks of numerous venues Downtown, at music festival afterparties in Detroit, and sometimes even on a yacht sailing through Europe. Known simply as 530 (as in the Northern California area code), Hedrick manages to effectively balance being a professional DJ while working 40 hours a week as a sales expert at Apple. Grant regularly plays The Griffin, but also books other prominent local affairs such as Techno Taco Tuesday and, most recently, delivered a set at Momentus Entertainment’s SoundYard at Place on 7th. Hedrick’s mother was a radio DJ in San Francisco when he was growing up, so the music business was something he became acquainted with from a young age. He played drums as a child, as well as participating in sports, and even though the latter ended up becoming his priority in college, Hedrick returned to music by going to electronic events in L.A., namely Nocturnal Wonderland in 2007. “I had never been to anything like that before, or had ever seen that many people at one place for a musical event,” he says. “I remember seeing Carl Cox and Sharam from Deep Dish, along with drum ’n’ bass favorite Sub Focus, and I was hooked!” This passion led to Hedrick purchasing a friend’s CDJs and a mixer so that he could learn the craft himself. When it comes to developing skills, Hedrick is frank about experiential learning. “You can watch tutorials all day,” he says, “but I personally don’t learn that way. It may get you started and push you along, but it’s absolutely vital to be in front of [your CDJs] and actually do it yourself.” After so many years spent compiling a library of songs that represent his taste, Hedrick is now able to comfortably play on the fly at his gigs. He is always digging for fresh material, using his gym time to listen to new mixes, taking screenshots of the time stamps and then uncovering the songs via Shazam or 1001Tracklists.com. There has been plenty of talk lately about the health of a DJ, considering that prominent artists such as Carl Cox and Avicii have spoken out about it. Working both long days and nights himself, Hedrick understands the importance of mental and physical stamina. “Let’s be honest, partying is a part of the DJ lifestyle,” he says. “[But] you have to pick and choose when those nights will be.” When it comes to the future, Hedrick acknowledges that “anyone in their right mind” would say that the next step for him would be nonstop touring. He notes a significant pitfall in doing this, though: “It’s very hard to break in, and if you give everything up and it doesn’t work out, it’s hard to imagine where you might be,” he says. Considering how, in his current lifestyle, Hedrick has already done what many DJs strive for, which is a healthy balance of stability at his day job and adventurous moonlighting, he wouldn’t be in the wrong for wanting to keep things just the way they are. 7
September 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com
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Twin-sister DJ duo Nervo returns to Omnia on Tuesday.
FRI 23 Looking to inject some youthful energy and conceit into your monotonous day-to-day life? Head to Hakkasan and get a taste of the SremmLife. Tupelo, Mississippi, rap duo Rae Sremmurd brings its rowdy rap and hilarious punch lines to the megaclub, and catching the performance is pretty much the perfect goodbye kiss to summer 2016. We’re still having a hard time picking a favorite song from their latest album, SremmLife 2. The undeniable swagger and cool vibes of “Black Beatles” (featuring Gucci Mane) and no-holds-barred turn-up of “Start a Party” are definitely highlights, but the album is a cohesive display of the talent and charisma of these two fast-rising rap stars. Too much for you? Ireland’s Fergie DJ pumps the tunes before and after the performance. (MGM Grand, 10:30 p.m., HakkasanLV.com.)
September 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com
SAT 24 Isn’t it nice to know that we can always count on the Cosmopolitan as a place for all-day benders during the warmer months? Summer seems to be hanging around for a bit longer this year, so take advantage! It begins with progressive house DJ/production duo Tritonal at Marquee Dayclub. The group, consisting of Chad Cisneros and David Reed, teamed up with American Idol alumni Adam Lambert on a new single, “Broken.” The song is sort of a departure for the two entities: It marks Tritonal’s dive into pop/R&B and Lambert’s entry into the ever-changing EDM world. The result is a poppy track that’ll rival Jack Ü’s hit with Justin Bieber, “Where Are Ü Now,” and it’ll pair perfectly with the pools. Grab a bite, then make a dash back to Marquee Nightclub for a set by trance heavyweight Dash Berlin. In August, the outfit kicked off its #VoteForDash campaign on social media, where fans were encouraged to vote in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs survey. Head to a campaign stop tonight. (The Cosmopolitan, MarqueeLasVegas.com.)
SUN 25 Feelin’ bad? Bring that attitude to Superbad Sundays at Oddfellows. There you can watch (and dance to) music videos of the latest hip-hop hits. Expect to hear cuts from the biggest names in hip-hop such as Drake, Kanye West and Future, and, of course, the occasional throwback … because why not? (150 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 8 p.m., OddfellowsVegas.com.) MON 26 It’s no secret that Taiwanese-American fashion designer Alexander Wang has an ear for music. He recruited an impressive group of artists, such as Tinashe, A$AP Ferg, Vince Staples, Metro Boomin and RL Grime, to star in his new campaign. Grime stands out among the group as he’s a DJ/producer rather than an artist, and he’s crafted hits for Tory Lanez and The Weeknd. Catch the Los Angeles DJ/ producer at XS and enter the Void. (Encore, 10 p.m., XSLasVegas.com.)
TUE 27 With three diverse acts on the bill tonight, Omnia is the place to be. You can catch Australian EDM sister duo Nervo spinning in the main club, “Raindrops” hitmaker SNBRN on the Terrace and local SKAM Artist and KNYEW boutique owner DJ Crooked in Heart of Omnia. We’ll leave it to you to pick your poison, but if it were up to us, we’d move from room to room to sample the pickings, festival-style. With all this talent in one place, you just can’t go wrong. (Caesars Palace, 10:30 p.m., OmniaNightclub.com.) WED 28 Looking for the low end? It lives at Light, where forward-thinking DJ/producer Baauer spins. Outside of the music world, he’s known as the creator of the viral hit “Harlem Shake” that spawned millions of views on YouTube. Don’t pigeonhole him, though; his debut album, Aa, picks out elements from trap, house and hip-hop to create a unique sound. With features from Pusha T, Future, M.I.A. and more, it’s definitely worth checking out. Hear a few tonight, and see if he brings a surprise special guest with him. (Mandalay Bay, 10:30 p.m., TheLightVegas.com.)
By Genevie Durano
Photography Joseph Cultice
BEAUTIFUL GARBAGE TALKING PERSONAL AND MUSICAL EVOLUTION WITH SHIRLEY MANSON September 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com
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hen Garbage hit the scene in 1995 with their eponymous debut album, grunge had all but played out, and the band’s sound—a confluence of electronica, punk, industrial rock, trip-hop and shoegaze pop—defied easy categorization. Led by Scottish frontwoman Shirley Manson, whose singular style and postplaid glam perfectly embodied Gen X individualism and angst, Garbage made their mark with songs such as “Only Happy When It Rains,” “Stupid Girl” and “#1 Crush.” Twenty years, a band hiatus and six albums later, Garbage’s latest release, Strange Little Birds, may feel reminiscent of their earlier sound, but it continues to push buttons both sonically and lyrically. The album was recorded on the band’s independent label, Stunvolume, which Manson says gave her and her bandmates—Steve Marker, Duke Erikson and legendary Nirvana producer Butch Vig—the creative latitude they needed. “We have never traditionally done very well in the corporate atmosphere,” Manson says. “In that regard, having our own label is a relief. We’ve always pretty much done exactly what we’ve wanted to musically, even when in bed with these massive conglomerates that we’ve found ourselves owned by. The music has always remained outside of their influence. This new record touches on a different sonic landscape than perhaps some of our earlier records. It’s certainly a more cinematic and darker record.”
As for the songs themselves, what made Manson such a torchbearer for her generation was her ability to capture the doubts and disaffection of emerging adulthood. A couple of decades ago, she sang, “When I grow up, I’ll be stable / When I grow up, I’ll turn the tables.” Now that she’s older, she has gleaned some wisdom, but she still—refreshingly—hasn’t got it all figured out. She croons in “Teaching Little Fingers to Play”: “I was young and naïve / All I wanted to was please, please, please / But things, they changed / And I’m a big girl now / I’m all grown up / No one around to fix me now.” “I just try to chronicle my own life and my own perspective of the world. It continues to evolve simply because I, as a human being, continue to evolve. It subtly changes,” Manson says. “With our new record, I really was quite determined to be as truthful as I possibly could about what it meant to be living right now in some of these somewhat tumultuous times that we’re all living in.” A grown-up Garbage that stirs up middle-age disquietude while making us remember the flush of our misspent youth? We’ll take another heaping. 7 Garbage with Cigarettes After Sex The Foundry at SLS Las Vegas, Sept. 22, 8 p.m., $45 FoundryLV.com
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