STEEL PANTHER Hair to the Throne
FREE November 10-16, 2016
RL GRIME
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11
GRANDTHEFT
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11
DJ GUSTO
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11
T I C K E T S
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W Y N N S O C I A L . C O M
N I G H T L I F E
DIPLO
SPECIAL GUEST
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12
MONDAY NOVEMBER 14
ALISON WONDERLAND
YELLOW CLAW
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16
DILLON FRANCIS
YELLOW CLAW
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12
R E S E R VAT I O N S
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17
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SEVEN NIGHTS WHAT TO DO AFTER DARK By Ian Caramanzana
THURSDAY 10
Ringo Starr
You’ve heard it on Adidas commercials. You’ve followed the hilarious Vine memes. Now witness it live. “Ultimate” by Denzel Curry sparked a massive following and fan base after the track went viral earlier this year. And it’s hard not to fall in love with the song; it’s got a build-up that’ll put you on the edge of your seat and a wildly satisfying drop with tons of bass and machine gun flows from the Carol City, Florida rapper. Millennials around the world have timed their ridiculous antics and hilarious dance moves to the song’s hard-hitting drop, and it was all documented via six-second video clips on Vine. Peep the meme by scoping out the #IAmTheOne hashtag on the social media platform (while you still can), then see Curry perform it live at Vinyl along with other bangers such as “Knotty Head” and “This Life.” Remember to get your phone out when the beat drops! (In Hard Rock Hotel, 9 p.m., hardrockhotel.com.) It’s thirsty Thursday, so wet your palate with some new wine. STK will pour the first of just six Melchiors (18-liter bottles) of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. Each bottle is etched and hand-painted, and when full, weighs a whopping 60 pounds. Get your drink on! ($35 per glass, in The Cosmopolitan, 6 p.m., cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.)
FRIDAY 11
Looking for the Sremm? They’ve relocated to Drai’s. Rae Sremmurd, the polarizing, youthful Atlanta rap duo consisting of Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi, hits the stage to deliver a double shot of uncompromising club bangers. Beyond crafting club-ready hits such as “No Type,” “Black Beatles” and “Start a Party,” the two are advocates for the “SremmLife”—a noun, verb and preposition used to describe anything about the unforgiving lifestyle.
November 10 -16, 2016 vegasseven.com
“Crash a car? SremmLife! Lose a girlfriend? SremmLife!” said Lee in an interview by celebrity journalist Nardwuar. Jxmmi even has it tattooed across his stomach. If you’ve had a rough day, indulge in the wildness of the duo, and blame the SremmLife for any party fouls that happen. You’re on your own if you get kicked out of the club, though. (In The Cromwell, 10:30 p.m., draisnightlife.com.)
SATURDAY 12
She’s back! Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, rapper, producer and all-around diva Lauryn Hill hits The Foundry to give another eclectic career-spanning performance. When she rocked Brooklyn Bowl in May 2014, Hill cranked out soothing acoustic renditions of “I Gotta Find Peace of Mind” and “Mr. Intentional,” hopped on the mic for a few Fugees songs such as “Killing Me Softly” and “Ready or Not,” then performed a half-dozen hits from her 1998 Grammy Awardwinning album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. And, in diva fashion, she did it with style and grace. She really can do it all. See if L-Boogie changes things up and performs acoustic renditions of any Fugees tunes, or breaks out into some impromptu spoken word. We wouldn’t put it above the talented goddess. (In SLS, 7:30 p.m., foundrylv.com.)
SUNDAY 13
We’re spoiled. Yesterday, The Foundry welcomed an R&B legend. Today, see a rock ’n’ roll one: Ringo Starr. The former member of the Beatles brings decades’ worth of songwriting excellence, biting wit and undeniable swagger to The Smith Center, and he’s not coming alone, either. Starr’s all-star band includes multi-instrumentalist Todd Rundgren, ex Santana and Journey keyboard player Gregg Rolie, singer/bassist of Mr. Mister, Richard Page and more. Beyond cuts from Starr’s prolific catalog and covers of the bandmembers’ own greatest hits, expect rockin’ renditions of classic rock songs such as Toto’s “Africa” and Carlos Santana’s “Black Magic Woman.” It’s a quick way to cross those must-see names off your list. (361 Symphony Park Ave., 7:30 p.m., thesmithcenter.com.)
MONDAY 14
Do yourself a favor by catching festival trap pioneer Party Favor when he rocks the room at Jewel. The Los Angeles DJ/producer is still on his Party and Destroy North American tour, which is proving to be a hit with the EDM community. Favor posted a teaser video of his epic intro to his Facebook page, which included a peek at an unreleased track that left fans ecstatic. Judging from the short clip, the new song is quite the departure for Favor, being heavy on the melody and less on the earthshattering drops we’re used to hearing. See if he gives us more tonight. (In Aria, 10:30 p.m., jewelnightclub.com.)
TUESDAY 15
At Tacos & Beer, Tuesday means techno and tacos. Enter Techno Taco Tuesday. This long-running event brings delicious discounted tacos and boomin’ techno tunes to a local-centric environment on Paradise Road. This week, you can sample tunes from resident DJs Bad Beat, Lance Le Rok, Pedro Flores, Rob Fernandez, Eder More and others. We encourage you to see which DJ pairs best with the beer-battered fish tacos or the chile-braised beef burrito. Talk about variety! (3900 Paradise Rd., 9 p.m., facebook.com/technotacotuesdaylv.)
WEDNESDAY 16
Step into the time machine that is Oddfellows and rekindle your love for overalls, tacky knickknacks from Spencer’s Gifts and Aaliyah’s all-too-short career for the video club’s totally awesome ’90s night. Celebrate the music of the decade and don’t be surprised if the VJ fuses Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” with MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” or Oasis’ “Wonderwall” with Dr. Dre’s “Let Me Ride.” It’s ambitious, but trust us, it works. Halloween was a few weeks ago, but we encourage you to unearth some gems from deep in your closet so you can fully immerse yourself in the nostalgia. It’ll be all that and a bag of chips! (150 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 8 p.m., oddfellowslv.tumblr.com.)
November 10 -16, 2016 vegasseven.com
L AURYN HILL BY ERIK K ABIK
Party Favor (right) and Lauryn Hill
PARTY FAVOR NOV 14
FAED
NOV 21
JUSTIN CREDIBLE NOV 28
BRKLYN DEC 5
LA LEAKERS DEC 12
herringbone HOOKED ON MONDAYS
alibi ultra lounge PREPARE YOUR ALIBI
jewel nightclub FLAWLESS MONDAYS
HALF PRICE SELECT BOTTLES OF CHAMPAGNE AND EXCLUSIVE FOOD SPECIALS BEGINNING AT 9PM EVERY MONDAY
FEATURING COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE FOR LADIES FROM 9:30PM Ð 11:30PM EVERY MONDAY
COMPLETE YOUR NIGHT AT THE HOTTEST NEW NIGHTLIFE DESTINATION IN LAS VEGAS COMPLIMENTARY FOR LOCALS
a flawless experience at aria
OPEN MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY \ FLAWLESSMONDAYS.COM \ JEWELNIGHTCLUB.COM \ 702.590.8000
after concert party hosted by
sat
702.693.5505 @vanitylv
11 19 16
nl@hrhvegas.com
doors at
11 pm
hardrockhotel.com
/vanitynightclublv
[ EAT THIS ] By Al Mancini
Photography Krystal Ramirez
New-Style Sashimi
Kumi In Mandalay Bay kumilasvegas.com Instagram: @kumilasvegas
WHAT TO ORDER
Akira Back has been fascinated with Nobu Matsuhisa’s modern approach to simple raw fish for years, but couldn’t find a way to make it his own until his recent trips to Asia. There, the chef came up with the idea of giving sashimi a Chinese touch by sweating Szechuan peppercorns with sea salt before adding them to hoisin and garlic purée. He brushes the resulting paste onto thin slices of the day’s selections, such as whitefish, salmon, octopus and wagyu, providing a nice kick that punctuates the citrus taste of a healthy dose of yuzu soy. For the final touch, a drizzle of hot oil adds a beautiful contrast of heat and cold while slightly searing the protein, which is then sprinkled with crispy garlic, sesame seeds and micro Thai basil.
WHEN TO GO
Open from 5-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Kumi is a perfect spot to grab a bite before hitting the dance floor at Light. Enjoy Back’s new-style sashimi as part of a full meal in the dining room or as a snack at the bar. If your nighttime itinerary brings you to Bellagio, you can also find the dish on Yellowtail’s new menu. 7
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e b o t w Ho
’ n i h c t i B Glam-rock band Steel Panther will shred at Drai’s Nightclub— with bulges and guyliner By Jessie O’Brien Photography Krystal Ramirez
I was wondering how you kept such a nice figure. Thanks for the tip. Yes, exactly. That and cocaine. You can go to the doctor and get certain things to curb your appetite, or you can just do blow and feel bitchin’.
L
exxi Foxxx is as pretty as he is terrible at playing bass. The gorgeous, inferior musician is part of the ’80s hair metal band Steel Panther with guitarist Satchel, singer Michael Starr and drummer Stix Zadinia. While they’re killing the ozone layer with profuse amounts of Aqua Net, they’re keeping heavy metal alive and well with their exaggerated personas and comedic performances. But can they convert the EDM, hip-hop-loving Strip crowd when they invade Drai’s Nightclub on November 17 and January 19? Foxxx says as long as they play OK and still look bitchin’ (he’s getting Botox before the show), they can win over anybody. Hey, it’s worked for them so far, right? Vegas Seven caught up with the musician ahead of his band’s megaclub debut to find out what makes a Steel Panther, so we could transform the exec team at Drai’s into glammed-out rock stars. The rockers’ upcoming album, an affinity for throwing TVs out hotel-room windows and autographing certain female body parts definitely slipped into the conversation ...
November 10 -16, 2016 vegasseven.com
How do you stay looking bitchin’ while performing for hours? I have a fan in front of me. I don’t want my makeup to run. That’s why I put my hair up, so I can keep it out of my face. I have a table next to me and [it has] a mirror, a makeup bag and hairspray [on it]. If something does happen, I can go over there and just reapply. … I mean, it’s important. It’s even more important than playing the bass. I have to make sure that I do my job. My band depends on that. Do you ever have the problem of your hair getting stuck in your lip gloss while you’re onstage? That has happened before. It’s awful. I don’t even care if I miss a note while I’m playing. I just literally stop playing and get it out of my mouth because I can’t have that. Is it difficult to autograph boobs with all those Xs in your name? You know what? It is, but I’ve done it so much [that] now it’s actually pretty easy. I’m fortunate that it’s just two lines. I’ve gotten pretty good at it. You’re on tour, and the band spends so much time together. Is there any drama
going on or are you guys getting along? To be around each other as much as we are, we do get along really well. Communication is good, [and] making sure that nobody’s fucking somebody else’s chick or anything like that. … We’re like brothers … as long as we’re all buzzed and on prescription pills. That keeps us in a good mood. We’re pretty solid that way. Who writes the songs? Satchel tells us what to do and we do it. Oh, you don’t ever have any input? Pretty much, Satchel writes everything. When we try to change them, he just says no. … I just care about how I look, so I don’t really give a shit about what I play and what I don’t play. Now that TVs are all flat-screen, is it still satisfying to throw them out of hotel windows? They’re a lot lighter than they were in the ’80s, that’s for sure, but they’re hard to get off the walls. Before we used to just take them off the dresser. Now, in certain hotel rooms, they’re [mounted] on the walls, so we can’t really pry them off. They’re not that fun, it doesn’t make that impact when it hits the ground. It doesn’t make a big noise like a bitchin’ old-school TV did. We are transforming the Drai’s Nightclub team into Steel Panthers like yourselves. What advice do you have for them? Have a bitchin’ bandanna. Make sure you shave for the guys, and the girls for that matter. I guess for dudes, dress like a girl—not dress [exactly] like a girl, [but] makeup and hair are very important. Tight spandex. Bitchin’ biker boots or something like that. A cowboy boot or wrestling shoes. Something bitchin’-looking. Bandannas. 7
LEXXI FOXXX PHOTO BY DAVID JACKSON
What’s a day in the life of a Steel Panther like? Well, it depends. Today, I have to go to the doctor. I have to [pick up] some pills for herpes, make sure that I’m cleared up. Then I’m going to the tanning booth, and then my mom’s having dinner, so I might have people over for dinner. I don’t consume much. If I do, then I just throw it up afterward. It’s important to stay skinny, so I’ll do that. Even though she’s a great cook, I don’t keep [her cooking] in my body that long.
THE DETAILS Assuming the spirit of a Panther, Drai’s creative director Tal Cooperman, managing partner Brian Affronti, director of VIP services Ryan Rearden and talent coordinator Dustin Drai submitted to the ultimate transformation into a glam-rock band. Wigs, makeup and skintight leggings were only half the treatment—a Panther’s true grit comes from within. “I felt alive,” Cooperman says. “I felt untouchable and like a true rock star. I just wanted to drink and party all day and all night. Best part was getting to dress up. Layers on layers on layers of clothes you wouldn’t catch us usually wearing.” Group shot, from left: Drai, Cooperman, Affronti and Rearden. See the behind-the-scenes video: vegasseven.com/steelpanther. Makeup and hair by Whit Bansin and Natasha Chamberlin, One Luv Agency. Styling by Kris Kass. Clothing courtesy of Buffalo Exchange, 1209 S. Main St., buffaloexchange.com; and Exile Boutique, 1235 S. Main St., exile-on-main-street.myshopify.com.
Firefly 3824 Paradise Rd. fireflylv.com Instagram: @fireflytapas
[ HEAR THIS ]
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVE
MOVE,
a nomadic industry night, lands at Firefly By John Carr
A
s fun as it may be to bathe in the lights and delights of the Strip’s many megaclubs, MOVE promises a more intimate experience, one that’s not meant to mimic the energy of extravagant Strip nightclubs or even the city’s after-hours techno scene. Rather, the almost-monthly event evokes a lounge-y atmosphere that is complemented by mesmerizing beats, ornate decor and the vibe of a family gathering. And true to its name, the industry night moves back and forth between Tacos & Beer and Firefly. The latter will host MOVE’s next soirée on November 16 (9 p.m., no cover). Tacos & Beer general manager and event coordinator Manuel Garza pours a significant amount of care into bringing the event to life. “I like to call it a social experiment; it’s always a good turnout,” he says. The main focus of MOVE is to give locals a place to gather and form worthwhile relationships. Garza cites his passion for hosting people as the reason he pushes these parties forward. Although Las Vegas is where it started, MOVE has also found a home in Chicago and will soon host a Las Vegas takeover in San Diego.
The next party will be special as it celebrates the birthday of music director Chris Garcia. As the one responsible for booking MOVE’s guest talent such as DJ Dee Montero from Cafe Mambo in Ibiza, Garcia’s hard work deserves to be rewarded. Garza cites the importance of the deep-house sound that makes the event flow so well: “For these nights, we stick to deep house for more of a lounge feel.” While dance music has the capacity to demand your full attention, the musical vibe at MOVE is meant to support a spike in energy without drowning out the conversations that will hopefully take place. As MOVE’s latest promo video details, the event stays fresh with changing themes; September’s white party saw Firefly packed with guests, and featured dancers, ornate lighting and decorations, as well as a prop-filled photo booth. Garza has plenty more ideas for upcoming events, citing Bad Santa or superheroes as possible themes. Even without any dressing up, Garza already knows the allure of what he’s put together: “People I know will come before they go out for the night and end up just staying the whole night here instead.” 7
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[ WATCH THIS ]
#NoFilter Las Vegas DJs Rob Alahn and Doug Wilcox are soldiers in the DJ livestream revolution By John Carr
Less than two decades into the 21st century, you don’t have to dress up and step out to get the beats you need after a long day. This is thanks to the many livestreams that are available on Facebook’s new Live feature, which many a DJ has tapped to show off their skills on the ones and twos. In Las Vegas, DJs Rob Alahn and Doug Wilcox host a Wednesday-night series called Unfiltered Soul from Downtown Cocktail Room. Alahn and Wilcox—dance-music DJs from Chicago and Newark, respectively, since the culture was in its early stages—have the experience necessary to maintain focus and energy during their broadcast. In 2006, Wilcox began hosting his own nights at Downtown Cocktail Room and was given license to play whatever he wanted. “[Owner Michael Cornthwaite] just said, ‘I’m going to tell you right now, if you really want to play here, you have my blessing. I trust you, I like your
sound; have at it,’” Wilcox says. After a good handful of nights behind the decks, Wilcox invited Alahn into the mix, eventually passing the torch along to him when Wilcox decided to take on more work outside of DJing. Little did he know that he would be back in the booth a short year later, returning to find Alahn using Stickam, an older-generation video-streaming service, as a means to reach audiences outside of Las Vegas. On a global scale, DJ streams come in an array of shapes and sizes. Although the method has been around since the mid2000s via services such as the aforementioned Stickam (launched in 2005), Ustream (2007) and the still relatively young Periscope (2015), Facebook Live has made live broadcasts more accessible, simple and fun. It offers DJs—established as well as up-andcoming—a way to articulate their personal
musical perspective. Now that Alahn and Wilcox have switched over to Facebook Live, it’s their attention to detail that allows them to stand out in the crowd and compete with other DJ streams for viewers. Drop in to the Unfiltered Soul live video feed to experience what Alahn calls “frontrow access to the DJ booth, where the truth is being served.” Multiple camera angles are the main attraction, with constantly changing views of the action in the booth. And the DJs make sure to remind viewers of their next gigs, which include a stop in Japan. (The two now find themselves playing overseas once a year, thanks to the broadcast being viewed around the world.) “[DJs] have to find their authentic self and they have to be true to it,” Alahn says. When it’s no longer enough to be a “bedroom DJ,” they can easily attract new listeners one livestream at a time. 7
November 10 -16, 2016 vegasseven.com