A Downtown All-Star Christmas Spectacular | Vegas Seven, Seven Nights | Dec. 22-28, 2016

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SEVEN NIGHTS YOUR WEEK IN PARTIES

By Ian Caramanzana

Same Sex Mary makes Christmas magic at The Bunkhouse.

THURSDAY 22

Feelin’ the blues? Well, the weekend’s almost here, so venture to The Sand Dollar Lounge to catch a performance from Tony Holiday and the Velvetones. The Salt Lake City-based group crafts and performs blues but with a modern twist. When he’s not playing sweeping licks on his guitar or providing gruff vocals a la Eric Clapton, Holiday shows his chops on an amplified harmonica. The result is a unique take on a genre that’s deeply rooted in American music. Get a preview by lending your ear to songs such as the easygoing “Scratches on My Back” or the speedy “Johnny Paycheck” before seeing the band live in an intimate environment. (10 p.m., no cover, 3355 Spring Mountain Rd., thesanddollarlv.com)

FRIDAY 23

The festivities are kickin’! Christmas is only two days away, and we’re sure you’ve already enjoyed the bulk of preholiday fetes. Shake things up by partying with a local band at The Bunkhouse Saloon. Same Sex Mary welcomes all to A Very Merry Same Sex Mary Christmas Spectacular. On the night before Christmas Eve, you can celebrate an amazing year with the local rock ’n’ roll quintet by showing up and partying your pants off. And it won’t be difficult, either: Same Sex Mary promises a celebration with “an all-star team consisting of more than 50 local artists, musicians, actors, technicians and performers.” However vague, we can’t wait to see what surprises they’ve got up their sleeves. Will the Bunkhouse talent bookers joust with giant candy canes? Will local rapper Hassan Hamilton pull an audible and get on the guitar?

Will SSM singer Tsvetelina Stefanova spell out her entire name in Christmas lights? Show up and find out. This endeavor is as charitable as it is wacky: Members of the band are collecting donations to benefit Three Square. Giving is good! (9 p.m., $10, 124 S. 11th St., bunkhousedowntown.com)

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

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OFFICIAL PUFF PUFF PASS TOUR AFTER PARTY opening performance by stix

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Disclosure and Andrew Rayel

SATURDAY 24

Even if you’ve taken cues from Blink-182 and decided to procrastinate on gift shopping and wrapping, you’ll have another reason to slack when Andrew Rayel invades Marquee. The Moldavian trance heavyweight’s music career began at the age of 13 when he started studying orchestral music. Classical and baroque compositions influenced Rayel to create productions of his own, but with a modern EDM spin. The result is eerily familiar melodies layered atop a bumpin’, trance-inspired backbone. Songs such as “Once in a Lifetime Love (featuring Kristina Antuna)” and “All Systems Down (featuring KhoMa)” use this formula, and after one listen, you’ll agree that these infectiously catchy tunes warrant a holiday-season slowdown. Look at it this way: You still have an entire morning to wrap gifts! (10:30 p.m., in The Cosmopolitan, marqueelasvegas.com)

SUNDAY 25

The days of gifts, food, friends and family are finally here! If the eggnog and Christmas ham or Hanukkah supper don’t get you into the spirit, head to The Palazzo for a performance by master Las Vegas entertainer Clint Holmes. The seasoned singer and showman has earned a residency at the venue, but given the momentous occasion, we think he’ll pull out all the stops. Between the Lines features Holmes performing chart-topping hits, traditional standards and his own tunes.

Don’t be surprised if “Johnny Holiday” breaks out some Christmas classics such as “Jingle Bells” or Wham!’s “Last Christmas.” In fact, you should expect it. ’Tis the season, right? (7 p.m., $39-$69, in The Palazzo, Palazzo.com)

RAYEL BY JACOB VAN ROZEL A AR

MONDAY 26

Stuffed? Congratulations! You’ve survived this year’s edition of seasonal gluttony. Get a head start on those New Year’s resolutions by burning some calories. There’s no need to get a gym membership or purchase that new athleisure garment, though. Tonight’s ab-stimulating workout consists of roughly an hour of laughter courtesy of veteran funnyman Jerry Seinfeld. The Brooklyn-born comedian’s eponymous sitcom is enjoying a resurgence of popularity since it hit the streaming airwaves late last year. The actor’s ubiquitous brand of observational humor has won the hearts of millions—so much so that Seinfeld never fails to bring up Seinfeld at his stand-up gigs. Binge-watch all 180 episodes on Hulu, then catch Seinfeld’s humor firsthand at The Colosseum. A word of advice: Beware of “close-talkers.” (7:30 p.m., $82-$165, in Caesars Palace, thecolosseum.com)

TUESDAY 27

Call us crazy, but we think the best gift our city received this year is Park Theater. The new world-class concert hall on the south Strip seats 5,200, has a stellar roster of talent such as Stevie Nicks, The Pretenders and Ricky Martin, and is a stone’s throw from the massive T-Mobile Arena.

It’s a welcome addition to the already bustling list of venues in the city. Tonight, take a break from seeing A-list talent by literally hosting the A-list. Michael Johnson and the A-List have been rocking smaller rooms such as the Santa Fe Station Theater over the years, but they’re taking their eclectic formula consisting of rock, pop, soul, jazz and blues covers to a space right outside The Park. We think this band has what it takes to eventually rock the big room. (5 p.m., no cover, at Monte Carlo, theparkvegas.com)

WEDNESDAY 28

Didn’t get that Oculus Rift or PS4 you’ve had your eye on? Dance the pain away with Disclosure at Light. The members of this U.K. garage/house outfit have been laying low since they released the Moog for Love EP in June. Critics are calling the release—which features collaborations with soul legend Al Green and emerging house artist Eats Everything—a return to form, with its simple house-centric backbone and melodic flavor. Trust us: The walking bass of “Feel Like I Do (featuring Al Green)” will make you forget about the vanity of electronics. (10:30 p.m., $20-$30, in Mandalay Bay, thelightvegas.com) 7

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

[ DJ NEXT DOOR ]

Blazing a Trail ZACK THE RIPPER SHARES HIS DREAMS OF A 420-FRIENDLY NIGHTLIFE SCENE

By John Carr

Zack the Ripper soundcloud.com/ zacktheripper Instagram: @zack_the_ripper

Photography Zach McKee

Now that the postelection dust has begun to settle, Las Vegas can start to consider the fact that recreational marijuana use will soon be legal in Nevada, and there’s one guy who can’t wait to jump into the game with both feet.

As Zack the Ripper behind the decks, local DJ Zack Hexamer lives a double life. By night, he spins at Can I Kick It Wednesdays at Vanguard Lounge with guest DJs of his choosing. But by day, he is the director of hydrocarbons at Terps Concentrates, developing and cultivating innovative marijuana products 10 hours a day, six days a week. The self-proclaimed “extraction artist” recently won Best Indica and Sativa concentrates at the Jack Herer Cup, a popular cannabis competition.

But how does he personally maintain balance? “I have so much natural energy, it’s insane,” he says.

At Vanguard, Hexamer is always open to different styles, and finds two common threads in the people he books. First, he’s looking for selectors, meaning those who excel at choosing the right tracks; in this case hip-hop and bass. Second, he’s seeking a positive demeanor. “[They have] a willingness to learn and are super supportive,” Hexamer says.

“They have to know they’re good DJs, but they don’t have an attitude.”

Hexamer’s weed work is an entirely different story, and includes such projects as creating new concentrates like Khalifa Kush (a hybrid homage to Wiz) and interesting strains of budder, a wax that is created through butane extraction. “Being in the lab making wax, learning and critically thinking, and leaving that job to go to a packed room of people who want to hear dope music, is like constantly having to problem solve,” he says.

“I’m never sitting around bored.”

Fantasizing about Las Vegas’ soon-tobe-legal recreational marijuana industry, Hexamer has a few great ideas for how bud could translate in clubs and bars. His dreams include the cannabis answer to bottle service, which would include a choice of strains, pairing alcohol or food with the appropriate flower or concentrate, and a $4,000 half-pound blunt.

Hexamer’s interest in combining his two worlds goes deeper than just wanting to be able to get high at bars and in clubs. He wishes to undo the harm that films such as Reefer Madness did to what he sees as a natural substance. “I’m excited,” he says, “not only for people to enjoy themselves, but to be comfortable and not look over their shoulders enjoying something that grows out of the ground.” 7 Zack the Ripper smokes the turntables at Culture & Cannabis with DJs Shaun Saville Jr., Byra Tanks and Gables on December 28 at Commonwealth.

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

[ CLUB TOUR ]

SURRENDER IN ENCORE LAS VEGAS

By Kat Boehrer

YOUR TOUR GUIDE: DJ SNAKE If you party in Las Vegas or listen to the radio, chances are you’ve heard DJ Snake. “I started at Surrender with my boy Dillon Francis in November 2013, so [it’s been] a little bit more than three years now,” says Snake, real name William Grigahcine. The French musician currently plays the Wynn nightclub circuit on a regular basis, and has pop-EDM songs such as “Let Me Love You,” featuring Justin Bieber, on radio rotation. Before achieving mainstream fame, Snake helped produce music for such pop superstars as Lady Gaga and Pitbull.

He returns to Surrender Nightclub on New Year’s Eve, undoubtedly one of the biggest nights of the year. “You just have to experience Surrender as a whole,” Snake says. “The vibe is crazy.”

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

SAVE THE DATE December 28 with RL Grime and December 30 with Yellow Claw:

End 2016 with a string of high-energy, bass-heavy shows featuring these EDM mixmasters.

December 31 with DJ Snake:

What can you expect from a Snake party?

“I just started working on my New Year’s Eve set this week,” he says. “It’s coming out super dope … but I’ll leave the rest to everyone’s imagination.” Wanna go extra VIP this year? For $60,000, count down to the New Year with Snake himself in the DJ booth as part of Surrender’s Ultimate VIP New Year’s Eve package that also includes dinner for 12 and a handful of bottles at a booth with a prime view.

ON DECK When he plays in Las Vegas, DJ Snake really brings it. “I have played some of my longest sets at Surrender. I think I hit the five-hour mark once,” he says.

“Also, I get to play a lot of my favorite music there, from old-school hip-hop to modern-day London grime.” In January, Surrender will keep the superstar DJs on deck for amazing throwdowns including Marshmello (1/4), Ookay (1/20) and Flosstradamus (1/21).

Surrender Encore Las Vegas surrendernightclub.com Instagram: @surrendervegas

MUST-SEE Bottle presentations are among the most exciting parts of the Surrender Nightclub spectacle.

“I remember leading up to my album, they had 20 bottle-service girls come out with two bottles each, and they hosed the crowd down,” Snake says.

MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE

DJ SNAKE BY PAUL GARCIA/MERC PHOTOGRAPHY; INSTAGRAMMY PHOTOS BY K ARL L ARSON

Take it from a dude whose Instagram fame mirrors his IRL fame. Where should you pop off those IGs to let friends and fans know you had the best night ever? According to Snake, the best photo ops are “definitely onstage, but it seems like the front row and tables are the most Instagram-friendly. Also, people always seem to go nuts when Surrender passes out props such as emojis on a stick.”

PREPARTY If you find the New Year’s Eve package with our man Snake a tad astronomical, the Bronze menu at Andrea’s might be more your jam. Available in the lounge from 6-10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, the locals-only promotion includes cocktails, wine by the glass, bar bites, sushi rolls and desserts at very down-to-earth prices. 7

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

[ EXIT INTERVIEW ]

88 Ways to Say

Goodbye I

f you know local music, then you know Bree DeLano. Whether it’s through her eclectic DJ sets at bars, nightclubs or lounges as DJ88, or behind the scenes as an event coordinator and talent curator via her independent music-direction and production company 88 Ways, DeLano has made a lasting mark on the Las Vegas music scene.

Her Pop-Up and Pop-Up Live party series have given local artists such as Brittany Rose and Cameron Calloway a chance to shine, while bringing in burgeoning talent such as Anderson .Paak. Nonetheless, DeLano is taking her talents to another city next year, but fear not: The events will go on.

Before decamping to Los Angeles, DeLano bade farewell at the one-year anniversary of Pop-Up with performances by Rose, The American Weather, The First Sun and more on November 18 at the Sand Dollar Lounge—a celebration DeLano has called “almost overwhelming.”

Why are you leaving Las Vegas for Los Angeles? In short: I came, I saw, I humbly conquered.

I’m very, very appreciative of everything I’ve learned, the opportunities I’ve afforded myself and the wonderful people I’ve met through connections. But when it comes down to it, I’m a hyperactive creative who has realized that Vegas is limiting when it comes to a certain point in one’s career. I’ve done everything I can possibly do here. It’s time for me to take this tiny empire I’ve built and cultivate it to the next level.

Also, I’m going home! I used to live in L.A., and I felt like it’s necessary for me to bring the series and my skills back there. Twelve years in Vegas is a long run, but this is going to be the 5.0 version of me. I’m taking everything I’ve done here and [will be] doing it out there. It’s going to be tough because I’m extending my brand in 15 different directions. I’m excited to be able to grow [in L.A.] again. I feel like I kind of kicked through the glass ceiling as a woman, and I hope to serve as an example. I’m not just a DJ; that’s just one of the many things I do. Vegas is a great city for DJs, but even that is challenging and complicated at times.

I need to be somewhere where I can focus on everything that I can do.

Will you bring your Pop-Up event series to Los Angeles? Yes. I’m keeping the branding

and extending it to L.A. It’s still going to be true in its essence—it won’t be confined to a weekly or monthly engagement, hence the term “pop-up.”

That’s the beauty of it.

How did you select the host venue and entertainment for Pop-Up’s one-year anniversary? Since it was the final one of 2016,

I wanted to bring in a nice wave of different

December 22 -2 8, 2016 vegasseven.com

By Ian Caramanzana

Photography Krystal Ramirez

Bree DeLano is returning to her L.A. roots, but Pop-Up will live on

elements [that are] indicative of the series: for music lovers, by music lovers. … [Pop-Up] rotated musical genres through several different venues throughout the city, which sort of carries the torch of what I wanted to do at Insert Coin(s) as the music director there. The Sand Dollar [Lounge] is an incredible place that has a storied history. For the anniversary, we wanted to have it in an intimate venue that’s approachable to everyone, and we wanted it to have a house-party vibe with affordable drinks and amazing talent. The focus is recognition and introduction for both the bands and the venues. Brittany Rose actually performed at the first Pop-Up series when we had it at Ghostbar a year ago, and Crykit and myself spun as well. This time, though, Brittany [was] joined by The American Weather and The First Sun—not just a traditional set, either; I asked them to play covers by artists who’ve inspired them.

You’ve worked with artists on all levels, from local DJs to rapper Anderson .Paak. What has been your most memorable Pop-Up moment? The first event is an

obvious highlight because it was my baby. There were so many magical elements that night—from launching the experience to bringing music lovers together in one room. We had Brittany and Cameron Calloway perform at Ghostbar, and it was a treat to see two locals take over a space where nationally known acts perform. And Anderson [.Paak] … that was something else. You can’t top his energy. That concert [in July at House of Blues] was the launch of the Pop-Up Live events, and it was amazing. Unforgettable.

What do you have planned for the future?

Where are you in relation to your goals for the series? The most important thing I wanted

to accomplish was to bring diversity—in terms of music—to the city. I wanted to bring it back to what nightclubs, DJs and artists are supposed to do: open you up to new music and form a community around it and just get you to dance!

The dance-music community is so segregated and separated in Las Vegas; if you go into a nightclub, you’ll find that there’s no dancing, no connection and no engagement between people. I wanted Pop-Up to break down those walls.

Now that I have the ammunition of a portfolio built in Vegas, I’m about to build a small empire in L.A. I want to launch something that city, in all its forward-thinking, doesn’t have. Vegas is a well-oiled machine, architecturally built to cater to the general population, and working here has forced me to perfect what I’ve created. I’m going to keep doing what I do: discovering new talent and putting people onto talent. I love being the first to put my fingerprint on things. But I’ve been bored for a while. It’s time for me to reroot, regroup and set new goals. 7

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