Soundscraper
Proud to be American doom
My editors gave me a ribbing for an earlier column in which I urged readers to get their “doom metal” on with the exhausting Doom in June festival at Cheyenne Saloon a few weeks ago. Well, they’re going love this edition of Soundscraper, because nothing less than the pioneers of American doom, Saint Vitus, arrive in Vegas on July 1 to crush the eardrums of anyone inside Wasted Space in the Hard Rock.
Read More »Valentine finds his heart
The solitary man, dark myth and Las Vegas legend known as Rod Pardey, a.k.a. Michael Valentine, has undergone many changes in the last few years. Immortalized in song by no less than The Killers (“The Ballad of Michael Valentine”) during the high-flying aughts, Pardey pushed his poker-playing profession aside, moving to Austin, Texas, with his band Romance Fantasy.
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Doom (in June) town
If your idea of a music festival involves a leisurely picnic amid a sonic background of smooth jazz, then you may be put off by Doom in June (myspace.com/doominjune). But if you consider Nevada’s more aggressive contexts—the mob, Nevada Test Site, the carnal dens of Pahrump—then this festival seems apt.
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Heavy metal tears
Been a rough few weeks for your friendly neighborhood Soundscraper. The passing of metal legend Ronnie James Dio (b. 1942, RIP) weighed heavy, causing me to spin nothing but Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell albums for hours on end. If I keep this up much longer, my wife will divorce me and my job will be outsourced to someone who doesn’t repeatedly bombard his fellow cubicle dwellers with, say, Lock Up the Wolves.
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Pizza rock in a taco shop
Plenty of very cool, beneath-the-neon shows happening in Vegas this week, fellow Soundscrapers. Here’s one you should definitely check out: Yayo Taco (4632 S. Maryland Parkway) is a quiet, unassuming taco joint in the university district by day; by night, though, it’s an eardrum-smashing live music venue with an emphasis on punk and metal. Of course, Yayo doesn’t always compete with McCarran International Airport. Occasionally a milder but no less passionate indie-rock outfit slips in, as is the case May 21 with Austin, Texas-based (and appropriately named) Look Mexico, who will be making their first trip to Vegas.
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Local warming
It’s that time of year again when outdoor music beckons us. Coachella was a nice indie-rock slice, sure, but there are more local moments to hotly anticipate. Here are the event tickets I’ve purchased (no freebies for me): The second annual “Gimme Shelter” blues festival is back at The Village Lake Las Vegas on May 1. The casino at Lake Las Vegas has shuttered and the resort is under new ownership, but The Village remains a great cobblestoned spot, thanks to a few key restaurants and bars.
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Retro-atrocities
Is the old school the new school in Las Vegas? Or is it simply that some performers never really went away? As the local economy lags, does the “return” of veteran acts like the Scintas and Tony Sacca suggest tourists desire more affordable lounge-based entertainment instead of big productions with elaborate stages, confetti cannons and loud rock?
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Led memories
Are you ready for the Vegas arrival of the biggest hard-rock supergroup since Audioslave? Talkin’ ’bout Them Crooked Vultures, who will perch inside The Joint April 17 for the joyous one-year anniversary of the venue. TCV comprises Foo Fighter Dave Grohl (drums), Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme (vocals/guitar) and Led Zeppelinist John Paul Jones (bass/keys).
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