First band to start off the show was Vegas’ own Not For Sale. They’re made up of several members from other bands in town including Asteroid-M owner Cody Leavitt, and Anti-Vision’s Robbie Malvin. They had great energy, combining ska/reggae elements into their punks songs. Behind them during the full set, a video looped superimposing their logo over black and white Hellcat Records-esque POV footage driving down the streets of Vegas. Maybe they only prepared it for The Space… but it was quite effective at sharing the band’s name and giving them a great backdrop. They definitely got everyone started for a good night. Next up was “Greenland’s” The Maxies. I’ve always enjoyed seeing the Maxies. They’re always so energetic as they play their silly Ramones-core songs. Like always, mid-set, a polar bear joined everyone to party and dance in the pit. Everyone loves polar bears in the pit. By the ...
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Images: The Darkness, The Dead Deads, March 10, 2022 House of Blues
Sometimes it’s good to get outside of your music comfort zone. Last week, I had the pleasure of going to a show that, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t super stoked about since I wasn’t really familiar with the bands. To my surprise, I had so much fun! I even joked after that I was their new number one fan. Which show was it? The Darkness, and openers The Dead Deads. Admittedly, I know nothing about The Darkness other than that when I was in junior high, all my skater friends were obsessed with them, and that I used to see the music video on VH-1 and MTV all the time. Besides my initial impressions, I assumed they were a gimmicky, silly hair metal band something akin to Steel Panther. However, I was proven very wrong. Filling out their opening spot was Nashville’s The Dead Deads, whom I had never ...
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Images: Austin Meade, Kody West, Go Bold January 22, 2022 Backstage Bar & Billiards
This co-headlining Austin Meade/Kody West tour was not what I was expecting when asked on Saturday night if I wanted to go to a “country show” at Backstage Bar and Billiards. It’s definitely not my usual scene, and I’ve never been to Texas, so forgive me if I get this all wrong. Vegas local Brock Frabbiele, frontman for Go Bold opened with an acoustic set that surpasses all genre labels. Frabbiele quickly won over the crowd full of sparkly cowboy boots and trucker hats with songs like “What Doesn’t Kill Us,” “Happy Songs Suck,” and “All Grown Ups Are Pirates”. The set was an equal mix of songs that made you laugh and songs that made you want to cry, which was a fitting intro for the bands that followed, who I’m still having a hard time trying to describe. There’s a good chance that it’s just my bias for ...
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Images: The Social Set Happy EP Release with Eclipse, Desert Island Boys, The Cheeks, Napalm Star October 2, 2021 The Space
I was surprised, to say the least. Rolling up Polaris to the newish all-ages venue ‘The Space,’ I expected a warehouse. What I was greeted by was a kind young man offering to valet my car so I wouldn’t have to walk so far, and a mf marquee letting me know I was at the right place. To ensure easy access to the few trunk beers I brought, I self-parked and passed several other tailgaters on my way in. I messed up y’all, I missed the opening band; Napalm Star. I was told they did really well. A group of young guys playing 90s era shoegaze influenced indie rock with an endearing lead singer. Is that a good description? I don’t know. Go to their Spotify or better yet, catch their next gig. What I got served as I entered ‘The Space’ was a well-groomed lobby with a proper box ...
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Images: Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, War on Women October 16, 2021 Brooklyn Bowl
Bad Religion is celebrating their 40th anniversary tour with Alkaline Trio and War on Women, after having to postpone last year because… well you know. The second night of their 30 date tour brought them out to Vegas Saturday night at the Brooklyn Bowl. Just getting to Brooklyn Bowl on a Saturday proved to be its own feat. While parking on the strip remains a nightmare, I counted 14 Bad Religion t-shirts as I walked to the venue from my secret parking spot, and saw several people sporting new Rancid and Dropkick Murphy shirts from the show the night before. Staff were diligently checking vax cards (and negative covid tests), which hopefully makes everyone feel safer because once inside, fans were shoulder to shoulder. It’s been awhile since I’ve been at a show that packed, but I suppose being around for four decades warrants the attention. You know that Bad ...
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Images: Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, The Bronx October 15, 2021 The Theater at Virgin Hotel
Photos by Aaron Mattern ...
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Images: Japanese Breakfast and Luna Li, October 5, 2021 Brooklyn Bowl
It’s safe to say the last year and a half has been filled with so much trauma, we could all use a little Jubilee right now. Lucky for us, that’s exactly what Japanese Breakfast and Luna Li brought to Brooklyn Bowl last Tuesday. Kicking off the show, Toronto band Luna Li made their Vegas debut opening with “ABNL.” Written during the pandemic and featuring sparse, repeating lyrics of “alone by not lonely,” the upbeat instrumental song was perfect to sum up the crowds’ frustrations and explode in a wave of dancing from the outset. Jumping around in a shiny silver tracksuit, Luna perfectly embodied the moon fairy she so often inhabits. With training as a classical musician Luna mixes piano, harp, and violin with strong guitar and drum beats. To honor that training, Luna recently released the instrumental Jams ep, and on this evening played songs like “Flower” and “Float”. ...
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Images: Flogging Molly, Violent Femmes, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, THICK, October 9, 2021 The Theater at Virgin
If you haven’t been to a show lately, there’s been a ton, and there’s a bunch more this month! Go support the scene. Last Friday at The Theater (RIP The Joint), Violent Femmes and Flogging Molly co-headlined with special guests Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and THICK. Which admittedly is kind of a weird mash up… so was the crowd… but as the tour proves, it works. Since my flight from LAX that day was delayed a million hours (thanks Southwest) I missed THICK, but I heard they killed it in all of their bouncy, jumpy, punky glory. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes looked amazing in their all white formal attire. Starting off the night with a cover song… oh wait, I guess they were all cover songs, something that Spike pointed out before and after every song. But don’t worry, the crowd loved them. Since the show ...
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