Heavy-rocking, greasy-riffing Crazy Chief—all black leather, denim and long hair—looked a bit out of place in this Downtown hipster bar. But the Chief hit hard with the psychedelic-enhanced “Angel Dust” (first single from forthcoming album Chrome Werewolf) and cowbell-clunking “Down in Flames.” He wasn’t sufficiently amplified, but frontman Drew Johnson delivered a great performance, nailing the melodies despite sometimes turning his back to the crowd huddled before a pseudo-stage by the restrooms. (The band insisted on playing inside as opposed to the bar’s back patio.) The Stooges cover “Down on the Street” should have been swapped for a Deep Purple cut. Still, whenever guitarist Jesse Amoroso ripped into a solo, I felt happy to be caught up in the Chief’s warpath. ★★★✩✩
Gorillaz are coming to Las Vegas for the first time ever. 2016’s Grammy winner for best new artist, Chance the Rapper, will return. English rockers Muse will bring their dizzying live show to the streets of Downtown. And that’s just the top of an eclectic bill that features more than 70 acts, along with comedy, interactive art installations, a group art exhibit featuring the work of Mark Ryden, Tara McPherson and Shepard Fairey and much more. Last year saw more than 137,000 attendees trod the festival footprint. Who’s ready for more?
