For Three Square Food Bank’s annual benefit event, DISH, the nonprofit organization has recruited grunge-era California alt-rock band Smash Mouth to play Sept. 30 at the Palms Pool and Bungalows. The event, which goes from 6:30 to 10 p.m., begins with cocktails and food prepared by 20 of the valley’s top restaurants. Everyone who’s anyone in Vegas will be attending. Leave the jeans at home and wear nice shoes, because after schmoozing, you’ll be ushered into Rain for the concert.
If you’ve been living in a soundproof cave, Smash Mouth is responsible for rocked-up, sunny megahits “Walkin’ on the Sun” and “All Star.” I’m not a fan of “fun” music, but this show’s for a good cause. Besides, who doesn’t like songs this infectious? DISH tickets cost $100 per person, with proceeds benefiting Three Square to help provide nutritious food to Southern Nevada seniors and families struggling with hunger. For more info or to buy tickets, visit ThreeSquare.org.
After an evening of elevated cuisine and uptempo pop-rock, you’ll need to stabilize your mood with what will be one of the best underground hip-hop shows this year: Minneapolis’ Atmosphere and Columbus, Ohio’s Blueprint at House of Blues Oct. 1. I chatted with Blueprint—the perfect combination of rhyme-battling wordsmith and in-your-face narrative rapper—on the phone about his new material following last year’s Sign Language release.
“The content this time is heavier,” he says. “In these new songs I’m rhyming about real serious shit. I’m also working on momentum. Live, the thing I’m trying to capture is, like, when you see a metal band putting five songs right up together, no space in between, and you’re left waiting to breathe. When they finally let up, you’re like ‘Whoa, what just happened?’”
Blueprint has performed in Vegas before, most recently in March with Killah Priest at HOB. He admits being a little intimidated in the city where Tupac was taken out.
“It just feels dangerous there,” he says. “Last couple times I’ve been there, I was worried about getting pulled aside and ‘pop!’”
Blueprint’s in no hurry to exit the planet. “Three months ago, I stopped drinking, and all of my brain just came alive,” he says. “I want to work at the highest level for a long time, so I need to stay healthy, even in Vegas.”
Going to the Oct. 1-2 concert extravaganza, Matador at 21 at The Palms? Which band are you most excited about seeing there? Got extra tickets? Wanna give ’em to me? Please? Pretty please? Contact jarret_keene@yahoo.com.
