A&E
Concerts
Concert Review: The Photo Atlas
Beauty Bar, May 17
May 20th, 2013
Plagued by problems, The Photo Atlas overcame even the worse Spinal Tap moments. This Denver-based dance-punk quintet battled with power issues from the start. As amplifier lights dimmed during their first song, drummer Joshua Taylor played on. Power was restored, and they finished without missing a beat. Lead vocalist Alan Andrews Jr. said, “We lost total power and played through it. I’m proud of everyone here. It’s great to be in Vegas.” Read more »
Concerts
Concert Review: Lisa Hilton Trio
The Smith Center, May 17
May 20th, 2013
Lisa Hilton is at her best when she is guiding us down the back roads of our own emotional geography. Sure, she can riff heavy on traditional jazz, swinging with Gregg August on bass and Jaimeo Brown on drums on Nat King Cole-inspired “Jack & Jill,” but when the trio dove into “Emergency” and “Getaway,” from her most recent album, we caught a glimpse of our familiar selves in a different light. Read more »
Movies
‘Star Trek’ is Fleet Footed
J.J. Abrams’ reboot is fast and fun
May 17th, 2013
It’s lame and sort of geeky to compare franchise apples to oranges. Oh, well. Star Trek Into Darkness does everything Iron Man 3 tries to do, in the realm of global terrorism imagery reprocessed for popcorn kicks, but with a little more style, a dash more brio and invention. Read more »
Concerts
Concert Review: Molly Ringwald
Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center, May 10
May 16th, 2013
The Rat Pack met the Brat Pack as ’80s film star and Concord Jazz recording artist Molly Ringwald took her audience to some less-visited selections from the Great American Songbook. It was apparent right off the bat that the still-smoking-hot 45-year-old knew how to deliver the evening’s fare. She got to the bottom of a lyric’s meaning and context. Read more »
Tour Buzz
Tour Buzz: Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker, Yellowcard and Black Sabbath
May 15th, 2013
I wish I could muster more enthusiasm for the 15th annual Tiger Jam at Mandalay Bay, this one featuring Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker, on May 18 ($61-$134). Read more »
Concerts
Concert Review: Great White
Boulder Station, May 10
May 15th, 2013
These guys are the archetypal ’80s second-string rock act: big crunchy chords, addiction, public bickering, pyrotechnic tragedy and a long string of convoluted lineup shifts that has seen the band run through more than 25 musicians in its 30-year history. It’s actually pretty amazing they are a) alive, and b) now touring with three of 1982’s original founding members. Terry Ilous did just fine on vocals, earning some grudging respect from a fan who said, “he’s pretty good, even though he’s no Jack Russell.” Read more »
Concerts
Concert Review: Os Mutantes
Hard Rock Live, May 11
May 15th, 2013
It was a small but curious crowd that turned out to see the Brazilian psych-rock pioneers, who re-formed in 2006 following a hiatus of more than 30 years. With such a long stretch of inactivity, there was no sense of nostalgia as most fans were seeing Os Mutantes live for the first time, and some were probably only familiar with the band’s noted influence on artists such as Kurt Cobain, Beck and David Byrne. Read more »
Concerts
Concert Review: Dusty Sunshine
Beauty Bar, May 11
May 15th, 2013
The Dusty Sunshine concert, which raised money for the band’s upcoming trip to the NXNW Festival in Canada, had the air of a quaint town fair. It included a kissing booth, hot dogs and an onstage date auction that featured autoharp player Chani Riiell. Read more »
Concerts
Concert Review: The Rolling Stones
MGM Grand Garden Arena, May 11
May 15th, 2013
Twenty years from now, some guy will brag to his twenty-something peers that he saw the Rolling Stones play at their 50 & Counting tour stop in Las Vegas. Or so his parents hoped when they bought a ticket for their small child, decked him out in protective earmuffs and lifted him into the air along to the beat. Read more »
