Concert Reviews
Concerts
Concert Review: Blues Traveler
Henderson Pavilion, May 17
May 20th, 2013
Anyone playing rock harmonica without emulating the gritty, ferocious style of Richard “Magic Dick” Salwitz (J. Geils Band) is anathema to me. Still, I admit to admiring Blues Traveler frontman John Popper. Dude wails. His remarkable if polite playing was evident on a beautiful, breezy night in Henderson Pavilion. As always, the venue’s sound was great. Instead of sitting in my assigned seat, I grabbed a conveniently provided midget lawn chair and plumped down on the grassy hilltop hoping to catch a whiff of reefer. (No such luck, it being Henderson. I didn’t see a single cop or security sack, either.) Read more »
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 »
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: 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 »
Concert Review
Concert Review: Maps & Atlases
Beauty Bar, May 4
May 6th, 2013
Frontman Dave Davison’s modestly charming commentary on the ability to play outside after 1 a.m. set the mood for a pleasant evening. He was right: Playing outside after midnight is largely unheard of around the country, especially in Chicago, where most of the members of Maps & Atlases are from. With the very first song, the Midwest crew established themselves as technically masterful yet not overly serious. Their new album, Beware and Be Grateful, has received mixed reviews because of its shift toward catchier hooks and away from calculated technicality. Read more »
Concert Review: Ira Glass
The Smith Center, April 27
April 29th, 2013
Ira Glass’s NPR radio program, This American Life, is tightly produced, approachable and meaningful, and Glass has been generating it week after week since 1995. On stage, Glass is just as brilliant: a blend of stand-up comedian, storyteller, professor and motivational pitchman. Read more »
Music
Jazz Roots: The American Songbook
The Smith Center, April 26
April 29th, 2013
In a scattered homage to a loosely defined idea in the latest installment of the Jazz Roots program, three world-class artists backed by UNLV’s jazz ensemble performed a selection from the generally agreed-upon canon of jazz-heavy popular music that defined the mid-20th century. Some novelty pieces, only tangentially connected to that theme, were also performed. Read more »
Music
Concert Review: Prince
The Joint, April 26
April 29th, 2013
“Thank u 4 a funky time,” Prince! Taking the stage with a classic high-collar Prince jacket and curly hair looking like he channeled Jimi Hendrix, The Purple One launched into “Let’s Go Crazy” with a packed house shouting an enthusiastic, “Oh no, let’s go!” along with him. Read more »
