Red Kross play Double Down Saloon

Supported by Seattle band Night Beats (top left), Red Kross played the Double Down Saloon aka 'a clubhouse for the lunatic fringe' (as stated on the venue website). The venue has real character, and although it's not that far from the Strip geographically, it wouldn't show up on any of the mainstream tourist maps.
The crowd was fortified by event sponsors Sailor Jerry, but was still fairly restrained as Vegas crowds often are. Red Kross, however put on a high energy performance, and showed that after 34 years playing their own unique brand of punk rock n' roll, they're not planning on slowing down anytime soon.

JJAMZ at the Hardrock Cafe

LA band JJAMZ playing at the Hardrock Cafe on the Strip as part of their recent tour. Each band member already had an established career when they first joined forces: Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley), James Valentine (Maroon 5) Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), solo artist Michael Runion and Berg (The Like) and formed JJAMZ, named after their first initials. They've been described as 'the West Coast Blondie' and are building a strong following ... and just last night they performed live on late night tv show Jimmy Kimmel.

Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears play Las Vegas on a Hot August Night. The stage was outdoors at Sunset Station with conditions that Roland Orzabal described as being 'sauna-like' under the bright lights. I for one, though, enjoyed the springy green grass underfoot, and the spectacular lighting was a great backdrop for the sumptuous synthetic pop of the 80's legends.
Opening for the band was British-born singer Carina Round, who also provided back-up vocals.

Vegas StrEATS July

I hadn't made it along in a while and I found that the Vegas StrEATS festival had expanded into the street. Always a good array of food trucks and stalls - and this time there was also the 'Shark Tank'. Punters could pay to throw a ball at a target, which if hit, would drop the bikini-clad girl into the tank. Someone should compile a list of "Very Strange Ways to Earn a Living in Las Vegas".

Pink Pelvis featuring Kalani Kokonuts...

What a way to kick off the weekend - each Friday evening at Artifice -

"Pink Pelvis is your neighborhood, ghetto-fabulous, mash-up, cover band featuring Kalani Kokonuts - the gorgeous, international Showgirl of Burlesque! www.pinkpelvis.com"

live music

While in LA we saw two great live bands on two great stages. The captivating AK and her Kalashnikovs played at One-Eyed Gypsy, and Decker from Sedona, AZ, performed on the outdoor covered stage at Villains Tavern.

Neon Reverb

I've been extra busy lately so only managed to get to see a couple of bands perform during the Neon Reverb music festival. They were the final acts on two different nights at two different venues....
Local "fuzz rock" band Candy Warpop played at the iconic Aruba Showroom on Las Vegas Boulevard. This band have upped the ante each time I've seen them, and they put on an intense, riveting performance. If you haven't been able to see them live, they have now released a music video 'Smilefucker' produced by Ryen McPherson.
I also got to see "band, belief system and business" Yacht perform at the outdoor all-ages venue 'The Junkyard' on Saturday night. Their sound was revisionist electro-pop accompanied by some energetic po-go dancing. Audience members were invited to stay and converse with the band afterwards about their creative ideology and any other topics of choice presumably.

Die Antwoord

Die Antwoord performing at the House of Blues, Mandalay Bay. I hope that Die Antwoord enjoyed the craziness of Las Vegas as much as Las Vegas enjoyed the craziness of Die Antwoord.

First Friday Fremont East

There was a somewhat spooky ambience in 'Getback Alley' - the new venue for First Friday Fremont East. It felt like we were walking into a film set with the giant figures at the entrance and clouds of colored vapor wafting across desolate canvas scenery ... a gritty, urban film with a loose storyline, allowing plenty of room for improvisation.
We discovered skateboarders, live painting, arts vendors, a fire spinner, and at the very far end a stage, where local band Von Kin were creating the perfect moody, dark soundtrack.
Image top left courtesy Matthew Couper.

live music at the Thirsty Armadillo

We did get to enjoy some live music in the historic Stockyards district of Fort Worth, Texas. It was a cold night, but cosy and relaxed inside the Thirsty Armadillo. The sound of music from outdoor speakers drew us in and we discovered two local musicians Thomas Flynn and Heath Webb playing original original numbers - a compelling mix of folk, alt country and blues. These guys are definitely worth following...

Post-Op Lollipop Remix EP Release Party

Candy Warpop have just released a remix EP 'Post-Op Lollipop' featuring some great local electronic music producers and deejays. The collage artwork for the cover is by yours truly with design by Corlene Byrd. Artifice hosted the release party with a performance by the band as they've never been seen before...

a mecca for tribute bands...

The Fremont St Experience is a great place for some free entertainment, especially people-watching. The very diverse crowd can be just as entertaining as the paid performers, particularly when they're dancing in front of the three permanent stages.
There are live bands performing every evening, and tribute bands reign supreme. Seen here are two of the best, recreating AC/DC and Black Sabbath.
On the same night we also saw Marilyn, Elvis, Snoop Dog, a gold-painted military guy and a colorful flock of feather-plumed showgirls.

Arctic Monkeys and TV on the Radio

This was the first time I've been to a gig held outside in a hotel pool area. The Cosmopolitan was the venue for a double billing - first up was English band Arctic Monkeys followed by TV on the Radio. Apparently some water is drained from the gently sloping large pool, and a barrier is then put along the water line. As the night wore on, many female patrons discarded their fashionably high shoes and sat cooling their feet in the water. The lighting and sound system were excellent and the large video screen gave great close-ups of the musicians.
The Arctic Monkeys put on a tight, high-energy performance and lead singer Alex Turner had a very charismatic stage presence. They played a number of tracks which had received a lot of air play and the crowd responded enthusiastically.
Brooklyn-based TV on the Radio had quite a different sound, blending a fusion of jazz, soul, and electronica. Lead singer Tunde Adebimpe was also captivating as he never stopped moving and demonstrated a broad range of vocal gymnastics. My only regret was that I wasn't lounging in the pool while listening...