Vegas Rocks(but often in private)

As someone, who in my younger days was proud to have the dubious profession of music critic, the ever increasing diversity of music in Vegas is one of our town's unheralded new century triumphs. Unheralded in part, I think, because you would have to be a music critic to care. Thursday night, for example, I saw the British punk legends The Exploited at the new University Theatre near UNLV, followed by a trip to Revolution, the Beatles/Cirque inspired lounge at Mirage and, the next morning, I had a phone interview with blues rocker George Thorogood who is appearing with his Delaware Destroyers at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on April 13. (FYI: Thorogood does not like to be asked how much he drinks and, I will have that interview posted early next week.) This range of music also points to the long term changes in Vegas caused by both the population growth and ever increasing number of hotel rooms filled with tourists wanting to be entertained from so many different generations and cultures.

 

Of course, I doubt there were any tourist who ventured from the Strip to check out the Exploited. But hint to those of you who like sweaty punk rock: openers, So Unloved, mix flawlessly Babes In Toyland with Kittie while managing to sound fresh. The Exploited are still playing meat and potatoes punk, and there is a new generation of teens with mohawks wanting to thrash or mosh or whatever the thing is called now.

 

Revolution at Mirage was having British music night, obviously. But I didn't hear any Amy Winehouse. The sounds ranged from vintage Rolling Stones to "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by 80s Yes. And, the customers reflected the young and beautiful who enjoy the ultra lounge experience catered by VIP hosts to a lot of boomers happy to be someplace so "now" in Vegas where they can still play name that tune with their friends.

 

Finally, yesterday, I notice there is a mysterious advertisement in Las Vegas Weekly (where I am on staff). On page 26 is an advertisement for Elvis Costello in Las Vegas on April 17. This concert has not been listed locally, and this is like no advertisement I have seen before. The information in the advertisement opens with the cryptic headline "And those who preserve Its Soul 'the CRAFT." But nothing in the advertisement explains what that means. Other than that, the information offered is very specific.  "Elvis Costello The Pearl at the Palms Las Vegas April 17th --10:30." But it is what is missing that is so surprising: there is no information on how to buy tickets.

 

In fact, as I began to look into what is going on with the Elvis Costello show, I discovered that there are not tickets available for the show. This turns out to be a private event. Here are the details I have been able to gather thus far. The Craft is an Inside the Actors Studio type affair focused on songwriting. Miller and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are partnering to create this series (which one assumes is being taped for television). Costello is the debut artist. But the audience will be invited guests only, as far as I can tell. Anyway, I have one question: why buy an advertisement for this weeks away in a local weekly? Okay, I have two questions, the other being, how can I get into see it, if tickets aren't available? I've written much about Costello and am a music geek fan. Here is the larger point: sometimes just because something happens in this newly, richly diverse musical environment of Las Vegas the reality remains that we are a town for rent and what happens in Vegas often doesn't happen for locals.