Tag Archives: Vegas

Revisited: Last Weekend In Words and Photos

10 Oct

It was another music filled weekend in Las Vegas and I had the chance to catch shows at three of my favorite venues in town.  First up was Young The Giant at The Joint where the Cali kids rocked it and sounded fantastic during their 40 minute set.  Opening for Incubus put them in front of a great crowd and I’d say garnered them a heap of new fans.

Next up was ditching Incubus to race up the road to The Cosmopolitan to catch the Smashing Pumpkins, a band I had never seen live until Saturday night.  They sounded good but it was all new material so not hearing the hits I had grown up listening to was a disappointment but good friends and hanging out made the evening complete.

However last night was the highlight of my weekend as I ventured over the Pearl at Palms to catch the main man, Lupe Fiasco.  The Chicago MC tore through his catalog of hits including: “Words Out Of My Head,” “Show Goes On,” “All Black Everything,” “I Gotcha,” “Kick, Push,” “Go Go Gadget Flow,” “Superstar,” “Daydreammin’, “Hip-Hop Saved My Life” and a whole lot more.  The only disappointment on my end was not hearing “Paris, Tokyo,” my favorite Lupe jam.  Also Ashanti Floyd, his violinist was off the hook and really left his mark not just on me but the entire crowd.

First two Young The Giant photos by Scott Harrison of Retna,  Smashing Pumpkins photos by Erik Kabik of Retna (@Erik_Kabik on Twitter).

Now Playing: The Joy Formidable and Catch Them Tonight, Vegas!

15 Sep

While it still kills me to not be heading to ACL this weekend, back here in Vegas I’ll still be doing my fair share of celebrating and it all kicks off tonight with The Joy Formidable.   Stoked about this show and now that the temps are cooling, should be an awesome night for an outdoor show at The Cosmopolitan.

Check out this video from Lollapalooza and I’ll see you at the show!

 

Revisited: Ben Harper – 9 3 11 – Cosmopolitan Las Vegas – Set List & Photos

6 Sep

It’s always a great day when you can see Ben Harper live and to catch a true rock ‘n’ roll show. Here are some photographs from the show over Labor Day Weekend at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas courtesy of Erik Kabik (www.erikkabik.com).

Tonight: Walk The Moon Play Vegas – Q&A Previewing Their Performance

25 Aug

Check it out, here’s a little preview of what you can expect tonight at The Yard at The Cosmopolitan when Walk The Moon takes the stage.

9 p.m. show time and it’s FREE!

I caught up with the guys at Lollapalooza and here’s what they had to say.

(appears in the new issue of Vegas SEVEN which is out today)

Revisited: Widespread Panic – 7 16 11 – Las Vegas – The Joint

17 Jul

If it really was the last time I’d be able to see a Widespread Panic show, what a night it was.  Last night the legendary rockers performed the final date on the Summer Tour at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas and had a capacity crowd going wild from start to finish.  For me I’d have to say the highlights of the first set were easily “Climb to Safety,” and “All Along The Watchtower” followed by “All Time Low.”  As for the second set, “Surprise Valley” into “Heaven” back to “Surprise Valley” into Drums and back into “Surprise Valley” was sick and a random occurrence, Carrot Top came out during “Coconut” and did a little percussion assistance.  And the encore, wow, you couldn’t ask for more; “Ophelia” into “Shape I’m In” was a funky good time and if “Porch Song” is the final song I ever get to hear the boys perform live, no complaints.

I’ve been lucky enough to see Widespread Panic more than a handful of times and if after 25 years this is the final year, their live shows will surely be missed.  I hope that when JB said at the end of the show “We’ll see you” and then paused before saying “sometime,” that there is a chance they won’t be saying goodnight forever.

Big thanks to EverydayCompanion.com for always being my source for Widespread Panic setlists.  Below is last night’s.

1: Henry Parsons Died, Climb To Safety, Radio Child, Sharon, Visiting Day, Rebirtha, Driving Song > Disco > Breathing Slow > Driving Song, All Along The Watchtower, All Time Low

2: Pigeons > Junior, That Don’t Make It Junk, Coconut*, Jack, Surprise Valley > Heaven > Surprise Valley > Drums > Surprise Valley, Space Wrangler** > Tall Boy

E: When You Coming Home, Ophelia > The Shape I’m In, Porch Song

* with Carrot Top on percussion
** with various crew members on percussion

Revisited: Brett Dennen and DAWES – 6 23 11 – Las Vegas

24 Jun

Last night was one of those concerts you really appreciate, intimate venue and musicians who you could tell were genuinely having fun.  Plus the venue, Veil at the Silverton, is a really great place in Vegas to catch a show.

I was super excited not only to see Brett Dennen in concert once again but also the opening act DAWES and let’s just say neither disappointed.  DAWES ripped through a 45 minute set playing a handful of songs off their new album Nothing Is Wrong, which came out two weeks ago, and work off their debut album North Hills including the crowd favorite “When My Time Comes.”  Two little side notes, last night bassist Wylie Gelber could have been mistaken for the Treme character Sonny played by Michiel Huisman and please if you haven’t already, check out Taylor Goldsmith’s side project Middle Brother which I still can’t get enough of.

A quarter after 9 p.m. Dennen took the stage in Las Vegas for the first time.  He definitely had the crowd dancing throughout while jamming on both his acoustic and electric guitars to deliver a 90 minute set that spanned his catalog and also included a couple sing-a-longs.  As expected, he performed a lot of new material off his latest disc, Loverboy including “Dancing at a Funeral,” “Comeback Kid,” and “Sydney (I’ll Come Running).” The highlight of the show however was the four song encore which began with Dennen playing “Heaven” and “Ain’t No Reason” acoustically before being joined by his band and DAWES for a rocking cover of Steve Miller Band’s “Swingtown.”  Closing with “Blessed” the song that put him on the musical map was a perfect way to cap the night.

Countdown to Bonnaroo: 8 Days – Artist of the Day: Lil Wayne

1 Jun

I don’t think I’d purchase a ticket to his concert but the simple fact that he’s performing at a festival, yeah I’ll check out Lil Wayne.  I’m actually getting excited to see his late night set because I’m sure he’ll put on one heck of a performance, he has a grip of songs that I think everyone knows and more than anything, he’s part of the Cash Money family and was part of the Hot Boys.  I also think since it’s the grand stage of Bonnaroo, Wayne has some surprises in store, maybe Drake?  Wayne did show up at Drake’s gig in Vegas over MDW in Vegas…..

Friday 1:30 AM – 3:00 AM – Which Stage

Las Vegas Live Music Venues – 944 Magazine April 2011

18 Apr

Recently I was presented with an amazing opportunity and was asked to write a feature on Live Music Venues in Las Vegas for 944 Magazine.  Below is the four page story which ran in the April issue, highlighting five of the top venues in town as well as a side bar with a handful of other places to check out live music.  If you want to view the digital version, click HERE and go to page 76.

 (originally appeared in 944 Magazine Las Vegas – April 2011)

Big thank you to everyone for the support of my blog because without it, I wouldn’t have had the chance to turn my hobby into something more and end up writing a feature story for a magazine.

Cheers!

Craig

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Weekend Wrap in Photos: Jenny & Johnny, Chairlift, Mumford & Sons, Nas & Damian Marley

17 Apr

What a weekend for live music it was in Las Vegas.  So many great bands and DJs in town stopping through before hitting Coachella that it almost felt like Coachella East as there was an electricity all weekend.  On Thursday, seeing Jenny & Johnny perform at the Chandelier Bar at Cosmopolitan was just awesome and a great way to kick things off.  Caught a couple minutes of Chairlift’s set after but wasn’t too impressed.  Friday night was bananas at Mumford & Sons rocked the Boulevard pool (when the weather is perfect I don’t know if there is a better place in Las Vegas to see a show); Tallest Man On Earth was a great opener as well.  My musical weekend was wrapped up on Saturday night as Nas and Damian Marley took to the stage for what’s always a fun and energetic performance.

Here’s the weekend in pictures, Jenny & Johnny courtesy of me and Mumford & Sons and Nas and Damian via Erik Kabik (www.erikkabikphoto.com).

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Wolfgang Gartner – “Forever” ft. will.i.am and “Space Junk”

14 Apr

Hellooooo Thursday!

One of my favorite DJs, Wolfgang Gartner is back with a new track “Forever” featuring will.i.am. Give a listen, track officially drops on April 26.

Also what I’m really excited about and can’t believe I’ve been neglecting this for the last couple of months is Wolfgang’s track “Space Junk,” which is easily going to be one of the songs of the summer.