This co-headlining Austin Meade/Kody West tour was not what I was expecting when asked on Saturday night if I wanted to go to a “country show” at Backstage Bar and Billiards. It’s definitely not my usual scene, and I’ve never been to Texas, so forgive me if I get this all wrong. Vegas local Brock Frabbiele, frontman for Go Bold opened with an acoustic set that surpasses all genre labels. Frabbiele quickly won over the crowd full of sparkly cowboy boots and trucker hats with songs like “What Doesn’t Kill Us,” “Happy Songs Suck,” and “All Grown Ups Are Pirates”. The set was an equal mix of songs that made you laugh and songs that made you want to cry, which was a fitting intro for the bands that followed, who I’m still having a hard time trying to describe. There’s a good chance that it’s just my bias for ...
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Author Archives : Kristy Calhoun
Bad Religion is celebrating their 40th anniversary tour with Alkaline Trio and War on Women, after having to postpone last year because… well you know. The second night of their 30 date tour brought them out to Vegas Saturday night at the Brooklyn Bowl. Just getting to Brooklyn Bowl on a Saturday proved to be its own feat. While parking on the strip remains a nightmare, I counted 14 Bad Religion t-shirts as I walked to the venue from my secret parking spot, and saw several people sporting new Rancid and Dropkick Murphy shirts from the show the night before. Staff were diligently checking vax cards (and negative covid tests), which hopefully makes everyone feel safer because once inside, fans were shoulder to shoulder. It’s been awhile since I’ve been at a show that packed, but I suppose being around for four decades warrants the attention. You know that Bad ...
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It’s safe to say the last year and a half has been filled with so much trauma, we could all use a little Jubilee right now. Lucky for us, that’s exactly what Japanese Breakfast and Luna Li brought to Brooklyn Bowl last Tuesday. Kicking off the show, Toronto band Luna Li made their Vegas debut opening with “ABNL.” Written during the pandemic and featuring sparse, repeating lyrics of “alone by not lonely,” the upbeat instrumental song was perfect to sum up the crowds’ frustrations and explode in a wave of dancing from the outset. Jumping around in a shiny silver tracksuit, Luna perfectly embodied the moon fairy she so often inhabits. With training as a classical musician Luna mixes piano, harp, and violin with strong guitar and drum beats. To honor that training, Luna recently released the instrumental Jams ep, and on this evening played songs like “Flower” and “Float”. ...
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If you haven’t been to a show lately, there’s been a ton, and there’s a bunch more this month! Go support the scene. Last Friday at The Theater (RIP The Joint), Violent Femmes and Flogging Molly co-headlined with special guests Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and THICK. Which admittedly is kind of a weird mash up… so was the crowd… but as the tour proves, it works. Since my flight from LAX that day was delayed a million hours (thanks Southwest) I missed THICK, but I heard they killed it in all of their bouncy, jumpy, punky glory. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes looked amazing in their all white formal attire. Starting off the night with a cover song… oh wait, I guess they were all cover songs, something that Spike pointed out before and after every song. But don’t worry, the crowd loved them. Since the show ...
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Oct 12, 2021
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Tagged flogging molly, me first and the gimme gimmes, THICK, Violent Femmes
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A million “thank you’s” go out to everyone who came out Friday night to celebrate the PunksInVegas 10 year anniversary. We truly partied in a way that Emily would be proud of. In addition to the music, there was lots of crying, laughing, and dancing. In keeping up with PIV tradition, this show was all-ages and we were so glad to see all those kids! This was also a free show! But with your love and support we raised two thousand dollars for Gender Justice Nevada. We had so much fun, thanks for the memories. None of this would have been possible without the help of so many amazing people. So, get ready, this is going to be a really long list: First we’d like to thank Jesse Pino for starting the night out with a stellar acoustic set and for playing countless shows over the years. Rayner, we’re all ...
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Oct 6, 2021
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Tagged Brock Frabbiele, holding onto sound, jesse pino, Mercy Music, Rayner
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