Fear & Lounging

Time's up for Clockwise

After 12 Volt Sex got royally shafted by the folks at RCA, you'd think our homegrown talent would learn not to accept major-label promises.

When popular rap-rock band Phatter Than Albert signed with RCA, fans were happy for the band, but also understandably wary. As the label dug its claws into the band, changes happened quickly, with both guitarists falling by the wayside, a name change to Clockwise and a complete turnaround in the band's sonic identity. Well, Las Vegas' great hope for a band to overshadow Slaughter has hit a major wall with news coming last week from the label that the band has been dropped. Reactions on local message boards varied from those who feel the band got what it deserved to fans sympathizing and hoping frontman Austin LeDuc and company recover.

The bad news arrived soon after the merging of RCA Records with industry svengali Clive Davis' J Records. For those not in the know, Davis has been an industry mogul for over 30 years and is the force behind Santana's radio-saturating comeback.

Clockwise manager Robby Klostriech is nothing but optimistic about the future. "The bottom line, simply enough, is that we didn't make it through the merger between RCA and Clive Davis," says Klostriech. "It wasn't even a creative issue; it just came down to what it always comes down to in this business: the bottom line. We all thought that we had made it through the merger, and we were told we made it though, but at the last minute, we came up on the chopping block. There's a new regime now, and about 15 bands got the ax in total."

Apparently, Clockwise and its manager were also displeased with the way RCA had been handling and promoting the band's major-label debut, Healthy Manipulation. "At this point, we have a clean slate and we don't owe them anything," says Klostriech. "Right now, we're in negotiations to get the master tapes of the record back so that we can shop it to other potentially interested labels. We can't move forward until we work out a deal for the tapes, so we're just waiting to hear back from them about our offer for them."

In the meantime, both Klostriech and the band resolutely refuse to give up after making it this far.

"The boys are concentrating on writing new material and rehearsing, just in case the deal for the master tapes falls through and we have to make a new record," Klostriech says. "We might play a few shows locally, just to keep the band primed and in top form, but everything is up in the air right now, so we just have to wait to hear back from RCA."

I also contacted RCA's associate director of publicity, Roger Widynowski, about what he knew regarding Clockwise's predicament. "I haven't heard anything about it," he says. "There's been changes at the label with Clive Davis merging with RCA. But it hasn't affected me at all or what I do. It's all for the better."

While the bottom line may have squelched Clockwise's relationship with RCA and added yet another notch on the label's Las Vegas bedpost, the band soldiers on. "It was a big hit to us - don't get me wrong - but it won't kill what we're doing," says Klostriech. "We're moving forward, and it's good to finally know where we stand."

-Aaron Archer

renimani@nme.com

Saigon's kickin'

Even as venues continue to shut their doors here in Vegas, there are still folks brave and creative enough to offer opportunities for live music. We've witnessed the Summerlin Smoothie King and the Skillet Cafe take successful stabs at providing a forum for local bands, but now it's time to prepare for Saigon Restaurant, which is said to be the first and oldest Vietnamese joint in Vegas, located on 4251 W. Sahara Ave. (on Arville behind the Statue of Liberty).

New owners David and Valerie Sharp acquired the place in Aug. 2002 and made many changes, including the removal of a wall (that had separated the two halves of the restaurant), the construction of

a 12'x5' stage and the installation of a P.A. system.

Saigon's regular music events include the Latina singer Lucretia on Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the blues band Bluesology on Fridays at 10 p.m. Nancy Good (who also recently took over open-mic Sundays at Moose McGillycuddy's) and Unkle John host an acoustic open mic on Mondays, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The restaurant closes every night at 9 p.m., but at 10 p.m. it transforms into "Saigon at Night," and a different menu (that includes American food) is then offered. According to David Sharp, "Saigon at Night" is "dedicated to to showcasing premiere local and national talent to Las Vegas audiences, while they enjoy our award-winning Southeast Asian cuisine." Indeed, on Feb. 8, local band the Black Jetts rocked the joint with their trademark sound and fury while the crowd dined on spring rolls and cheeseburgers and guzzled beer and wine (thanks to the Saigon's new license).

UnkleThe Sharps are ambitiously planning to have entertainment every night of the week: comedy, jazz, world and folk music and urban beats. "It's not a loud venue," says public-relations and entertainment director Unkle John. "You can enjoy your dinner and still listen to music."

So far, there's no cover charge for the 100-people capacity, all-ages shows. "We'll hold off [on a cover charge] until we get established, develop a rapport and get some face-to-face time with the local music audience," says David Sharp.

For more info, call 702-362-9978. Local and national bands interested in booking a show at the Saigon should contact Unkle John at unklejohn@mac.com.

-Jarret Keene

keene@lvpress.com

Off-ramp rock

And now there's another new opportunity for live music. That's right: The Off Ramp Lounge has been putting on shows since Jan. 21. The bar, located near Charleston and I-95, has been slinging brews for more than 12 years, but only recently has it hired an entertainment director who goes by the name "Tony." According to Tony, the Off Ramp felt that there weren't enough people supporting live local music, and so now Fridays are for alternative-rock acts and Saturdays are for classic-rock bands. (More recently, the Black Jetts - always eager to break in a new venue - dive-bombed the bar Feb. 7. with a four-hour, three-set performance.) Tuesdays are strictly karaoke. There's no cover, and shows typically go from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Info: 702-438-4565. Local bands interested in booking a show should contact Tony at mykreations@hotmail.com.

-J.K.

Justifiably different

There was a fairly small crowd at the Double Down Saloon Feb. 7 for Sweet Justice, but with everything else going around town, that wasn't a surprise. As an added bonus, Anika and Karen from Hemi Cuda were in the house to shake things up. Since their drummer, Scott, was sick they had to cancel their show at the Rock.

The L.A.-based trio started their nine song set with the brand new number "Blood and Alcohol," written about the forces that fuel guitarist/vocalist Frank Meyer's other band, the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. The groovin' "Outta Sight" features a catchy "Hey, hey, everybody!" chorus, and "True To You" was reminiscent of a ballad Elvis might have performed. They covered Johnny Thunders' "I Wanna Be Loved," and wrapping up with the heavy and emotionally-wrought "One Way Ticket To Hell."

If people expected over-the-top punk rock like the Cheetahs, then they were likely confused. Rounded out by bassist Bruce Duff (The Adz) and former Bellrays' drummer Chris Markwood, Sweet Justice cites influences ranging from the Band and Neil Young to the Temptations. "We wanted to do everything we couldn't do in our other bands,"says Meyer. He holds back on the stage theatrics to better concentrate on the vocals. The band is a bit R&B, a tad country, but loaded with lots of straightforward rock 'n' roll.

Contrary to rumors, the Cheetahs have not disbanded, despite guitarist Art Jackson's recent relocation to Las Vegas and drummer Eric Herrmann's move to the U.K. A new album, Gainesville, will be released on Triple X Records in the spring, and the band will be touring Spain for a week in August.

-Poizen Ivy

poizenivy@sincitysounds.com

Survey says ...

Pick up a copy of the Zagat 2003 Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightlife Survey and you'll notice that ... well, that there's a new, first-time nightlife section covering 83 bars, clubs and lounges. This expansion is in keeping with the release of Zagat's nightlife surveys for New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans and London. The survey was edited by Muriel Stevens, food editor and restaurant critic for the Las Vegas Sun and restaurant columnist for Showbiz Magazine, and Jerry Fink, another Sun staffer. Zagat's Vegas survey is available at most bookstores.

Some of the more interesting surveyor comments include the characterization of Studio 54 as place to "catch dad cheating on mom" and Girls of Glitter Gulch as possessing "more gulch than glitter." Less interesting comments? Cheetah's is described as showcasing "very talented ladies" who're "hotter than a summer day."

Other comments: Rumjungle is ranked No. 1 in terms of popularity, and Light is ranked as the No. 1 after-hours dance club. And sadly, the average cost of a drink in Vegas is $8.39 vs. $6.70 in L.A. As the alt-rock band the Pixies once sang, "Gouge Away."

-J.K.

Got questions or feeback? Contact Jarret Keene at 702-871-6780 ext. 347 or keene@lvpress.com.