Back to the Boston

The Boston Grill and Bar was once both Las Vegas' best place for homegrown live music and the epitome of all that was wrong with the local scene. When last we saw the Boston, it was being torn to shreds (literally) by bands such as Inviolet Row and Quadraphonic in August. After years of packing the dingy old South Jones location with sweaty twentysomethings, new owner Rob Bassett closed the doors, swearing to make good on plans to bring it back to life in an 11,000-square-foot venue near Decatur and I-215. Bassett thought he'd be competing with mid-scale venues such as the House of Blues and the Joint by October of 2002. Four months later, the local music scene is still holding its breath.

Now, however, concrete plans are coming together for the Boston's return May 9, a full seven months later than originally promised - and on the other side of the valley. Bassett and his partner, Kevin Liston, have taken over the property located at 1030 East Flamingo, a location familiar to locals in various previous incarnations: Bobby McGee's, Garcia's, and most recently, Club 1030. Electrical work has already begun on the new facility, which will be able to house up to 1,000 people in its 9,250 square feet. Bassett is merely waiting on live music permits (as usual) from the county before setting a firm date, but feels very confident about the early May opening.

With its college-friendly locale (just west of Maryland Parkway), Bassett realizes the new Boston will compete with established UNLV hot spots such as Moose McGillycuddy's and the Rock. He remains confident that the other area bars will not provide any threat to the Boston's reputation as the top venue for live local music. Bassett boasts that the Boston will offer a variety of features to set itself apart from both existing competitors and the looming shadow of its former self.

"There's going to be one spot where there's going to be a restaurant, stage, sound, lights - the whole bit," says Bassett. "And there's going to be another bar specifically for over 21. There'll be two different entrances for both the underage and the overage. The bands are going to go on from eight to midnight or nine to midnight, and then we're going to have a DJ playing all night long. We're going to have music six to seven nights a week."

Bassett feels that despite the time lapse between the closing of the original Boston and the opening of the new location, anticipation for its return is still high.

"Two months prior to closing, I opened up the website," Bassett says. "I kept the line open, and everybody who calls on the line or sends me e-mails, I respond back, and I let them know what's going on, and I keep them in the know. I've got bands that are begging me to play, I've got people who are asking me when it's going to open. I have over 500 e-mail addresses of people wanting free tickets to the grand opening."

If all goes well with the permits, Bassett plans to hold a VIP previewing party for local musicians April 25, whereupon bands can check out the new facility while drinking and eating on the Boston's dime. A very aggressive advertising blitz is planned, funded in large part by the considerable amount of money Bassett is saving before building the originally proposed Decatur location.

"I'm going to advertise this thing harder than any of these other places can even think about advertising," says Bassett. "I'm going to have commercials of bands playing; I'm gong to have radio spots. I'm going to saturate just like Hurricane Harry's did, only on the Boston end, where the only thing people are going to know is the Boston. I'm very good in promotions, and I've been waiting for a place I can call home, and this is going to be it."

-Pj Perez

indievegas@hotmail.com

L.A. Letdown

A mere 36 hours before L.A. Shakedown was to start, the two-day rock 'n' roll extravaganza was forced out of the Variety Arts Center (the second venue after a previous move from the

historic Hollywood Athletic Club) because a neighboring business felt that the event was going to end in a riot; something that almost happened anyway.

An e-mail announced that the first day was to be split between downtown's Grand Avenue Nightclub and the Garage and El Cid in Silverlake (a not-so-convenient six-mile shuttle ride away) and that the Rezillos had canceled due to international travel concerns. Those not lucky enough to receive the e-mail arrived at Variety Arts to discover a sign stating, "It's not here." By Friday evening, at the Garage's pre-Shakedown show, the word was that El Cid was out and that there would be two stages at Grand Avenue.

Registration was scheduled to begin at noon on Feb. 15, and when the doors finally opened at 2 p.m. (the time when bands were scheduled to start playing), hundreds of ticket holders were lined up in the parking lot. Promoter Ralph Carrera had only three staffers on hand to check them in, and, additionally, security's invasive body searches left female patrons feeling a bit violated. However, people paying cash were quickly whisked through a much shorter line.

"Fuckin' Ralph get it together!" shouted the Weaklings vocalist Bradly Wayne Shaver during their set at the Garage, a sentiment echoed by many attendees who didn't realize things were going to get worse. By 7 p.m., Grand Avenue was over-capacity, leaving approximately 100 angry registered fans out on the sidewalk, plus another 100 hadn't even received their wristbands. When the fire marshall and two fire trucks arrived, club security informed the mob the show was over, and everyone inside was being moved out the back door. About 20 minutes later a band started playing, and yet they refused to let anyone else inside, including Blag Dahlia of the Dwarves and Deadbolt drummer Charlie Watts. The Dwarves ended up canceling, as did the Supersuckers and Zen Guerrilla.

Co-promoter Tobin Shea attempted to defuse the situation by announcing that several headliners were being moved to the Garage (which didn't happen) and discussed refunds. He also stated that walk-up sales were cut off after 200 (yet logic dictates if those tickets had not been sold then the venue should've be able to accommodate the people who pre-paid).

Hopefully the next Shakedown (if there ever is another one) will return to Vegas. After all, casinos have cocktail waitresses and that always puts people in a better mood when they're waiting in line.

-Poizen Ivy poizenivy@sincitysounds.com

Oh, don't ask why

After deciding to go the safe route with a cover band on Thursday nights, the powers that be at the Whiskey Bar in Green Valley Ranch Station have agreed to give local original music another go.

"Basically, now they've realized having local music is the way to go," says booking agent Bridgett Kinsey of Two Ring Music Promotions. She was responsible for bringing Magna-Fi to the bar Jan. 30.

Future acts scheduled to appear at the Whiskey Bar include Slow to Surface on Feb. 20 and Automatik (formerly Moonshine Radio) on Feb. 27. Slow to Surface and Magna-Fi will return March 6 for a double-headliner showcase.

The show starts at 9 p.m; the cover is $5. Info: 702-617-7777.

-Megan Capehart

meganc@lvpress.com

Huntridge here to stay

The Huntridge Performing Arts Theatre opened Oct. 10, 1944, as a double-feature matinee house. Later, it turned into a discount movie theater, then an alternative-rock venue. In 1993, it earned a listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1995, the Huntridge was the place to go for hip music fans under 21 years of age. Then, just hours before a sold-out show in July, the roof collapsed. The Huntridge served as a music venue for a time after that, but eventually had to close due to financial obstacles. After a brief closing and change of ownership, the Huntridge is back as an all-ages music spot, and things couldn't be better. The 1,

100-capacity venue hosted five sold-out shows in January: The Juliana Theory, the Donnas, the Used, A.F.I. and Finch.

Needless to say, the Huntridge isn't going anywhere any time soon.

-M.C.

Masters of puppets

Balcony Lights hosts its Puppet Showcase and Movie Night Saturday, Feb. 22. Three local puppeteers (including Lights co-owner Karoline DeFrancesco) are scheduled to present "mature-themed puppetry," covering topics including the psychology of war. Afterward, a PBS special looking into the evils of the recording industry will be shown. Local puppeteers are encouraged to join in the festivities. Acoustic duo the Elegance of Railway Travel will provide the music. The showcase starts at 5 p.m.; admission is free. Info: 702-228-2763.

-P.P.

Saloon's second music night

The Saloon in Neonopolis debuts a new night of rock 'n' roll Feb. 21, with the Bargain DJ Collective. Following the Feb. 7 success of First Friday's "The Get Back," the Saloon has signed on Chez Bippy compadres TBDJC to host the third Friday of every month. Admission is free, and you must be at least 21. The DJs start spinning at 10 p.m.

-Jarret Keene

keene@lvpress.com

Got questions or feedback? Contact Jarret Keene at 702-871-6780 ext. 347.