Kat-ostrophic loss

Like the pillar that rises from its roof, the Huntridge Theatre has cast a tall shadow over the rock venues of Vegas, rising since its November rebirth to become the premiere hot spot for all-ages rock shows. Its success can be measured in a string of sold-out concerts - not a small feat with an 1,100-capacity room. Much of this prosperity can be attributed to its promotions director, Kat Kellams, but not anymore. Kat is out.

"When we started, it was a trial by fire all the time," says Kellams, who began working with the Huntridge in October. "We all learned a lot. I worked hard and built it up and everything, and it went really well. This is just growing pains. I'm done building. I really want to get back to my literary work."

You've probably seen Kellams racing around the Huntridge with one ear devoted to her cell phone, the other to the band playing and with a scouring eye searching for problems to fix. In her downtime, she could be found at the smaller clubs scanning the scene for bands to book.

But behind her devotion to local music and exuberant exterior, Kellams is actually a quiet intellectual looking forward to a new direction, where she can complete her master's degree in philosophy. By mid-April, she says, she hopes to be on her way to New York City to work as an editor.

So how will the Huntridge survive with out her? Its talent buyer Tom Anderson says he's got it under control.

"We're going through some management changes," he says. "Instead of working in-house, we're going to be four-walling events. It wasn't in the budget to keep [Kellams] on. Everything's going to stay the same."

-Holly Kintz

kintz@lvpress.com

Jetts ink deal

It appears local neo-garage rockers The Black Jetts have tentatively signed with L.A. punk label Dead Beat Records, home to West Coast acts like B-Movie Rats, J Church and the Stitches. According to frontman Gabe Stiff, the band will simply repackage its self-released 9-song effort, Sonic Blast!, and tack on three newly written and recorded original tunes. As of yet, there's no album title, track listing, cover art or release date.

Curiously, Sonic Blast! was recorded last year with jettisoned guitarist (and CityLife contributor) Aaron Archer and ex-drummer Jaime Lamb (now singer/guitarist for The Dirty Babies) and is hardly an accurate, up-to-date representation of Stiff's current flight crew. But Stiff doesn't seem bothered. Perhaps he's so thrilled about the deal that he hasn't noticed his gunner and bombardier have been replaced.

For more info on the Jetts' label, check www.dead-beat-records.com.

-Jarret Keene

keene@lvpress.com

The salad days (and nights)

The sixth (that's right, the very first one was back in October) "First Friday" on March 7 was yet another great night to hang out with friends and take in local works of art and various performances. The Funk House was buzzing with activity; surf band Vista Four played on the patio, and belly dancers shook things up on the sidewalk in front of the store. Owner and "First Friday" organizer Cindy Funkhouser thought things might die down during the winter months, but this ongoing arts district open house continues to draw people downtown. "Each month we keep seeing new faces and tonight the phone is constantly ringing with people asking for directions," she said.

Over at The Arts Factory, Naomi Arin and Jerry Misko II's gallery, Dust, showcased works including Jack Hallberg's phosphorescent abstract painting "Tori Versus" (formerly owned by the Los Angeles Times art critic David Pagel), and Angela Kallus' highly detailed panels featuring acrylic roses and swirls sculpted with cake decorating tools. Since the new gallery has been open, it has already sold more than 10 pieces of art, and everyone's pleased with the success. DJ Bazooka Joe was also on hand encouraging everyone to go to "The Get Back" after party at The Saloon, and pursuing people with an absconded vegetable tray while imploring them to "eat some salad!"

-Poizen Ivy

poizenivy@sincitysounds.com

Tear down the wall

The first thing everyone noticed Monday at The Rock was that the wall separating the stage area from the bar had been removed, a much needed improvement that allows patrons to see and hear the bands throughout a greater portion of the venue. The night was all about guitars, absolutely no question about it. Opener bronson plugged its hot-off-the-presses EP while throwing down the heaviest grooves of the evening. Oakland's rather scraggly looking Drunk Horse followed with some early '70s-influenced riff-heavy rock (but thankfully less reminiscence of Lynyrd Skynyrd than its new CD Adult Situations) along with a cover of the well-known Allman Brothers' song "Whipping Post." Nebula was forced to play a shorter set than usual, as bassist Mark Abshire is currently recovering from appendicitis. Guitarist Eddie Glass' former roommate, Dennis Wilson, filled in for him at the last minute. They did, however, preview "Seize the Day," a song from the new album they will begin recording at the end of this month, and included "Do It Now," the opening track on their second album, "Charged," as well as the blues standard "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl." Following the show, drummer Ruben Romano didn't seem disappointed that they only played to about 50 fans, and mentioned the band considered this to be their first Vegas gig, since the Double Down Saloon show in October was technically a chaotic motorcross private party (complete with mics getting knocked over and people stepping on the guitar effects).

-P.I.

Wet Bizcuits

Saturday night on the Strip, and one club audaciously named after an island hedonism hotspot is holding its grand opening. Three ladies known collectively as Twizted Bizcuit are out on the town promoting their next party, blitzkrieging the clubs with missionary zeal and boxes of Girl Scout cookies in order to give the city's doormen a mid-evening sugar rush.

First, the club. Ibiza U.S.A. opened its doors early in the evening to Vegas media and assorted V.I.P.s for a party, \but the cheesy early evening music didn't give credence to the club's Balearic Island namesake that is world-famous for its hedonistic atmosphere as well as its cutting-edge DJ sets.

The set from Richard "Humpty" Vission wasn't quite setting the night (or the sometimes lethargic dancers hired for the night) on fire in the midnight hour. But it may succeed in the all-things-to-all-people category with its weekly schedule of "Service Industry Night" Sundays, "Hedonism" Tuesdays (couples and single ladies only), "Asian Night" Wednesdays and '80s Thursdays as well as the requisite house-techno-trance weekends."

Meanwhile, the Bizcuits were out to spread the word about their latest party "Wet," their little piece of spring break that rolls into Ra on Friday. But half the fun is watching them prepare for action, deciding which doormen get cookies and how to approach passing out the card-sized flyers (Work through the crowd in single file. Front Bizcuit passes to the left, middle Bizcuit to the right, back Bizcuit bats cleanup, sliding fliers into shirt pockets.) Noey, Jade and Chyla are all natives of Oahu, Hawaii, who left the island and eventually regrouped in Las Vegas, moving into or preparing for professional careers in marketing and real estate, while throwing elaborate parties that take months to prepare for. While "Wet" is targeted for the spring break crowd (surfboards, beach decor and a wet T-shirt contest are highlights) and has a ready-made concept, their next party in May will have a "Space Odyssey" theme that will one-up the Asian flavor excesses of February's "Geisha" gig. Residents Duane King and Jeremy Wood will be joined by DJs Lascivious, Noey and Phaness (spinning house, breakbeat and hip-hop, respectively) for "Wet," and $750 will go to the the best wet ... T-shirt.

Matt Keleme -klmn@earthlink.net

Ibiza-nator: Holly's report

Claiming to be "an island of excitement in a sea of boring clubs," Ibiza sits where the Blue Note used to be, and some say the venue is cursed. Even with its prime Strip location, businesses there have a sorrowful history. That aside, Ibiza has its work cut out. Opening just a couple months after Blue Note's closing, the new club has quickly turned the subdued concert venue into a full-blown nightclub, equipped with a light show, caged go-go dancers and large dance floor. The room certainly has potential, but is lacking in some key areas.

At the grand opening, the drinks were notably weak and the music stale, consisting of Squeeze songs between runs of generic house instrumentals. The swirling lights and lasers that sliced through the dark room were archaic and downright cheesy in comparison to other venues. And our cocktail waitress had trouble with our drink orders, confusing Maker's Mark whiskey with Maker's "Mud" (neither of which they had) and a soda with lime for a Seven & Seven. Even the hors d'oeuvres served in the V.I.P. lounge left much to be desired: grapes, cheese and crackers, and little nukable, bite-size quiches. In short, nothing was impressive. Later in the night, DJ Richard "Humpty" Vission began to spin and the room filled.

All in all, the Vegas club scene is world-renowned, from its DJs and foxy staffers to its dancers, pyrotechnics and light shows. In these categories, Ibiza is sadly not the island of excitement it claims. Hopefully as the club matures, it will get better. Until then, it cannot claim to be truly better or original. Only new. And that doesn't last.

-H.K.

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