Will Live ever open?

"Unforeseen construction delays" prevented the Aug. 1 opening of Las Vegas' latest live-music venue Live (5105 Spring Mountain Rd.). The 21-and-up club will try to grandly open again Aug. 8, and to make up for the delay, there will be "a free VIP party open to the public" (kinda defeats the purpose of a VIP party, doesn't it?) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with bands to follow: the Ill Figures, Slow to Surface, the Day After and Truth in Cliche. Ex-X frontman John Doe's performance has been rescheduled for Aug. 15.

Other shows this week include Cornerstone, RX Theory and Sever Aug. 9; "Metal Night" with Society One, Chalk Outline and Biolith Aug. 13; "KOMP Night" with Onesidezero, Trailer Park Pam and the Day After Aug. 14. All shows begin at 10 p.m. and cost $5. For more info, call 702-878-LIVE.

--Jarret Keene



keene@lvpress.com

Maxim's Bitch

Men's mag Maxim Online (www.maximonline.com) currently features Portland, Ore.'s roots-rockers I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House, whose frontman Mike Damron is an ex-pro-boxer from Las Vegas. The article mostly focuses on the band's new album Put Here to Bleed (reviewed in CityLife's June 19 issue) and colorful history. ICLASITH has made a name for itself in Sin City for playing hell-for-leather shows at places like the Double Down Saloon and the Rock.

For more info on ICLASITH, check www.icanlickanysob.com.

--J.K.

Casting call

Are you an everyday woman who wants a second chance at life and is willing to be exploited? Well, the producers of MTV's "The Real World" and NBC Entertainment are casting in Las Vegas at Fashion Outlets (32100 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; Williams-Sonoma entrance) on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for women who are looking to make extraordinary changes in their lives.

How do you know if you need drastic changes? According to a news release, it's if you're "trapped in a dead-end career, unable to find new love after a failed relationship, buried in debt or just need a kick-start."

Wow, that sounds like just about every woman we know in Las Vegas.

Set in Chicago, the show is called "Starting Over" and will follow an ever-changing group of women as they enact change, live under the same roof and share the same boyfriends (just kidding about the last part!).

So if you're at least 18 years of age and willing to relocate to Chicago for 10 weeks, then get thee to the mall! For more info, check www.startingovertv.com or call 888-633-8149.

--J.K.

Heat was on

On Aug. 2, the Mandalay Bay parking garage was overflowing with carloads of Boston fans, causing many psychobilly fans to miss Throw Rag's opening set. Nonetheless, the House of Blues was jam-packed with hellcats in halter tops and the sideburn set clad in their finest Reverend Horton Heat apparel. I'm going to risk sounding like the Fashion Police, but isn't anyone aware of the "don't wear the shirt of the band you are going to see" rule anymore?

Anyway, Southern Culture on the Skids has been serving up sleazy grooves and catchy hooks since 1985, but I haven't seen them since they played Rockabilly's shortly before it was converted to a bump 'n' grind joint called the Library. That show was a helluva lot of fun, and the band from Chapel Hill, N.C. has only gotten better after all these years. The instrumental "Meximelt" (dedicated to Taco Bell's 99-cent menu) let Rick Miller completely cut loose on his guitar, pink-wigged bassist Mary Huff took the mic for my long-time favorite "House of Bamboo," and then things got really wild. Throw Rag washboard maniac Jacko joined SCOTS onstage for "Eight Piece Box" while a corpulent man wearing a red bikini flung fried chicken at the audience, and he came cavorting back sporting a wrestling mask and a shimmering cape for a rousing rendition of "Viva del Santo!" from the band's fantastic Estrus Records EP "Santo Swings!"

There are a few things in life you can truly count on: It's gonna be frickin' hot during a Las Vegas summer and the Reverend Horton Heat will bring his full-custom gospel sounds to town twice a year. This crowd was larger and more unruly compared to December's show, but may have felt they could safely get away with throwing things since security wasn't lined up in front of the stage. Even when dodging debris, the Reverend is a consummate performer, and the band steamrolled through a decade of material ranging from "Marijuana" and "Wiggle Stick" to "Like a Rocket." There was no religious schtick, but Heat suavely proclaimed bass player Jimbo to be "the Michael Landon of rockabilly," and he dedicated Dave Dudley's 1963 ode "Six Days on the Road" to the truckers in the house. Should have worn my Peterbilt T-shirt.

--Poizen Ivy



poizenivy@sincitysounds.com

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