Killers prepare for Hot Fuss

The Killers' U.K. single on the indie label Lizard King, "Somebody Told Me," is positively reviewed in the March 13 issue of British music mag NME (available at your local chain bookstore). An interview with the band is slated to appear in the March 27 issue.

Also, the video for the single can be viewed at www.nme.com. It consists of Brandon Flowers and Co. getting their Duran Duran on in a neon-disco-balled desert. Nothing groundbreaking, but it's still a real thrill watching our hometown boys in an honest-to-God music video.

And the song kicks ass.

The B-sides to "Somebody Told Me" include "The Ballad of Michael Valentine" and "Under the Gun."

The Killers' full-length U.S. debut on Island Def Jam, Hot Fuss, is set for a June 15 release. Currently, the band is on tour with Stellastar*.

For more Killers propaganda, check out www.islandrecords.com/thekillers.

And it's been announced from the Killers' camp that DJ Ryan Pardey will serve as the band's tour manager through April 30.

JARRET KEENE

KEENE@LVPRESS.COM

Big Lizard bands got Stereo

FFI has changed the title of its sophomore release to Got My Stereo, which is set to drop nationally on July 6. Mixing, mastering and some album artwork are all that's needed at this point.

In the meantime, FFI skinsman Gary Wright (who also performs with the Nines and 12 Volt Sex) will be on tour with local Ween-worshippers Black Camaro.

Also, Amber Halo has added a second guitarist to its lineup, Bargain DJ Collective member Jeff Murphy. The band's new album, Stealing Insulin, has no official release date.

And the Easter edition of the ongoing Punk Rock Bingo night has been announced: "The Passion of the Balls," which will be 21 and up (since this edition is sponsored by the California-based ID Lubricants). This wild and woolly night of no-holds-barred bingo takes place at the Double Down Saloon on April 5 at 10 p.m.

Why the title?

"The bingo balls and The Passion of the Christ phenomenon," says Big Lizard owner Ryan Kinder. "It's a sacrilegious joke, I guess. The flier has an Easter bunny with a crown of thorns."

Finally, Kinder has announced that he will spin at the first edition of "Snapshot," a new monthly after-hours party at Marc's World Cuisine (7290 W. Lake Mead Blvd.) that debuts the early morning of April 10. Other DJs slated to spin include John Michael and Jonny Rox. Also, expect a live performance by New York electro-clash duo Creme Blush.

Doors open at 1 a.m. Admission: $3 before 2 a.m. and $5 afterward. Info: www.snapshotlv.com.

J.K.

N.Y. services provider infiltrates the valley

Seen those clubplanet.com billboards around town? Wondering what that's all about?

According to CEO Andrew Fox, Clubplanet is a New York-based nightlife services provider that intends to infiltrate the club scene, providing guestlist access for Internet surfers that register at its Website. The company also intends to represent business partners such as Bacardi, Pepsi, Rolling Rock and Mercedes, branding them heavily in the Vegas club scene.

While Vegas has no shortage of VIP hosting services -- VegasHotspots, TrueVegas and Visual Oasis are already firmly established -- Clubplanet has an aggressive approach to gaining attention for itself. A quick look at its site finds Clubplanet offering guestlist access to Light on Mondays (a night when the Bellagio-based club is closed) and Drai's on Wednesdays before 10:30 p.m. (when the restaurant has yet to convert to after-hours).

Still, Clubplanet seems to have deep pockets and is apparently getting its name out via a "build it and they will come" method. Expect to hear more about it as it gets established.

MATT KELEMEN

MKELEMEN@LVPRESS.COM

Notes

The Loud Pipes have officially sold out of LPEP, a brutal five-song pile-up that was available at Balcony Lights Music & Books and Cash 4 Chaos. Songs include "Insurrection," "Rock Nightmare," "Kill Holiday," "Wild Nights" and "Rise Up."

There are now plans to reprint 1,000 more copies. More importantly, you can now download the "Kill Holiday" mp3 at www.theloudpipes.com.

Currently, the band is putting the finishing touches on a self-released, three-song 7-inch. There's also a video shoot in the works for "Insurrection," and the band goes on tour in April, playing several dates in Arizona and California before returning to the valley in May.

J.K.

Valerie Miller, who hosts "Music Magic" on KLAV 1230-AM and is a staff writer for CityLife's sister paper the Business Press, has announced plans to launch a "Local Beat" segment in May. The segment will appear once a month and will showcase local artists with live on-air performances, interviews and CD broadcasts. Interested artists should contact Miller at millerv52@hotmail.com.

You can tune in to "Music Magic" every Sunday at 6 p.m.

J.K.