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SO GOOD

THAT SANTA IS STAYING

FOR BREAKFAST

Contents 7 mail Plenty of sorrow over the impending closures of Jubilee and O Face Doughnuts.

8 as we see it The convention sector takes a bite out of Cirque. A café for board gamers, a terrifying (educating!) display of shipwreck artifacts, and two dozen beers at Whole Foods’ new Sprocket.

14 Feature | who ruled in 2015 Shapers of Las Vegas’ year, from people like politician Tick Segerblom to political footballs like Uber. Plus a few words on fallen friends.

mat franco By Denise Truscello

20 Feature | welcome the new year right Dance your socks off, catch a dream concert, take an over-the-top hayride and maybe share a hot kiss to kick off 2016 like you mean it.

26 nights More party intel, and peeks inside Clique at Cosmo and what’s next for Luxor nightlife.

41 Feature | A&E Time for our annual (ginormous) roundup of all the best things to fill your senses with that landed in our lives in 2015. 52 (more) A&E Mötley Crüe’s last Vegas show (maybe), and a heartfelt Stones tribute.

53 screen Brace for a massive week at the movies: The Big Short, The Hateful Eight, Concussion, Joy, Daddy’s Home and The Danish Girl.

58 calendar Tijuana Panthers. 62 backstory How normal life sneaks into tragic moments. Cover Model Moani Hara Makeup Mark Quirimit Hair Deny Montoya photograph Christopher devargas

KIDS EAT FREE TUESDAYS

4 P.M. - 10 P.M.

Ask your server for details about additional Kids Eat Free Nights. Restrictions may apply. © 2015 DFO, LLC. At participating restaurants for a limited time only. Offer not valid for the Las Vegas Strip locations. Selection and prices may vary. *See server for details.

LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM > EXTREME ENGAGEMENT Killswitch Engage played to the masses in 2014.

THE SHOW GOES ON Extreme Thing is back! After going on hiatus in 2015, the all-ages music and sports festival, which ran from 2001 through 2014, returns to Desert Breeze Skate Park in April. Find the current lineup, on-sale info and details on the springtime soundfest’s local band competition, Battle of the Fans, at lasvegasweekly.com.

LET’S BE FRIENDS!

/lasvegasweekly /lasvegasweekly /lasvegasweekly

MOST READ STORIES lasvegasweekly.com 1. With the closing of Jubilee, the Las Vegas showgirl goes extinct 2. Can’t stop won’t stop: Five of our favorite Vegas all-you-can-eat experiences 3. The Rio’s new mega-buffet experience, plus three other revamped feasts 4. Encore Player’s Club and other venues look to diversify Vegas nightlife 5. Lessons in buffetiquette: How to indulge with grace and game

EXTREME THING BY FRED MORLEDGE/PHOTOFM; JOSHUA SMITH AND ADAM LEVINE BY STEVE MARCUS

JOIE DE VIVRE Bardot Brasserie executive chef Joshua Smith is one of our picks for people who ruled in 2015 (see Page 16). Wanna know more about his culinary magic? Chef Talk chats him up, only online.

VERY SPECIAL OCCASION In 2016, some lucky folks will get the moment they didn’t even know they were waiting for. NBC, Adam Levine and others are developing CELEBration, a show that sends your fave person’s fave celebrity to crash their party. You just need to make the case for why they deserve it, and work behind the scenes to make the specialness happen. Details and a link to the application are at lasvegasweekly. com.

Mail

THE

STRIP

NEW YEAR’S EVE!

some appetites.

Please continue to put up articles like this for us foodies. Thanks. –Carlos Worm

I would have went if I had known. –Ron Gunter

Rhythm Kitchen sounds almost unbelievable. –Sam Ossepow

The end of an era ... this makes me incredibly sad. –Tonya Wilson

Street tacos at El Dorado [Cantina] are awesome, some of the best in town. Don’t let the fact it’s in the same building as Sapphire Gentleman’s Club scare you off. –Steve Mestayer

Attended twice. Vegas will never be the same. –Laura Valenzuela I remember when it wasn’t unusual to run into showgirls at the store. It was special for us mere mortals. –Bentlightnvegas I assume there was a task force created to make every effort to eliminate any semblance of history that may still exist in Las Vegas shows. –John Shikany My mom came here from France to dance with the Lido in 1957. They had a contract at the Stardust. I’m born and raised here, [and] this is very sad to see. –Celeste Valentini

photograph by By Denise Truscello

I wish all these people who want a showgirls museum or a Liberace museum and on and on would all get together and create a Las Vegas Museum, showcasing the past, present and future of Vegas entertainers. Makes all the sense in the world. –Jim Watkins

EAT UP Our list of other local all-you-caneat experiences—there’s more than buffets, you know—fired up

That is really the “see food” diet! –Vicky Potter

NO MO’ O Downtown’s O Face Doughnuts shop is calling it quits this month.

Loved O Face, just too big of a pain to get to. Parking, traffic ... They should restructure and move to some place better. Downtown Summerlin or literally anywhere else. –Larry Callas This is sad news. I could not get down there very often. I live in Summerlin. I do not like doughnuts but I love O Face Doughnuts. Always fresh tasting with good ingredients and not greasy. –Mary Ann Schiff That’s a shame. Downtown is in a cycle of opening and closing everything right now. Locals need to support it more. I don’t understand the unwarranted disdain for it. Goes to show Vegas is still a strip-mall kind of place. –Jason Giffen

LVWeekly@GMGVegas.com Letters and posts may be edited for length/clarity. All submissions become the property of Las Vegas Weekly.

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PRESALE

END OF AN ERA We’re all losing a significant chunk of our Vegasness when the legendary show Jubilee closes in February.

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AsWeSeeIt N E W S + C U LT U R E + S T Y L E + M O R E

KEEP ’EM COMING

> CURTAIN CALL A glimpse of Zarkana, set to close early next year.

∑ Only two Cirque du Soleil productions have ever closed

in Las Vegas, both at Aria. That sounds ominous, but it’s not. Not at all. The wobbly Viva Elvis, the first major show at the CityCenter-anchoring casino-resort that opened in December 2009, was shut down in 2012 and replaced by the more successful and dynamic Zarkana. Now MGM Resorts has announced Zarkana will wrap on April 30, and a new show won’t be taking its place. Instead, Aria’s award-winning, LEED Gold-certified convention center will be expanded in a big way, with the $154 million project delivering an additional 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. It really will be flexible. Stretched over four stories and including indoor-outdoor areas with views of MGM’s coming-soon Las Vegas Arena and adjacent Park promenade, the completed project will total more than 500,000 square feet, including a penthouse-level ballroom that can accommodate events for up to 2,000 guests. Let’s state the obvious: Conventions have been big business for Vegas for decades, and unlike some of the reasons people visit the Strip, this business is unquestionably booming. With more than 11 million square feet of meeting space and more than 150,000 hotel and motel rooms, Las Vegas ranks second behind Orlando in this year’s Cvent Top 50 Meeting Destinations in the United States list, overtaking Chicago from last year’s ranking. Mandalay Bay just opened its own massive expansion, giving the other MGM resort 2 million square feet to work with. And the LVCVA’s Convention Center District master plan includes the takeover of the Riviera, which will be demolished next year. If you thought subbing space for a Cirque show was a big move, consider wiping out an entire (iconic) 60-year-old casino. Conventions are the blood pumping through Vegas’ veins. They keep hotel rooms, casino floors, restaurants and nightclubs busy—if not packed—during the week, and major events like CES, MAGIC, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week and the National Association of Broadcasters can take over the town and spike activity up and down the Strip. Aria has been a top-ranked convention spot since it opened, so doubling down makes sense, even if it means losing a popular entertainment option. Aria president and COO Bobby Baldwin said there are no plans to build a different live-entertainment venue at Aria, and why would there be? Aria is practically next door to the new arena, the Park and the theater coming to the Monte Carlo. It’s never really business over entertainment in Las Vegas, where those two words are practically interchangeable. –Brock Radke

YAY! BOO! The week in lopsided rankings BY ERIN RYAN

Las Vegas is kicking ass for LGBT equality.

From inclusion in law and policy to inclusive treatment of LGBT citizens overall, Vegas scored 100 out of 100 points in the HRC’s Municipal Equality Index, crushing the national average of 56. –Human Rights Campaign

8 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 24-30, 2015

Las Vegas’ sustainability efforts are nationally legit. We’re now a certi-

fied 4-STAR Community based on social, economic and environmental measures of sustainability, putting us in the company of Austin, Texas, and Portland, Oregon. –STAR Community Rating System

Divorces in Nevada are more likely to be “disagreeable.”

We’re the fifth least amicable state for splitting up, after Connecticut, Colorado, Arkansas and Alabama. Vermont is the most amicable. Maybe it’s all that autumn splendor. –CompleteCase.com

North Las Vegas is the third worst city for singles. Based on

“key stats” like the average cost of wine, our satellite city beat only Hialeah, Florida, and Yonkers, New York. Good thing residents can pop over to Vegas proper, ranked 24th best out of 150 cities. –WalletHub

ROCK SHOT BINGO RED ROCK CASINO RESORT & SPA 12.17.15 PHOTOGRAPHER: TEK LE

As We See It…

Nice move

> Shop and Sip Whole Foods Henderson’s new Sprocket eatery boasts 24 taps.

Eating in Did you know Whole Foods has its own restaurant? By Spencer Patterson Now is ze time in Sprockets vhen ve dance! Okay, so Whole Foods Henderson’s new fullservice restaurant is actually named Sprocket, not Sprockets, and its handle comes not from the Saturday Night Live sketch starring Mike Myers as German TV host Dieter, but from the bicycle part. “Each Whole Foods café has a name unique to its area,” explains Brian Schmel, prepared foods team leader for the Henderson store. “We have a big roadbiking community here, so ours is Sprocket after the bicycle sprocket.” That theme is reflected by metallic chains that ring the interior, an airy space home to a dozen or so tables, a bar, three flatscreen TVs and, most impressively, 24 beer taps and an adjacent cooler loaded with kegs. “We definitely designed that [keg room] with the wow

A different kind of gaming gets a clubhouse in Meepleville

factor in mind,” Schmel says. Current brews include locals like Joseph James’ Mocha Milk Stout and Big Dog’s Batali Pale Ale, plus deep cuts and seasonals from craft favorites like Ballast Point and Oskar Blues. Soft-opened in November with an abbreviated menu in preparation for its scheduled January 21 grand-opening, Sprocket has been serving burgers, flatbreads and sushi rolls thus far, and plans call for seasonal-focused selections to be rotated throughout 2016 (the winter list will include cauliflower nachos, honey & chile dusted chicharrones, a porchetta sandwich and a grilled vegetable tamale). Also, Whole Foods reps assure us costumers are welcome to bring prepared foods or groceries from the store—once paid for—into the space for consumption inside Sprocket. As for dancing, Sprockets style, Schmel says the intention is to stay “family friendly.” Last calls are 9 p.m. for food and 9:30 p.m. for beer and wine. “We’re definitely not planning to be a nightlife party spot at all.” To that Dieter would surely say, “Touch my monkey!” and order another glass of Weihenstephaner.

Lessons from the deep Shipwreck treasures delve into the pirate life Aaron Micallef makes no bones about it: Pirates were SHIPWRECK! bad guys. “A lot of people like to PIRATES & mythologize pirates,” the Springs TREASURE Preserve curator says. “They’re Through not all Johnny Depp.” ¶ Still, January 31; their scallywag ways are fun to daily, 10 a.m.learn about, from gibbet cages 4 p.m., $5-$19. that displayed tarred marauders Origen Museum to passing vessels, to lady pirates at Springs who disguised themselves as Preserve, men, to the infamous Blackbeard. 702-822-7700. Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure explores the spoils of Odyssey Marine Exploration, a Florida-based company that uncovers treasures from historic wrecks throughout the world. Among the 500-plus artifacts are china, glass bottles, gold coins and trinkets found in wrecks like Blue China, off the southeast coast of the U.S., and Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico. ¶ Hands-on experiences are central to the show, including the opportunity to recover coins using a robotic arm, or feel what a 75-mph hurricane is like in a wind tube. Unfortunately, the gibbet is off limits. –Kristy Totten

10 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

Timm Metivier is steadfast. “I want to evangelize gaming,” he says. “I want people getting out of their smartphones, off their iPads, off the Internet, sitting down, looking at somebody across the table, talking face to face, interacting.” To be clear, when Metivier says gaming, he’s referring to board games. That’s why he’s opening Meepleville Board Game Cafe on the northeast corner of Decatur and Sahara. For the uninitiated, “meeple” is short for “my people” and refers to the figures in the game Carcassonne. MEEPLEVILLE The café aims to be a BOARD GAME meeting ground for lovCAFE Mondayers of all board games, Thursday, 10 a.m.combining play space midnight; Friday for 75 people with a & Saturday, retail game section and a 10 a.m.-1 a.m. counter serving a variety Sunday, 10 a.m.of drinks and snacks. 8 p.m. 4704 W. Metivier, who spent years Sahara Ave., of his childhood without 702-444-4540. a television and thus has been a longtime lover of the form, has more than 1,000 games in his library. That means classics like Monopoly, Trouble and Life, plus games you’ve never heard of and will barely believe exist. There’s Zombie 15, where you have to survive a zombie apocalypse for 15 minutes. There’s 1960: The Making of the President, in which you must win the election as one of the candidates (spoiler alert: pick Kennedy). There’s an entire glut of games based on old TV shows like Welcome Back, Kotter (I call Assistant Vice Principal Woodman!). A former cruise-ship magician and comedian, Metivier hopes to attract senior citizens in the morning, set up after-school programs in the afternoon and get the young professionals at night. Scheduled to open by year’s end, Meepleville will charge $5 for all-day play Monday to Thursday and $10 Friday to Sunday. Can the format, popular in other cities, make it in Vegas? Metivier thinks he knows how to win this game. “What you’re going to have is a community, a group of like-minded people who aren’t going to be stuck in a device. Whatever you like to do, I can help you find a game about it.” –Jason Harris

> Meep Meep Pick a game, any game.

sprocket and meepleville by spencer burton

T:4.67 in

T:6 in

Reading / Book Signing Sunday, January 3rd, 2PM 2191 North Rainbow Boulevard Las Vegas (702) 631-1775 The award-winning actress reflects on her unconventional upbringing and how it led her to discover the transformative power of film.

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As We See It… > CULTURAL CARETAKER Half-Wrobel keeps it clean at Bellagio.

The finest touch Art conservator Florence Half-Wrobel is keeping Picasso’s Picassos in beautiful condition By Kristen Peterson “Each piece is like an individual human with its own needs—where it grew up, when it’s from, where it was made and what type of fabric,” Florence Half-Wrobel says, examining the Picasso paintings placed face up on conjoined tables. “It’s important to see that there are no losses and lifting of paint.” The art conservator from France is standing in the main dining room of Bellagio’s Picasso restaurant, sun pouring through the French doors that open to the 8-acre lake and fountain show on the Strip. With the restaurant temporarily closed and the furniture moved aside, she cleans and conditions rare works most people wouldn’t dare to touch, an esteemed practitioner in a specialized field. “I appreciate being a doctor,” she says, “a surgeon of art.” Having worked in art conservation for three decades, including more than 20 years attending to Picasso pieces owned by the artist’s family, HalfWrobel is in familiar territory here, though the environment—an award-winning Vegas restaurant facing the Eiffel Tower and other replica landmarks of home—is a first, an adventure she says she appreciates. She adds that the workshop couldn’t be more elegant. Wearing a white lab coat over a stylish black-andwhite dress, she explains the state of Picasso’s “Seated Man,” painted in the artist’s final years and now watching over the dining area: “Cracks are inevitable depending on how it dries over the first layer and how

12 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

it has been transported. It depends also on the color of the paint and the application process.” The more than 20 works were purchased for the restaurant when it opened in 1998 and now belong to the MGM Resorts fine art collection at Bellagio. Some sit behind glass, including Picasso’s 1938 “Woman With Beret,” which was featured in a figurative exhibit at Bellagio’s Gallery of Fine Art. The intent is to place other works in the restaurant behind glass early next year, says Tarissa Tiberti, executive director of the gallery, who asked Half-Wrobel to conserve the art in Picasso after the two met while Half-Wrobel was in town as a registrar and courier for the Bellagio’s Picasso: Creatures and Creativity exhibition. “We are continually reviewing and conditioning all artworks in the collection,” Tiberti says. “It is our responsibility to make sure the integrity of the artwork and the artist intent is always looked after.” The opportunity is a welcome one for Half-Wrobel, who’s fascinated by Picasso’s different techniques and had not seen these particular works. There’s also the sunlit environment carpeted with a design by the artist’s son, Claude Ruiz Picasso. She prefers to work onsite, rather than in her Paris studio. Even the journey from Picasso to the Bellagio’s shop puts the paintings at risk—thus the dining-room workspace. The restaurant also houses plants, whose bacteria can affect artworks, another element for Half-Wrobel to consider.

A nearby cart holds brushes, pigments, a headband magnifier, a dry cleaning sponge and a small bottle of ammonium citrate, tools used to treat small losses and remove stains and drips. Never does she create on top of the original. Mostly, she says, she cleans the works, balancing on the fine line of conservation, where you don’t want to touch too much but must protect against vulnerability. She types reports into her iPad, notes filed into the paintings’ histories, an ongoing provenance recording the lives of precious works in a town noted for celebrating its knockoffs with great fanfare. Appreciating the contrast, she says, “Everything is fake, but the paintings are real.”

photographS by mikayla whitmore

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> Scott seeley and drew cohen (and their fake birds)

> Celine dion

> tick segerblom

tant speakers, free workshops and utterly charming fake-bird adoptions. (We’ll take two.) No wonder they call her the Queen. After 13 years and nearly 1,000 shows in the Strip’s big spotlight, Celine left it for over a year to be with her ailing husband. She returned and blew the roof off in August, and just lent her grace to a star-studded tribute to Frank Sinatra, slaying “All the Way.” That’s how she’s always done it.

Portland has Powell’s, San Francisco has City Lights, and thanks to this couple, Las Vegas has a literary haven to call its own. The Writer’s Block is small but superbly curated, and in its first year delivered not only brainy books, but also impor-

14 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

Medical marijuana dispensaries are finally here, thanks in large part to this resolute lawmaker, who pushed his bill through the 2013 Legislature and, when dispensaries opened this summer, ended a 15-year battle to get legal weed to cardholders. Previously, approved users were required to grow their own but couldn’t legally obtain seeds due to a legislative loophole. Next up? Recreational kush on the 2016 ballot. But we want to buy the senator a beer right now, or based on his tweets, perhaps he’d like a shot of tequila. The writer’s block by Emily Wilson

> ronald corso

> elizabeth blau

> shamir

The local cuisine-culture builder had an extra special year, opening the exceptionally cozy Andiron Steak & Sea at Downtown Summerlin (see Page 50), being honored as a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur and joining the table on CNBC’s Restaurant Startup hospitality-reality show.

Every once in a while something crazy art-friendly lands in the most unusual of places, but when the Cosmopolitan opened five years ago with an artist-residency space in a high-profile area, a lot of people were pinching themselves. This can’t be real, right? The partnership with New York’s Art Production Fund promised to bring in emerging and established contemporary artists from around the world, and P3 has delivered more and more each year. Ellen Harvey, Abby Robinson, Shantell Martin, MK Guth, Leor Grady, Shelter Serra, Eloise Fornieles and The Bumbys were among those who came to work in the public project space. Las Vegas artists were mixed in, further evolving the rotating exchange of ideas. It has been a gathering place with an international audience, and it closes in the new year while the property considers its residency program’s fate.

His Jack Ü and Major Lazer albums dominated dance and pop charts. His Skrillex collabo “Where Are Ü Now” reinvigorated (saved?) Justin Bieber’s

> JK Russ

career. And his Wynn residency yielded some of the summer’s most massive parties, particularly the Mad Decent Block Party at Encore Beach Club and Surrender, which you had to see to belieb … er, believe.

Working in collage, the New Zealand transplant uses magazines, many of them vintage, to construct otherworldly beauty and mystery in rocky orange desert landscapes. From shows at Sin City Gallery and P3Studio to her cover of Vegas Magazine, Russ was spellbinding, provocative and continually evolving in 2015. Don’t miss her work in current Barrick Museum exhibit Break Ups & Tear Downs, with Erin Stellmon and Wendy Kveck.

What’s better than spending all afternoon shopping for records? Opening a combo store and studio that a) ups Las Vegas’ vinyl game, b) hosts a slew of cool all-ages in-store gigs, c) becomes home base for many locals looking to lay down tracks and d) helps bring the Fremont East party eastward, to our new favorite Downtown corner.

This dogged San Francisco-based tech company began its battle in Nevada during CES 2014, and this year became legit in the state, allowed not only at Strip properties but now at

ronald corso by spencer burton; Elizabeth Blau by steve marcus; jk russ by l.e. baskow; shamir by mikayla whitmore

the airport, too. It’s like the old saying goes: If at first you don’t succeed, beat the system and get your way.

The Preacher’s Daughter might not live here, but her sport does, and she contributed its most memorable moment in years—the kick that brought down Ronda Rousey in the ladies’ November bantamweight bout. Wherever UFC’s women’s divisions go from here, Holm will be the one who infused the drama.

When we first met Shamir in 2014, we knew the pop star’s career was about to take off, but we couldn’t

December 24–30, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

> piff and Mr. piffles

> Ed o’bannon

have predicted just how far he’d go. Shamir’s glittery, R&B-soaked house jams ended up on some of the most notable Best-of-2015 lists (Pitchfork, Spin, Stereogum, BBC), he made his television debut on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert—he even had a puppet made in his likeness for the “Call It Off” music video. Could 2016 be even bigger?

In the past year, Chris Baldizan helped put the Las Vegas Festival Grounds—and Rock in Rio USA—on the Strip, increased the profile and schedule of its sister venue Las Vegas Village and oversaw the effort to land Garth Brooks and other major

performers for the soon-to-open Las Vegas Arena. How will he top that in 2016? A superstar residency slate for the new venue at Monte Carlo.

When Michael Mina and MGM Resorts opened Bardot at Aria in early 2015, Joshua Smith was tasked with cultivating a classic French dining experience that could balance familiarity and comfort with fun and excitement. “It’s kind of a throwback restaurant and the inspiration behind the dishes is all very classic, but we needed to keep the attention of the millennials and create a place where they wanted to be,” he says. It sounds impossible, but Smith and company knocked it out of the park. His food is

16 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

thrilling without needing trendy bells and whistles. “We put as much effort into our cheeseburger and our onion soup as we do our most expensive entrée,” the chef says. “If you cut corners on details, people notice.”

It was no surprise that booking/ development whiz Zee Zandi recently founded her own nightlife company—Silent Partner, with marketing/social media master Lauren Linck. But her biggest scene contribution in 2015 might have been placing a rare Stripside welcome mat for headlining and local house DJs, at both Light’s afterhours parties and, most notably, Daylight’s fantastic Sundown weekly.

> Colin fukunaga

He performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and on the U.K.’s famous Sunday Night at the Palladium. He became a flavor at Kuma Snow Cream. He made the top 10 on America’s Got Talent and got smooched by Heidi Klum. And he launched his own show at the Flamingo. Who’s laughing now?

Ed O’Bannon was the star of the 1995 UCLA championship basketball team and an NBA player who began his second career as a salesman at Findlay Toyota in Henderson. This

ed o’bannon by l.e. baskow; piff the magic dragon by Christopher DeVargas;

year, his antitrust case against the NCAA, which has long profited off its student stars without sharing any of it with them, scored a huge victory in the U.S. 9th Circuit, and the NCAA appeal could take O’Bannon to the Supreme Court. His nephew, Charles Jr., is among the top 50 basketball players in the country, and is currently fielding a slew of college offers while still dominating at Bishop Gorman High School (where his father and Ed’s former UCLA teammate serves as assistant coach). Henderson has basketball royalty in its midst; the O’Bannon family, a growing and admirable legacy.

The concept of a magician as a star on the Strip is as indelible as a wand and top hat. Joining a host of magician headliners in Las Vegas in July, Mat Franco arrived as champion of America’s Got Talent in the Linq Hotel showroom. Skeptics wondered if there was room for this rising entertainer, just 27 years old, whose act was heavy on card tricks. He showed he can hold an audience, and a residency, on the big bad Boulevard.

How do you make a new statement in the competitive local nightlife scene beyond the superstar-DJ arms race? Drai’s president/partner Michael Gruber—and Victor Drai himself— took the idea of hiring live entertainers for brief sets at dance clubs and expanded upon it, establishing more concert-like experiences for clubgoers and a performance roster— focused on hip-hop and R&B—that rivals competitors’ DJ lineups. It’s how the rooftop discotheque made its mark in 2015.

The native Las Vegan (and great-granddaughter of Benny Binion) has infused new spirit into the effort to create a Downtown contemporary art museum. O’Neill and the Modern’s board of devoted professionals have gained support from the city and the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno. Previously a Neon Museum board member, O’Neill has a background in arts and is all in.

The tireless food trucker took a bold risk by relocating his first Las Vegas Boulevard location from the Linq

The outside world knew him as “the rock ’n’ roll chef” who made a fantastic burger on Iron Chef. Vegas knew him as a culinary innovator, a kind soul and our most fun friend. > kerry simon

A rare and true architect of modern Las Vegas, he built the world’s largest hotel-casino three times over—the International in 1969, the MGM Grand in 1973 and today’s MGM Grand in 1993.

A simple concept—nostalgic video arcade gets an update and a bar—evolved into a true cultural monument in its four-plus years on Fremont East. It would have been interesting to see that continued evolution as Downtown’s blossom widens. > insert coin(s)

Welcoming travelers to “fabulous” Las Vegas, sign designer Betty Willis helped define the social landscape of the era, branding the Strip since 1959 with her Googiestyle Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, the Strip’s most enduring headliner. Blue Angel and Moulin Rouge—pure brilliance. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. You will be missed.

Harmon Tower, we hardly even, er, never actually knew you, but we’ll miss your sparkly blue presence nonetheless—for being our weird Strip conversation piece and our reassurance, that no mistake any of us could ever make will cost $11 million to undo.

> betty willis

Riley B. King played the blues, and smiled widely as he did it, turning generations on to the soulful music in his heart. He spent the latter part of his life living in Las Vegas, but his May 14 death reverberated worldwide.

We loved you once, but we’re fickle and them’s the breaks. Only change lasts in this LED wilderness. We want the newest, the youngest, the prettiest, the fastest, the sleekest, and once you’re really gone, a big chunk of history that defined an irretrievable era will be erased, and we’ll be so sorry. > B.B. King

“Traditional policing” was the hallmark of the Cowboy Sheriff, who on one occasion arrested 74 Hells Angels and cut their hair. Former Mayor Oscar Goodman said, “Ralph Lamb was not just a piece of Las Vegas, he was a piece of Americana,” immortalized in Vegas, a TV show based on Lamb’s indelible run as the law.

Grown men who’d never met Coach Tark cried on February 11, when we lost the man who made the Rebels run. He was more than his 509 wins, four Final Fours and 1990 championship. He was UNLV basketball, and this town loved him like no other. > jerry tarkanian

December 24–30, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

to the Hawaiian Marketplace, and ended up creating an energetic beerand-sake-bomb stronghold. Then he opened a Fuku shop just off Spring Mountain Road. Who woulda thunk this little red truck would grow to have Strip and Chinatown restaurants?

Success is nothing new to UNLV’s revered Jazz Studies program, but 2015 seemed an extra-special year for its director. Under Loeb’s leadership the department scored its eighth DownBeat Magazine award since 2010, competing with the top collegiate jazz ensembles from across the globe. What might be even more impressive: Loeb’s work outside the classroom. While contributing to TV shows like Family Guy and American Dad, he also took on the task of conducting the 32-piece orchestra in Steve Wynn’s ShowStoppers, providing accompaniment during CBS’ December 6 Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert. And, to steal a line from Ol’ Blue Eyes, we’re thinking the best is yet to come.

After injuries stalled his ascension in 2013 and ’14, baseball’s Chosen One lived up to the hype—and then clobbered it over the farthest fences—in 2015. The Vegas native hit .330 with 42 homers, 99 RBI and 118 runs, earning the National League MVP award by unanimous vote. The scariest part? He’s only 23 years old.

Troy Heard took over the Onyx exactly a year ago, and transformed a theater on the edge into an edgy delight. It frequently hosts two shows a night on weekends, full of comedy and ironic takes on pop culture (like the upcoming genderbent version of a Tarantino classic, Reservoir Dolls) and even heart. Heard has attracted a passionate community of fans that used to be strangers to the theater, and recruited a team to build up production values—all while navigating city bureaucracy to get an exemption on liquor licensing so he can offer alcohol with the shows, fulfilling his vision of a theater club.

The Henderson brewing titan’s distribution expanded considerably this year, with its Evocation Saison and Resinate IPA popping up on taps (and in cans) all across town—from Strip lounges and Downtown bars to suburban supermarkets and neighborhood watering holes. CraftHaus also put on a handful of beer-pairing dinners—one with celebrity chef Rick Moonen at his Mandalay Bay eatery Rx Boiler Room—and continued to steal the spotlight at the city’s many beer festivals. It seemed like you couldn’t escape its neon-green logo in 2015, and why would you want to?

> bryce harper

> dave loeb

> crafthaus

18 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

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NICKI MINAJ AT DRAI’S Rap’s reign-

powerhouse blew up our summer at Light and Daylight and moves to the biggest stage possible for the biggest night of the year. 9 p.m., $75-$150, Encore.

ing queen puts a fitting cap on the year when Drai’s emerged as the Strip’s dominant hip-hop force. 9 p.m., $150-$200, Cromwell.

EVOLVE VEGAS NYE The only gay

New Year’s Eve party on the Strip returns to the Havana Room, with an entertainment lineup including Trixie Mattel, Scott Nevins, Z Lala, DJ Amphion and more. 8:30 p.m., $99-$149, Tropicana. FETTY WAP AT MARQUEE Bruno

Mars is gonna swing by after his show at the Chelsea, but Fetty’s in charge of the midnight countdown at Marquee. 9 p.m., $101-$179, Cosmopolitan. CALVIN HARRIS AT OMNIA Biggest nightclub of the year, biggest DJ in the world ... it’s a simple equation, and one that will make your NYE Vegas memories last forever. 8 p.m., $150-$250, Caesars Palace.

20 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

TIËSTO AT HAKKASAN Did you know that Tiësto was knighted by the Queen of Holland? His Royal Dutchness returns to Hakkasan to blow the royal roof off of NYE. 8 p.m., $125-$175, MGM Grand. PETE WENTZ AT VANITY Fall Out

Boy’s lyricist and bassist oversees NYE festivities at the typically mothballed nightclub with a special DJ set. 9 p.m., $30-$50, Hard Rock Hotel. Plus: Diplo at Surrender, 9 p.m., $75-$150; Scott Disick at 1 OAK, 9 p.m., $50-$75; J. Cole at Light, 10 p.m., $100-$150; Nick Jonas at Foxtail, 8 p.m., $100; DJ Khaled at Lavo, 9 p.m., $78-$101; Nina Sky at LAX, 9:30 p.m., $50-$75; Snoop Dogg at Tao, 9 p.m., $128-$179. –BR

You might have downed a whole Peppermill Scorpion by yourself. Or proposed on the Stratosphere’s Big Shot. Or hiked the Calico Hills Loop at Red Rock Canyon on a July afternoon. But you’re no true Vegas resident until you’ve been suckered into braving the Strip on New Year’s Eve. It’s like chicken pox: Once you get it over with, you’ll never have to endure it again. But the first time requires preparation. Take note:

• ... You won’t have to strategize parking, as casinos typically limit garages to hotel guests as early as 5 p.m.

• Dig out your gloves, thermals, heaviest coat and a pair of shoes that accommodates a double layering of socks. It gets really cold.

• Don’t bring anyone under 18. Curfew starts at 6 p.m. December 31.

• Plan your route to the Strip in advance. Eastbound I-15 offramps between Tropicana and Spring Mountain close at 5 p.m. for the Strip’s pedestrians-only switch at 6 p.m., and traffic on surrounding streets like Koval, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra stays backed up until well after 1 a.m. If you’re going with a group, consider sharing an Uber/Lyft ride, which means ...

• Plan out facilities to use once you start drinking. Casinos also close their doors to non-guests once the Strip starts filling up with revelers. • BYOB, and do so in plastic containers, as glass is forbidden. While you’re at it, bring at least one bottle of water.

• Fireworks: If you can access a parking garage, watch from the top—but make sure you’re not surrounded by tall buildings. Ditto if you view from the street. Participating properties are MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Venetian, Treasure Island and Stratosphere. • Once the fireworks end, the horror show begins. This is the time to summon Uber or Lyft—or sober up before the long slog home. –MP

tiËsto by al powers/powers imagery

NEW YEAR’S EVE MASQUERADE Andiron Steak & Sea goes beyond its special prix fixe menu of favorite dishes for NYE by incorporating live music and dancing ... and $99 all-you-can drink Perrier-Jouët. 8:30 p.m., $95, Downtown Summerlin. JELLO BIAFRA’S INCREDIBLY STRANGE DANCE PARTY Not exactly on the Strip

or a conventional dance party, the local DJ debut of the punk/political firebrand and former Dead Kennedys frontman will be gifting us a tradition-bucking NYE mix of celebratory musical fringe at the only venue fit to host it. With Bargain DJ Collective. 9 p.m., free, Double Down. NYE AT LAKE LAS VEGAS MonteLago Village’s free fireworks show at midnight is just one of the NYE activities at Lake Las Vegas, which also include a 75-minute La Contessa yacht cruise with Champagne ($25) and dinner and entertainment packages at the Hilton and Westin resorts. lakelasvegas.com. PARTY DOWN SOUTH Ryan “Daddy” Richards and Tiffany Heinen of CMT’s Party Down South (think rednecky Jersey Shore), host this NYE party at Revolver Saloon. 9 p.m., $25, Santa Fe Station. THE RIDICULOUSLY FUN NYE CELEBRATION Neighborhood hip spot

Lucky Foo’s offers a full dinner menu from 6-10 p.m., a hosted bar, local DJs and surprise musical performances and way too much Champagne. There’s also a $45 hosted bar option from 8-11 p.m. THE TOLEDO SHOW The LA group brings cabaret-style tunes to the holiday environs of the Golden Tiki, where the entry fee includes a buffet and a Champagne toast at midnight, or augment with $45 all-youcan-drink wells. 8 p.m., $40. V108 FLASHBACK NYE CELEBRATION

If you dig on throwback R&B and used to groove to those jams at Club Tequila back in the ’80s, ’90s and early aughts, this is the New Year’s Eve party for you. 9 p.m., $30-$35, Fiesta Rancho. ZERO POINT NYE Quivver, Audiovana, Black Irish, Brett Rubin, Camilo Cordoba, Danny Coker, Spacebyrdz and many more do the underground house and techno thing for the new year at a location that won’t be revealed until December 31. 8 p.m., $21+, zpnye.eventbrite.com. ZOWIE BOWIE The never-not-rocking Chris Phillips and crew take over at Red Rock Resort’s Rocks Lounge for a Top 40 dance party, with a DJ spinning between sets. 11 p.m.-1 a.m., $20. –BR

PARTY DOWNTOWN

SCARLET This special edition of the recurring Goth/New Wave party will have none of the overtly celebratory and poptimistic tunes you usually encounter at NYE parties. But there will be dancing and merriment nonetheless, courtesy of DJs Style, Morpheus Blak and Grenadier. Free midnight Champagne toast included. 9 p.m., free, Artifice. THE LIQUE This upbeat, genre-crossing and steadily ascendant local outfit will offer one of the few opportunities to see a live and original band Downtown this NYE. The grooves and beats continue with Totescity and Ryan Pardey behind the booth. 8 p.m., $10, Bunkhouse. THE GET BACK No, it’s not First Friday. DJ/founder John Doe and his funk/soul crew are moving things up a day for a NYE edition of the venerable urban throwdown. Commemorate the big night with pics from the photo booth, and indulge in the midnight Champagne toast. 8 p.m., $5 donation, Velveteen Rabbit. ATOMIC HAYRIDE There’s a lot going on at this shindig, which actually continues on January 1. NYE night will feature an old Hollywood glam theme, live bands such as Shanda &

golden tiki by mikayla whitmore; the lique by sonia seelinger

the Howlers, DJs like Lucky LaRue, food trucks, a car show and a Miss Atomic beauty pageant. 8 p.m., $15$20, Backstage Bar & Billiards. ESCAPE MASQUERADE You can get down inside and outside (with heating towers, fire pits and spiked toddies) with DJs Wizdumb and Freddy B and ’90s cover act Empire Records at Gold Spike, which is promising to throw in a few surprises. Free midnight Champagne toast, 8 p.m., $10. ODDFELLOWS You’re a Downtown New Year’s veteran, and want something new. Give the Ogden hangout a try. DJs will be playing a mix of its weekly musical fare (indie, ’80s, funk/soul) in the dance room, while bartenders will be peddling bottles of Champagne for only $25. And maybe the ouija boards will tell you what 2016 has in store. 9 p.m., free. DOWNTOWN COCKTAIL ROOM

Where to go, Downtown househeads? It’ll be business as usual at the speakeasy on the Boulevard, which means deep and global grooves, the best cocktails on Fremont East and no cover. I’ve spent more New Year’s Eves at DCR than any other spot in Las Vegas, so trust me—you’ll want to at least stop by. 9 p.m., free. –MP December 24–30, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

CARLY RAE JEPSEN Pop fans who’ve been enjoying this year’s Emotion as much as the critics apparently have won’t want to miss ringing in 2016 with the singer who’s proving she’s no one-hit wonder. 10 p.m., $76-$96, Venetian. BRUNO MARS Last year’s Chelsea Ballroom resident will reprise his role as Cosmopolitan’s man of NYE with what’s sure to be another master-class performance full of hits (and maybe a little uptown funk). It’s sold out, but you might get lucky. 9 p.m., $150-$250.

MAROON 5 Some of you will go to hear pop smashes like “Moves Like Jagger” and “She Will Be Loved,” some of you will go to swoon over lead singer Adam Levine, and some of you will go because Maroon 5 has become as much a local New Year’s tradition as fireworks and $200 club covers. 8 p.m., $91-$214, Mandalay Bay Events Center.

BUDDY V’S Ring in the new year like a Cake Boss at Palazzo’s homey Italian hideaway, where you can go à la carte or enjoy three courses for $59 with the option of bottomless bubbly for $20. 702-607-2355. COSTA DI MARE Haven’t made it out yet to try the Wynn Italian restaurant formerly known as Bartolotta? NYE is the time. Chef Mark LoRusso does early and late menus ($195-$395) of stellar seafood, pasta and more, and a DJ and dancing are part of the celebration, too. 702-770-3305. DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE STEAK HOUSE If you wanna get

away from the Strip but still crave a classic celebratory experience, Del Frisco’s does a $79 filet and lobster special in addition to full menu options. 702-674-6353.

EIFFEL TOWER RESTAURANT Okay, who wants to get sparkly? Choose from four fantastic dinner packages ($125 Sunset to $475 Gala) that all include unforgettable views and food at one of the Strip’s most iconic destinations. 702-948-6937. SUSHI ROKU Order your à la carte faves or indulge in omakase ($170) at the Forum Shops’ Japanese standard, which offers three seatings and a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight if you take the late one. Bubbles go well with toro tartare and caviar. 702-733-7373. TOM’S URBAN Wanna do the Strip on NYE but still have your own space? Try Tom’s Urban at New York-New York, serving up unlimited (and tasty!) small plates and free-flowing cocktails for $175. 702-740-6766. –BR

22 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

KANE BROWN Country-music fans have it easy this NYE: They can catch a familiar face perform, get in some dancing and avoid the Strip. Some will recognize Kane Brown from the X Factor talent show; others, from his viral Facebook video performances of Lee Brice and George Strait songs— and his own—which he’ll likely perform before the big countdown. 10:30 p.m., $65, Stoney’s Rockin’ Country. THE SMITH CENTER The Great White Way will also be represented this NYE, as our performing arts center has dreamed up a program featuring four esteemed Broadway vocalists: Erich Bergen (Jersey Boys), Capathia Jenkins (Newsies), Norm Lewis (Phantom of the Opera) and Patina Miller (Pippin, Sister Act). Oh yeah: Smith Center resident and familiar face Clint Holmes is also on the bill. 7 p.m., $39-$125. –MP

bruno mars by ap photo/julio cortez

PRETTY LIGHTS He’s played Mandalay Bay Events Center and the streets of Downtown Las Vegas, but for New Year’s Eve (and Day), the electronic-music producer born Derek Vincent Smith will lord over a more intimate venue—whose dancefloor he’ll surely render a sweaty, writhing mess. With Supervision. 10 p.m., $80-$125, Brooklyn Bowl.

SLASH Much like those Guns N Roses reunion rumors, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer guitarist just can’t quit. For those hoping to see what he’s cooking up these days—or looking for an inexpensive but noteworthy NYE option—catch Slash’s gig with his chief collaborator/ vocalist Myles Kennedy and their Conspirators backing band. 8 p.m., $40-$65, House of Blues.

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CELEBRATING TWO YEARS WITH SEVEN LIONS

> HIT NINJA Omarion returns to Hyde, right where he post to be.

Being under 21 in Vegas sucks, especially for electronic-music fans who can’t get into the megaclubs. Fortunately for the 18-andup crowd, RVLTN (Ravealation) has revived the dance-party options for the younger set, while also bringing seasoned partiers more variety than the same old sounds on the Strip. In honor of RVLTN’s two-year anniversary, the crew is planning its biggest production to date at the Joint the night after Christmas. “We’re building the stage and all of the production from scratch,” says Joe Borusiewicz, RVLTN’s director of business development. “As far as the lineup goes, we tried to keep it diverse, and we wanted to have it flow as well so that it all made sense on a single stage and at the same time, try to have something there RVLTN 2-YEAR for everybody. ANNIVERSARY “Last year’s anniverWith Seven Lions, sary was kick-ass; we Ookay, Botnek, Dr. sold out Brooklyn Bowl Fresch, Halfway with Bro Safari. So this House. December is year No. 2 [and] it’s 26, 8 p.m., $30going better, so hope$60. The Joint, fully it’s awesome.” 702-693-5222. The talent the RVLTN team has tapped in honor of the occasion blurs genres, starting with headliner Seven Lions. “It seems like every time Seven Lions has been here outside of EDC, it’s been in a club setting where he can’t necessarily get as out-of-thebox with his format as he would like to do,” Borusiewicz says. “We’re hyped to be able to give him free rein here to do whatever he wants and take everybody on a journey for 90 minutes.” Also on the docket: Ookay. “He started out kind of doing the trap thing,” Borusiewicz says. “He’s done a couple of more house-y crossover tunes. He’s played pretty much every major festival this year: TomorrowWorld, EDC, the big stuff, so he should be a pretty good lead into it.” Attendees will also get to check out sets from Botnek, Dr. Fresch and Halfway House. –Deanna Rilling

HOT SPOTS SHAI PERI AT GOLD SPIKE Have yourself a merry little Friday night with mashup DJ Shai Peri. This might be the one night when the “savages” aren’t taking over the Spike. December 25, 10:30 p.m., $10+. UNDERGROUND KINGZ AT BEAUTY BAR Legends Never Die presents another hip-hop tribute, this time to Pimp C, with DJs Mikey VIP and Shakespeare. December 26, 9 p.m., no cover. LVGBC HOLIDAY MASQUERADE AT RON DECAR’S EVENT CENTER KCEP

88.1’s DJ Wax brings the beats and you bring the holiday cheer to this Las Vegas Gay Black Community party at the diverse Downtown venue. December 26, 9:30 p.m., $15.

OMARION AT HYDE Omarion had such a

$10K

Steve Aoki’s donation to this year’s KLUC Toy Drive

STEVE AOKI AT OMNIA Aoki recently told the Weekly how much he likes to play Omnia on locals’ nights, and even though it’s on a Saturday, his post-Christmas return to the Caesars megaclub will likely feel like a locals’ party. December 26, 10:30 p.m., $30+ men, $20+ women. SUNDRAI’S WITH LA LEAKERS AT DRAI’S The

dynamic duo of Sour Milk and Justin Credible sets out to conquer Cromwell’s rooftop before NYE week sets in. December 27, 10:30 p.m., $30+ men, $20+ women.

26 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 24-30, 2015

big year with R&B hits “Post to Be” and “I’m Up,” he got too big to be on VH1’s Love & Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop It’s probably for the best. Catch him live by Bellagio’s lake. December 29, 10 p.m., $38+ men, $26+ women.

M!KEATTACK AT MARQUEE The Boombox room at Marquee gets the jump on 2016 with a pre-NYE party on Wednesday, soundtracked with the local open-format favorite. December 30, 10 p.m., $32+ men, $23+ women. RUBY ROSE AT SURRENDER The 29-year-old Australian model/actress/DJ recently split up with her fiancée, which can only mean one thing: Time to turn up in Vegas. December 30, 10:30 p.m., $45+ men, $35+ women.

OMARION COURTESY HYDE BELLAGIO

Nights

Clique-ing into place

> style points Jason “JRoc” Craig and Ryan Labbe of 81/82 Group.

The Cosmopolitan’s new lounge is fueled by a hospitality dream team By Brock Radke

So there’s been a changing of the guard at the Cosmopolitan, and we’ve all been a little worried, right? With new owners (Blackstone Group), a new boss (Bill McBeath), and fun venues like Book & Stage (a casino bar that had great live music at one point) closing for reinvention, we couldn’t help but wonder: Will Cosmo’s cool be intact? Or could it get more cool? A small piece of the answer is coming. Clique Lounge will take over the Book & Stage space, softopening in time for New Year’s Eve. Conceived by former Light Group head honcho Andy Masi and his Clique Hospitality crew, the lounge is designed by Alessandro Munge with lavish touches, and the spotlight will be on fresh mixology, including a unique tableside bartending service. But that’s not all. Clique’s secret weapon is the 81/82 Group, Vegas hospitality veterans Jason “JRoc” Craig and Ryan Labbe, who have partnered with Masi on the new Cosmo project. Their varied experiences in the industry—including marketing some familiar national brands and creating experiences at local clubs and casinos—add a progressive vibe to the new project. “We’ve done a lot of different stuff along the way,” says Craig of his company with Labbe, which formed in 2012, “but all those experiences prepared us for what we have in front of us with Clique.” Their union with Masi is set to produce other venues in Vegas and San Diego, but Cosmo’s Clique is getting the full focus right now, and the objective is creating and executing a unique experience, one that fits the hip resort’s reputation and even expands on it. How? It’s the little things. Like the music. “It’s our style of music,” Craig says. “We’ll play a lot of classics, mix everything from today back to the ’50s, but there will be a lot of mashup tracks.

You might be listening to Elvis over a Jay Z beat, a wide range of different styles. Something a little more funky.” The specialty seasonal cocktail menu will be complemented by a selection of small bites—not intended to steer you away from one of Cosmopolitan’s restaurants, more to whet your appetite. “No high price points,” Labbe says, “but totally shareable.” The name might indicate exclusivity, but that’s

the furthest thing from the minds of those who are curating the experience at Clique. “We’ve seen the city take a turn,” says Labbe, “from a Las Vegas that is very exclusive to people, locals and tourists, looking for a place where there is [no cover charge] you have to pay to have the experience.” A little something different has always seemed to work for Cosmo’s cool. Maybe we have nothing to be worried about.

Rebuilding the pyramid

Anthony Olheiser comes on to bring fresh heat to LAX

> easy access Changes at LAX are aimed at making the club more locals-friendly.

28 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

Last year, after Hakkasan Group passed off control of LAX to the Luxor hotel, parent company MGM Resorts decided to LAX invest in a slick new design, fancy upgrades to light and sound Luxor, 702and a bigger dancefloor. But that was just the beginning of re262-4529. making a storied venue that originally opened as Club Ra, one of the first casino nightclubs in Las Vegas. ¶ Anthony Olheiser is the new executive director of brand activation at Luxor. Having supervised strategic direction for Studio 54, Tabu Ultra Lounge and Wet Republic—plus a past gig at Tao and a recent turn at the Ritz-Carlton at LA Live—Olheiser is looking to restyle LAX as the Vegas club that fills the programming void between big-room EDM and hip-hop, an easy-access nightspot loved by locals, and “that club where you’re going to have a great experience and leave with a few dollars still in your pocket.” ¶ MGM is activating several southern Strip spaces near the new Las Vegas Arena, opening in the spring. Among those surrounding properties—Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Excalibur—only Luxor has a real-deal nightclub. Olheiser is looking to capitalize. ¶ Expect subtle but substantial programming changes—and bigger-name entertainers—to show up by January 21, when LAX’s bubbling Throwback Thursdays relaunches. –Brock Radke

CRAIG AND LABBE by spencer burton; LAX by al powers/powers imagery

SPECIAL GUEST SET BY

Doors open

9pm

advance Tickets available online at luxor.com or call 702.262.4529

Must be 21+ with valid ID. Subject to capacity. Dress code strictly enforced. Management reserves all rights.

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ZAC HARMON BOULDER ★ JANUARY 14

BOBBY CALDWELL SUNSET ★ JANUARY 16

HAL SPARKS RED ROCK ★ JANUARY 23

BJ THOMAS BOULDER ★ JANUARY 30

COLLIN RAYE SUNSET ★ FEBRUARY 13 ON SALE JAN. 8

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saturday n ight enterta i nment Doors at 10pm ★ No cover ★ 2 1+

JUSTIN WILLMAN RED ROCK ★ FEBRUARY 20

WALTER TROUT BOULDER ★ MARCH 10

ZEPPELIN USA SUNSET ★ MARCH 18

THE NEW RETROS RED ROCK ★ DECEMBER 26

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ZOW I E BOW I E every fr i day ★ Doors at 10pm No cover ★ 2 1+

Tickets can be purchased at any Station Casino Boarding Pass Rewards Center, the Fiestas, by logging on to SCLV.com/concerts or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Digital photography/video is strictly prohibited at all venues. Management reserves all rights. © 2015 STATION CASINOS, LLC.

now open

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ROCK. ROLL.Celebrate!

WED. DEC. 30 - SAT. JAN. 2 FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE RINGS IN 2016 WITH A BANG DURING TRIBUTE PALOOZA — A FOUR-DAY MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA AND NEW YEAR CELEBRATION. JOIN US AS 13 OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST TRIBUTE BANDS TAKE TO OUR STREET FOR THE BIGGEST CELEBRATION IN LAS VEGAS.

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FOUR DAYS. One place to Rock! DECEMBER 30

Pre-party with 7 live tribute bands | Free Event

1st Street Stage

3rd Street Stage

THE RISING

DOUBLE VISION

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

GENERATION IDOL

POLICE EXPERIENCE

DON’T LOOK BACK

8 p.m. – 11 p.m.

9 p.m. – 12 a.m.

10 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Main Street Stage RIO (Duran Duran)

(Bruce Springsteen)

5 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Billy Idol)

(Foreigner)

(The Police)

(Boston)

RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

11 p.m. – 2 a.m.

DECEMBER 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE

13 live tribute bands, countdown to 2016, and a fireworks show

$30 through Dec. 25 · $40 Dec. 26-Dec. 31. Purchase tickets at VegasExperience.com/NYE · Must be 21+ with I.D.

Main Street Stage RIO

1st Street Stage

3rd Street Stage

THE RISING

THE WHO GENERATION

5:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

GENERATION IDOL

POLICE EXPERIENCE

PYROMANIA

7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

FAN HALEN

ROCKIN THE PARADICE

DOUBLE VISION

9:45 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.

9:45 p.m. –11:45 p.m.

9:45 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.

NO DUH

WANTED

DON’T LOOK BACK

12:10 a.m. – 1:40 a.m.

12:10 a.m. – 2 a.m.

(Duran Duran)

(Bruce Springsteen)

(Billy Idol)

(The Police)

(Van Halen)

(Styx)

(Bon Jovi)

(No Doubt)

(The Who)

(Def Leppard )

(Foreigner)

(Boston)

RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

1:55 a.m. – 3:30 a.m.

JANUARY 1- 2

After party with 8 live tribute bands | Free Event

Main Street Stage FAN HALEN

1st Street Stage

3rd Street Stage

ROCKIN THE PARADICE

PYROMANIA

5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

NO DUH

WANTED

LED ZEPAGAIN

8 p.m. – 11 p.m.

9 p.m. – 12 a.m.

7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

(Van Halen)

(No Doubt)

(Styx)

(Bon Jovi)

(Def Leppard)

(Led Zeppelin)

RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS

BONFIRE

11 p.m. – 2 a.m.

10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

(Red Hot Chili Peppers)

(AC/DC)

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY CLUB GRID

SPONSORED BY: Embassy Nightclub

Listings are accurate as of press time. For more info, contact venues directly.

Latrice Royale

Feel the Burn

Doors at 8 pm; $5 after 10 pm; $20 all-you-candrink Busch

Stripper Circus

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

Closed

With DJ Melo-D; doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

Sinful Sundays

Tops & Bottoms 90s

La Noche Latin Night

Nicky Romero

Share Saturdays

Doors at 10 pm; no cover

Chuckie

With Mr. Mauricio; doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

Boylesque

With India Ferrah and guests, 1:30 am; El Deseo show, 1 am; no cover; open 24 hours

Hosted by Desree St. James; no cover; $20 liquor bust, 11 pm-4 am

Plus Piranha Idol Karaoke with Shiela at 7 pm; no cover; open 24 hours

Closed

With India Ferrah; no cover; open 24 hours

Ladies’ Night

Saddle Up

Doors at 8 pm; $5 after 10 pm, no cover for military; $2 Jell-O shots

WEDNESDAY

$1 drinks for ladies until midnight; line dance lessons at 8 pm; doors at 8 pm; $5 after 10 pm

Ladies’ Night

STONEY’S

Doors at 7 pm; $10 men, $5 women; $1 well, wine and drafts for women

Doors at 7 pm; $15 men/women, $5 locals

Closed

SURRENDER

Closed

DJ set; doors at 10:30 pm; $45+ men, $35+ women

TAO

Doors at 10 pm; $32+

Doors at 10 pm; $23+ men/women

Doors at 10 pm; $32+ men, $23+ women

Closed

The Rapture

Wind Down

Unprotected Decks

DJ C-L.A.

Wellman

VANGUARD LOUNGE

Doors at 4 pm

With DJ Soulcutz, 10 pm; no cover; doors at 6 pm

With Pr3nup; 9 pm; no cover; doors at 6 pm

With DJ Duran, others; 10 pm; no cover; doors at 4 pm

VELVETEEN RABBIT

Doors at 5 pm

Kris Nilsson

SKAM Sundays with Turbulence

Closed

Doors at 10 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

Doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

Studio V

Ruby Rose

Can I Kick It?

With DJs Sucio, Exile; 10 pm; no cover; doors at 4 pm

With Byra Tanks, Zack the Ripper; 10 pm; no cover; doors at 4 pm

Doors at 5 pm

Movement Mondays with Dave Fogg

Closed

Doors at 10:30 pm; $30+ men, $20+ women

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Director Marielle Heller turns Phoebe Gloeckner’s graphic novel into a powerful and raw movie about a young woman’s sexual awakening, with a star-making performance from Bel Powley as the title character, a 1970s San Francisco teenager who brazenly embraces her burgeoning sexuality. On home video January 19. Mustang This Turkish comingof-age drama about five close-knit sisters dealing with an oppressively patriarchal culture manages to convey the adversity the characters face without becoming an exercise in miserablism; instead, it’s a gorgeous and heartfelt story of the unbreakable bond among sisters. Opens in Las Vegas January 15.

Spotlight The process of researching and reporting a newspaper story becomes a riveting thriller in Tom McCarthy’s account of The Boston Globe’s investigation of the Catholic Church molestation scandal and the journalists who brought it to light. In theaters.

> the martian

Carol This lesbian romance

JOSH BELL Mistress America Director/ co-writer Noah Baumbach and star/co-writer Greta Gerwig deliver an emotionally rich story about thwarted expectations and learning to live with disappointment that’s also a scathingly written farce with some of the funniest dialogue of the year. On home video.

Far From the Madding Crowd

Carey Mulligan is fiery and vulnerable as the heroine of Thomas Hardy’s classic 1874 novel, adapted by director Thomas Vinterberg into a sweeping and romantic movie about an indomitable woman finding her place in the world. On home video.

42 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

(starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in equally luminous performances) is both hopeful and bittersweet, elegantly depicting the way the characters are constrained by their society but never caged by it. Opens in Las Vegas in January. While We’re Young Noah Baumbach (him again) returns to the more caustic tone of his early films with this incisive comedy about the codependent friendship between two artistically inclined couples of different ages, and how they feed off each other in invigorating but ultimately destructive ways. On home video.

It Follows The sense of impending dread never lets up in David Robert Mitchell’s haunting, nerve-racking horror movie about a curse passed through sexual

intercourse, turning romance and intimacy into deadly, destructive acts. On home video. Unfriended What could have been another throwaway teen horror movie turns into possibly the best film ever made about the way people live online, with a familiar slasher story told via a stunning mix of video chats, social-media posts and web searches, depicted entirely on a single character’s computer screen. On home video.

Ex Machina Screenwriter Alex Garland makes an auspicious directorial debut with this twisty, cerebral sci-fi movie about an eccentric inventor (a phenomenal Oscar Isaac), his naïve employee (Domhnall Gleeson) and the female android (Alicia Vikander) who’s more advanced than both of them. On home video.

MIKE D’ANGELO The Duke of Burgundy What appears to be just a clever riff on European softcore movies of the 1970s, focusing on the S&M antics of two women, gradually reveals itself as a brilliant metaphorical study of ordinary relationships. On home video.

Sicario Emily Blunt excels in a drug-war thriller that works equally well as nerve-racking entertainment and as a disquieting portrait of one FBI agent’s doomed efforts to take on entrenched institutional corruption. In theaters now; on home video January 5.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Miraculously, George Miller’s belated return to the franchise that launched his career more than 30 years ago turns out to be

his best film ever: a nearly nonstop cavalcade of virtuosic vehicular mayhem. On home video.

The Forbidden Room

Winnipeg’s mad genius, Guy Maddin, serves up two hours of hilariously absurdist stories-within-stories, all of them inspired by descriptions (or even just titles) of lost movies from the silent and early sound eras. Streaming on Fandor; on home video March 8. Carol Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara quietly burn up the screen in Todd Haynes’ rapturous adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel The Price of Salt, which dared to dream of a non-doomed lesbian romance. Opens in Las Vegas in January.

It Follows The year’s most inventive horror film imagines a sexually transmitted curse in which the victim (Maika Monroe) is stalked by a slow-moving, shape-shifting ghoul that never, ever, ever stops coming for her. On home video.

Anomalisa Charlie Kaufman’s melancholy yet hilarious tale of a customer-service guru (voiced by David Thewlis) who meets a very unusual woman (voiced by Jennifer Jason Leigh) takes stopmotion animation to decidedly unexpected places. Opens in Las Vegas January 22.

The Martian Depressed about the state of so-called civilization? Be inspired by watching the world’s best and brightest attempt to save Matt Damon’s stranded astronaut after he’s accidentally left behind on Mars. In theaters.

JOSH BELL The Americans (FX) The adventures of a pair of Soviet sleeper agents in 1980s America got even more suspenseful and anguished this season with the potential recruitment of their daughter, and stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys made the audience feel every agonizing decision. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW) Mad Men (AMC) All the way to the end, Matthew Weiner’s period drama about advertising and ennui remained inscrutable, unpredictable, powerful, affecting and hilarious, and it should be remembered as one of the greatest TV series in history.

Star and co-creator Rachel Bloom makes unhealthy romantic obsession and likely mental illness funny and endearing in this musical dramedy about an unstable yet highly intelligent and self-aware woman who moves across the country to follow a childhood crush.

Jane the Virgin (The CW) You’re the Worst (FXX) The

second season of this comedy about cynics reluctantly falling in love retained its biting sense of humor while offering a cleareyed, often heartbreaking depiction of dealing with clinical depression. UnReal (Lifetime) A TV drama about manufacturing TV drama, UnReal explores the behind-thescenes manipulation that goes into creating a Bachelor-esque reality show, holding nothing back in its portrayal of amoral fame-seekers and those who enable them.

Although its breakneck telenovela-style structure has gotten a little unwieldy at times, Jane remains an infectiously fun and upbeat show about people in outrageous circumstances, led by Gina Rodriguez’s magnetic performance as the title character, now dealing with motherhood. Master of None (Netflix) Aziz

Ansari revealed hidden depths in his thoughtful comedy about an Indian-American actor in New York City, taking on issues of race, gender and generational differences with a healthy dose of knowing pop-culture humor.

Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) Although its third season

lacked a central narrative drive, this dramedy set in a women’s prison still found numerous ways to explore the diverse lives of the inmates, with literally dozens of fascinating characters populating a unique setting. Fargo (FX) The second season of Noah Hawley’s Coen brothers homage was more grandiose than the first, peppering its Midwestern crime story with odd mysticism, and while not all of it worked, the ambition was backed up by stellar acting and a consistently engrossing plot.

Younger (TV Land) This bubbly comedy about a 40-year-old woman (Sutton Foster) pretending to be 26 to land a job in publishing is one of the most likable shows on TV, with winning characters, engaging romance and warm humor, all wrapped up in tragically hip designer fashions.

Breathe French actress Mélanie Laurent (best known as Inglourious Basterds’ vengeful Shosanna) steps behind the camera, masterfully directing this harrowing story of a toxic friendship between two high school girls. On VOD now; on home video February 2.

Tu Dors Nicole The title of this French-Canadian gem translates as You’re Sleeping, Nicole, and it’s a real sleeper itself; shot in lustrous blackand-white, it views a post-grad’s lazy summer with the hazy focus of a waking dream. On home video.

> ex machina

December 24–30, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

The

YEAR-END Issue

> kamasi washington

Art-pop at its most excellent.

drives, pitch-black nights and clearing your mind completely.

Kamasi Washington, The Epic SPENCER PATTERSON Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell Eleven sparse, harrowing and beautiful tracks focused on Stevens’ late mother—and recementing the folk singer’s standing as one of this generation’s foremost songwriters.

The saxman’s album title is on point: three discs, 17 songs, a hair under three hours. Also: The adventurous opus is putting jazz back on the map, and deservedly so. Elder, Lore This Boston trio

pumps its heavy anthems full of prog, keeping 10- and 15-minute tracks moving by packing them with interesting changes.

Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, A Year With 13 Moons The Tarentel co-

founder and Root Strata label head cooked up my favorite ambient trip—a crackling noise crust with a hazy melodic center—in a year loaded with strong contenders (Steve Hauschildt, Christopher Bissonnette, FIS, Benoît Pioulard and on and on).

Blanck Mass, Dumb Flesh

Benjamin John Power’s time-out from F*ck Buttons was a less tense, more human clatter. (See also: this year’s The Great Confuso EP.)

Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly Hip-hop music can be

an afterthought or half-baked, but the jazz-centric mastery here (partly provided by the Brainfeeder family) served as a guiding, inspirational force to the MC’s world-weary ruminations.

MIKE PREVATT Tom Carter, Long Time Underground A life-affirming

masterwork from the experimental guitarist, who survived a neardeath medical episode while on tour in Germany three years ago.

Built to Spill, Untethered Moon

Joanna Newsom, Divers When the real world gets you down, tune out and let Newsom transport you to a magical land built on breathtaking composition, bright instrumentation and vivid lyricism.

Everything Everything, Get to Heaven Big British aspirations

tunnel in some strange directions (see: Jonathan Higgs’ rap-ish vocals on a few songs), but somehow they always hit huge pay dirt.

44 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

The first-wave indie survivors’ best record since the ’90s reminds us why guitarists can still be heroes, especially when they also write songs that stick to your brain. Rival Consoles, Howl London electronicist Ryan Lee West’s skittish tracks wiggle one way before shimmying somewhere else that’s usually even more satisfying.

The Myrrors, Arena Negra

Creeping psychedelia out of Tucson, Arizona; great for desert

Kamasi Washington, The Epic

Even for those familiar with the mid-20th-century progressive jazz movement, the Brainfeeder tenor saxophonist’s all-encompassing cosmic opus felt like pure discovery. (See also: his work on this year’s Jagged Rocks by Throttle Elevator Music.)

Neon Indian, Vega Int’l Night School Imagine the electro-pop

equivalent of Abbey Road’s last half and you’re close to the melodic, unpredictable eclecticism of Alan Palomo’s third studio effort.

Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell

A heartbreaking work of staggering tunefulness, made all the more potent once you discover it’s about the Michigan-born prodigy’s parents.

Oneohtrix Point Never, Garden of Delete Should Ridley Scott

make that Blade Runner sequel, he ought to just plug in mad scientist Daniel Lopatin’s dystopic, posteverything soundscapes.

Shamir, Ratchet The most genre-packed, pop-smart record of the year (sorry, Grimes)—and by far the best international release by a Vegas artist since Hot Fuss.

Deafheaven, New Bermuda

Another album of metallic heartswells and dynamic song structures by the San Fran quintet, but with evolutionary tweaks. Viet Cong, Viet Cong During a year of solid post-punk offerings (Beach Slang, Bad//Dreems, Protomartyr), the band soon to be formerly known as Viet Cong was the most forward-thinking of the genre, per its debut LP.

Autre Ne Veut, Age of Transparency Former Daniel

Lopatin roommate Arthur Ashin managed to bridge R&B, James Blake and Björk with his pleading, spare art-pop.

bluesy guitar riots featured airtight hooks and precise arrangements. Wilco, Star Wars The barnstorming rock vets surpriseunleashed a loose-limbed, rawsounding collection indebted to everything from ’80s noise-rock to stripped-down alt-country to the British Invasion.

Duran Duran, Paper Gods The ’80s New Wave icons once again proved why they’re dance-music kingpins; Paper Gods nodded to futuristic funk and disco, sophisticated electro-pop and spaceage soul.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Chasing Yesterday The everANNIE ZALESKI Grimes, Art Angels The producer/songwriter touched on everything from Technicolor synth-pop and stinging hip-hop to dreamy electro-punk on her latest LP, which ended up a treatise on the pleasures of progressive pop music.

> Grimes

quotable Brit let his songwriting speak for itself on his second solo effort, which never skimped on

Stonesy swagger, blustery nods to Brit-pop and psych-tinged interpolations of his beloved Beatles. FFS, FFS Franz Ferdinand’s post-punk might met Sparks’ theatrical keyboard bravado on this collaborative record, which struck the perfect balance of cleverness and intrigue.

Line & Circle, Split Figure The specter of early R.E.M. hovered over the debut record from this LA band: Enigmatic lyrics, summery guitar jangle and misty production boosted well-crafted songs.

Sleater-Kinney, No Cities to Love S-K’s first album in a decade

underscored why the band is one of the best live acts going: excursions into sinewy post-punk and

Veruca Salt, Ghost Notes The ’90s alt-rock darlings quietly released one of the most resonant

reunion records of recent times, one marked by surging, melodic guitar jags and Louise Post’s and Nina Gordon’s mesmerizing harmonies.

Carly Rae Jepsen, Emotion

Frothy ’80s Top 40 and New Wave crossed with sleek production from Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij and Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes equaled one of the smartest, most enjoyable pop albums of the year. Rhett Miller, The Traveler With guests like R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and members of The Decemberists, the Old 97’s frontman split the difference between earnest folk-rock and raucous alt-country.

> Joanna newsom

December 24–30, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

SPENCER PATTERSON

> Father John MISTY

Father John Misty (October 15, Boulevard Pool) I went for opener JASON HARRIS The Jesus and Mary Chain (August 16, Brooklyn Bowl) The

closest thing I’ve seen to perfection all year, utilizing sound and space as only masters can.

Mikal Cronin, then experienced something like an epiphany, equal parts magnetic personality and crack musicianship. Amen for the spot-on sound mix, too.

Tim Hecker (May 2, Further Future) Absorbing Hecker’s bodyD’Angelo (August 21, the Chelsea) If Prince and The Roots

had a baby—and that baby took the audience on an emotional and spiritual musical journey—he would be named D’Angelo.

Erykah Badu (September 25, Las Vegas Jazz Festival) Her voice

quaking drone creations as the sun rose behind him felt as unVegas as any set I’ve witnessed, yet it happened right here … well, 40 minutes north.

Modest Mouse (August 20, Brooklyn Bowl) A focused Isaac

is a weapon, and the dirty grooves she creates match it perfectly.

Brock made the Mouse’s return to town count, complete with “Doin’ the Cockroach” wish granter.

Mark Knopfler (September 16, the Colosseum) The guitar virtuo-

Murder City Devils (May 24, Punk Rock Bowling) A lightning

so somehow flies under the radar, but here both his solo work and Dire Straits songs dazzled a delighted crowd.

storm briefly forced the Seattleites from the stage, but it couldn’t steal their thunder, a dark and gripping power that upstaged bigger bands at the Downtown fest.

Peaches (November 11, Brooklyn Bowl) Sexually explicit

dance hits with performance art to match—everything worked, and everyone felt it.

Neil Young (October 11, the Chelsea) That massive “Cowgirl in

the Sand” was all we really needed, and we got two-plus-hours more.

> MODEST MOUSE

46 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

photographs by erik kabik/mediapunch

> SAME SEX MARY

MIKE PREVATT Kamasi Washington (September 16, Reynolds Hall)

He and his nine-piece band were only onstage for an hour as part of Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s program, but their superhuman, Afrocentric fantasia floated the audience out of the Smith Center, whose relevance, frankly, depends on booking more acts like this LA breakout.

My Morning Jacket (October 10, Brooklyn Bowl) The Louisville

chuggers projected full rock ’n’ roll glory from start to finish during their delayed Vegas debut.

Modest Mouse (August 20, Brooklyn Bowl) When frontman

Isaac Brock throws himself into a show, his band soars, and on that Thursday night, he was as flung— and enraptured—as Vegas has ever seen him.

Mew (September 19, the Sayers Club) If the Danish indie prog act

crowdfunded a future Vegas show, I have no doubt the Sayers audience alone would cover the donation minimum, based on its reaction to Mew’s passionate set.

A Place to Bury Strangers (March 12, Beauty Bar) The ardent

> ST. VINCENT

noise-rockers filled the Downtown air with a beautiful cacophony.

LESLIE VENTURA Yo La Tengo (November 11, the Sayers Club) Seeing YLT perform a

mostly acoustic set inside a casino felt like stumbling upon a rare gem, and hearing The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” and Daniel Johnston’s “Speeding Motorcycle” made it even more memorable.

Father John Misty (October 15, Boulevard Pool) I wasn’t a fan of J.

Tillman’s music until I saw this near-perfect performance, and I left the venue floored. I Love You, Honeybear has been in heavy rotation ever since.

Same Sex Mary (July 25, Fremont Country Club) The local

favorites enlisted Vegas playwright Ernie Curcio to write and direct scenes to accompany this CD release show, which unfolded more like a rock-opera and ended with frontman James Adams getting his hair cut onstage by a fireand-brimstone preacher.

same sex mary by spencer burton; st. vincent by al powers/powers imagery

Taylor Swift (May 15, Rock in Rio) I never thought T. Swift would

St. Vincent (April 10, Boulevard Pool) Avant-garde musician Annie

land on my year-end list, but when the 1989 princess danced just feet above my head, I knew I’d never forget this one. Pop perfection.

Clark’s set was everything I’d hoped for, and resolidified my love for her self-titled album from the previous year. December 24–30, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

CHUCK TWARDY Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates Using James

Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time as a template, Coates writes a letter to his son that’s both a bitter memoir of growing up black in Baltimore and a warning to offspring and country.

The Meursault Investigation, by Kamel Daoud The younger broth-

er of the nameless Arab killed by Meursault in Albert Camus’ The Stranger relates a mysterious tale that picks at colonial scabs.

The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro As an elderly couple

rambles through post-Roman Britain in search of a lost son, their epic becomes a tale of memory and forgetting, both personal and cultural. > KIDS IN THE HALL

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, by Mary Beard The British

historian explains how Rome became a city, a colonial power and eventually an empire, embedding itself in Western culture at every step.

The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough The surprisingly cap-

tivating siblings venture to Kitty Hawk, Washington, D.C., and Paris, first solving the problem of powered flight and then marketing their triumph.

JASON HARRIS

Kids in the Hall (June 5, Treasure Island) The reunited Canadian

Whitney Cummings (March 14, Venetian) The mind behind Lipshtick

troupe performed greatest hits and some newer stuff, drawing roaring laughter with both.

seemed quite comfortable on the stage bearing her show’s name, utilizing material and crowd work in a memorable set.

John Mulaney (March 6, Mirage)

Nobody’s more honed in with tight writing and a specific viewpoint than Mulaney, who burned through 84 hilarious minutes.

48 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 24-30, 2015

Iliza Shlesinger (November 14, Venetian) Manic energy matched

smart, reality-based jokes for an excellent night of comedy.

Sebastian Maniscalco (May 24, Venetian) It’s less about what he

says than the way he says it, and the way he says it can make you laugh a lot no matter what he’s saying.

KIDS IN THE HALL BY L.E. BASKOW

> LIGHT WORKS

Assemble the Membership in Secret at the Usual Place (A Public Fit) A Public Fit has made public JACOB COAKLEY Bug (Cockroach Theatre)

Cockroach had an exceptionally strong year, and I could easily have included more of their productions on this list, but Bug stands out thanks to its buzzing, crackling energy and darkly triumphant finale.

A Summons From the Tinker to

conversation around theater its mission, and made it the heart of this original production, surrounded by superb performances and a haunting found space.

Once on This Island (Broadway in the Hood) Broadway in the Hood

impressed with its production of this little-known gem at the Smith Center, then reprised it with an equally spectacular version to kick off an official residency there.

Avenue Q (Las Vegas Little Theatre) It’s amazing that a

show can be at once dirty, ironic and full of heart, yet this production managed it, and had the sold-out crowds all summer long to prove it.

DAWN MICHELLE-BAUDE Picasso: Creatures and Creativity (Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art) It takes place in a bou-

Motel (Table 8 Productions) The fullest real-

doir. It feels like sci-fi. It reads like a graphic novel. Picasso’s prints raise questions about his psychology no one dares answer.

ization of director Troy Heard’s ambitious vision was a fever-dream of discomfort and dysfunction, as well as deep emotional (and physical) intimacy.

Recent Acquisitions (Barrick Museum) These works, by 32

Las Vegas-connected artists, did the city proud.

David Ryan (Michele C. Quinn Fine Art Advisory) The sculptor

scales down and goes intimate, revealing astonishing, painterly superpowers.

John Millei: If 6 Turned Out to Be 9 (Barrick Museum) These

canvases are so hyper-controlled they’re the opposite of letting go. But he’s letting go.

Pasha Rafat: Light Works (Brett Wesley Gallery) Tight > AVENUE Q

light. Architectural installations transform the gallery into an optical illusion machine.

December 24–30, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

The

YEAR-END Issue

GLUTTON One can argue over whether Glutton’s signage—a man bursting out of an undersized shirt— is appealing, but there’s no arguing about the cuisine. With a menu ranging from spicy pork rinds and one of the Valley’s best burgers to wood-roasted shrimp scampi and orecchiette with housemade pheasant sausage, there’s something for everyone at Glutton. 616 E. Carson Ave. #110, 702-366-0623. –JB

> ALL ASIAN A feast at Inyo can span many countries and cuisines.

2015’s best new restaurants

15 spots where we’ll still be dining long after the year is over By Jim Begley and Brock Radke

ANDIRON STEAK & SEA

Andiron’s excellence comes as no surprise, as Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla have clearly mastered the neighborhood restaurant in various iterations. But how do they keep exceeding our expectations? This time, it was with sharp design and an undeniably warm approach to surf and turf. Downtown Summerlin, 702-685-8002. –BR

BARDOT BRASSERIE It’s hard to believe Las Vegas will see a better new restaurant this year, I wrote in February. I was right. Michael Mina’s take on the beloved classics of French cuisine is memorable, even thrilling, especially if you have a bit too much rosé with brunch. From king crab crepes to mussels mariniéres to foie gras parfaits, this is delicious precision. Aria, 877-230-2742. –BR

ARTISANAL FOODS CAFE

The year’s best new restaurant might be the toughest to find. At Artisanal, tucked away inside a retail storefront in an industrial park south of McCarran, former MTO Café chef Johnny Church skillfully showcases the distributor’s high-end ingredients at affordable prices. 2053 Pama Lane, 702-436-4252. –JB

50 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

CARBONE Another new Aria eat-

ery serving favorite Euro-dishes in swanky, glam, old-school environs? We struck the motherlode this year. Carbone’s ability to hit the New York-style ItalianAmerican sweet spot knows no limitations; the experience feels as big as the plate-sized veal parm. Aria, 877-230-2742. –BR

CHADA STREET The sequel to Chada Thai & Wine is closer to the Strip, more spacious and maybe a bit spicier. The great wine to go with the great food is still the core, but this cuisine digs deeper into its inspiration, paying tribute to Thailand’s infamous street-food scene. Prepare for excitement. 3839 Spring Mountain Road, 702-579-0207. –BR FLOCK & FOWL The uptick in the Valley’s interest in Hainan chicken can be traced directly to Sheridan Su’s Flock & Fowl. Not content with basking in the success of Fat Choy inside the Eureka casino, the chef opened a venue centered on a single, not-so-common Asian dish. Its success restores my faith in humanity. 380 W. Sahara Ave., 626-616-6632. –JB

INYO ASIAN VARIETY Normally, a schizophrenic menu is a precursor to a disappointing dining experience, but Inyo chef Gregg Fortunato succeeds at melding many parts of the Far East into a single menu, a culinary journey from China to Thailand to Japan and places in between. 6000 W. Spring Mountain Road #1B, 702-248-0588. –JB JABURRITOS Sometimes fusion can baffle, muddling all flavors involved. But other times, it’s simply magic, like peanut butter and chocolate—or, now, sushi and burritos. Soho Japanese Restaurant chef John Chien Lee has brought them together in holy matrimony at Jaburritos. It’s fusion at its finest. 2600 W. Sahara Ave. #115, 702-778-2525. –JB JAPAÑEIRO There were plenty of Strip chefs moving out to the ’burbs this year, and Nobu Caesars alum Kevin Chong was a prime example. Pristine platings and highend sourcing combine for a refined Japanese experience in an unassuming location. If this is the new normal for local dining, it’s a very good thing. 7315 W. Warm Springs Road #170, 702-260-8668. –JB LAGO What if our very own master of Spanish tapas (Julian Serrano) created a small-plate Italian concept, with a multitude of memorable bites you could consume in a sparkling space while also taking in Bellagio’s iconic water show? Would it be perfect? Seems like yes. Bellagio, 702-693-71111. –BR

INYO by steve marcus; glutton by mikayla whitmore

OTHER MAMA There were big, famous restaurant openings this year that fulfilled on their promise, but was there a hotter, more buzzedabout new restaurant than the humble, no-nonsense, impeccably fresh Other Mama? Chef Dan Krohmer creates some of the Valley’s most craveable cuisine in a truly comfy spot, and that combo’s tough to beat. 3655 S. Durango Drive #6, 702-463-8382. –BR

EMPRESS’ KISS

SHAKE SHACK Yes, Shake Shack’s a chain. But it’s an elite chain, on par with our own In-N-Out (and arguably even better). You get quality burgers, crinkle-cut fries and concretes, and they also serve beer. Well played, Shake Shack. New YorkNew York, 702-222-6730; Downtown Summerlin, 702-964-1025. –JB YUI EDOMAE SUSHI If you love Kabuto, you’ll also be enamored with Yui. Owned by former Kabuto frontman Genichi “Gen-san” Mizoguchi, the brand-new restaurant is a virtual doppelganger of the esteemed edomae (Tokyostyle) sushi joint just down Spring Mountain. Our cup runneth over. 3640 Arville St., 702-202-2408. –JB ZYDECO PO-BOYS This little gumbo shack from southwest Lousiana’s Brandon Trahan was probably the most overlooked Downtown opening of the year, but not by those who appreciate soul-satisfying Cajun cuisine—tough to find in the desert. If you haven’t destroyed Zydeco’s debris po-boy, you’re missing out on one of the city’s best sandwiches. 616 E. Carson Ave. #140, 702-982-1889. –BR

> BITES AND SCENES Zydeco (above) is chomp-worthy; Lago at Bellagio is future swank.

INGREDIENTS /4 oz. Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur

/4 oz. Cointreau

4 oz. Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Champagne Pomegranate seeds for garnish Dehydrated star fruit for garnish (from Dress the Drink)

METHOD Pour ginger and orange liqueurs in a mixing glass filled with ice, then strain right away into a Champagne flute. Top off with chilled Champagne. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and dehydrated star fruit.

Few things are as essential to New Year’s Eve as Champagne. This cocktail builds on the classic—incorporating the crisp flavors of ginger and orange and the tart bursts of pomegranate seeds—making it ideal for ringing in 2016.

Cocktail created by Francesco Lafranconi, Executive Director of Mixology and Spirits Education at Southern Wine & Spirits.

ZYDECO PO-BOYS BY MIKAYLA WHITMORE

DECEMBER 24–30, 2015 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM

Arts&Entertainment M o v ies + M usi c + A r t + F ood

The final feelgood

> STONED FOR CHRISTMAS Catch a tribute to Mick, Keith and the boys at the Bunkhouse.

Mötley Crüe frontman (and Vegas resident) Vince Neil, on the end of an era What’s your favorite memory from Mötley Crüe shows in Vegas over the years? When we closed down the Aladdin Theatre [in November 1997]. At the very end of the show, for some reason, the crowd was picking up chairs and tearing the chairs out and throwing them. It was like a riot, total mayhem. It was pretty cool. (laughs) People wonder whether the era MÖTLEY of the arena-rock CRÜE band is fading December 27, away. What do you 7 p.m., $19think about that? I $142. MGM definitely think it’s Grand Garden gone away. There’s Arena, 702only a handful of 891-7777. bands that still want to spend the money and give a great show—us, Kiss, Ozzy [Osbourne], Alice Cooper, you know, the old guys. It’s kind of sad that new bands have forgotten about what going to a rock show was really about.

Trust Us

of African values, culture and community, featuring a drum circle December 26, kemetic yoga December 27 and a bazaar and speakers both days. 11 a.m., West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

HEAR

LAUGH

A Holiday Tribute to The Rolling Stones Don’t

JERRY SEINFELD If his only series had been Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, we’d still feel confident his chops were worth the price of admission. But of course, Seinfeld was in that other show, too … what was it called? Spend time with the guy from apartment 5A, a few days after Festivus. December 26 & 27, 7:30 p.m., $104-$165, the Colosseum.

Stuff you’ll want to know about

miss Killers’ bassist Mark Stoermer and his one-off act The Satanic Majesty—not to mention sets by The Astaires, Par and Same Sex Mary (to name a few), as they all pay homage to Ol’ Saint Mick. December 26, 9 p.m., free, Bunkhouse Saloon.

SEE It’s A WONDERFUL LIFE Feeling ungrateful this Christmas? Learn to appreciate what you have by spending Christmas Eve watching the holiday classic starring Jimmy Stewart as depressed banker George Bailey. December 24, 2 & 7 p.m., $5, various local theaters. Valentin Yordanov: Terminal A Vegas resident originally from Bulgaria, Yordanov has taken over the Winchester Cultural Center Gallery with large-scale geometric abstract paintings. Dynamic and visually powerful, they evoke urban landscapes and technical mapping. Through January 8.

GO Kwanzaa 2015 Give thanks for the good life at this two-day celebration

52 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

DRINK SKYFALL LOUNGE Staking a spot atop a Strip hotel tower for New Year’s Eve would make for a glorious evening, but why fight the crowds? Check out the recently reimagined Skyfall before the big night, and take in the desert sunset while sipping a cocktail with matching colors. Delano Las Vegas, 5 p.m.midnight daily.

How does the band from 1981 compare to the band now? We have the same ideas, the same values and we’re the same guys. In 1981, we wanted to put out the biggest rock show that we could, but not having much money you could only do so much. We still went out there in the clubs and would light each other on fire, and we’d have, like, nuns and swords and chop the heads off of things. It was always very theatrical, and it’s the same thing today, just now we have the money to buy better bombs! –Matt Wardlaw For more of our interview with Neil, visit lasvegasweekly.com.

So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Nog We already told you about

Ellis Island Casino’s boozy eggnog—now it’s time to give vegan nog some love. Break out the brandy (or rum), add a little cinnamon and nutmeg and impress all of your holiday houseguests, vegan or not. Rolling stones/Ap photo; mÖtley crÜe by paul brown

A&E | screen > ROADSHOW The Hateful Eight will be shown on wide-screen film for its opening weekend.

film

Women of distinction The Danish Girl tells the story of a transgender milestone

film

Wide-screen Western

Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight revives classic film projection for a flawed movie By Josh Bell presenting it properly. Quentin Tarantino is a purist. The director’s films have The cinematography by frequent Tarantino collaborator always been hodgepodges of influences from the deepest Robert Richardson is expansive, but for all the insistence corners of film history, but his reverence for cinema’s legacy on panoramic images, the vast majority of the movie takes goes beyond his directorial style: With 2007’s Grindhouse, place inside a one-room cabin, a location with limited he presented his movie Death Proof as a double feature visual possibilities. That’s where the vile characters of the with Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror, complete with fake title (although there are more than eight) have holed up to trailers in the middle; and since 2007 he’s owned the ride out a fierce winter storm on the Wyoming New Beverly Cinema in LA, insisting that every frontier. Chief among them are former Union movie shown at the venerable repertory house military commander Major Marquis Warren be projected on film. For Tarantino, the method aabcc (Samuel L. Jackson), now a bounty hunter; of presentation is nearly as important as what’s THE HATEFUL Warren’s fellow bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt being presented, and for his epic new Western EIGHT Samuel Russell); and Ruth’s prisoner, wanted murderer The Hateful Eight, he convinced the Weinstein L. Jackson, Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Company to foot the bill for restoring around Kurt Russell, The characters spend the movie’s first half 100 70mm film projectors, so that his movie Jennifer Jason talking in circles, warily prodding each other to could be shown on the wide-screen film format Leigh. Directed expose hidden agendas. The second half develfor its opening weekend. by Quentin ops into a sort of Agatha Christie-style closedThe version of The Hateful Eight that opens Tarantino. Rated door murder mystery, as those hidden agendas this week (in just one local theater, AMC Town R. Opens Friday. come to light, and the characters move from Square) is the “roadshow” edition, mimicking talking to shooting (and other violent acts). the limited-release extravaganzas of the 1950s The increasingly bloody payoffs don’t quite make up for and ’60s. It runs just over three hours, including an overthe sluggish first half, though, and Tarantino’s trademark ture and an intermission, and it features six extra minutes wordy dialogue has lost some of its charm, especially in its of footage compared to the standard edition that will play showy and often misguided use of the N-word. Tarantino in digital projection (minus the overture and intermission) has been meticulous about showing audiences The Hateful starting next week. Tarantino’s most dedicated fans will Eight in exactly the manner he envisioned, but he hasn’t want to catch the 70mm version, although the film itself created a movie quite worth all that fuss. may be a bit disappointing compared to the effort put into

It would make sense to assume that the title of The Danish Girl refers to Lili Elbe (born Einar Wegener), the first person to undergo a documented gender reassignment surgery (in Germany in 1930). But the movie is equally interested in Gerda, Lili’s wife, whose aaacc life is THE DANISH changed GIRL Eddie just as Redmayne, Alicia drastically Vikander, Matthias by the Schoenaerts. revelation Directed by Tom of her Hooper. Rated R. husband’s Opens Friday. gender dysphoria. As played by breakout star Alicia Vikander (who’s in seemingly half the movies released in 2015), Gerda is a passionate, iconoclastic artist who supports Lili’s efforts even as she struggles to understand them. Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) makes less of an impression as Lili, whose struggles are more internal. Given the recent expansion of transgender themes and characters in movies and TV, director Tom Hooper could have taken this story in a bolder direction, but instead he tells it with the same kind of tasteful restraint he brought to The King’s Speech. That allows for some gorgeous costumes and locations and occasional emotionally rich moments between Lili and Gerda, but overall the story feels a little lifeless. Lili made enormous sacrifices to live her life authentically, but the movie about her remains disappointingly timid. –Josh Bell

December 24–30, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

A&E | screen film

> when opposite temperaments attract Will Smith, left, and Alec Baldwin.

Mother of invention Joy makes for a clever but uneven biopic

tell jokes or wear clown noses, but he does talk to all the corpses he dissects, urging them to help him determine what caused their death. In the case of a recently deceased Pittsburgh Steelers center (David Morse), it turns out that a lifetime of head-on collisions—even Will Smith plays a crusading doctor in when wearing a helmet—may have slowly robbed the the predictable Concussion man of his sanity, leaving him broke, homeless and confused. Other similar NFL cases surface, and soon By Mike D’Angelo Omalu is receiving intimidating phone calls from people with a vested interest in making sure scary As an actor, Will Smith is defined by his laid-back, reports of brain injuries don’t shut down America’s breezy manner—in a word, he’s cool. Concussion, his most beloved violent sport. latest film, strips him of that armor to some degree, Writer-director Peter Landesman which is the only mildly interesting thing (Parkland) lays all this out strictly by the about it. For one thing, he can’t use his numbers, with Omalu and a couple of regular voice, as he’s playing a Nigerian aabcc other doctors (played by Alec Baldwin immigrant: Dr. Bennet Omalu, the neuroCONCUSSION Will and Albert Brooks) representing moral pathologist who first identified a degenSmith, Alec Baldwin, conviction and just about everybody else erative brain disease called chronic trauGugu Mbatha-Raw. embodying sleazy corporate (or corpomatic encephalopathy (CTE). Smith nails Directed by Peter rate-beholden) evasiveness. At one point, Omalu’s lilting accent, and doing so forces Landesman. Rated the movie even ludicrously implies that him to dial his aggressive charm way back; PG-13. Opens Friday. Omalu’s pregnant wife (Gugu Mbathait’s one of the few recent films in which Raw) loses her baby due to the stress he’s striving for something more than a brought on when she’s stalked by NFL goons. One variation on his standard persona. need only compare this film’s deadly dull protagonist Unfortunately, he’s also stuck playing a plaster to, say, Meryl Streep’s Karen Silkwood to see what a saint. First seen reciting his formidable academic résudifference credible human frailty can make. A Nigerian mé while testifying in court, Omalu comes pretty close accent, however well executed, just isn’t enough. to being the Patch Adams of the morgue—he doesn’t film

Head trauma

Joy, David O. Russell’s biopic about inventor Joy Mangano, begins not with her childhood or her first invention or a similarly recognizable starting point for a biography, but with a surreal scene out of a sort of fun-house version of a soap opera, starring soap-opera queen Susan Lucci herself. It immediately announces the aaabc movie as an off-kilter take JOY Jennifer on true events, much like Lawrence, Russell’s American Hustle, Robert De even if it then gets right Niro, Edgar to depicting Mangano’s Ramirez. childhood and her first Directed invention. by David The tension between O. Russell. the fanciful and the Rated PG-13. mundane never quite Opens Friday. resolves over the course of the movie, and Joy is less successful when it focuses on laying out the facts of Mangano’s career. Jennifer Lawrence plays Mangano with her typical grit, which the divorced mother of two must summon in order to deal with her needy, undermining family (led by Robert De Niro as Mangano’s casually sexist father). Like American Hustle, Joy has a jazzy energy as it barrels through some unlikely events, including Mangano’s rise to fame as an early star of QVC. The movie is less assured when dealing with how her career progresses from there, and the final act is an awkward, rushed summary of Mangano’s later success. Reality only gets in the way of Russell’s dynamic filmmaking. –Josh Bell

film

The last time Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg teamed up, it was for the inconsistent but fairly entertaining action-comedy The Other Guys, from regular Ferrell collaborator Adam McKay (Anchorman, Talladega Nights). Ferrell and Wahlberg return for Daddy’s Home, but their chemistry does not. Directed and co-written by Sean Anders (Horrible Bosses 2), Daddy’s Home is an unappealing combination of disingenuous family-comedy lessons and vulgar adult humor, neither of which succeeds. Both stars are on autopilot, with Ferrell as a milquetoast, eager-to-please stepdad who feels threatened when his wife’s bad-boy ex (Wahlberg) comes to town. Their subsequent feud is predictable and unfunny, combining painful slapstick with uncomfortable gross-out jokes. Poor Linda Cardellini gets stuck in the middle as the woman they’re fighting over, reduced to a pawn between two clueless, inconsiderate men. She’d be better off leaving them both behind—and the audience would be, too. –Josh Bell

Deadbeat dads

54 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

aaccc DADDY’S HOME Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini. Directed by Sean Anders. Rated PG-13. Opens Friday.

A&E | screen

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Funny money

The Big Short turns the financial crisis into comedy

IN SELECT THEATERS CHRISTMAS DAY. EVERYWHERE DECEMBER 31.

CHECK DIRECTORIES FOR SHOWTIMES NO PASSES ACCEPTED

SEE IT AT THIS THEATER IN 70MM

By Mike D’Angelo ably the first person to recognize When the American housing that the housing market was a market collapsed in 2008, triggerbubble about to burst—to recede ing a global recession, few people into the background. Other players genuinely understood what had include irascible hedge-fund manhappened. Just the words “subager Mark Baum (Steve Carell), prime mortgage” could make your who serves as the movie’s angry eyes glaze over. The Big Short, a moral conscience; super-slick new film adapted from Michael investment banker Jared Vennett Lewis’ best-selling book, attempts (Ryan Gosling), who narto explain how everyrates; and a semi-retired thing went south by lookfinancial guru named Ben ing at the handful of Wall aaacc Rickert, played for no very Street guys who foresaw THE BIG good reason by a nearly the disaster and profited SHORT from it. In many hands, Christian Bale, comatose Brad Pitt. McKay, who co-wrote the result would have Steve Carell, the screenplay with been a tract. Because The Ryan Gosling. Charles Randolph, is terBig Short was directed by Directed by rified that viewers might comedy specialist Adam Adam McKay. be confused or bored, so McKay (both Anchorman Rated R. Now he keeps stopping the film films, Talladega Nights, The playing. to have guest celebrities Other Guys), however, it (Margot Robbie, Anthony actually goes too far in the Bourdain, Selena Gomez) define opposite direction, working overterms like “collateralized debt oblitime to make complex financial gation” directly to the camera—a concepts entertaining. ploy that’s funny at first but soon The film’s first-rate ensemble begins to feel condescending. The cast struggles a bit, because each Big Short does an admirable job of actor is playing not so much a charlaying out, step by step, the series acter as an expository function. of greedy decisions that wound up Christian Bale has it roughest, since ruining so many lives, and one can he’s playing Michael Burry, the one empathize with its sense of outperson from Lewis’ book whose rage that those responsible were identity hasn’t been changed; the rewarded rather than punished. real Burry is a major-league eccenBut it’s an essay cleverly disguised tric, and Bale leans hard on the as a narrative. The human beings man’s lack of social skills, allowing in it feel superfluous. his peculiar genius—he was argu-

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A&E | Short Takes Special screenings

storm do. –JB

> mountain high The bros of Point Break.

The Good Dinosaur aaacc Voices of Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, Frances McDormand. Directed by Peter Sohn. 100 minutes. Rated PG. Pixar’s long-in-the-works animated movie is gorgeous to look at, and it’s solid, pleasurable entertainment for kids. But it’s only slightly more sophisticated than the similarly themed Ice Age movies, with a straightforward story about a young dinosaur conquering his fears while on a quest through the wilderness. –JB

Cinemark Classic Series 12/24, It’s a Wonderful Life, 2 & 7 pm, $5. Theaters: ORL, ST, SF, SP, SC Midnight Brewvies Mon, movie plus popcorn, midnight, free. Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, 702-272-0000. Doctor Who Christmas Special 12/28, 12/29, Doctor Who episode “The Husbands of River Song,” 7:30 pm, $13-$15. Theaters: BS, COL, ORL. Info: fathomevents.com.

New this week

Goosebumps aabcc Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush. Directed by Rob Letterman. 103 minutes. Rated PG. Black is fun as teen horror author R.L. Stine, but the bigscreen Goosebumps movie is more focused on fast, loud action, dorky humor and special effects than it is on being spooky. Monster lovers may get something out of it, but it’s all rather graceless. –JMA

Beauty and the Bestie (Not reviewed) Vice Ganda, Coco Martin, James Reid. Directed by Wenn V. Deramas. Not rated. In Filipino with English subtitles. Two estranged best friends reunite for a top-secret mission. Theaters: ORL, VS

Hotel Transylvania 2 (Not reviewed) Voices of Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. 89 minutes. Rated PG. Dracula and his fellow monsters try to get Dracula’s half-human grandson to embrace his vampire side.

The Big Short aaacc Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling. Directed by Adam McKay. 130 minutes. Rated R. See review Page 55. Theaters: AL, BS, CAN, DTS, FH, GVL, GVR, ORL, PAL, SC, SF, SP, SS, TS, TX

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 aaacc Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth. Directed by Francis Lawrence. 137 minutes. Rated PG-13. The second part of Mockingjay wraps up the entire four-movie Hunger Games series (based on Suzanne Collins’ dystopian sci-fi novels) in a mostly satisfying way. Although it’s overlong and sometimes oppressively bleak, the movie features some creative action set pieces and surprisingly complex themes about the costs of warfare. –JB

Sci Fi Center Mon, Cinemondays, 8 pm, free. 12/26, Legend (1985), 5 pm, $1. 5077 Arville St., 855-501-4335, thescificenter.com.

Concussion aabcc Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Gugu MbathaRaw. Directed by Peter Landesman. 123 minutes. Rated PG-13. See review Page 54. Theaters: BS, FH, ORL, PAL, SC, SF, SHO, TS, TX Daddy’s Home aaccc Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini. Directed by Sean Anders. 96 minutes. Rated PG-13. See review Page 54. Theaters: AL, CAN, CH, COL, DI, FH, ORL, PAL, RP, RR, SF, SHO, SP, SS, ST, TS, TX, VS The Danish Girl aaacc Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Matthias Schoenaerts. Directed by Tom Hooper. 120 minutes. Rated R. See review Page 53. Theaters: ST, VS The Hateful Eight aabcc Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh. Directed by Quentin Tarantino. 187 minutes. Rated R. See review Page 53. Theaters: TS Joy aaabc Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez. Directed by David O. Russell. 124 minutes. Rated PG-13. See review Page 54. Theaters: CAN, DI, FH, GVL, GVR, ORL, PAL, SF, TS, TX, VS Point Break (Not reviewed) Luke Bracey, Edgar Ramirez, Teresa Palmer. Directed by Ericson Core. 113 minutes. Rated PG-13. An FBI agent goes undercover with a group of extreme athletes who commit elaborate heists. Theaters: BS, DI, FH, ORL, PAL, SF, SHO, TS, TX

Now playing The 33 aabcc Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche. Directed by Patricia Riggen. 120 minutes. Rated PG-13. A

movie about the 2010 incident that saw 33 Chilean miners trapped underground was inevitable, but there was no need for it to be so patently phony. Apart from a hammy Banderas, most of the characters amount to a grimy, bearded look of concern and a single tossed-off trait. –MD Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (Not reviewed) Voices of Matthew Gray Gubler, Justin Long, Jesse McCartney. Directed by Walt Becker. 86 minutes. Rated PG. Chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore travel to Miami to stop their guardian Dave from getting married. Bajirao Mastani (Not reviewed) Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. 156 minutes. Not rated. In Hindi with English subtitles. Historical romance exploring the relationship between 18th-century Indian warrior and ruler Bajirao and his second wife. Bridge of Spies aaabc Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan. Directed by Steven Spielberg. 135 minutes. Rated PG-13. In his fourth film for Spielberg, Hanks plays a lawyer who’s strong-armed into defending an accused Soviet spy (Rylance). Based on actual events, the film unfolds with superb old-school efficiency, and

56 LasVegasWeekly.com December 24-30, 2015

achieves something very difficult: It makes rooting for integrity fun. –MD Brooklyn aaabc Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson. Directed by John Crowley. 111 minutes. Rated PG-13. This 1950s-set drama, based on Colm Tóibín’s award-winning novel, is oldfashioned in its optimism about life for Irish immigrant Eilis Lacey (Ronan) as she starts over in New York City. Ronan brings Eilis to life in every small gesture and interaction. –JB Burnt aabcc Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl. Directed by John Wells. 100 minutes. Rated R. Adam Jones (Cooper) is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict starting over as the executive chef of an upscale London restaurant, but the movie never conveys any kind of anguish over addiction or recovery. Instead it breezes through a predictable plot about a self-absorbed jerk becoming slightly less selfabsorbed. –JB Chi-Raq aaccc Teyonah Parris, Nick Cannon, Angela Bassett. Directed by Spike Lee. 127 minutes. Rated R. Lee has never had much use for subtlety, and his movie about gang violence in Chicago, based loosely on the ancient Greek play Lysistrata, handles the topic about as gracefully

as a screaming op-ed. Chi-Raq is a jumble of ideas and approaches that clash and fall flat more often than they connect. –JB Creed aaabc Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson. Directed by Ryan Coogler. 132 minutes. Rated PG-13. Retired boxer Rocky Balboa (Stallone) reluctantly agrees to train Adonis Creed (Jordan), illegitimate son of his late friend/rival Apollo Creed. Not only is Creed a solid, rousing boxing drama, but it’s also an unexpectedly affecting look at Rocky in his twilight years, with Stallone’s best performance in a long time. –JB Dilwale (Not reviewed) Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan. Directed by Rohit Shetty. 154 minutes. Not rated. In Hindi with English subtitles. A man is torn between his criminal brother and the woman he loves. Everest aaacc Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur. 121 minutes. Rated PG-13. This big-budget drama about the day in 1996 when eight climbers died on Mount Everest is not as informative as any of the several books on the subject, but it is viscerally exciting, with awe-inspiring visuals. The characters don’t make much of an impression, but the mountain and the

In the Heart of the Sea aabcc Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Brendan Gleeson. Directed by Ron Howard. 121 minutes. Rated PG-13. Howard’s dramatization of the actual 1820 whaling disaster that inspired Moby Dick is a workmanlike, middle-ofthe-road crowd-pleaser with some solid performances and a couple of rousing moments. Stacked up against one of the most celebrated novels of all time, though, it looks pretty paltry. –JB Krampus aaacc Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Allison Tolman. Directed by Michael Dougherty. 98 minutes. Rated PG-13. This Christmas-themed horrorcomedy gets off to a bit of a slow start, with some overly broad humor about holiday family discord, but once it brings in the horrors (courtesy of a sort of evil reflection of Santa Claus), it becomes gleefully nasty and surprisingly inventive. –JB The Last Witch Hunter aaccc Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood. Directed by Breck Eisner. 106 minutes. Rated PG-13. This noisy, cluttered movie with cheap, globby-looking digital effects features a paltry battle between one-dimensional bad guys and a one-dimensional hero. Diesel plays his character cool, but is no fun to be around, and his co-stars suffer for it. A cursed affair from director Breck Eisner (Sahara). –JMA The Letters abccc Juliet Stevenson, Max von Sydow, Rutger Hauer. Directed by William Riead. 114 minutes. Rated PG. This biopic about renowned Catholic nun and missionary Mother Teresa (Stevenson) functions literally as an argument for her sainthood, featuring as much

A&E | Short Takes Theaters

> run away! Daisy Ridley and John Boyega flee danger in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

(AL) Regal Aliante 7300 Aliante Parkway, North Las Vegas, 844-462-7342 ext. 4011 (BS) Regal Boulder Station 4111 Boulder Highway, 844-462-7342 ext. 269 (PAL) Brenden Theatres at the Palms 4321 W. Flamingo Road, 702-507-4849 (CAN) Galaxy Cannery 2121 E. Craig Road, North Las Vegas, 702-639-9779 (CH) Cinedome Henderson 851 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, 702-566-1570 (COL) Regal Colonnade 8880 S. Eastern Ave., 844-462-7342 ext. 270 (DI) Las Vegas Drive-In 4150 W. Carey Ave., North Las Vegas, 702-646-3565

liveliness and dramatic tension as a Bible study class. Writer-director Riead doesn’t have to include the various criticisms of Teresa’s work, but he could at least make her an interesting character. –JB Love the Coopers (Not reviewed) John Goodman, Diane Keaton, Ed Helms, Olivia Wilde. Directed by Jessie Nelson. 106 minutes. Rated PG-13. Four generations of the Cooper family face unexpected events when they get together for Christmas. The Martian aaaac Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Directed by Ridley Scott. 141 minutes. Rated PG-13. Astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) is left behind on Mars when the rest of his team believes him dead. Damon carries the film with an excellent performance that conveys Mark’s mix of ingenuity and loneliness, and the story makes furious calculations and engineering simulations into gripping, can’t-lookaway drama. –JB Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials aaccc Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Directed by Wes Ball. 131 minutes. Rated PG-13. There are no mazes in this sequel to The Maze Runner, but there sure is plenty of running. The second movie in the dystopian sci-fi series based on the popular YA novels just throws together a bunch of overused post-apocalyptic elements and careens haphazardly from one to the next. –JB Minions aabcc Voices of Pierre Coffin, Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. 91 minutes. Rated PG. In the two animated Despicable Me movies, the little yellow pill-shaped creatures were reliable sources of pratfalls, pranks and puns, but given the task of carrying their own 90-minute feature, they quickly wear out their welcome. It’s just a series of silly set pieces barely held together by a halfformed plot. –JB The Night Before aabcc Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie. Directed by Jonathan Levine. 101 minutes. Rated R. This Naughty Christmas Comedy lacks the surprise of the very similar A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, and is

too limited by its simplistic character arcs. But the actors complement one another well, and their bond gives the movie a dose of good cheer. –JMA

For complete movie times, visit lasvegasweekly.com/ movies/listings.

Orion: The Man Who Would Be King aaabc Directed by Jeanie Finlay. 86 minutes. Not rated. The career of mysterious late-’70s singer Orion, who was marketed as the possible reincarnation of Elvis Presley, is an affecting, tragic and often bizarre story that director Finlay handles in a straightforward but mostly satisfying way in this documentary. –JB Pan aaccc Levi Miller, Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund. Directed by Joe Wright. 111 minutes. Rated PG. This Peter Pan prequel gives the character a cluttered and unnecessary origin story, retrofitting him with a clichéd Hollywood “chosen one” narrative. It’s a rush of special effects that signify nothing, telling a story that pretends to add to a beloved mythology while instead mostly just cheapening it. –JB The Peanuts Movie aaacc Voices of Noah Schnapp, Hadley Belle Miller, Alexander Garfin. Directed by Steve Martino. 86 minutes. Rated G. This big-screen computer-animated version of Charles Schulz’s beloved comic-strip characters is faithful almost to a fault. The central plot is about hapless kid Charlie Brown trying to win the affections of the mysterious Little Red-Haired Girl, but it makes room for plenty of diversions that incorporate almost every well-known Peanuts moment. –JB Room aaacc Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen. Directed by Lenny Abrahamson. 118 minutes. Rated R. Emma Donoghue’s acclaimed 2010 novel, about a woman (Larson) and her young son (Tremblay) who’ve spent years held prisoner in a small garden shed, needed a singular directorial vision to work as a film, and it didn’t get it. Still, Larson is terrific, and the scenario’s inherent pathos is off the charts. –MD A Royal Night Out aabcc Sarah Gadon, Bel Powley, Jack Reynor.

Directed by Julian Jarrold. 97 minutes. Rated PG-13. Set in London after Germany’s WWII surrender, this is a heavily fictionalized story about teenage princesses Elizabeth (Gadon) and Margaret (Powley) cavorting around the city on the night of V-E Day. The silly fun and the rudimentary personal reflection come off as equally superficial, and end up equally forgettable. –JB A Second Chance (Not reviewed) John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo, Billy Crawford. Directed by Cathy GarciaMolina. Not rated. In Filipino with English subtitles. A young couple experiences troubles after getting married. Secret in Their Eyes aabcc Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman. Directed by Billy Ray. 111 minutes. Rated PG-13. An FBI agent (Ejiofor) and a prosecutor (Kidman) investigate the murder of their colleague’s daughter in this unremarkable thriller, a remake of the 2009 Oscarwinning Argentine film. Kidman and Roberts (as a traumatized, vengeful mother) are miscast, and both the central unrequited romance and the plot’s political connections are poorly realized. –JB

(DTS) Regal Downtown Summerlin 2070 Park Center Drive, 844-462-7342 ext. 4063 Seydoux. Directed by Sam Mendes. 148 minutes. Rated PG-13. Craig’s possible final outing as secret agent James Bond focuses a bit too much on wrapping up his story and bringing back familiar elements of the Bond franchise. Spectre succeeds mainly as a series of dazzling set pieces connected by a thin plot. –JB

(FH) Regal Fiesta Henderson 777 W. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson, 844-462-7342 ext. 1772 (GVR) Regal Green Valley Ranch 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson, 844-462-7342 ext. 267

Spotlight aaaac Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams. Directed by Tom McCarthy. 128 minutes. Rated R. Director and co-writer McCarthy’s drama about the Boston Globe reporting on the Catholic Church molestation scandal applies the same meticulous attention to detail as the Globe writers did in their reporting. The stars manage to turn sitting and listening into riveting drama, and the acting is powerful in how subdued it is. –JB

(GVL) Galaxy Green Valley Luxury+ 4500 E. Sunset Road, Henderson, 702442-0244

Star Wars: The Force Awakens aaabc Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver. Directed by J.J. Abrams. 135 minutes. Rated PG-13. The long-awaited seventh movie in the space-opera series is a carefully crafted brand extension with a familiar story and some appealing new characters. Everything about it seems calculated to entertain the widest audience possible, and for the most part, it succeeds. –JB

(RR) Regal Red Rock 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 844-462-7342 ext. 1756

Sicario aaaab Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin. Directed by Denis Villeneuve. 121 minutes. Rated R. Blunt plays an FBI agent who gets in over her head when she agrees to join a special interagency task force intended to take down a Mexican drug kingpin. Brolin and Del Toro co-star as operatives with questionable tactics and loyalties; the tension throughout is palpable. –MD

Suffragette aabcc Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, Helena Bonham Carter. Directed by Sarah Gavron. 106 minutes. Rated PG-13. Mulligan plays an ordinary wife and mother in early 20th-century London who joins the fight to secure women the vote and gradually turns into an outright militant. That ought to be exciting and thought-provoking, but instead it’s mostly dully worthy—history as self-congratulation. –MD

Sisters aaacc Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Ike Barinholtz. Directed by Jason Moore. 118 minutes. Rated R. Fey and Poehler join forces again as siblings with diametrically opposed personalities who decide to throw a massive party in their soonto-be-sold family home. That scenario is strictly a thin delivery system for semi-improvised riffing, with the jokes achieving roughly a 65-35 ratio of hits to misses. –MD

Trumbo aaacc Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Michael Stuhlbarg. Directed by Jay Roach. 124 minutes. Rated R. Dalton Trumbo was a brilliant writer who sacrificed his career and his family life to stand up for what he believed in, but the movie about him features neither brilliant writing nor daring social commentary. Trumbo is, however, a fitfully entertaining biopic, featuring a cast of recognizable faces playing other recognizable faces. –JB

Spectre aaacc Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa

JMA Jeffrey M. Anderson; JB Josh Bell; MD Mike D’Angelo

(ORL) Century Orleans 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., 702-889-1220 (RP) AMC Rainbow Promenade 2321 N. Rainbow Blvd., 888-262-4386

(ST) Century Sam’s Town 5111 Boulder Highway, 702-547-1732 (SF) Century Santa Fe Station 4949 N. Rancho Drive, 702-655-8178 (SHO) United Artists Showcase 3769 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 844-462-7342 ext. 522 (SP) Century South Point 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-260-4061 (SC) Century Suncoast 9090 Alta Drive, 702-869-1880 (SS) Regal Sunset Station 1301-A W. Sunset Road, Henderson, 844-462-7342 ext. 268 (TX) Regal Texas Station 2101 Texas Star Lane, North Las Vegas, 844-462-7342 ext. 271 (TS) AMC Town Square 6587 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-362-7283 (TC) Regency Tropicana Cinemas 3330 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-438-3456 (VS) Regal Village Square 9400 W. Sahara Ave., 844-462-7342 ext. 272

December 24–30, 2015 LasVegasWeekly.com

Calendar LISTINGS YOU CAN PLAN YOUR LIFE BY!

> CAT FANCY Shaheen (center) and the Panthers play Bunkhouse on Monday.

THREE QUESTIONS WITH TIJUANA PANTHERS DRUMMER PHIL SHAHEEN What does the new album’s title, Poster, mean? A quick definition would be doing future things in the present. I’m an artist. I’m a painter. There’s always a “post” to a certain movement—post-modern, you know? I just took that and made up my own definition. We do have a lot of ties to the past, a lot of the musical influences and the sound. We’ve been playing this type of music for so long, and it’s been very interesting seeing surf music in the last five years become cool, garage rock and all that. It’s funny to be part of a tiny scene.

I read that you guys met in middle school. To what do you owe the band’s longevity? We’re not the best musicians, but we know each other and know our timing. It’s not even because we’ve played together for so long—we owe it to knowing each other for so long. People say we’re a really tight band, [and] it’s not because we practice all the time. In your merch shop you’re selling “creep club” pins. What’s the creep club? We’re getting older and the [fans] are really young—we just feel like creeps. We put those enamel pins out

TIJUANA PANTHERS with Mercy Music, No Tides, DJ Jacob Savage. December 28, 8 p.m., $8-$10. Bunkhouse Saloon, 702-854-1414.

LIVE MUSIC

2/26-2/27, 8 pm, $65. Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band 2/28, 1 pm, $30. Metric, Joywave 2/29, 8 pm, $26. Galactic, Son Little 3/1, 9 pm, $22-$25. Vance Joy, Elle King, Jamie Lawson 3/5, 8:30 pm, $40. Gary Clark Jr. 3/12, 9 pm, $30-$50. Underoath 3/26, 7:30 pm, $25. Coheed and Cambria, Glassjaw, I the Mighty, Silver Snakes 3/25, 8 pm, $27. Underoath 3/26, 7:30 pm, $25. The Used 5/24-5/25, 8 pm, Linq, 702-862-2695. The Colosseum Celine Dion 12/3012/31, 1/2, 1/6, 1/9-1/10, 1/12-1/13, 1/161/17, 2/23-2/24, 2/26-2/27, 3/1-3/2, 3/43/5, 3/8-3/9, 3/11-3/12, 5/17-5/18, 5/205/21, 5/24, 5/27-5/28, 5/31, 6/1, 6/3-6/4, 7:30 pm, $55-$500. Reba, Brooks & Dunn 5/3, 5/6-5/7, 5/10, 5/13-5/14, $60$205. Elton John 1/20, 1/22-1/23, 1/261/27, 1/29-1/31, 4/16, 4/17, 4/19-4/20,

4/22-4/23, 4/26-4/27, 4/29-4/30, 6:30 pm, $55-$500. Mariah Carey 2/2, 2/52/6, 2/10, 2/13-2/14, 2/17, 2/19-2/20. 8 pm, $55-$250. Tsai Chin 2/12, 9 pm, $58-$188. Steve Martin, Martin Short 3/6, 6:30 pm, $50-$180. Rod Stewart 3/19-3/20, 3/23, 3/25-3/26, 3/29, 4/14/2, 4/5, 7:30 pm, $49-$250. The Who 5/29, 7:30 pm, $96-$501. Caesars Palace, 702-731-7333. The Cosmopolitan (Chelsea) Bruno Mars 12/31, 9 pm, $150. The Cure 5/19, 8 pm, $50-$100. Bryan Adams 7/2, 7 pm, $32-$57. Willie Nelson & Family 1/8, 8 pm, $20-$45. The 1975, The Japanese House 4/23, 8 pm, $25-$45. The Band Perry 4/29, 7 pm, $35-$75. (Rose. Rabbit. Lie.) Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox 12/30-1/2, 9 pm, $50. 702-698-7000. Double Down The Psyatics, The All-

T H E ST R I P & N E A R BY Brooklyn Bowl Pretty Lights 12/31-1/1, 10 pm, $60-$80. Beck 1/7, 9 pm, $75$125. Alice: A Steampunk Concert Fantasy 1/12, 2/24, 3/23, 10 p.m., $15-$30. Erykah Badu 1/15, 9:30 pm, $48-$50. Warren G 1/17, 9 pm, $25. Stick Figure, Fortunate Youth 1/23, 8:30 pm, $15. Madeon, Skylar Spence 1/25, 8 pm, $25. The Motet 1/29, 9 pm, $17. Iration, Anuhea 1/31, 8:30 pm, $30-$105. Lamb of God, Anthrax, Deafheaven, Powertrip 2/11, 7 pm, $35. Hoodie Allen, Super Duper Kyle, Blackbear 2/12, 9 pm, $30. Nahko and Medicine for the People 2/13, 8:30 pm, $20-$24. Phil Lesh & Friends

because I really like to collect [them]. My friend’s clothing company [Monsters Outside] started putting these out. Our whole label, every band has one of those pins. It’s something we really like. –Leslie Ventura For more of our interview with Shaheen, visit lasvegasweekly. com.

Togethers, Water Landing, Jinky Bear 12/26. Jello Biafra’s Incredibly Strange Dance Party ft. Bargain DJ Collective 12/31, 9 pm. Bargain DJ Collective Mon. Unique Massive Tue, midnight. The Juju Man Wed, midnight. Shows 10 pm, free unless noted. 640 Paradise Road, 702-7915775. Flamingo Olivia Newton-John 1/1-1/2, 7:30 pm, $69-$139. 702-733-3333. The Foundry X Ambassadors, Seinabo Sey, Savoir Adore 3/26, 6:30 pm, $25. SLS, foundrylv.com. Gilley’s Easy 8’s 12/26, 10 pm. Scotty Alexander Band 12/31, 1/1-1/2, 10 pm. Shows $10-$20 after 10 pm unless noted. Treasure Island, 702-894-7722. Hard Rock Live Nightmare After Christmas, JR Castro, DJ Kay, NM, DJ Knoxx, DJ Valet 12/26, 10 pm, $10-$15. Winter Arts Revolution 12/27, 5:30 pm, $10. Queensrÿche 1/9, 8:30 pm, $25-$35. Europe, War of Kings 1/23, 8 pm, $30. Hard Rock Cafe (Strip), 702733-7625. House of Blues Noisia 1/1, 10 pm, $15$20. Elvis Monroe, 1/2, 8 pm, $10. Steel Panther 1/8, 1/15, 1/22 8 pm, $22. Dave Matthews Tribute Band 1/9, 8 pm, $12. Marianas Trench, Secret Someones 1/16, 6 pm, $22-$25. Carlos Santana 1/27, 1/29-1/31, 2/3-2/6, 5/18, 5/20-5/22, 5/25, 5/27-5/29, $90-$350, 8 pm. Charles Kelley, Maren Morris 1/28, 7 pm, $25-$28. Cradle of Filth, Butcher Babies, Ne Obliviscaris 2/16, 8 pm, $25. At the Gates, The Haunted & Decapitated 2/18, 5:30 pm, $23-$25. Billy Idol 3/16, 3/18-3/19, 3/26, 5/4, 5/6-5/7, 5/11, 5/13-5/14, $80$150. Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime 4/23, 8:30 pm, $24. (Crossroads) Looped Sun, Thu, 9-11 pm, free. Nothing but the Blues Mon-Wed, 8-11 pm, free. Rockstar Karaoke Fri, 9 pmmidnight, free. Get Up and Dance Sat, 9 pm-midnight, free. Gospel Brunch Sun, 10 am, 1 pm, $60. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. The Joint Rvltn ft. Seven Lions, Ookay, Botnek, Dr. Fresch 12/26, 8 pm, $30-$45. Morrissey 1/2, 8:30 pm, $45. Bullet for My Valentine, Asking Alexandria, While She Sleeps 2/6, 7:30 pm, $32. Rascal Flatts, Rhythm & Roots 2/17, 2/19-2/20, 2/2, 2/262/27, 3/2, 3/4-3/5, 8 pm, $40. Slayer, Testament, Carcass 3/26, 8 pm, $40$125. Twenty One Pilots 7/15, 7 pm, $43. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5222. Las Vegas Arena The Killers, Wayne Newton, Shamir 4/6, 8 pm, $35-$90. George Strait 4/22-4/23, 9/9-9/10, 12/2-12/3, 8 pm, $75+. Janet Jackson 5/14, 8 pm, $58, $198. Garth Brooks 6/24-6/25, 7/2, 7 pm; 7/3, 7 & 10 pm; 7/4, 5 pm; $85. Dixie Chicks 7/16, 7 pm, $54-$154. 3780 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Mandalay Bay (Events Center) Maroon 5 12/30-12/31, 8 pm, $100$225. Muse, Phantogram 1/9, 7:30 pm, $37-$69. Black Sabbath, Rival Sons 2/13, 7:30 pm, $45-$164. Iron Maiden, The Raven Age 2/28, $62$103. Ellie Goulding 4/9, 7:30 pm, $36-$55. Rihanna, Travis Scott 4/29, 7:30 pm, $36-$160. Selena Gomez 5/6, 7:30 pm, $43-$116. Duran Duran, Chic 7/29, 8 pm, $46-$124. Journey, Doobie Brothers, Dave Mason 8/27, 7 pm, $45-$183. 702-632-7777. MGM Grand (Garden Arena) Mötley Crüe, Alice Cooper 12/27, 7 pm, $25$150. Michael Bublé 1/1, 8 pm, $60$183. AC/DC 2/5, $129. Justin Bieber 3/25, 8 pm, $46-$116. Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas 8/13, 7 pm, $28-$92. Black

CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE CALENDAR LISTINGS AT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS 58 LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 24-30, 2015

Sabbath, Rival Sons 9/17, 7:30 pm, $45-$164. 702-891-7777. Orleans (Arena) Midnight Star, The Emotions, Heatwave, Debra & Ronnie Laws, Jody Watley, Malo, GQ, The Jets, Evelyn King 2/13, 7:30 pm, $30-$79. Stellar Gospel Music Awards 2/20, 6 pm, $45-$200. (Bourbon Street Cabaret) Chyna 12/25-12/26, 9 pm, free. Machine Gun Kellys 12/26, 9 pm, free. Volume 1 12/31, 9 pm, free. (Showroom) Josh Turner 12/4-12/5, 8 pm, $55. Charlie Daniels Band 12/11-12/12, 7 pm, $30$55. Ronnie Spector’s Christmas Party 12/19-12/20, 8 pm, $33-$55. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 12/29-12/30, 8 pm, $22-$44. One Night With the King 1/9-1/10, 8 pm, $22-$44. Burton Cummings 1/14, 1/16-1/17, 9 pm, $44$65. The Robert Cray Band 1/23-1/24, 8 pm, $33-$55. Dion 2/5-2/6, 8 pm, $55-$82. Love Affair 2/13, 7:30 pm, $30. Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. 2/13-2/14, $33-$55. Stellar Gospel Music Awards 2/20, 6 pm, $50. 702365-7075. Palace Station (Jack’s Irish Pub) Forget to Remember Fri & Sat, 9 pm, free. 702-547-5300. Palms (Lounge) Franky Perez 12/26, 10:30 pm, free. Paul Charles 12/30, 8 pm, 9 pm, 10 pm, free. WolfCreek 12/31, 10:30 pm, free. Jeremy James 1/1-1/2, 8 pm, free. David Perrico Pop Strings Orchestra 12/19, 11 pm, free. 4321 Flamingo Rd., 942-7777. The Pearl Styx 1/16, 8 pm, $40-$86. Megadeth, Suicidal Tendencies, Children of Bodom, Havok 2/26, 7 pm, $50-$86. Joe Satriani 3/4, 8 pm, $40-$95. Il Volo 3/25, 8 pm, $40$95. Il Divo 11/18/16, 8 pm, $68-$150. Palms, 702-942-7777. Planet Hollywood Britney Spears 12/27-12/28, 12/30-12/31, 2/13-2/14, 2/17, 2/19-2/20, 2/24, 2/26-2/27, 4/6, 4/8-4/9, 4/13, 4/15-4/16, 4/20, 4/22, 9 pm, $57-$180. Jennifer Lopez 1/20, 1/22-1/23,1/27, 1/29-1/30, 2/3, 2/5-2/6, 2/9, 5/22, 5/25,/ 5/28-5/29, 6/1, 6/3-6/4, 6/8, 6/11-6/12, 9 pm, $95-$219. Lionel Richie 4/27, 4/30-5/1, 5/4, 5/7-5/8, 5/11, 5/14-5/15, 5/18, 9/21, 9/24-9/25m 9/28, 10/1-10/2, 10/5, 10/8-10/9, 10/12, 8 pm, $57-$190. 702-777-2782. The Sayers Club Plain White T’s 12/31, midnight, $50. Buckin Fridays Fri, 10 pm, $10. SLS, 702-761-7618. Stoney’s Rockin’ Country Kane Brown 12/31, 10:30 pm. Shows 10 pm, free unless noted. Town Square, 702435-2855. Tuscany Nik at Nite Sun. Laura Shaffer & The Noir Nightingale Trio Mon. The Mixx w/ Enrique Corro & Co. Tue. Nieve Malandra Soul Cabaret Wed. Naomi Mauro Thu. Kenny Davidsen Celebrity Piano Bar Fri, 8:30 pm, Tommy Ward Sat. All shows 7:30 pm, free unless noted. 255 E. Flamingo Road, 702-893-8933. Venetian R5 12/29, 1/1, 8 pm; 12/31, 7:30 pm, $55-$150. Carly Rae Jepsen 12/30, 8 pm; 12/31, 10 pm; 1/2, 8 pm; $56-$75. John Fogerty 1/8-1/9, 1/13, 1/15-1/16, 1/20, 1/22-1/23, 8 pm, $60$350. 702-414-9000. Vinyl Otherwise, Conflict of Interest 12/26, 9 pm, $15. The Fighter & The Kid, Brendan Schaub, Bryan Callen 1/10, 7:30 pm, $28. Anti-Flag, Leftover Crack, War on Women, Homeless Gospel Choir, Blackbird Raum 2/28, 7 pm, $18. Nonpoint 3/18, 9 pm, $20-$35. Bag Raiders, Plastic Plates 4/2, 8 pm, $15-$35. Hard Rock Hotel, 702-693-5000.

Calendar Wynn (Eastside Lounge) Michael Monge Wed, Thu, Sun, 9 pm; Fri, Sat, 10 pm; $10. 702-770-7000.

D ow n tow n Backstage Bar & Billiards Rewind 12/26, 10 pm, free. T.S.O.L., Left Alone, The Civilians, Sheiks of Neptune 1/20, 8 pm, $12-$15. The Soft Moon, Close to Modern, DJ Fish, Dark Black 1/27, 8 pm, $10-$12. Mustard Plug, Dan Potthast, The Retrolites, Light Em Up, Dj Jr. Ska Boss 1/29, 8 pm, $11-$13. Mike Zito & The Wheel, Katy Guillen & The Girls 2/12, 8 pm, $16-$21. Dance Yourself Clean 2/26, 8 pm, $11. Unwritten Law, Fenix TX, Guilty By Association, Rayner, Leatherbound Crooks 4/13, 8 pm, $13-$16. 601 E. Fremont St., 702-382-2227. Beauty Bar Underground Kingz 12/26, 9 pm, free. Liam Kyle, Alex Higgins, Sarah Burton 12/28, 8 pm, free. Pet Tigers, Holes and Hearts, Flight of Ryan 1/1, 9 pm, free. The Generators, The Civilians, The Astaires 1/16, 9 pm, $5. Love Cop 12/28, 9 pm, free. JD McPherson, HoneyHoney 1/22, 9 pm, $18-$22.Love Cop 1/28, 9 pm, free. Valley Queen, Boroughs 2/8, 9 pm, free. Metalachi 2/11, 9 pm, $12-$15. Hunter Valentine, Crash Kit 3/3, 9 pm, $8-$10. LA Witch, Dirty Ghosts, Candy Warpop 3/25, 9 pm, $5. 517 Fremont St., 702-598-3757. Bunkhouse Saloon A Holiday Tribute to The Rolling Stones 12/26, 9 pm, free. Hungry Cloud, Bryan Jones 12/27, 9 pm, free. Tijuana Panthers, Mercy Music, No Tides, Jacob Savage 12/28, 8 pm. The Lique, Totescity, Ryan Pardey (DJ set) 12/31, 8 pm, $10. Brumby, The National Parks, Avalon Landing, Without Wolves 1/1, 9 pm, free. Tin Toy Cars 1/15, 9 pm. 124 S. 11th St., 702-854-1414. City Bar Bass Port 12/26, 9 pm, free. Flash Cats 12/31, 10 pm, free. 1000 E. Sahara Ave., 702-476-4422. Downtown Container Park Haleamano 12/26, 7 pm, free. 707 Fremont St, downtowncontainerpark.com. Fremont Country Club Hawthorne Heights, Mest, The Ataris 2/16, 7 pm, $20-$25. 601 E. Fremont St., 702-382-6601. Fremont Street Experience (Main Street Stage) Ashley Red 12/23-12/24, 10 pm. Spandex Nation 12/25-12/27, 10 pm. ‘80s Station 12/23, 12/25, 12/28-12/29, 10 pm. Empire Records 12/22, 10 pm. (1st Street Stage) Yellow Brick Road 12/23-12/24, 8 pm. Las Vegas Bowl Pep Rally 12/18, 6 pm. Alter Ego 12/23, 12/25-12/26, 12/29, 8 pm. Tyler James Elvis Tribute 12/27-12/28, 8 pm. (3rd Street Stage) ‘80s Station 12/2512/26, 10 pm. RockIt 12/19, 10 pm. Alter Ego 12/20, 12/27, 9 pm. Tony Marques 12/28, 9 pm. Monroy 12/23, 12/29, 9 pm. Zowie Bowie 12/23-12/24, 9 pm. Shows free unless noted. Downtown Las Vegas, vegasexperience.com. Griffin Bobby Meader Music, Hard Pipe Hitters, Twin Cities 12/30, 9 pm, free. Live music Wed, 10 pm, free. 511 Fremont St., 702382-0577. Hard Hat Lounge The Funk Jam Wed, 10:30 pm, free. Florescent Flames Second Sat, 9 pm, free. Foundation Factory Fourth Sat, 8 pm, free. 1675 Industrial Road, 702-3848987. LVCS Late Night Vice, Doolin, Sweet Home Alabama 1/2, 8 pm, free. Christian Death, Maension, Phoenix Siren 1/28, 8 pm, $12. 425 Fremont St., 702-382-3531. Punk Rock Bowling ft. Flogging Molly, Descendents, Cock Sparrer, Flag, Exploited, Dagnasty, Subhumans, Dillinger Four, Anti-Nowhere League, Youth Brigade, The Dwarves 5/26-5/30. Downtown Las Vegas, punkrockbowling.com. The Smith Center (Reynolds Hall) Erich Bergen, Norm Lewis, Capathia Jenkins, Clint Holmes, Patina Miller 12/31, 7 pm, $39-$125. The Tenors 2/20, 7:30 pm, $24$95. (Cabaret Jazz) Kristen Hertzenberg & Philip Fortenberry 12/19, 2:30 & 7 pm, $26-$36. Susan Anton 1/8-1/9, 7 pm, $35$59. Lucie Arnaz 1/15-1/16, 7 pm, $39-$55. Bronson, Brody & Beatles 1/20, 8 pm, $15-$35. Christine Ebersole 1/22-1/23, 7 pm, $39-$59. Keola Beamer, Henry Kapono, Moanalani Beamer 1/29-1/30, 7 pm, $37$59. Lisa Fischer 2/19, 7 pm; 2/20, 6 & 9 pm,

$37-$65. The Tenors 2/20, 7:30 pm, $24$95. Esteban, Teresa Joy 2/21, 3 & 7 pm, $45-$55. Lucy Woodward 2/26-2/27, 7 pm, $39-$49. The Ronnie Foster Organ Trio 3/6, 2 pm, $19-$35. Cheyenne Jackson 3/11, 7 pm; 3/12, 6 & 9 pm, $39-$65. Engelbert Humperdinck 3/19, 7:30 pm, $29-$85. Lon Bronson Band 3/19, 8 pm, $15-$35. Yanni 3/21, 7:30 pm, $29-$99. Kristin Chenoweth 3/25, 7:30 pm, $29-$115. 361 Symphony Park Ave., 702-749-2000.

The ’Burbs Cannery Cannery Luggnutt 12/23-1/2, WedThu, 8:30 pm, free. Luggnutt, Clifton James 12/23-1/2, Fri-Sat, 7 pm, free. 2121 E. Craig Road, 702-507-5700. Elixir Stefnrock 1/1. Yvonne Silva 1/2, 1/16. Nick Mattera 1/8, 1/22. Shaun South 1/9, 1/23. Marty Feick 1/15, 1/29. Tim Mendoza 1/30. Music from 8-11 pm, free unless noted. 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, elixirlounge.net. Green Valley Ranch (Grand Events Center) Ronnie Milsap 2/20, 8 pm, $20-$50. (Hanks) RCali Tucker Sun-Mon, 6 pm. Dave Ritz Tue, Thu-Fri, 6 pm; Sat, 7 pm. Rick Duarte 12/31, 7 pm, free; Wed, 6 pm. Nick Mattera Sat, 7 pm. Shows free unless noted. 702-367-2470. M Resort (M Pavillion) Elvis Tribute show ft. Justin Shandor 1/23, 7 pm, $30-$42. M Resort, 800-745-3000. Rampart Casino (Addison’s Lounge) Wes Winters Tue, 6 pm. Mark O’Toole Wed, 6 pm. Shows free unless noted. JW Marriott, 221 N. Rampart Blvd., 702-507-5900. Red Rock (Rocks Lounge) The New Retros 12/26, 11 pm. Zowie Bowie Fri, 10 pm. (Onyx) Tyler Rich 12/31, 9 pm. Rick Duarte, Fri, 9 pm. (T-Bones) Mahi Crabbe Mon-Rue, 5 pm. Cali & Jared Wed, 5 pm. Dave Ritz Wed, 6 pm; Fri, 7 pm. Cali & Jared Thu, 5 pm; Sat, 7 pm. Shows free unless noted. 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-797-7777. Santa Fe Station (Chrome Showroom) Le Mar La Warren 12/25, 9 pm, free. The Fab 12/26, 9 pm, free. Vegas Goodfellas 12/31, 6 pm, $15. Blue String Theory 12/31, 10:30 pm, $20. Boomer Wednesdays Wed, 6:30 pm, free. (Revolver) Bro Country Thu, 8 pm. (4949 Lounge) Jared Berry Thu, 7 pm, free. 4949 N Rancho Drive, 702-658-4900. Sienna Italian Authentic Trattoria Vegas Good Fellas Thu, 7:30 pm. Red Velvet Fri & Sat, 8:30 pm. 9500 Sahara Ave., 702-3603358. South Point Frankie Avalon 1/15-1/17, 7:30 pm, $45. The McCartney Years 1/29-1/31, 7:30 pm, $25. Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns Mon, 10:30 pm, $5-$10. Dennis Bono Show Thu, 2 pm, free. Wes Winters Fri & Sat, 6 pm, free. Spazmatics Sat, 10:30 pm, $5. 702-7978005. Suncoast The Fab Four 12/26-12/27, 7:30 pm, $33-$55. Mary Wilson 1/16-1/17, 7:30 pm, $20. 9090 Alta Drive, 702-636-7075. Sunset Station (Club Madrid) Yellow Brick Road Fri, 9:30 pm. Zowie Bowie Sat, 10 pm. (Gaudi Bar) Ryan Whyte Maloney, Cali Tucker 12/31, 9 pm. Ryan Whyte Maloney, Cali Tucker Fri, Sat, 7 pm. (Rosalita’s) Tony Venniro 12/31, 8:30 pm; Fri, 7 pm. Jeremy James Sat, 7 pm. (Sunset Amphitheater) 1301 W. Sunset Road, 702-547-7777. Texas Station (A-Bar) Darrin Michaels Fri & Sat, 7 pm. (South Padre) VooDoo Band Fri, 9 pm. Yellow Brick Road Sat, 9 pm. 702-6311000.

E v e ry w h e r e E l s e Babes Rockin’ Sports Bar Smashing Alice 12/31. 5901 Emerald Ave., 702-435-7545. Count’s Vamp’d Y&T 2/5, 8:30 pm, $20-$25. Geoff Tate’s Operation Mindcrime 2/6, 9 pm, $20-$25. Glenn Hughes, Joanne Shaw Taylor & Jared James Nichols 3/5, 7:30 pm, $20-$25. 6750 W. Sahara, 702-220-8849. Dive Bar The Mentors 12/26, 10 pm. The Toasters 2/19, 9 pm, $10-$12. 4110 S. Maryland Parkway., 702-586-3483. Eastside Cannery (Marilyn’s Lounge) Claudine Castro Band Mon, 10 pm. Phoenix Wed, 9 pm. Spazmatics Sun, 9 pm. Shows free unless noted. 702-507-5700. Fiesta Rancho (Club Tequila) Sherry Gordy: Take the Stage Thu, 7 pm, $5-$10. (Cabo Lounge) Shows free unless noted. 702-6317000.

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Calendar German American Social Club Vintage Classic Jazz Night Tue, 7 pm, $4. 1110 E. Lake Mead Blvd., 702649-8503. Ron DeCar’s Event Center LVBGC Holiday Masquerade 12/26, 10 pm, $15. Swingin’ New Years Eve 12/31, 7 pm, $100-$300. 1201 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-453-8451. Sam’s Town Los NiteKings Sun, 7 pm, free. Shows free unless noted. 5111 Boulder Hwy., 702-284-7777.

Comedy Boomers Side Splitting Sundays Sun, 9 pm, free. 3200 Sirius Ave., 702368-1863. Caesars Palace (The Colosseum) Jerry Seinfeld 12/26-12/27, 7:30 pm, $105-$165. 702-731-7333. The D Laughternoon Starring Adam London Daily, 4 pm, $20-$25. 702388-2111.. Hard Rock Hotel (The Joint) Cedric the Entertainer 12/30, 9 pm, $50. Martin Lawrence 1/16, 7 pm, $40. Bo Burnham 1/30, 8 pm, $50. 702-6935000. Harrah’s (Main Showrom) Mac King Tue-Sat, 1 & 3 pm, $33. (The Improv) Tommy Savitt, Paula Bel, Chris Crofton Thru 12/27. Steve White, Paula Bel, Chris Crofton 12/29-1/3. Don McMillan, Brian McKim, Traci Skene 1/5-1/10. Bob Zany, Jodi Borrello 1/12-1/17. Tue-Sun, 8:30 pm; Fri & Sat, 10 pm; $30-$45. 702-3695000. Luxor Carrot Top Wed-Mon, 8 pm, $50$60. 702-262-4900. MGM Grand (Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club) Drew Thomas, KT Katara, Matt Markman Thru 12/27. Butch Bradley, Mike Merryfield, Shayma Tash 12/281/3. Kivi Rogers, Collin Moulton, Dave Williamson 1/4-1/10. Danny Bevins, Vargus Mason, Heath Harmison 1/11-1/17. Brad Garrett, Paul Ogata, Dave Landau 1/18-1/24. Quinn Dahle, Rick Overton, Greg Vaccariello 1/25-1/31. Richard Vos, Zoltan Kaszas, Derek Richards 2/1-2/7. Brad Garrett, Debi Gutierrez, Andrew Norelli 2/8-2/14. Darrell Joyce, Mark Eddie, Randy Kagan 2/15-2/21. Scott Henry, Frances Dilorinzo, Drew Thomas 2/22-2/28. Brad Garrett, Michael Sommerville, Landry 2/29-3/5, 3/7. Dark Christmas Day. Nightly, 8 pm, $43-$87. 702-891-7777. Mirage Daniel Tosh 1/15, 2/5, 3/25, 4/8,

To submit listings: Email listings@gmgvegas.com. Submissions received after Friday will be published in the following week’s issue.

10 pm; 1/16, 2/6, 3/26, 4/9, 7:30 pm, $65-$105. Jay Leno 2/26, 5/13, 6/4, 7/2, 10 pm, $66-$87. Ron White 2/122/13, 3/4-3/5, 4/29-4/30, 6/10-6/11, 10 pm, $66. Sebastian Maniscalco 4/22-4/23, 10 pm, $44-$65. Gabriel Iglesias 3/18-3/19, 5/28-5/29, 10 pm. Nick Swardson 4/2, 10 pm, $55. Tracy Morgan 5/6-5/7, 10 pm, $55. 702-792-7777. Orleans (Showroom) Norm Macdonald 1/15, 9 pm, $44-$65. 702284-7777. Planet Hollywood (Las Vegas Live Comedy Club) Edwin San Juan Nightly, 9 pm, $56-$67, V Theater. (PH Showroom) Jeff Dunham WedSun, 7 pm; Sat-Sun, 4 pm, $72.. (Sin City Theatre) Failure is an Option Nightly, dark Tue-Wed, 5:30 pm, $60. 702-234-7469. Sin City Comedy & Burlesque Show Nightly, 8:30 pm, $38-$49. 702-777-2782. Quad Jeff Civilico Sat-Mon, Wed-Thu, 4 pm, $39-$50. 888-777-7664. Rampart Casino (Bonkerz Comedy Club) Thu, 7 pm, free., 702-507-5900. Red Rock (Rocks Lounge) Hal Sparks 1/23, 8 pm, $25-$35. Justin Willman 2/20, 8 pm, $25-$35. 702-797-7777. Rio Eddie Griffin Mon-Thu, 7 pm, $73$136. 702-777-2782. The Sayers Club (Bonkerz Comedy Club) Thu-Sat 8 pm, $10. SLS, 702761-7000. South Point Dat Phan 12/26, 7:30 pm, $15. Charlie Murphy 1/8-1/10, 7:30 pm, $30. Louie Anderson 1/22-1/23, 7:30 pm, $15. Jon Lovitz 2/5-2/6, 7:30 pm, $25. 702-797-8005. Tropicana (The Laugh Factory) Shang, Brandon Gooch Hahn, Josh Florhaug Thru 12/27. Bill Dawes, Giulio Gallarotti, Paul Scally 12/28-12/31. $35-$55. 702-739-2222. Treasure Island Ralphie May 1/2, 9 m, $40-$65. David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson 2/12, 9 pm, $44-$71. Jo Koy 3/18, 9 pm, $44-$76. Wanda Sykes 4/15, 9 pm, $60-$80.702-894-7111. Venetian Lisa Lampanelli 12/26, 8 pm, $50-$118. Whitney Cummings 1/2, 8 pm, $50-$118. 702-414-9000.

Performing Arts Christ Church Episcopal Adam J. Brakel 1/8, 7:30 pm, $15. Hans Uwe Hielscher 2/5, 7:30 pm, $15. David Dorway 4/29, 7:30 pm, $15. 2000 S. Maryland Parkway, sncago.org.

Cockroach Theatre Constellations 1/7-1/9, 1/14-1/16, 1/21-1/23, 8 pm; 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 2 pm $16-$20. The Nether 2/25-2/27, 3/3-3/5, 3/10-3/12, 8 pm; 2/28, 3/6, 3/13, 2 pm, $16-$20. Bright Side 5/12-5/14, 5/19-5/21, 5/26-5/28, 8 pm; 5/15, 5/22, 5/29, 2 pm, $16-$20. Art Square Theater, 1025 S. 1st St., Ste. 110, 702-818-3422. Las Vegas Philharmonic Cabrera Conducts Rachmaninoff 1/9, 7:30 pm, 1/10, 2 pm, $26-$96. Pink Martini 2/6, 7:30 pm, $100-$250. Spotlight Series 2/16, 4/26, 5/3, 7:30 pm, $168. Smith Center, 702-749-2000. Mondays Dark With Mark Shunock 1/25, 8:30 pm, $20-$50, Vinyl, 702693-5000. Onyx Theatre Bibbidi-BobbidiBurlesque 1/9, 8 pm, $12. Reservoir Dolls 1/14-1/16, 1/21-1/23, 1/28-1/30, 8 pm; 1/24, 1/31, 5 pm. Geek! 2/11-2/13, 2/18-2/20, 2/25-2/27, 8 pm; 2/21, 5 pm, $15-$20. Del Shore’s Sordid Lives 3/10-3/12, 3/17-3/19, 3/24-3/26, 8 pm; 3/20, 5 pm, $20. Heathers the Musical 4/7-4/9, 4/14-4/16, 4/21-4/23, 4/28-4/30, 8 pm; 4/17, 5 pm. Titus Andronicus Jr. 5/12-5/14, 5/19-5/21, 5/26-5/28, 8 pm; 5/22, 5 pm, $20. 953 E. Sahara Ave., 702-732-7225. Smith Center (Reynolds Hall) New Year’s Eve at the Smith Center 12/31, 7 pm, $39-$125. The Cat in the Hat 1/13, 6:30 pm, $15-$23. Riverdance 1/26-1/21, $29-$129. Panties in a Twist 2/2-2/6, $35-$43. The Symphonic Rockshow Presents: The Best of British Rock 2/5, 7:30 pm, $29-$59. Cinderella 2/13, 7:30 pm, 2/14, 2 pm, $29-$139. Elephant & Piggies We Are in A Play 2/17, 6:30 pm, $15-$23. The Bridges of Madison County 2/232/28, $29-$129. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder 3/8-3/13, $29-$139. One Night For One Drop 3/18, 7 pm, $104-$329. (Troesh Studio Theater) Driving Miss Daisy 1/15-1/17, 8 pm; 1/16-1/17, 3 pm; $34. Shen Yun: A Gift From Heaven 1/21, 7:30 pm; 1/22, 8 pm; 1/23, 3 pm & 7:30 pm, 1/24, 1 pm. Bad Jews 3/3-3/5, 8 pm; 3/6, 2 pm, $35-$45. (Cabaret Jazz) Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill 2/12-2/14, 8 pm; 2/13-2/14, 3 pm, $34. 702-749-2000. UNLV (Rando-Grillot Recital Hall) Amernet Quartet ft. Rachel Calloway 1/28, 7:30 pm, $27-$30. Andrew York 2/20, 8 pm, $41-$45. Chelsea Chen 2/26, 7:30 pm, free.Jens Korndorfer 4/8, 7:30 pm, free. Duo Deloro 4/13, 8 pm, $41-$45. Dorothy Young Riess 5/20, 7:30 pm, free. (Artemus W. Ham

Hall) Sarah Chang and Julio Elizalde 2/6, 8 pm, $25-$75. Polish Baltic Philharmonic 3/17, 8 pm, $25-$75. Orlowsky Trio 4/2, 8 pm, $20-$70. 702-895-3332. Winchester Cultural Center Naomi Emmerson plays Edith Piaf 3/4, 7 pm; 3/5, 1:30 pm, $25-$30. 3130 S. McLeod Drive, 702-455-7340.

Special Events All You Need Is Light: Jewish Film Festival 1/9-1/24, $10 per film, times vary. Adelson Educational Campus Theater, 9700 W. Hillpoint Road, 702239-2277. An Evening with Sophia Loren 3/26, 8 pm, $70 and up. The Venetian, 702414-9000. Bluegrass Festival 4/9, 10:30 am, free. Durango Hills Park, 3501 N. Durango Drive, 702-229-4653. The Bourbon Book Club Dennis Johnson’s Jesus’ Son 1/21, 6 pm, free. The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., thewritersblock.org. Sally Denton Book Signing and Reading 2/18, 7 pm, free. The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., thewritersblock.org. Disney on Ice presents Frozen 1/61/11, times vary, $38-$83. Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com. Illeana Douglas Book Signing and Reading 1/3, 2 pm, free. Barnes & Noble, 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd., 702631-1775. Ethel M Chocolates Holiday Cactus Garden 5 pm to 10 pm, free. Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden, 2 Cactus Garden Dr., ethelm. com. Helen: A Literary Magazine’s animal issue celebration 1/8, 6 pm, free. The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St helenpresents.com. Human Love Experience: Poetry Music and Song ft. Lee Mallory, Philena Carter and Mizz Absurd 2/8, 7 pm, free. Hop Nuts Brewery, 1120 S. Main St., 702-816-5371. Julia Lee Signing and Reading 1/22, 7 pm, free. The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., thewritersblock.org. Las Vegas Vintage Motorcycle Auction 1/7-1/9, times vary, $25-$60. South Point, 702-796-7111. Las Vegas Ultimate Wine Run 1/29, 3:30 pm, $60-$90. Lake Las Vegas,

2030 Lake Las Vegas Pkwy., theultimatewinerun.com. Laura McBride & Walter Kirn Signing and Reading 1/20, 7 pm, free. The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., thewritersblock.org. Motley Brew’s Great Vegas Festival of Beer 4/9, 3 pm, $30-$80. Fremont East, greatvegasbeer.com. New Year’s Spectacular ft. Frankie Beverly, Maze, Mike Epps 1/2, 8 pm, $34-$150. Orleans, 702-284-7777. Paws on the Patio 12/29, 6 pm, free. Brio Tuscan Grille, Tivoli Village, 420 S. Rampart Blvd., 702-433-1233. Piff the Magic Dragon Mon thru Wed, 8 pm, $50-$70. Bugsy’s Cabaret at Flamingo, 702-733-3333. J. Aaron Sanders Signing and Reading 3/19, 7 pm, free. The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., thewritersblock.org. Sevens Live Music, comedy & spoken arts. Tue, 7 pm, one-drink minimum. Silver Sevens, 4100 Paradise, 702733-7000. Switch: Trans* Clothing Swap Thu, 5 pm, free. Gay & Lesbian Community Center, 702-733-9800. William Logan Hebner & Michael Plyer Signing and Reading 1/28, 7 pm, free. The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., thewritersblock.org.

Sports Amsoil Arenacross 5/6, 8 pm; 5/8, noon, $29. Orleans, orleansarena. com. South Point, 702-796-7111. D3 Hoops Classic 12/26-12/30, times vary, $10. South Point, 702-796-7111. Holiday Hoops College Basketball 12/23, times vary, $15. South Point, 702-796-7111. LVCHA Weekend Winter Championship Horse Cuttiong Event 2/10-2/15, times vary, free. South Point, 702-796-7111. Silver Dollar Nationals 1/8-1/10, times vary, free. South Point, 702-796-7111. UFC 195 1/2, 3:30 pm, $104-$804, MGM Grand Garden Arena, ticketmaster.com. Vegas Shoot National Field Archery 1/29-1/31, times vary, free. South Point, 702-796-7111. WFG Continental Cup of Curling 1/14-1/17, $22. Orleans Arena, orleansarena.com. WORCS Racing 2/26-2/28, times and prices TBA. South Point, 702-7967111.

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LAS VEGAS STRIP | DECEMBER 20, 2015 | 8:48 P.m. Lights twinkling, cars cruising, a crazy balloon sculpture and a wonder-struck child. Classic Strip. Except for that thin yellow band in the background, the crime-scene tape that went up after Lakeisha Holloway allegedly drove onto the sidewalk in front of Planet Hollywood. The crash killed one person and wounded more than 30 others, some critically. The motive is still unclear. Holloway had her 3-year-old daughter in the car, probably not much younger than the kid in this picture, taken by the Weekly’s Corlene Byrd a couple hours after the tragedy. She says the Strip was “awkwardly quiet.” Yet she saw people watching the Bellagio fountains, a Darth Vader trolling for photo ops and this balloon artist working for tips. It’s impossible to imagine things going back to normal after something so horrifying, but somehow, the normal is never really absent. –Erin Ryan

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