recommended gigs

                            

Wednesday 12-31-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 1-3-26 - Desert Island Boys, No Que No, the Hideaway, the Sands at Red Dwarf

Saturday 1-3-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 1-5-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 1-10-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 1-11-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 1-12-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 1-17-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 1-18-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 1-19-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 1-24-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 1-25-26 - Generic Surf Band at Reed Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 1-26-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 1-30-26 - The Implosions, the Dirty Licks, the Hideaway at Red Dwarf

Saturday 1-31-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 2-2-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-7-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 2-9-26 - Thee Swank Bastard at the Golden Tiki

Friday 2-13-26 - Bear Supply at the Double Down

Saturday 2-14-25 - The Queers and Suburban Resistance at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Saturday 2-14-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 2-15-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 2-16-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 2-20-25 - Mr Dark's Pandemonium at the Double Down

Saturday 2-21-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 2-23-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-28-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Patti Smith - Horses - 50th Anniversary Edition

 

Of course, I've owned the original album since it came out and always dug the band's mix of 60's rock'n'roll and poetic wildness. I also bought the CD edition since it had a couple bonus tracks but this 50th anniversary edition actually has a full CD of previously unreleased alternative versions of the album tracks along with a few songs that I had never heard from the band at all.

Of course, the first CD is the original album - almost an unnecessary addition at this point - I mean, who doesn't have that? - but the bonus CD starts with a take on what is practically her theme song, her version of "Gloria". The backing track is only slightly different - basically not as worked out as the album take, particularly the ending - but Patti goes off on various lyrical'n'phrasing tangents, which are intriguing'n'entertaining. Oddly, though it is a alternative take, "Redondo Beach" was apparently released somewhere, somehow (it doesn't say where), but it is pretty similar to the album version. But since "birdland" is very much a improvised piece (with some basic touchstones, of course), there are plenty of variations every time they play it so this really stands out in its individuality.

But as far as divergences go, "Snowball" is one of the most unique songs I've ever heard the Patti Smith Group do, as it is practically a new wave number in feel with a clean, pop sound. I mean, you can tell it's still them, but kinda just barely - not like anything I've ever heard them do before. "Kimberly" is almost the same as the album - sorta sounds like just the mix is a little dissimilar - until she gets to her monologue in the middle and she goes off on another tangent there for a bit. This goes for "Break It Up" and "Distant Fingers", as well - essentially the same arrangement, but with the kind of variations you would expect from a live version, for instance. "The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game" is a bluesy tune that I've heard of the band doing, but I don't know that I've heard it before now. Really nicely done here - groovy piano, Patti's singing is particularly good and it's a hip tune, overall. "We Three" continues in this vein - pretty piano work and great vocals - for a fine, distinctive finale.

Of course fans will want this release and the price is quite reasonable, so no excuses!

recommended gigs

                           

Saturday 12-27-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 12-28-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 12-29-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday 12-31-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 1-3-26 - Desert Island Boys, No Que No, the Hideaway, the Sands at Red Dwarf

Saturday 1-3-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 1-5-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 1-10-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 1-12-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 1-17-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 1-18-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 1-19-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 1-24-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 1-26-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 1-30-26 - The Implosions, the Dirty Licks, the Hideaway at Red Dwarf

Saturday 1-31-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 2-2-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-7-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 2-9-26 - Thee Swank Bastard at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-14-25 - The Queers and Suburban Resistance at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Saturday 2-14-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 2-15-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 2-16-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 2-20-25 - Mr Dark's Pandemonium at the Double Down

Saturday 2-21-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 2-23-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-28-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Mr. Dark's Pandemonium at the Double Down - Friday December 19, 2025

 

After medical issues sidelined the previously scheduled Mr. Dark's debut, tonight's show was highly anticipated and it did not fail to impress the packed Double Down on a Friday before Xmas - traditionally a slow time for the club.

Part vaudeville, part circus side show, part travelin' snake-oil tent revival, Mr. Dark's Pandemonium is a combination of music (natch), burlesque, DJ's and various other (revolvin', I assume) acts to ensure a full night of entertainment.

A devilish MC opens the eve, but the MC chores are then given over to a lovely young lady who introduces the band, consisting of member of the Psyatics, Water Landing, the Mapes and more, as they provide a Tom Waits-ian (for lack of a better adjective) backing for the night. Band leader/conceptualist Jack (Psyatics/Unwieldies) plays guitar and violin (sometimes in the same song), with Water Landing's Eric on guitar, Ron on drums and Jules on vocals, along with the Mapes Joe on bass/tuba/trombone, Scott on keys and guitar and Allie on vocals. Everyone looked stylish - from suits to marching band outfits to mad scientists to gypsies to 19th century laborers (not sure how else to describe it) - to ensure that the show was visual as well as musical. Speaking of visual, there were also backdrops, a custom built stage, special lighting and more! They really went all out for the show.

Throughout the night the band would play short-ish sets featuring numbers like "House of the Rising Sun", "Bang Bang" , "Down in the Hole", "Teenage Werewolf", "Never Gonna Die", Water Landing's popular (and fitting) "Devils" (with violin and trombone giving it extra texture) and plenty more. Eric took most of the lead vocals but Jules and Allie got their time in the spotlight, as well, and both have lovely voices that totally fit the style. The keys would at times provide appropriate accordion sounds and the addition of tuba and trombone highlighted several songs. 

The band intermissions included DJ sets, a number of burlesque dancers with their own unique acts (the final femme fatale dancing on bottles was particularly impressive), a mime with a piercing demonstration and even a duo who created music and sand art simultaneously!

Everything came to a conclusion with the band returning to the stage for an extended take on Peggy Lee's "Is That All There Is?" with none other than Jack vocalizing through a megaphone. 

This event is scheduled to take place every couple of months (next one on Friday February 20th!) so it will be interesting to see how it evolves as time goes on. A devilishly delightful debut, though!

The Unnaturals VS the 50 Ft Bettie

 

We caught an Unnaturals set in New Orleans a couple of weeks back when they gigged with two of our friends' bands from Vegas while we were all on vacation there and I was pretty blown away by the Un's wild'n'heavy take on surf music. Their tag line is "definitely not your grandfather's surf band" and they certainly do update the sounds with plenty of 70's rock riffs and phenomenal playing all around.

This trio - two guys and a female bassist - all throw licks around like they are going out of style - sometimes almost veering into prog territory, but with enough surf/rock'n'roll energy'n'style to keep it from getting overbearing. This is all more obvious in a live setting, but some of it spills over to the studio, as well.

The CD revs up like a hot rod ready to rumble with "Sex Wax", which does sounds fairly traditionally surf with plenty of reverb, stacatto pickin'n'bends but with lotsa original twists'n'turns. The oddly titled "If Only Keith Richards Could Surf..." has no discernible Stones' influence, but they do throw in all kinds of riffs'n'licks and flashy leads - way more than Keith would do! This veers back'n'forth from trad sounding to truly heavy guitars along with rollin'n'tumblin' bass lines and drivin' drums. 

"Redneck Riot" combines surf with a jump blues, "Dead Man's Hand" is kind of a spaghetti western with some unexpected variations, clarion call chords announce "Tequila Mockingbird" which again goes through many changes'n'styles in a fun'n'wacky way, showing off everyone's musicianship. "Ballad For a Rebel" is indeed a tear-jerker of a ballad, even without lyrics, sounding like an instrumental take on an early 60's girl group number. They follow that up with the intense "Rumblebee" (clever title!) which (also cleverly) utilizes "Flight of the Bumblebee", "Unnatural Progressions" actually uses pretty straight forward progressions for a groovin', bouncy blues-band tune, "Tsunami!" shows the three locking in with matching/alternating riffs to good effect, the semi-title track, "Attack of the 50 ft Bettie" is a fast-paced, melodic, surf-oriented number followed by a sultry, slow "Beware the Falling Angels" before closing out the album with a fairly ferocious "Whiskey Surf", which again shows off everyone's flying fingers!

Not dissimilar to LA's fantastically original Black Widows in their mix of styles while sticking with a surf-instrumental feel overall, the Unnaturals give a fun'n'flashy take on the genre. Certainly worth checking out, at least as long as you're not an anal purist! :)

recommended gigs

                          

Thursday 12-18-25 - Bear Supply at Jive Turkey

Thursday 12-18-25 - Rhythm Ace and the Nu-Tones with Gabi Halstead and the Triadics at the Griffin

Friday 12-19-25 - Mr Dark's Pandemonium at the Double Down

Friday 12-19-25 - Broke in Vegas, Punk'n'Country, Trivial Menace at Voodoo Brewing Co

Saturday 12-20-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 12-21-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 12-22-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 12-27-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 12-28-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 12-29-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 1-3-26 - Desert Island Boys, No Que No, the Hideaway, the Sands at Red Dwarf

Wednesday 1-7-25 - Suburban Resistance at Red Dwarf

Saturday 2-14-25 - The Queers and Suburban Resistance at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Friday 2-20-25 - Mr Dark's Pandemonium at the Double Down

Reputation is a Fragile Thing - The Story of Cheap Trick by Mike Hayes and Ken Sharp

 

This 1998 book is another that I read at one point years ago but never reviewed and I pulled it out for something to review during our recent trip to Chicago (cuz I do things like that). 

While Rick, Tom and Bun E played together off'n'on in innumerable projects with innumerable other people, I was surprised to (re)discover that they worked with members of the Nazz - even occasionally using that name - after they had split with Todd Rundgren. Of course, the CT guys eventually pulled Robin Zander away from another project and settled down to the hard work of "making it" - which, as we all know, paid off!

It did take years of work on their songs and their image but by the time that they were receiving serious label interest, their look was perfected and they had enough songs that they were able to record three albums in quick succession within a year or so!

The book is basically a diary of the group's progress with fun early stories and details about recording the albums told by those who were there, from producers and label employees to the band themselves, often in the form of magazine interviews (which does mean that there is some repetition, but nothing overly obnoxious). 

The authors do their best to be objective about the various recordings, critical of substandard songwriting (usually when outside writers were brought in) or production, as well as being realistic about the band's career trajectory. After their initial rise, Tom Petersson left, and along with a procession of bassists, the band reached its lowest point before finally resurrecting (with Tom's return) with the dull power-ballad, "The Flame", which ironically gave them their biggest hit.

Obviously, a number of other albums followed, some better than others, but none capturing their early power until they resurrected with their late 90's, self-titled album (I never reviewed that one, either, but it's a good one) which is also where this book ends.

This is a good overview of a terrific power-pop/rock'n'roll band that went through some shakey periods but always delivered the goods live (minus a couple mediocre/awful power ballads). Fans will certainly dig this!

recommended gigs

                         

Friday 12-12-25 - Water Landing and Femalians at Red Dwarf

Friday 12-12-25 - Mike Skill and Brad Elvis (the Romantics) with Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty (Trash Brats) at Vintage Vegas

Saturday 12-13-25 - Mike Skill and Brad Elvis (the Romantics) with Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty (Trash Brats) at Vintage Vegas

Saturday 12-13-25 - Suburban Resistance at the Double Down

Saturday 12-13-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 12-14-25 Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 12-15-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Thursday 12-18-25 - Bear Supply at Jive Turkey

Thursday 12-18-25 - Rhythm Ace and the Nu-Tones with Gabi Halstead and the Triadics at the Griffin

Friday 12-19-25 - Mr Dark's Pandemonium at the Double Down

Friday 12-19-25 - Broke in Vegas, Punk'n'Country, Trivial Menace at Voodoo Brewing Co

Saturday 12-20-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 12-21-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 12-22-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 12-27-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 12-29-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday 1-7-25 - Suburban Resistance at Red Dwarf

Saturday 2-14-25 - The Queers and Suburban Resistance at Backstage Bar and Billiards

The Implosions, The Triple Splits, the Unnaturals at Santos, New Orleans, Friday 12-5-25

So we took a trip to New Orleans with about 30-some other Las Vegans and amongst all of the other food'n'drinks'n'sites, two of our local bands decided to play a show while we were all there! 

Santos is a fun little dive bar randomly located at an edge of the Quarter, behind construction barriers and other NO madness. Cool space, nice bartenders, reasonable drinks - good place for a Vegas takeover!

But, before our fellow Vegans took the stage, local instrumental (mostly) combo, the Unnaturals stormed the stage to a pretty packed house. While absolutely surf-influenced (which was even more apparent on their CD that I picked up - more on that later), live, they had a powerful, 70's hard rock and at times almost-prog-rock feel! The guitar was tough'n'metallic'n'flashy as hell, the Thunderbird bass was indeed thunderous with more fast'n'furious licks than most guitarists can muster and the drums were powerful'n'snappy. While some tunes were more traditional, such as their cover of "Out of Limits", they also covered the Dead Kennedys and - I believe - an 80's metal tune! Shades of Vegas' Swank Bastards! Super impressive! See them if you can!

Up next was a relatively new Vegas combo featuring members of Franks'n'Deans, Bear Supply, the Implosions, the Mapes and more going under the moniker of the Triple Splits. Self-described as skater-punk, a genre that kinda passed me by so I am not an expert on, they were tight, fast'n'loud and a hit with the crowd. Fine musicianship all around (although not as wildly flashy as the Unnaturals, since their songs didn't call for it), this is certainly a new combo to watch!

I have ranted'n'raved innumerable times about our friends the Implosions and always dig their version of garage/punk/Crampsian/rock'n'roll. Their Vegas-themed tunes captivated the crowd, with everyone joining in on "Cashed Out" (I think) and just generally dancin'n'diggin' the sounds. Lots of variety to their sounds and lots of fun! 

There was even a late-night surprise set by Thee Swank Bastards since Jesse Del Quadro (and his lovely wife Nikki) were among the Vegas denizens that made the trip. Starting out with Clay'n'Denise as the rhythm section, going through many of their repertoire, including their Black Sabbath medley, Clay eventually handed the drumsticks over to Courtney, yet another Vegas-part-time-Bastard. Crazy times indeed that went late into the evening!

Thanks to Santos Bar for hosting this wacky night joined by innumerable Vegas inhabitants! 

RIP Scott Richardson

 As a huge fan of Detroit rock'n'roll, I am deeply saddened to hear of Scott Richardson's departure from this earthly plane. And sadder still to see that the media is essentially ignoring this loss, so I do not have an article to quote.

RIP Steve Cropper

Steve Cropper, Legendary Guitarist for Booker T. & the MG’s, Otis Redding and the Blues Brothers, Dies at 84

---

Never flashy, but highly influential - play some Booker T in his honor!

RIP TetsuYamauchi

’70s Rock Star Dead at 79: Bandmate Confirms Death of Tetsu Yamauchi

He played in the Faces (replacing Ronnie towards the end of their career) and Free, among others. Sad to hear of his passing.

Kepi Ghoulie with Jeff Murphy - House Party, Sunday 11-30-25

Our old pal from the Groovie Ghoulies, Kepi Ghoulie, is on the road pretty much non-stop and when he finds an opening in his schedule he will either find someplace to set up shop and sell some of his artwork or he will contact friends like Kevin (Suburban Resistance) and Geri (Femaliens) and see if they can set up a house party! Since it turned out to also be their anniversary (approximately), they combined the celebrations for a fun Sunday afternoon!

Vegas' own Jeff Murphy (Bitters/Thee Swank Bastards, among many others) was the opening act for the afternoon, wowing the assorted assembled with his flying fingers and acoustic guitar work. He played a couple instrumentals, sang a couple tunes himself and brought up the host, Kevin, to sing a few tunes, like an acoustic version of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades", among others. Cool stuff!

Kepi came up and began his set of Ghoulies-and-related tunes and after a couple of numbers, invited Jeff to join him, which he did for the rest of the set, jamming on songs that he had never heard before! Of course, most of us knew the joyous Ghoulies' repertoire as well as the handful of covers, such as Ramones-ized takes on 60's pop tunes. He threw in a few more love songs for the happy couple, along with his usual good-time tunes of affirmation'n'fun, ending with his anthem "Til Death Do Us Party"!

Tons of delightful entertainment for the whole family and a great way to spend a random Sunday afternoon! Many thanks to Kevin'n'Geri for the invite and to Kepi for coming to town once again, especially since we missed him last time.