Vegas Rockabilly / Bands
Hey Coolgrrrls Readers! Since April, I’ve had some really fun, exciting experiences that I’ve wanted to share with all of you. There is a lot to catch you up on, so here goes.
First, was the 10th Annual Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Convention, held Thurs Apr. 5- Sun Apr. 8! Viva Las Vegas is a yearly event organized by Rockabilly Veteran DJ and Promoter Tom Ingram. The weekend is crazy and fun, featuring Rockabilly bands, vendors, burlesque performers, classic car enthusiasts, dancers, and music lovers from all over the world, who take over the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino during Easter Weekend. This year, the event had grown so large, that it not only sold out, but Tom had to arrange for a second Hotel (The Gold Coasts’ sister hotel, The Orleans) to be available for the spill-over Rockabilly Revelers coming to town who were unable to obtain passes to attend the main events. www.vivalasvegas.net
I had not planned ahead of time to attend this year, since I had my hands full with a lot of important personal family business, but a few days before this year’s Viva Las Vegas, I started having pangs wishing I could go. I was lucky enough to receive an email from Tom Ingram asking if I planned to attend this year, just as I had started to feel like I would be missing out. Tom knows that I love to attend these events and share my experience with all of you, so he was gracious enough to squeeze me in at the last minute. I was so excited, and planned the whole trip only one night before everything kicked off.
I was just so lucky with this trip, considering the Gold Coast sells this weekend out a year in advance! My first night there, my friend and I got a suite for the regular room rate, and then they were able to move us to a regular room for the rest of the weekend. I like staying in the hotel where the show is happening so that I can pop back to my room to change shoes or whatever whim I may have, so that worked out really well, which was a great start to the trip. I had been going through a lot of tough personal stuff, so having this trip work out so well last minute really felt like a gift from the gods, which I was so grateful for. It was the first fun thing I did for myself all year.
I missed Thursday night’s performances because I took a late flight in, but I dropped off my bag, made a cocktail, checked in for the event by obtaining my wristband, and made a beeline for the event hall, which was still packed with enthusiastic party goers at 2am. I ended up visiting with people and dancing until 6am, then catching some z’s and popping out of bed the next day to attend Miss Sofia Wolff’s Jive dance class with a friend at noon. I actually learned the jive, which I wasn’t able to grasp years ago when I first made an attempt. That was a lot of fun, even if I was exhausted from the night before!
There is way too much happening at VLV to even scratch the surface, but I’ll give you my brief overview. There were so many really great performers, but my 3 favorites that I saw were Mike Sanchez, Big Sandy, and Dean Z as Elvis. It was my first time to experience Mike Sanchez, who is a white English soulful rock n roll singer and piano player along the lines of Little Richard, (whom I really love). His energy and musical talent was just so impressive. I felt like I had made an important new discovery when I saw him perform! Have you ever had one of those moments? If you have, you know what I mean.
Big Sandy has always been one of my favorite Rockabilly/ Western Swing performers. I have most of his CDs, and I just don’t get tired of seeing and hearing his band. It’s been 10 years that I’ve been enjoying them. I love his voice, I love the clever lyrics, and I love the band. They are stellar musicians.
Dean Z is a young guy in his early 20s who performs as the very early Elvis. I wouldn’t call him an impersonator, because that really cheapens this kid’s infectious talent as a performer. He definitely has some of Elvis’ original charisma that charmed fans. It really was the closest thing to seeing Elvis in the 50s that I will ever be able to experience. I highly recommend you see him if you have the chance. He will not disappoint!
Another band I saw of note was Restless. This was their last performance, they announced, which had me feeling I’d missed something important, having never seen them before! They had awesome energy, and the crowd loved them.
There were some really incredible burlesque performers again this year. My absolute favorite was a gal who looked like Marilyn Monroe, who did a number with sparkling glitter flowing like champagne around her gorgeous figure. Damn, she had me wishing I could look just like her. What a beauty! I wish I could have taken pictures, but it is very difficult to get close enough to see or photograph during the burlesque contest. I found myself wishing they had those giant screens at each side of the stage like they have at big concert venues!
The Car Show this year was one of the biggest and best that I think I’ve ever seen! It was awesome. They had so many cars this year that it was moved to a bigger lot! I took tons of pictures, so check them out here. There were also some cool bikes, including one that said “Social Distortion” in metal flake on the tank, which was built by Black Kat Kustoms, founded by Mike Ness (singer of Social D for those who live in a cave or don’t follow punk). Mike wasn’t there, but the guy at the booth told me to hop on so he could take my picture on it! www.blackkatkustoms.com
There was also a lot of fun to be had by the pool every day as well. I love hanging out in the sun and having daiquiris, listening to music, and meeting new people from all over the world while relaxing in the hot tub. On the last day of the weekender, they have a Tiki Pool party, where a lot of the girls show off their vintage playsuits, and the boys show off their vintage Hawaiian gear. It’s totally retro. That’s not to say that there aren’t also tons of people covered in tattoos, drinking and carousing, who don’t give a damn about vintage clothes! It’s kind of ‘anything goes,’ you know? I fall smack dab somewhere in the middle, which is why I feel so at home there.
I also want to mention the fact that a lot of total freaks go to the event and hang around the casino just to soak up the energy. Many of them don’t look at all like they belong, but that is what is so great about the whole weekend. It attracts all kinds, and the common thread is fun. I had to get my photo taken with the twin hippies I kept seeing around, and the guy in ruffled panties and Elvis sunglasses!
At the end of the weekend, everyone is as sad to go, as they are ready to get home and recover over the next few days! It’s always an exhaustion that we Viva Las Vegas enthusiasts welcome. God Bless Tom Ingram and all the bands and people who make this event such a total blast every year!
When I got home from Vegas, on April 14th, I went to see Los Strait Jackets featuring Big Sandy at The Red Devil Lounge. The show was extremely crowded, so I only popped in for a few songs. The band wears Mexican Wrestling masks and plays really great energetic surf music, and Big Sandy sang in Spanish. I had to dash out early to go to 2 other venues that night. I went to see 2 of my favorite local bands, The Grannies and Everything Must Go at Annie’s Social Club, then to club Bootie at DNA Lounge, which goes on till 3am! I had pictures of the night, and then my camera was stolen, so I lost them. BOO!
Now on to Iggy and the Stooges!!!! I could not wait to see them. I’ve been a fan forever like a lot of the world, but had never had the pleasure of experiencing them live. I bought tickets in advance for both nights. The first night, Thurs. Apr. 19th, I resigned to sit in my assigned balcony seats, and I was so pissed off and miserable that I considered skipping the second show a few days later. At this particular venue, The Warfield, they police you severely, not allowing spikes, punk belts, cameras, and *GASP* drinks if your seats are in the balcony! I was up there in the nosebleed section, sober and unable to see, which was making me so crazy I could hardly stand it. Also the sound isn’t good up there.
The second show on April 21st WAS AWESOME because I refused to go to the balcony and have my night ruined again! I decided I would rather get drunk in the lobby than deal with the balcony, but an awesome bartender in the lobby walked me past security on to the floor’s general admission area where you can enjoy seeing and hearing the band while also having access to 2 bars. That is the right way to see a show if you ask me. This show was Iggy’s 60th Birthday!!!! I actually got to see him on his birthday! It was incredible. He invited a bunch of people on stage (as he has on this tour repeatedly), and everyone was up there jumping around like they were having the time of their lives, and I totally cried. It was really incredible.
Iggy did all the songs you would expect, and he looked and sounded as good as he ever did as far as I’m concerned. He is amazing. I wish I could have taken pictures.
On a completely different note, I recently jumped in my convertible, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and went out to the beautiful Napa Valley to check out some wineries and have dinner on the Napa Valley Wine Train. It was this charming old-style train that reminds you of the 1940s. (The only gripe I have about it is that the wine you drink while on the train is not included in the admission price.) The 3-hour ride and dinner is $100 per person, but then we spent about $60 more on wine and tips per person as well. The scenery was lovely, the food was delicious, and the train was quaint. If you are a big drinker like myself though, it may be worth the $15 corkage per bottle fee to bring your own wine, depending on the price of your favorite bottles. This excursion is well worth the splurge at least once in your life though, if you are visiting Napa. www.winetrain.com
Another fun thing I did a few times recently was go to the horse races in Berkeley at Golden Gate Fields. On Sundays they have “Dollar Day” featuring $1 admission, parking, programs, hot dogs, and beers. Both times I went, it was a lot of fun and I ran into people I knew. I’m clueless at betting, but it’s fun nonetheless. The season just ended, but begins again on November 7th. www.goldengatefields.com
Now that summer is upon us, San Francisco’s Street Fair season has arrived. I love these events on nice days where you can drink on the streets, eat chicken on a stick, and watch bands play while people-watching. The very best one (meaning biggest and my favorite) is SF’s annual Gay Pride weekend and Parade, June 23 and 24. I’ve had fun at this event every year, but this year they haven’t booked any musical acts I’m that excited about. I’ll still go anyway, because it is so much fun drinking out front of City Hall while people watching. The outfits and craziness are so worth getting out of bed for! Also, the parties afterward are often the best of the year. www.sfpride.org
Also coming up: Skinny Puppy plays the Fillmore on Thurs June 21st. The Psychedelic Furs play July 15th at Mezzanine. I’ve never seen them, but really love them and hope to go!
I did a lot more that I just don’t have the energy to get into, like going to the Vivienne Westwood Exhibit at the DeYoung Museum, seeing the Black Halos, The Red Devil Lounge’s 10 year Anniversary party, 2 trips to Los Angeles for Bootie LA, where I also attended Mario Diaz’s Hot Dog club, newly moved to The Dragonfly, The Los Feliz St. Fair, SF’s Jameson Bartender’s Ball, and who even remembers now? Whew… I wish I could be more conscientious about writing more often so I wouldn’t have so much to catch up on! Thanks to all of you for reading, and I will definitely have more fun stuff to share soon! MAYBE I won’t do this to myself next time!
XOXO
Alisha Amnesia
Leave a Reply