1. Track #1: Sammy’s Island @Palms Pool
Sammy Hagar still has star power, not only as a musician but also as a “lifestyle trendsetter and spirits trailblazer” (as his reps describe him). In Vegas, Hagar has his Cabo Wabo Cantina on the Strip (celebrating its 15th anniversary this year), and now the Palms Pool has been reimagined and rebranded as “Sammy’s Island.” In a city where EDM rules the pool scene, this represents a little victory for rock and roll.
“Sammy’s Island” is billed as a “tropical, poolside oasis inspired by the legendary vibes of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer,” and it’s hard to miss the Hager-branded “Red Rocker Bungalows” as well as such menu items as “Red Rocker Mahi Mahi Tacos” and “Cabo Long Dog.”
Along with his bandmates Michael Anthony and Vic Johnson, Hagar performed at the grand opening bash on a warm Friday night. They joined rising rock band Red Voodoo during their set, and it was especially cool to hear the musicians jump headlong into a signature tune from Hagar’s old band Montrose: the riff-tastic Humble Pie-inspired “Rock Candy.”
This free show was packed wall-to-wall with fans and key Vegas media in the VIP area, including the Review Journal’s John Katsilometes, Al Mancini of the popular Vegas food app Neon Feast, Janna Karel of Eater Vegas, and celeb watcher/new-to-Vegas resident Perez Hilton.
All summer, ticketed “All-Star Jam” shows will take place at “Sammy’s Island.” On Saturday, July 20, look for Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath and Matt Scanell from Vertical Horizon, plus the Rembrandts and Emerson Hart.
2. Track #2: Balla Italian Soul @Sahara Las Vegas
With all the local chatter about parking rates on the Strip, it’s worth noting that there’s free valet and self-parking at The Sahara. A perk like this favors the hotel’s signature restaurants like The Noodle Den, Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres, and Balla Italian Soul by James Beard award-winning chef Shawn McClain.
Dining at Balla is a top-shelf experience, thanks to a finely conceived menu spotlighting Southern coastal Italian cuisine, an elegant, flatteringly lit ambiance, and impeccable service—our knowledgeable waiter was infectiously proud to be working there.
Balla’s culinary seduction began with a knockout beet salad, distinguished by agrodolce (the sweet-sour condiment), grapefruit, mint, basil, and toasted hazelnuts. The Casarecce (short twists of pasta originating in Italy’s Sicily region) was also unbeatable, with seasonal tomatoes, basil, garlic, and Calabrian pepper.
McClain’s deft touch was also felt in the grilled prawns entree, with its finely etched mix of white bean ragu, fennel, and nduja sausage (a spicy, Italian spreadable pork sausage). Creative cooking like this will keep us coming back to Balla.
3. Track #3: Sin Amor Studio @Arts District
Walking around the Arts District, it’s easy to stick to the central hub of activity on Main St. But pleasures also abound around the corner on buzzy Commerce St. That’s where you’ll find unique places like the nautical-themed Stray Pirate bar, Akin Cooperative (a self-described “lifestyle boutique featuring local artisans and a splash of beer and wine”), and the Good Wolf clothing/home decor store. On the same street is the intriguingly named Sin Amor Studio.
“Sin amor” means “loveless” in Spanish, but it’s easy to fall in love with this imaginative shop. It sells everything from luxury vintage clothing, bags, shoes, hats, and costume jewelry to paintings and framed photos of Las Vegas and Mexico by Latino and Chicano artists.
Owner Ruby Romero passionately curates the whole store with a Chicano influence that reflects her background in Vegas and LA. On a recent visit, Ruby proudly pointed out beautiful handmade necklaces from Mexico, where she sources items.
Romero’s dream with Sin Amor was to create a place where fashionistas, artists, low riders, and punk rockers could come together. She has succeeded. The store, which opened in late 2021, “is always evolving,” she says and reflects her keen, wide-ranging indie taste.
4. Track #4: Official Punk Rock Bowling Kickoff Party @Fremont Country Club
Good music abounded at the packed Fremont Country Club on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend. It was the official kickoff party for the three-day Punk Rock Bowling Music Festival.
PRB shows also took place at many downtown clubs, including Downtown Container Park. Between PRB and The Punk Rock Museum, Vegas is now the world’s punk rock epicenter.
The night at Fremont kicked off with the young, promising, and spelling-challenged Stratejacket. With their speedy rhythms and punchy melodies, the Bay Area trio appealingly came across like the sons of Green Day. Midway through their set, lead singer/guitarist Jackson Roemers couldn’t help but note: “We don’t know how to spell, man.”
Next up were the gloriously unhinged psychobilly LA band Calavera, the jumping neo-rockabilly UK group Polecats (maybe you remember their 1982 hit “Make A Circuit With Me”), and long-running influential UK band the Meteors. Fronted by the growling lead vocalist/guitarist P. Paul Fenech, the psychobilly band is touring behind a bracing new album, “40 Days A Rotting.”
I ran out of gas at midnight, so had to miss El Vez and special guest-billed Josie Cotton. Gotta sleep sometimes…
5. Track #5: Devo, Punk Rock Bowling Music Festival @Downtown Events Center
It was thrilling to see Devo headline the second day of the 24th edition of the glorious Punk Rock Bowling music festival at Downtown Event Center (the Akron, Ohio-formed band’s last PRB performance was in 2021).
Devo is currently celebrating a 50-year legacy. Decked out in their yellow jumpsuits and red Energy Dome hats, they still sound and look—commandingly—like a Dadaist art-rock band dialed in from some other planet, but with arena rock power.
Witness their staccato rhythms, old-school-sounding synths, and lyrics, which encompass their original theme that society, despite technical advancements, is actually “de-evolving.” All you have to do is scroll through social media for videos of unruly airline passengers being escorted off airplanes to know that Devo was right all along.
Hats off to festival head Shawn Stern for curating a lineup that mixed other legacy bands like Madness and the Descendants, with younger groups like LA’s glammy-but-noisy Starcrawler and The Chats from Australia. Let it be known that the take-no-prisoners Chats tore up the second stage with a skillfully vicious sound that instantly brought to mind American hardcore heroes Black Flag. I can easily picture The Chats headlining Punk Rock Bowling one day.
Meanwhile, Stern told me that the festival will return for its 25th anniversary next year.
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