Las Vegas Mixtape v27: Racing, Rock Goddesses, and Retro Vibes

Track #2: Roni Lee and “Rock Goddesses of Las Vegas” @Backstage Bar & Billiards

As the end of 2024 draws near, it’s important to remember that people need people, and community is everything. At downtown’s adjoining Fremont Country Club and Backstage Bar & Billiards, co-owners Ava Berman and Carlos Adley foster a strong sense of community among the rock musicians who regularly perform at both venues.

One example is singer, songwriter, and fiery guitarist Roni Lee, who recently staged her loosely formatted “Rock Goddesses of Las Vegas” birthday bash at Backstage. Given her musical background as a member of Venus and the Razorblades, the pioneering L.A. punk band formed under Kim Fowley’s post-Runaways vision in 1976, Roni’s music projected strength and attitude, particularly on the Bif Naked song “Love Myself Today.” 

The evening also showcased other female Vegas rockers, including supersonic bassist Betty Vance and the heavy Voxxx, whose set mixed raw power and sexuality (adult performer Victoria Voxxx fronts the band). There were also raucous covers with the evening’s guests all joined together on rocked-up versions of Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” and Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade.”

Catching up with Roni after the show, she told me: “I’ve always been a supporter of women in the rock industry.  Mostly dominated by men, we usually have to be twice as good to be considered 1/2 as good. After many decades, I have no malice towards our awesome male counterparts (and how great they used to look in our spandex), but shining a light on women and our love of the genre has always been a passion of mine.”

Look for Roni’s next EP, “Feels Good to Be Bad,” in early 2025. It features her stylized version of the Michael Jackson song “Dirty Diana,” with a video filmed at (where else?) Fremont Country Club.