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COMPLEX AS EVER
Last year’s ComplexCon raised an exceptionally high bar for celebrity-filled festivals. The two-day event, dedicated to fashion, hip-hop, art and sneakers, attracted a whopping 60,000 people to the Las Vegas Convention Center and featured A-list rappers like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, Machine Gun Kelly and Offset. Travis Scott and Playboi Carti headlined 2024’s lineup, and this year’s installment has kept that momentum going.
ComplexCon returns October 25-26 with more than 300 exclusive brands, large-scale concerts and an even stronger vision for its culturally rich festival. Global rap stars Yeat and Young Thug will headline, with additional performances from Peso Pluma, Central Cee, 2hollis and Ken Carson. Tickets are on sale at complexcon.com.
HIGH SCORES
A great video game soundtrack heightens emotions, but the best ones linger long after you’ve set the controller down. PlayStation The Concert, a live spectacle celebrating the best scores in gaming, will fully leverage that feeling with a live band, layered projections and stunning immersive visuals when it comes to the Smith Center on February 1. At the concert, you’ll experience the emotional music of The Last of Us and God of War, and adventurous symphonies from Horizon: Zero Dawn, Journey and more. Scores were reimagined for this live experience, in collaboration with original composers like the award-winning Gustavo Santaolalla and Ilan Eshkeri of Ghost of Tsushima. Tickets go on sale this week at thesmithcenter.com.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Dark Black has called it quits after announcing on Instagram that Matthew Frantom (vocals/guitar) is moving away. The post-punk band played its final show at the Griffin on June 4, sending off Frantom with a party and live sets from Soft Echo and Same Sex Mary. Earlier this year, Dark Black celebrated the release of YAH, a full-length album the Weekly described as “a snapshot of a journey. It bears witness to the band’s evolution since its start in 2015, both musically and personally.” Here’s to the next adventure for these talented folks.
We’ve covered a breakup, but how about a reunion? Local nu-funk rockers Amarionette has announced the return of its original singer Quin White—at least for one night. The special show will take place at the Usual Place on August 22. Since White departed in 2018, Spencer “I$$y” Berry has fronted Amarionette, but he also recently stepped away to work on his solo project (check out “Lady in Red”). This reunion promises to rekindle the chemistry that’s made Amarionette a local staple since 2010.
With Count’s Vamp’d closing for good on June 28, promoter John Gist has been forced to find a new home for Planet Desert Rock Weekend—and it appears he has. The epic heavy-psych, doom and desert rock fest will commence at the Usual Place on January 29-31, with last call performances at Swan Dive on February 1. Count’s has been a tried-and-true base for PDRW for years, but Gist has hosted several successful shows at the Usual Place, too. Booking two venues allows PDRW to accommodate its growing list of international acts. Next year’s lineup will see Norway’s the Devil & the Almighty Blues, Italy’s Issak and Sweden’s Huanastone playing their first U.S. shows, as well as legacy stoner rock bands like Atomic Bitchwax, sets from High Desert Queen and The Well and more to be announced.
LOUNGING AROUND
Over on the Strip, Easy’s Cocktail Lounge at Aria is still one of the best spots to catch intimate performances over cocktails. Pop singer Mackenzie Sol, who has appeared on American Idol, The X Factor and in Shin Lim’s Limitless magic show at the Palazzo Theatre, will kick off a new residency at the speakeasy on July 2, every Wednesday at 8 p.m.
If headbanging is more your jam, The Copa Room at Tuscany Suites & Casino has upgraded its sound system to handle more intimate rock shows. In a press release, general manager Grayson McNees says he pulled inspiration from LA’s legendary Viper Room to perfect the experience. System of a Down tribute band BYOB kicks it off on July 12, followed by singer-songwriter Franky Perez on July 19, cover band Smashing Alice on July 26 and Scorpions tribute band Lovedrive on August 2.
SHOW TIME
Evel Pie celebrates love, Pride Month and pizza on June 26 with Evel Pride, a show featuring sets by hardcore punk trio Twist Off, indie rock band The October and Vegas’ Mourning Tide and Biff … Melodic singer Jae Douglass unplugs with an acoustic set to Taverna Costera on June 28 … The electronic sorcerers of Spelling Hands play with Seattle’s Dark Chisme at Swan Dive on July 3 … Secos will support Canadian indie-pop trio Valley at 24 Oxford at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on July 18, making this the second time the local rock group has opened for a major touring artist (see: Keanu Reeves’ Dogstar in 2023), and it likely won’t be the last.
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