Columnist Spencer Patterson: Perez tops expectations in Mandalay Bay show

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Aug. 22, 2003 | 8:40 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers music for the Sun. His music notes column appears Fridays. Reach him at spencer@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-2309.

Midway through his set Wednesday night, Franky Perez raised both fists to the sky in triumph.

It was a fitting gesture, as the Las Vegas native had much to celebrate. The performance -- in support of veteran blues-rock headliners ZZ Top -- marked another major step in Perez's rise to prominence, coming in front of a crowd of more than 5,000 at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Though Perez's brand of rootsy, soulful rock might seem best suited to cramped, sweaty nightclub venues, he and his four-piece band, Highway Saints, adapted to their cavernous environment rather easily.

The 27-year-old singer/songwriter had early arriving ZZ Top fans bobbing their heads and stomping their feet during an energetic 45-minute set. Perez also received plenty of support from the hometown folks, several of whom shouted his name between songs and waved when he gazed in their direction.

"Not bad for a poor homeboy, poor hometown boy from Las Vegas, Nevada, right?" Perez asked his audience before launching into his first number.

Dressed simply in jeans, boots and a plain black T-shirt, Perez poured emotion into his music, songs with heartfelt, working-class motifs from his Lava Records debut album, "Poor Man's Son."

He was demonstrative throughout, dancing around the large stage when he wasn't alternating between his electric guitar and a set of large green bongo drums. His band, which includes three other local products, drew its lead from Perez, playing with an intensity only hinted at on the CD.

The quintet included two cover songs in its performance: the Box Tops' "The Letter" and the Allman Brothers' "Whipping Post." During the latter, Perez paused to tell the story of his Cuban-born father, who worked as a Caesars Palace waiter for 26 years.

Perez also worked out two solo acoustic numbers before the Highway Saints rejoined him for "Something Crazy," the single which has received considerable airplay on VH1 and FM radio stations this year.

Perez appeared loose and comfortable despite the obvious pressure to impress ZZ Top's demanding diehards. Even when the house lights came up early, Perez remained calm, telling the arena crew to leave them on so he could see all the faces in the crowd.

He made just one notable mistake, not thanking the headlining Texas trio for the opportunity. He'll get a chance to rectify that Saturday night, when he opens for them again in Kelseyville, Calif.

As for ZZ Top, guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard were predictably solid. During a somewhat brief 90-minute set, the three men reached back for such early favorites as "La Grange," "Just Got Paid" and "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide," and debuted several songs from upcoming release "Mescalero."

Several locals who had been in the arena earlier weren't there to witness Gibbons' searing guitar leads, Hill's rib-rattling bass work or Beard's powerhouse drumming, however. For them, the evening's main attraction ended when Perez thanked his fans, waved and headed toward the stands to find a few of his hometown friends.

Music notes

Pack 'o rat: Rhino Records is set to release a monumental piece of Rat Pack memorabilia: "Live & Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection." The two-disc package -- one DVD and one CD -- is slated for an Oct. 14 release.

The CD will feature material from six December 1962 concerts by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr, while the DVD will present the only known filmed 1960s performance by the trio. None of the music has previously been available to the public.

Parking lot rock: The local "Lift Ticket" concert series continues with two shows in September at the Summerlin Smoothie King, 8502 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

On Sept. 6, the bill will feature: Introspect, Lemon 15, 7 Foot Midget, Dirty Sanchez and Poster Kid. Scheduled acts for Sept. 20: Bodies Burn, Down for the County, Last Hour in Paris, Of Faith and Without Prayer.

Admission is $5, with proceeds going to Shade Tree shelter for women and children.

Back on board: The "Billboard Music Awards" show returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 10, organizers announced this week. The event will be broadcast live on the East Coast and tape delayed for viewing in Las Vegas.

Quick hits

A look at a few of the shows scheduled to hit Southern Nevada in the next week:

College rock veterans the Violent Femmes play the Palms' Skin Pool Lounge tonight at 7. The band is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its seminal self-titled debut album, which was reissued in 2002 with 24 additional bonus tracks.

Tickets to the all-ages show are $25.

Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan brings his first U.S. solo tour to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday night at 8. Gahan released his solo debut, "Paper Monsters," in June.

Opening the show: Nigerian-born Kenna, a Depeche-Mode fan from way back, judging from the synth-pop on his debut album, "New Sacred Cow." Tickets are $44.50 and $55.50.

Folk-rocker Michelle Shocked performs with her band at 8 p.m. Saturday night at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater. Admission is $8 in advance, $10 at the gate and free for children under 12.

Known for her strong political and feminist views, Shocked burst onto the scene in 1986 with "The Texas Campfire Tapes," an impromptu live session recorded by a British producer on his Sony Walkman. The original album was expanded in April as "The Texas Campfire Takes."

On Wednesday, the New Amsterdams -- side project for Get Up Kids' vocalist/guitarist Matt Pryor -- headline the Huntridge Theatre at 7 p.m. Also on the bill: Jesse Malin, Rocky Votolato and Yesterdays Tomorrow. Tickets are $10.

On sale

Fleetwood Mac is back at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Oct. 18. Tickets are $85, $125 and $250 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the MGM box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 or at ticketmaster.com.

The Palms' Rain in the Desert hosts Kid Rock on Sept. 21. Tickets are $85 and $175 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Palms box office and through TicketMaster.

Tickets for the String Cheese Incident's Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 shows at the Cox Pavilion will be available Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets are $65 for both shows or $35 for one night and can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, at UNLVtickets outlets, by phone at 739-3267 or at cc.com or unlvtickets.com.

Tantric stops by the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Oct. 25. Tickets are $13 and go on sale Saturday at noon at the House of Blues box office, by phone at 632-7600, at hob.com and through TicketMaster.

Tickets for three other House of Blues concerts are on sale now: Bob Schneider on Sept. 5 ($10, $12), the Psychedelic Furs on Sept. 21 ($20, $25, $30) and Atmosphere on Sept. 28 ($15).