Friday, Dec. 26, 2003 | 8:41 a.m.
Spencer Patterson covers music for the Sun. His music notes column appears Fridays. Reach him at [email protected] or (702) 259-2309.
The past couple of weeks, Feedback has looked back at the year that was, first its top new albums and then its best local shows.
Now, as has become our annual New Year's tradition, we look ahead at the year to come, with a few of the burning issues facing Southern Nevada's ever-expanding music scene as 2004 approaches.
1. Will Celine be a trendsetter? Once upon a time, the Strip was home to live-in superstar headliners, who spent weeks at a time performing in the same Las Vegas showroom while still in their prime.
Celine Dion jump-started that tradition again in March, opening a three-year engagement at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Another mega-star, Elton John, was close behind, committing to several weeks during Dion's 2004 off-nights at the Colosseum.
How many others will follow their lead? Everyone from Madonna to Stevie Wonder has expressed interest, though it remains to be seen whether anyone of that stature will actually follow through.
The guess here is that if Dion's shows continue to sell out well past the one-year mark, and if John's concerts are successful, a few more bright stars might land among the neon.
2. What will happen to the Huntridge? You can't blame local music fans for wringing their hands over the news that the Huntridge Theatre is going dark.
Sure, the announced plan is for renovations, not permanent closure. But considering the often rocky history of the historic building -- not to mention Southern Nevada's history of chewing up and spitting out local venues -- there's legitimate cause for concern.
Huntridge owner Eli Mizrachi certainly sounds sincere about his desire to add a second staging area, a restaurant and more bar space. And lord knows the bathrooms could use an overhaul.
But if spring turns into summer and the place hasn't reopened, don't be surprised if it sits dormant for the rest of next year, if not longer.
3. What will the House of Blues think of next? The 2003 award for venue ingenuity goes to the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, hands down.
The venue showed an uncommon determination to host acts from all genres. Where else could you see 50 Cent, Willie Nelson, Lisa Marie Presley and the Vines all on the same stage? (No, not at the same time, though that would be interesting.)
The HOB introduced its Crossroads series this year, bringing in lesser-known artists and bands for performances in one of the facility's smaller rooms.
The venue is now also home to Juice nights, during which top hip-hop DJs spin tunes, electronica DJ sets and late-night dance parties.
Best of all, the House of Blues keeps ticket prices relatively reasonable -- at least by Las Vegas standards -- making it possible for locals to attend the shows they only hear about at some of the other small venues.
4. Will booking agents continue to ignore Southern Nevada? While most touring regulars have long since acknowledged the growth of little 'ol Las Vegas, a few headliners don't seem to realize there's big money to be made on and around the Strip.
Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Radiohead, the Dead and the Dave Matthews Band were just a few of the big names to pass over Southern Nevada in 2003.
The major summer festivals -- Lollapalooza, the Vans Warped Tour, OzzFest and Summer Sanitarium -- also opted out of Vegas, and many top indie-rock acts continue to criss-cross the country without so much as a look in our direction.
With more than 1 million residents here and thousands of tourists flooding in every weekend, it must be a matter of perception rather than any fiscal concern that still keeps musicians away.
That was certainly the case for iconoclastic rocker Lou Reed, who finally made his local debut this year. Of course, after battling a noisy crowd all night, it's likely Mr. Reed will be back on the no-Vegas list, probably for good.
5. Will the Killers catch on stateside? It sounds bizarre, considering the New Wave revivalists actually reside here in Las Vegas. But they are far bigger across that Atlantic at the moment than on American soil.
The four-piece local outfit signed its first record contract with UK label Lizard King, scored a hit on British radio ("Mr. Brightside") and recently toured the Isles with buzz band British Sea Power.
Yet most people in Southern Nevada have never even heard of them.
That could change soon. The Killers recently signed with U.S. conglomerate Island/Def Jam Records and are said to be finishing their full-length debut album.
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