Columnist Spencer Patterson: Memo to Cox cable: We want our MTV2

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Feb. 7, 2003 | 9:49 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.

Ever wonder where all the music videos went?

They certainly aren't on MTV anymore. These days, that network is too busy airing "Real World" vs. "Road Rules" reruns to take notice of actual music.

Instead, MTV passes most of the music videos on to its sister station, MTV2. Not that any of Las Vegas' cable subscribers would know anything about that. Unfortunately, Cox Communications does not include the network among its lineup of more than 150 channels.

"To the best of my knowledge, Cox in Las Vegas has no current plans to add MTV2," Stephanie Stallworth, Cox's director of public affairs, said this week.

Cox cable carries MTV and VH1 as part of its preferred basic package, and offers Canadian video music channel MuchMusic on its digital upgrade.

But for those of us who grew up, for better or worse, with our TV fixed almost permanently on MTV, MuchMusic really doesn't offer much. The station, channel 346 on Cox's digital tuner, repeats its miniscule selection of videos over and over throughout the day and offers little in the way of music analysis or news.

MTV, meanwhile, has carried on MTV's once-strong tradition of introducing the public to new sounds. Shows such as "120 Minutes" and "Unplugged 2.0" (a retooled version of the original "Unplugged" concert series) are still going strong, and the network also offers daily countdowns of both rock and hip-hop videos.

Of course, I don't know a lot about it, having never actually seen any of its content. To do that, I would be forced to switch over to a satellite TV provider such as Direct TV or Dish Network, both of whom offer MTV2 to subscribers.

Cox has several excuses ready for anyone who asks about the possibility of adding MTV2 to the lineup.

"We're always open to customer feedback, but it's a very involved process," Stallworth said. "There are pricing issues, there's a space issue -- bandwith is limited -- and there are contractual challenges."

Be that as it may, Cox should take a look at a simple solution that wouldn't seem to require increasing bandwith or making a significant price adjustment: drop MuchMusic and give its slot to MTV2, the one video music channel that continues to break new ground.

Music notes

Osbourne family road trip: Las Vegas will play host to not one, but two members of the Osbourne family in the month of March.

On March 8 Ozzy's daughter, Kelly Osbourne, will perform at the Huntridge Theatre. Osbourne has parlayed the success of her family's MTV reality show into a budding music career, releasing her full-length debut, "Shut Up," in 2002.

On March 14 Ozzy Osbourne returns to town for a concert at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Tickets for Kelly's show are $10 and on sale at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 or online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets for Ozzy's show are $155.50 and $305.50 and go on sale Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Hard Rock box office, by phone at 693-5066 and through Ticketmaster.

Closing the Doors?: Las Vegans may have witnessed the final appearance of the Doors, at least if former drummer John Densmore has anything to say about it.

As the band prepares for tonight's show in Universal City, Calif., which comes three weeks after a Jan. 19 concert at the Palms, Densmore has filed legal papers in an attempt to keep former bandmates Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger from performing as the Doors.

Last year Manzarek and Krieger began teaming with Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland, performing Doors material and calling themselves "The Doors," or in the case of the Las Vegas show, "The Doors for the 21st Century."

"The Doors are Jim, John, Ray and Robbie," Rolling Stone magazine quoted Densmore as saying. "I don't care if they want to call themselves 'former members of the Doors,' 'the Hinges' or 'the Windows.' I just want clarity. I don't want deception."

Furthermore, Densmore denied reports that he was unable to participate in the reunion due to severe ear damage, instead claiming that he did not feel comfortable playing in the band without deceased frontman Jim Morrison.

Jamming with Tiger: Bon Jovi and the Goo Goo Dolls have been confirmed for this year's "Tiger Jam VI," a charity benefit that will take place April 19 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Tickets are $45-$125 and are available at the Mandalay Bay box office and through Ticketmaster.

Resurrecting the Dead: The Dark Star Orchestra, one of the world's premier Grateful Dead tribute bands, has found a new home for its Feb. 22 Las Vegas appearance. The concert, originally scheduled for the defunct Blue Note Las Vegas, has been moved to Glo at the Hop, 1650 E. Tropicana Ave.

Cheesy engagement: Modern lounge sensations Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine has begun a two-month run at Sunset Station's Club Madrid last weekend. The group will perform each Sunday through March 30 (except March 23) beginning at 10 p.m. Admission is free to locals age 21 and over.

Quick hits

The Huntridge plays host to several intriguing shows in an otherwise quiet week in Southern Nevada.

Boston-based punk outfit Dropkick Murphys perform tonight at 7 with the Unseen and the Forgotten. Tickets are $15.

Punk throwbacks the Circle Jerks and G.B.H. co-headline a 7 p.m. show Saturday. Both founded in 1979, the bands have traveled along divergent paths over the years, with G.B.H. staying together for more than 20 years and the Circle Jerks disbanding and then reuniting on several occasions along the way. Tickets are $17.50.

Tuesday the venue welcomes Kittie, a female metal trio from Canada, for a 7 p.m. concert. Sworn Enemy, 18 Visions and Brand New Sin share the bill. Tickets are $15.

And Wednesday hardcore Christian rockers Norma Jean hold court at the Huntridge at 7 p.m. The band, once known as Luti-Kriss, changed its name to avoid being confused with rapper Ludacris. Beloved, Me Without You and A Silence Fell open. Tickets are $10.

On sale

Audioslave plays The Joint on March 15. Tickets are $35.50 and go on sale Saturday at noon at the Hard Rock box office or through Ticketmaster.

Ludacris performs March 15 at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. Tickets are $35 to $55 and are on sale at the House of Blues box office, by phone at 632-7600, online at hob.com or through Ticketmaster.

Dwight Yoakam will play an acoustic show Feb. 28 at Boulder Station's Railhead. Tickets are $25 to $52 and are on sale at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, at any Station casino, by phone at 547-5300 or online at unlvtickets.com.

Tickets for this year's Area 51 Soundtest 3-D presented by the Las Vegas Jam Band Society are also on sale. The festival, April 11 to April 13 in Indian Springs, will feature moe., Particle and Uberschall, among other acts. Tickets are $55 through March 1 through UNLV tickets.