Columnist Spencer Patterson: Movie stars stealing thunder from legit acts

Spencer Patterson

Friday, July 11, 2003 | 8:31 a.m.

From Elvis Presley to Madonna to Ice Cube, there's a long-standing tradition of music stars moving to the silver screen.

But what's this latest trend that has A-list actors taking their musical side projects on the road?

It was one thing when Keanu Reeves played some low-key gigs with his punk band, Dogstar, during the 1990s.

But it's quite another when Russell Crowe and other big-name Hollywood types expect fans to pony up big money to see what essentially amount to weekend warrior bands playing pedestrian rock 'n' roll.

Throughout July, Southern Nevadans have the chance to judge for themselves.

Dennis Quaid and the Sharks played the Sunset Station's Club Madrid on Saturday. Bruce Willis & The Accelerators perform tonight at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. And Billy Bob Thornton stops by the House of Blues on July 25.

Apart from the stuff in the film, "Great Balls of Fire," I haven't heard Quaid sing. But I have heard Willis and Thornton on CD, and both were thoroughly uninspiring, to say the least.

I'm not suggesting these guys shouldn't do what makes them happy. If they enjoy getting onstage on the weekend and playing some tunes, more power to them.

But what gets me is that plenty of celeb-worshippers will pay $40 per ticket just to be in the same room with them, while quality musical acts charging half as much play to half-full venues around town.

Quick hits

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

The Wallflowers return to Las Vegas for their second show this year at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Saturday night at 7. Tickets are $22 to $40 for the all-ages event.

Jakob Dylan's band is in the midst of its first-ever "acoustic" tour, though the son of legend Bob Dylan had this to say about it in a recent issue of Rolling Stone: "The Carter Family might have played acoustic, but I don't know if anybody has since. Once you plug in that first cable, y'know ..."

Trivia time: Name the '80s hit with the band that originally recorded it. 1. "My Sharona," 2. "I Melt With You," 3. "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)."

The answers: 1. The Knack, 2. Modern English and 3. A Flock of Seagulls.

If you got that right, you might enjoy Saturday night's concert at the Sunset Station Amphitheater, featuring all three acts. Tickets are $19 to $34, with doors opening at 7 p.m. No word yet on A Flock of Seagulls' singer Mike Score's hairstyle.

Warped Tour alums Something Corporate take a night off from their support tour with 311 to headline a four-band bill at the Huntridge Theatre Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Orange County, Calif., quintet is preparing the follow-up to debut album "Leaving Through the Window, with the new disc expected sometime this fall.

Three local bands share the bill: September Star, One More Weekend and Yesterdays Tomorrow. Tickets are $14 at the door.

On sale

Pat Benatar plays the Mandalay Beach on Aug. 12. Tickets are $32.50 in advance and $37.50 the day of the show and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 or online at ticketmaster.com.

The Mandalay Beach hosts India.Arie on Sept. 12. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the show and are on sale now at the Mandalay Bay box office and through TicketMaster.

Tickets for the Violent Femmes' Aug. 22 concert at the Palms' Skin Pool Lounge went on sale today. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show, and are available at the Palms' box office or through TicketMaster.

Trapt performs at the House of Blues on Aug. 21 with Smile Empty Soul and Three Days Grace. Tickets are $13 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the House of Blues box office, by phone at 632-7600, online at hob.com or through TicketMaster.

Tyrese and Ginuwine share the bill Aug. 27 at the House of Blues. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55 and go on sale Saturday at noon.

Tickets for two other upcoming House of Blues shows are on sale now: Evanescence with Cold, Cauterize and Revis on Aug. 7 ($25) and Static X with Lo-Pro on Aug. 15 ($20).

Also, the Sex Pistols have announced dates for an upcoming U.S. tour, including a stopover at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on Sept. 5. Ticket information has not been released.