Columnist Spencer Patterson: Fans seeking Talent will find it at House of Blues

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Feb. 20, 2004 | 8:45 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.

If you're headed to tonight's punk rock show at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, keep an eye out for Billy Talent near the bar after the opening act finishes its set.

The Canadian quartet are known for hanging with their fans after performances, sometimes for several hours.

Just don't ask them which one is named Billy.

"We get that pretty frequently," vocalist Ben Kowalewicz said in a phone interview from Edmonton's Iron Horse nightclub. "It's like Hootie & the Blowfish, you know? Which one is Hootie? Which one is Billy?"

Billy Talent kicks off Saturday's bill, which also features Simply Plan, MxPX and Sugarcult. Tickets are sold out to the all-ages event. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Kowalewicz's band used to be called Pezz, but another group with the same name threatened legal action if the name wasn't changed.

"They could have sued us, but when you have zero dollars you're not gonna get very much," Kowalewicz, 28, said. "But we let them have it. And I heard they disbanded as well, so whatever."

Undaunted, Kowalewicz and his three bandmates -- guitarist Ian D'Sa, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk -- plucked their new moniker from the 1996 fake rockumentary "Hard Core Logo," which featured a character named Billy Tallent.

"The guy who played Billy Tallent is named Callum Keith Rennie, and he's my favorite Canadian actor," Kowalewicz said. "He was in 'Memento,' and a bunch of other underground-type movies. So we love the name."

Billy Talent the band spent 11 years together, dating back to their school days in Ontario, before drawing attention from major record labels.

Then suddenly, the group found itself at the center of a signing battle, the result of an impressive six-song demo CD. Atlantic ultimately won it, and released the band's self-titled major debut last September.

The album reached No. 6 on the Canadian charts, No. 11 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart and even nicked the Billboard 200 (No. 194).

"It's the holy grail, being able to pay your rent and play music," Kowalewicz said. "We knew that perseverance and hard work would pay off, but to what extent we weren't sure. So this is just blowing our minds, what's happening now."

The band's Atlantic disc has been termed "punk revival" by several music critics. Far from the poppy punk so prevalent on radio today, Billy Talent's songs are crunchy and edgy, yet still catchy enough to hook in listeners.

While many of his peers sing about prom dates and summer breaks, Kowalewicz takes a more serious approach. Child abuse and a friend's multiple sclerosis diagnosis are two subjects touched on in his lyrics.

But you won't find Kowalewicz slagging pop-punk, at least not publicly. He and the other members of Billy Talent are just happy to be sharing bills with other major-label success stories.

"We'll play with whoever, whenever," Kowalewicz said. "There's a lot of bands I don't like musically, but I give them props for doing what they want to do. And obviously, if there's a market for it, so be it."

Still, Kowalewicz identifies more with old-school punk bands such as the Buzzcocks. Last year Billy Talent held down the opening slot for that esteemed British outfit, learning firsthand from one of the genre's all-time greats.

"It was weird hanging out with (Buzzcocks frontman) Pete Shelley and hearing him talk about doing the 'White Riot' tour with the Clash," Kowalewicz said. "We crossed America with them and became good friends. It was a dream come true."

On sale

The "Ladies First Tour" featuring Beyonce, Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys lands at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on April 16. Tickets are $75.50 and $90.50 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Dido plays The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on May 30. Tickets are $53 and go on sale Saturday at noon at the Hard Rock box office and through TicketMaster.

The "Jagermeister Music Tour" featuring Slipknot, Fear Factory and Chimaira stops at the House of Blues on May 8. Tickets are $28 and were to go on sale today at 10 a.m. through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.

This year's "SnoCore Tour" featuring Trapt, Smile Empty Soul, Finger 11 and Strata touches down at the House of Blues on May 19. Tickets are $15.50 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.

Tickets are on sale now for James Brown's May 21 House of Blues concert. Tickets are $47.50, $65 and $80.

Method Man has rescheduled his postponed House of Blues show for April 25. Tickets are $22.50 and $30 and were to go on sale today at 10 a.m.

Tanya Tucker plays the House of Blues on March 24. Tickets are $22, $30 and $35 and are on sale now.

Smothering Corporate, Yellowcard and Steriogram team for a March 19 House of Blues concert. Tickets are $17.50 and were to go on sale today.