Columnist Spencer Patterson: Velvet Revolver takes a shot at The Joint

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 11, 2004 | 10:01 a.m.

Get your fill of Velvet Revolver tonight, Southern Nevadans. Odds are, the band won't be around long enough to make a return visit.

Supergroups typically don't foster longevity. The last one to come through town -- Billy Corgan brainchild Zwan -- didn't make it a full year after its lone Las Vegas appearance in December 2002.

And as if the pressure of blending giant-sized musical egos wasn't enough, Velvet Revolver has chosen one Scott Weiland as its frontman.

You'd have thought ex-Guns N' Roses mates Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum had learned their lesson after years of dealing with Axl Rose's antics.

Yet the trio -- who are joined by ex-Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner -- tapped the infamous former Stone Temple Pilots vocalist for their new project.

The much-hyped quintet stops at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel at 8 tonight. The Living Things open the sold-out show.

Weiland is quite familiar with the Hard Rock, having been arrested there and charged with battery in November 2001 after an alleged fight with his wife. Reportedly, he later pleaded guilty to the charge.

That incident only scratches the surface of Weiland's legal docket. He has reportedly been arrested four times for drug possession -- most recently in May 2003 -- and ran afoul of the law again last October for driving under the influence on his 36th birthday.

Sounds like the ideal guy to lead a new musical venture, right?

Slash, for one, seems to think he can make it work.

"Scott always wants to work, and that's a change," he told Newsweek recently. "With Axl, it was impossible to get him to do anything.

"Scott's whole problem is tangible -- it's just a drug problem. It's not something completely insane that we can't understand."

In that same story, Weiland acknowledges the train wreck potential of Velvet Revolver's live show, terming it "the Evil Knievel factor.

If early reviews are to be believed, Velvet Revolver may also hold some musical promise.

Set lists have included Guns N' Roses, Stone Temple Pilots and even Nirvana covers, along with heavy doses of the band's debut disc, "Contraband," scheduled for a Tuesday release.

Not surprisingly, the album hearkens to GNR's late-'80s blues-metal heyday, blended with the crunchier approach of 1990s STP. Slash remains a force on lead guitar, and Weiland does a competent job with the vocals.

Now let's see if the troubled singer can hold it together long enough to make Velvet Revolver anything more than another post-GNR passing fancy.

Music notes

Re-enter the Wu-Tang: Hard-core hip-hop fans take notice: The Wu-Tang Clan has announced plans for a reunion performance at this year's "Rock the Bells" festival July 17 in San Bernardino, Calif., a 3 1/2-hour drive from Las Vegas.

All 10 Wu-Tang members are scheduled to participate: RZA, GZA, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, Ghostface, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna. Also on the bill: Redman, Dilated Peoples, Sage Francis, Eyedea & Abilities and Jurassic 5 members Chali 2na and DJ Nu-Mark.

HOB cancellations: Two scheduled shows at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay have been canceled: Mary Chapin Carpenter tonight and Carl Thomas with Floetry on June 25.

Refunds are available at original points of purchase.

Quick hits

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

Fugees alum Wyclef Jean plays a 21-and-over show at the Palms' Skin Pool Lounge at 7 tonight. The rapper released his latest solo disc, "The Preacher's Son," to considerable acclaim in October. Tickets are $30.

Country heartthrob Kenny Chesney teams with ACM Vocal Group of the Year Rascal Flatts and one-time Kid Rock DJ Uncle Kracker for a concert at the Mandalay Bay Events Center at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $47.25-$89.25.

Earlier this year Chesney and Uncle Kracker collaborated on good-time country single "When the Sun Goes Down," the title cut on Chesney's latest album.

Singer-songwriter Jewel continues to make her Las Vegas rounds with a performance at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel at 8 p.m. Sunday. Over the past few months, the Alaska native has also appeared at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts and the Golden Nugget's Theatre Ballroom.

Also on Sunday's bill: Joe Firstman and Anne Heaton. Tickets are $50.50-$75.50.

On sale

David Byrne performs with the four-piece Tosca Strings ensemble at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Aug. 31. Tickets are $25-$45 and were to go on sale at 11 a.m. today at the House of Blues box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Courtney Love plays the House of Blues on July 18. Tickets are $20-$35 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.

Sonic Youth teams with Le Tigre and Wolf Eyes for a July 23 House of Blues show. Tickets are $22-$30 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.

The "Chicks With Attitude Tour" featuring Liz Phair, the Cardigans, Katy Rose and Charlotte Martin lands at the House of Blues on Aug. 21. Tickets are $25-$35 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.