Planning works in concert for LV Centennial show

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 | 8:14 a.m.

Driving along Russell Road about 5 p.m. Saturday, I couldn't shake a creeping feeling of impending doom.

I was headed to catch the Las Vegas Centennial rock concert, which would afford me the chance to review a pair of typically strong live acts, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Weezer.

But as the long-awaited, free-to-the-public show drew closer, my concern over the event's uncertain logistics began to overshadow any prospect of the music itself.

How would packing a crowd of about 50,000 onto the Silver Bowl Sports Complex's soccer fields -- a spot never used for such a large-scale show -- work out?

What would traffic into and out of the event area be like, not to mention the parking situation?

And how would temperatures of more than 100 degrees on one of the year's hottest days factor into an equation that appeared rather bleak in my mind's eye?

As I pulled into my driveway some seven hours later, however, my thoughts were primarily of the songs I'd heard. None of my worst fears had been realized.

Though preparations for Saturday's happening appeared scatterbrained at times -- consider the show was moved to its ultimate location less than two weeks out -- organizers deserve credit for putting together a safe, enjoyable event.

The decision to switch sites proved a great one, as the grassy soccer fields provided a far cooler, more comfortable experience than the asphalt of the Las Vegas Convention Center's gold parking lot would have.

Cups of free water were available at tents throughout the concert enclosure, and misting stations also helped keep most concert-goers from getting too overheated.

A spokesman for the Clark County Fire Department painted a rosy picture afterward: no fatalities, one seizure and only a handful of attendees treated for dehydration or other heat-related ailments.

Likewise, the news was good from a Metro Police spokesman: no arrests, with a few individuals escorted from the venue for minor offenses such as fighting.

Event planners wisely made sure the mass of humanity couldn't force its way forward and crush fans near the stage. A fence separated the front section of the lawn, and wristbands were handed out to the first 10,000 or so early arrivals.

Those without wristbands could not gain access to the area around the stage, and officers on horseback made sure it stayed that way by making their presence felt near the fence's portals.

As for the music, on a day in which London, Paris, Philadelphia and other cities around the world staged free concerts in conjunction with Live 8, Las Vegas' own celebration earned plenty of kudos in its own right.

Long-lost Southern California punk band the Adolescents got it all started about 6:30 p.m.

The quartet's aggressive, hardcore sound was lost on most of the early crowd -- a few people even kept their fingers in their ears for the entire set -- but the Adolescents' songs were actually quite melodic, as their genre goes.

Vocalist Tony Cadena's announcement that one number was "the title track from our seventh album" brought laughter and incredulous looks from those who assumed the band was some unknown, new-to-the-scene outfit.

In reality, though, the Adolescents were key figures in the early 1980s California punk movement, and Saturday's high-energy performance was fairly momentous as it precedes the band's first tour in 16 years.

Weezer took the stage next, and the geek-rockers' catchy melodies and bubblegum pop harmonies were far more to the crowd's liking.

Thousands sang along to such alternative hits as "Say it Ain't So," "Undone (The Sweater Song)" and "Island in the Sun" as the sun set behind the mammoth stage erected for the event.

Early in Weezer's set, I was struck by the crystal clear sound emanating from the giant speakers, which allowed me to detect each note from each instrument, and to make out every word from spectacled frontman Rivers Cuomo's lips. I can say from experience that festival setups rarely sound so clear.

With the band's trademark "W" flashing in the background, Cuomo and his mates finished strong, reeling off current single "Beverly Hills" and older favorites "Buddy Holly" and "Hash Pipe" before exiting to a burst of guitar distortion.

Weezer's nonchalant stage attitude won't soon be confused with the Chili Peppers' frenetic live approach, but on this night, the "support act" did outshine the headliner musically.

The Peppers got off to a mighty start. With the field of fans revved up and ready to go, the funk-rock foursome front-loaded their set with poppy hits off their latest two albums, including "By the Way," "Scar Tissue" and "Otherside."

The band was its typically intense visual spectacle. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis jumped and spun in circles; guitarist John Frusciante shook his long, curly hair as he soloed; and bassist Flea -- wearing only white brief underpants -- kept the propeller atop his baseball cap spinning all night as he raged around the stage.

About 45 minutes into the Chili Peppers' set, however, momentum began to sag.

The band played a couple of new songs, slated for the upcoming album, and the crowd's attention started to drift. Frusciante sang disco favorite "I Feel Love" in a strange falsetto. The quartet even covered Looking Glass' 1970s soft-rock staple "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)."

Between numbers, Kiedis and Flea rambled about Live 8, perhaps feeling guilty they were celebrating Vegas' 100th anniversary, rather than helping to raise awareness about world poverty.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who had led the audience through "Happy Birthday" earlier, couldn't have been pleased to hear the duo paint a sleazy picture of his town by encouraging prostitutes and crack dealers to donate their night's earnings to Live 8.

Kiedis also faltered vocally at points during the show, failing to compare to the strong-voiced singer I've seen lead the band during the handful of other times I've caught their act.

Flea, Frusciante and the vastly underrated Smith were right on, though, teaming for some glorious three-man instrumental jams now and again.

Even better was Flea's turn at the trumpet to lead off the encore. Backed only by Frusciante on bass, the classically trained trumpeter reeled off a series of mean chops before declaring, "Hey, that was fun."

The crowd had thinned considerably by then, but plenty remained to see the band finish with "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away," a bit perfunctory but still fun.

By the time the $100,000 fireworks display began, I was back in my car, headed for home.

So with my skepticism over the event's probable success now entirely melted away, I have just one question: Can we do it again next year to celebrate the 101st?