Columnist Spencer Patterson: The Trail of Dead has made a name for itself

Spencer Patterson

Friday, May 27, 2005 | 8:41 a.m.

If an epic sound requires an epic name, ... And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead certainly found one to fit the bill.

The Texas rock band's 10-word moniker -- preceded by a strange ellipsis -- conjures images of battling warriors wielding mighty swords. And, co-founder Jason Reece figures, it isn't for everybody.

"Our name is probably gonna scare away people who are a little more conservative," said Reece, who plays guitar and drums, among other instruments, for the group. "When we came up with that name, it was a way to horrify people and see what kind of reaction we could get out of them."

Though it remains mainly an underground phenomenon, Trail of Dead's brash style of music also tends to provoke strong reactions for those who hear it.

Fourth album "Worlds Apart," which was released in January, has been lionized as an art-rock classic by some critics, dismissed as overreaching junk by others.

Judge the band's unique sound for yourself tonight, when Trail of Dead blazes its way into the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay for its first Las Vegas performance.

Doors to the 18-and-over show open at 6:30 p.m., with the (International) Noise Conspiracy and We Are Wolves slated to open. Tickets are $17.

Together since the mid-1990s, Trail of Dead made its biggest mark with 2002's "Source Tags & Codes," a fantastic blend of dreamy indie rock and in-your-face, border- line-hardcore punk.

The disc was met with considerable industry buzz, and with major-label Interscope Records behind it, Trail of Dead appeared poised for further conquests.

And then three years went by, without a full-length follow-up. Looking back, Reece wishes the band had worked faster.

"To me, we took too long," he said in a phone interview before a show at the Fillmore in San Francisco on Wednesday. "We're definitely not going to let that happen again. We're here for only so long. We might as well take advantage of that time."

Between albums, Trail of Dead toured, released an EP and worked to solidify a permanent lineup after some instability. The band now features six full-time members, a configuration praised by Reece.

"Right now it seems like we're more solidified. We've come together more as a band now than ever," he said. "We find a lot of importance in not just having a bunch of hired guns. And I think everybody who's with us has a lot of personality."

Those personalities came together to create "Worlds Apart," a diverse album with definite progressive-rock leanings.

Reece accepts the "prog" brand grudgingly, preferring to think of it as a willingness to tinker in the studio more than most bands.

"The idea of experimenting is there," he said. "The idea to use the studio as a place to challenge yourself, find new sounds and be creative, instead of just bashing out a bunch of rock songs."

As for origins of the band's name, Reece will only disclose that it came from "sort of divine inspiration from a spiritual entity greater than us."

"It's definitely something that we can never ever really explain, one of those things you cannot control," he said.

But, Reece pointed out, starting a band name with an ellipsis and the word "And" has a definite upside.

"We end up at the top of every iPod list," he said.

Music notes

TRL touches down: Gwen Stefani, Snoop Doog, Shakira, the Black Eyed Peas and Fat Joe are among the scheduled performers when MTV brings "Total Request Live" to the Hard Rock Hotel from Monday through June 3.

The weeklong event is part of MTV's "Summer on the Strip" promotion, which will bring Hard Rock happenings to the network periodically over the next several months. "TRL" airs at 5 p.m. locally on channel 37.

Cool calendar: If you're into dance music, check out club Ice (200 E. Harmon Ave.), which has several of the top electronic DJs in town during Memorial Day weekend.

Resident Friday night DJ Donald Glaude is promising an eight-hour set to kick it off tonight. Dutch trance DJ Armin Van Buuren takes the decks on Saturday. And on Sunday, Washington, D.C. duo Deep Dish share a bill with Dutch trance DJ Tiesto.

Three-day passes to Ice are available for $200. Individual tickets are $25 for tonight and $60 for Saturday. Advanced tickets for Sunday were sold out at press time, though more tickets might be made available at the club.

For more information, call 699-9888.

All-Star release: Las Vegas mainstays Lon Bronson and His All-Star Band host a CD release party at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, celebrating new album "Live From the Golden Nugget."

The event takes place, appropriately, at Bronson's longtime home, the Golden Nugget Theatre Ballroom, and is open to the public. Bronson and his band will perform a short set, and are expected to be joined by Tower of Power member Stephen "Funky Doctor" Kupka.

Float on: Lake Las Vegas Resort has announced the lineup for its summer concert series atop its floating stage: Glenn Frey on July 8, Natalie Cole on July 30, Michael Bolton on Aug. 6, Kenny G on Sept. 9 and Vanessa Williams on Sept. 23.

Tickets to all five are available now at Lake Las Vegas and through Ticketmaster.

On sale

Alice Cooper plays The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on Oct. 17. Tickets are $33 and $43 and go on sale at noon Saturday through the Hard Rock box office, Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Journey lands at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts on Aug. 5. Tickets are $35, $55 and $65 and are on sale now through the Aladdin box office and Ticketmaster.

John Waite performs at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts on Sept. 23 and 24. Tickets to each show are $55 and are on sale now through the Aladdin box office and Ticketmaster.

Oasis plays the House of Blues on Sept. 15 with opening act Kasabian . Tickets are $70, $130 and $145 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.

Ted Nugent hits the House of Blues on July 30. Tickets are $37.50, $45 and $55 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.