Idaho band brings old-school punk to Vegas

Jerry Fink

Thursday, April 6, 2006 | 6:51 a.m.

Scatterbox, a punk rock band based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, makes its Las Vegas premiere at 8 p.m. April 16 at the Doubledown Saloon.

"We're pretty much loud, fast, trashy punk rock," drummer Scott Rozell said. "A lot of people say we're older-school sound as opposed to a lot of the stuff coming out now."

The band was formed five years ago.

"We met on a fluke thing through different people," Rozell said. "A couple of guys in the band were guys I went to high school with."

In addition to Rozell, the group consists of vocalist Tom White, bassist Ryan White and guitarists Chris Copulos and Jaren Brown.

"By the end of our first practice session we had two songs completed," Rozell said. "It was amazing progress, compared to stuff I had done in the past."

Since the fledgling years, Scatterbox has created a fan base that includes a number of other bands, among them ZEKE, Throwrag, The Fairlanes, Death Deal, The Creeps and Supersuckers.

"We've played in basements with 10 kids and we've played at motocross festivals in front of 10,000 people," Rozell said. "Whether there's a lot of people or not, everyone is into our music."

The group released three albums before becoming the first punk rock band to sign with the independent label Clipop/Rebel Alliance Records of Bellingham, Wash.

The Las Vegas stopover is part of a tour promoting their latest album, "Sudden Movements."

"We're hoping we'll get a good draw," Rozell said. "We're totally looking forward to it. I've never been to Vegas before.

"We performed once in Reno, but I hear it's nothing compared to Vegas."

Jokers Wild

The Troubadour Lounge at Jokers Wild has a full slate of entertainment from 8 p.m. to 1:40 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Daemine performs the next two weekends, followed by Art & Soul (April 21-22) and Drew Baker (April 28-29).

MonteLago music scene

Drive out to MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday nights for a lakeside concert series.

April's entertainment includes Rated TG (Top 40 pop/rock group) on Saturday, followed in successive weeks by The Crashers (Top 40 rock), Patty Janura (country rock) and Backstage (Top 40/Latin).

In May, MonteLago begins a Friday night lakeside jazz series.

Groups and performers include Turning Point on May 5, followed on successive Fridays by Spellcasters, Moody Scott and Les Baxter.

So long, Joey

More than 100 friends attended the farewell salute to comedian Joey Villa at the Bootlegger on Sunday.

Villa died in December of complications from a stroke.

Among those present were Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt and husband Dennis Bono; comedian Charlie Callas; actor Frank Sivero; entertainer Freddie Bell; the husband and wife team of Artie Schroek and Linda November; Carme Pitrello; Peter Anthony; and Sweet Louie.

Hurricane celebration

The Hurricane Bar and Grill, 10420 S. Bermuda Road, off Las Vegas Boulevard South near Silverado Ranch Boulevard, will celebrate the second anniversary of its weekly Blue Note Jazz Jam Session, starting at 9 p.m. Sunday.

There will be several guests in addition to regular saxophonist Tommy Alvarado and drummer Joel Richman.

Owner Bill Gerski says there will be free appetizers and prizes along with the entertainment.