Letter: Killers, Panic! don’t represent Vegas scene

Monday, Dec. 4, 2006 | 7:22 a.m.

Regarding a commentary in Tuesday's Las Vegas Sun written by New York Times editorial page writer Nicholas Kulish:

I am an avid follower of the Las Vegas music scene that Mr. Kulish spoke of in Tuesday's edition. Being a fan of the scene for more than 10 years, it's frustrating for me to see continuous stories about the Killers and Panic! At The Disco "leading" the scene. That couldn't be further from the truth.

Neither one of those bands did anything to align themselves with the scene here. Panic! themselves had never played a show here and have gone on record as to say that there is nothing going on here in Vegas. I'm sorry, but that doesn't sound to me like someone who is leading, or who cares to lead the scene. The Killers are no different. Just because the band named its new album Sam's Town doesn't make it a part of this scene. They played a handful of shows over a six-month span and then were gone, without looking back, also making disparaging remarks about their hometown scene before their sudden casino-based patriotism.

Instead, why not focus on the real scene. There are other signed acts from here - Escape The Fate, The Higher, and The day after ... - that deserve attention. Also, what about the hard-working bands in Vegas that keep this scene on its feet, bands like Kid Deposit Triumph and Solidify, that are out there working hard for free?

Yes, The Killers and Panic! are huge bands and attention may have been shown to this town because of it, but they are in no way what this scene is about nor are they the representatives that the hard-working musicians and fans in this scene choose to recognize. Everyone knows about those bands. What about the bands who still load in their own equipment?

The piece about the scene was very well written, however in the future it would be good to read a story about the scene that doesn't mention two bands whom I, among many others, find it very hard to be proud of.

John Silva, Las Vegas