Bill Hughes
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 | 6:30 p.m.
THE SCENE
• How tough were those mosh pits? Let's put it this way: It was tough counting up the black-eyed punks by Sunday.
• We know spitting and throwing things onstage goes hand in hand with punk rock, but what's up with all the wasted beer? Hey, I dig this song, I think I'll ... toss my half-full drink into the air. Woohoo! Now everyone's wet and I'm ... thirsty and headed back to spend more money.
• Best projectile award: the roll of toilet paper fired at Swingin' Utters frontman Johnny "Peebucks" Bonnel. That took planning.
• Y'know who's tougher than punks? Mother Nature. Her hurricane-like wind had 'em running inside Sunset Station for shelter between sets on Sunday night.
THE BANDS
• Which one's Chuck? The reunited Hot Water Music sounded great, but we're doubting they were the primary draw for many folks. Gravelly vocalists Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard sound so similar we polled part of the crowd to see how many folks could tell them apart. Unscientific results: One in five knew. (For the record, Ragan was at stage right.)
More
- From the Archives
- Still hardcore after all these years (05/05/10)
• When we first drove past an auxiliary stage set up on the Hooters' patio, we wondered how the sound of loud, raw punk rock might affect casino traffic. Judging from two dudes who wandered by during a set by local hardcore outfit Unfair Fight, it didn't seem to hurt. They climbed a tree to get a closer look and, apparently liking what they saw, swung themselves over the wall to dance along. No word on whether they played keno afterward.
• It's honestly tough to remember what, exactly, NOFX played or sounded like, given how unfocused on music the California quartet were on Friday night. Sure, Fat Mike & Co. have always been chatty, but stopping to tell jokes between every single song? And while bringing a 9-year-old to a boozed-up punk-rock festival on his birthday might not be the smartest idea, the kid really didn't need Mike's Twisted Sex 101 lessons. For that matter, neither did we. Seriously, eww.
THE BANTER
• "You know how many times I've been hit in the head? I don't even remember my name, let alone the words to half this shit." –TSOL's Jack Grisham
• "Oh come on, just 'cause your city's prettier — you got a pyramid in the middle of it." –7 Seconds frontman Kevin Seconds, after the Vegas crowed booed his Reno roots
• "If Sum 41 can sell a million records, by God, you sir, can sell a billion." –Fucked Up's Damian "Pink Eyes" Abraham, to a random fan
Sunset Station features a 457-room hotel with 70 luxury suites, a casino, restaurants, a showroom, a movie theater and a bowling center on more than 98 acres in the heart of Henderson. It's located across from the Galleria at Sunset Mall and is also just a few minutes away by car from Lake Mead, Lake Las Vegas, Sam Boyd Stadium, golf courses and recreation areas.
The casino offers 110,000 square feet of gaming space, with more than 2,400 slot machines, more than 200 video poker machines, 39 gaming tables, a 300-seat race and sports book, a 488-seat bingo room, a keno lounge and an eight-table poker room.
Family-friendly features include a 13-screen movie theater and a 72-lane bowling center.
Restaurants include the Sonoma Cellar, for steaks and seafood; Cabo, for authentic Mexican food; Pasta Cucina for authentic Italian cuisine and the Oyster Bar, for Louisiana seafood and oysters. The 300-seat showroom hosts top names in entertainment as well as regular cover bands.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy