Friday, May 30, 2003 | 9:41 a.m.
Spencer Patterson covers music for the Sun. His music notes column appears Fridays. Reach him at [email protected] or (702) 259-2309.
The "Academy of Country Music Awards" and their shiny new Mandalay Bay digs were no match for Ruben and Clay.
Pitted against the finale of Fox's top-rated "American Idol" last Wednesday, CBS' ACMAs broadcast lost 11 percent of its viewership from 2002, according to television's Nielsen Ratings.
However, the annual event's 38th edition -- and first in Las Vegas -- was a success on several other levels, all but ensuring that country music's top stars will be back in town to do it again next May.
Technically, the ACM's board of directors needs to vote on whether to keep the awards show in Vegas, which it can't do until it renews its contract with Dick Clark Productions.
But listening to Board Chairman Bob Romeo, you get the distinct impression the ACMAs will be part of the local scene for some time to come.
"Our Nashville contingent of people are just cuckoo over it. People are calling to say they had a blast," Romeo said.
"I'd venture to say with the overwhelming support and response we had from the artist community, I couldn't see a reason not to come back to Vegas next year."
Romeo also discussed plans to augment the televised concert with auxiliary country music events throughout the week, much the way National Finals Rodeo draws top country names to town for its duration.
Along with their new locale, last week's ACMAs featured a dramatically altered format, stressing live performances over awards presentations.
In three hours we witnessed 18 acts, each for an entire song (or, in George Strait's case, a short medley of hits).
At times it was easy to forget you were even watching an awards show. Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and Willie Nelson, Brooks & Dunn and Terri Clark all performed before a single trophy was handed out, which happened a full 30 minutes into the broadcast.
Recipients' speeches were limited to 30 seconds, keeping the show rolling at a borderline ridiculous pace. Paring it down to 15 live acts next year might slow the show down to a comfortable level.
Another suggestion for event organizers: Bring Wayne Newton on board as host. He briefly rang in the show's Vegas era before handing off to host Reba McEntire, who promptly dropped the baton with a series of unnecessary digs at the Dixie Chicks.
As for the Chicks, specifically the initials "F.U.T.K." on singer Natalie Maines' T-shirt during the group's appearance via satellite, Romeo expressed disappointment.
"Obviously, she and Toby have their spattering back and forth," Romeo said. "But I found it dissatisfying to see that spilled over to our show. A lot of fans are blaming us for letting her wear that shirt, but we didn't know anything about it until we saw it pop up on the (TV) screen."
Music notes
Civic Center: Recent Rolling Stone coverboys Good Charlotte team with New Found Glory, MxPx and the Movielife when the "Honda Civic Tour" stops at the Thomas & Mack Center tonight at 7. Tickets are $22.
Good Charlotte's second album, "Young and the Hopeless," has been an unexpected force on the Billboard 200 album chart, peaking at No. 7 and holding fast at No. 40, 33 weeks after its release.
Fellow poppy punksters New Found Glory have reached even higher, pushing last year's "Sticks and Stones" as high as No. 4 on the Billboard 200 on the strength of modern rock hits "My Friends Over You" and "Head on Collision."
Carey cancellation: After announcing a tour schedule that included an Aug. 30 Las Vegas date at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, pop diva Mariah Carey has announced she will "downsize" her itinerary.
Though Carey has yet to reveal her new schedule, she has indicated that paring back her tour and playing clubs instead of arenas and stadiums could help preserve her voice. Another likely factor: slow early ticket sales.
No word yet on whether Las Vegas will host one of Carey's club appearances.
Mark your calendar: A few additions to Southern Nevada's upcoming concert calendar: Mogwai June 19 at the Huntridge Theatre, Tori Amos and Ben Folds July 31 at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, Ben Harper and Jack Johnson Aug. 3 at The Joint, the Roots Aug. 3 at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay and Steely Dan Sept. 27 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. No ticket information has been released for those shows.
On sale
The "B.B. King Music Festival" hits town July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. On the bill: B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Galactic and Mofro. Tickets are $35, $45 and $75 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 or online at ticketmaster.com.
Rappers 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul and Fabolous join forces for the "Rock the Mic" tour, which stops at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 27. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the T&M box office, at all Station casinos, by phone at 739-3267 or online at unlvtickets.com.
archive
