Friday, Aug. 1, 2008 | 2 a.m.
Ever wonder what happened to Vanilla Ice?
Find out next week when the “Amplify!” music conference fills downtown Las Vegas with wall-to-wall music.
During the day, industry executives, talent scouts, promoters and managers will network and attend panels and seminars.
At night, 100 or so bands will perform and try to get record contracts.
The event kicks off Tuesday and culminates Aug. 8 with a “Best of Amplify!” showcase.
In addition to the aforementioned rapper Robert Matthew Van Winkle (Vanilla Ice), headliners include Hawthorne Heights, Torche, Ultraviolet, Vains of Jenna, I Hate Kate and Big B. Local acts include Searchlight, Almost Normal, Think and Lydia Vance.
For a complete lineup, go to amplifymusiccompfest.com.
Details: Tuesday through Friday; Beauty Bar, Brass, Canyon Club, Celebrity Theatre, Icehouse, Jillian’s and the Neonopolis courtyard; wristbands are $15 in advance, $20 day of the show; ticketmaster.com
Another brick in the road
Yellow Brick Road, the popular local show band, has landed a gig on the Strip.
The classic rockers will perform at Harrah’s Carnaval Court at 7:30 p.m. Mondays in August. (Don’t look for the band Aug. 18; it has a prior commitment.)
YBR has been performing in Vegas for more than a decade. It can be heard at 9 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 p.m. Saturdays in Ovation Lounge at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino and 11 p.m. Fridays at Club Madrid in Sunset Station.
All the shows are free.
The band plays classic hits from bands including Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Journey and “arena rock” bands of past decades.
Swan song for Denise?
Longtime Vegas entertainer Karin Denise may be performing her final gig Saturday at the Royal Resort.
Denise and her husband, Rob, who make up the duo Silk and Steel, are looking at a home near Lake Tahoe and could be heading north.
“I’m not saying I’m leaving Vegas for good,” she says. “And nothing is in stone yet. So I still have a chance to change my mind.”
Denise sang and danced for years in “Splash!” at the Riviera and has starred in and produced shows including “Sin City Angels,” “The Sin City Show” and “Heatwave.”
Details: 9 p.m. Saturday; Royal Resort, Convention Center Way; free
Around town
Slightly Stoopid plays the Hard Rock tonight. Special guests include Pepper & the Expendables. (8 p.m.; The Joint; $25 and up; ticketmaster.com) ... Former Jefferson Starship guitarist Craig Chaquico lands Saturday at Santa Fe Station. Chaquico, who wrote Starship hits such as “Jane,” has had a mellower but very successful solo career with albums such as “Acoustic Highway” and “Acoustic Planet.” (8 p.m. Saturday; Chrome Showroom; $23.50 to $38.50; 658-4900) ... The Motown revue “Hitzville the Show” is now at the Harmon Theater inside Krave. Jennifer “Jin-Jin” Reeves is the featured performer. The show includes a soul food buffet. (7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with buffet seating at 6:30 p.m.; $54.95 to $64.95, $30 for children; 836-0836 or harmontheater
.com) ... Vocalist Jeanne Brei & the Speakeasy Swingers perform Saturdays at Bugsy’s Supper Club. Her band includes 87-year-old Don Hill, who toured with Louis Armstrong before becoming musical director of the Treniers for 55 years. The rhythm section will feature alumni of the Sorta Dixie Jazz Band — including Ty Lemley on bass (formerly with Guy Lombardo) and Bruce Harper on drums (toured with 10th Avenue Jazz Band). (7, 8:30 and 10 p.m.; 6145 W. Sahara Blvd.; no cover, no minimum; 871-7194).
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