AU REVOIR, RNR A shining rhythm section, infectious grooves and four energetic emcees. The powerhouse seven-piece known as Rhyme N Rhythm (or RNR) has been one of the defining hip-hop, funk and soul bands in Vegas for most of the past decade—an institution in the local scene. But everything good must eventually come to an end, and according to a September 15 Facebook announcement, the group is calling it quits. “With a sad heart we wanted to inform everyone that RNR is no more. It’s been a great ride over these last eight years. Thank you to all our fans and supporters! We love y’all.” Remembered for their explosive performances, the group opened for Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J and 311, to name just a few. Drummer Renaldo Elliott says the band made a decision to part ways mostly due to creative differences, and that new projects are in the works. “We decided to start out fresh and create a new project, to continue our own thing artistically,” Elliott says. Those ventures include a possible RNR offshoot and a solo project by MC A1ne. “I have two albums that are prepping to come out,” A1ne says (the first, Not Far Away, is due out in November), while bassist CoCo Jenkins will continue playing with local soul singer Cameron Calloway. “It was a great ride,” Elliott says. “I really wanna say thank you to the promoters in town that gave us a shot to perform when hip-hop was really frowned upon … And to the rest of the community in general, we should continue to work together.”
DEVILISH FUN “Hey, it’s Tito. I stole this guy’s computer and am inviting his friends to listen to my album,”—that was the Facebook message I received in early September, sent from the account of multi-instrumentalist Tom “T.G.” Miller of Black Camaro. The bedroom project, known as Tito Mojito and the New Conquerors, was unveiled on August 31 with Infinite Love, a nine-song ode to surf- and garage-rock, full of fuzzed-out production and high-energy lyrics. “I wanna truck with neon lights/I wanna virgin I can sacrifice/I wanna smash some f*cker’s face in/I wanna see that toilet in Graceland/I wanna be around/When the devil comes out the ground, alright,” Tito sings on “When the Devil Comes.” Released “lazily and on the down low,” Tito says he will unmask himself in a music video out October 1. titomojito.bandcamp.com/releases
FROM THE VAULT Two former Vegas bands are re-releasing their music digitally on Punksinvegas.com as part of the website’s Vegas Archive series. Active from 1996 to 2003, Vegas punk band 2¢ Worth’s entire discography is now available digitally on the site, which also features commentary from guitarist Adam “Bomb” Segal. Vegas hardcore band Bydeathsdesign (Embryo Records) is also featured on the site, with a digital re-release of the band’s only full-length, 2004’s Don’t Test the Universe, with additional commentary from singer Sean Delaney. Both archives also include free mp3 downloads and access to more than 100 photos and flyers.
REMEMBER WHEN? Backstage Bar & Billiards will host the third-annual Las Vegas Hardcore and Punk Rock Reunion on November 7. The lineup will feature defunct local bands Lady, Nonoxynol 9, The Reform, Tomorrows Gone (including members who went on to play in Faded Grey), Boba Fett Youth (fronted by KNPR’s Andrew Kiraly), Bent Tool, Spoiled Milk, Self Destruct and Intentions of Hate.
ALSO Vegas hardcore metal band Presagers’ self-titled summer LP is now available to stream on Spotify, and check out the killer Exorcist-style tee also available, at presagers.bigcartel.com. … Singer-songwriter Jessica Manalo will drop her debut self-titled EP at a free CD release show, September 29 at Artifice in the Arts District.
