A&E

Boulder City stuffs its ears—and face—at the Dillinger’s annual block party

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Photo: Bill Hughes

We already know the Dillinger has a great selection of beer and can make a mean burger, but after Saturday’s block party we can proclaim that the Boulder City joint can throw one hell of a party, too. We’re talking beer-drinking and hot-dog eating contests—and some seriously competitive dudes with guts like accordions. After watching one guy inhale nine hot dogs in 10 minutes, I could go a year without seeing one again. That’s how Boulder City likes to party.

Dillinger Block Party

BC’s Same Sex Mary kick-started the day at 2 p.m. under the blazing sun, followed by Las Vegas’ Rusty Maples and then another BC native, Jack Evan Johnson, whose country-folk sound is styled after Townes Van Zandt. Johnson played four new songs off his upcoming album, including “Rememberin’ Rose” and “Old Turquoise Ring,” and was joined by two new band members, bassist Steve Bonacci and drummer Jordan Pflueger.

At 5 p.m., rockabilly trio Thee Swank Bastards brought their tightly wound surf-rock tunes to the stage, with Turbo Proctor of The Vermin sitting in on drums and Ivana Blaize twirling about in a slinky, red-fringed outfit. The band’s suited mainstays, bassist Jeff Murphy and guitarist Jesse Del Quadro, tore up the stage as the aforementioned hot-dog eating contest raged below and one contestant went home with the coveted title, “#1 Wiener Eater.”

Most attendees played it smart, waiting until temperatures dropped and the sun fell behind the mountains to arrive, packing in to see the return of Boulder City rock ’n’ roll favorites The Junkyard Dogs. By 8:25, the asphalt was swarming with BC residents, family and friends awaiting a rare performance by their hometown heroes—all the makings of another successful block party, sunburns and hangovers included.

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