Back in the '80s, I was a rambunctious tyke with a smart mouth and a head full of insanity. I chased girls, read Batman comics, thought Run DMC's Darryl McDaniels was one of the coolest kats around, and Boy George was one hell of an ugly woman. It's amazing how little I've changed. Saturday, Vegas fired up the DeLorean's flux capacitor and took a trip back to 1985 with shows from McDaniels and the Beastie Boy's DJ Hurricane at Bikinis, and George at Ice.
I was jazzed about seeing DMC. His was one of the first acts to show me that music was so much more than the obvious creepiness of Michael Jackson and his Thriller.
With spring break in full swing, Bikinis was packed with rabid kids. McDaniels, touring to support his new CD, Checks, Thugs, and Rock 'N' Roll, was scheduled to perform between 12:30 and 1 a.m. In true rock-star tradition, 1:30 rolled around and still no show. The problem was my sense of journalistic duty impelled me to get to Boy George, though I was unimpressed last time I saw him.
Ice had a solid, cheery crowd ready to party, and George provided an upbeat, tight and pounding mix. His selections were steeped in big house sounds and infectious beats. His technical proficiency shone through, but I'm not really wild about house anymore and I've never been one for disco. He failed to wow me, but it was a decent show for the fans.
George isn't the only big name gracing Ice's decks. April 17, it's the one and only DJ Keoki, the man behind two of the greatest remixes ever: "Speed Racer," and the Star Wars mix, "A New Hope."
Are DJ cage matches coming next?
I returned to Ra Wednesday for the second Flaunt and the DJ Battle of Champions. In a format similar to Baby's Beauty and the Beat, local jocks and go-go dancers teamed up for a heated battle of beat-pounding and butt-shaking. Emceed by Ra's Duane King, featured performances from Vegas DJ legend Robert Oleysyck and Jasmin, One Zero and Danielle, Redneck Bob and Tara, Joe B and Skittles, and David Christian and Danielle D. Congratulations go out to Joe B and Skittles for winning the audience-judged event, even if David Christian turned out one of the most rocking sets I've ever heard from him. Of course, the right guy doesn't always win … just ask Al Gore.
And hey, Pleasuredome fans, don't fret. I received word from Ra's music director Duane King, who assured me that Pleasuredome would be back in a special-event capacity. First up, it's the much-loved Paul van Dyk on April 21. Don't miss it!
Antonio Llapur walks softly and carries a big club. E-mail him at [email protected].