The Roadhouse, which had become the premier venue for all-ages rock shows for local and smaller touring acts, has closed indefinitely following a June 12 parking-lot shooting in which several rounds were fired and an unidentified 18-year-old man was hit in the ankle. Although initial reports indicated that Henderson police closed the venue following the shooting, a phone message from an unknown Roadhouse employee asserts the shooting was a coincidence, and that the venue is closed for renovations to reopening as a casino in the fall. Both the city's police department and business license office say the closing was the Roadhouse's decision.
Some Roadhouse supporters have started an online petition (
www.petitiononline.com/roadlv/petition.html), asking Henderson police not to shut it down (it had 1,546 signatures as of press time), and a protest has been planned for noon, June 24, at Henderson City Hall. Whether the "Save the Roadhouse" protesters know that the Roadhouse does not want to be saved is unclear.
With the cessation of all-ages shows at Gameworks, Jillian's stands as the only all-ages, local rock venue in town. Revenge Therapy Productions, promoters of most of the Roadhouse shows, are trying to find other venues for its acts. One recent show was moved to the Aristocrat, a 21-and-over venue. Another venue, the Rock, on Maryland Parkway, closed following a shooting in September 2003. It has yet to reopen.
DVDs |
Rockers (NR) (4 stars)
25th Anniversary Edition
$19.95
Ted Bafaloukos' exhilarating portrait of Jamaican shantytown culture has aged well over the last quarter-century. Reggae musicians Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace and Richard "Dirty Harry" Hall play Rastafarian Robin Hoods, turning the tables on rude boys running roughshod over the dreads. If it weren't for all the great music and cast of real-life rastas—all of whom speak in nearly indecipherable patois—Rockers might have disappeared in the wake of such blaxploitation classics as Superfly and Shaft. But it vibrates with island rhythms and fascinating characters. Lots of extras, too.
American Psycho (R) (3 stars)
Uncut Killer Collector's Edition
$19.98
Christian Bale plays a yuppie serial killer in Mary Harron's adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' much reviled novel of Me Generation excess. Early on, American Psycho is hilarious in its glorification of designer clothes, cocaine, male cosmetics, business and credit cards, and expensive home-entertainment appliances. But the highbrow pretensions fail to gibe with the lowbrow conceits of the slasher genre. Bonus materials chart the film's journey from page to screen and put everything into period context.
A Dirty Shame (NC-17, R) (3 stars)
$27.95
John Waters' musings on the world of fetish culture arrives in the original NC-17 version and an R-rated version to appease the bluenoses at video chains. It is closer in scatological tone to the maestro's early works, with Waters imagining a cultural war is brewing in a working-class Baltimore neighborhood, between the local prudes and an army of nymphomaniacs. A Dirty Shame is one of those way-offbeat exercises you either buy into or you don't. I did. But then I'm a sucker for Patty Hearst.
Local CD |
Just of Balance (3 stars)
Just of Balance
Anyone who misses former local band God Among Men, with their Tool-style riffs under melodic female vocals, will appreciate new local band Just of Balance, who mix Tool-style riffs with the melodic vocals of singer Mary Kryah. The musicianship on their debut EP is excellent, with shifting time signatures, intricate riffs and Kryah's piercing vocals. But like so many hard-rock bands with highly trained musicians, JoB often sacrifice effective songwriting for musical complexity, and at times their songs suffer from a lack of focus.
Just of Balance play a CD release party June 24 at the Cheyenne Saloon.
This Just In |
U2's Bono is working on a film about an Irish musician moving to Vegas. Songs to be featured are: "I Still Haven't Won What I'm Gambling For," "Sunday Bloody Sunday (Or Is It Monday? Wednesday? Where's the Exit?)," and "Where the Streets Have No Names (Because the Development Isn't Done Yet)." Also, look for a scene where the Edge is barred from a property because of his name.
The Peanut Butter & Jelly Critic |
After weeks of increasingly exotic varieties, the PB&J of the Month Club tones things down a bit this month with Mackey's Ferry Peanut Butter, a traditional but tasty peanut butter, and Amish Butters Apple Butter, which is not jelly per se, but still provides an appealing fruit flavor to complement the peanut butter. Since the apple butter isn't as thick as regular jelly, it takes a little more effort to properly spread it on a sandwich for maximum coverage, and it might be better in other capacities. Mackey's is classic and flavorful, without too much fussing with the basic flavor. Simple but effective. For more info:
www.lovepbj.com . (3.5 stars)