I grew up in a cow town in upstate New York, population around 2,000, about 80 kids in my class each year. Besides sports and marching band there wasn't a lot to keep us middle-class teenagers occupied. Strangely enough, even though Vegas is a million times larger and full of entertainment, kids ages 13-17 have just as little to do—the real fun doesn't begin until you're 21.
A young girl mentioned her teenage boredom to Clark County Paradise Recreation and Community Center Program Assistant John Robison awhile back, and after some thought, he and Recreation Specialist Rich Mueller came up with a way to let teens have fun, get out of the house and stay out of trouble. The idea was to host regular pop and punk concerts for teens at the center. The events are run with the help of young volunteers from the center's group, Leaders of the Future, and they work hard. While the supervisors make sure there are no mosh pits or re-entry, the teens help with concessions, wristbands, clean-up and more. Last Friday night's was the second show of the year, and for only $3, kids received a slice of pizza and a soda, and got to hear music by young local bands.
The bands played on a stage that was, unfortunately, set up in the gymnasium, the worst place in the world to be if you actually want to hear any of the nuances in the music. But the 150 teens in attendance weren't fazed by the shoddy acoustics; they ran from one end of the gym to the other, trying, no doubt, to look as cool as possible in front of their peers, occasionally stopping to catch their breath and listen to the bands.
The hard-rock riffs of Minor Discomfert were noisy and loose, but the four-piece band couldn't have been more thrilled to have an audience for its first real gig. And though they were a little stiff, it was a great first show by any beginner's standards. Next up: Welcome Back Company, a trio that took a more alternative-sounding approach. WBC hasn't been together long, but cousins Alex and James, and Mike, a relative by marriage, had a workable indie sound with a drummer who also sang, and did so with a very low, hollow voice. But the smash hit was Cee Kay, the only group of the night that had a fair amount of stage experience; they worked the crowd with their powerful, radio-friendly pop-punk songs that got everyone focused on the rock at hand.
I was a fly on the wall at this show, which was attended by kids who think the act of showering is more of a suggestion than a rule. A group of energetic kids dressed in black, draped with chains and gothic attire, punk-rocked out to the very best of their abilities, happy to be out from under the watchful eye of their parents.
The next concert is scheduled for April 21.