Vote for the industry party
Ain’t no party like an industry party! No one knows that better than Vegas’ nightclub staff members, who party like it’s their job (well, in a way it is) routinely from Sunday through Thursday. Our five newest venues intend to make their marks as well.
Last week, CatHouse debuted its Madame Mondays, in which a female local nightlife celebrity holds court in the Loungerie’s plush 19th-century bordello-like digs much the same way a successful madam may have done after a particularly good weekend. This Monday, January 20, CatHouse also debuts new Monday resident DJ Jack E from St. Tropez on the French Riviera. Ooh la la!
40/40 Sports Lounge has also thrown its hat into the ring on Mondays with its MVP Mondays industry night, featuring charismatic resident DJ Poun’ at 11 p.m., when the games go off and the other kind of game is on.
Spin nightclub at Alexis Park kicked off an industry Wednesday even before the club was open! A December soft opening quickly turned into a successful weekly locals/industry party for those who like their hip-hop pure and hosted by today’s hottest acts. Last Wednesday Spin welcomed Bobby Valentino, so expect the talent quality to remain high.
Following in Light’s footsteps—as well as living in Light’s very architectural footprint—The Bank has retained Sunday as its industry night, lining up all manner of incentives and contests to hit locals right in their pockets: no $50 cover charge and plenty of contests. Last Sunday, The Bank sought the best professional Gold Digger; this week, vote online for Vegas’ Top Model.
Privé is the last to launch its industry night, on—surprise!—Monday night. Managing partner Justin Levine admits his previously reported passion for a Wednesday industry night was intentional misdirection meant to keep competition on their toes. Well, mission accomplished. Money For Nothing Mondays premieres January 21 with guest DJ Jermaine Dupri and will be followed by Busta Rhymes on January 28 and ... wait for it ... the debut of monthly resident DJ Lil Jon on February 4! The hip-hop-centric evening will feature Levine’s customary “surprises”; he especially urges partiers to keep their ears open for the Dire Straits song for which the night is named. As for Wednesdays, Levine says he’s “perfectly content” running with three nights, though he hints that Wednesday is by no means off the table ...
Three and a half questions with Ursula 1000
When the Weekly previously reported that one-of-a-kind DJs from Eighteenth Street Lounge Music would be coming to the Mix Lounge atop THEHotel at Mandalay Bay, we weren’t kidding. Imagine what would happen if you combined Prince and David Bowie, added a dash of The Prodigy and Fatboy Slim, then garnished with a Flight of the Conchords twist. Serve shaken, not stirred. You may just hear the “sonic collage” Alex Gimeno—better known as Ursula 1000—will spin at Mix on January 19. Attendees can anticipate a gamut of elements crafted together, including electro beats, bossa nova percussion and ’60s psychedelic rock, with the occasional bit of humor thrown in for good measure.
How on Earth did you come up with the DJ name Ursula 1000?
It’s taken from ’60s bombshell actress Ursula Andress, who starred in Dr. No, Casino Royale and [Italian sci-fi cult film] The 10th Victim. I like being in touch with my feminine side!
Lumping people into categories sucks, but we do it anyway. What would be the most accurate description of your music, and what can Vegas expect to hear on January 19?
Production-wise, my style references some retro-like ’60s or ’70s elements, even early ’80s, and tweaks them into a modern twist with my signature hopefully present on them. [It’s] very fun, very cheeky and playful and very funky. My DJ sets follow suit. Lots of styles: eclectic, party-rocking music. There’s usually about 30 percent of my own productions, originals, remixes, and the rest is some of the latest cutting-edge house, electro and break cuts, sometimes wrapped around some familiar bits, mash-ups, etc.
On a typical Saturday night, the majority of nightlife venues in Las Vegas spin either hip-hop, Top 40 or house. Why should someone make the change and see you at the Mix Lounge?
Well, you will definitely not be hearing Top 40! I mean, people won’t be alienated by me throwing them super-underground tunes, either; there will be enough “familiar” bits that an open-minded Vegas weekend party scene will dig.
What are the Top 5 albums from 1960 to 1980 you think people should own?
T. Rex, Electric Warrior; Serge Gainsbourg, The Ballad of Melody Nelson; The Specials, Specials; Deep Purple, Machine Head; Kraftwerk, The Man-Machine.
I’ll have what she’s having
“Either you’re gonna be naked on the bar, or you’re gonna kick somebody’s ass.”
–Twin Creeks bartender John on the major differences between the effects of drinking tequila and bourbon.