Free-range fest Psycho Las Vegas leads August concerts
From misfortune comes teenagers from Mars.
When Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine was diagnosed with throat cancer in June, his band was forced to pull out of its headlining slot at this month’s Psycho Las Vegas.
But festival organizers lured reunited horror-punk pioneers The Misfits to take Megadeth’s place.
The Misfits are the blood-red cherry atop the Psycho lineup, the festival’s deepest and most diverse yet. It runs the gamut from dance-punk (The Faint) to just plain ol’ punk (Bad Religion), death metal (Carcass) to Swedish prog (Opeth), avant-garde instrumentalists (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) to pysch-rock spine tinglers (The Black Angels), reactivated thrash veterans (Vio-lence) to Finnish black metal (Oranssi), and dozens upon dozens more.
In just four years, Psycho Las Vegas has become the most acclaimed heavy music fest in the country.
This year, the festivities move from the Hard Rock Hotel to Mandalay Bay, where they’ll span four venues from Aug. 15 to 19.
It’s the biggest music event of the month. Here’s a rundown of the rest:
Nas
Aug. 10, House of Blues at Mandalay Bay
On new record “The Lost Tapes II,” this New York City hip-hop titan compares himself to late jazz great Al Jarreau and then lives up to said boast by rhyming in unison with a trilling piano line, his voice rising and falling in sync with the scales being played. It’s an impressive encapsulation of a rap legend’s skill set, defined by virtuosity and vehemence in equal measure.
Def Leppard
Aug. 14 (through Sept. 7), Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort
No f-f-f-foolin’, these British hard rock mainstays are back for another Vegas residency, swapping the Hard Rock Hotel for Planet Hollywood Resort this go-round. While the venue has changed, at least one thing will remain constant: Sugar shall be poured. You know, in the name of love and whatnot.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Aug. 16, T-Mobile Arena
That venerable “Free Bird” takes a farewell flight on these Southern rock greats’ final tour. But what are drunk dudes going to call out for at concerts from here on out?
Mary J. Blige
Aug. 16 and 17, The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel
The Queen of hip-hop soul has long made a career out of finding the silver — and gold and platinum — lining to her struggles. “All those sad songs don’t break me, just gave me a record deal,” she sings on her truth-in-advertising latest single “Thriving.”
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
Aug. 18, Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq
The Mothership touches down one last time, as funk forebear/R&B extraterrestrial George Clinton is retiring from the road after 50 years and roughly 50 bajillion booties shook. The “Atomic Dog” isn’t done barking just yet …
Kasey Musgraves
Aug. 20, The Chelsea at Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
“All I ever wanted was something classic,” this lavender-voiced, cosmopolitan country standout explains on latest album “Golden Hour,” delivering that of which she speaks on one of 2018’s best records.
George Strait
Aug. 23 and 24, T-Mobile Arena
This country kingpin titled his latest record, and 30th overall, “Honky Tonk Time Machine,” but you don’t need to keep trying to build one in your basement as long as Strait is still at it. So put away your tinfoil Stetson and just spring for tickets to this one already.
Brian Wilson and The Zombies
Aug. 31, The Joint
Architects of ’60s rock unite when Beach Boy Brian Wilson and British psych popsters The Zombies share the stage and an affinity for crafting indelible melodies.
Collective Zoo Block Party
Aug. 31, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center
Cue the sexy sax man memes when horn-abetted livetronica duo Big Gigantic headlines the latest Collective Zoo Block Party bill, which also features Toronto’s Keys N Krates, Chet Porter and more. There also will be food trucks and a 2,200-square-foot pool.
Contact Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476. Follow @JasonBracelin on Twitter.
