NOT PICTURED: Tiger. For riding.

Killswitch Engage hits the stage at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay tonight with Dark Tranquility and The Devil Wears Prada. The band, we assume. Not the movie. Although that would be kind of awesome to screen before a metal show. Anyway, Killswitch made some noise with “My Curse,” but they totally made a rookie mistake by covering “Holy Diver.” Yes, Dio is awesome, and yes it’s tempting to want to do awesome material, but, know your limitations. Not everyone can be a rock dwarf with pipes on loan from Satan himself. There’s no shame in not being Dio. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Not one tiger fighting a unicorn in sight. (Photos by Hew Burney | HewmanBeing.com)

Faded red T-shirt over a gray hoodie and a pair of jeans. It isn’t how we expected Christian Audigier to be dressed when we met up with him at Project inside Mandalay Bay yesterday. But the 51-year-old designer behind Von Dutch and Ed Hardy is pushing something new that’s a departure from the logos, foil and rhinestones.

The same guy is his newest line, with its emphasis squarely on minimalist, plain, everyday design. The T-shirts are soft and faded, mostly muted solid colors, a few stripes and the occasional swirling the same guy logo, vaguely reminiscent of ’60s psychedelic posters. Of course, there had to be a little touch of ego — on the back of the shirts that bore the logo is emblazoned “The Most Famous Brand in the World.” Each shirt bore an embroidered American flag — shaped like an outline of the United States, a star, a hear or a peace hand sign. It was a curious touch that Audigier said just reflected his love of America. Hey, if we sold that many $100-plus T-shirts, we’d be caught up in patriotic fervor, too.

The tags on display at Project were also lower than expected for Audigier clothing — some T-shirts were marked at $15 and $26 dollars, though some shirts will retail for as high as $92.

Audigier will be at Eve inside Crystals tonight and appearing at his eponymous Treasure Island nightclub tomorrow. We took a moment to chat with him about the new clothes and whether they’re a reaction to the Ed Hardy backlash. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Hey look, it’s death metal Kurt Kobain and his two balding pals.

Do you like your blast beats and Cookie Monster vocals delivered with a side of Egyptian mythology? Presumably because you didn’t get enough oblique references to hieroglyphics and Osiris on last night’s Lost. Well, you’re in luck, fans of Anubis/death metal. Nile is at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay tonight with Immolation and Abigail Williams. Fun Nile fact: They’re an American death metal band and they’re not from Florida. South Carolina, but still. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

One of these days we’re going to fulfill OUR lifelong dream of having mariachis play when we enter a room. (Photos by Al Powers)

While developing Hussong’s Cantina at Mandalay Place, Titan Nightlife Group president Scott Frost was hurt in a motorcycle accident in May that left him paralyzed from the neck down. From his hospital bed, Frost (along with partner Jeff Marks) negotiated the lease and financing of the restaurant, and last night saw it open its doors. Doors he walked through. This is most likely a story about the indomitability of the human spirit, although we do think it raises a valuable point about the redemptive power of tequila.

After standing from his wheelchair and taking 18 steps to the bar at Hussong’s last night, Frost talked to the crowd before celebrating with his fiancee, Megan Powell. And from there, it was onto less heavy stuff, like mariachis and girls with tequila bandoliers. You know. The important stuff in life.

Not the only Latin-fare joint to open this week, Hussong’s was joined by Cana at Town Square, which did its grand opening on Tuesday. It’s a ceviche spot that specializes in sugar cane-based spirits. In other words: Rum and cachaca as far as the eye can see.

By Jason Scavone

Party headquarters, obviously.

Finally, for those of you looking for the more get-straight-to-the-point-by-which-we-mean-drinking New Year’s Eve experience, there’s a plethora of bar and miscellaneous options for no-frills revelry. Mandalay Bay is going the inclusive route with their Block Party, which goes down along Restaurant Row, with StripSteak serving as headquarters. A $30 pass gets you entry into drawings, drink specials and one sponsored drink at each of Mizuya, THELounge, the Race & Sports Bar, Orchid Lounge and RM Seafood. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

This is going to be Seal’s favorite club, right?

The ownership group of The Rose, the burlesque club that was set to replace Forty Deuce in Mandalay Bay, was shot down when it comes to getting a liquor license for the club, according to the R-J. It’s a bummer for those of us who like their drinking complicated by as many pasties as possible.

The owners of the proposed Rose Cocktail Lounge at Mandalay Bay today were denied a request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed the club to seek a liquor license so it could open this month.

Mandalay Bay terminated the club’s lease for nonpayment of rent. The club also was found to have unsuitable management by the resort.

The principal owners of the Rose also own the embattled Prive’ at Planet Hollywood Resort.”

By Jason Scavone

James Hetfield is either basking in the crowd or worshipping Satan. (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

It was an old-fashioned arena rock show with lasers and pyro and spinning coffins, the way God intended. Well, the coffins are a new touch, but whatever. Lasers and pyro are the important thing here — plus Metallica Saturday night at the Mandlay Bay Events Center.

They dusted off “Fade to Black,” “Master of Puppets,” “One,” “Ride the Lightning,” “Fade to Black,” “Fight Fire With Fire” and “Whiplash” which is a sight better than doing, say, a whole St. Anger set. Follow the jump for a gallery of pics from the show. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Huh. Metallica actually thought dressing like the Ramones would be a good idea.

Oh man you guys, Metallica. It’s way too obvious to complain at this point that they haven’t been good since about ‘88, but then, we suppose it would also be too obvious to point out that tonight’s show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center with Machine Head and Volbeat is also sold out, so chances are by now you’ve already made up your mind on the relative merits of Death Magnetic. Either way, we can probably all agree that it’s going to be a lot better show if they just play like a 20-minute version of “Battery.”

• Chickenfoot is at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel.
• Robin Williams headlines the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
• Willie Nelson plays the Planet Hollywood with Asleep at the Wheel — good God this is a ridiculous night for shows.
• The Orleans gets your Christmas on with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
• The Thomas & Mack Center has Sunny Sweeney.
• Ron White does his second night at The Mirage while Bill Engvall is over at Treasure Island.
• The Hilton returns Brooks & Dunn.
• Rodney Carrington is at the MGM Grand Hollywood Theater.
• Johnny Cash tribute band Cash’d Out is at Aliante Station’s Access Showroom.
• DJ Logic spins at the Hard Rock Cafe.
• Prive at Planet Hollywood has the Ultimate Fighter Afterparty hosted by PunkAss with DJ Scooter.
• Blush at Wynn Las Vegas does Matt Hamill’s afterparty.
• Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel goes with the Baja Racers Party.
• McFadden’s at the Rio does Ho Down, with Line Dancing and a Rodeo Roper contest.
• CatHouse at the Luxor does Scandal Saturdays.
• Ovation inside Green Valley Ranch has the Sin City Sinners.
• Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto is at Rain with Junkie XL and Jordan Stevens.
• Risque at Paris holds Stress-Free Saturdays.
• The Double Down (4640 Paradise Road) has The Mormons, SFT, Crime Wave, Mdcomps and Abusement Park.
• The Beauty Bar does The Show hosted by Mikey VIP & P. Freeze (Toy Drive).
• Cheyenne Saloon has a charity show with Protest, In the Flesh, Kinam, Zombieshakerbox, Testify and Babilos.
• The Freakin’ Frog features Brandi Alyse and Black Cherry Blue.
• The Bunkhouse does Hoodcent Entertainment.

By Jason Scavone

Sticking with the guyliner, huh? Bold choice.

We’re as surprised as you are to find out Papa Roach is still a Thing. But apparently they are, and they’re bringing their post-nu-metal schtick to the House of Blues tonight at Mandalay Bay along with the After Midnight Project. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

This is about to get brutal, y’all.

We can say without a doubt that this is going to be the finest cartoon rockers and critically acclaimed prog-metal show of the night. Basically, what we’re trying to tell you is: We hope you’re fans of the double-kick drum. Brandon Small takes his animated masters of brutality, Dethklok, to the stage at House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay along with the fully 3-D Mastodon. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone