Music of Nevada

Last updated

The music in Nevada is often associated with the Rat Pack and lounge singers like Wayne Newton playing in Las Vegas, Reno, and Carson City. However, Nevada has launched many other notable artists and bands from a variety of genres.

Contents

Alternative rock

The Killers formed in Las Vegas in 2001. They are seen as one of the biggest rock bands of the 21st century, [1] and the most successful rock act to ever emerge from the state of Nevada, having sold an estimated 28 million albums worldwide. [2] They had a #1 album in 2019, and their 2006 album Sam's Town was #2 on the Billboard 200.[ citation needed ] They have achieved worldwide success as a live band, performing in over fifty countries and on six continents, headlining venues such as Madison Square Garden and Wembley Stadium. The Killers' lead vocalist Brandon Flowers, born in Henderson, Nevada, has additionally released two solo albums (like Flamingo), both of which reached #1 on the UK Albums charts. [3]

Imagine Dragons is a Grammy Award-winning band based in Las Vegas. They have enjoyed immense international success and acclaim. [4] Imagine Dragons is the only artist or group with two songs in the Top Ten Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History "Radioactive" (No. 1) and "Demons" (No. 8). [5] They have had a #1 album on the Billboard 200 with the alternative Smoke + Mirrors in 2015, and 2 #2 albums on the Billboard 200. Lead singer Dan Reynolds attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Big Talk is a rock band from Las Vegas formed by Ronnie Vannucci Jr, best known as the drummer of The Killers. The band released a debut, self-titled album in 2011 and a second album titled Straight In No Kissin' in 2015. Big Talk made their live television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on July 25, 2011. [6]

Panic! at the Disco is a rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada formed in 2004 and currently featuring the lineup of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie. They have had 2 #1 albums on the Billboard 200 with the pop rock Death of a Bachelor in 2016, and Pray for the Wicked in 2018.

The Cab is a pop rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. They've been called "The Band You Need to Know 2008" by Alternative Press and were featured in the "100 Bands You Need to Know in 2010" by the magazine. [7] [8] [9]

Bassist Branden Campbell of Neon Trees grew up in Las Vegas.

Alt country

Several alt country bands including The Clydesdale and The Yeller Bellies, both of whom have released multiple albums each, are a part of the Las Vegas music scene. [10] [11]

Blues

NBC's America's Got Talent winner Michael Grimm is a Las Vegas resident who regularly performs in the valley.

Country

The city of Elko, Nevada is an important center for cowboy music and poetry. In 1985, Hal Cannon, director of the Western Folklife Center, founded the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering, which has since spread across the country; Elko is also home to the Cowboy Music Gathering. Las Vegas' music scene includes a number of country and cowboy-themed hotel shows, many of them featuring big stars like Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. [12]

Dance

Dino graduated of University of Nevada, Las Vegas before releasing two top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Multiple members of the Grammy-nominated group The Jets relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada where they still perform.

Folk

David Hopkins, a singer-songwriter from Ireland, relocated to Las Vegas where he released a 2010 album featuring Damien Rice and Laura Jansen. [13] His recordings have landed on the Irish singles top 40 chart and Las Vegas Weekly dubbed him "an Ace singer-songwriter".

Jenny Lewis (of Rilo Kiley) grew up in Las Vegas and featured on the debut solo album of Brandon Flowers.

Jill & Julia are a local folk duo signed to Nashville indie label, Lamon Records.

Garage rock

Several garage acts have gained notoriety in Las Vegas. The Mad Caps mix blues and rockabilly with garage rock, while Rob Bell (of The Yeller Bellies) mixes country with garage rock in his project known as The Psyatics [14]

Gospel

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Gladys Knight lives in Las Vegas and leads the Saints Unified Voices gospel music choir. Together with the choir, Knight earned a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album.

Hard rock

Post-hardcore group Escape the Fate have charted on the Billboard 200 three times. Two singles have charted on the Hot Rock Songs chart.

Post-hardcore group Falling in Reverse have charted on the Billboard 200 three times.

Adelitas Way have twice charted on the Billboard 200. Four singles have charted on the Hot Rock Songs chart.

Otherwise have charted on the Billboard 200 twice, and blend hard rock and alternative rock. They charted on the Hot Rock Songs chart with "Soldiers".

Slaughter have charted on the Billboard 200 three times, but more recent albums courtesy of an independent label have failed to chart.

Heavy metal group Hemlock have never charted on the Billboard 200.

In 2011, Five Finger Death Punch relocated to Las Vegas. They have had 3 #2 albums on the Billboard 200, like in 2013.

Indie

As a result of the downtown Las Vegas restoration that began in 2006, mainly that of the Fremont East district, which spurred the opening of several new bars and clubs, a new music scene began sprouting up in Las Vegas. With the support of local press, independent musical artists such as the bands Black Camaro, The Big Friendly Corporation, Halloween Town, and A Crowd of Small Adventures grew large fan bases quickly in Las Vegas. [15] [16] [17]

The Las Vegas indie music community would soon form its own music festival to parallel that of the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Founded by Thirry Harlin, James Woodbridge, and Jason Aragon, the music festival, known as Neon Reverb, which consisted of both national and local indie acts, experimented with genres such as Hip-Hop and punk rock as well as other culture related segments such as film and visual art that complement the music portion of the festival. [18] [19] The festival has grown to include a radio segment of the same name, founded by Donald Hickey and The Killers bassist, Mark Stoermer that broadcasts from 91.5 KUNV in Las Vegas. [20] [21]

As a result of the continuing revitalization of downtown Las Vegas, a second wave of indie acts have grown prominent in the local music scene. In December 2011, songwriter Zach Ryan premiered his new band Zach Ryan and the Rouge, which has since been renamed Zach Ryan and the Renegades. Other second wave Las Vegas Indie acts include Restless Suns, and Alaska, who both arrived in 2012. [22] [23] In October 2012, Las Vegas based band Bear With Me finished tracking an EP at Chrome Werewolf, a Las Vegas studio opened in 2011 by Black Camaro's Brian Garth. The EP marks Bear With Me's second release and features the song I Am a Fiesta. [24]

Pop

Leah Dizon released an album that reached the top ten albums in Japan in 2007 and included two top ten singles on the Oricon Singles Chart.

Psychedelic

In December 2012 Trevor and The Joneses self-released There Was Lightning, their first LP. The band formed in early 2012, has performed over 150 shows, and has shared the stage with acts such as The Warlocks. [25] [26] [27] The band was the last to record in Brian Garth's now defunct studio Chrome Werewolf in downtown Las Vegas. [28]

Punk rock

Las Vegas is home to notable punk and hardcore bands such as Caravels and Stolas.

Punks in Vegas

Punksinvegas.com is a website founded by Emily Matview in 2011. [29] The website publishes news, concert photographs and album reviews relating to punk rock, hardcore punk, ska, emo and indie rock with a specific emphasis on bands from or playing in the Las Vegas and Henderson area. The website began as a simple database of punk shows coming to the Las Vegas area and quickly expanded to include original content, most notably a series of acoustic videos called The Stripped Down Sessions. [30] The Stripped Down Session have featured such notable acts as Less Than Jake, The Bouncing Souls and Dead to Me playing acoustic versions of their songs, often debuting songs for the first time through the Sessions. [31] In late 2011 the website released their first music compilation, featuring new, acoustic holiday-themed songs from Forever Came Calling, Last Call and The Sheds. [32] More recently, Punksinvegas.com has begun re-releasing out of print punk and hardcore albums digitally under the Vegas Archive banner. [33]

Rap

Dizzy Wright's second album reached No. 47 on the Billboard 200.

R&B

Ne-Yo is the only solo act from Las Vegas to have topped the Billboard 200, which he did twice, including with In My Own Words in 2006. He has released five studio albums that topped the R&B Albums Chart and three singles that topped the R&B Singles Chart.

702 is an American girl group from Las Vegas, named after the area code for Las Vegas. They released a platinum selling album by the same name and had two top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Gladys Knight of Gladys Knight & the Pips also resides in Las Vegas. She and the Pips have released six studio albums that topped the R&B Albums Chart and eleven singles that topped the R&B Singles Chart.

Producers in and from Nevada

Major label artists (signed from Nevada)

Groups

Solo acts

Nevada music venues

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

In 2012, Smith Center for the Performing Arts, a $470 million facility opened. The center is free of slots and gambling. Instead, it features fine arts productions including symphonies, Broadway performances, and international talents. [35] It is also the home of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra and Nevada Ballet Theatre. [36]

Other venues

Music festivals

Recording studios

Citations

  1. Vegas, Eve Barlow in Las (22 March 2015). "Brandon Flowers on The Desired Effect: 'Every song on this album is a single'". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  2. "Brandon Flowers: 'The new Killers album is a beast'". 24 April 2020.
  3. "Brandon Flowers". Official Charts. 2015-11-17.
  4. "Imagine Dragons | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  5. "The 15 Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History". Yahoo Music. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  6. "Big Talk To Perform On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Album Premiering Now At ABC.com". Epitaph Records. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  7. "7 renowned bands, artists besides Panic! At the Disco with Las Vegas ties – Las Vegas Sun News". Lasvegassun.com. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  8. "Las Vegas' Panic! at the Disco playing House of Blues after weathering lineup changes | Las Vegas Review-Journal". Lvrj.com. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  9. Duck, Allison (7 February 2013). "Weekend best bets: Chinese New Year celebrations, Splendor in the Glass and Imagine Dragons – Las Vegas Sun News". Lasvegassun.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  10. "NIGHT BEAT: Clydesdale in it for the long haul". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2005-01-25. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  11. "The Yeller Bellies release follow up to debut: "Here to Suffer"". No Depression. 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  12. Byron, pgs. 146–149
  13. "What's new in: local music". Las Vegas Weekly. 2011-03-30. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  14. "Psyatics' verve: rough and rumble". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2012-04-12. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  15. "What's new in:local music". Las Vegas Weekly. 2011-03-23. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  16. "Las Vegas' Big Friendly Corporation releases its third album". Las Vegas Weekly. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  17. "CD review: A Crowd of Small Adventures 'A Decade in X-Rays'". Las Vegas Sun. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  18. "Neon Reverb a labor of love". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2009-09-17. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  19. "Las Vegas guide to Neon Reverb". Las Vegas Sun. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  20. "Las Vegas Arts and Culture: Neon Reverb Radio LIVE on KUNV". LV Arts and Culture. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  21. "Music: Radio Reverb". Desert Companion. 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  22. "Getting personal: Zach Ryan, new band in tow, gets to the heart of the matter -- his heart". Las Vegas CityLife. 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  23. "New bands worth scouting on the local music scene". Las Vegas Weekly. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  24. "Teenage wasteland". Las Vegas CityLife. 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  25. "Concert review: Trevor and the Joneses". Vegas Seven. 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  26. "From beach to garage: Trevor and The Joneses will blow your brains out". Las Vegas CityLife. 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  27. "CD Reviews On With the Show, There Was Lightning, Spawn of Evil". Vegas Seven. 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  28. "Trevor And The Joneses end Chrome Werewolf studio's run on a high note". Las Vegas Weekly. 2013-02-06. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  29. "The ePunk era: Punks in Vegas has put a national spotlight on local acts". Citylife. 2013-05-31. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  30. "Blooger Spotlight: Steven Matview". haulix. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  31. "Videos: Dead to Me: "The Monarch Hotel" (acoustic)". PunkNews. 2013-09-08. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  32. "Punks in Vegas Holiday Compilation". AbsolutePunk. 2011-12-21. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  33. "Punksinvegas.com to reissue iconic local hardcore music". Las Vegas Sun. 2012-04-12. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  34. Chris Willman (2013-09-21). "Toni Basil at 70: Thirty Years Past Singing, But Still Cutting a Rug". Music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  35. "No slots or showgirls at new Vegas culture megacenter". USA Today Travel. 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  36. "History". The Las Vegas Philharmonic. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  37. "Downtown Las Vegas Events Center | Las Vegas Concerts & Events". Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.
  38. "battlebornstudios.com". battlebornstudios.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  39. Schultz, Barbara (2010-01-01). "Battle Born Studios". Mixonline. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  40. "Las Vegas Recording Studio | Palms Casino Resort". Palms.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  41. "WM Studios". Wademartinstudios.com. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2015-10-26.

Related Research Articles

Pop-punk is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes. It is distinguished from other punk-variant genres by drawing more heavily from 1960s bands such as the Beatles, the Kinks, and the Beach Boys. The genre has evolved throughout its history, absorbing elements from new wave, college rock, ska, rap, emo, boy band pop and even hardcore punk. It is sometimes considered interchangeable with power pop and skate punk.

The cultural Music of Utah, while having been significantly influenced by the presence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, includes several thriving local scenes and a large number of musicians across a variety of genres. That said, much of the distinctiveness of Utah's musical traditions has derived from the interaction between individuals of multiple beliefs in the uniquely religious context of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metalcore</span> Genre of music

Metalcore is a fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, that originated in the late 1980s. Metalcore is noted for its use of breakdowns, which are slow, intense passages conducive to moshing, while other defining instrumentation includes heavy guitar riffs often utilizing percussive pedal tones and double bass drumming. Vocalists in the genre typically perform screaming, more popular bands often combine this with the use of standard singing, usually during the bridge or chorus of a song. However, the death growl is also a popular technique within the genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Killers</span> American rock band

The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. After going through a number of short-term bass players and drummers in their early days, both Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. joined the band in 2002. The band's name is derived from a logo on the bass drum of a fictitious band portrayed in the music video for the New Order song "Crystal".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Flowers</span> American musician

Brandon Richard Flowers is an American musician. He serves as the co-founder, lead vocalist, primary songwriter, keyboardist, and occasional bassist of the Las Vegas-based rock band the Killers, which he formed with Dave Keuning in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Hurley</span> American musician

Andrew John Hurley is an American musician. He is the drummer for the rock band Fall Out Boy. Prior to Fall Out Boy, Hurley played in several hardcore punk bands. He joined Fall Out Boy as the full-time drummer in 2003 and was in the band's lineup until its hiatus in 2009. Following that, he formed the heavy metal supergroup The Damned Things with Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Trohman; the group went on hiatus after its debut album, Ironiclast (2010), due to band members focusing on their original bands' new album cycles. Hurley moved on to hardcore punk band Enabler which released a debut album and toured in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Brightside</span> 2003 single by the Killers

"Mr. Brightside" is the debut single of American rock band the Killers. It is taken from their debut studio album, Hot Fuss (2004). Written by band members Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning, it was one of the first songs the Killers ever wrote. Two music videos were made for the song: the first one was shot in black and white and features the band performing in an empty room and the second one was based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Vannucci Jr.</span> American drummer (born 1976)

Ronald Vannucci Jr. is an American musician, best known for being the drummer for the rock band the Killers. He is also involved in a side project called Big Talk and became the drummer of the Rentals in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Reynolds</span> American singer, member of Imagine Dragons

Daniel Coulter Reynolds is an American singer and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist and a founding member of the pop rock band Imagine Dragons. He is a recipient of the Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fall Out Boy</span> American rock band

Fall Out Boy is an American rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band originated from Chicago's hardcore punk scene and was formed by Wentz and Trohman as a pop-punk side project; Stump joined shortly thereafter. The group went through a succession of drummers before Hurley joined. Their debut album, Take This to Your Grave (2003), became an underground success and helped the band gain a dedicated fan base through heavy touring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pimpbot</span>

PIMPBOT was an American ska punk band from Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. It was formed in 2001. Blending influences of reggae, dance-rock, hardcore punk, and rocksteady, the band was a local favorite, playing at many Honolulu venues. Pimpbot performed at the world-famous Wave Waikiki at the closing celebration, headlined the grand opening of the stage at Kemo'o Farms, and the popular Sunset on the Beach event at Waikiki Beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cab</span> American rock band

The Cab is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Their debut album, Whisper War, was released on April 29, 2008. They have been called "The Band You Need to Know 2008" by Alternative Press magazine. They were also featured in the '100 Bands You Need to Know in 2010' by the magazine and were one of the three bands featured on the cover page, along with Never Shout Never and Hey Monday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fun (band)</span> American pop band

Fun was an American indie pop band based in New York City. The band consists of Jack Antonoff, Andrew Dost, and Nate Ruess.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neon Trees</span> American rock band

Neon Trees are an American rock band from Provo, Utah. The band received nationwide exposure in late 2008 when they opened several North American tour dates for the band The Killers. Not long after, the band was signed by Mercury Records. Their first single, "Animal", climbed to No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Alternative Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imagine Dragons</span> American pop rock band

Imagine Dragons are an American pop rock band formed in 2008, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and currently consisting of lead singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. The band first gained exposure with the release of their single "It's Time", followed by their debut album Night Visions (2012), which resulted in the chart-topping singles "Radioactive" and "Demons". Rolling Stone named "Radioactive", which held the record for most weeks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, the "biggest rock hit of the year". MTV called them "the year's biggest breakout band", and Billboard named them their "Breakthrough Band of 2013" and "Biggest Band of 2017", and placed them at the top of their "Year in Rock" rankings for 2013, 2017, and 2018. Imagine Dragons topped the Billboard Year-End "Top Artists – Duo/Group" category in 2018.

The Clydesdale was an indie band from Las Vegas, Nevada who grew prominent in the independent Las Vegas alt country and cowpunk community. Their sound is described by Rolling Stone as "bluegrass rock" fit for "the soundtrack to a western directed by Quentin Tarantino." Their members, who perform dressed in western wear, include Paige Overton and her trademark "ever-evolving beehive" hairdo, Andrew Karasa, a carpenter who builds his own instruments and once cut his middle finger off with a table saw a mere week before performing with the band, Jason Aragon, who co-created Las Vegas' Neon Reverb Music Festival (bass), and Courtney Carroll, who has played in several Las Vegas bands including Venus Diablo and Kid Meets Cougar (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben McKee</span> American musician

Benjamin Arthur McKee is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is the bassist for the pop rock band Imagine Dragons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shot at the Night</span> 2013 single by The Killers

"Shot at the Night" is a song by American rock band The Killers. The song serves as the lead single from the band's second compilation album, Direct Hits. The track was unveiled on September 16, 2013, the tenth anniversary of the band's first London show, and sent immediately to mainstream radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Platzman</span> American drummer and songwriter

Daniel James Platzman is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and composer. He is the drummer for the pop rock band Imagine Dragons.

<i>Smoke + Mirrors</i> 2015 studio album by Imagine Dragons

Smoke + Mirrors is the second studio album by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. The album was recorded during 2014 at the band's home studio in Las Vegas, Nevada. Self-produced by members of the band along with English hip-hop producer Alex da Kid, the album was released by Interscope Records and Grant's Kidinakorner label on February 17, 2015, in the United States.

References