Looking back on the Las Vegas scene after almost a year

I’ve lived in Las Vegas for almost a year now.

That makes me a Las Vegan — at least that’s what I consider myself at this point. Well, and that’s what a buddy of mine from back home asked me to talk about this week when he invited me on his radio show. “We are hoping you can tell us a little about the Vegas music scene and what independent touring bands we might expect to find there,” wrote my friend in an email earlier this week. “What makes it different than other markets?”

To me, it’s actually less about what separates Las Vegas from other places. It’s more about what our town has in common with other thriving scenes in other parts of the country, and I’d say plenty. I can’t speak for what it was like before I got here, but right now, from a talent perspective and an infrastructure standpoint, it really feels like the city is firing on all cylinders. I come from a very strong scene, and we had many of the same things. From faithful fans, to promoters putting bands on prominent bills, to members of the media actively paying attention, to podcasts and radio shows, to recording studios and record labels, the pieces are in place here for this scene to explode.

I actually feel qualified to say that now, having lived here and seen shows and gone to Neon Reverb and having met so many quality people. If my friend would’ve asked me that same thing six months ago, I probably wouldn’t have felt as comfortable weighing in. But now, I totally feel like I’m from here, like I’m legitimately a part of this scene. I was at a music festival in Texas last month, and when people asked me where I was from, I said Las Vegas, instinctively, without even thinking about it — although, I must also confess, I did note that I’m also originally from Denver. That was reflexive, too, I guess.

Thing is, I’ll always have a lingering love of my hometown. That will never change. It will always be a big part of who I am. I mean, I did spend almost all of my life in the Mile High City, and so I’m proud of where I came from, so much so that I have an oversized Colorado flag hanging in my cubicle. If you’ve ever met anybody from Denver, we’re a proud sort — proud of the Broncos, proud of the mountains and the majestic beauty, proud of the beer — so that’s not unusual. But that’s also helped shape my perspective.

The source of my pride comes from the music scene there, which has produced some prime talent over the years, some names you’d recognize and plenty of others that you won’t (and maybe never will). I played a small part in that scene. For nearly a dozen years, I documented its progress and told its stories, just like I’m doing here now. And I can tell you, it took a plethora of passionate people to put all the pieces together from all parts of the scene.

I’ve seen those same traits in so many people since I’ve moved here. From the first time I met Tsvetelina Stefanova from Same Sex Mary and she introduced me to Brian Cantrell, her bandmate from Bee Master, through which I also had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Brendan Scholz from Mercy Music, his bandmate at the time, I instantly felt like I’d found kindred spirits in someplace special.

That was last May, just before Memorial Day, right around Punk Rock Bowling. I didn’t really know anybody else yet, but the interconnectedness of those first few exchanges ended up setting the tone for what was to come. Those folks made me feel right at home, instead of feeling like some interloper from somewhere else.

The scene I come from is likewise interwoven: This band shares these members, one of whom also books this venue, which is owned by a person who also does this, etc. Speaking from experience, that sort of inclusivity is exactly what it takes for a scene to make it to the next level. Camaraderie is a key component to cultivation, and I’ve seen a great deal of that here in the past year. As I’ve slowly immersed myself in this scene, I’ve gradually gotten to know many of the people who pour themselves into the music being made here daily, a growing list that could easily fill at least a few paragraphs.

It’s those scene builders that I think about when I tell people like my friend about how vibrant and vital the music scene in Vegas is right now. It really does feel like all the pieces are in place for Las Vegas to keep growing, building on top of the foundation set by so many who have come before. The scene isn’t perfect, but it’s poised.

And I say that knowing that there are still parts of the scene I haven’t even really had the chance to explore yet, music that I haven’t heard, new stories that I’ve yet to hear, that I’m looking forward to telling. I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface. Suffice to say, I’m looking forward to learning more and more about my new home here in the valley, and with that, I could use your help. If there’s a record you think I should hear, a band I should know, or someone doing something cool that you think I should meet, feel free to drop me a line.

In the meantime, Viva Live Vegas!

Read more from Dave Herrera at reviewjournal.com/music. Contact him directly at dherrera@reviewjournal.com or follow @rjmusicdh on Twitter.