Venue’s first concert draws few people, high energy

One stage, two bands, a 40-year-old man getting caked in the face and a night of rain became the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center’s grand concert opening Saturday night.

The former Clark County Courthouse, now a parking lot at 200 S. Third St., is a venue that holds 15,000, but only a few hundred came to the first concert with Capital Cities and Joywave.

The energy exuded far exceeded the crowd size, as the event became a block party on Bridger Avenue between Casino Center Boulevard and Third Street that went from 7 p.m. until just before midnight.

The reflection of the stage lights and glare from the stage’s screen mixed in with the dark of night, turning the crowd into hues of blue, red and purple.

Derek Stevens, the owner of the Events Center and The D Las Vegas, introduced the opening act, Joywave.

Straight out of Rochester, N.Y., Joywave performed their set for the first time in Las Vegas.

The band ended their set with the upbeat and electro-driven song “Tongues,” riling up the crowd for the night’s headliner.

Stevens popped back up on stage, thanking all those for coming to the first concert.

“I have butterflies,” Stevens told the crowd.

Capital Cities walked onstage to Nat King Cole’s “Love” tying into an instrumental opening from trumpeter Spencer Ludwig, who, many agreed, stole the show.

The electronic-pop group had the crowd dancing during its entire set. And at one point, the group and the audience danced in unison to “Center Stage” with the “Capital Cities Shuffle,” consisting of side-steps and claps.

Concert-goer Samantha Mangaccat missed Capital Cities the past few times the group was in Las Vegas and was excited to see them for the first time — and during the Events Center’s opening night.

“I’ve never been that close to one of my favorite bands before,” she said of the intimacy of the venue.

It was a humid night for a concert with a cool breeze rushing in every so often, until a few hints of rain turned into a full-on shower by the end of the concert.

Rain or shine, the show went on, and Capital Cities performed their hit “Safe and Sound” just before surprising their bassist, Manny Quintero, with a birthday song and cake in the face for his 40th birthday.

Contact reporter Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381.