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» Best Live Music Las Vegas
The world’s coolest cities have live music scenes that come in all shapes and sizes. The common denominator is that they deliver an outstanding evening of great music—be it blues, Latin, soul, funk, jazz, rock, indie-pop, or something in between. These are our hands-down favorites.
The Draw: A legendary modern venue, HOB boasts an intimate stage, a state-of-the-art sound system, supreme sightlines, and a diverse selection of bands. The Scene: Located below the House of Blues restaurant, this small club has a rough-hewn wood décor with wild art from the Deep South that provides an ideal backdrop for grooving to the likes of Social Distortion, B.B. King, Goo Goo Dolls, Stone Temple Pilots, and Howie Day. Hot Tip: Monday nights bring free Rockstar Karaoke—sing with a live rock band behind you. Or, feed your soul at the Sunday Gospel Brunch with delicious Southern food.
The Joint Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., East Flamingo, 702-693-5066 thejointlasvegas.com
The Draw: The Joint features the hottest new bands and frequently grabs rock ’n’ roll superstars such as David Bowie, Metallica, Alanis Morrissette, Green Day, Santana, and Matchbox20, to name a handful. The Scene: Whoever the band is, the small auditorium-style concert venue will be packed with die-hard fans. There’s not a bad view in the house because of three-level, tiered seating. Hot Tip: Avoid the bone-crushing crowds by springing for VIP tickets that get you into the top balcony, which is a little less crowded and has its own bar and restrooms.
MGM Grand Garden Arena MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., South Strip mgmgrand.com
The Draw: This arena hosts the biggest concerts in town, as well as championship fights. The Rolling Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Coldplay, Britney Spears, Madonna, Aerosmith, Lenny Kravitz, Cher, the Eagles, and Barbra Streisand have all rocked here. The Scene: The massive 16,800-seat area is modeled after Madison Square Garden in New York. Strategically placed big-screen monitors bring the action closer in. Hot Tip: Parking can be difficult. If you’re not staying at the MGM, leave your car at your hotel and take The Deuce (the local shuttle) up the Strip to get there.
