Music: ONE CITY / ONE SUMMER - Pt. 1

ONE CITY / ONE SUMMER 2013 is the documented summer tour of Las Vegas by our resident music expert, Taj Simpson, that will feature some of the hottest concerts / DJ's / events in one of the most happening cities in the world.  Over the course of the summer, Taj will be submitting regular updates on his experiences, so check back often.  For a real time update on Taj and the ONE CITY / ONE SUMMER tour, follow him at @adamtaj.

May 4th, 2013 

9:31 am: A text comes in, "Mikey goes on at 11. Want to get there around 1030?"

A friend has invited me to follow local DJ Mike Uriate of the duo MICS tonight. He is on the bill to play at Tao Nightclub inside the Venetian Hotel and Casino. It's a big weekend for Vegas; on top of it being Cinco de Mayo weekend, people have packed out sports books to place bets on the Kentucky Derby, and the highly anticipated Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Robert Guerrero fight which is happing just a few hotels down the strip at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

But I'm not sure why my friend is confirming set times with me at nine o'clock in the morning? So I ask him if he means am or pm.

9:34 am: "Dayclub. He's doing the nightclub as well though."

This town doesn't seem to stop. I eventually get out of bed, brush my teeth, throw on some swim trunks, and head out for my first day of the One City / One Summer Tour.

10:46 am: I arrive at the Venetian. Since my friend is still en-route, I enjoy a quick breakfast at the bar (vitamin C tablets and water).

The dayclub my friend referred to earlier is called Tao Beach. And today is the official grand opening for Summer 2013. When we arrive at the DJ booth, Mike Uriate is gearing up his set with a trance mix.

2:00 pm: Mike's set is finished and I join him and his entourage at a cabana near the dayclub's super-sized hot tub. We get word that a secret DJ is set to arrive.

2:14 pm: It's announced that the secret DJ is Eric D-Lux. He arrives at the DJ booth and hits the pool party with re-mixed EDM versions of hip-hop hits from French Montana, Drake, and Lil Wayne. It's total chaos.

8:30 pm: My alarm clock goes off waking me up from my mid-day power night. I check my phone and there's a message from Mike that reads, "Tao tonight!! Snap back n tattoos."

11:07 pm: We arrive to Tao Nightclub. Mike's set will run till 1:00 am, but he's currently having issues syncing his equipment with the nightclub's audio. The DJ prior to Mike's arrival keeps his equipment on board while Mike tries to find a solution. One thing I notice, is that Mike keeps his cool, even bobbing his head to the beat from time to time. The club-goers have no clue there is a problem happening behind the booth as a A$AP Rocky track is being mixed.

2:15 am: Time for dinner. We grab some pizza slices in a cafe inside the Venetian. While eating his pizza, my friend is telling me his progress of becoming a vegan and then randomly says, "Mike is one of the only DJ's I know who rolls in with an entourage and then rolls out with an entourage. Hey, isn't that the guy from Entourage?" Yep, this day wouldn't feel right if we didn't run into Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier).

May 9th, 2013

6:30 pm:  Speaking of Great Gatsby, my roommate and I have been invited to attend Vegas Magazine's 10th Anniversary Party at the Mandarin Oriental. Dress code: Classy. But we won't need 3-D glasses for this party.

7:37 pm:  My roommate and I duck into the Starbucks below the ballroom before heading up.  I notice a photographer pretending to take my picture from outside the coffee shop. It's my friend and acclaimed photographer Erik Kabik. And standing behind him is the host for the evening, Heather Graham.

Heather Graham wearing Donna Karan on the Vegas Magazine 10th Anniversary Red Carpet

9:00 pm: The party is in full swing. A lounge band covering top 40 songs keeps the party at a steady groove. When they pause for a break, local DJ Miss Joy steps in to keep the heartbeat of the party from flat-lining. The smiles are free and so are the drinks. I ask the bartender to give me a glass of smiles, but she fills my glass up with booze anyways.

I spot another friend and talented photographer Al Powers suited up as I'm taking in the crowd filled with models and merlot. A model standing beside me is mistaken as my date. It's a very "Time to Pretend" by MGMT moment for me. Hey, I've got chances tonight―after all I'm wearing my Signature Oxford.

DJ Miss Joy with former Playmate of the Year Claire Sinclaire

9:30 pm: Clothing label Donna Karan New York presents a fashion show featuring select designs from their 2013 collection.

10:17 pm: After a good night of fashion, I end the night discussing with friends the upcoming debut of the Life is Beautiful Music Festival coming to Las Vegas this Fall. But until then, it's time for Summer.

Friends of the night attending Vampire Weekend at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Friends of the night (and grumpy cat) attending New Order at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

I live for the nights that I can't remember, with the pizza's that I'll never forget. Ft. (The Mulberry Plaid)

 •   •   •

What I'm listening to:

AWOLNATION - Guilty Filthy Soul (feat. Wale) - Samantha Ronson Remix

AWOLNATION - Guilty Filthy Soul (feat. Wale) - Samantha Ronson Remix

M.I.A. - Internet Connection - Flux Pavilion Remix

Avicii/Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One - Didrick Remix

Driicky Graham - Snap Backs & Tattoos

DJ Drama - We In This (feat. Drake and Future)

Childish Gambino - Heartbeat - Ashworth IV Remix

To view the remaining tracks and listen, Subscribe to OLE MASON JAR # 2 via Spotify

Jamie Cullum - Don't Stop The Music

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane - Take The Coltrane

Miles Davis - Two Bass Hit

Eric Darius - Because Of You

Ramsey Lewis Trio - The "In" Crowd

To view the remaining tracks and listen, Subscribe to OLE MASON JAR # 3 via Spotify

For a real time look at what we are listening to at OLE MASON JAR, check out our Last.fm profile

Taj Simpson is OLE MASON JAR's music correspondent who lives in Las Vegas, NV.  Always dressed for the right occasion, Taj also has a keen ear for the right sound...keeping us at the forefront of the music scene, and in tune with the freshest tracks and artists you may / or may not have heard of.

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