Las Vegas Weekly

November 26, 2008 · 1:01 PM

So long, Jillian’s. Hello, 305 Club

By Sarah Feldberg

Just when things are looking especially bleak in the local music scene – Jillian’s has closed, the Joint as we know it is creeping towards its last live show – someone comes along and makes things all better. Or at least maybe somewhat better. This isn’t a fairy tale, you know.

Just a few weeks ago downtown all-ages venue Jillian’s shut its doors, because, as owner Loraine Kusuhara told Weekly, “I don’t have any more money to lose. I put all my personal savings into making payroll. … It’s crazy. I can’t pull hundreds out of my butt.”

The news was a serious blow to the all-ages crowd that had made Jillian’s the de facto home base for under-21 local music fans. But with serendipitous timing, a new venue is springing up this weekend for its first local show, 305 Club.

Housed at the Greek Isles Hotel and Casino on Convention Center Drive just east of the Strip, 305 Club, which opens Saturday, November 29, will be an 18+ bar and music venue with most shows costing $10.

The opening party on Nov. 29 is an all day affair starting at 1 p.m. and ending just before midnight, and the music lineup features a collection of local acts like Christy Lane, Control the Chaos, Las Vegas Road Rage Band, The Inhalers and Nurse Ratchet performing throughout the day. Already 305’s MySpace page lists upcoming shows through December 19th.

Of course, filling the void left by Jillian’s will likely fall to numerous venues, but it seems the life cycle of Vegas music venues continues. One fails and another takes its turn. Ebb and flow.

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