Las Vegas Weekly

Rock for all ages

Losing Tomorrow sheds the age restrictions, brings metal to all

Just because Losing Tomorrow is a heavy hitting rock band that can impress metal-loving fans in seedy bars doesn’t mean they’re opposed to playing in churches, or for fans barely old enough to vote.

“We don’t discriminate. We'll rock anywhere," says bassist Corey Sorrenti as he stands in the band's practice space, a rehearsal room barely large enough to house the band and all of its equipment, located on Meade Avenue just west of the I-15.

As the band practices on a Thursday night, they're still pumped about their battle of the bands win at Gallo's Pizza Kitchen the previous weekend. The band squeezed out a half-point victory over fellow metal band Control the Chaos, securing funds they plan on using to record their second album. They hope to release the album in January 2010.

They also hope they won't have to play another battle of the bands.

Guitarist Dave DiOrio explains that while the competitions can be heavily attended, some audience members are reluctant to show support for one band if they've originally come to support a second band. Similarly, the ticket structures of battle of the band competitions often lead to bigger profits for venues and promoters than the musicians.

While the band is supportive of the local music scene, they admit that other states' are often more welcoming. "We had a better audience when we played in Arizona," lead singer Nick Kross says. "Same thing in California. We played on an off night, but it was a better audience."

Vegas' wealth of activities, especially its bustling nightlife scene, are too strong for many local bands to compete with. This is partially the reason why the band, which consists mostly of men in their 30s (with the notable exception being 18-year-old guitarist Robert Aquino) has embraced playing all-ages venues. Many local bands shy away from such locales, opting only to book at 21+ bars, perhaps because of the belief that music fans expect their metal served with a pint.

Sorrenti believes bands like that have it backward.

“[All-ages shows have] the target demographic,” he says, explaining that the 18+ crowd is more apt to purchase merchandise and be excited about live shows than the barhopping 21+ group. "That's where the enthusiasm is."

Peterson adds that often the biggest complaint about their 18+ shows it that younger teens cannot attend.

Despite their criticism of the Vegas scene, the band agrees there's one benefit to playing in a market where there's little money to be made: Those who do play, are dedicated. They love playing. That counts for something.