Las Vegas Weekly

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Spencer Patterson

Wed, Sep 22, 2010 (8:45 p.m.)

“Tomorrow, we start planning for March,” weary Neon Reverb co-organizer Thirry Harlin told me late Sunday night, moments after the festival’s fall edition closed with a majestic set by the The Walkmen. While it’s doubtful Harlin and partners James Woodbridge and Jason Aragon booked any bands Monday morning, the sentiment remains a smart one: Capitalize on momentum. Because after last weekend, Neon Reverb’s got momentum in spades.

Along with its typically strong slate of performances—from local bands like The Mad Caps, Twin Brother and A Crowd of Small Adventures and such out-of-towners as Abe Vigoda, Scarub and A B & The Sea—the latest Neon Reverb also boasted legitimate corporate sponsorship (namely money from Budweiser and a shiny double-decker party shuttle from Red Bull) and the most consistent crowds in its five-fest history.

Not that everything went perfectly; there were a smattering of empty rooms, late starts and band cancellations. Hell, Woodbridge even lost a few hundred bucks of festival money on the floor of the Aruba sometime early Saturday morning. But most anyone who hit Reverb this time will surely tell you, the vibe just felt right. Here’s looking forward to March.