Las Vegas Mixtape v34: Poolside With Train, New Chinatown Gem, and Boardwalk to Paradise

Track #5: Around Town Medley:

Wild in the streets in downtown Summerlin. (Image: Vegas 411)

I used to dream about living in Oahu. But Las Vegas—known as the “ninth Island of Hawaii” with our large population of islanders—will have to do.

As part of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the “Aloha Spirit” was in full effect for the fourth annual Lei Day Parade in downtown Summerlin. Big crowds lined the streets and cheered on the performers who celebrated the rich heritage of the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands. It was inspirational to see our country’s diversity being honored with colorful and choreographed pageantry.

The Atlanta band immersed the crowd in “Holy Water.” (Image: Vegas 411)

You’re looking at Lee Jennings—charismatic frontman of The Funeral Portrait—onstage at the B-Side venue inside House of Blues. The show marked the Atlanta rock band’s return to Vegas following a big play in 2024 at the Grand Garden Arena on a seriously heavy bill with Vegas-based headliner Five Finger Death Punch and Marilyn Manson.

At B-Side, the emo-rooted Funeral Portrait received a hero’s welcome, with love from the city’s rock station KOMP 92.3FM, as they tore through songs from their latest album like the #1 Billboard smash “Suffocate City,” “Hearse For Two,” and the #5 hit “Holy Water.” Seems the kids are alright, especially the ones with spiky, multi-colored hair.