Don’t say there’s nothing to do

Look at the Review-Journal's revamped Neon section. Now with staples! And Norm! Also, today it's chockablock with our interviews with Billy Idol, Paul Rodriguez and Howlin Rain's frontman, plus the rundown on new restaurants, movies and plays.

You might also notice it's a fall festival kind of weekend. We've got a beer fest, an indie-music fest, and the big enchilada is ...

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND -- Aventura opens for Enrique Iglesias on Saturday at Mandalay Bay. ... "The Latin Kings of Comedy" stars Paul Rodriguez today at Treasure Island. ... Jaguares plays House of Blues on Saturday. ... Alejandro Fernandez sings Monday at Mandalay Bay. ... The Las Vegas Mariachi Festival hits Planet Hollywood Saturday.

BEER FEST, MMM, BEER -- Siegfried & Roy will tap that ascetic event known as the launch of Oktoberfest, when they pump the first keg at Hofbrauhaus. That's at 7 p.m. Saturday. It's free to go, but beer's never free unless it's you're birthday or you're good-lookin'. I don't make the rules. Look for more Oktoberfest schtuff at Gordon Biersch and other German-sounding platzes that are hopping. Yes, it is only September, but apparently it's always beer o'clock somewhere.

FEST OF INDEPENDENT VIBES -- Neon Reverb runs today through Sunday at Beauty Bar, Jillian's, the Bunkhouse and elsewhere. More than 30 bands come from Vegas and California, mostly. Some acts may sucketh, obviously, but others won'teth. The band that rocks my socks, The Clydesdale, plays 1 a.m. Sunday (an hour after midnight) at Bunkhouse. Day passes run $10 to $20, or you can go all weekend for $50. Check the sked at NeonReverb.com.

UNDERWEAR FEST, OF SORTS -- Playboy Playmate Alison Waite hosts the "world's largest underwear party" from noon to 6 p.m. today at the Palms pool. What to wear? Men: boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs. Women: lingerie, underwear with tops, baby doll get-ups, bra-and-bottoms combo. Naturally, there's a contest for the women.

HOT CONCERTS -- The Black Crowes rock the Hard Rock on Saturday with Howlin Rain. ... Jesse McCartney sings Saturday at Mandalay Bay to benefit the Lili Claire Foundation. ... Eve 6 does Sunset Station on Saturday. ... Terry Fator does comedy all weekend at the Hilton. ... Billy Idol is at the Hard Rock today. ... And the Neville Brothers sing at Green Valley Ranch on Saturday.

Doug Elfman's column appears on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Contact him at 702-383-0391 or delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.