Music festival shaking down Las Vegas

It's like a festival for bar people."

Have sweeter words ever been spoken?

Your mother could tell you that she loves you -- emphasis on the "could" -- and it would sound like an insult by comparison.

The line is delivered by Ralph Carrera, who's encapsulating the Las Vegas Shakedown, a three-day rock 'n' roll gut check that doesn't so much as take place downtown as smother it in a big boozy bear hug.

The lineup is a mix of genre pioneers, garage rock greasers, punk antagonists and rockabilly preservationists.

The fest, which begins today, has a throwback feel to it: Even the most modern of bands tend to harken back to rock's dirt-clogged roots in some way or another, be it sonically, aesthetically or in terms of let-'er-rip temperament.

This year's roster is a buffet of bombast, headlined by pop punk antecedents the Flamin' Groovies and Midwestern hot rodders The Untamed Youth, both of whom rarely perform these days.

Then, there's the nitrous-powered yowl of Zeke, surf rock subverts Deadbolt, thunder belchin' Jersey boys Electric Frankenstein, dirty-haired Kentucky hedonists The Hookers and around four dozen other ragers, along with pool parties, burlesque shows and more (for a full rundown, visit www.lasvegasshakedown.com).

The Shakedown originally shook Vegas in 2000 and 2001, took nearly a decade off to weather the hangover, then returned last year, this time centered around Fremont Street.

Putting it all together is a lot of work for Carrera, a California-based record collector turned part-time show promoter, who spends months assembling the bill, mostly on his own.

After Shakedown 2010, he wasn't even sure about doing another one.

But, he changed his mind.

For us.

"I can tell you exactly what it was: the response by the bands and the people," Carrera says of giving the Shakedown another go. "They said, 'Wow, this was really cool,' because it was a place where they could see all their favorite bands in close proximity, stay with them in the same hotels and drink with them at the same bars. It's a very communal event."

And that's perhaps the Shakedown's defining trait: It's less a series of shows than one big party where bands and fans often find themselves on equal -- and equally wobbly -- footing.

In fact, it was various groups that played a big role in the Shakedown's return.

"There was an effort made by several acts to say, 'Hey, we'll help you and be in for the long haul,' " Carrera says. "And they have. They helped me decide that I want to continue."

And that's a welcome decision, especially for downtown barkeeps.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.