Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Something Blue is brewing at Monte Carlo; venue-shuffling action with Frankie Moreno, YBR, Lon Bronson

Joe Jonas, Alan Ritchson at Blue Man Group

Blue Man Productions

Alan Ritchson, a Blue Man and Joe Jonas at Blue Man Group in Monte Carlo for “I Can Do That” on NBC.

‘For the Record: Baz’

Jason Paige and Jason Byous from “Moulin Rouge” in “For the Record: Baz.” Launch slideshow »

The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is the Hard Rock Hotel’s Fuel Cafe express, one of the favored composition outposts in all of VegasVille.

Down the hall in just a few short hours is the latest and second-to-last performance of “Alice — A Steampunk Concert Fantasy” at Vinyl. This is what we term the “penultimate ultimate steampunk concert experience” and a show that is about ready to be staged in a more frequent and lengthier partnership.

“Alice” brings to mind the upcoming “For the Record: Baz” production being delivered at Light in Mandalay Bay starting with previews Monday night (I’ve written an extensive column about the show in this week’s Las Vegas Weekly, incidentally). Both shows are rock-musical adaptations of fascinating source matter, “Alice” drawn from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll and “Baz” a tribute to the films (three in all) of Australian director and writer Baz Luhrmann.

“Romeo + Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge” and “The Great Gatsby” are sampled in that show, their stories linked by the films’ familiar songs, with expert dancing and a live band carrying the tide. One measure of the expectations for this show arrive from the person who brokered the deal to bring it to Las Vegas, Scott Zeiger, who heads up Cirque du Soleil’s Theatrical Division. I’ve known Zeiger for a long time and rarely have I heard him so uniformly praise a production. “It’s just friggin’ great,” was one comment. “You’ll have a great time.” And if it’s good enough for Quentin Tarantino …

Let’s rock it out elsewhere, OK?

• The buzz is strong, and it’s been relatively sudden, about the activity at the Monte Carlo. Reported elsewhere is the fact that the hotel is due for some high measure of rebranding, and this is expected to coincide with the development of Las Vegas Arena just to the north. Keep an eye on Blue Man Group, as I am reliably hearing — without formal verification, mind you — that by the end of the summer, BMG will be moving to a “sister” hotel of Monte Carlo. Where might that be? Where it all started for BMG on the Strip, at Luxor. And that move might well chase Jabbawockeez out of their venue across from Atrium Showroom.

Again, not officially confirmed, but the domino effect appears in place, with a new venue being built at Monte Carlo that would be associated with the new arena. Think headlining performances, similar to how Luxor filled the Criss Angel theater before he opened in 2008. This might be me, assembling the Monopoly board, but something is up with these hotels, venues and productions.

• Frankie Moreno is returning to the only hotel in Las Vegas that I know of where a fight broke out as the song “All Out of Love” was being performed by an actual member of Air Supply.

That happened, what, seven years ago? Something like that. The singer was Graham Russell, joining a rowdy night at Rush Lounge during one of Moreno’s late-night sets. There was a scuffle in the corner, but hardly anyone noticed because they were signing along to “All Out of Love.” An ironic moment, now that I think of it …

Anyway, Moreno is back at the Golden Nugget, but not at the since-redesigned Rush Lounge. He’s performing there at the Gordie Brown Showroom from July 4-5, 7, 9, 11 and 12. Tickets are $20 and $31.90 (absent fees); $108 for “golden circle” access (call the Golden Nugget at 866-946-5336 or go to the Golden Nugget website for info). There will be a ”zero tolerance” policy for fighting at these shows, but don’t be surprised to see beach balls batted around the room.

• On the topic of venues and changes therein, Railhead at Boulder Station has shaken up its lineup to the degree that many entertainment observers and even entertainers have been concerned that the room is closing. Not so. But one of the granddaddies of locals’ entertainment venues has made some important scheduling changes that principally affect two longtime Las Vegas favorites: Yellow Brick Road and The Lon Bronson All-Star Band.

YBR is moving off its Friday night schedule at the end of the month, with its last performance scheduled for June 26. The classic-rock band that was launched at Railhead in 1996 would then move to Fridays at Sunset Station’s Club Madrid, taking over the 10 p.m. slot occupied currently by Cirque du Bronson. That long-standing Las Vegas band would move to the first Thursday of every month at 9 p.m. at Club Madrid beginning July 2, with Bronson’s last Friday night set for the following date, July 3. Zowie Bowie, which last month celebrated its Friday night gig at Red Rock Resort’s Rocks Lounge, is at Club Madrid on Saturdays.

Railhead will continue with Friday night performances, with bands booked through the end of July beginning with Las Vegas rockers The Blackjacks on July 3. Gods & Monsters, another local act appearing in the rotation, is booked July 10. That band features the reliably amazing Savannah Smith on vocals. The monthly Boulder Blues Series continues through the end of the year (up next is Guitar Shorty on Thursday), and Railhead continues to present such touring acts as Phil Vasser (Aug. 15), Jonny Lang (Aug. 21), Tommy Emmanuel (Sept. 19) and Diamond Rio (Nov. 13).

Railhead has long served as one of the busiest and wide-ranging venues in town, with YBR, Robert Cray, Ottmar Liebert and John Waite among the acts I’ve seen there. Even Brian Wilson, with his “Smile” revival, has played the Railhead.

• Closing quote from Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton, who has seen all levels of legend pass through the city since moving here more than 50 years ago. He says of the late Kirk Kerkorian:

"First, my condolences to the Kerkorian family and all of his loved ones. The world, and especially Las Vegas, has lost a great man, and I've lost a great friend. He was a caring, loving and giving man. The void left will not be filled in our lifetime."

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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