The Kats Report Podcast
Kats Report Radio Show — Ross Mollison
Spiegelworld founder Ross Mollison discusses the touring version of “Absinthe” with Kats.
The Kats Report bureau is regrouping after an exhaustive week at T-Mobile Arena and The Park on the Strip. The next event is the Guns N’ Roses show at the arena, and I’ll hop on the Night Train this evening. On Thursday night, it was Nicki Minaj and guest Ariana Grande, with DJ Brody Jenner opening at 9 p.m.
The real show started at 10:30 p.m. I understand that Minaj and Grande tore the place apart. They have better stamina, but not a better timepiece, than I.
More from the scene:
• Clint Holmes is parsing the theme this weekend in his monthly headlining residency at Cabaret Jazz. Using the title “Inspired,” Holmes is delivering some of the music that has shaped his career, including selections from Billy Joel, Bruno Mars, James Taylor, John Mayer, Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole and John Legend. Tickets are $37.
Holmes also is debuting seven songs from his new album, with “Rendezvous” as the working title. The album is being digitally mastered, which means all of the recording is finished. Soon, soon, soon is the release date as Holmes is eager to preview what he has been working on for the past couple of years at Capitol Records. The recording process has been so long that this album has actually become a tribute to itself (#SheckyKats)!
But, seriously, this is going to be something special. In June 2014, I attended a recording session in which Holmes sang with Dee Dee Bridgewater with The Count Basie Orchestra, with Gregg Field producing. That day was pure magic.
In this weekend’s performances, Holmes is backed by The Christian Tamburr Trio from Lincoln Center, with guest appearances by vocalist Nicole Pryor and sax man Eric Tewalt (the shows are at 8:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; tickets are $46 and $55 and are at TheSmithCenter.com).
Away from his Smith Center gig, Holmes is reuniting with Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns at M Resort at 7 p.m. April 23. The crew from Santa Fe, headed up by Jerry Lopez, was the backing band for Holmes and music director Bill Fayne during Holmes’ six-year run at Harrah’s ending in 2006. This is the first performance since then, with Holmes fronting the Santa Fe lineup. As we say, it’s gonna be a thing. Probably epic. Tickets are $20, $25 and $30 (fees not included) and are available at TheMResort.com.
• The Jerry Lewis 90th Birthday World Tour is in New York today. Lewis is being honored this evening by his friends at the New York Friars Club in a tribute hosted by two of Lewis’ friends in the comedy world, Richard Belzer and Jeffrey Ross, among other notables.
Before boarding the plane midday Thursday at McCarran International Airport, Lewis ordered a Coors Light and played a video poker machine. Where’s he think he is? Arizona Charlie’s (#SheckyKats)?
• One of the dignitaries I ran into at Hyde Lounge during the opening-night performance of The Killers and Wayne Newton at T-Mobile Arena was Lisa Marchese. Formerly a marketing director at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Marchese has been with the Venetian/Palazzo for about two months. She is helping to form the resort’s entertainment marketing strategy, which is taking shape after a lull over the early part of this year.
Aside from Human Nature with “Jukebox” and the move of the all-female comedy series Lipshtick to Palazzo Theater, the resort is undergoing a major overhaul of its entertainment lineup, with the announced openings of two smart productions: “Baz: Star Crossed Love” at Palazzo Theater and “Puppet Up! Uncensored” at Sands Showroom.
Peripherally linked to that topic is the closing of the Bourbon Room, which is not so much a bug-out as a mosey-out. Like Angus Young in his onstage striptease to his Union Jack undies, the room has been gradually but effectively shedding its entertainment programming.
Built to complement “Rock of Ages” at the Venetian, Bourbon Room seems pointless — unless you are a big fan of 1980s music and fashion. And a lot of people are. This would be a great theme to move over to the Rio, at that Rock of Ages Theater. The crowd spilling out can continue to groove to the '80s music of the show and also hit the open lounge near the escalators leading from the casino floor to the walkway to Voodoo Lounge elevators and Chippendales theater.
Anyhow, that’s what I’d do. And I’m eager to see what comes of that Bourbon Room space at Venetian, taking up choice real estate on the casino floor.
• From the podium, Wayne Newton said this of Gov. Brian Sandoval on Friday morning at Symphony Park during the groundbreaking ceremony for Project Neon: “The first president of the United States from the state of Nevada is sitting right behind me. Remember where you first heard this.”
Newton has been friendly with all variety of public officials, including Presidents Reagan and both Bushes and (and he has campaigned on behalf of Sen. Harry Reid), and all of our state’s former governors, especially Mike O’Callaghan. It was the man we knew as “The Guvna” who arranged for the teenage Newton to perform at Carnival Lounge at the Fremont when the Newton Brothers moved to Las Vegas. “I’ll never forget the wording of our work permit,” Newton told the crowd. “It said, ‘Wayne Newton is allowed to work at the Fremont hotel-casino, but he is not allowed to be in the Fremont hotel-casino.”
• Fellow Idahoan Rachel Smith, a member of the “More” lineup on Fox 5, talked with Ben Affleck of “Batman & Superman” shortly before the movie’s premiere March 25. She elicited the requisite witticisms.
A fan of Las Vegas poker rooms and the city in general, Affleck told Smith, “If someone doesn’t tip well, it’s hard for me to judge that person fairly.” A friend of Matt Damon, who recently filmed on the Strip for “Jason Bourne” Affleck said he would take himself/Batman in a fight with Bourne/Damon. “Matt Damon can’t even beat me up, so how is he going to beat up Batman? It’s going to be a long, long night for Jason Bourne if he’s going to take on Batman.”
• Downtown Grand is launching its renovated pool deck, now called Citrus at the Grand Pool Deck, on April 30. This is the former Picnic pool space, and the free show features Las Vegas indie pop duo Goldboot headlining a lineup of entertainment beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Citrus has been redesigned and features a new menu with specials weekdays from 4 to 7 p.m. The space is being marketed as a happy-hour spot for locals, open to ages 21 and older and free to hotel guests and Las Vegas residents. More news to come, I am feeling, out of this venue.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow Kats on Instagram at Instagram.com/JohnnyKats1.
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