PS Love Blog

**No shows until January 19, 2010**
‘Once Before I Go’ Starring Wayne Newton

His name has long been synonymous with the city he calls home, and now Wayne Newton – Mr. Las Vegas – will celebrate his 50th year of entertaining audiences on The Strip with an all-new, limited engagement production, Once Before I Go, at Tropicana Las Vegas.

Having performed live to more than 40 million people, Newton has epitomized the talent, glamour and energy that is Las Vegas. From the tale behind his signature tuxedo to his storied history with Elvis, the Rat Pack and many others, Once Before I Go is his unique life story, 50 years in the making.

Once Before I Go will be performed Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30 pm in the Tiffany Theatre. Tickets are priced at $79.99, $99.99 and the exclusive VIP Package for $149.99 plus tax and surcharge. The VIP Package includes a golden circle seat, a meet & greet with Wayne Newton and the opportunity to have a photo taken with the one and only Mr. Las Vegas.

Elvis so big you can walk under him in the Viva Elvis show

Cirque du Soleil has a brand new show in Las Vegas. It is named “Viva Elvis” and it is playing in the theater at the new Aria Casino in CityCenter. This show isn’t officially open yet, but you can see it while they are retuning it and getting it to perfection. These special preview shows are available at a 25% discount. The official opening will be February 19, 2010.

Two male acrobats climb around a huge floating guitar

I was at their special press preview last week so I could take some photos and video for you. I was allowed all the photos I wanted, but video had to be kept short of the performances. They gave us three different performances from the show, not the entire show. It would be impossible to judge the storyline with such a short segment, so a full review will have to wait. I can tell you, though, the costumes were beautifully colored, the set was kept simple and the dancers were spectacular.

Acrobats dancing on an enormous trampoline

“Viva Elvis” takes you through many areas of Elvis Presley’s life, from childhood to adulthood. This story is set to the music he performed in his life. They will be displaying memorabilia during the show that Elvis fans have not yet seen.

Depiction of Elvis's style from gospel roots

There have been rumors floating around about a recent revamp that was ordered which left the show having to rewrite fifty percent of it. So, they are certainly giving it their all to make sure this is the ultimate Vegas show experience. I’m sure even the most die-hard Elvis fans are going to love this new Cirque show.

"Colonel Tom Parker"

Before the performance, the creators took the stage and each gave a speech about how they felt about the project and how it came to be. I captured two of these interviews in my video. Priscilla Presley, who has been on board with this creative idea, said, “I think Elvis would be very pleased to know that he is back in Vegas again, in the way that he should be presented.”

Some scenes are more somber

Tickets:
By phone: 877-253-5847 or 702-531-2031
Online: www.cirquedusoleil.com/vivaelvis
In person: At the Elvis Theater box office at ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter or any of the MGM MIRAGE box offices in Las Vegas.

The Venetian Las Vegas presents “Open Wings-Broken Strings” featuring acoustic performances by Eddie Kowalczyk of Live, Art Alexakis of Everclear and Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. in the 742-seat Venetian Showroom.

Ed Kowalczyk asks the question, “As a songwriter and a singer in a successful rock band, I have had the good fortune of being surrounded by incredible musicians, lots of wonderful production on both record and onstage and plenty of VOLUME but did you know that the story of your favorite songs often originates in a much different environment?”

“Open Wings-Broken Strings” is an opportunity for audience members to get to the heart of their favorite artists and songs in a unique and compelling way. Stripped down, intimate and acoustic, the audience will hear the strings on the guitar vibrate and buzz, the vocal chords hum and pulsate as the songs they love come to life like you never knew they could. In this intimate environment, the rock star steps out from behind the layers of decibel and drama to greet the audience with the essence, the story, and the song.

Eddie Kowalczyk, widely known as the Lead singer/front man/guitarist of the band Live, has built an impressive résumé with his band mates that include eight full-length albums, total CD sales exceeding 20 million, a huge international fan base and extensive touring all over the world. Live has been one of the most successful and enduring alternative rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s. One of the main things that have enabled Live to maintain a devoted fan base is the substantial and durable nature of their lyrics, which have often reflected Kowalczyk’s personal and spiritual concerns. Eddie is now offering and accentuating these nuances in a more intimate setting through his solo-acoustic performances.

Art Alexakis of Everclear has built a solid career and devoted fan base on heartfelt songs culled from real-life experiences that he’s always been open about including an absentee father and brother’s death from a drug overdose. He would later chronicle his experiences in his songs, including “Heroin Girl” on their 1995 breakthrough album, “Sparkle & Fade” (platinum in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia) and “Father of Mine” on 1997’s “So Much For The Afterglow.”

Leigh Nash, perhaps best know as the dynamic, angelic-voiced lead singer of pop group Sixpence None the Richer. Following three album releases and the great success of their hit singles “Kiss Me,” “There She Goes,” and “Breathe Your Name” the band took a hiatus in 2004. Leigh took this time to release a solo record entitled “Blue on Blue” in 2006. In 2008, Sixpence None the Richer reunited to record a Christmas album entitled “Dawn of Grace,” a holiday piece fans had long requested. This year the band signed to EMI Credential and plan to record a new album for release in early 2010.

The event will feature Red Bull specialty cocktails and will be presented in partnership with KMXB’s Mix 94.1 FM. Tickets are on sale and priced at $27.75, $47.75 and $67.75 inclusive of tax and handling fees. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $127.75 and include a post show meet and greet and one cocktail. The show runs approximately 2.5 hours and will begin at 8 p.m. Performance dates are subject to change. Tickets are available for purchase at any Venetian Box Office, online at www.venetian.com and by phone at (702) 414-9000.

Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell are universally known as two of the original teenage idols of early rock ‘n’ roll. From January 15-17, Avalon and Rydell will bring their incomparable voices and generation-defining songs to the Orleans Showroom for a three-night engagement.

Frankie Avalon

Childhood friends from the same south Philadelphia neighborhood, Avalon and Rydell first teamed up on a band called Rocco and the Saints, with Avalon on trumpet and Rydell on drums. But it was their voices that would establish both performers as two of the biggest pop music stars of the pre-Beatles era.

Known as a child prodigy on the trumpet, Avalon was deemed a virtuoso by a member of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, and made several guest appearances on The Perry Como Show and the Jackie Gleason Show. But it was his 1957 single “Dee Dee Dinah” that established Avalon as a singing sensation, quickly selling more than a million copies. Numerous gold albums and hit singles followed, including “Venus,” “Bobby Sox to Stockings,” “Just Ask Your Heart,” and “Why.”

Avalon has some 30 motion picture credits, including the highly successful 1960s Beach Party film series, including such favorites as Grease, Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Beach Blanket Bingo, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, Bikini Beach and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini. His talents as a dramatic actor are evidenced in The Alamo and Guns of the Timberland. Other film credits include Skidoo, I’ll Take Sweden and Casino, among others.

Bobby Rydell

Not to be outdone by his friend, Rydell recorded his first single hit in 1959 with “Kissin’ Time.” Over the next several years Rydell established himself as a teenage sensation with 34 Top 40 hits, including “We Got Love,” “ “Wild One,” “That Old Black Magic,” “I’ll Never Dance Again” and “Forget Him.” He was later recognized by Billboard as one of the Top Five Artists of the early ‘60s.

Beyond selling millions of records, Rydell enjoyed fame as a regular on such television shows as American Bandstand, The Red Skelton Show and The Milton Berle Show. Rydell was also featured in the classic film Bye Bye Birdie as Ann-Margret’s boyfriend, Hugo Peabody.

Tickets are now available starting from $29.95, plus tax. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Orleans Box Office at 702.365.7075 or visiting www.orleanscasino.com.

Roy Rivers celebrates John Denver's music

Accomplished singer and songwriter Roy Rivers will celebrate the music and spirit of the late John Denver in the Suncoast Showroom, January 9 and 10.

Rivers is an award-winning entertainer whose John Denver tribute performances, as well as original music and live, acoustic-based concerts, thrill and engage audiences. For his performances at the Suncoast, Rivers will focus on the music of John Denver, performing hits such as “Rocky Mountain High,” “Leaving On A Jet Plane” and “Thank God I’m A Country Boy,” a song title for which Rivers’ 2004 tribute record was named.

In addition to performing John Denver tribute concerts from coast to coast, Rivers has recorded and released several albums of original music. In Europe he has charted two top five songs, both for songs he wrote. In 2006 he garnered six European CMA nominations including Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year and Entertainer of the Year—all for his debut European release. Also from this album, Rivers recorded a duet with Dolly Parton that hit No. 1 on the European country music charts and garnered the ECMA for Vocal Collaboration of the Year. He will soon go back to the studio to record a new CD of original tunes and plans to release it in spring of 2010.

A country boy himself, Rivers was raised mainly in Arkansas and currently resides in the states’ town of Hot Springs.

Tickets are now available starting from $19.95, plus tax. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

Carrie Underwood comes to the Orleans Casino May 22nd, 2010

One of country music’s most prolific and versatile power vocalists, Carrie Underwood, announced her new headline “Play On Tour” and a stop at the Orleans Arena May 22 with tickets for all shows going on sale next Friday, December 18. Underwood’s new headline tour kicks off March 11, 2010 with special guests Craig Morgan and Sons of Sylvia.

“I am getting so excited about next year as we are currently working through all the big plans for the tour,” says Underwood. “I cannot wait to perform new music and see familiar faces across the U.S. and Canada!”

Underwood spent this past year writing and recording for her new album Play On and performed a few select concerts. Her previous tour, 2008’s highly successful “Carnival Ride Tour” wrapped after 137 shows with 1.2 million fans in attendance.

Underwood recently launched her third album, Play On, at the No. 1 spot on both the country and pop album sales charts and has sold over 700,000 copies in 5 weeks. The release earned the highest first-week sales of the year for any solo country artist at that point and makes Carrie the only country act in Nielsen SoundScan history to achieve first-week sales of more than 300,000 units on each of their first three albums. The feat also extends to American Idol, where the Season Four winner is the first contestant to launch three albums in a row above the 300K threshold, with her 2005 debut, “Some Hearts,” now seven-times Platinum, and 2007’s Carnival Ride currently triple-Platinum.

Underwood is a four-time GRAMMY winner, ACM Entertainer of the Year, a three-time CMA and three-time reigning ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a member of the Grand Ole Opry with total album sales now in excess of 11 million.

Craig Morgan is signed to Sony Entertainment Nashville’s BNA Records label, and released his fifth studio album, That’s Why, last fall. His latest hit, the anthemic “Bonfire,” is currently Top 5 at country radio and headed for the top of the charts. Last year Morgan received one of country music’s highest honors – he was inducted into the membership of the Grand Ole Opry. Morgan has made more than 150 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, and plays over 200 sold-out concerts a year. He spent ten years on active duty in the U.S. Army before launching his music career, and makes a point to perform as often as possible at U.S. military installations both in the U.S. and abroad.

Sons of Sylvia are currently finishing up their debut album release on 19 Recordings/Interscope Records due out in 2010. Ashley, Austin, and Adam Clark (formerly known as The Clark Brothers who won FOX’s Next Great American Band) are longtime friends of Underwood, and the band is currently featured on her new album in a powerful collaboration called “What Can I Say.”

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale December 18, and are priced at $35.00, $45.00 and $55.00, inclusive of tax and fees. Tickets can be purchased at the Orleans Arena Box Office by calling 702.284.7777 or by visiting www.orleansarena.com.

Family Stone appearing at The Orleans January 1st and 2nd, 2010

Celebrate the New Year with rhythm and blues and a little rock and roll as The Family Stone brings the funk to The Orleans Showroom January 1st and 2nd, 2010.

The show features music legends Jerry Martini and Cynthia Robinson, original-founding members of Sly & the Family Stone, inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

True to its original sound and legacy, The Family Stone will perform classic hits such as “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Everyday People,” “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin,” “Dance To The Music,” “Hot Fun In The Summertime,” “Family Affair” and “Sing a Simple Song”—all sure to keep audiences moving and grooving.

Martini has performed alongside many of the industries top performers including Carlos Santana, Prince, Graham Central Station and Van Morrison. Hailed as one of the great early female African-American trumpet players, Robinson has played on many stages most recently appearing on the 2006 Grammy Awards in a tribute to Sly & The Family Stone.

Tickets are now available and are priced at $19.95, plus tax. The show is 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.365.7075 or by visiting www.orleanscasino.com.

Clint Holmes - Photo credit to Jerry Metellus

Returning to the Suncoast Showroom is Las Vegas legend Clint Holmes, along with his wife Kelly Clinton and sister Gayle Steele, to perform songs of the holiday season
December 25, 26 and 27.

Holmes, with his wife and sister, have created a warm and inviting show, perfect to share with family and friends this holiday. Together they will put their own spin on traditional holiday favorites, as well as performing by popular request, “William the Angel.” In the weekend of performances, Holmes is certain to perform songs that have long been associated with him throughout his career.

Holmes’ fans know him as more than just a singer. He’s famous for making every performance an original and captivating the audience with his signature style. Among his many recordings is the Top 10 smash hit “Playground In My Mind (My Name Is Michael).” His album Edges produced several standout songs, including the single “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” Earlier this year, Holmes partnered with long-time friends Susan Anton, Domenick Allen and Martin Nievera to create the critically acclaimed Vocal Soup—a showcase of solo performances, duets and group numbers.

With a long history of entertaining audiences in Las Vegas, Clint is known for his six-year run in Clint Holmes at Harrah’s. Named Las Vegas’ “Best Singer” for four times and “Entertainer of the Year” three times by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Holmes’ fame stretches far beyond Southern Nevada. He was also Atlantic City’s “Entertainer of the Year” three times, and starred in Clint Holmes’ Sophisticated Rhythms, a dynamic stage show that traveled through music from the 1940s to the present. His 1996 critically acclaimed musical Comfortable Shoes, which opened in New Jersey, was a poignant and uplifting journey into Holmes’ interracial family’s struggle to find its identity. In 2002, an updated version of the musical opened at The Royal George Theatre in Chicago. Among the show’s rave reviews, the Chicago Tribune called it “a night of fully realized theatrical entertainment.”

In a career that began with an invitation from Joan Rivers to be her sidekick and announcer on The Late Show, Clint Holmes has proven himself as a well-respected performer, even earning the honor of being the featured performer at the Democratic National Convention on the evening of Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential nomination. Also familiar to fans’ ears, Holmes was the voice of Lowenbrau Beer for four years.

Tickets are now available starting from $29.95, plus tax. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

WHO/ WHEN:
Smooth, sultry jazz swaggers onto the Boulder Strip with “Free Jazz Fridays” presented by KOAS 105.7 The Oasis at Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall in Sam’s Town Live!. The series showcases various jazz performers with strong rhythmic under-tones, blue notes, intricate patterns and melody improvisation all paying homage to the one-of-a-kind art form known as jazz.

WHEN:
Every Friday from 7 to10 p.m., excluding December 25 and January 1. Featured artists include:

- November 20: TK Band
- November 27: Eagle One All Stars
- December 4: Paris Red
- December 11: Will Thurmond
- December 18: Ja Ronda Jazz
- January 8: TK Band
- January 15: David Van Such
- January 22: Velvet Sundae
- January 29: Bobby C and the Windy City Band

WHERE:
Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall
in Sam’s Town Live!
5111 Boulder Highway
Las Vegas, NV 89122

For further information, visit www.samstownlv.com or call 702.456.7777.

About Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall
Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, located at 5111 Boulder Highway, is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation. Sam’s Town features 12 restaurants, an 18-screen movie theater, 56-lane bowling center, a 12,000 square foot entertainment center and Mystic Falls Indoor Park. The property has a 133,000-square foot casino with 40 table games, 3,000 slot and video poker machines, a bingo parlor, keno lounge and newly renovated race and sports book. For more information visit www.samstownlv.com.

Las Vegas Hilton Hosts Twisted’s Heavy Metal Santa’s Workshop

December 15, 16, 17, 2009

LAS VEGAS – Tired of the same old winter holiday entertainment?

Wondering when the holidays will ever really rock?

Well, your letter to Santa has finally been answered! Twisted Sister, are coming to the Las Vegas Hilton, December 15, 16 and 17 with their heavy metal Santa’s workshop stage show! Finally, there’s a TWISTED way to get into the holiday spirit! “http://www.twistedsister.com” Twisted Sister: A Twisted Christmas.

Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda, Mark “The Animal” Mendoza and A.J. Pero will perform their iconic hits including, “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” “I Wanna Rock,” “The Price” and “You Can’t Stop Rock ’N’ Roll.” But wait, there’s more!

The band will rock your stockings off with their twist on your holiday favorites from their hit CD, A TWISTED CHRISTMAS. With set and stage designs created by award-winning set designer Kevin O’Callaghan, Chair of 3D Design at New York’s School of Visual Arts, TWISTED SISTER’S, TWISTED CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA is a mind-boggling, theatrical spectacle designed to kick off the holiday season with a memorable assault of lights, sound and staging, filled with surprises, special guests and holiday thrills to delight the whole family!

Trust Twisted – if you’re not gonna take it anymore and you wanna rock, TWISTED SISTER’S, TWISTED CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA is the one show to put on your Christmas list.

Tickets for TWISTED SISTER’S, TWISTED CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA, December 15 – 17 at 8 p.m., are priced at $29 – $59. The $59 ticket includes stage VIP seats and a meet & greet. All ticket prices exclude tax and fees and can be purchased at the Las Vegas Hilton box office or by logging onto http://www.lvhilton.com, www.vegas.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or phone at 702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361. Tickets are on sale now. Special room and show packages also available on www.lvhilton.com or by calling 1-800-732-7117.

Scintas Christmas

Just in time to spread holiday cheer, The Scintas return to the Suncoast Showroom with their first-ever Christmas show, A Very Scinta Christmas, December 18, 19 and 20.

The Scintas, Buffalo, New York-raised brothers Joey and Frankie, sister Chrissi and “Irish Scinta” Peter O’Donnell, entertain, surprise and provide an anything-but-typical performance filled with music, comedy and impersonations. “Guest” appearances will be fruitful for these special holiday performances as Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, George Burns, Kermit the Frog and many other favorites help The Scintas celebrate the special time of year with their own holiday twist.

Collectively, they’ve dazzled sell-out crowds in Las Vegas showrooms and on the road. Individually, each member of The Scintas has enjoyed a stunning rise to fame. Frankie, recognized as a musical prodigy, appeared on The Merv Griffin Show at age 11. He plays the keyboard on the show and is also a master guitar, mandolin, banjo, drum and bass player. Joey, who originally intended to become a music teacher, developed and mastered his talent for comedy and impressions. The baby of the family, Chrissi, is known for her stunning renditions of the big ballads. Although not related, Peter O’Donnell has been a member of the close-knit clan since joining The Scintas in 1988. He has played gigs with more than 700 bands.

A family on stage and off, The Scintas often welcome their mother Mary Scinta, affectionately known as “Mama Scinta,” and their brother Tony, a retired Buffalo homicide detective, and his family, as special guests at their shows.

Tickets are now available starting from $29.95, plus tax. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

Brandon Bennett

Returning for the third consecutive year to the Suncoast Showroom, Brandon Bennett embodies “The King of Rock and Roll” in Elvis My Way November 20, 21 and 22.

Bennett recaptures the talent, energy and spirit of Elvis Presley in this one-of-a-kind tribute show that includes performances of Elvis’ hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Bennett has received numerous accolades for his impersonation of Elvis Presley. In 2008 he won the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest at Harrah’s Cherokee, then went on to win the title of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist at Graceland. He is the 2002 International Images of the King World Champion, making him the youngest contestant ever to place and win the competition.

As a world-renowned and much sought-after Elvis illusionist, Bennett appeared in the re-enactment of the 50th Anniversary of Elvis’ Return Home as a Star in 1956 at the Tupelo Festival in 2006. With his tribute show and his band, The Heart Break Orchestra, Bennett performs in venues throughout the country, dazzling fans with his spot-on impersonation. He has also opened for legendary performers such as Diamond Rio, Ronnie Milsap and Chuck Barry.

No stranger to television, Bennett has appeared in several commercials and on multiple television programs, including The Ricki Lake Show, where in 2002 he won the Ricki Lake King of Kings Competition. When not performing as “The King,” Bennett is a fireman in his hometown of Ponchatoula, Louisiana.

Tickets are now available starting from $19.95, plus tax. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

Cher

Nevada Public Radio listeners and members have a special opportunity to support public radio while ‘turning back time’ with two benefit performances of Cher at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8 and Wednesday, December 9. Four hundred tickets – 200 for each performance – will benefit Nevada Public Radio and must be purchased through Nevada Public Radio.

Cher’s latest spectacle is a state-of-the-art extravaganza recounting the highlights of her remarkable 43-year career, with more than a dozen new Bob Mackie costumes.

Special ticket pricing of $200 is available for current Nevada Public Radio members. Listeners of News 88.9 KNPR and Classical 89.7 can purchase tickets for $225 each, which includes Nevada Public Radio membership. To purchase tickets, visit www.knpr.org, www.classical897.org or call (702) 258-9895 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

All proceeds benefit Nevada Public Radio. Sponsors include AEG Live, Caesars Palace and Nevada Public Radio News 88.9 KNPR and Classical 89.7.

About Nevada Public Radio
Nevada Public Radio, a not-for-profit organization, is the state’s premier non-commercial broadcaster of National Public Radio programming and includes News 88.9 KNPR, broadcasting national and regional news and discussion, Classical 89.7 KCNV, a network of rural translator and repeater signals: KTPH, Tonopah (91.7); KLNR, Panaca (91.7); KWPR, Lund/Ely (88.7) and KSGU, St. George (90.3), plus a statewide radio reading service for the visually impaired.

Nevada Public Radio produces 10 hours a week of original content which is also available on demand at knpr.org, including the national award-winning public affairs program KNPR’s State of Nevada. Nevada Public Radio was incorporated in 1975 with its flagship station News 88.9 KNPR signing on the air in 1980. Since early 2008, Nevada Public Radio has provided digital (HD) programming with additional channels of Spanish language, contemporary eclectic music and news broadcasts. Nevada Public Radio also publishes Desert Companion™, a bi-monthly magazine. For more information, call 702.258.9895 or visit knpr.org.

Martin Nievera

Popular Las Vegas entertainer and “Concert King” of the Philippines Martin Nievera returns to the Suncoast Showroom for a weekend of solo performances November 13, 14 and 15.

Nievera has dazzled crowds with his diverse repertoire, including his signature “On the Right Track,” Broadway medleys and his swing renditions of Michael Jackson songs. His performances at the Suncoast will showcase his distinct talents, and he plans to raise awareness about the devastation in the Philippines caused by Super Typhoon Ondoy.

Earlier this year, Nievera twice shared the Suncoast Showroom stage with fellow entertainers Clint Holmes, Susan Anton and Domenick Allen in Vocal Soup—blending solo performances, duets and group numbers, and rekindling the Las Vegas tradition of entertainers coming together in an “anything can happen” atmosphere.

Nievera is a popular recording artist with several platinum albums, including “Martin…Take One,” “The Best Gift,” “Forever,” and its sequels “Forever Forever” and “Return to Forever.” He has appeared in 11 films and seven television series and specials, including Penthouse Live!, Martin and Pops Twogether, and Martin After Dark, which ultimately became Martin Late@nite.

In between frequent Las Vegas appearances, Nievera also tours the United States and Canada with his so-called Filipino archrival Gary Valenciano, known as “Mr. Pure Energy.” Despite the hype surrounding their rivalry, concerts featuring the two stars are focused on their extremely popular music and are typically sold-out performances.

Tickets are now available starting from $19.95, plus tax. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

The Four Tops

The Four Tops, whose meteoric rise to fame began with their 1964 Motown hit “Baby I Need Your Loving,” bring their soulful songs to The Orleans Showroom, November 20, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. each evening.

One of the few groups to have hits in three consecutive decades, The Four Tops’ songs were splashed across the pop and R&B music charts from the 1960s through the 1980s. “I Can’t Help Myself,” a 1965 R&B and pop smash, is one of Motown’s longest-running chart toppers. In the years that followed, The Four Tops continued to produce anthems that defined a generation, including such favorites as “It’s The Same Old Song,” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love” and “Bernadette.” Their extraordinary run of classics continued with “Shake Me, Wake Me,” “Ain’t No Woman” and “When She Was My Girl,” which went to No. 1 in 1981.

Over the years, The Four Tops’ fame grew as they teamed with Motown’s top female group, The Supremes, post-Diana Ross. Billing themselves “The Magnificent Seven” for a series of albums, they hit with a cover of “River Deep – Mountain High.” Later the group partnered with “Queen of Soul” and longtime friend Aretha Franklin to produce the Top 40 R&B hit “If Ever A Love There Was.”

Audiences also know the tunes of The Four Tops from their R&B hit “Are You Man Enough,” from the movie Shaft in Africa, and the song “Back To School Again,” heard in the film Grease 2. Their final solo Top 40 hit, “Indestructible,” was heard around the globe as the theme of the 1988 Summer Olympics, held in Seoul, South Korea.

In 1990, with 24 Top 40 pop hits to their credit, The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Pegged among the greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone, The Four Tops have performed a nearly non-stop string of tour dates, dazzling adoring fans with their signature sound.

Tickets are now available starting from $39.95, plus tax. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.365.7075 or visiting www.orleanscasino.com.

Neil Sedaka

For more than four decades, Neil Sedaka’s timeless standards have influenced the sound of popular music. Renowned for his work as a singer, performer, producer and songwriter, Sedaka will perform at The Orleans Showroom November 12, 13, 14 and 15 at 8 p.m.

With countless hit singles, platinum and gold records, Sedaka is recognized as one of rock and pop music’s legendary pioneers, with songs that continue to stand the test of time. Starting in his high school years, Sedaka formed a vocal group, The Tokens, which recorded two hit singles. Soon to follow was Sedaka’s introduction to Howard Greenfield, and together they began a successful songwriting partnership in the late 1950s, selling more than 25 million records during their 30-year collaboration.

In 1958, at the age of 18, Sedaka was catapulted into stardom after Connie Francis performed his song, “Stupid Cupid.” Francis then sang the theme song Sedaka and Greenfield had written for the 1960 MGM spring break movie classic, Where The Boys Are, which would end up becoming her biggest hit. Sedaka parlayed these hits into a contract with RCA as a writer and performer, and began recording his own material. His chart-toppers included “The Diary,” “Oh, Carol,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.” In his later years, Sedaka continued writing for other performers, including Tom Jones’ album Puppet Man, The Fifth Dimension’s album Workin’ on a Groovy Thing and for The Monkees’ album When Love Comes Knocking at Your Door.

Most recently, Sedaka returned to the classical roots of his early years. With original romantic lyrics written by Sedaka and set to the music of Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky, Classically Sedaka went on to earn a gold record in Europe. In October 2007, Neil was honored at Avery Fisher Hall with a tribute entitled Neil Sedaka: 50 years of Hits. The gala evening featured such notable performers as Elton John, The Captain and Tennille, Clay Aiken, Lou Christie, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole and Connie Francis.

Tickets are available now and are priced from $39.95, plus tax. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (702) 365-7075 or visiting www.orleanscasino.com.

Clint Holmes - Photo credit to Jerry Metellus

Returning to the Suncoast Showroom is Las Vegas legend Clint Holmes with a new show, Clint Holmes Sings the Modern American Songbook, musically directed by Bill Fayne,
October 23, 24 and 25.

Holmes’ fans know him as more than just a singer. He’s famous for making every performance an original and captivating the audience with his signature style. For Clint Holmes Sings the Modern American Songbook, audiences can look forward to hearing Holmes sing a variety of songs from those he considers the greatest contemporary songwriters—Paul Simon, Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder, among others. Holmes’ recent solo show at the Suncoast, An Evening of Romance with Clint Holmes, inspired his selections for this show, where he will also perform from his own popular songbook—songs that have long been associated with him throughout his career. This show has also inspired Clint to work on a new CD based on selections from the Modern American Songbook.

Among Holmes’ many recordings is the Top 10 smash hit “Playground In My Mind (My Name Is Michael).” His album Edges produced several standout songs, including the single “Feel Like Makin’ Love.”

Holmes continues to partner with long-time friends Susan Anton, Domenick Allen and Martin Nievera for a showcase of solo performances, duets and group numbers—the wildly popular Vocal Soup. The show debuted at the Suncoast Showroom in June to sell-out crowds and returns to the same venue September 25-27.

With a long history of entertaining audiences in Las Vegas, Clint is known for his six-year run in Clint Holmes at Harrah’s. Named Las Vegas’ “Best Singer” for four times and “Entertainer of the Year” three times by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Holmes’ fame stretches far beyond Southern Nevada. He was also Atlantic City’s “Entertainer of the Year” three times, and starred in Clint Holmes’ Sophisticated Rhythms, a dynamic stage show that traveled through music from the 1940s to the present. His 1996 critically acclaimed musical Comfortable Shoes, which opened in New Jersey, was a poignant and uplifting journey into Holmes’ interracial family’s struggle to find its identity. In 2002, an updated version of the musical opened at The Royal George Theatre in Chicago. Among the show’s rave reviews, the Chicago Tribune called it “a night of fully realized theatrical entertainment.”

In a career that began with an invitation from Joan Rivers to be her sidekick and announcer on The Late Show, Clint Holmes has proven himself as a well-respected performer, even earning the honor of being the featured performer at the Democratic National Convention on the evening of Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential nomination. Also familiar to fans’ ears, Holmes was the voice of Lowenbrau Beer for four years.

Tickets are now available starting from $29.95, plus tax. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

The Scintas

Back for another lively weekend of performances, The Scintas bring their high-energy, one-of-a-kind musical act to the Suncoast Showroom, October 30-31 and November 1.

The Scintas, Buffalo, New York-raised brothers Joey and Frankie, sister Chrissi and “Irish Scinta” Peter O’Donnell, entertain, surprise and provide an anything-but-typical performance filled with music, comedy and impersonations. Their Las Vegas act, which got its start in a bar owned by former Buffalo Bill and present-day ESPN commentator Paul McGuire, includes “guest” appearances by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and others, singing songs audiences love.

Collectively, they’ve dazzled sell-out crowds in Las Vegas showrooms and on the road. Individually, each member of The Scintas has enjoyed a stunning rise to fame. Frankie, recognized as a musical prodigy, appeared on The Merv Griffin Show at age 11. He plays the keyboard on the show and is also a master guitar, mandolin, banjo, drum and bass player. Joey, who originally intended to become a music teacher, developed and mastered his talent for comedy and impressions. The baby of the family, Chrissi, is known for her stunning renditions of the big ballads. Although not related, Peter O’Donnell has been a member of the close-knit clan since joining The Scintas in 1988. He has played gigs with more than 700 bands.

A family on stage and off, The Scintas often welcome their mother Mary Scinta, affectionately known as “Mama Scinta,” and their brother Tony, a retired Buffalo homicide detective, and his family, as special guests at their shows.

Tickets are now available starting from $29.95, plus tax. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

Engelbert Humperdinck

Engelbert Humperdinck has sold over 150 million records worldwide, including 64 gold and 24 platinum albums. The multiple Grammy-nominated artist will charm hearts once again October 15, 16, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. each evening at The Orleans Showroom.

Although born Arnold George Dorsey in Madras, India, it was over four decades ago that Engelbert Humperdinck emerged as one of the foremost entertainers in the world. Growing up, Humperdinck had a passion for the saxophone and scrimped and saved for weekly lessons. By the time he was 17, he found himself on stage singing and became quite popular in the United Kingdom. After a military hiatus, he again emerged on the music scene with a new image and the name of a noted 19th century German composer. Thus, Engelbert Humperdinck was born and a phenomenon began.

Once called “The premier voice of the 20th century” by the London Times, Humperdinck first hit the charts with his smash hit “Release Me (And Let Me Love Again),” which went to No. 1 in 11 countries. The next decade brought such hits as “After the Lovin’,” “Winter World of Love,” “Am I That Easy To Forget,” “There Goes My Everything,” “This Moment In Time,” and “A Man Without Love.”

Humperdinck has performed for Her Majesty the Queen, several Presidents, and many Heads of State. In 1978, he received a “Georgie Award” from the American Guild of Variety Artists recognizing his as “Entertainer of the Year.” In 1988, his performance of “One World” was seen by over 5 billion people around the globe, kicking off the Seoul Summer Olympics.

The handsome singer extraordinaire, whose music is instantly recognizable, has withstood the test of time with his sensitive interpretation of lyrics. He has recorded over 80 albums including many multi-language versions, and is extremely proud of the fact that he has been able to use his fame to raise funds for numerous charitable causes.

Tickets are available now and are priced from $54.95, plus tax. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.365.7075 or visiting www.orleanscasino.com.

Carlos Santana

Nevada Public Radio listeners and members have a rare chance to support public radio while experiencing one of music’s premier guitarists, Carlos Santana, at Supernatural Santana – A Trip Through the Hits inside The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, September 9 at 9 p.m.

Set in the intimate surroundings of The Joint, the newly upgraded version of Las Vegas’ first rock venue, Carlos Santana and the Santana Band pull from a catalog of hits that span more than four decades. The set list reaches back to their first charting single, 1969’s “Jingo,” and first Top 10 hit, 1970’s “Evil Ways,” up through their latest hit, 2008’s “Into the Night.” The concert is inspired by what Carlos Santana – a “hippie at heart” – calls a mix of practical spirituality, rebel-from-the-street vibe and amazing music.

250 tickets for the September 9 performance will benefit and must be purchased through Nevada Public Radio.  Show dates for Supernatural Santana – A Trip Through the Hits are September 4-15. For more information about the show, visit www.SupernaturalSantana.com

Current Nevada Public Radio members can purchase as many tickets as they like for the special price of $100. Tickets for all others are $125 each and include a year’s membership with Nevada Public Radio. Tickets must be picked up at the will-call and may not be resold. To purchase tickets, visit www.knpr.org, www.classical897.org or call (702) 258-9895 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

All proceeds benefit Nevada Public Radio. Sponsors include AEG Live, The Joint and Nevada Public Radio News 88.9 KNPR and Classical 89.7.

About Nevada Public Radio
Nevada Public Radio is the state’s premier non-commercial broadcaster of National Public Radio programming and includes News 88.9 KNPR FM and Classical 89.7 KCNV FM, plus a network of repeater stations including KTPH, Tonopah (91.7); KLNR, Panaca (91.7); KWPR, Lund/Ely (88.7); and KSGU, St. George (90.3). In addition, Nevada Public Radio operates a statewide radio reading service for the visually impaired.

Nevada Public Radio produces the national award-winning public affairs program “KNPR’s State of Nevada,” 10 hours a week of original content, which is also available on demand at www.knpr.org.

Nevada Public Radio, a not-for-profit organization, was incorporated in 1975 with its flagship station KNPR FM signing on the air in 1980. Since early 2008, Nevada Public Radio has provided digital (HD) programming with additional channels of Spanish language, contemporary eclectic music, and news broadcasts. Nevada Public Radio also publishes Desert Companion, a quarterly magazine. For more information, call 702.258.9895 or visit www.knpr.org.