July '10 Entertainment—Chuck Rounds' Las Vegas Entertainment News Column

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July 2010
J
uly is the hottest month of the year according to all of the records kept in Las Vegas, but oddly enough, we have escaped the blistering heat of June and are just now getting into the hot weather. It’s been an odd year…we are in the plus column for rain (which usually means a higher fire danger in the summer), so there is no predicting what this July will bring…ok, we know a little bit…it will be hot. We pride ourselves that it’s a “dry” heat, but it’s still hot. We thank God for the invention of air conditioning, and we curse the Devil for the invention of power bills. Sunscreen and water are essentials during this time of year…don’t leave home without them. The best place to be is inside a casino or a showroom. When the tourists are not inside; they’ll be hanging out on the Strip suffering from heat exhaustion, or by the pool getting sun burnt. It’s a great time to really enjoy the beautiful summer nights.

The fourth of July is going to be huge this year…especially since it lands on the weekend. Our Independence Day is bigger and better here than just about anywhere else in the country, and because it’s on the weekend, all of the stops are being pulled out. The entire valley is going to be part of this celebration. Over a quarter of a million people are expected to be visiting here on the fourth, and if you are anywhere near, or in view of, the Strip you are in for an amazing fireworks display. There are events planned all over the city, and it will be almost impossible to miss. Just a note: Mandalay Bay contacted me to mention that their Fourth of July fireworks are going to be the best in the city.

The purchase of the “sane and safe” fireworks are legal in Clark County, the local fire departments are hoping that few indulge themselves. After having a wet winter and a dry spring, there is a lot of fuel for a fire. Wildfires are the plague of the southwest and no one wants the situation to be worsened by additional fires caused by the fireworks. “Insane and Unsafe” fireworks are available outside of the county, but are illegal in Clark County…Do everyone and yourself a favor—watch one of the planned displays.

“Sgt. Pepper Live,” featuring Cheap Trick, will now be presented at Paris Las Vegas. The performances, with special musical guests to be announced, will feature a full symphony orchestra. One of America’s greatest bands ever, doing their live interpretation of this classic rock album, an album nobody believed could be performed outside the recording studio, sets a new standard for rock and entertainment in Las Vegas. Previous performances of “Sgt. Pepper Live” featuring Cheap Trick drew tens of thousands of fans for sold-out performances in Los Angeles, selling more than 53,000 tickets.

Vegas! The Show is opened at the Saxe Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. The show was pushed back on a couple of different occasions due to technical difficulties, but it is in full force now. It should be a great show. I’m seeing it this first week of July.

Also at the Saxe Theater, “Zen Magic” will be opening. A Chinese acrobatic and magic show that will please everyone. I saw a few parts in rehearsal and know several of the performers…once again, it should be a great show.

Blue Man Group, the international entertainment phenomenon, is holding an open call for talented performers to portray Blue Men in its existing and upcoming productions and multimedia projects. Open call auditions will be held in Las Vegas on Monday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Blue Man Group Theater inside The Venetian Las Vegas, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The open call is part of a national search to find performers who possess the rare combination of talents that qualifies them to portray Blue Men. With ongoing productions in Chicago, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Orlando, Berlin and Tokyo, Blue Man Group offers talented men and women the opportunity to join their established, but continuously evolving, organization.

Both male and female performers are encouraged to audition for Blue Man Group. Some of the basic criteria for Blue Man auditioners include:

Height between 5'10" and 6'1" tall (athletic build)

Solid drumming skills

Excellent acting skills

Willingness to relocate

The Blue Man cast includes individuals with a diverse mix of disciplines: classically trained actors, rock musicians, performance artists, musical comedy performers, dancers and even stagehands.

Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular celebrated its Fourth Anniversary at The Venetian on June 24th at The Phantom Theatre. In celebration of four fantastic years on the Las Vegas Strip, Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular brought the audience in on the glamour, excitement and intrigue of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece. Audience members were given their own Phantom mask and were transformed into “Angels of Music” following the performance. For one record-breaking moment The Phantom Theatre was home to more than 1,800 “Phantoms,” the largest gathering of “Phantoms” ever.

Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at Tropicana Las Vegas is opening this first week of July. Garrett is headlining the opening and promises to be back at regular intervals.

Singing sensation Clint Holmes brings his powerful voice and magnetic stage presence back to the Suncoast Showroom July 10 and 11. Holmes’ fans know him as more than just a singer. Among his many recordings is the Top 10 smash hit “Playground In My Mind (My Name Is Michael).” His album Edges produced many other standout songs, including “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” the romantic “Shouldn’t It Be Easy By Now,” the playful “Gotta Get Up” and the thought-provoking “Let My Son See Africa.” 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.

As one of the longest-running shows on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, the retro-glam showgirl extravaganza Jubilee! at Bally’s Las Vegas has entertained more than 11 million guests. On July 31 the show celebrates 29 years of gorgeous showgirls, lavish costumes, dazzling scenery, world-renowned specialty acts, dynamic music and graceful pageantry. Conceived, staged and directed by the legendary Donn Arden, who brought the spectacular French-style revue “Lido de Paris” to Las Vegas, Jubilee! is an elaborate stage production.

This is going to be a big month in Las Vegas…

CONTINUING EVENTS INCLUDE:
Las Vegas 51s AAA Baseball
Cashman Center Through Sept 29
Cher
Caesars Palace Through- July 4
Red Rock Cabana Club
Red Rock Casino Through Sep 6—Free
David Copperfield
MGM Grand Through Aug 4
Pool Parties at the Riviera Hotel & Casino Oasis Pool Complex
Riviera Hotel Through Sep 2
Ditch Fridays at the Palms
Palms Casino Through Sep 10
Daylife Sundays at Wet Republic at MGM Grand
MGM Grand Through Sep 5
Rehab Sundays at the Hard Rock Beach Club
Hard Rock Through Sep 5, $20 Ladies; $40 Guys
Silverton Sway Pool Lounge
Silverton Hotel Through Sep 6
Sunset Sundays at Tao Beach
Venetian Resort Through Sep 5

THE FIRST WEEK WILL HAVE…
Cash'd Out
Rio All-Suite July 1
Mitch Fatel
Hard Rock Café July 1
Vince Neil
Palms Casino July 1
Wayne Brady
Venetian Resort July 1–5
Backstreet Boys
Mandalay Bay July 2
Bill Cosby
Treasure Island July 2
David Allen Grier
Mandalay Bay July 2
Fuel
Aliante Station July 2
Independence Weekend w/ the Little River Band
Fremont Street July 2–5—Free
Joe Rogan
Mandalay Bay July 2
Kenny Chesney
Hard Rock July 2–3
Shooter Jennings and Hierophant
Rio All-Suite July 2
Whitney Cummings
South Point July 2–4
CoCo Lee
Encore at Wynn July 3–4
Gary Chaw and Vincy Chan
Mirage July 3
Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
Cannery Casino July 3
OneRepublic
Mandalay Bay July 3
Red, White & Tunes
Las Vegas Springs Preserve July 3
Sugar Ray
Silverton Hotel July 3
The Las Vegas Gun Show
Cashman Center July 3–4
The Scintas
Suncoast Hotel July 3–4
UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin
MGM Grand July 3
Wonder Girls World Tour with special guest Asian artist 2AM
Mandalay Bay July 3
40 Oz to Freedom
Rio July 4
Fireworks Show featuring Mystic Roots
Mandalay Bay July 4
Henderson 4th of July Celebration
Basic High School Football Field July 4—Free
Mike Epps
Hard Rock July 4
The Stinson Brotherz
The Village at Lake Las Vegas July 4

THE SECOND WEEK INCLUDES:
Lamb of God w/ Hatebreed and 3 Inches of Blood
Mandalay Bay July 8
Lilith—The Celebration of Women in Music
Mandalay Bay July 9
NBA Summer League
Cox Pavilion July 9–18
Ottmar Liebert
Boulder Station July 9
The Four Freshmen
South Point July 9–Sep 11
Boyz II Men
Orleans Hotel July 10–11
Camp Freddy
Palms Casino July 10
Clint Holmes
Suncoast Hotel July 10–11
David Cassidy
Silverton Hotel July 10
Debauchery In the Desert with Camp Freddy
Palms Casino July 10
Kathy Griffin
Caesars Palace July 10
Rich Little—A Man of a Thousand Voices
Cannery Casino July 10
Starship—Starring Mickey Thomas
Eastside Cannery July 10
The Temptations & The Four Tops
Buffalo Bill's July 10
The Wailers
Mandalay Bay July 10

THE THIRD WEEK WILL FEATURE:
Wheel of Fortune—Live Taping
Venetian Resort July 13–20
Brandon Bennett's—Elvis My Way
Suncoast Hotel July 16–18
Corey Taylor & the Junk Beer Kidnap Band
Hard Rock July 16
Frank and Barbra—The Concert That Never Was
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort July 16–17
Garth Brooks
Encore at Wynn July 16–18
Gipsy Kings
Mandalay Bay July 16
James Darren
South Point Casino July 16–17
Jay Leno
Mirage Jul 16, 2010–July 17
Johnny Lee
Fiesta Rancho July 16
Metal Elvis
Hard Rock Café July 16
Silversun Pickups—With special guests Against Me! and Henry Clay People
Hard Rock Hotel July 16
Tool in Concert
Planet Hollywood July 16
Bill Maher
Orleans Hotel July 17–18
Bobby Rydell
Cannery Casino July 17
Espinoza Paz
Hard Rock Hotel July 17
GEICO Endurocross
Orleans Hotel July 17
James Taylor & Carole King
MGM Grand July 17
Little Big Town
Silverton Hotel July 17
Rihanna: Last Girl on Earth Tour with special guest Ke$ha
Mandalay Bay July 17
Zane Lamprey
Mandalay Bay July 17
Ziggy Marley
Mandalay Bay July 17
Thrice w/ Kevin Devine, Bad Veins, and The Dig
Mandalay Bay July 18

THE FOURTH WEEK HAS…
"Sgt. Pepper Live" featuring Cheap Trick
Paris Las Vegas July 20–31
Jackson Browne With special guest David Lindley
Hard Rock July 20
Squeeze w/ English Beat
Rio July 20–27
Mark Curry
Las Vegas Hilton July 21–25
World Juggling Federation Summer Event
Riviera Hotel July 21–25
Jr. Golden Gloves National Tournament
CasaBlanca Hotel July 22–24
Casino 7's Rugby Tournament and Polynesian Festival
South Point Casino July 23–25
Daniel Tosh
Mirage July 23–24
Jerry Seinfeld
Caesars Palace July 23–24
John Caparulo
South Point July 23–25
Katchafire
Hard Rock July 23
Keane with special guest Ingrid Michaelson and Fran Healy
Mandalay Bay July 23
Kool and the Gang
Silverton July 23
R.E.O. Speedwagon and Pat Benatar
Thomas & Mack Center July 23
Ultimate Elvis Weekend
Fremont Street Experience July 23–25—Free
2010 USA Basketball Showcase
Thomas & Mack Center July 24
Ana Barbara
Buffalo Bill's Resort July 24
Dave Koz & Jonathan Butler—Together Again, with Special Guest Sheila E.
Sunset Station July 24
Deana Martin
Suncoast Hotel July 24–25
Diversity Fest Youth Gospel Festival
Cashman Center July 24
Jimmy Cliff
Mandalay Bay July 24
Justin Bieber
Planet Hollywood July 24
Legendary Ladies of Rock & Roll
Orleans Hotel July 24–25
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
Hard Rock July 24
Queensryche
Rio July 24

THE LAST WEEK OF THE MONTH AND INTO AUGUST WILL HAVE…
The USA and World Hip Hop Dance Championships and World Battles
Red Rock July 26–31
Great White
Sunset Station July 30
Jack Jones
South Point July 30–Aug 1
Lionel Richie
Caesars Palace July 30–31
Neon Trees
Hard Rock Café July 30
Sublime with Rome
Mandalay Bay July 30
Adam Lambert with special guest Orianthi
Mandalay Bay July 31
Aerosmith
MGM Grand July 31
Better Than Ezra
Silverton Hotel July 31
Frankie Valli
Buffalo Bill's July 31
Jay White—Tribute to Neil Diamond
Suncoast Hotel July 31–Aug 1
Kenny Loggins
Sunset Station July 31
Marquez vs Diaz II
Mandalay Bay July 31
MMA Xplosion
Hard Rock July 31
Toby Keith w/ Trace Adkins
Palms Casino July 31
Tom Papa
Orleans Hotel July 31–Aug 1
Level 42
Rio Aug 1
World Hip Hop Dance Championship Finals
Orleans Aug 1

AND…THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST WILL INCLUDE:
Scorpions with special guest Cinderella
Thomas & Mack Center Aug 3
B.B. King
Mirage Aug 5–6
Tom Jones
MGM Grand Aug 5–18
Dante
South Point Aug 6–8
Dropkick Murphys
Hard Rock Aug 6
Garth Brooks
Encore at Wynn Aug 6–8
Jay Leno
Mirage Aug 6–7
Montel Jordan
Hard Rock Café Aug 6
Night Ranger
Santa Fe Station Aug 6
Ultimate B-Boy Championship
MGM Grand Aug 6–7
Who's Bad
Rio Aug 6
Blondie and the B-52s
Mandalay Bay Aug 7
Camila
Eastside Cannery Aug 7
Crossroads of the West Gun Show
Cashman Center Aug 7–9
Tantric, Adema, Burn Halo w/ Fall in Vain
Hard Rock Café Aug 7
The O'Jays
Buffalo Bill's Aug 7

For dates and times, be sure to log onto the Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide: lvol.com.

Igoshows.com is, of course, the place to read the reviews of all of the shows that are in town so that you can be better informed as to what you should expect from a certain production. The reviews are updated as needed to give you the knowledge you need to spend your entertainment dollars better.