Independent scholar and writer William L. Reviewed by Victoria Grieve (Department of History, Utah State University) In the Desert of Desire: Las Vegas and the Culture of Spectacle. Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort (visit palms.William L. Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl: August-January ($59+) Gwen Stefani: Just a Girl: July, October-November ($60+)Ĭhristina Aguilera: The Xperience: June, September-October ($70+)ĭonny & Marie Showroom at The Flamingo Las Vegas (visit /flamingo-las-vegas for specific dates and ticket prices) Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (visit /planet-hollywood for specific dates and ticket prices)ĭef Leppard Hits Vegas: The Sin City Residency: August-September ($79+) Mariah Carey: All I Want for Christmas is You: November The Butterfly Returns: February (both shows $55+) Rod Stewart: The Hits: September-October ($49+) Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas: June-July and December ($55+) The Colosseum at Caesars Palace (visit for specific dates and ticket prices) Lady Gaga: Enigma: June-November and Lady Gaga: Jazz & Piano: June-November (both shows $78+, mostly only high-priced “platinum tickets” remain) Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis: July-August ($72+) Park Theater at Park MGM (visit for specific dates and ticket prices)Īerosmith: Deuces are Wild: June-December ($87+) The prescient “Livin’ on the Edge” is a highlight and the polarizing “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”-Aerosmith’s biggest pop hit-is accompanied by a string quartet, summoned from beneath the stage for a few minutes of crowd swooning.īut the show reaches its zenith with a pyro-infested “Toys in the Attic,” which also includes an airborne hodgepodge of inflatable bears and elephants, and the swampy Stax swagger of “Dude (Looks Like a Lady).” There is even a dive into Fleetwood Mac’s 1968 blues burner, “Stop Messin’ Round.”īut still, the fit Perry delivers an extended virtuoso solo on a lasers-packed “Sweet Emotion” and Tyler’s barely diminished voice tackles midtempo material (“Kings and Queens”) and his trademark shrieks (everything else) with equal potency. The Toxic Twins perch at the edge of the catwalk with a harmonica and guitar primed for blues and roll through “Hangman Jury”-which they resurrected live in 2007-and “Seasons of Wither,” enjoying each other’s company and foot-stomping as casually as if chilling on a back porch. While the casual Aerosmith admirer might bristle at the exclusions of “Janie’s Got a Gun,” “Rag Doll,” “Jaded,” “What it Takes” and other radio fare, understand that while fans crave hits (and there are plenty in the 16-song setlist), a residency is also an opportunity to go deep-and Aerosmith complies. The stage is flanked by onstage seating-both Tyler and Perry pay ample attention to fans who spit out more than a grand for the privilege-and those in the standing-room-only pit are treated to handslaps and microphone dunks from the veteran frontman. Performing is his catnip, and even at 71, he exudes sinewy sexiness as he gallops up ramps and skitters downstairs. Tyler, who will usually bare his glistening, age-defying six-pack and be clad in some assortment of fedoras, floor-length coats, pajama pants and scarves, hits the V-shaped catwalk like an athlete. There is a touch of Cirque oddity as characters, including the fembot from the “Just Push Play” album jacket and the large-headed “Nine Lives” cat, that playfully engage with fans as the clock ticks down.īut once the Beantown Boys rise from behind the stage, shrouded by a Godzilla-sized Aerosmith logo, and Kramer rolls out the snare drum to their live classic, “Train Kept A-Rollin,’” the rush is relentless. They are rock pioneers triumphing in a new environment.Įven the pre-show, a countdown of 30-plus minutes (what, did you think a rock band was going to take a Vegas stage at the unholy early hour of 8 p.m.?) is a customized marvel created by Pixomondo: documentary-style interviews with the band-audio only-play as jagged screens blare vintage video (every THX Certified rumble on the L-ISA system fully experienced) and groovy animations, such as the Al Hirschfeld cartoon from the "Draw the Line" cover squiggling alive, attempt to captivate a restless audience. #Spectacle las vegas movie14.īut Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Brad Whitford and Tom Hamilton (augmented by a percussionist and keyboardist) are seizing Las Vegas with a mixture of grit and movie ballads, druggy ‘70s-era guitar slashing and MTV-dominating anthems. Journey will visit the renovated Colosseum for a stretch in October and Def Leppard hunkered down at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in 2013 and returns for a dozen concerts at the Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino starting Aug. Aerosmith isn't the only rock band taking a gamble in Las Vegas.
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