Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Rolling Stones prepared to show it all off
IT’S not only rock and roll, but I like it anyway. The Rolling Stones’ “Exhibitionism” opens Sept. 23 at the Palazzo and runs through Jan. 31. The exhibit takes over the former Dal Toro Ristorante space, which displayed several classic cars on the two floors abutting Lagasse Stadium.
The Stones’ exhibition is exhaustive: Among the artifacts are the handwritten lyrics to “Satisfaction,” the caped costume Mick Jagger wore during the ill-fated Altamont concert in 1969, and the Maton-brand guitar
Keith Richards played on the album “Let it Bleed.” Legend has it the neck of that instrument came apart at the end of “Gimme Shelter.”
A full, 3-D concert experience and a replica of the London flat that the band shared in 1962 also are part of the display, which overtakes a choice 16,000-square-foot exhibit space.
“As a fan, what really interested me was a re-creation of the backstage area of a Stones’ show,” said Adam Steck, founder of SPI Entertainment in Las Vegas and a co-producer of the attraction. “You get a real feel for what it would be like to be there, the set list, all this gear laying around.”
Given that “Exhibitionism” is billed as an authentic depiction of the band’s touring environment, are there any, um, possibly illegal substances in bags or spilled across tables?
“Ha-ha! I didn’t see anything like that when I had my tour,” said Steck, who reviewed the show months ago in New York. “We’ll have to ask Mick and Keith if they plan to add anything like that.”
The Stones are not going to be present at the Las Vegas opening of “Exhibitionism,” as the band is touring Europe through the end of October, but video messages are planned.
Marquee appearance
Kevin Hart launched his HartBeat Weekend on Friday night with a jammed party at Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The night started with Usher’s show at The Chelsea, then rolled into Marquee, where Ty Dolla $ign joined the superstar comic actor onstage. They riffed. They joked. They called it out.
Across the Strip at Tao at the Venetian, E-40 hosted a rowdy, hit-filled performance, also for a loud and proud crowd.
Return of Kaye
Former “Million Dollar Quartet” at Harrah’s co-star Martin Kaye is back in town. Why?
“I have no idea and no plan,” says Kaye, who played Jerry Lee Lewis in the original cast. “I’m just flying by the seat of my pants.” Kaye, who has been touring with “MDQ” in his native England and also in New Zealand, co-hosted Kenny Davidsen’s Friday night show at Tuscany’s Piazza Lounge. The gig ended at about 1 a.m. So, a great night.
Kaye and Davidsen were joined by an array of singers including ex-”Jersey Boys” cast member Jeff Leibow and Jaime Lynch, late of “Fantasy” at Luxor, “Peep Show” at Planet Hollywood, Pussycat Dolls at Caesars Palace and currently singer for Zowie Bowie. Mark Ferratt, the drummer in the “MDQ” band at Harrah’s, joined the great bassist/comic/composer Dennis Blair on Davidsen’s backing band.
What works in Vegas?
Mike Tyson as a Strip headliner. Tyson is again a box office hit for his “Undisputed Truth: Round 2” shows at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, with the first dozen shows nearly sold out. The show is also an SPI Entertainment production and opens Thursday… The Scintas at the Plaza Showroom, who have boosted their schedule for 23 performances by the end of the year. Brothers Frankie and Joey Scinta, Janien Valentine and Peter O’Donnell are next onstage Sept. 15-16, and every weekend in October and November leading to their New Year’s Eve series Dec. 29-31.
Who Was Where
Very rich, and currently retired, boxing icon Floyd Mayweather, who has been hitting the scene almost on a nightly basis, on Friday at
Mary J. Blige’s show at Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms … Ex-“Saturday Night Live” cast member Rob Schneider at the Dana Carvey-Jon Lovitz “Reunited” show at the Foundry at SLS Las Vegas on Friday. Schneider, star of “Real Rob” on Netflix, is in town headlining at Tropicana Theater … Pia Zadora and
Sonny Charles, returning to their “Pia’s Place” performances at Piero’s on Friday night … Clairbnb proprietor and 2011 Playboy Playmate of the Year Claire Sinclair, with former “Pin Up” at the Stratosphere vocalist Autumn Belanger at Frankie Moreno’s closing show at the Showroom at Golden Nugget.