Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Jon Bon Jovi plays acoustic at Spiegeltent
WE might see the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Gazillionaire introducing Bon Jovi at the Spiegeltent at Caesars Palace.
Jon Bon Jovi stepped in that direction on Friday afternoon during an acoustic performance in the band’s “Runaway Tours” fan/VIP travel package.
These recurring opportunities are open to fans who want to pay top dollar (typically between $1,800 and $2,200) to stay in luxurious hotels, experience top entertainment and eat at fancy restaurants. About 500 fans signed up for the weekend at Caesars. Bon Jovi’s acoustic gig, on Gazillionaire’s home court, was the weekend highlight.
The venerable frontman paused early in his rare appearance at the “Absinthe” theater, looked around and said, “I’ve gotta say, we’ve done this ‘Runaway’ thing for years and years, all around the world, but this ‘Absinthe’ room is really cool. I can imagine the band coming back here.”
The crowd cheered. Bon Jovi added, “We could do like the Rolling Stones did with that circus thing, with John Lennon.”
That was a reference to the 1968 “Rock & Roll Circus” film, hosted by the Stones and featuring such legends as Lennon, The Who, Eric Clapton and Jethro Tull.
The circus-fashioned Spiegeltent would be a fantastic forum for a Bon Jovi performance. That obvious point was not lost on Caesars Palace General Manager
Sean McBurney, seated in the crowd. His eyes widened as the singer announced that possibility.
Bon Jovi also used the opportunity to promote the wine company he founded with his son, Jesse Bongiovi, Diving Into Hampton Water Rosé. Several denim-and-bandanna-clad Bon Jovi fans were sipping the vino. It’s an anecdotal, yet reliable, measure of success.
Raider in the house
The “Chucky”-Carrot
Top summit has happened on the Strip. Raiders coach Jon Gruden has visited the veteran prop comic at Luxor’s Atrium Showroom.
The two cut a video — keeping with tradition — in Carrot Top’s green room after Thursday night’s performance. Topper, an avid Miami Dolphins fans, opens the clip solo while holding a Dolphins helmet.
“Another end to a dreadful NFL year for my Dolphins,” the grimacing comic says. “If we could just find a decent coach.”
The camera, operated by Carrot Top’s longtime assistant Jeff Molitz, pans to show Gruden at the comic’s side.
“I can’t help you, bro,” says
Gruden, whose countenance and mischievous grin remind of the Chucky doll in the “Child’s Play” horror-film franchise.
Carrot Top then utters a profanity, and the two laugh.
Miami went 5-11, finishing last in the AFC East. The Dolphins did win their final two games, including a major road upset of the defending champion New England Patriots to close the season. The Raiders finished 7-9, out of the playoffs, in their final season in Oakland.
Gruden had never seen Carrot Top’s show before Thursday, and reportedly loved it. If that’s the case, Chucky will return.
Marie looms
Marie Osmond still is considering options to appear on the Strip without her brother Donny. The two closed their production at Flamingo Las Vegas in November, ending an 11-year run.
But Marie, now co-hosting “The Talk” on CBS, remains a prominent figure at the property. Her face has outlasted her brother’s on the famous Flamingo building wrap promoting the show.
Osmond tweeted a photo of the building with Donny’s image peeled away and her face in place: “I made it to 2020 and they finally got it right.”
Big haps at Dispensary
Chris Noth turned up at the Dispensary Lounge jazz hang Wednesday night. Yes, this is indeed the actor who portrayed Mr. Big in “Sex and the City.” And yes, this sort of celeb sighting is rare for the little club on the corner of Tropicana and Eastern avenues.
Noth was brought to the cool hang by Las Vegas entertainment agent Jaki Baskow. Dispensary is known as a hot jazz enclave, especially by locals. The band didn’t disappoint. Pianist Uli Geissendoerfer, drummer Boris Shapiro, and sax man Wayne de Silva kicked it up next to the famed water wheel.
Ryan Baker, the busy Las Vegas crooner, happened to be in the club when Noth showed up. The actor mentioned he was a big Rat Pack fan, especially of “Sinatra At The Sands” and the vintage recordings from Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
Hearing this, Baker went to his car and grabbed a flyer for his next performance, a Martin tribute, big-band show at 8 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Italian American Club showroom.
Noth looked over the information, then told Baker, “Well, now we’ve got to hear you sing.”
Baker obliged, and he and the band came up with “Triste” by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
“When Mr. Big wants you to sing, you sing,” Baker said with a laugh. “Who am I to argue?”