Rodman scores his Vegas Thanksgiving
DELILAH is putting on a new holiday show, “Christmas With the Worm.” Not really.
But Dennis Rodman did show up at the glorious Wynn Las Vegas supper club on Thanksgiving night.
This was not a billed appearance. Rodman did not sing or rap, according to John Terzian. The nightspot exec said simply, “He jumped up.”
Dunk!
Maybe “The Worm,” as he has been known since his playing career, is already working on a sequel to his “48 Hours in Vegas” biopic. That feature film is based on Rodman’s infamous hopscotch through our city during a break in the 1998 NBA Finals.
Rodman played for the Bulls at the time. He also played the tables.
On Turkey Day at Delilah, Rodman found himself alongside club chanteuse and column fave Savannah Lynx and ace musicians Steve Flora (bass) and David Siegel (keys).
Rodman tipped the band a total of $300, all singles, which Lynx said was “very generous.” Rodman was reportedly smiles all the whiles and said something largely intelligible from the stage. Lynx said his message was “something along the lines of, it was a super-sexy time and he loved Delilah.”
We’ll call Rodman’s participation an undefined, spoken-word appearance, and eagerly await the movie version.
‘Backstory Pass’ is back
The show before the show is returning with Usher’s residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Seven shows are set for Dec. 23 to Jan. 1.
“Backstory Pass” is a multi-venue collection of experiences that relate Usher’s backstory (hence the name), before you file into the show at Caesars. The attraction should follow the same structure as Usher’s previous shows, with some internal changes. We should still enjoy the Block Party dance festival on what is otherwise the Colosseum loading dock. Ushh City, Usher’s Vegas adaptation of the Magic City adult club in his hometown of Atlanta, is also being returned.
We’re glad also to know peerless vocalist Skye Dee Miles and the great, former Olympic athlete (a qualifier in the long jump from 1964 to 1972) and longtime Caesars Palace casino dealer Martha Watson are back in the production. Watson is the Den Mother in the Counting Room, a wonderful addition to the experience.
“Backstory Pass” is a separate ticket. You can hit the pre-show with or without the Usher performance. Save up and catch both, I say.
The Master returns
Lance Burton, forever the Master Magician in Las Vegas and everywhere else, makes a special appearance at 6:15 p.m. Saturday to benefit Opportunity Village and Variety the Children’s Charity of Southern Nevada. The show is his “Lance Burton & Friends” format, with Fielding West, Michael Goudeau and Keith West co-starring. Tickets are $20 for the show, or $35 for a combo show and Magical Forest visit.
Burton moved back to the family farm in Kentucky in November 2020. He has not performed a ticketed show in Las Vegas since headlining at the Orleans Showroom in November 2018. He left the Monte Carlo — today’s Park MGM — in September 2010, ending a 14-year run in his eponymous theater.
“This is a completely different show than what I did in Las Vegas for the last 20 or 30 years,” Burton says. “I’m doing some of my favorite magic, big illusions, sleight of hand, audience participation, and I’m bringing some of my best friends with me. And there’s a lot of comedy, a lot of magic, juggling, and we have a little something for everybody.”
Fond o’ Farrell
It wasn’t until Farrell Dillon slipped the multicolored thimbles on his fingers that we recognized him from “Masters of Illusion” from 2018 at Bally’s Jubilee Theater. Same hotel, different room, more responsibility for the accomplished entertainer in The Magic Attic. Dillon has settled into the 6 p.m. time slot (dark Mondays).
Dillon’s show is fine for all ages, even youngsters. That includes the little girl behind us the other night who kept calling out, “Make it purple!” to pretty much every one of Dillon’s routines. He’s a classic magician, ebullient, skilled and engaging. You can take your 8-year-old nephew to this show, and I plan to.
Dillon’s production is the first from the new Vegas entertainment collab of John Bentham’s Ivory Star Productions and former Caesars Entertainment executive Damian Costa’s Pompey Entertainment outfit.
Cool Hang Alert
The psychobilly scene shall run amok at The Space with for The Reverend Horton Heat. Services commence at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
If you haven’t scene The Reverend, know it is a genuinely religious experience. Musically, anyway. I caught him in a show years back at the House of Blues, with opener Southern Culture on the Skids. There might have been moshing, or maybe that was just an aggressive square dance.
Tuesday, Reverend brings it with Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys and Voodoo Glow Skulls. The cost (aside from any physical wear and tear) is $30 and $50, not including fees. Better than being owed 400 bucks.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “Podkats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @Johnnykats1 on Instagram.