B-52’s add more show dates at The Venetian
THE World’s Greatest Party Band refuses to call it a night. The B-52’s are back in Las Vegas this weekend and are committed to more dates next spring.
The punk-party band out of Atlanta has added five more shows at their Vegas Love Shack, The Venetian Theatre, from April 12-20. Their current set of dates runs Friday through Sept. 3.
Tickets for the new dates start at $49.50 (not including fees), on sale 10 a.m. Friday at ticketmaster.com, Venetianlasvegas. com or at any Venetian box office. Tickets for the shows beginning this weekend are on sale now. The band played five shows at The Venetian in May, adding these new dates because of “incredible fan demand.”
Founding members Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson are returning to The Venetian production. The band has previously stated the Vegas residency will be the last time to see the B-52’s in concert.
Tied to the band’s return, Schneider and music photographer Michael Grecco are hosting a book signing at the Punk Rock Museum from 5-7 p.m. Sunday promoting Grecco’s “Punk, Post Punk, New Wave: Onstage, Backstage, In Your Face, 1978-1991” (Abrams Books, 2020).
Schneider wrote the forward. He and Grecco will be at the museum to sign copies, available for purchase in the gift shop. Those who buy a book can tour the attraction at no additional cost.
A full-length, B-52’s documentary is also on the horizon, though details have been slow to emerge. The project is being produced by musician and comedy master Fred Armisen (himself a recent Punk Rock Museum visitor) and directed by Craig Johnson (“The Skeleton Twins,” “Alex Strangelove” fame).
The band also is in partnership with Pinkbox Doughnuts of Las Vegas. The confection company is offering B-52’sthemed donuts starting at 6 a.m. on Aug. 31 while supplies last at all Las Vegas Valley locations.
Bands with 50 years of career experience offer such widespread marketing opportunities. Pierson talked of the band’s longevity in an interview in May.
“I just feel like we’ve had this unique niche, a unique spot in the music pantheon of being just different,” Pierson said. “We are a really different band. We’ve stood the test of time, just because we’re so unique. We don’t really fall into a genre. We’re in the ’80s category, I guess, but I don’t think of us as just ’80s, I think we have a longer lifespan.”
Jazzed about this
George Benson invited his friend Ronnie Foster to his show Friday night at Encore Theater. These two, of course, are masters of their craft, Benson as a jazz guitarist and Foster as a Hammond B3 virtuoso. Foster met Benson when Foster was just a kid and backed him for 15 years on tour and in the studio, appearing on the hit album “Breezin.’”
“He’s still killing it at 80 years old,” the 73-year-old Foster said Sunday. “He is still an inspiration.” This was not a reunion. “We talk every two weeks,” Foster said. “We’re still very close.”
These punks rock it
These rockers dress like insurance salesmen. And after their set, you’re seeking coverage.
We speak of the punk band Pure Sport. The three-man outfit overcame — and also drowned out — four other Vegas bands to win the Life is Beautiful “Rising Stars” competition on Friday night at The Space.
The threesome of Jared Scott on bass, Justin Tejeda on guitar and Gage Walker on drums play Sept. 24 on Lib’s Rolling Stone Stage.
Pure Sport prevailed over more than 180 submissions. Rounding out the field of five finalists were Lennon Roach, Michael Richter, Pure Sport, Steppadelic and Viaje Nahual.
As LIB Director of Music Craig Nyman and The Space founder Mark Shunock remarked, there is so much talent in this city, we could stage rising Vegas bands regularly. Shunock’s place would be great for that.
Scott, Pure Sports’ manic lead vocalist, has entertainment in his DNA. His dad is Circa Vice President of Operations Jeff Victor, his surname appropriate on this night. So was Scott’s ecstatic response to Nyman’s announcement the band had won, “It doesn’t seem real!”
Martin, Moreno, Myron’s
On the topic of Las Vegas families in the entertainment community, Molly Martin hosts the release party for her album “Fragile” at 7 p.m. Monday at Myron’s. A musical theater major at Syracuse University, Martin is the daughter of Smith Center President Myron Martin and former “Jubilee” principal singer Dana Rogers Martin.
Recurring Myron’s headliner Frankie Moreno hosts this event, a family-fashioned party in the heart of the arts.
What Works in Vegas
The Spazmatics, stars of Cool Hang Alert just last week and South Point Showroom for 15 years. I caught the ’80s novelty-rock band Friday night during its friends-family, 15th-anniversary celebration. They usually play 10:30 p.m. Saturdays, a $10 cover for
GA. Front man Paul Johnson (“Rock of Ages,” “Baz”) is well-suited for this act, wearing plaid shorts, a too-short tie, mismatched red blazer and taped spectacles.
But the musicianship is unmistakable when they kick into “New Sensation” by INXS. Strong following, between 400500 a night. Get there. Go to southpointlv.com for the “how” of it all.
Cool Hang Alert
Column fave and style guru Murray Sawchuck records his latest magic special at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday at South Point Showroom. Shows are open to the public. Go to murraymagic.com for intel.
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 X, @Johnnykats1 on Instagram.