Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Moreno puts on quite a show at Kaos
WE have long been impressed with the slick architecture of Vegas ultra-clubs. The electronic “Oootah! Ootah!” music, party cannons and spectacular LED effects create a river of revenue.
That money is spent effectively on design, technology and sparklers.
An inventive mind can make something special of these places, beyond their EDM party tableau. This is the case at Kaos, the formerly beleaguered nightclub happily hijacked by Frankie Moreno. The unflagging Vegas showman opened the first headlining residency at the club Friday night, and it was a happening.
Moreno and his backing band blazed through a set that largely leaned on Moreno originals. The frontman drew cheers for songs you might not have heard of, but his omnipresent FM Army know by heart. “Biggest Fan,” “The Biggest Cat In Town (a sentimental favorite),” and “Diva” rocked the room.
Moreno did slip in an Elvis medley near the top, and the cover of “Eleanor Rigby” he recorded with violin virtuoso Joshua Bell near the end.
But this was a show starring a Las Vegas headliner, playing music he has composed, in a place built for the likes of Cardi B, Skrillex and Marshmello. Moreno has already beat the odds at the casino now owned by the San Manuel Tribe. He’s back Aug. 19-20, and Sept. 23-24, and already reviewing openings beginning in January. Moreno says a two-weekend a month residency would be ideal.
The singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has benefited from ample support, of course, and fortunate timing. He comes in with a history at Palms, where he performed his first ticketed shows more than a decade ago. The Kaos schedule was clear in the resort’s relaunch.
And, Vegas entertainers will likely be envious to know the hotel is paying Moreno to perform. He has stated he won’t lease a room. He’s not leasing this one.
Hotel GM Cynthia Kiser Murphey and entertainment exec Crystal Robinson-wesley nabbed Moreno as the hotel’s headliner.
Robinson-welsey is also a Moreno band alum. She sang backup for several years, in Vegas and on the road. Moreno asked her to sing again. The hotel official, who pretty much runs the show these days, belted out “Fever.” Great move. At the Palms, the temperature is rapidly rising.
Gaga Las Vegas
Lady Gaga is packing stadia and drawing the raves in her international “Chromatic Ball” tour.
NME’S five-star account of Friday’s show, which drew 63,000 to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, read, “(The) stage was inspired by Brutalist architecture, Gaga has said, and designed to provide ‘a real savage and hard look at yourself and what you’ve been through.’ … Instantly, this show blasts away the venue’s intimidating vastness.”
Gaga also sold out Saturday’s performance.
“Chromatica” is likely to play into Gaga’s next Vegas adventure. We’ve wondered if her pop show, “Enigma,” will be revived at Dolby Live. We understand a pop production is planned, in 2023, but not “Enigma.” Look for a new production, with numbers added from “Chromatica,” to perform next year.
In that house
Returning to the Palms, Moreno’s band for the Kaos run is his brother Tony on bass; Mundo Keali’i on lead guitar, Don Meoli on drums; the horn section of Pete Bresciani (trumpet and also the occasional banjo), James D’arrigo (sax) and Diego Morales (sax). Dre Young and Ashley Kellough are the dedicated backing singers. Moreno’s girlfriend, pro dancer Lacey Schwimmer, danced atop the piano to “Diva.”
Also, a high measure of Vegas’ entertainment community turned out. Moreno is reticent to list his dignitaries from the stage, because inevitably someone is left out (and we can relate, for lists in this column). But! We’ll go for it anyway: Entertainers in the room for Moreno’s opener included Stephanie Sanchez (also on the Palms’ entertainment team); Clint Holmes; Earl Turner; Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie; Vincent John of Bronx Wanderers (appearing solo Sunday night at Notoriety Live); crooners extraordinaire Johnathan Karrant and Chadwick Johnson; Bryan Hopkins of Elvis Monroe; top comic Geechy Guy; The Space founder Mark Shunock and his wife, Cheryl Daro; jazz great Michelle Johnson; Skye Dee Miles (who hosted the cracking private post-party at the 55thfloor Ghostbar); rock vocalist Paul Shortino; rock-guitar star Christian Brady; pop-opera singer Giada Valenti; and longtime Elvis tribute artist Cole (just Cole) from “Million Dollar Quartet.”
Gotta make this right
Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns’ cover at the 7:30 p.m. Monday performances at Copa Room at Bootlegger bistro is $30 (w/ one drink), $50 (VIP seating, w/ two drinks). We had listed their prices from their days at The Lounge at the Palms. That price is long gone, and so is The Lounge.
Cool Hang Alert
Column fave (and also Kats family fave) Rita Lim is back at Tuscany Suites’ Piazza lounge at 7 p.m. Sundays. Lim has impressive vocal range, and also great range in her set list. Country, R&B, rock, polka … She does it all. Well, not the polka. But Piazza is a wonderful hang, every night. Lim’s show is 7 p.m.-11 p.m. No cover.
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.