The hits keep on coming at the Venetian with Human Nature’s ‘Jukebox’
Australian pop vocal group Human Nature may have started its solid Las Vegas run in 2009, but the harmonious foursome’s show has really become a finely tuned machine since landing at the Venetian four years ago.
The group revamped its Motown-dominated production into the new “Jukebox” version earlier this year, allowing its rapid-fire musical delivery to incorporate even more pop gems from varying genres and eras, and it’s working well enough for the Venetian to extend Human Nature’s residency in the Sands Showroom through March 2019.
But the Human Nature “ultimate playlist” is never truly finished. Toby Allen, Phil Burton and brothers Andrew and Mike Tierney continue to tweak “Jukebox,” by rotating different music in and out of the show, and most recently the group has added a whole new segment that succeeds in getting its audience up out of their seats. The “Juke Joint” portion in the second half of the show brings the sizzling seven-piece band to the forefront to play old-fashioned versions of their instruments (think upright bass and saloon piano) while the singers interact with their fans on upbeat favorites like the Isley Brothers’ “Shout.” It adds spontaneity, takes some of the formality out of one of the Strip’s more traditional showroom productions and demonstrates the performers’ vast range.
The smile-inducing boy band segment of Human Nature’s show remains a highlight, where the guys reflect on their youthful discretions as Australia’s version of N’sync, humorously attempting to handle the same athletic choreography from those days. It’s one of many lighthearted moments, but also significant in that it showcases how long these four singers have been singing together without much interruption, nearly three decades’ worth of showbiz experience that translates into a truly tight group.
Though they capably cover everyone from Earth, Wind & Fire to Bruno Mars, Human Nature’s vocal talents still shine brightest on earlier classics like the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody,” the Miracles’ “Ooo Baby Baby” and the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” And that’s kind of a great thing, because it’s nice to know an old-fashioned show can still thrive in today’s fast-paced Strip entertainment landscape.
Human Nature “Jukebox” is performed at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays at the Sands Showroom at the Venetian. For information, visit venetian.com. brock.radke@gmgvegas.com / 702-948-7811 / @brockradke