Janet Jackson rocks in ‘Metamorphosis’
ALL those hits. All those moves. All that hair. All that history. “Metamorphosis” is a show set up to tell a story of evolution and triumph, and Janet Jackson tells it expertly and with a fair measure of firepower. The underlying message from this superstar, a recent mother who just turned 53, isshecan still blaze through the hits.
Jackson still moves with grace and power, swiveling and gyrating around the double-deck stage with her 14-member dance team.
A sheer video screen, like an electric scrim, adds a layer of visuals across the theater’s arena-scale stage. Lasers dance around the venue. Jackson and her team are flanked by metal staircases and platforms where musicians blast the show’s sound bed. It’s all similar to an uber-fancy Ikea showroom, bathed in neon against a stark black-andwhite backdrop.
The Twitterbugs ask if Jackson is singing through this show. A common question, and a fair one, too. To my trained eye and ear, Jackson seems to mix live and tracked vocals — not lip-syncing, but singing live with the aid of a vocal track. This technique is used across other headlining performances, and even Vegas production shows, that employ extensive choreography.
The effect does produce a video-quality live performance. Jackson’s show extends beyond a typical concert, especially with its tightly produced dance
numbers. Jackson pays tribute to the 30th anniversary of “Rhythm Nation 1814,” with her dance team donning jumpsuits and coveralls. She tears through a suite of her many hits, among them, “What Have You Done For Me Lately,” “Control, “Nasty” and “Pleasure Principle.”
Standing alone, the hard-rocking “Black Cat” made the room shake. At times, the band was so sonically strong it overrode the vocals.
Reaching to the days of the Jackson 5, Jackson also lines up the backing dancers for some of the moves made famous by her brothers. For those who remember “The Jackson 5” cartoon series or network variety show, it was a well-timed number.
The group did not perform Michael Jackson’s famous moonwalk, though (and “Scream,” the searing Janet-michael duet, was not in the set list).
In a signature nostalgia moment from opening night, Jackson finally addressed her fans, about 40 minutes into the show. The music stopped and she peered into the crowd, which howled its approval.
“Forty-five years ago, I made my debut right here in Las Vegas, and the beautiful thing about it was, it was right here at the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas,” Jackson said. “It’s so amazing how things come full circle.”
Showtime for celebs
The thing about being Magic Johnson is, you’re Magic Johnson everywhere, all the time. This is especially true while walking through Park MGM to Park Theater for the “Metamorphosis” opener.
That was Magic, smiling with his wife, Cookie, and walking tall through the casino. I know this because I saw him (after hearing his familiar laugh) as I made it into the show.
Jackson did bring an elevated level of celebrity to her first show, as Queen Latifah, Eve, Gabrielle Union, Carrie Ann Inaba of “The Talk,” Sibley Scoles, Johnny Gill of New Edition and producer Jimmy Jam were on hand to see Jackson groove it up and hang at the post-show party at On The Record Speakeasy and Nightclub. When there, you’ll probably find me at the double-decker bus, bar and DJ booth.
Myron was there
Smith Center President Myron Martin checked in after seeing social-media reports of Jackson’s comments from the stage. Martin was actually at the show Jackson referred to, her stage debut at the old MGM Grand when she was 7.
“My parents took me to see the Jackson 5 at MGM when I was a kid,” Martin texted Saturday. “The Jacksons brought the young Janet out onstage. What a night.” Jackson siblings La Toya and Randy were also part of that limited engagement in December 1974.
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.
Monday’s show: Las Vegas resident James Holzhauer, 34, won his 23rd consecutive game, adding $89,229 to increase his total to $1,780,237.
In the form of a question: Daily Doubles: Final Jeopardy:
Single-game earnings: Holzhauer holds the singlegame record with $131,127 and now has the 13 highest daily totals in the 35-year history of the game show. Monday’s win was the ninth-highest one-day total in “Jeopardy!” history.
Chasing Jennings: Ken Jennings, of Edmonds, Washington, is the all-time regular play earnings leader with $2,520,700, winning 74 consecutive games in 2004. Holzhauer is second with $1,780,237.
Next show: 7 p.m.
Tuesday, KLAS-TV, Channel 8.
Source: As of 9 p.m. Monday:
1. Sports bettor ‘Vegas Dave’ gets 3-year sportsbook ban
Prominent sports bettor David Oancea, known in gambling circles as “Vegas Dave,” must stay out of Las Vegas sportsbooks for three years, a judge ruled Monday. 2. EDC visitors converge on Monday rush hour
With the bright lights dimmed and the thumping bass gone, some 155,000 Electric Daisy Carnival attendees mixed in with the usual Monday commute.
3. Golden Knights reportedly looking to trade Colin Miller
Defenseman Colin Miller, who struggled through injuries and multiple stints in coach Gerard Gallant’s doghouse this past season, is on the trading block, according to multiple reports. 4. Cowboys’ Elliott caught in confrontation at EDC
Dallas Cowboys’ star running back Ezekial Elliott was handcuffed by Metro Police at the Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at about 3 a.m. Saturday.
5. Celine Dion’s lounge gig a boon to Las Vegas act
Celine Dion performed “Because You Loved Me,” “Ashes,” Beauty and the Beast” and “My Heart Will Go On.” As of 9 p.m. Monday:
1. Woman charged with sex trafficking an 11-yearold girl on the Strip
Gigi Mitchell faces seven felony charges including sex trafficking and child abuse for bringing an 11-year-old girl to the Strip to work as a prostitute.
2. Man pushed off bus in Las Vegas — VIDEO
Las Vegas police arrested Cadesha Bishop on May 6. She is accused of pushing Serge Fournier, 74, off of a parked bus near Fremont Street and 13th Street about 4:50 p.m. March 21.
3. Las Vegas man talks about losing his wife
Dwayne Murray, 37, lost his wife, Laquinta while she was at Centennial
Hills Hospital. A jury awarded him $43 million last week after it said the hospital failed to perform the standard of care in administering a drug for her sickle cell disease.