Journey closes iheart Festival with classics
IN its decadelong run in Las Vegas, iheartradio Music Festival has been known to stage unlikely moments and unbilled collaborations. But achieving what is expected, delivering the high expectations, also hits the mark at iheart.
So, we had an epic set from Journey, an anthemic performance from Coldplay and a fiery performance from Billie Eilish during Saturday’s second and final night at T-mobile Arena.
Journey closed the night with a rousing recitation of the classics, “Separate Ways,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Lights,” “Wheel in the Sky,” and the inexhaustible showstopper, “Don’t Stop Believin.’” Guitarist Neal Schon unleashed his soaring, melodic solos and vocalist Arnel Pineda has reinforced his indispensable position as the band’s vocalist. Jonathan Cain, Deen Castronovo, Marco Mendoza and Jason Derlatka further powered the Journey lineup at T-mobile.
Randy Jackson (same Jackson from “American Idol”) has been announced as the band’s returning bassist, though he wasn’t in the iheart show.
Schon was clearly buoyed by his return to Las Vegas, a place the band has frequented since re-forming with Pineda in 2007, and also in years prior.
“I feel young!” the 67-yearold Schon, a founding member of Journey, said before the show. “I need 10 more shows, to feel even younger!”
The set was Journey’s toe in the water for its upcoming six-show series Dec. 1-11 at
The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, and also a single performance Dec. 18 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Coldplay commits
What else can you say about the dependably forceful rock band? To use a tennis or basketball term, frontman Chris Martin leaves it all on the court. At once contorting and bellowing, Martin was sweaty enough that the confetti stuck to his face by the end of Saturday night’s set.
Coldplay came forth with “A Sky Full of Stars” and “Viva La Vida,” the latter’s violin intro throwing the crowd into a bounce-fest. Martin actually had to restart “A Sky Full of Stars” as he struggled to pull his jacket back on.
Buoyant Eilish
On the topic of leaping music fans, Eilish was strong from the jump (as it were) with an opening set featuring “Bury a Friend,” “Bad Guy,” “Oxytocin” and “Everything I Wanted.”
Her brother, Finneas, was back for a second night at T-mobile, playing guitar after following his impressive set Friday.
Prior to introducing “Happier Than Ever,” Eilish plugged her next Vegas performance, Sunday night in downtown
Las Vegas. “See you tomorrow night at Life is Beautiful, if you’re going!” Saturday’s show was Eilish’s first arena performance since her “Where We Do Go” tour shut down in March 2020.
Filling this bill
The Kid LAROI, Sam Hunt and Khalid further filled out Saturday’s iheart performances (LAROI, who has partnered with Justin Bieber on “Stay,” also performed at the Daytime Stage). Hunt performed “Hard to Forget,” “House Party” and “23.” He has the distinction of being the headliner who closed the Route 91 Harvest festival at Las Vegas Village on Sept. 30, 2017, the night before the Oct. 1 mass shooting.
Tune in
The CW will broadcast a two-night iheart festival highlight package from 8-10 p.m. Oct. 2-3.
What Works In Vegas
Chicago sold out all three of its shows at The Venetian Theatre running from Wednesday through Saturday. Styx, too, has sold its three upcoming shows at The Venetian from Friday through Sunday.
Count on it
Maroon 5 is set to perform a pair of New Year’s Eve shows at the Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Dec. 30-31. The band led by Adam Levine has previously, and traditionally, played Mandalay Bay Events Center, now Michelob Ultra Arena. Details forthcoming.
The Gr8 Sk8s
Half of the brother-sister skating tandem in “Absinthe,” Emily England, has been holed up in London throughout the pandemic. The great circus performer has been unable to return to Las Vegas and reunite with her brother, Billy England, in the popular act dubbed “Skates of Hell.”
In the routine, Emily is dressed as a nun and Billy as a priest. They proceed to strip to skivvies and spin at high velocity.
You might recall the Englands reached the semifinals of season 12 of “America’s Got Talent” in 2017. That was the year incoming “America’s Got Talent Live” at Luxor host and comic Preacher Lawson won the championship (the “AGT Live” show opens on the Strip on Nov. 12).
But as COVID hit, England trekked to England (we say musically) to wait it out. She underwent knee surgery and developed a magic act. As an illusionist, she has appeared in four West End productions and has been featured at the U.K.’S prestigious Magic Circle.
On Friday, sort of out of nowhere, England reported her visa application to return to the U.S. has been approved. She should be back in Las Vegas on Monday. The Englands’ act should be back in “Absinthe” in an unspecified timeline. But already, this is the sister’s best reappearing act yet.
Cool Hang Alert
Gilley’s at Treasure Island percolates — percolates, I tell you! — with the Garage Boys at 8 p.m. Monday; “Bluegrass & BBQ” with Storytellers at 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, followed by Scotty Alexander at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; “Home Grown Sunday” with Vegas lounge great Ronnie Rose at 5 p.m. Sunday, followed by American Thunder at 9 p.m. Hit gilleyslasvegas.com for additional intel.
The Review-journal is owned by the family of Dr. Miriam Adelson, the majority shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corp, which operates The Venetian.