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| August 8, 2008 | NEWEST - PRIOR WEEK - ARCHIVES |
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| "It's The Norm" - Las Vegas Entertainment Events | |
CLINT HOLMES SINGS AROUND TOWN
& S&S TOURS TAKES FLIGHT
As you readers must know by now (unless you're new to this column) I'm a huge fan of our local resident singer, Clint Holmes. And, last weekend Holmes was appearing at the Suncoast Hotel / Casino, so naturally we were there opening night. Now, you must understand, I've watched this man perform a set show at Harrah's, impromptu performances at the Bootlegger and numerous show weekends at various hotels in our village over the years. I've watched him work diligently on his first love, a biographical type play, he plans to take to London and then Broadway. Clint hasn't gotten there yet, but if persistence means anything, the play titled J.A.M. (Just Another Man), will get there! What I'm leading up to is the show we saw last Friday evening. It was, at least in my mind, one of the top two shows Holmes has ever performed in the city he calls home. He was funny, loose, spirited and full of happiness. And, it showed on that stage!
Holmes opened the show with dynamite "Song For You," followed by a fabulous rendition of "Take it Up Town." This was followed by "One Note Samba" and another great "Use Me." It's hard to describe what Clint does on stage, mostly because he adds things to a song no other singer would dare do: such as maybe a wee bit of "scatting," or perhaps using his voice as a musical instrument.  He loves doing the unexpected, which he can do at these weekend shows. It's his show and he can do what he wants, not what the hotel expects. The band, consisting of: Davy Nathan on keyboards and piano, Keith Nelson on bass, Gabriel Falcone on drums and Tommy Steele handling all the other instruments, goes right along with him. Midway through the show, Gayle Steele (Clint's sister), is introduced and performs a very nice, "I Never Knew," (from J.A.M.) and a beautifully arranged, "Sentimental Journey." Ms. Steele, by the way, was the "First Lady of Song" as a member of the U.S. Navy Band for 20 years. The next guest asked to perform (sitting in the audience) was Domenick Allen, former lead singer for the rock group, "Foreigner." Allen sang a new song written by Holmes, "On The Road," following with a tribute to Frank Sinatra, "The Wee Small Hours of the Morning," wrapping up doing a rousing scat number with Clint, "Everybody's Boppin." Clint's next gig will be at the Judy Bayley Theater on the campus of UNLV, Aug. 14-16, where he'll present his latest, appropriately titled "Broadway Project." Holmes will also be inducted into the UNLV Hall of Fame, along with my friend of more than 28 years, Robert Goulet, who will be inducted posthumously.. The induction ceremony will take place on the campus of UNLV, Sept. 18... |
Stars and Stripes Air Tours - once known as Las Vegas Helicopters - have opened their doors to the only off-airport heliport facility in Las Vegas, according to Alvin S. Trenk, chairman of the company.  Media and members of the tourist industry were invited to a gathering at the heliport last week, to see the beautiful six-passenger Eurocopter AS350 Astar with theater style seating. The copters are painted with red and white stripes on aft section and the main body is blue with white stars-making for a truly wonderful sight in the sky. The 3.5-acre heliplex located at 500 E. Cheyenne Ave, North Las Vegas, features 15,000 square-feet of hanger and maintenance facilities, enabling Stars and Stripes to present first-class, family-friendly service to locals and visitors. The company offers ten helicopters and airplane tours providing guests with breathtaking views of the Southwest. Tours consist of a Grand Canyon flight, with a dusk arrival back in Las Vegas; an early tour of the Canyon with a champagne picnic lunch, and other Canyon flights. The one most tourist, and locals, will be interested in (including this writer) is the "Magic Neon Nights," a night flight of around 12 to 15 minutes over the Las Vegas Strip. I'll be able to give you a report on the Strip flight next week, following my experience tonight (Friday, Aug. 8). I personally recall the time when my friend, Mel Larson, started the first helicopter rides over the Las Vegas Strip in those pink copters. It took a lot of endurance and some connections to get approval from not only the county but the FAA. Larson pulled it off, however, and located his heliport right on the strip, where MGM's City Center is being constructed today. That was a number of years ago! THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: If you haven't reserved your tickets for the Steve Lawrence Show at The Orleans, Aug. 15-17, you better hurry up. It'll be a night to remember, what with a 27-piece orchestra under the leadership of Vince Falcone. Show time is 8 p.m. with tickets priced from $54.95 plus tax. Call (702) 365-7075 for further information... Giovanna Sardelli received rave reviews from every corner of the New York media for her direction of a new play by, Rajiv Joseph, called "Animals out of Paper," including The New York Times, Variety and Theatermania: "Ms. Sardelli's masterly direction follows through, pinning down the laughs as well as the emotional anguish," wrote Anita Gates of the Times. Congrats to a future Broadway director...
Well, gang, that's about it for another week. I'm outa here!
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A new show will be opening Aug. 18, at the Royal Resort, 99 Convention Center Drive: "Superstar Voices in Concert," with Larry G. Jones and Red Skelton look-alike and tribute artist, Brian Hoffman...
Mary Wilson of the Supremes will be performing at the South Point Casino Resort Sept. 12-14th. The founder of the famous girl group just returned from Monaco, where she performed for, Prince Albert II and friends, as part of the Annual Grace Kelly Red Cross Gala.