stevevarro
10-18-2005, 04:17 PM
Vegas Trip September 2005
Just back from a week in Vegas and wanted to give a review on some of the highlights of the trip and a big disappointment.
Let me start with the big disappointment.
"Buck Wild", billed as a Country Variety Show. Being from Nashville Tennessee I was very disappointed with this production. I've seen many programs produced by David Saxe and am usually I'm very pleased with his productions, but this time he really missed the boat. And here are the top three reasons.
1. A Redneck Magician! When you think of Magic you think of tuxedos, white gloves and a whole lot of class. Nathan Burton has all that and more, but he just doesn't make the transition into a redneck character.
2. The Girls. Don't get me wrong the girls were beautiful and very talented, but there was not reason to make the late show a topless program. County music and nudity just don't mix all that well. Most nudity in Vegas is tastefully done or in a program that revolves around sexy ladies, such as Showgirls of Magic (another David Saxe production). Showgirls of magic was a very entertaining show and the nudity was expected, but in "Buck Wild" it just didn't fit and wasn't necessary. The actions were overtly sexual to the point of asking myself "was this a country variety show or a burlesque show?".
3. The 11 year old LD Miller Harmonica player and singer, someone who is very talented beyond his years. I would be very uncomfortable bringing my mother to see "Buck Wild"
so, what was LD's mother thinking allowing him to be part of a topless very sensual program?
I like country music and even do a country comedy routine that has been seen throughout the US and in several other countries. Harvey Barfenfloss, Tennessee's most Eligible Bachelor, would fit right in a country variety show but I wouldn't want to be associated with the overtly "raw" sensualness of this program.
On the other side of the coin the the singers did a great job. The young man who did the tribute to Garth Brooks did a fantastic job.
I've seen "Tiny Bubbles" in other productions and he will always find work with his talent as a comedian, but this program won't be the one to catapult him further in his career.
In support of David Saxe and other production he has been involved in, I would highly recommend going to see "V - The Ultimate Variety Show" This is one program I have seen several times and I'm sure I'll go see it many more times on future visits to Vegas.
As for "Buck Wild" This program does a disservice to Country music and a disservice to tastefully done topless programs.
OK that's enough about the negative let's look at the positive side of things
One of our side trips was to the Gamblers General Store on main street not far from the Stratosphere. This is a great store filled with everything you could want to decorate a room with a Las Vegas theme, including several real slot machines for sale. A trip to this unusual store is worth the time. You can take home a few $ 500.00 chips from casinos that have closed or never were, to impress your friends.
We stopped and saw Big Elvis and his show at the Barbary Coast. This giant of a performer sounds so much like Elvis Presely that you'd swear you were listening to the King. He is reported to be the illegitimate son of Elvis.
We also went to see Ovation downtown at the Lady Luck. Fielding West was the MC and Jason Byrde and Brandy did some great dove and silk work ending with the production of a large Blue and Yellow macaw. There where aerialists and Christopher, a dancer who had a 5 in 1 person routine, like we've seen used by Siegfred and Roy's program. This was very well received by the audience. There were also some Gouchos' who were very energetic! This is another program I could highly recommend.
If you're looking for an unusually treat, there's a little casino under the Freemont Street Experience canopy that sells..... "Deep-fried Twinkies". I'm not a big Twinkie fan, but these were very good.
One of the highlights on this trip for me was an evening at the Improv Comedy Club at Harrahs. I normally don't go to comedy clubs because of the language, but the headliner was someone I had enjoyed listening to and laughing at for over 40 years. Mr. Shelly Berman. What a great comedian!!!! After the program I had a private meeting with Mr. Berman. He invited us up to his room where he signed my album covers and we had a short meeting with him. What a thrill!!! If you are not familiar with his comedy, I think you'd enjoy it. He's a comedian who knows that comedy doesn't need to be filled with vulgar language to be funny.
Took a short ride to South Vegas to the Silverton Casino. I've been coming to Vegas for 20 years or so but this was the first time I had ventured out to this casino. They have a new underwater program called "Azure" in their 117 thousand gallon salt water tank. The tank is filled with 5,000 fish and the program features talented performers who do some synchronized swimming as mermaids and mermen. The show is free! Connected to the casino is the Bass Pro Shop. This is worth walking through to see the great displays and taxidermy work. There are even a couple choppers from "Orange County Choppers". If you're into bikes then you know of their reputation and would enjoy seeing these unique creations.
I ventured over to the The Klondike Casino, a small locals casino in Henderson. They have 10 cent roulette. I started with $20.00 and played for a couple hours and ended up cashing out $40.00. I also went to the Nevada Palace Casino on Boulder Highway, next to Sam's Town. They are one of the only casino that has $1.00 blackjack.
From here we went to see a couple free shows that turned out to be very nice "Free" programs. Both take place at Bourbon Street casino. Unfortunately this casino was just purchased by Harrah's and will close at the end of October so you'll have to hurry to catch these acts. The early act at 5:30 was Chandra the Gypsy. Chandra does close up magic in the Fat Daddy's Lounge. She does an exceptional job of interweaving the stories of life as a gypsy into the effects. Her skills at magic and storytelling are to be applauded.
Nick Comis does a program titled "Street Magic" in the main showroom. Nick has been performing and honing his act for the past year at Bourbon Street. I was very impressed at the improvement I witnessed since seeing him last year. He's young and still has several rough edges, but he's got potential and with a bit more training and fine tuning he's be a part of the Las Vegas magic scene for years to come. Catch these acts before they vanish from Bourbon Street. If you miss them there I'm sure they'll reappear elsewhere in Las Vegas.
We headed around the corner to Ellis Island to try this $ 4.95 steak dinner I keep hearing about. WOW! It was everything I heard and more. You'll not go wrong with this great meal. I tried their homemade root beer and was very pleased with this choice. We loved this meal so much we went back the next night for another $ 4.95 special. To cap the evening off we played their slots and ended up walking out winners for the evening. This is one place I'll be going to over and over for the steak, root bear and slots.
Near the end of the week we went to the Stardust to see Rick Thomas. This is one of the most impressive magic shows in Las Vegas today! This afternoon show is worth so much more than the $19.95 price tag would indicate. If you can see only one show on your trip to Las Vegas, then this would be the one that will leave you feeling well entertained and inspired.
Steve
stevevarro@gospelmagic.com
Just back from a week in Vegas and wanted to give a review on some of the highlights of the trip and a big disappointment.
Let me start with the big disappointment.
"Buck Wild", billed as a Country Variety Show. Being from Nashville Tennessee I was very disappointed with this production. I've seen many programs produced by David Saxe and am usually I'm very pleased with his productions, but this time he really missed the boat. And here are the top three reasons.
1. A Redneck Magician! When you think of Magic you think of tuxedos, white gloves and a whole lot of class. Nathan Burton has all that and more, but he just doesn't make the transition into a redneck character.
2. The Girls. Don't get me wrong the girls were beautiful and very talented, but there was not reason to make the late show a topless program. County music and nudity just don't mix all that well. Most nudity in Vegas is tastefully done or in a program that revolves around sexy ladies, such as Showgirls of Magic (another David Saxe production). Showgirls of magic was a very entertaining show and the nudity was expected, but in "Buck Wild" it just didn't fit and wasn't necessary. The actions were overtly sexual to the point of asking myself "was this a country variety show or a burlesque show?".
3. The 11 year old LD Miller Harmonica player and singer, someone who is very talented beyond his years. I would be very uncomfortable bringing my mother to see "Buck Wild"
so, what was LD's mother thinking allowing him to be part of a topless very sensual program?
I like country music and even do a country comedy routine that has been seen throughout the US and in several other countries. Harvey Barfenfloss, Tennessee's most Eligible Bachelor, would fit right in a country variety show but I wouldn't want to be associated with the overtly "raw" sensualness of this program.
On the other side of the coin the the singers did a great job. The young man who did the tribute to Garth Brooks did a fantastic job.
I've seen "Tiny Bubbles" in other productions and he will always find work with his talent as a comedian, but this program won't be the one to catapult him further in his career.
In support of David Saxe and other production he has been involved in, I would highly recommend going to see "V - The Ultimate Variety Show" This is one program I have seen several times and I'm sure I'll go see it many more times on future visits to Vegas.
As for "Buck Wild" This program does a disservice to Country music and a disservice to tastefully done topless programs.
OK that's enough about the negative let's look at the positive side of things
One of our side trips was to the Gamblers General Store on main street not far from the Stratosphere. This is a great store filled with everything you could want to decorate a room with a Las Vegas theme, including several real slot machines for sale. A trip to this unusual store is worth the time. You can take home a few $ 500.00 chips from casinos that have closed or never were, to impress your friends.
We stopped and saw Big Elvis and his show at the Barbary Coast. This giant of a performer sounds so much like Elvis Presely that you'd swear you were listening to the King. He is reported to be the illegitimate son of Elvis.
We also went to see Ovation downtown at the Lady Luck. Fielding West was the MC and Jason Byrde and Brandy did some great dove and silk work ending with the production of a large Blue and Yellow macaw. There where aerialists and Christopher, a dancer who had a 5 in 1 person routine, like we've seen used by Siegfred and Roy's program. This was very well received by the audience. There were also some Gouchos' who were very energetic! This is another program I could highly recommend.
If you're looking for an unusually treat, there's a little casino under the Freemont Street Experience canopy that sells..... "Deep-fried Twinkies". I'm not a big Twinkie fan, but these were very good.
One of the highlights on this trip for me was an evening at the Improv Comedy Club at Harrahs. I normally don't go to comedy clubs because of the language, but the headliner was someone I had enjoyed listening to and laughing at for over 40 years. Mr. Shelly Berman. What a great comedian!!!! After the program I had a private meeting with Mr. Berman. He invited us up to his room where he signed my album covers and we had a short meeting with him. What a thrill!!! If you are not familiar with his comedy, I think you'd enjoy it. He's a comedian who knows that comedy doesn't need to be filled with vulgar language to be funny.
Took a short ride to South Vegas to the Silverton Casino. I've been coming to Vegas for 20 years or so but this was the first time I had ventured out to this casino. They have a new underwater program called "Azure" in their 117 thousand gallon salt water tank. The tank is filled with 5,000 fish and the program features talented performers who do some synchronized swimming as mermaids and mermen. The show is free! Connected to the casino is the Bass Pro Shop. This is worth walking through to see the great displays and taxidermy work. There are even a couple choppers from "Orange County Choppers". If you're into bikes then you know of their reputation and would enjoy seeing these unique creations.
I ventured over to the The Klondike Casino, a small locals casino in Henderson. They have 10 cent roulette. I started with $20.00 and played for a couple hours and ended up cashing out $40.00. I also went to the Nevada Palace Casino on Boulder Highway, next to Sam's Town. They are one of the only casino that has $1.00 blackjack.
From here we went to see a couple free shows that turned out to be very nice "Free" programs. Both take place at Bourbon Street casino. Unfortunately this casino was just purchased by Harrah's and will close at the end of October so you'll have to hurry to catch these acts. The early act at 5:30 was Chandra the Gypsy. Chandra does close up magic in the Fat Daddy's Lounge. She does an exceptional job of interweaving the stories of life as a gypsy into the effects. Her skills at magic and storytelling are to be applauded.
Nick Comis does a program titled "Street Magic" in the main showroom. Nick has been performing and honing his act for the past year at Bourbon Street. I was very impressed at the improvement I witnessed since seeing him last year. He's young and still has several rough edges, but he's got potential and with a bit more training and fine tuning he's be a part of the Las Vegas magic scene for years to come. Catch these acts before they vanish from Bourbon Street. If you miss them there I'm sure they'll reappear elsewhere in Las Vegas.
We headed around the corner to Ellis Island to try this $ 4.95 steak dinner I keep hearing about. WOW! It was everything I heard and more. You'll not go wrong with this great meal. I tried their homemade root beer and was very pleased with this choice. We loved this meal so much we went back the next night for another $ 4.95 special. To cap the evening off we played their slots and ended up walking out winners for the evening. This is one place I'll be going to over and over for the steak, root bear and slots.
Near the end of the week we went to the Stardust to see Rick Thomas. This is one of the most impressive magic shows in Las Vegas today! This afternoon show is worth so much more than the $19.95 price tag would indicate. If you can see only one show on your trip to Las Vegas, then this would be the one that will leave you feeling well entertained and inspired.
Steve
stevevarro@gospelmagic.com