| Author | Message | ||
  Dayo (dayo) 1-Arriviste Username: dayo Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.134.152.116 |
Hi all. Me and Bonny are celebrating 25 years marriage on May 19th and flying from the UK to Vegas to renew our vows with Elvis :-) Its our first time in Vegas and we wondering if there is any soul music in town? Would really like to catch something live if possible. Can anyone recommend any listings web sites? I'm sure Celine Dion does a wonderful show, but not my cup of tea! Thanks in advance | ||
Moe (moe) 2-Debutant Username: moe Post Number: 24 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.140.73.33 |
Dayo, Try www.lvol.com They have shows, hotels, etc. That'll get you started I did have lunch at a Motown Cafe there | ||
David Meikle (david_meikle) 4-Laureate Username: david_meikle Post Number: 72 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 81.130.211.124 |
Hi Dayo I've been in Vegas twice and never went to any shows. They are very expensive and I was concerned regards validity of group members. You will find that you will visit most of the hotels on the Strip so watch for who is playing the lounges, although I never saw anyone to talk of. These are free shows however. Regardless of that, you will have a great time. It really is something to see. Free drinks($1 tip ensures the waitress will return)are available in all the slot machine areas. If you're looking for value for money try the Riviera Hotel in mid-Strip or if money's no problem MGM Grand which is at the busy end (I kept getting lost in there!). Buffet's are beautiful at most hotels. Well worth seeing are the Elvis Museum which opened a couple of years ago and the Liberace Museum. And of course the Hoover Dam (you can buy trip tickets near the Hard Rock cafe. I flew back home via Memphis and was lucky enough to see the Grand Canyon free of charge. Also check out the (amazing) sights at Caesar's, Bellagio and Treasure Island. You'll have a ball, and keep an eye out for the performers I may have been unlucky enough to have missed, especially Ray Pollard who I think lives there. David | ||
Dayo (dayo) 1-Arriviste Username: dayo Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.134.152.116 |
Thanks Moe I followed that link and now I'm excited. Gladys Knight is in town. Well, thats me fixed! | ||
David Meikle (david_meikle) 4-Laureate Username: david_meikle Post Number: 73 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 81.130.211.124 |
That is a great link. I see that Tower of Power, Taj Mahal, James Brown are, Lou Rawls are also on in May. Also worth checking will be House of Blues in Mandalay Hotel. It was just opening when I was last there. The Gospel Brunches are usually highly rated but you have to book fast, perhaps even before you arrive. Gladys Knight should be awesome BTW. Remember the pics. | ||
bluerhythmbass (bluerhythmbass) 1-Arriviste Username: bluerhythmbass Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 192.55.140.2 |
Dayo, Make sure you do the following: Visit the top of the Stratosphere at night.(cost about $8.00/person) Visit Fremont Street and see the Fremont Street Experience.(free) Visit the Dueling Piano Bar at the New York,New York hotel.(free but you will be drinking!) Ride the outdoor rollercoaster at NY,NY (I forget the cost) See the Dolphin exhibit at the Mirage (free) Do the virtual reality racing at the Luxor (I forget the cost) There is alot to do there for free - if I think of more I will post it! Regards, Russ | ||
Larry (larry) 2-Debutant Username: larry Post Number: 23 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 67.101.111.214 |
Dayo, Just stay away from the barren desert. Remember Joe Pesci's last scene in Scorsese's "Casino"? | ||
Dayo (dayo) 1-Arriviste Username: dayo Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.134.152.116 |
lol@larry Thanks for all the tips everyone. This forum is so valuable, and you guys make it so. | ||
lenny (lennytone) 2-Debutant Username: lennytone Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.241.87.19 |
Gladys Knight is a fixture there; she lives in nearby Henderson. I go to Vegas a couple of times a year, and have never been to a show. Yet. I never seem to time it right. Smokey Robinson plays there pretty often; hope I'll catch him someday. Lou Rawls is there May 1 & 2; Taj Mahal May 7; James Brown is there on the 21st; Tower of Power the 21st-23rd, and Prince the 31st. I agree about there being a lot of free fun in Vegas. I spend most of my money there eating, though. Great restaurants abound!! | ||
MargieYa (margieya) 1-Arriviste Username: margieya Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 67.101.162.172 |
Dayo, Too bad you're going to Vegas in May and not after June 16 - The Temps and Tops are at the Stardust from 6/16 to 6/19. And you are correct, ticket prices are expensive - even this show is $85 per. But, that's the West Coast influence. With the economy being very sluggish in the US, and interest rates at an all time low, Vegas is booming - with housing etc. But if there is one thing that really makes up for it, is the fact that rooms at the old hotels tend to be really reasonable (Circus Circus for instance - not the new resorts) and as always, each hotel has a buffet (we Americans love our food and it shows - all you can eat for $cheap) and complimentary drinks at the tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, etc.) Why, you may ask? When they got you inside, they want to keep you inside to gamble. The odds are mostly with the house. Margie | ||
MargieYa (margieya) 1-Arriviste Username: margieya Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 67.101.162.172 |
Dayo, It's me again. There used to be a local show here in Los Angeles, called The Travel Cafe. Well the show isn't on the air anymore, but the website still exists. Go here: http://www.travelcafe.tv/dest_ home.html Click on destinations, and pick Las Vegas at the bottom. It will give you a little history about Vegas, and some tips on prices, things to do and places to see. Check out the Reciepes link and once again click on Las Vegas and you'll see receipes from a couple of the places. One thing you should try is the Shrimp Cocktail at the Golden Nugget (at least I think it's the Golden Nugget). This is one of the oldest places and it is not on the Strip (Las Vegas Blvd) but in the downtown area - Fremont Street. They serve a Shrimp Cocktail that is served in soda fountain size glasses (or at least they used to) for I think it's under $5.00 US. Do they make money on it? No way, but it's just one of the things that they continue to do. Hope this helps you. Margie | ||
JSmith (jsmith) 1-Arriviste Username: jsmith Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 212.39.231.20 |
Dayo, many of the big casinos have converted their lounge bars to discos to cater for the 20-something crowd from Calif who travel over on a weekend. The lounges always provided great free entertainment (Sonny Charles & Checkmates, Sonny Turner of Platters fame, Lou Ragland and many other ol soul singers & groups). Some of the smaller casinos (who don't have big bucks to rebuild their lounges) still have live soul acts on, but most are just tribute shows (many of the acts do a great job on old Motown material though). The Stratosphere had an open stage blues nite in the recent past each Thursday & this may still be going. Only trouble is, usually about 30 singers turn up (mostly ol soul artists) and try to get a turn on lead vocals. It runs from about 10pm thru to 3am. Drop me a line (on jsoulsmith@aol.com) & I will put you in touch with Lou Ragland, who usually knows which venues to check out to catch a soul group / singer in a lounge. | ||
Dayo (dayo) 2-Debutant Username: dayo Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.136.178.202 |
Once again I'd like to thank everyone who has given their time and thoughts to this. Me and Bonny are very grateful :-) | ||
einnod23 (einnod23) 1-Arriviste Username: einnod23 Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 24.90.11.132 |
The last time I went (2001), there was a 60s group in the lounge of either Paris or Alladin that sounded like the Whispers |
