The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas plays to lots of 60's acts and singing groups, and for those of us in that age genre it is a sweet trip back.
There was the first pairing ever of old rockers Lou Christie and Frankie Avalon. This goes to the late fifties when Frankie and Annette were on the beach. Frankie was the headliner although I could have gone the other way. The boys opened together then Christie did 30 minutes, Avalon 35, and a 15-minute close for 90 total in a great $35 value.
At 58, Lou Christie can still hit those high falsetto notes and return to the 60's where he first started recording in 1962 in Pittsburgh. It is always a fond, or maybe not so fond, memory of March 31 1966 when a young Army soldier from Nebraska got off the plane at Tan San Not Air Force Base in Viet Nam and turned his radio on to the Armed Forces Radio Network. The first voice I heard was Lou Christie singing Lightning. He sang it along with his other top hits, The Gypsy, Two Faces Have I and Love is a Many Splendor Thing.
A nice four horn, two guitar, drummer and keyboard group backed both singers and they were just perfect, so as to not get in the way of the lyrics. Maybe this is a tribute to musical arrangers. Nice sound, nice lighting, great seating and great hosts at this wonderful little theatre. The Orleans is planning major expansion for parking and a sports arena, so let's hope that there are no changes to this theatre.
Frankie Avalon at 62 is remembered for being close to Annette Funicello and all her virtues. I never really figured either for much talent, but I was wrong about him. While Frankie had the one big hit Venus in 1959, he can still sing and has lots of other semi-hits relevant to the teen craze right before the Beatles. He has a great stage presence, a genuine warmth, all his own hair, and a first class act. I liked the way the show was put together and Avalon came down into the audience to say hello, which was nice; everyone enjoyed it. Avalon said he had not been into the recording studio in years, but recently a new song about the good old days was brought to him. Consequently, he recorded and sang it. It was wonderful. For the crowd he was playing to (Rickey & Lucy, mom & dad, and black & white) it went over pretty good. Frankie Valli said all the great music has already been written and he is pretty much right, although this one left some hope.
My personal opinion of each show is that I hope to enjoy it, and I sure did. We really age when Frankie tells of his 8 kids (one wife), 6 grandchildren, and history in Grease ll. Thank you for your talent Lou Christie and Frankie Avalon, and thank you Orleans for the show opportunity. 100 A+, I had a great time. Sammy Davis Jr. is still the show they are all judged by. What could be better, Bobby Vinton is next!
Saturday at the Vienna Chamber Orchestra: part of the classic Vanda Series at UNLV.
Boy have I come a long way! The UNLV-San Diego State Mountain West basketball championship game was right across the street and I could not have cared less.
You start with 22 Austrian string players. Then take Strauss, Mozart, and Brahms; what a lovely lineup. The premise itself will carry you through. It still amazes me though: on Sunday we took 137,000 into the speedway and started right on time, but Saturday at the concert there was 1,600 and we were 10 minutes late. How does that work?
I have no technical background to judge string players, but I do know that I like the music and as an arts judge if something is off I will notice it. No problems here.
The Vienna Chamber Orchestra, now in its 56th year, is a world-class premier ensemble. Conductor pianist Philippe Entremont is a man of many talents spread lightly throughout the world. His playing of Mozart's piano concerto no. 12 in A major was a perfect blend of strings and piano. His conducting was also perfect: not overpowering and in control; a perfect blend of the elements. As the man in-charge he must get credit for the lovely sounds. For an encore we were treated to a lovely pizzicato (an unnamed piece of soft sounds). It was well played and very well received. 90 an A, but they lose ten points for being late. I will not tolerate it!
This Vanda season has two 2 shows to go with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Moscow Grigorovich Ballet. See you at the arts shows.
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