Sunday, November 10, 2013

TR snippet - Toast of the Town/Bad Grandpax

This variety show is on at Sam's town at 2 PM every Thursday.  Tickets are free when you swipe your B Connected card at a kiosk. Each week is a totally different show, except for the back up band.
 Before the show, they do a drawing for giveaway purses or CD's or other promotional gifts, so come early if you want to be in the drawing, or if you want a prime seat.  It fills up with seniors. 

The music in the show generally features the old chestnuts of past years, but since it is different every week, you can't be sure.

October 24
This was an amazing show, perhaps one of the best I have seen.
The host was Derrick Richards, a comic and singer who had a bit of the style of Chris Rock, but the looks of Sammy Davis Junior.
The tone of the show was more soul and less sentimentality.  I liked that.
The two main vocalists were called Champagne and Caviar.  They sang well loved songs and added a soul flavor.  They tried hard for audience participation and even once came down into the audience and shook hands and gave high fives. Their outfits were black with tops that had glitter.  Their stage choreography was energetic and fun.  One of the fellows was a huge man, more like a football player than a dancer.  Vocal interpretations included voice modulation.
Songs included:
You Were Always on My Mind (check Elvis note)
Bring It Home to Me
Sugar Pie Honey (one of the best)
Story of Love  Glory of Love  (Beaches)
Derrick sang  Candy Man and Lovely Day.  He did look like Sammy Davis
Also singing was Jessica Vanic, a 14 year old Freshman who was shy when speaking but had an incredible stage presence and a voice to match.  She sang a song about being in apartment 14G and hearing opera below her and skat music above her and she would sing those parts as well.  It was one of the most entertaining songs I have ever heard. 
Here is the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl7r4nBHgv4

She also did a fine version of Paper Moon.
The comic appearing is at the Riviera this week, and I guess I want to put off a visit there. I liked him, but I'm betting that his material would be repeated.  He jokes about being in Vegas and about general trends.  At one point he had some Jesus jokes and one great Christmas joke where his mother calls him and wants him to come home for Christmas because up North it snows and snow is essential for the true meaning of Christmas.  "Mom," he says, "Jesus was born in a desert.  He was surrounded by sun and sand and  Jews........I'm in Southern Florida."
 

The second show was on Halloween and not as smooth.  All the folks were in costumes. The host I've seen before, and he is talented but well past his prime, and so sure of himself I guess he does not rehearse.  He stumbled a bit through the show.  It is a relaxed venue, but should not be that relaxed. 
Still, Wild Bill and I had a good time.  The comic told some old jokes, but was funny. 

This trip I tried to play a bit on the day of the show  at the Full Pay Deuces I go so my average is not eroded by attending the Toast of the Town.
Also, the first Thursday I had earned with play two free tickets to the movies and Bill and I saw Bad Grandpa. 
Now, those who are easily offended need to skip this show and no one should bring a grandkid, but Bill and I loved it.  The unique aspect is it was filmed in front of real people like candid camera, so the actors do outrageous things in front of everyday people who don't have a clue what is going on.  Great and funny skits.

We had eaten a 2 for 1 buffet on a voucher from Webpass at the Eastside Cannery, so it was a fine day on Boulder, full of coupons and freebies.

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