Sunday, November 23, 2014

TR SNIPPET - MUSIC IN VEGAS


The older I get, the more I move back in time for the music I favor. Generally, I move back to well before rock and roll. However, the Nite Kings playing the Orleans from 4-8 PM ( they also play Sam's Town on Sunday nights) sang all the old 50's and 60's early rock and roll and Motown. I enjoyed them completely.

The music that annoys me most is the newer nasal sounds with indecipherable lyrics. If that dominates the piped in music when I'm playing or swimming, I'm annoyed.

Lately at restaurants at home I've been annoyed at the latest sounds piped in there. It is not dinner music at TGIF.



The Orleans does fairly well. Early morning when the old folks are out they pipe in older music. Much of it is rock, but it is old rock, songs I know and enjoyed in years gone by.

I do still think that the selections should be more eclectic. There is hardly a country song included, yet plenty of gamblers like that music. There is nothing in Spanish, yet the buffet has a “Mexican” section and offers Cholula on every table. There is nothing much from the Ratpack era, yet impersonators of those guys are Vegas favorites in shows all over Vegas. A Sinatra impersonator is the feature of the El Cortez Parlour bar.



I should have spent more time listening to this fellow. I watched him

http://elcortezhotelcasino.com/entertainment/sinatra-sensation/ and listened for a time. He was very good. He did not look like Sinatra, but he did a good voice and style imitation.


In the hotel rooms, on my computer I listen to John Pizzarelli


whenever I was able to download it onto my old and very slow computer. Were I in charge of casino music, it would be more like this radio show; I'd at least toss in a few Jazz vocalists.



The best overall music was at The Plaza. There a three piece jazz group performed every night. I could hear them while I played inexpensive poker tournaments across the casino. When they took a break, old songs I knew and liked were piped in. That ambiance appeals to me, and it may entice me to leave the Four Queens for The Plaza as my main gambling casino.

The pool is another place where music can be a delight or an annoyance.



In the Monte Carlo pool area the music was very modern, but not blasting, except for one song that kept repeating, “They call my name” Some strange hip hop number.

The music in the hallway while walking to the Aria was modern ,but clearly European and not bad. If there was music in the Aria buffet, I missed it. But then I was so very taken with the food choices.

LINK to Aria buffet.



The Planet Hollywood pool music was very modern, pretty much percussion based. It reminded me of old disco music. The sound system was very good, so I found the music more tolerable than in places where it is just some radio show broadcast perhaps with commercials.



The Gold Coast music was very lightly presented. I think it was radio as well, but it was easy to ignore.



My second day at Monte Carlo I had a fine music experience.

I was on my way to see if the half priced ticket booth had a deal on Jimmy Buffet tickets, when right outside the Monte Carlo was a Jimmy Buffet cloned band, and they were very good.



So I saved myself the price of a ticket and managed to get back earlier for some poker by just sitting there on the steps and listening to a couple sets.

I don't have the bands name, but Rick, the lead, was very personable and relaxed in a Key West sort of way although he lives in California where he is also a boat captain.

Included were these lyrics:



It's those changes in latitudes,
Changes in attitudes nothing remains quite the same.
With all of our running and all of our cunning,
If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.



The was a song about going to Paris.

There was some Elvis too and Buddy Holly's “Oh, Boy.”

The drummer did a good voice imitation of John Fogarty when they sang Credence's, “Pale Moon Rising”



Much of the music had that island escapism theme so popular in island music which promises happiness if we simplify and move away from the stresses that are bothersome.

I can feel that.


I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today. Life is good today.

There was a great song “Live, Laugh Love.”



During the first set two young people danced an incredible swing. She was petite and he was wiry but in great shape. He wrapped he up and unrolled her in multiple turns. One time there were so many swirling turns that it drew applause from the crowd.

It was all graceful and fun to watch, especially when he picked this tiny girl up and turned her head over heals, her long hair flowing behind.


I don't much like improvements, but the redo of the front of Monte Carlo was very nice and allowed eating and drinking outside. Part of me missed the old European look of the place. The columns are still there, but it is not the same. But in general I saw this a great improvement.

This little theater formed by a small fountain and circular stone steps that become seats was brilliant. What a treat to hear all this fine music while watching the strip change from daylight to nighttime and seeing the parade of people whooping at a song or two.

The Key West flavored music was perfect. It felt like a little Key West band had been plopped down in the center of the Vegas strip.

The air was delightful. What a treat!

And just about the time the stone seats were beginning to wear on me, I headed back into the poker room.



And I loved again the Latin sounds of Claudine Castro in Marilyn's Lounge at the Eastside Cannery every Monday from 10 PM until after midnight. Such great music and such a great community of people dancing.


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