There is no shortage of amazing shows on the Las Vegas Strip. This remains the entertainment capital of the world and its only getting cooler. However, finding the balance between vintage Vegas and contemporary entertainment is almost impossible as evidenced by the countless shows that have come and gone from the Strip in recent years. Bad impersonators. Lame lounge acts. What would Dean Martin think?! Finally, there is one that gets it right in every way. Having found the perfect home in the restored Sahara Las Vegas, Reckless In Vegas takes us on a musical trip through the golden years of Vegas entertainment with the amps turned to eleven.
Taking classic songs from artists like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra and then filtering them through a contemporary rock aesthetic isn’t what makes this show fantastic. Rather, it’s the attitude with which this is done. The band delivers the music with such genuine passion that you sense the reverence they have for iconic songs like “Mr. Bojangles” and, yes, even Wayne Newton’s “Danke Schoen”. This isn’t a punked-up run through of cover songs for them. These musicians and dancers are on a mission to prove that classic Vegas entertainment – great music, an entertaining production, and a sense of humor never goes out of style.
Led by guitarist Michael Shapiro, the band keeps it simple and tight. The lean production is a welcome change to the overly tracked music happening at live shows across the city each night. Shapiro does the bulk of the singing while the consummate professional, Chris Nichols, holds down the low-end with a strong focus on bass, booze, and broads. The natural interplay between the two makes for some of the most authentic moments of the evening. Shapiro absolutely shines on guitar with some incredible solos which never overstay their welcome (take note Yngwie Malsteen) but there are a few moments like Dick Dale’s “Misirlou” where you want the songs to keep on going.
Vocalist Paige Strafella roaring through Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Were Made For Walking” as the band swirls in some Led Zeppelin is one of the many highlights each night. For the serious music fans, you might catch a few other surprises hidden in the arrangements like Strafella sliding a few lines of Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded” into the bridge of “Fever”. It’s stuff like that which makes seeing the show more than once an absolute must.
It wouldn’t be vintage Vegas without showgirls. The show’s dancers provide a welcome bolt of energy to the music and their style shifts with the mood. Led by Shapiro’s wife (he’ll tell you that story), JoLae Brandt-Shapiro, the dancers add just the right amount of sassiness to the evening without it distracting from the music. From a bass player with his own drink cart to a drummer never missing a punchline, the laughs, like the dancers, keep the vibe just right but the real star of the show is Las Vegas itself.
This is the type of show Las Vegas has been missing and it’s in the right place. The restored Sahara Las Vegas has a boutique vibe that re-captures some of the lost spirit of old Las Vegas with free parking, excellent cocktail areas, and I even saw a camel. With so much Vegas music history tied to the Sahara, including four fab guests from Liverpool in 1964, Reckless In Vegas pays tribute to the rich history without falling into the traditional trappings of a “tribute show”. When you’re rocking with Reckless In Vegas, the city feels cooler than ever before and that’s something we should all toast.
