FEATURES

As the anniversary nears, The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil shows its everlasting appeal

By Matt Kelemen

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are ever-pres-

ent in spirit at The Mirage, where Olivia Harrison recently made a pilgrimage to revisit the show that pays tribute to her late husband’s band. She was in Las Vegas to accept a Grammy for All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition when she attended an April 2 performance of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, re-experiencing “Something” as only Mrs. George Harrison can.

While there’s nothing you can do that can’t be done in Las Vegas, re-experiencing The Beatles LOVE should be high priority. Now nearing its 16th anniversary, having debuted June 30, 2006, a shot of LOVE is just the antidote for post-pandemic blues, or anything else that ails us.

That antidote begins musically when the Beatles’ career was coming to an end. After the audience is beckoned to “Come Together,” Starr’s instantly recognizable pounding from “Get Back” kicks LOVE into

overdrive. That final song from the final Beatles studio album paves the way for the dancing, soaring, rolling and strolling cast members to parade onstage. The Let It Be rooftop concert at Abbey Road Studios inspires the scenario, but the abstract narrative travels back to 1940s Liverpool, where “A Day in the Life” is drawn on to reflect the turbulence of the war-torn time the Fab Four were born into.

It’s also where Father McKenzie appears, writing words for a sermon that no one will hear. He’s one of many characters that come to life in the show, including sly Doctor Robert, expectant Lady Madonna, ostentatious Sgt. Pepper and stuffy Mr. Piggy. A whole gang of sea creatures float in the theater-in-the-round during “Octopus’s Garden” while a winged creature tries to fly in the dead of night during “Blackbird.”

There are some truly magical moments where technology and performance meet, most sensually during “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” An aerialist interprets “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” above a performer bound to the ground with wheels. Groupies and Liverpool Kids are fashionably attired as they flash mob onto the stage for impromptu dance parties, silk rope artists slide and slither beneath golden rays during “Here Comes the Sun,” and if there’s a Blue Meanie onstage during “Glass Onion,” it does not mean Pepperland is in danger. Daredevils get high with a little help from Beatles music, trampolines, bungee cords and skate ramps. One particularly poignant segment features The Mirage a trapeze duo performing to 702.792.7777 McCartney’s “Yesterday.”

While the song is not about Sir Paul’s love for trapeze swinging, he is still going strong. Starr recently branched into issuing NFTs featuring digitized versions of his paintings and drum tracks. Harrison is the latest to win a Grammy (for “Best Boxed or Special Limited-Edition Package”) and Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” was performed by 1,000 musicians last month in Turin, Italy, for the opening of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. The Beatles are as relevant as ever, and the best way to reconnect with them while in Vegas is with The Beatles LOVE.

British-born performer and producer Amy Saunders first left her mark on Las Vegas with the frenetic and fun Miss Behave Gameshow at Bally’s on the Strip. Now that she’s fallen in love with the city and its blossoming underground theater and comedy scene, Saunders is ready to bring something new, wild, and incredibly fun to downtown Las Vegas. Miss Behave’s Mavericks is a no-holdsbarred variety show stuffed with comedy, music, acrobatics and some acts that are tough to describe, all at the stylish and intimate new venue Cheapshot on Fremont Street.

517 E. Fremont St., Ste. 100 702.336.8486

Brock Radke By

Amy Saunders brings inventive variety show to downtown Vegas

I’ve been in and run variety shows for a long time in a variety of different festivals all over the world. When (Cheapshot owner) Ryan Doherty approached me, there were a lot of different things in the mix, but what made the most sense to me to put in a small showroom downtown, a place where people could come to see fast-moving, uncomplicated entertainment, was a variety show. And it’s a rolling variety show, which means there will be fantastic acts coming and going. For me, the exciting thing is connecting to the Vegas history of hospitality and that sort of live and loose entertainment you would have seen in the lounges, like Louis Prima and Keely Smith at the Copa.

I’ve been very lucky to perform in some of the original spiegeltents (in Europe) and some beautiful little sideshow tents in Australia, really cut my teeth in that specific, intimate environment. I’ve been around it a long time, and I’m obsessed with it, and knowing where there are beats meant to be filled and how to create that. I think with this show, what I love to do is put on good acts for good acts’ sake, and … getting to work with entertainers in different disciplines from around the world. And it needs to be authentic and accessible. It’s a very different show. I enjoy hosting because it’s fun to share with the audience a bunch of brilliant acts. Gameshow was a lot of fun for me because I get to talk more and really control it from beginning to end, but here … the show is a sum of its parts. What I love about a variety show is it’s all about dynamics and rhythm, and I’m sort of the glue that smushes it all together, and how I choose to do that is dictated by where the crowd is and how they are responding to the acts that night.

I used to run a tent at the Glastonbury Festival that held about 300, and that’s where I learned that if another performer walks in and wants to play your stage, you’re doing it right. To be able to bring headliners from the Strip to come and play with us just because they can, that’s a lovely surprise for the audience and a really good time for the performer.

I’m really blown away and flattered by the response to the show. It’s been amazing. Ultimately the goal of Mavericks is for people to come to Fremont Street to see it, to love it, and for them to come back and have it be different every time because there will be changes, new acts, and old acts. It’s a beautiful start.

By Matt Kelemen

Chris Isaak and Lyle Lovett team up for dream concert

Chris Isaak

What a wicked game to play, to book a summertime tour featuring Chris Isaak and Lyle Lovett this way. Lovett and His Large Band open the Las Vegas concert at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, but obviously they can’t both headline. Their tour itself is a double-bill, with the two music mavericks alternating top billing and parting ways occasionally to play single-billed dates along the way. For longtime fans of both acts, this is must-see dream concert—and you kinda have to wonder why it took this long to happen.

If you liked Isaak, chances are you were partial to Lovett while they were both in the early stages of their careers. Isaak had Elvis Presley-like photogenic good looks, while Lovett’s distinct profile made him impossible to forget. Isaak appealed to listeners who appreciated rockabilly and surf music. Lovett’s idiosyncratic music style was—and is—a country music

soup stock flavored with Western swing, big band, gospel, blues and folk.

Together they are the surf-and-turf option of this summer’s live music menu. Isaak, who last played Vegas in 2019, expressed his desire to get out and perform via his 2021 single “Pandemic Blues: I Can’t Take It!” He indulged his love of seasonal music by playing holiday concerts leading into last Christmas, but he’s back to playing marathon shows that on any date can include Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison covers mixed into his extensive back catalog of classics like “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing.”

While there’s little news of Isaak’s recording plans at the moment, his discography finds ways to remain top of mind. (Late guitarist James Calvin Wilsey, most renowned for creating the haunting riffs in “Wicked Game,” is the subject of a forthcoming biography four years after his 2018 passing.) Lovett, meanwhile, is promoting album 12th of June. He performs the gently strummed title track deep in a set in which he leads his band through chestnuts such an “Bears,” “Here I Am,” “Cowboy Man” and “Church.”

Lovett has a way with covers, always ready to perform a Townes Van Zandt or Burt Bacharach tune if he’s feeling it. Aside from being an iconoclast in

his choice of material, Lovett is an inimitable vocal stylist with a knack for grace notes and a delivery as smooth as the sound of a pedal steel guitar. It’s impossible not to be stirred while hearing him perform live. With Isaak, it’s more about being taken along for a ride in a classic car to a secret surf spot where the waves break perfectly, and it’s just cool enough after sunset to light a romantic fire. Isaak’s croon is ideally complemented by 8 p.m. June 18, starting at $35 plus tax and the trebly, twangy sound of a Stratofee. Axs.com caster plugged into a dreamy Fender Deluxe amplifier. Wilsey’s presence is palpable whenever the songs from Isaak’s first few albums are played, but Isaak himself prefers a one-off, hollow-bodied Gibson guitar that goes well with his combed coif and cool couture. There will be an abundance of musical authenticity to absorb in one evening after Isaak and Lovett load into the theater. It’s awesome to see them both in one place, but almost overwhelming. Wicked in a good way.

Lyle Lovett

By Nina King

Fill your calendar at The Strip and Russell Road

THERE ARE A MILLION THINGS

TO DO IN VEGAS … well, at least 999,999. It can be overwhelming, trying to narrow all your options down. That’s where we come in. In Las Vegas Magazine’s ongoing Day Planner series, we’ll take you to a different location in Las Vegas, and help you plan out your day; this week, let’s look at the south Strip area at the corner of Russell Road and Las Vegas Boulevard South. A quick tip: Wear comfy shoes between destinations, as it may be farther than you anticipate, slather on that sunscreen, stay hydrated, and build in some walking time. 9 a.m.: Yes, it’s early, but you have a lot to do today. Most coffee kiosks open at 7 or 8 a.m., and if you are staying in

Light

Shark Reef Aquarium the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas or Mandalay Bay, Press makes a fine place to enjoy a cup of joe. If you are hungry, grab a pastry, too. It’s really too early for a big meal. 10 a.m.: The first place to hustle to is Shark Reef Aquarium. This super-cool experience at Mandalay Bay leads you through the ruins of a temple and a shipwreck, all populated by exotic creatures. You’ll find Komodo dragons, sea turtles, piranhas, jellyfish and an octopus, in addition to the eponymous sharks. Your ticket is good for a onehour entry time slot, while anytime tickets are more. Noon: Take a walk down the Boulevard to Bali Hai Tiki Bar & Grille, where you can get a range of American food like wings and burgers in the casual environment with tiki décor, plus surprisingly light, delicious tiki drinks. For a more trendy lunch, wait till you get a look at the menu at Sayulitas across Las Vegas Boulevard. The eatery has plenty of super-hearty, inventive Mexican dishes, plus a bacon-wrapped carne asada burrito that’s enormous. Grab a Mexican soda to wash it down with. 1-4 p.m.: Next up, a round of golf at Bali Hai, or some retro goodness at the Pinball Hall of Fame on the east side of the Strip, a casual destination where you can wander through an enormous number of functional machines through the ages. Throw in some quarters for some inexpensive entertainment. 5-6:30 p.m.: Grab a slice at Slice of Vegas in The Shoppes at Mandalay Place if you are headed to Luxor for America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live. 7 p.m.: If you are a fan of the TV show, America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live at Luxor allows you to see some of the best entertainers from the series, like magician Dustin Tavella. You’ll leave this show feeling amazed. 9 p.m.: On the way back, check out speakeasy-style bar 1923 Prohibition Bar and enjoy a great cocktail. ... or 6-10 p.m.: Dinner at Libertine Social (the balloon bread is exceptional), then a little gambling— we’re rooting for you to take a jackpot home. Then get dressed to party. 11 p.m.: Make sure you have a reservation or tickets for Light, or you just may not get in. The nightclub features an array of DJs and performers.

Next door, S Bar features an art deco design, an intimate bar and tasty food and drink from 5 p.m.-2 a.m.

Bali Hai Tiki Bar & Grille

By Las Vegas

Magazine Staff

Photography by

Christopher DeVargas

Explore the many experiences available during your stay here

Sure, the Las Vegas Strip has completely reopened, and so you can gamble to your heart’s (and wallet’s) content, you can go on a shopping spree, you can eat at some of the world’s finest restaurants and see some of the greatest entertainers on the planet—often all in the same day! These experiences are quintessential Vegas musts and definitely contribute to a joyful and fulfilling visit. But what if that’s not enough? You may not know it, but away from the Strip, Vegas is a mini-paradise for the everyday adventurer, whether you’re venturing out during those brutal, triple-digit temperatures or during the cooler months. There are mountains to climb, trails to explore, a man-made lake to admire and nature to observe. Of course, we fully expect that you’ll be taking advantage of all the Strip has to offer. That’s why you’re here! But if you really want to stretch your legs and see a side of the Southwest you’ve never seen before, take a chance and do something new—call that Über or Lyft, head to REI for some supplies, and get off the grid. You may never want to leave!

Start off your morning by exploring one of the many hiking trails in Las Vegas. Near Lake Mead, right outside of Boulder City, is the Historic Railroad Trail (nps.gov), an easy 7.5-mile trek (round trip) that follows the old railway that transported machinery and supplies to Hoover Dam during its construction. Along the path, you’ll pass through five massive tunnels, which helps measure the scope of the dam’s construction and shows how the project was a major feat of engineering. Another great option for easy hiking trails is Lone Mountain Park. There’s a flat-ground desert trail that loops around the tiny mountain and offers great views of the city. But if you’d like to make that view even better, climb to the mountain’s peak.

If you decide to check out either of those hiking areas, remember that the weather may reach warmer digits, so bring a lot of water and don’t forget your sunscreen. If you’d rather not deal with any heat, however, Mount Charleston is a much cooler refuge, with temperatures nearly 20 degrees lower than in the valley. It’s home to the popular Mary Jane Falls and Cathedral Rock trails, to name a few, which are a little tougher and rockier than the previously mentioned trails, but the crisp mountain air and stunning scenery—as well as seeing a side of Las Vegas that you probably didn’t know existed— will make it all worth it.

If hiking doesn’t appeal to you, but you still want to observe and enjoy nature, that’s not a problem. The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (cityofhenderson.com) is a tranquil place to view resident birds like roadrunners and verdin, as well as nesting American avocets and black-necked stilts. Go to Floyd Lamb State Park and you might wonder if you’re still in Las Vegas. The small oasis has lush vegetation, a quaint ranch and a few fishing ponds filled with ducks and geese— you’ll even come across a few peacocks. But if you want to see some nature without leaving your car, take a drive along the 13-mile scenic loop at Red Rock Canyon

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve Grand Canyon

(redrockcanyonlv.org), where you’ll be able to view unique red rock formations and wideopen desert landscapes. If you feel compelled to leave the cool air-conditioning of your car, however, there are several observation points and overlooks where you can walk around and further explore the canyon.

In speaking of canyons, while it’s not Vegas, the Grand Canyon is too close to not be part of a Southern Nevada experience. If you don’t know where to start, try Grand Canyon West (grandcanyonwest.com). They offer a one-stop shop of ways to view the Grand Canyon and its surrounding areas, such as walking along the glass-paneled Skywalk or taking a helicopter tour. There’s also a convenient shuttle service that circulates through Guano Point, Eagle Point and Hualapai Ranch, allowing you to explore the West Rim at your own pace.

What’s great about the desert is daytime temperatures can still warm the body so visitors have the opportunity to enjoy some of Vegas’ watery attractions, even in fall weather. Take a short drive off the Strip to Lake Las Vegas for the popular Lake Las Ve-

Lone Mountain Red Rock Canyon

Lake Las Vegas

Historic Railroad Trail Lake Mead

gas Water Sports (lakelasvegaswatersports. com). It’s the total package for fun on the water, with electric boats, kayaks and paddle boards available for rent (reservations highly recommended). Or head a little farther down the road and you’ll find Lake Mead (nps.gov). It’s one of the nation’s largest man-made lakes, so there’s a lot to explore. Entry to the lake allows you to access relaxing beach areas, including Boulder Beach, and its several marinas, like Lake Mead Marina and Lake Mead Boat Harbor, where you can rent pontoon boats, sports boats and WaveRunners through Boating Lake Mead (boatinglakemead.com). Maybe all that water will remind you of something like the Bellagio Fountains, and you’ll want to head right back to what you came for: that fabulous Las Vegas Strip.