Michael Bolton brings decades of hits to Las Vegas

Few recording artists have a career that can compare to the timeless qualities and many hit songs that Michael Bolton has in his repertoire. The 69-year-old singer and songwriter, who originally broke into the industry in the 1980s as a hard rocker and morphed into an adult contemporary phenomenon, has never really slowed down—partially because his fans are constantly craving that familiar voice in live performance and in new recordings. Bolton hasn’t played Vegas for a while, but he’s correcting that this week with a March 9 date at the Pearl at Palms, and he can’t wait to connect to fans here once again.

You recently returned to South Korea to perform for the first time in almost a decade. What was that experience like?

Well, the flight is the most brutal part of it, but the fans were great, lively and

By Brock Radke

loud. We played two arenas with about 11,000 people in each one, and that really gives you a bunch of bounce, until your body realizes you’re done. South Korea is one of the markets around the world that has always been very supportive of me. Every record has been top 10 in sales, and I’ve been doing live concerts in arenas there for many years, and I’m very mindful of that and try to make sure they understand I’m thinking of them. It’s a bit surreal and deeply appreciated, to have such support from fans right in front of you.

It’s certainly a different experience from performing at the intimate Pearl, but hopefully you’re just as excited about this concert.

I definitely enjoy Las Vegas, for all kinds of reasons—the amount of concerts that come through, the stateof-the-art venues where everything is up to date, and also (fans) have access to different genres of artists. After all these years, it really comes down to the songs and keeping in touch with what fans want. They consistently want the greatest hits. They do want to hear what you’re working on, but there’s a different tone when you start to play something like “When a Man Loves a Woman.” The audience responds, and you can feel it.

Are you working on new music now?

I am. I’m genuinely excited about the new album. We’ve been spending a little over two years on the next album of original material, and even though they sincerely respond to new music and may love it, it’s still just another level of enjoyment when it’s a song that’s in their core, music they’ve been listening to for years that they’ve been making their lives to, your music as the backdrop. You start one of those songs and it reaches them in a specific place and translates to that love experience between artist and audience, and it’s a relationship that keeps us coming back.

Have you ever been invited to Las Vegas for some sort of residency run, and would you consider that?

That has been discussed and I would entertain the right concept. It’s something that keeps coming up in conversations. I remember when Celine

(Dion’s) building (the Colosseum) was done, I went to the show and saw her backstage—and Celine was my opening act in 1991, when the world hadn’t really seen her or heard her, “Power of Love” was just taking off. It was great to watch her career lift off when I had already spent 20 years building mine.

You are known for performing so many huge hits, but you’ve written many songs for other artists as well. Which tracks are you most proud of?

“I Said I Loved You…But I Lied,” which I wrote with Mutt Lange. He’s one of my favorite producers to watch because of what he brought to the artists. That was an unexpected combination of chords and sounds, and that’s part of Mutt’s magic he brings.

I think there are a bunch of songs that for different reasons are the highlights of my life and career, and when I’m writing or producing and it’s something I feel strongly about, it can be just as emotional and just as powerful as reaching into a standard like “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

Light Balance

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Aidan Bryant

The only thing that’s missing are judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel (although they introduce the show in video segments) and host Terry Crews—here your hosts are a rotating lineup of comedians who competed on AGT through the years, including Preacher Lawson, Mike E. Winfield and Vicki Barbolak. Current host Jordan Conley capably fills in until May 21.

Just like watching any episode of AGT, you never really know who you’re going to see on any given night. But hopefully you catch the lineup I did at a recent performance; it really had everything you’re looking for in a Las Vegas variety show:

• Laughs, provided in ample doses by The Human Fountains, an act so polarizing that Simon Cowell actually gave them a red “X” during All-Stars

But if you’re a fan of gross-out comedy, you’ll be laughing until it hurts, especially when a volunteer is brought onstage to join in the antics. The hysterics keep coming when ventriloquist Celia Munoz begins performing without the use of a dummy. You might even gasp a bit as this world-class talent carries on a two- way phone conversation and sings while imbibing and eating.

• Excitement, supplied by aerialist Aidan Bryant (he won his round in AllStars and nearly won in season 16), who spins high above the stage without a net, and married couple Alfredo and Anna Silva, better known as Deadly Games, who have honed the danger act to a knife- sharp edge. They’re also both extremely easy on the eyes, which you might be shutting quite a bit during their act.

• Drama from The Silhouettes, a troupe that performs behind a white backdrop, contorting their bodies to make shapes in telling a touching story, and magician Mervant Vera, who spontaneously creates unique, moving rap songs in every show with the help of the audience (who have each been given a separate word in an envelope before the beginning of the show).

• Adrenaline-pumping music, courtesy of Pack Drumline, a group of Chicago youths who have a world-class sound (and some very cool moves to match).

• Jaw-dropping visuals, thanks to Light Balance, dancers who cover their bodies with lights and bust moves in complete darkness, resulting in the creation of a whole other world where the laws of physics do not apply.

• All the feels, which is understating the case considerably when Kodi Lee takes to the piano and delivers one of the best singing voices you’ll ever hear. There’s also been audience participation added to Lee’s segment: You get to pick the second song he’ll perform!