This One’s for the Fans

Westgate headliner is poised to break Elvis Presley’s Las Vegas record

I was never able to see Elvis Presley when he performed at the International, and so I can’t begin to imagine the energy level from the crowd at just one of his shows. But I have seen Barry Manilow, who performs in the same space as the King did those many decades ago. And I’m here to tell ya: I’ve seen a lot of concerts in a lot of venues, and nothing in my experience matches the electricity generated by a Manilow crowd.

I’d go so far as to say it’s what keeps Manilow going. The man is 79 years old! He has nothing left to prove; he’s earned the right to retire and rest on his many laurels. But yeah, if I was in his shoes and got the reaction he does every time he steps onto a stage, I’d probably be performing into my golden years, too!

Ask any Manilow fan who’s been to countless Manilow performances, and they’ll all say the same thing: Barry is the ultimate showman, a consummate entertainer who leaves everything on the field every single time. He may be pushing 80, but this dude’s stamina is legendary. And his fans are with him every step of the way, waiting for hours sometimes after a show to pose with him for photographs and autographs. We’ve all seen those concerts where entertainers point into the audience as if they spotted someone they know; at a Manilow concert, it’s a pretty good bet Manilow actually does!

And good news: Manilow’s schedule for this year guarantees he will be breaking Elvis’ Vegas concert record by September! Manilow, in a statement, said, “I am honored and humbled to be performing on the same stage that the King once graced. Setting a new record for concerts at the Westgate Las Vegas International Theater is a true privilege.”

That means at least a few more months of favorites such as “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Copacabana” … more than I can realistically list in one writeup. Time to update the Las Vegas history books. –Ken Miller

Westgate Las Vegas, March 23-31, ticketmaster.com