When In Vegas

[Roburt]

Back in the day (1970's thru to around 2000) you could place a bet on getting to see a decent soul artist / group when visiting Vegas.

All the Casino lounges would feature such acts; Sonny Turner of the Platters, Lou Ragland's Ink Spots, the Checkmates Ltd, Bobby Wade's Imperials and many more. In the main rooms at the same places, you could watch Gladys Knight & the Pips, the 4 Tops, the Temptations, the O'Jays, the Isley Brothers, etc.

More recently it hasn't been as easy to catch a top soul act in the city. More & more lounges were converted to discos, the name casinos have gone over to Circus Solei type shows and many of the old 'lesser' casinos have now been pulled down.

So the opportunities to perform on a regular basis in the city have diminished for such acts.

You can still see tribute acts & 'Legends' type shows, in fact Daryl Grant (about to perform for the UK NS crowd) was , for many years, a member of a Motown tribute act that played the small casino next to New York, New York.

So its harder these days to catch a decent soul act while there.

There is a quite successful (& longish running) Motown tribute show though ................

Hitzville! Motown Revue

V Theater, Planet Hollywood, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas,

......... the blurb for the show ....

Do you long for the days of quartets in pressed suits and divas with bouffant hairdos and impeccable voices? Though the glory days of Motown have come and gone you can relive the classic songs of groups like The Temptations, The Supremes and The Four Seasons as well as the original divas Tina Turner and Gladys Knight right in Las Vegas. Over at the V Theater, Motown Review "Hitzville - The Show,” recreates the incredible musical tradition born in the cities of Michigan. Motown Records was founded in Detroit by legend Berry Gordy Jr. back in the late 1950’s. Though Motown was the name of the label, many of the groups that were signed to the label produced the soulful sounds and classic songs heard in Hitzville’s set list.

Leading the talented cast is Detroit native Jin Jin Reeves. This starlet has the star power needed to headline an incredible show fans of Motown’s music will be talking about long after it’s over. Along with being a singer, she’s also a talented dancer and songwriter; making Jin Jin the total package and the perfect woman to lead this amazing show. “Hitzville — The Show” features a male quarter that will cover the smooth sounds of The Temptations and a female trio that will harmonize together like The Supremes. All acts are accompanied by a live band composed of talented musicians that have worked with Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and even Diana Ross. You won’t be disappointed by this incredible performance which runs Monday through Saturday at 6pm. You’ll be able to remember the days of Motown and still have plenty of time to enjoy everything Vegas has to offer!

Of course, Motown acts to Vegas-ites include the likes of Tina Turner, Reffa & the O'Jays but if you overlook that fact, it could well be worth catching the show which is staged at the Planet Hollywood Casino (on the Strip next door to the Paris).

Edited December 25, 2012 by Roburt

[Roburt]

Videos of the show & acts in it ..........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfvDBv06res

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA2Mj_Zj9jY

https://www.fox5vegas.com/video?clipId=6700879&autostart=true

[Roburt]

More info on Planet Hollywood & the show .........

https://www.lasvegas.com/listing/planet-hollywood/2116/

https://www.hitzvilletheshow.com/index.html

If you used to visit Vegas and don't recall a casino called Planet Hollywood, it was called the Aladdin till a while back (I have fond memories of the place as it was where John & Carol Phillips had their post-wedding dinner).

[Roburt]

A review of the show ................

A Motown blast from the past By Jorge Labrador

"Hitzville The Show" is a nostalgia-filled trip through the Motown hits of yesteryear. Vocalist Jin Jin Reeves, along with backup singers and the five-piece Hitzville band, fills Planet Hollywood's V Theater with an authentic Motown sound and experience that will have you clapping your hands and dancing in the aisles.

"Hitzville" is a journey through the times and places that made Motown famous, opening up with The Pips' classic "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," and going through different acts, going from one influential Motown band to the next.

Expect famous songs like "My Guy," "Natural Woman" and "What's Love Got to Do With It," along with a few rarer tracks that will make Motown fans very happy.

Throughout the show, Reeves evokes the sound and character of Motown's most famous divas, going from Diana Ross to Gladys Knight to Tina Turner (and many others) without missing a beat. This comes as no surprise, as Reeves has shared the stage with many of the performers she covers in "Hitzville." Such energy in a tribute show is rare, but really makes "Hitzville" stand out among the rest.

Reeves' backup singers in some of the songs will catch your eye when they come out dressed in red suits when they cover The Temptations, and will continue dazzle each time they come out in colorful attire and appropriate stylings for each new act.

The group incorporates appropriate choreography into their acts, mimicking the original groups in both sound and showmanship. From their matching shoes to their side stepping and sliding across the stage, there are times when you'll truly believe you're in an authentic Motown show in the 1960's. This is further enhanced with Reeves' likeness to the divas she's covering. You're in for a treat when she gets to the Tina Turner segment of the show.

Make no mistake: you will find yourself dancing along and having a great time at "Hitzville."

.............. going from one influential Motown band to the next. Expect famous songs like "My Guy," "Natural Woman" and "What's Love Got to Do With It," along with a few rarer tracks that will make Motown fans very happy.

Got to admit that "Natural Woman" + "What's Love Got to Do With It" are just about two of my all time fave Motown songs.

[Roburt]

Of course, in the past you could just go across the strip to the New York, New York & visit the Motown Cafe ....

[Roburt]

The Motown Cafes (all of them) are long gone now of course.

The Vegas one was great (we were filmed there once for a US TV news report) & well worth a visit.

We got shown around the VIP areas (backstage, where any visiting stars are smoozed ...

.... plus we got invited up on stage to sing with the fakeroony Tempts & Supremes.

When it was closed down, loads of great stuff was just dumped (all the menus -- pretend LPs, all the copies of vintage Motown show posters, etc.)

I always wondered what happened to all the fake silver discs built into the stairs in the place ......

[kevinsoulman]

A review of the show ................

A Motown blast from the past By Jorge Labrador

"Hitzville The Show" is a nostalgia-filled trip through the Motown hits of yesteryear. Vocalist Jin Jin Reeves, along with backup singers and the five-piece Hitzville band, fills Planet Hollywood's V Theater with an authentic Motown sound and experience that will have you clapping your hands and dancing in the aisles.

"Hitzville" is a journey through the times and places that made Motown famous, opening up with The Pips' classic "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," and going through different acts, going from one influential Motown band to the next.

Expect famous songs like "My Guy," "Natural Woman" and "What's Love Got to Do With It," along with a few rarer tracks that will make Motown fans very happy.

Throughout the show, Reeves evokes the sound and character of Motown's most famous divas, going from Diana Ross to Gladys Knight to Tina Turner (and many others) without missing a beat. This comes as no surprise, as Reeves has shared the stage with many of the performers she covers in "Hitzville." Such energy in a tribute show is rare, but really makes "Hitzville" stand out among the rest.

Reeves' backup singers in some of the songs will catch your eye when they come out dressed in red suits when they cover The Temptations, and will continue dazzle each time they come out in colorful attire and appropriate stylings for each new act.

The group incorporates appropriate choreography into their acts, mimicking the original groups in both sound and showmanship. From their matching shoes to their side stepping and sliding across the stage, there are times when you'll truly believe you're in an authentic Motown show in the 1960's. This is further enhanced with Reeves' likeness to the divas she's covering. You're in for a treat when she gets to the Tina Turner segment of the show.

Make no mistake: you will find yourself dancing along and having a great time at "Hitzville."

.............. going from one influential Motown band to the next. Expect famous songs like "My Guy," "Natural Woman" and "What's Love Got to Do With It," along with a few rarer tracks that will make Motown fans very happy.

Got to admit that "Natural Woman" + "What's Love Got to Do With It" are just about two of my all time fave Motown songs.

TINA TURNER AND ARETHA MOTOWN THINGS ARE GETTING A LITTLE BLURRED ROUND THE EDGES HERE PEOPLE

KEV

Edited December 28, 2012 by kevinsoulman

[Guest veep1296]

Seen the Hitsville show..Enjoyed it....

When in Vegas I always go to The Stratosphere for the Monday night jam session that was hosted by Huck Daniels who I think hails from the "Bay Area" of California.... Basically lots of the musicians and vocalists who live in or are visiting Vegas turn up and do a bit......Had chance meetings there with Wylie Trass ( Casanova Two), Lawrence Inkatha ( Four Pros), Early Clover & several others...Well worth a visit to hear great R&B, Blues & Soul live all for free! Casino floor level used to start at 22.00 hrs...

https://westvegas.com/huck.html

Regards

David

ps We used to watch Spectrum ( with Darryl Grant) when they were resident at the Boardwalk.. Met Nate Evans when he was in a tribute Temptations group...

[Mach]

yeah, last time i was in Vegas, i also popped into the Stratosphere lounge bar and the "Coasters" were live on sage, "Superb show

[Roburt]

Yes, if you're lucky or know where to go, you can still catch the odd soul show.

But 20 years back you could go to 4/5 different places most nights of the week & see a decent soul act.

[Daveyboy66]

The Tower Of Power were on off Strip the last time me and the wife were in Vegas...great show