John Legend leads a lineup of celebrities ringing in the new year in Las Vegas
By Jack Houston
John Legend
As the biggest party night of the year approaches, John Legend is one performer in need of some quality R&R. Although he hasn’t released a solo album since 2008’s Evolver, the Philadelphia-born soul man has been as busy as ever recently, guesting on Common’s The Dreamer, The Believer, duetting with Mariah Carey on “When Christmas Comes” for BET and performing at an after-party for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. He’ll be working New Year’s Eve, too, with a performance at The Pearl at Palms followed by an after-concert party at the hotel’s Moon nightclub.
For Legend, who turns 33 on Dec. 28, the hard work comes with its share of perks: nine Grammy Awards, gold and platinum singles “Ordinary People” and “Green Light,” an opening slot on Sade’s first concert tour in a decade and a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model girlfriend, Thai-Norwegian bombshell Chrissy Teigen. He even lit up the blogosphere earlier this year with an a cappella cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” that managed to give the ubiquitous original a run for its money. With a new album currently in the works, we can only imagine what affect that will have on Legend’s 2012 schedule, other than to say this year’s Palms finale is most likely only the beginning.
While Legend rings in the new year on the 53rd floor, Paul Oakenfold holds it down on the ground level, putting the finishing touches on a residency he began at Rain nightclub nearly three and a half years ago. When it premiered over Labor Day weekend in 2008, Perfecto Vegas, an Ibiza-meets-Vegas extravaganza complete with aerialists, grinder girls and a host of otherworldly characters, proved to be a game-changer, re-establishing Rain as a destination nightspot and setting the stage for the arrival of Tiësto and Kaskade at competing clubs. Is it any wonder the Electric Daisy Carnival made Vegas its home in 2011?
Among the familiar venues hosting New Year’s Eve parties are a trio of new ones. 1OAK, a partnership between The Light Group and New York’s Butter Group, opens in the old Jet nightclub spot at The Mirage with a bash hosted by Fergie. Fontana Lounge at Bellagio re-emerges as Hyde, from SBE Entertainment Group, taking over the lakeside terrace overlooking the Fountains of Bellagio. RPM Nightclub rises from the ashes of Club Nikki at the Tropicana with an evening hosted by the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul herself, Mary J. Blige.
While the new clubs threaten to steal the buzz over the weekend, the perennial favorites are out to prove they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Bruno Mars hosts a jam session at The Bank (Bellagio), while the embattled Chris Brown performs at Pure (Caesars Palace) and B.o.B counts down at LAX (Luxor). LMFAO host the night at Haze (Aria), while the seemingly ageless Pamela Anderson hosts the final New Year’s Eve blowout at Studio 54 (MGM Grand), which ends its 14-year run on Jan. 8.
Peepshow headliner Holly Madison stays close to her Planet Hollywood home when she hosts Gallery’s end-of-the-year party, likely to include a few of her Holly’s World pals as well. And what would a night out in Vegas be without a few Kardashians in the mix? The newly pregnant Kourtney hosts at Chateau (Paris) with boyfriend Scott Disick, while Kim returns to Tao (The Venetian), the site of her July bachelorette party, for a night of revelry.
