There’s an undeniable kinetic energy surrounding Anthony Cools (“Expanding His Palette”) that makes it possible for him to perform a comedy hypnosis show five nights a week while maintaining a daytime schedule that rivals the busiest of businessmen. So what’s his secret? “The secret is The Secret,” he says, referring to Rhonda Byrne’s best-selling guide to better living through positive thinking. Cools believes the universe will give to you what you believe you already have, and because of that, he’s been able to transform a headlining gig on the Strip into a business empire.
He also holds the distinction of being one of the few performers to have left a venue and return to that same venue after performing at a competing property. Not knowing what was going to happen after his eight-month contract at the Paris expired in 2005, he was offered a gig at Excalibur. But the day he arrived at Excalibur, he was already in negotiations to return to Paris, where he’s been ever since.
Also returning to familiar territory this week is Jon Bon Jovi, who headlines the 14th iteration of Tiger Jam (“Solid Foundation”), the annual charity concert benefiting the Tiger Woods Foundation. Bon Jovi (the group) has headlined the concert twice previously, in 2003 and 2007, but this year the singer decided to fly solo, accompanied by some “friends”—presumably not Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres, his bandmates for nearly three decades.
We don’t know exactly who those “friends” might be, but we can speculate, can’t we? How about Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, who he duetted with on 2005’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”? Or more recent duet partner LeAnn Rimes? Fellow New Jerseyan Bruce Springsteen? His New Year’s Eve co-star (and Glee standout) Lea Michele? Maybe Tiger himself will step to the mic to make his singing debut. Be honest, who wouldn’t want to hear him and the world’s most famous golfer trade verses on “You Give Love a Bad Name”? Now that would be a jam.
