New year, new hits
Multi-platinum hitmakers Maroon 5 will be performing at halftime during Super Bowl LII in Atlanta on Feb. 3, and the group couldn’t find a better tune-up gig than New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas.
For the fifth time in six years, the three-time Grammy-winning outfit will headline Mandalay Bay Events Center to ring in the new year, performing December 30 and 31 at the south Strip megaresort. Maroon 5 has been back on the road since September, cruising through the second leg of its Red Pill Blues Tour with opener Julia Michaels to support its sixth studio album and recent hits “What Lovers Do,” “Wait” and “Girls Like You.” Next up in 2019: Australia, Asia and Europe.
Home for the holidays
Tape Face
Jazz vocalist extraordinaire Clint Holmes left a big mark on the pop charts in 1973 with his then-ubiquitous hit “Playground in My Mind.” Last year, his name was in lights again when his beautifully crafted album Rendezvous earned two Grammy Award nominations. But no matter how he’s remembered or recognized outside of Las Vegas, Holmes remains one of the most beloved singers in the entertainment capital of the world, constantly making the rounds at venues large and small and creating memorable musical experiences. This year he took the stage at the Westgate International Theater with Earl Turner in Soundtrack and recently wrapped his annual holiday performances at The Smith Center, and he’ll tie up 2018 with a New Year’s Eve show at Sam’s Town.
Quick Hits
One half of the popular Property Brothers took in some tricks recently at the Linq. HGTV star Jonathan Scott attended Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented Nightly at the center Strip showroom and went backstage to meet the magician himself after the show.
Tropicana comic magician Murray Sawchuck celebrated one million subscribers (and more than one billion views) on his YouTube channel just before Christmas with a party at beloved Chinatown bar the Golden Tiki. Murray’s producing partner Seth Leach was there along with Pia Zadora, Tape Face, members of the Tenors of Rock, Paul Shortino, members of the Crazy Girls, Douglas “Lefty” Leferovich and many more friends and supporters.
You may have seen that Florida Georgia Line’s recent run at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood culminated in Mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaiming Dec. 11 as Florida Georgia Line Day in Las Vegas. What you might have missed is that the pop country duo’s five shows sold so well, the theater opened up balcony seating to accommodate more fans, something that hasn’t even happened for the resident headliners at Planet Hollywood. Don’t be surprised if FGL returns to the Strip for another series of shows.
In the continuing saga of esports in Sin City, Topgolf and fast-growing TV brand TCL have announced a national partnership that will create the first TCL Esports Lounge in the country at Topgolf Las Vegas behind MGM Grand in January, just in time for the annual Consumer Electronics Show. The lounge will combine the traditional sports viewing area with daily esports play, special events, coaching sessions, viewing parties and more.
