Building the beat

He’s the bandleader of the most revered hip-hop group ever, The Roots, and the guiding musical force on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He’s also a best-selling author, a music historian and a cultural curator of the highest order. But when he comes to Las Vegas, Questlove is first and foremost a DJ, and he’s ready to rock the party at On the Record on May 3.

“Vegas is one of three places in America where I feel like there’s a pressure to re-create the countdown on New Year’s Eve every 10 minutes,” he says with a laugh. That’s why Questlove’s at home in the OTR booth at Park MGM. “DJing is storytelling, and I’m usually a way slower storyteller. (Playing there) gives me some leeway and some room. I enjoy it.”

Must-See: Absinthe

Photo by: Powers Imagery

It seems like there’s always something new onstage at Absinthe, the out-of-bounds modern variety show playing nightly at Caesars Palace. Now there’s something new outside the big white tent: the Absinthe Electric Oak. The Gazillionaire and his cast and crew officially unveiled the 35-foot-tall art installation in the tent’s courtyard this month to celebrate the show’s eighth anniversary, and the dazzling display’s 120,000 LED leaves of changing colors are bringing a new element to this show and its cast of memorable acts and characters. It’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a cocktail before or after Absinthe and an ideal Vegas Instagram opportunity.

Around the Strip

The Backstreet Boys closed out their Larger Than Life residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood in grand fashion this month. The pop quintet participated in a handprint-in-cement ceremony to commemorate the record-breaking show and also partnered with Live Nation Las Vegas to donate $1 per ticket since November 2017 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, a generous give totaling $180,000.

Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue mainstay Nina Agdal and her actor boyfriend Jack Brinkley-Cook were among the celebrities in attendance at the posh new NoMad Pool Party known as JEMAA. The guest list also included British singer Leona Lewis and actor/singer Chord Overstreet, as superstar producer Mark Ronson created a soulful vibe from the DJ booth.

Photo by: Denise Truscello

Miss Nevada USA Tianna Tuamoheloa hosted a good luck bash at Hyde Bellagio before leaving for Reno to compete in the 2019 Miss USA Pageant. Tuamoheloa made her way to a VIP table where Hyde’s servers presented her with giant letters spelling out her name and a gold and white cake to celebrate. Good timing, too, since the Bellagio nightclub and lounge is closing in July, to be replaced by a new concept this winter.

The cast and crew of Magic Mike Live Las Vegas recently celebrated two years and 1,000 performances at the Hard Rock Hotel with emcee Chelsea Phillips-Reid marking the occasion by inviting the audience to join the performers in a post-show champagne toast.