One of this writer’s favorite young talents will be performing this Friday evening (Mar. 27), at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, in the semi-finals of the ultra-super talent contest, “Hard Rock Rising.” Kendra Daniels and the band, KendraBarry, is an American New Country band from Las Vegas. It was formed by Kendra Daniels and Barry Allen. And, gang, they are not just your ordinary music group.
They have accumulated an enormous following in the two years they have been together. What’s their secret? According to Kendra and Barry, “It’s the combination of years of prior experience filled with various concert dates, building great relationships, having a deep love for music that drives you, and putting in the time and effort it takes to become proficient.” KendraBarry has performed at numerous venues such as the Bellagio, Universal Studios Hollywood, the Rock Vault Theater, the M Resort and other venues both domestically and abroad.
The band was voted into the contest by its fans to participate in the first night of the semi-finals of “Hard Rock Rising,” to be held at the Hard Rock Cafe in front of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Paradise Road. There will be no cover and it is open to all ages. Doors will open at 9:00PM.
KendraBarry will be competing to go to the finals in Barcelona, Spain, where they will perform in front of 60,000 people, hoping to win the Grand Prize. Appearing at the finals as special guests, will be such superstar performers as Avicii, Kings of Leon and Lenny Kravitz.
THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:
A vigorous trio of comedians will take over the stage at the Laugh Factory Monday through Sunday (Mar. 23—Mar. 29), inside the New Tropicana Hotel, with John Caponera headlining what is sure to be a “Madcap” night of zingers. Assisting Caponera will be Tim Gaither, who never holds back on any subject that comes into his mind, and hosting the evening is Joey Gaynor. Show times are 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.
Chicago native John Caponera has honed his act by performing for audiences all over the world in a career spanning over three decades. Caponera is considered by many to be a comic’s comic. John is a true professional, offering a mix of material from topical to impressions, from characterizations to stories, and one-liners. He has starred in his own sitcom, “The Good Life,” opposite Drew Carey, and also hosted Comedy Central’s “Jocks,” and ESPN’s “Talk II.” Other credits include guest appearances on “ER,” “Love & War,” “Blossom,” “Tales from the Crypt,” “The Tonight Show,” “The Dennis Miller Show,” “L.A. Law,” NBC’s miniseries “Drug Wars,” “The John Larroquette Show,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “The Crew” and the ESPY Awards.
It all began for Tim Gaither when he was attending a church at the age of five. One Sunday, the preacher called all the kids at the Southern Baptist church to the front, and began to ask some questions in front of all the adults. When the preacher asked a small tow-headed boy what he thought hell would be like, the boy replied, “Preacher, hell will be hotter than the Walmart parking lot on the Fourth of July barefoot.” The church erupted with laughter, the little boy was hooked on the sound and a comic was born.
Fast forward 25 years and Tim has been on the comedy circuit for a decade, working in 34 states so far, and even going as far as Korea for the USO and our troops. In January 2009, He officially moved to Hollywood. Later that year, Tim appeared on “The Bob and Tom Show,” and earned the honor of “Best of Festival” at the Detroit International Comedy Festival. Gaither is hilarious and a heckler’s nightmare. He has great material, a quick wit and a wide range of original characters and stories, all spun together with Midwestern charm. Tim Gaither is more comfortable on a stage than in his own living room, thus making the audience
Joey Gaynor has been making people laugh both on-screen, and on stage, for over 30 years. Getting his start at the Comedy Store in Hollywood, Gaynor has opened for comedy stars like George Lopez, the Smothers Brothers, Billy Gardell and his mentor, the great Richard Pryor. Gaynor can be seen in the films “All I Want for Christmas,” with Leslie Nielsen and Thora Birch, and Robert Townsend’s classic “The Five Heartbeats.” He has also appeared on shows like “ER” and “House.” Tickets are priced at $34.95 and $44.95. For further information call 702-739-2411 or 800-829-9034.
Gosh, time does do a complete circle, right? Have you been watching “Dancing With The Stars,” and the cast of stars, which includes Suzanne Somers? You know, don’t you, that at one time in Las Vegas she was a Superstar in a lot of the great old showrooms. When she left Las Vegas in 1990, to write 13 New York Times bestsellers, to star on ABC-TV’s “Step By Step” for seven years, develop a highly successful and extensive branded product line, and lecture on “A New Way To Age” in the U.S., Western Europe, and Canada, I predicted that one day she would return to a Vegas stage. Let’s be honest here, that is not a hard prediction to make right?
And now, we will be meeting with Ms. Somers this Wednesday, March 25, to hear her plans for that day she will return to a Las Vegas stage. She will take to the stage of the Shimmer Cabaret inside the Westgate Hotel & Casino, on Paradise Road, sometime in May. I could be wrong, but I do believe Suzanne starred on the big stage of the former Main Showroom when the hotel was known as the Hilton. I keep seeing her, in my memory bank, performing on the same stage Elvis used to be on. It’s going to be great to have her back!
A trusted health advocate, successful entrepreneur, and star of two hit TV series, Somers has written 25 books, including five #1 New York Times bestsellers. Her last book, “I’m Too Young for This!: The Natural Hormone Solution to Enjoy Menopause,” was an instant New York Times bestseller. There are currently more than 25 million copies of Suzanne’s books in print. She received an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Host for “The SUZANNE Show,” her weekly series of one-hour health specials on Lifetime. She has twice been honored as Favorite Female Performer by the People’s Choice Awards. She is a founder of www.SuzanneSomers.com and www.ForeverHealth.com, an online resource to connect patients with doctors specializing in natural longevity medicine, and is a partner and ambassador for www.Livewave.com. For more information, visit SuzanneSomers.com.
MarQue Munday, and her stunning female vocal quartet, will perform live in the Chrome Showroom at the Santa Fe Station on Sunday, April 12. They will be performing in a show called “Musical Memoirs” which pays tribute to the exciting music of the 60s. Showtime is 4:00 p.m., with the doors opening at 3 p.m. The cover charge for the show is $15 (tax inclusive), cash at the door.
Led by Ms. Munday, the talented and attractive ensemble includes Wendy Edmead, Vivian Ross, and Crystal Robinson. These four stellar vocalists sing and dance their way through the sounds of the 60s, one of most influential eras of music of all time. These ladies are the renowned group “Radiance” who also perform the greatest musical hits from the Motown era nationally and internationally. MarQue is an accomplished singer, dancer, actress, model and choreographer. A native of Staten Island, New York, who has performed professionally for the past 25 years, her credits include: live performances, studio sessions, CDs, commercials (national, international and regional), film, television (national and international), cable, radio, print, runway, piano bar, theatre (regional & off-Broadway) and national and international tours.
Her favorite roles include Dina Jones in “Dreamgirls,” Anita in “Westside Story” and Crystal in “Little Shop of Horrors.” She has appeared/performed with the legends – Liza Minnelli, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Barry White, Maurice Hines, Rip Taylor, Susan Anton, David Letterman, David Cassidy, Chaka Khan, Tom Jones, Nell Carter and Luther Vandross, and the list goes on.
Residing in Las Vegas for the past 20 years, MarQue tapped her way from New York City with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, and performed with the Rockettes at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino. Locally, she is a cast member for the International House of Blues – Blues School House program.
Well, gang, that’s about it for another week.