March 29, 2009 Photos courtesy House of Blues and the Palms House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Hotel, left, hosts a wide variety of musical acts including alternative rock, punk, hip hop, R&B, classic rock and country. The Pearl at the Palms, right, is all about giving concertgoers a comfortable experience with amazing views. Las Vegas venues provide ultimate concert experience BY KRISTINE MCKENZIE rock, country and everything in Vegas.com between. Upcoming shows include such diverse artists as Travis, Kevin Rudolf, Las Vegas has been dubbed “The Reverend Horton Heat, Queensryche Entertainment Capital of the World” and Kottonmouth Kings. for good reason – just about all of The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay the top acts in music wind their way opened in 1999 and is another venue through the city at some point on their where fans can see bands up close and tour schedules. personally. The concert hall features a Not only does Las Vegas lead the rounded balcony with 500 fixed seats way in booking the biggest names in 11 rows, placed only 35 feet from the in the music business, the city is also stage, so the audience is basically look- home to several of the most innovative, ing right down on the performers. The technologically-advanced music venues lower level of the venue offers standing available. room to the rest of the 1,850-capacity In Las Vegas you don’t always have audience and features two bars. to sit in the nosebleed seats of an The Colosseum at Caesars arena trying to identify that speck on The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is the stage as your favorite performer. one of the technological wonders of the The city offers several intimate venues Las Vegas concert scene. The three-tier, that give music fans the chance to see 4,300-seat theater was created for their favorite bands in a much more Celine Dion and is currently home to personal way. Rendering courtesy Hard Rock Cher and Bette Midler. Comedians The Joint The new Joint concert facility at Hard Rock Hotel will be double the size of the original facility that shares its name, with a total capacity of 4,000. like Jerry Seinfeld and musical acts The Joint, a new concert facility set to like Stevie Nicks, Luciano Pavarotti and Gloria Estefan have also graced open in April at the Hard Rock Hotel & capabilities, so instead of being a rock With no seating obstructions, the the stage at the Colosseum. Casino, shares the name of the original Upcoming Concerts club like the old Joint was, we can do farthest seat from the stage is only The $95 million Colosseum was venue that opened at the property in full-size arena shows in an intimate 120 feet away, allowing bands to Aliante Station completed in 2003 and features a 1995, but will be double the size, with environment,” he said. personally connect with the entire Robert Cray Band, April 11 half-acre stage. Even though the stage a total capacity of 4,000. Many of the biggest names in music audience. There are two 14 by 16-foot is massive, the farthest seat in the The new three-level venue will House of Blues at Mandalay Bay have rocked The Joint over the years video screens on either side of the stage Keith Anderson & Luke Bryan, April 3 house is only 120 feet away. If that’s include 700 fixed balcony seats, as well including The Rolling Stones, Bob and plasma screens located throughout Travis, April 12 not close enough, the venue boasts the as general admission standing room on Dylan, Coldplay, The Killers, Duran the concourse so those who are grabbing Kottonmouth Kings, April 18 largest indoor video display in North the floor and a second level VIP area Duran, Motley Crue and David Bowie. a drink at one of the bars outside won’t America, an on-stage high definition with table seating and luxury boxes. Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa The new Joint will continue to bring in miss any of the show. 3 Doors Down, April 3 LED screen, which measures 110 feet The boxes will be furnished and will the best in the business. The opening The Pearl features state-of-the-art wide by 34 feet tall. include plasma TVS, wet bars, food The Pearl at the Palms month of the venue features a stellar lighting, video and sound systems. Not only is a show at the Colos- and bottle service. Fall Out Boy, April 5 lineup comprised of Paul McCartney, The sound systems, designed by SIA seum a visual experience, it’s an audio The $60 million project, designed by The Cure, April 17 The Killers, Kenny Chesney and Bon Acoustics, create amazing quality sound one as well, with 125,000 watts of Montreal-based architectural design The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel Jovi. with 60 JBL Vertec series loudspeakers amplification from 115 speakers and firm Scéno Plus, is part of the Hard The Killers, April 17 pumping throughout the venue. The Pearl 200 acoustical panels. Rock’s $750 million expansion, which Avenged Sevenfold, April 18 The behind-the-scenes aspects of broke ground in 2007. Paul McCartney, April 19 The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort The Pearl are one of a kind as well. Silverton Casino Lodge Paul Davis, vice president of Bon Jovi, April 24 opened in the spring of 2007 and has Kenny Chesney, April 25 One of the most unique touches is that The Silverton Casino Lodge is build- entertainment at the Hard Rock Hotel hosted concerts by some of today’s most the concert hall is hardwired to Studio ing a 13,000-square-foot entertainment & Casino, said the Joint was due for a Silverton Casino Lodge popular artists like Fall Out Boy, Gwen at the Palms so that bands can easily pavilion that will offer a variety of makeover. Bell Biv Devoe, April 4 Stefani and Maroon 5. record live albums. concerts at reasonable prices. Over “The old Joint was built in 1995 so Everclear, April 11 George Maloof, owner of Palms Darius Rucker, April 24 For fans who want to take a bit of the the next few months, scheduled acts, it was starting to get a little bit dated Casino Resort, said his love of live music experience home with them, the Palms playing in a temporary venue on the in terms of the way the market and the prompted him to add the concert venue is introducing the ultimate souvenir, site, include Everclear, Darius Rucker concert industry has evolved over the to his resort. which will be available at some concerts. to a concert at the old Joint you will and Bell Biv Devoe. past 14 years,” he said. “The market’s “I’m a big music fan and I just Aderra’s Live in a Flash USB technology feel very comfortable walking into the Station Casinos changed and the touring industry has wanted to create a venue that really can offer immediate live recordings of new one.” changed. And the property is growing... was designed for live music and there concerts, DJ sets and other happenings The Station Casinos family of resorts The Joint will allow fans a chance We’re adding two new hotel towers and was nothing in town that I felt really throughout the resort. The Palms is the offers musical entertainment galore in to be close to their favorite bands - the growing the size of the property, so represented something that a fan like first property in the world to offer the all of its locations. farthest seat in the house is a mere 155 when you factor in all those things, it myself, or a music fan, could really new technology, which allows patrons One of the stand-outs is Ovation feet from the stage. There will also would certainly mandate that we would appreciate – something that was top to leave an event with a USB flash drive lounge at Green Valley Ranch, which be a nine-foot by 16-foot motorized need a larger and nicer concert venue. notch and unlike anything else. I felt loaded with their live experience. has a traditional Vegas lounge feel with screen on each side of the stage, an 18 We’re a concert-driven property, we’re there was a need in town for a venue Studio at the Palms can record a 500-person capacity and VIP booths. by 24-foot center screen for rear and a music-themed property and we need that just focused on live music.” concerts at The Pearl and the content Even though it’s small, big name acts front projection and 38 flat screens to make sure we have a cutting-edge, The Pearl is all about giving concert- is instantly uploaded to a USB flash like Kenny Loggins and Eric Burdon throughout the venue so that you won’t top-of-the-market concert venue to goers a comfortable experience with drive available in a wristband, key fob play there. The hotel also hosts concerts miss a minute of the action on stage. present our artists.” amazing views. The three-level venue’s and other custom styles. at its extensive pool area. This season, 3 “It’s an incredibly fan-friendly venue,” Although the new venue will capacity can adjust to accommodate “We didn’t spare a dime to create Doors Down and Tears for Fears will said Davis. “It’s a concert venue – it was maintain the same atmosphere as the from 1,100 to 2,400 guests.