Louie Anderson finds his Space; new tunes from Clint Holmes, Frankie Moreno
Louie Anderson recently spoke of wanting to find an intimate venue to perform his stand-up comedy and “really be seen.”
Wish granted.
The Emmy Award-winning actor and established comic will host a series of showcases at The Space titled, aptly enough, “Louie Anderson Presents: The After Show.” The shows, set for March 18, April 22, May 13, June 17, and July 15, are part of an initiative for VegasVille comedians to test-drive new material. Only 150 seats are available each night, tickets cost $20 and performances begin at 10:30 p.m. More information at TheSpace.com.
Pure to the concept, “The After Show” is loosely assembled, with Anderson the only named headliner, a format similar to late-night open-mic nights in New York and Sunset Strip clubs in Hollywood.
In Las Vegas, Saturday night’s no-admission “The Stool” shows at Stratosphere are also presented as open-mic nights for local comics. But Anderson’s recent Emmy turn as Christine Baskets, the mother of twin characters played by Zach Galifianakis in the FX series “Baskets,” gives The Space some added gravitas.
DOUBLING BACK
A pair of long-awaited music releases from a couple of the city’s great showmen hit iTunes this week.
Clint Holmes’ “Rendezvous,” recorded over two years at Capitol Records in L.A., has “dropped” as the kids in the music biz say. Holmes worked with the Count Basie Orchestra and his guests on the album (or, download) include Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jane Monheit and Dave Koz. The producer is Gregg Field, the multiple Grammy Award-winning studio master and percussionist who played at Frank Sinatra’s last live performance.
The second recording is a live release from Frankie Moreno, titled “One Night Only,” and produced by studio ace Pat Thrall and recorded at various shows (including Stratosphere and Planet Hollywood) in advance of Moreno’s upcoming stretch of shows at Golden Nugget beginning Thursday night. Moreno is also continuing his run at Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center at 8 p.m. Monday.
HE KNOWS THINGS
The other night, a congenial gentleman sidled over to me and introduced himself with, “You don’t know me, but I know more about Las Vegas history than anybody.”
“That’s a heck of an opener,” I replied.
The man was Bernie Sindler, an ally of such nefarious figures as Meyer Lansky and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel back when when organized crime held sway on the Strip. Now in his 90s, Sindler’s days in Vegas date to the 1940s, and he’s been a card dealer, a casino host and investor. In 2015, Sindler published his memoirs, “The Bernie Sindler Story: Life With Lansky, Siegel, and the Mob.” He will regale the audience about his past from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday at Clark County Library’s Jewel Box Theater at 1401 E. Flamingo Road.
Geoff Schumacher, senior director of content for The Mob Museum, will interview Sindler. The event is the latest in the library’s monthly series focusing on Las Vegas history. Admission is free.
LEST WE FORGET …
Reigning Daytona 500 champion and Las Vegas resident Kurt Busch has been force on the NASCAR circuit since his first pro race in 1998. Those who have been around the local racing scene for a spell remember when Busch, then age 19, took over the ride of popular Las Vegas driver Chris Trickle.
In one of the city’s great tragedies, Trickle was shot while driving on Blue Diamond Road in February 1997. He slipped in and out of coma for more than a year before passing March 25, 1998 at age 25. The gunman in that incident has never been found.
Soon after Trickle’s death, Busch took over as driver of Trickle’s No. 70 Star Nursery Chevy Monte Carlo. In his first race in that car at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Busch won the checkered flag in a Southwest Tour main event.
Talking of Trickle after winning that race, a stunned Busch said, “You can’t predict when things like that are going to happen. It was fate, I guess.” Busch won his first Daytona main event Sunday; those who remember Chris Trickle are reminded of the fallen driver whenever Busch takes a checkered flag.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
