Taylor Swift in Las Vegas: Expect 44 songs, three hours
Las Vegas fans fortunate enough to attend one of Taylor Swift’s Allegiant Stadium performances will be treated to a glitzy, grandiose music marathon.
In launching her “Eras” tour, Swift performed 44 songs over more than three hours (putting up Bruce Springsteen numbers) Friday and Saturday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (renamed Swift City during her weekend stay).
Swift packed the 70,o00-seat home of the Arizona Cardinals, and also last month’s Super Bowl.
The duration of the performance, and also the 52-date U.S. tour, can be owed to Swift’s five-year absence from touring.
That lengthy pause helped generate remarkable demand for tickets to “Eras,” famously crashing the Ticketmaster ticket-selling site and prompting a congressional hearing about Ticketmaster’s partnership with tour promoter Live Nation (though the Allegiant Stadium shows are presented by AEG Presents, in the companies’ partnership at the venue). Ticketmaster reps have said the demand for Swift tickets was so high, exceeding 14 million hits, she could have filled 900 stadiums.
In an Associated Press piece about the show, Swift nodded to the fans who completed the odyssey to see her in concert, saying she understood it took “considerable effort” to be in the house.
According to published reports (and spoiler alerts), the 33-year-old superstar covered her entire 17-year career, opening with a half-dozen cuts from her album “Lover,” and closed with seven songs from her latest release, “Midnights,” closing out with “Karma.”
Swift spoke to her fans frequently during song breaks. At one point, she said, “I don’t know how to process all of this.” Her legions of fans, including those filling Allegiant Stadium this weekend, can identify.
Tease this …
The city of Las Vegas has plans to honor Swift in some splashy, formal manner. The downtown Las Vegas gateway arches on Las Vegas Boulevard at The Strat will be turned purple as part of this effort. This is how I have learned Swift’s favorite color is purple.
The city is carrying the civic effort for Swift. Clark County officials have no plans to formally mark her visit.
Stern, Di Domenico mark 3rd year
John Di Domenico, Howard Stern’s go-to Donald Trump impressionist, made his 33rd appearance on Stern’s show Tuesday morning. Di Domenico and Stern fast-tracked this segment to come out ahead of any legal activity involving the former president this week.
Di Domenico’s run started March 30, 2020, with Stern airing Di Domenico’s online clip, “Trump Tests Extremely Negative for Corona” interview.
That segment went viral, leading to several appearances by Di Domenico as Trump. Twenty-live have been live interviews, four pre-recorded. His first interview with Stern was June 8, 2020. The comic has been working with lead producer Samantha Fontana, developing material with the Stern team.
Since that appearance, Di Domenico has been the only Trump impressionist on the Stern show.
On Monday, Di Domenico-as-Trump arrived with Stern and Robin Quivers by knocking on the door and bursting into the live interview. He actually recorded his segment from Las Vegas. In character, Di Domenico said he was not afraid of being indicted. “Only poor people go to prison,” the character said.
Di Domenico can also play Austin Powers, Dr. Phil, Ozzy Osbourne and Dr. Evil, among many other characters in his corporate appearances and on Cameo.
But Di Domenico has been Trump, and Trump only, on Stern’s show. As the comic actor says, “So far, this has been an amazing ride, being part of the Stern team.” I like the “So far” comment. More J.D., in any character, please.
Adele sells
Adele’s drawing power held steady and even spiked in her final scheduled weekend at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. From the secondary-market ticket site LasVegasTickets.Com: Rear orchestra seats (lower lever) for Saturday night’s show were going for just under $5,000. Front orchestra, middle of the house, was listed at $11,400.
Cool Hang Alert
Sudden casting notice that the amazing Travis Cormier, late of “Bat Out Of Hell — The Musical “at Paris Theater is guest vocalist int “Raiding the Rock Vault at The Duomo Theater at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday night. The show moves to Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip on April 22. Go to raidingtherockvault.com for intel.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.