Trumpet great Pero’s night ends on a sour note
Broken legs on Broadway. Frankie goes to GoldenTown. Poetry and the Bacon Martinis. We have it all, here, in Kats! Follow along:
SOMETHING FOR JOEY
When we said, “Break a leg,” we were speaking metaphorically.
Joey Pero is certain to hear that joke, or a variation, repeatedly over the next few weeks. The Las Vegas trumpet virtuoso and cast member of “Bandstand” was walking home from Tommy Tune’s Manhattan apartment on Sunday (that, alone, is worth writing about) when he was struck by a van.
He was left with a broken leg.
“I am in the hospital,” he said in a text message Monday afternoon. “I need surgery.”
Pero continued, “So now the talk is, Nick has a crutch.”
Nick is Pero’s character in the post-World War II story.
“Maybe now Nick has a war wound,” I texted back.
“Absolutely,” Pero said, adding, “The guy in the van is in big doo-doo.”
This all happened on the night of the first rehearsals of the Las Vegas-based musical. Tune is a supporter of the musical and friends with co-lead Laura Osnes, and invited the troupe over for a launch party.
Up until the van mishap, the highlight of Pero’s night was taking a shot of Tune’s tower of 10 Tony Awards.
Pero said he’ll be back in the production next week. The musical was conceived by “Ka” music director Richard Oberacker and his writing partner Robert Taylor, and opens for previews March 31. The gala premiere is April 26.
“Ten people came to help me after I was hit, and today 20 people came to visit me after rehearsal,” Pero said. “I’m very lucky and very blessed.”
See you on opening night, Mr. Pero. Break a … well, never mind.
MORENO GOLDEN ONCE MORE
Frankie Moreno is returning to one of his favorite Vegas playgrounds: Golden Nugget. He burned through Rush Lounge several years ago in a run ending in 2011, when he moved to the Lounge at the Palms, and then Stratosphere Showroom. He’s set to return to the hotel’s showroom (formerly the Gordie Brown Showroom) for six Thursdays beginning March 2 through April 13, but not March 30.
Moreno’s maintaining a regular schedule at Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center for six dates: Feb. 21, March 6, March 21, April 4, April 18 and May 2.
Moreno’s latest album, “One Night Only,” recorded live at Stratosphere and Planet Hollywood is also out this week on CD Baby. It will be issued this month on iTunes. Pat Thrall, the guitar great and studio master who works primarily out of Studio at the Palms (operated by his wife, Zoe Thrall) is the producer. Thrall produced Moreno’s first album, aptly titled “Frankie Moreno,” and the Thralls were in attendance a couple weeks ago at Moreno’s sold-out show at Suncoast Showroom. Expect him to book more shows at that venue, too.
DOUBLING DOWN ON LOVE
Lee Mallory, my favorite Las Vegas poet I’ve yet met, is hosting “Strange Love: The Illogical Heart” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Double Down. The no-admission show is co-hosted by Vegas music artist Philena Carter, with guests . Music, poetry and drinks are the order of the night.
The show’s tenor is apparent in Mallory’s flyer, which reads: “If you love someone, set them on fire,” which maybe is another metaphorical reference. Or, maybe it’s part of the act at Double Down, home of the Bacon Martini and also the infamous Ass Juice liquor shot.
Mallory was a well-known performance poet in the San Fernando Valley prior to moving to Las Vegas, and has run some marathons (11) authored a few books (8) and sent a few promotional e-mails about this show (6). He is someone we must get to know.
IDEA TIME
Something to consider during the recent modifications at Lucky Dragon hotel-casino: VIP karaoke rooms. They are big in Macau, an apt cultural fit, and can be easily implemented as the hotel is growing its VIP gaming space. Just a thought, and I’d bet I’m not alone in thinking of it.
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.
