Kahsino pushing definition of lounge act
While they play music to live crowds at the Lounge in the Palms, Kahsino is not a traditional lounge band.
It’s not even really a band.
"It’s a completely different, unique concept," says lead singer Angela Judd, whose stage name is Angela Jadyn. "We call it a group, not a band."
There’s a DJ, an MC, a drummer and a singer, and they’ve toured all over the world in the months that they’ve been together. Last week, Kahsino launched a six-week run at the Palms, where Judd used to perform with Matt Goss. She still sings backup for Goss, now playing at Caesars Palace.
"We’re beyond the cover band. We don’t want to be any old cover band. But Vegas needs the familiar so we have our own music in there with covers," Judd says.
The idea behind Kahsino is to create a party atmosphere that rivals that of any Vegas nightclub, Judd says. They use videos to accompany their music. Guest DJs spin and different acts play during their intermission.
Judd graduated from Durango High School and attended the College of Southern Nevada.
She started performing at a young age, 3, when her mother put her in dance lessons. When she saw Mariah Carey on MTV, Judd knew she wanted to sing. She was only 7, Judd says, but her parents bought her a karaoke machine and she went to work on developing perfect pitch.
She launched her lounge performance career before she was even old enough to drink. Her first paying gig came at age 19 when she played the La Scena Lounge in The Venetian. That’s when she realized she wanted to perform as a career.
"I said, ‘Oh, this is actually great. I can do this,’ " Judd recalls.
Though she’s suffered some professional disappointments — "American Idol" tryouts, promises from shady producers — Judd still feels like she can be a star. And Kahsino may be what makes her.
"I want to be Black Eyed Peas status, and I know we’re going to get there," Judd says. "There’s no doubt in my mind something’s going to break through."
Kahsino takes the stage at 10 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 p.m. Thursdays through July 21.
