When Hollywood senses a trend they are eager to give the consumers what they want. Las Vegas shows are no different in that aspect. Though it is in the design of the show, which makes it a success, like Jubilee!, or a failure, like the extremely short run of Surf the Musical.
Building blocks are carefully placed to ensure a shows longevity. With the large resurgence in rock music, it is only natural for shows to come up with vignettes, which are laced with good ole rock and roll. Does a show use canned music, or do they rely on a house band and a singer? Either way could have devastating results.
Enter Las Vegas’ newest show to hit the Las Vegas strip. (Close enough) Raiding the Rock Vault. This is a show created not only to entertain but also to educate. Who better to educate the masses than the people who lived it? No need to rely on canned music or a house band these are the actual people who rocked millions.
The educators of this epic show in Las Vegas have played for some of the biggest rock and roll bands in history. Bands like Asia, Survivor, Lita Ford, Quiet Riot, Heart, and even Guns N’ Roses.
Raiding the Rock Vault starts off a thousand years in the future. The world as we know it is destroyed, and the survivors finally come back to planet Earth to see what they can salvage. The explorers stumble onto a “Rock Vault.”
The audience is taken back in time to the 1960’s. The way that Raiding the Rock Vault manipulates the time line is quite interesting. Raiding the Rock Vault has two side stages in which little skits are performed.
On one side stage we follow the lives of four friends. On the other side of the stage is a radio station. As the timeline progresses the four friends age, as does the radio host. Raiding the Rock Vault pays close attention to detail in this regard with clothing and things in the background, as well as graying a mans hair in order to age him. They age the radio station as well, even progressing to music television.
The main stage is definitely where all the action is at, the side stages are just a clever way for Raiding the Rock Vault to introduce the next song.
So let’s take the singing talents of Paul Shortino, (Quiet Riot) John Payne, (Asia) Robin McAuley (Survivor) and Andrew Freeman, (Lynch Mob) and mix them in with the musical talents of Jay Schellen, (Badfinger) Howard Leese, (Heart) Michael T Ross, (Lita Ford) and Tracii Guns (Guns N’ Roses) and what do you get? The answer, one hell of a foundation to build a long lasting hit Las Vegas show.
The super band of Raiding the Rock Vault performs songs not only from some of their original bands but also music from legendary bands like Deep Purple, Queen, Bon Jovi, Rolling Stones, and even Led Zeppelin and the Eagles.
Watching these musicians play on stage was simply amazing. They all seemed to be having so much fun. Paul Shortino sauntered onto stage with a long scarf singing "Honkey Tonk Woman" by the Rolling Stones doing his best Mick Jagger impression. He nailed it! Paul had made the song his own vocally, but kept to Mick Jaggers’s flailing and over exaggerated dance style.
As far as rock ballads go, Robin McAuley took on one of the biggest, (in my opinion) as he sung We Are The Champions by Queen. Robin followed in suite with Paul. He mimicked the mannerisms of Freddy Mercury as his powerful vocals rang out with the epic rock anthem.
Another popular song with the audience was "All Along The Watchtower" originally written by Bob Dylan yet performed and made famous by Jimi Hendrix. John Payne performed this song for Raiding the Rock Vault with such passion and feeling, you wonder if he was personally touched by this song.
What would be a rock show be without a bad ass guitar player? This show has two. The impassive and stoic looking Howard Leese rocking out on his HML Guitar while in contrast the wild and intense Tracii Guns knocking out mad riffs on a double-necked Gibson Guitar.
When the singing talent isn’t singing they can often be seen playing back up instruments. Laying down a rhythm and keeping everyone in beat, is the pounding fury of Jay Schellen on drums. Last but not least is playing three Keyboards including an inverted one is the talented Michael T Ross.
As if the talent on the stage wasn’t enough the incredible lightshow and earth pounding sound system makes you feel like you are at an actual concert.
Yet Raiding the Rock Vault has a special surprise, even with all the talent they have on the stage apparently they will be having guest appearances from legendary performers. During the show I watched, the guest performer was Bobby Kimball from Toto.
The audience was amazing. Perhaps after the first song or two I noticed a few people dancing in front of their seats. By the end of the show over half of the audience was packed in front of the stage dancing and waving their arms and screaming adding to the Rock Vault experience.
I had the privilege of taking my family to this show. Usually the three of us have different opinions and generally never all agree on the same thing. Though from the lips of my teenager “That show kicked ass!” My wife and I couldn’t agree more.
The cherry on the top of the evening for my son and many of the other audience members was being able to meet and talk with the legendary rockers after the show.
What you need to know about Raiding the Rock Vault:
Who: Raiding the Rock Vault
What: Rock and Roll Legends performing rock and roll anthems
When: Sunday – Thursday (Dark Friday)
9:00 p.m.
Where: Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
3000 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Cost: Tickets starting at $53.90 + (Tax and fees)
Age: All Ages
For more information: http://www.raidingtherockvault.com
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