A new look and sound for Marley Taylor; AFAN moves indoors; what of Madonna?

By John Katsilometes

Friday, Aug. 20, 2010 | 3:12 p.m.

Long recognized as half of the high-energy resort act Zowie Bowie, Marley Taylor has branched out with a new look, a new partner and a new approach to music.

Her own music.

The famously blonde half of Zowie Bowie, the now-brunette Taylor appears with her new life and professional partner, trumpet player David Perrico, at 8:30 p.m. Sunday night at Bootlegger Bistro. Taylor reports that she's been working diligently on songwriting during the past several months. Sunday's show, to be performed at one of Las Vegas' truly cool restaurants and live-music venues, is to feature her original material. The songs are, naturally, autobiographical. One title: "You Would be Lonely Too."

The musical contribution is from the David Perrico Group, a 12-piece "bandestra" featuring the trumpet of Perrico, who plays that instrument in "Viva Elvis" at Aria and has backed Donny & Marie and Gladys Knight, among others.

The "others" include the short-lived showroom version of the Zowie Bowie stage act, which for more than a decade has been Taylor and longtime fiancé Chris Phillips. The two ended their relationship in December, during their valiant attempt at a vintage Vegas show, aptly titled, "Vintage Vegas," at Monte Carlo. Taylor took up with Perrico and began writing songs, and for a time it seemed the Zowie Bowie act might also be finished.

Not so. Akin to an entertainment "Terminator," the ZB brand powers on. The duo are back where they made their Vegas debut in 2006, Rocks Lounge at Red Rock Resort. They open, or re-open, there Sept. 3.

Incidentally, Taylor's new hair shade was crafted by noted Vegas lock-smith Michael Boychuck at Color salon at Caesars Palace. Phillips hasn't — yet — changed his look much. Still blond, still suntanned, still bedazzled. He's still groovin', too, whether onstage or not. I honestly wish them all well, no matter where, how (and with whom) they land.

Madonna? And what about Neil?

A few years ago I stumbled on an unlikely report from a little-known overseas publication speculating that a famous entertainer was in talks to star in a production show on the Strip. It seemed out of the dark at the time, but as the months unfolded it became fact.

That person was Cher, and the hotel was Caesars Palace.

I remembered that development this week when a few celebrity bloggers and The Sun of London reported that Madonna is eyeing a long-term gig in Vegas — at a reported fee of $1 billion over five years.

An official with AEG Live, the company that books shows at The Colosseum at Caesars, said there was nothing in the works to bring Madonna to The Colosseum (Wynn Las Vegas officials also said there's no activity with Madonna, in case you're wondering about someone supplanting, or sharing the showroom with, Garth Brooks at Encore).

But I also asked what was happening with the reported interest AEG Live and Caesars has had with Neil Diamond at The Colosseum and was told there was nothing in the works with Madonna or Neil Diamond, which effectively — at least, officially — takes Diamond out of the equation at Caesars.

Black & White, yet colorful

Penn & Teller, the women of "X Burlesque" at Flamingo Las Vegas, the "Men of X" from Hooters, and the cast of "Crazy Horse Paris" at MGM Grand are scheduled to appear at Saturday's 24th Annual AFAN Black & White Party at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel (the event runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; admission is $35 in advance, $40 at the door, go to the AFAN website for information).

The first of these parties was held in 1986 at a Las Vegas residence, and admission was canned generic food for the AFAN food bank. Over the years it grew out to the Green Valley Athletic Club, then the Hard Rock Hotel, and the Palms, where it spent five years. The party as returned to the Hard Rock Hotel, and is in the Joint as a result of some unexpected developments: Last year, rain and wind forced the event from the north and south pool deck to the Joint.

As it turned out, the party was so well-received indoors that AFAN officials decided to use the Joint (this time as planned) for Saturday's event. It is the first party to actually be planned for indoors, says AFAN Executive Director Jennifer Morss.

"Usually we have to turn over the pool area, in 115-degree heat, in about two hours," Morss said during a phone interview this week. "Saturday we have from 9 a.m. through the day to prepare." Every level and the Joint's stage will be used by entertainers, merchandise vendors, and food and beverage companies. Sadly, the attraction that helped make the event so memorable last year — Charo — is absent this year.

A paid crowd of 2,500 is expected this year, said Morss, who credits the Joint with "re-invigorating" the event.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.