‘Purple Reign’ to shake up the scene at Westgate

By John Katsilometes

Published Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014 | 6:30 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014 | 9 a.m.

The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is once more SLS Las Vegas, where we are hard at werq at the Perq.

The quick critique of this hotel after several visits since its opening: Love the design, the food is terrific, the staff is really friendly and responsive, Fred Segal is a singularly appealing fashion line, and it’s not so difficult to enter and exit. The clubs boom with excitement, if not musical artistry, and those dancers in the cages at Foxtail are sure having a time of it.

But really, I’d love some dedicated live entertainment in this beautiful building. A showroom like the old Congo Room with an exclusive production show or top headliner. A graduated version of Casbar Lounge with a burning five-piece band filling the casino with buoyant sound.

I miss the animation of live performances that the Sahara, craggy as it was in its final years, helped make a Las Vegas trademark.

For how to create some buzz with talented artists, read on …

• "Purple Reign," one of the best and longest-running tribute acts in VegasVille, is moving to this neighborhood. The Prince-themed act led by Jason Tenner is set for an Oct. 1 relaunch at Shimmer Cabaret at Westgate. The crew just opened at D Las Vegas in July, and their departure leaves an opening for an act looking for a room — such as Jeff Timmons’ Men of the Strip, which has been showcased at that hotel.

Over the past 17 years or so, Tenner and his backing band have grown from a college club act at Tom & Jerry’s on Maryland Parkway to a locals favorite at through stints at the Beach (way back when), 3121 at the Rio (Prince’s club during his run at the hotel), House of Blues, the Pub at Monte Carlo, a series of Station Casinos venues, Hooters, Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood and The D.

The move to Shimmer Cabaret throws open the possibility that there is something of a long-term future strategy at Shimmer Cabaret. Initially, Westgate owner David Siegel said he planned to take apart Shimmer in favor of a lobby bar featuring live music, but not necessarily such an extensive production as "Purple Reign." Mo5aic has left the venue, but Elvis tribute act Trent Carlini (a favorite of Siegel) remains.

Obviously, the entertainment strategy is still taking form at Westgate, which has two fully functional entertainment venues — Shimmer and the theater that is currently home to “Raiding the Rock Vault” — and room for mobility. A multitude of performers and producers around town are wondering how Siegel is planning to proceed at Westgate.

• More from Westgate: On Thursday night, the hotel is opening up the theater for a screening of the movie “The Hornets Nest,” a documentary recorded on the front lines of the war in Afghanistan shot by Mike Boettcher of ABC News and his son, Carlos.

The presentation begins at 5 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction at Tempo Lounge. At 7 p.m., former Bears and Raiders wideout Willie Gault and “Growing Pains” cast member Julie McCullough host a “special presentation” and introductions of dignitaries on hand. Paul Shortino of “Rock Vault” will sing the national anthem (yeah!). Lee Greenwood also will perform. The film screening is at 7:30 p.m., and director and producer David Salzberg will hang back for a Q+A with the audience.

Tickets to the screening are free and available at the Westgate box office. Donations are suggested (we think it would be a good idea to donate) and will be directed to the Green Beret Foundation, a nonprofit providing services for Army Special Forces wounded, ill or injured and transitioning personnel .

• A Las Vegas frontman is performing a big-time fundraiser in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. Caesars Palace headliner Matt Goss is among the entertainers lined up for the RSA Cares Benefit Concert at Lincoln Theater. The event is to benefit the Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness.

Deep into his fourth year helming the barge at the Gossy Room at Caesars, Goss is the announced headliner for the charity gala performance.

• Magician Lance Burton is one of the busiest retired entertainers in the city. He pops up periodically at charity shows, especially those that assist doggies seeking homes. He’s back onstage at 8 p.m. Sunday at Orleans Showroom as part of the lineup in “Variety Live,” a show that is — as the title indicates — varietal in its approach. Singers Ben Stone and Jasmine Trias, magician Jan Rouven of Riviera and Kriss Kremo (the Swiss juggler of high reputation) also are on the bill.

The event is to honor circus legend, performer and impresario Tihany and is a benefit for Heaven Can Wait Animal Society in the memory of the late Joanie Spina. A dancer, choreographer and artistic director for David Copperfield for more than a decade, Spina died in August at age 61. She had suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, was being treated for cancer and was awaiting a liver and lung transplant in Houston.

• The odyssey at Crazy Horse Too continues to lurch along, as the new principal owner and manager of the gentlemen’s club, Craig Franze, is optimistic that he’ll reopen the business “soon,” and that could conceivably mean by this weekend. Franze has been awaiting final approval from Health Department and fire inspectors this week and has already applied for a temporary liquor and cabaret license. He is supplanting Mike Galam as owner of the club, though Galam’s father, Victor, and sister, Jackie Barnes, also are listed as owners.

But Franze, whose affiliation with the Las Vegas adult-nightclub industry has been forged through his management of the concierge company Zexzoo, says he will oversee all operations of the club. His partner in Zexzoo is Spearmint Rhino President Kevin Kelly. This means, or seems to, that Franze and Kelly will be partners in one business while concurrently running businesses that are in direct competition with each other.

It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out, to put it mildly, but first Franze needs to clear his licensing hurdles. Oh, and find a few dozen hot dancers.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow Kats With The Dish at twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.