TAKE FIVE: Sunset Strip at the Hilton

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006 | 7:55 a.m.

What: Sunset Strip

Where: Shimmer Cabaret, Las Vegas Hilton

When: 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays

Admission: Free

The Sunset Strip band blows the walls out of the Las Vegas Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret.

Actually, the retractable walls are raised so that casino guests can enjoy the high-energy show band, but in any event, the walls are gone and the Hilton is rockin' from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

It's a free show that attracts the attention of everyone who is within earshot of the music and eyeshot if the sexy girls are onstage.

Most days and evenings, Shimmer features the hit musical "Menopause," whose fans are generally those in the menopause age range.

But late at night the cabaret raises the walls, puts away the Geritol, brings out the tequila and starts the party.

The band didn't exist until about a year ago. It owes its creation to the Aladdin, which was bought by Planet Hollywood.

1. Founders

Producers Glenn Medas and Michael Chambers created the group for Planet Hollywood/Aladdin, which was looking for a "hot, hip, happening show band." After a year of fighting construction issues while performing at various locations within the venue, Medas and Chambers accepted an offer from the Hilton.

"Construction drove customers away," Chambers says.

2. The performers

Lead vocalists Lorena Peril and Sina Foley belt out such classics as "Naughty Girl" (by Beyonce), "Lady Marmalade" (Patti Labelle, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink) and "Bad Girls" (Donna Summer). The show includes dancers Nadia Albulet, Kayla Kalbfleisch and Jessica Abell and the band, D'La Vance (bass and vocals), Kip Mungin (drums, percussion and vocals), Brenda Cowart (keyboards and vocals) and Steven Lee (guitar and vocals).

3. Musical director

Veteran Las Vegas musician Lee was chosen to lead the show band.

"Part of the reason we are doing well is that the show we're doing has mass appeal," Lee says. "We're not only doing things on the charts, but we're also doing a fair amount of classic rock - Pat Benatar, Stevie Ray Vaughn.

"I've always contended that if you're honestly getting into the music and enjoying what you're doing, it increases the chances of the audience getting into it, even though it may not necessarily be their cup of tea."

4. The venue

At first blush, having a youthful band that features two sexy female vocalists and a couple of equally sexy dancers at the staid old Hilton may seem out of place, but VP of communications Ira David Sternberg says it's all part of the game plan.

"We have spent more than $40 million transforming the Hilton, and a major part of that transformation is to have a strong entertainment policy," Sternberg says.

And that policy includes across-the-board entertainment for a broad spectrum of demographics.

5. Demographics

Chambers says the demographics between the new Planet Hollywood and the Hilton aren't all that different.

"The band plays the hits of today and all the way back to Janis Joplin," he says. "We're a hit with everyone from 28 to 65.

"Besides, there's no age limit to enjoying good music."