LOOKING IN ON: ENTERTAINMENT

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007 | 7:09 a.m.

The first time I heard Chris Iorio perform was three years ago at Jack's Irish Pub in Palace Station. He was 14 years old and playing lead guitar for the rock band Old School, whose other three members were ancient - in their 30s.

The Las Vegas native, now 17, is a junior at Las Vegas Academy, where he studies music technique and theory while awaiting his destiny.

He isn't doing a lot of waiting. He's eager to go after it. Iorio gave up the gig with the cover band, joined a rock group called Conflict of Interest and now is with a fledgling band called Adelitas Way, which has played at the House of Blues and performed with Panic at the Disco.

Adelitas Way is working on an album and may go on tour early next year.

"At end of the semester I will transfer to virtual high school," Iorio says. "I don't know what's going to be going on with the band, so I'm finishing in virtual. One of my big concerns is finishing high school."

Meanwhile, he's part of an ad hoc group that recently released a Christmas CD, "Money in a Card," available at iTunes.

The song was written by former .38 Special lead guitarist Jeff Carlisi, Billy Joel drummer Liberty DeVitto and Derek St. Holmes, vocalist and rhythm guitar player with Ted Nugent.

Every summer Iorio spends a week at Camp Jam in Georgia, a weeklong rock 'n' roll music camp where aspiring musicians learn how to perform. It was co-founded by Carlisi, who has become Iorio's mentor. At last summer's session Carlisi hand-picked five teenage musicians and they made the CD.

"Jeff took us into the studio at Southern Tracks Records, where Lynyrd Skynyrd has recorded," Iorio says.

The guitar wunderkind credits Camp Jam with helping to keep him focused on his music.

"It got rock 'n' roll running through my veins," Iorio says. "It made me love rock 'n' roll."

A drink buffet

Anyone with a hollow leg should check out Polly Esther's at the Stratosphere, a nightclub that has four themed clubs within its walls - each club covering a different musical decade.

The venue is offering a $40 all-you-can-drink special.

Buy the wristband and dive in.

Artie Lesavoy, vice president of operations for the club, says the price includes admission and most of the liquor, but doesn't cover shots or energy drinks and isn't valid for special events.

Polly Esther's opens at 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and Mondays.

Christmas thanks

Lounge entertainer Don Alexander - piano, vocals, saxophone - likes to thank all his fans with an annual Christmas show, and he has a lot of them after performing in Vegas for about 15 years.

More than 200 turned out for last weekend's bash, which featured performances by several local lounge entertainers, including Alexander; his wife, Christina; Joni James (who often performs with Alexander at P.J. McRae's); Renee Dawn; Michael Cagle; Michael Brett and Cassandra Davis; Lenore Richel; and Lou Fossessca.

Alexander began studying engineering in college, but his passion for music was so strong he dropped out, joined a rock band and hit the road.

He can be heard at 9 p.m. most Fridays and Saturdays at P.J. McRae's, 1487 E. Flamingo Road.

Around town

The soundtrack from "Love," the tribute to the Beatles, is up for a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Medium and for Best Surround Sound Album. The music for "Love" was compiled by George Martin, the Beatles' legendary producer, and his son, Giles, using the Beatles archives. Cirque du Soleil and Apple Corps Ltd. created the production ... New Jersey rocker John Eddie says he likes Vegas and wouldn't mind living here. Apparently Vegas likes him, too. No sooner did he finish a gig at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill at Harrah's than he was given another gig at the Green Valley Ranch Station Casino, part of the venue's free concert series. Eddie will perform at the Ovation Lounge at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. He opened for John Cafferty at the same venue a couple of weeks ago ... The CineVegas Film Festival, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in June at the Palms, is accepting film submissions through March 15. Cash prizes will be awarded, including $10,000 for the Grand Jury Award. (More info: withoutabox.com.)