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‘Monster Circus’ a parade of scrap metal
Head-pounding concert series imagination, spark enthusiasm
Dee Snider, of Twisted Sister, closes out the Thursday showing of “Monster Circus” at the Hilton Theatre. “Monster Circus” brings together band members from metal groups to relive past glory, combining the music with a circus-like atmosphere that includes acrobats, a sinister clown and a ringmaster, Mario Ferreira.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Dee Snider: Monster Dress Rehearsal
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del.icio.usDee Snider leads a pack of legendary 80's rockers in a dress rehearsal for Monster Circus. The heavy metal rocker chats about the show and their new stint at Las Vegas Hilton.
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If You Go
- What: “Monster Circus” heavy metal revue
- When: 11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 23-25 and May 21-23, 28-30
- Where: Hilton Theater at the Las Vegas Hilton
- Admission: $39-$66 ($86 includes “meet-and-party” package); 732-5755, lvhilton.com
- Running time: About 75 minutes
- Audience advisory: Very loud; guests 12 to 17 years of age must be accompanied by an adult
Something called “Monster Circus” will be defiling the House of Manilow six nights a month, in what seems to be a desperate strategy to lure a younger, more down-market, free-spending crowd to the Las Vegas Hilton.
They’d have to be very free-spending to waste their money on this slapped-together garbage. There’s no earthly reason anyone should venture off the Strip (or pay a double-digit ticket price) to see a metal cover band plus go-go dancers, both of which can be found in abundance, separately or in combination, at dozens of bars.
“Monster Circus” could be seen as a poor man’s rock ’n’ roll fantasy camp — except instead of jamming with the has-been rockers, you have to stay in your seat and watch as they pound through a playlist of well-worn anthems including “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Crazy Train” and “Highway to Hell.”
When “Monster” lurched into the Hilton last week, the starting lineup of metallurgists was a Frankenstein patchwork of solid utility players from once-hot bands: Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Dio), John Corabi (Motley Crue, Ratt), Fred Coury (Cinderella), Bruce Kulick (Kiss), and Tony Montana (Great White). Unless you’re a constant reader of “Vegas Rocks” magazine, none of them will be even remotely recognizable.
The stage is decorated with a six-pack of dancers in various combinations of bikinis and boots, who run through a rote routine of stripper poses and pole-clenching prowess, and deploy some impressive synchronized hair-flipping.
The rockers and the dancers don’t appear to have been introduced before the show; the boys in the band pay scant attention to the girls, which is true to vintage metal video form.
“Monster Circus” is oddly light on the circus side of the equation. There’s a Chuckie-esque sinister-clown mascot who appears on projection screens, an annoying leather-clad ringmaster who juggles fake guitars and belches fire, and languid aerialists who occasionally entwine sapphically, suspended from rings or ropes. There are flames and fireworks and random video clips of skulls and candles.
“I’ve heard more noise at a funeral!” shouted singer Montana, trying to scare up some audience enthusiasm. But this “Circus” is a snore. A very loud snore.
The evening’s funniest moments came when the video cameras panned the crowd — whose crossed arms and evidently bored faces appeared on the screens.
The crowd woke up only when guest star Dee Snider stormed the stage, a blast of energy in a sweeping frock coat, streaming blond corkscrew curls and that Crypt Keeper visage. The Twisted Sister frontman, who will return for the show’s April run, radiated true rock star charisma and energy, demanding that the crowd stand and scream along for “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
You’re right, Dee. We’re not gonna take it. Is there a metal song called “We Want Our Money Back”?
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Sounds like true Vegas crap.
THIS SHOW ROCKED!
I was at the show the second weekend at the Hilton and wow I had so much fun! I'm not at all surprised by this review. If your not a fan of rock and roll and your out of touch with who's who well them you wouldn't know this cast of characters in the band. Hey it's got sexy dancers and a outrageous ringmaster who interacts with a creepy clown. It's not Barry Manilow or Cher.... but I don't think it's trying to be. Maybe this show belongs at the Hard Rock where people would appreciate it more. This reviewer is not doing the high energy rocking show justice by bad mouthing. I think the audience was having fun... at least that was what i experienced? Check it out for yourself Rockers.
My fiancee and i attended the show on 3-28-09 and absolutely loved it,the ringmaster,the aerial acrobatics above the stage as well as the dancers topped off by some extremely talented musicians keeping everyone entertained and on our toes.From what we saw and heard that night the crowd just loved it.If your a fan of the mellower side of a music (B.Manilow/T.Jones),this show is definately NOT for you.If you like to hear some fun rock from hair metal past than see this show,it will rock your ears as well as your eyes.
Some people take themselves way to serious their not able to go out and have fun. You give some people a little power and the next thing you know
they have a Napoleon complex sounds like this reporter
I can't believe the review and comments made about this show. Myself and three friends attended and loved every moment of it. The music was GREAT! We were hardly able to contain ourselves in our seats. It's geared toward those of us who grew up listening to great bands such as Great White, Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot and Ozzy just to name a few. If you are a true fan of the 80's hair metal bands, then this is the show for you. It was a wonderful blast from the past and made me feel like a teenager again. I can't wait to go back for more! I have told all my friends and family that this is must see show.
I have seen this show twice, and I plan on seeing it for my birthday as well. Mr. Brown, while I appreciate your opinion, I find it downright insulting to say that because someone would pay to see this show, we ( I as well) would be very free spending, which implies we do not care how we spend our money, but to also say that we are wasting our money. Maybe to you it is a waste sir, but to me, it is not. And quite frankly, since Vegas is known for it's variety in entertainment, perhaps this is just want is needed. I had a blast at each show I went to, and coinsidering the last time I went, I brought my mother who also had an excellent time, I find your comments quite off the mark. By the way, if you are wondering, I am 31, and yes I brought my mother, who is nearing 60. Perhaps the musical stylings were not your choice, in which case perhaps you were not viewing the show with an open enough mind. But since I am so "free spending" with my money, I have decided to cancel my subscription to your paper and use the money for something that is more suited to me. But I enjoyed the show very much and will go as often as I can while they are here as I still enjoy the music and songs that they are playing, despite what you say.
Is Joe Brown fricking insane??? I am a honest to God cowboy who has worked 4 ranches 3 feed yards and rode bulls and broncs for 16 years. This is the music we had in high school and college.This show made me 20 years younger again. This is the stuff we spent our scholarship money on to buy so we had something to listen to while we were driving from one rodeo to the next. These are the men, the original artist who made the music what it was and is. Without the talent that is appearing in MONSTER CIRCUS there would be no Counting Crows or Nirvana or even System of a Down. In case you dont understand these are not some posers in their garage praying to someday be able to play just one riff correctly. I understand your jealousy and how you wish you had a life half as exciting as these icons. I have been twice to the show and will go again. It is wild to have Dee Snider 3 feet away no matter where your seat is and Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Dio), John Corabi (Motley Crue, Ratt), Fred Coury (Cinderella), Bruce Kulick (Kiss), and Tony Montana (Great White)all bust their tails to play hard, loud, and perfect. By the way it isnt the house of Manilow, its the house Elvis built. People like Joe Brown are the kind who go to Toby Keith concerts and complain because people are wearing cowboy hats. What kind of paper sends an agorophobic 80 year old big band fan to review a heavy metal show?
congrats, cowbugs, you got 2 out of 3! (maybe 3 out of 4 if you toss in "fricking insane.")
thanks for writing,
joe
Cool, This is even better. Since Joe Brown doesn't understand nor appreciate this genre', fans like us will enjoy this show even more. Thanks Joe Brown for your literary deficiencies. They make the world a better place! Stick with the wine and cheese crowd. Us as fans are quite sure you'll report much more accurately and precise when surrounded by acts of snobbery.
This show was PHENOMENAL. I saw it the show on 3/26 and 3/28. Dee Snider brought the house DOWN--super energy from a stellar artist and showman.
As you have probably learned by now, don't believe half-baked reviews by reporters who would rather see Bette Midler in a wheelchair than a high energy megawatt show like Monster Circus.
It was one of the best shows I've seen. And that includes most of the overdone hyped up BS that is pawned off on Ma and Pa Kettle all over Vegas.
SEE THIS SHOW and meet the performers after the show at the Shimmer Bar. (My only regret is that none of the HOT dancers showed up. But Dee and Co. did!!!)
FANTASTIC.
I have seen Monster Circus 7 times, so far, and plan on seeing it as many time as possible. So, it was a great surprise when I read the column by Mr. Brown saying this show is 'defiling' the House of Manilow. The whole article is full of inaccuracies and when I saw the date it was printed, April 1, I thought I had figured out the reason for the column...an April Fool's Day joke.
Mr. Brown calls it, "slapped together garbage," "solid utility players from once hot bands," and "languid aerialists.etc." Then, to make matters worse, he takes on the crowd who seems to be sitting on their hands being bored to death.
This all leads me to question if Mr. Brown even bothered to attend the show. First of all, this is a very polished show that is one of the best shows in Vegas. Since I moved here in October, I have been to many shows and concerts and Monster Circus is one of the top 3 I have attended. To be able to go see shows like this on a regular basis was one of my main reasons to move here from back East. Last night, I had to rush from Texas Station, where I saw Foreigner, to get to the Hilton in time for Monster Circus. Both shows were astounding and, to my surprise, the bass player from Foreigner made the same trip as me...except he sat in with the band, which is what might happen anytime they take the stage.
As far as the musicians being solid utility players, I'm not sure that's a bad thing. These musicians, from the list of bands they have helped propel to the top, read like a Who's Who of Heavy Metal royalty. Their resumes are astounding. They have been with the all time great bands.
The dancers and the "languid aerialists" are fantasic! When the show features the ladies on the rings or ropes, the audience is driven to applause and amazement. For anyone to say anything else is clearly not watching the show.
Last of Mr. Brown's points is that the audience had "bored faces" and "arms crossed." About the only person that might have fit that description was me. When I get into a show, I might tend to want to sit there and soak it all in and, maybe, I cross my arms but, let me assure you Mr. Brown, I was anything bot bored...I was in awe.
Thankfully, you seem to like Dee Snider and din't have anything negative to say about him. I agree that he is one of the great frontmen of all time and does bring added energy to the already energized crowd.
Hopefully, Monster Circus will be around far longer than their May dates because this show is only going to get better, as it has from its opening March dates.
I have an offer for Mr. Brown. Since he thinks those of us who attend this show are a bunch of free spending people. I will meet you at any gas station in town to buy you a full tank of gas, if you will make a promise to me. Once you have the full tank you have to promise to take a long long ride, to the end, of the Highway To Hell.
Oh man, you guys are taking yourselves and this half assed 'show' WAY too seriously.
First of all, before anyone tries to claim I'm just a fan of Manilow or Big Band type things - I've seen EVERY ONE of these musicians multiple times in their various bands since I was a wee lad (I'm 38 now). And my knowledge of useless 80's metal trivia would make your head spin.
I went back in Dec when they were trying to sell Monster Circus to the Hilton (it was also a Toys For Tots drive, which was a nice gesture), and I've seen it since it became a regular feature at the Hilton.
Was it a fun time? Yeah, I guess...but they had a lot more pyro and circus entertainers at the Dec showcase, that's for sure. And replacing most of those performers with dancers (who are cute and perform well...but aren't really 'circus performers') and that lone 'ringmaster' tossing hoops and doing the few tricks that exist in the revamped show...well, that was probably a bad idea.
Another thing I noticed is that the energy level in the room went up a lot more when Dee was onstage. If I were advising the people running this show, I'd pay Dee more and have him onstage for the duration.
And lastly: there is no need to PAY for this show. People were handing out their comps outside the venue like they were candy, probably why they are done after May. That's right folks, this show has been dropped due to a lack of ticket sales/interest. See it while you can I guess. (though honestly, it isn't all that great).