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Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com
Pitbull performs at the Pearl in the Palms on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012.
Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012 | 4:36 p.m.
Pitbull performs at the Pearl in the Palms on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012.
Pitbull performs at the Pearl in the Palms on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012.
Cuban-American DJ, rapper, songwriter, producer and actor Pitbull clearly loves Las Vegas. His first of two shows in his Planet Pit World Tour stop at the Pearl in the Palms on Friday night (the second one is tonight) was at least his fifth high-profile appearance in the Entertainment Capital of the World in the past year.
Armando Cristian Perez celebrated his 31st birthday at 1OAK in the Mirage in January, opened Season 9 of Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel in April, performed at Red Rock Resort in August and closed the second night of the iHeart Radio Music Festival at MGM Grand Garden Arena in September.
In his 80-minute set Friday night at the Pearl, Pitbull was in full party mode; it was nonstop, pulsating, high energy and pounding bass, like being at the Electric Daisy Carnival’s stage for house music. And male or female (Pitbull is popular with the ladies), it was difficult to ignore that he was on Groin Thrust Autopilot.
Pitbull is sexy … and he knows it. Thanks to contributing photographer Tom Donoghue for his photo gallery of the Cuban Casanova.
Pitbull’s setlist included “Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor),” “Can’t Stop Me Now,” “International Love,” “Get It Started,” “Rain Over Me,” “Back in Time” (from “Men in Black 3”), “Don’t Stop the Party,” “Culo,” “(I Know You Want Me) Calle Ocho,” “I Like It,” “Hotel Room Service” and the show closer “Give Me Everything,” his first No. 1. Havana Brown, who opened for Pitbull at Red Rock in August, appeared to perform the duet “Last Night.”
Remixes, riffs and samples included Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” “Party Rock” and “I’m in Miami, Bitch,” Martin Solveig’s “Hello,” Jennifer Lopez’s “Dance Again” and “On the Floor,” Robin’s “Show Me Love,” Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine,” Calvin Harris’ “Feel So Close,” Duck Sauce’s “Barbra Streisand,” Usher’s “DJ Got Us Falling in Love” and the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling.”
Pitbull, head to toe in black (a black suit and his signature black shades) was sweaty -- he really should consider breathable fabrics -- but kudos to him for being onstage the entire time. And the clingy clothes -- wet and dry -- accentuated his fit physique.
Pitbull thanked his band and the fans, mentioned the holidays twice and said to forget 2012 and make 2013 positive and uplifting. DJ RPS, from Cuba and Las Vegas’ 97.5 FM, kicked things off at 8 p.m. with a 30-minute set, then it was a 65-minute wait for Pitbull to hit the stage. By 9:35 p.m., the crowd had booed at least three times.
Will the party continue for Pitbull, who has certainly turned his life from a negative to a positive, in 2013?
Party on, Pitbull.
Don Chareunsy is editor of VegasDeLuxe.com and senior editor, arts and entertainment, of LasVegasSun.com.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
The Pearl is the Palms premier concert venue, hosting some of the most legendary and popular names in entertainment.
Palms Casino Resort has come a long way since its "Real World" debut in 2002. The boutique property features three distinct towers and a diverse mix of bars and restaurants across a 95,000-square-foot casino.
Palms, which features more than 1,200 rooms and fantasy suites, is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar transformation that will encompass an Ivory Tower room and suite redesign, new culinary additions, re-imagined gaming spaces and new, distinctive nightlife experiences.
In addition to newly designed rooms, during the first phase of the renovation, Palms will welcome Heraea, a high-energy American restaurant and lounge, and XISHI, a pan-Asian restaurant and lounge.
Fantasy Suites include the Hardwood Suite, the only hotel room in the world with its own basketball court.
Other amenities include the all-new Cantor Gaming® race and sports book, one of the few sports books in Las Vegas to include a poker room; SOCIAL; Scarlet; Chocolat Bistro; tonic bar; ghostbar; Pearl Concert Theater; Moon Nightclub; N9NE Steakhouse; Nove Italiano; Simon Restaurant & Lounge; Palms Pool & Bungalows; Kim Vō Salon; Drift Spa & Hammam; Brenden Theatres, a 14-theatre cineplex and more than 60,000 square-feet of meeting space.
Groin Thrust Autopilot
I've often wondered what to call that tendency of modern performers. Thanks for coining the right phrase. For me, though, not a turn on. That's not the talent I care to see. But your description is spot on, Don.
Um, I still don't get it.