A Great Time in Fabulous Las Vegas!!!
Well I was going to write this yesterday, however, sleep demanded an audience so I submitted to sleep about 10 hours ago.
This has been a fantastic weekend!!!. Back in April KOZZ had a contest. The trick was to name 6 Songs and artist that one of the DJ’s played, If you did so correctly you won $105.70 and were entered into a drawing for a show package at the Hard Rock Hotel for a Guns and Roses Show. Well I got lucky and my name was drawn.
For those of you music fans if you have never been to the Hard Rock Hotel (HRH) you need to put this on your bucket list. If you’re a baseball fan you go to Williamsport and visit the Hall of Fame, football you end up in Canton, if you’re a music fan you do the HRH. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!
As one that has worked with Bill Graham Presents both in the Bat Area and locally I have had the opportunity to be on stage with many entertainers in the music field and see a ton of memorabilia in the Graham offices…nothing was like what the HRH displays.
This visit to Fabulous Las Vegas reminded me of a conversation I had with my father many, many, many years ago. I was about 13-14 years old and asked my father, “dad why do they play all the old foggie music in the casinos??”…his response was…When your generation becomes old enough to support them, trust me they will be playing the music you like…
Funny how it works as I get older he gets smarter!!! But true to that statement, Vegas offers a plethora of my generations music. Whether it be Beatle Tribute Bands, or ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, or the show I saw Guns and Roses.
The place where people paid to get radiated!!!!!!
I decided to drive to Las Vegas so on Friday morning about 3am I headed out on my journey. I have always liked driving places, gives you time to reflect and see the country side. You get to see little sleepy towns like Mina Nevada a place where modern technology and amenities have not polluted life. Historic places like Goldfield. Places like the Nevada Test Site, that area around Area 51, a portion of the country that holds some of the top secretes of alien life the United States keeps. Oh, this is an area where you lose all cell phone reception…Something in the air??? Plus you get to get lost and have a good time doing it!!!!
I got in a little before check in time but the HRH folks were great about getting me settled in around noon. There was a $20 “early check in” fee but the shower was sooooooo worth it!!!
Now it was all about having a good time. I called the boss and let her know I got in OK and she asked have you been to the pool yet? Seems everyone knew about this pool side thing at the HRH but me…Well let me just say this. Vegas has 14, 763,239 places to girl watch and just as many places serving great food and cold beers to accompany you on your aesthetic adventure!!
My first stop was at a place called Pink Taco…sorta like a grownup version of Hooters. Gorgeous women in shorts and fishnets…oh did I forget to mention the patio is pool side!!!
Well my waiter was Travis and the service was not only excellent but the food was SCREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!! I had the Inferno Nachos. Travis gave the warning, and I explained that…hey you aint got nothing too hot for me. The Nachos, they do live up to their name, for me it was about half way through them before I broke a sweat, but they were delicious. The Habanera Sauce for this dish is made in their kitchen… tip ‘o the hat to the chef at the Pink Taco!!!!! $40 for two coronas and Nachos…but what a VIEW!!!! Huge shout out to Travis and the Pink Taco. Thank you…
Next it was off to look around. I was blown away at some of the photos, Robert Plant with the dove at Keizer Stadium from the June 2, 1973 show, a show I was fortunate enough to be a stage hand on and actually saw that photograph taken. The guitars, drum sticks, Steven Tyler and Modonna’s outfits from tours. Drumsets, photos and videos. Just an unbelievable collection for guests to enjoy.
desert…mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
My next stop was 35 Steaks and Martinis. Yes this restaurant lives up to their billing. From the Maitre‘D and especially Jamie and her crew who provide excellent service and menu recommendations. The menu is utterly fantastic! My guest for dinner was the ever radiant Kaia Leia, a very dear friend of mine that has relocated to Las Vegas from Reno and is a Tantra Massage Instructor in Vegas. Pomegranite martinies, Shrimp Cocktails, 35 ounce Tomahawk, Salmon, Asparagus, and well…French Fries. Oh for desert…a Chocolate banana Crème Brule that was out of this world! It was sooooo good I kept the dish!!!!!
Fortunately there was time before the meet and greet to cat nap and let everything move around. Many thanks to Jamie and her wait staff and 35 Steaks and Martini’s. Not only was the service top of line the food was just as good. Definitely a place to take a special someone for dinner, they will make you look good!!!
mmmmm…grub!!!!
Now to the meet and greet…A little disappointed. As we waited in line to “Meet the Band” I noticed some long faces coming out of the room where we were to meet and have photographs taken. We were all wondering why??? Well as we got to the room we found out why. Two of the seven members, DJ Ashba and Richard Fortus, were the band members and a local DJ. When we found out there was a local DJ, and no disrespect to poor guy, but 90% of the folks were like me from out of town, my question became, why not Max, or Martina, Pam, Jim??? Those are my DJ’s and everyone started asking the same. Now let’s be real for a minute, Axel is the only original member and truth be told that IS who everyone was in line for. He was not present. Only two members of a seven piece ensemble??? Shame on you Axel. That said, I do understand that sometime show biz can be a grind.
The show…that was great!!!!!!Definitely made up for the week Meet and Greet…SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKIN… even though this is not the original line up Axel has assembled a fantastic cast of characters and they just tore the roof off the place. about two hours of jamming and get down and boogie rock-n-roll left me exhausted and ready for a good sleep…NOT!!! I was in Vegas…There’s NO sleeping in Vegas!!!!! This is a good line up and the show was awesome!!!
The trip and the experience A+!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To KOZZ radio and Max Volume, the show and DJ I won the first leg of the journey by naming
Grand Funk Raildroad……..We’re an American band
Billy Squire…………………The Stroke
Boston………………………Something About You
Y&T…………………………Rescue Me
Bad Company………………Rock-n-Roll Fantasy
Queen……………………….Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Thank you so very much for the great opportunity.
Most of all a HUGE thank you to the staff and concierge of the Hard Rock Hotel, Travis and the Pink Taco, Jamie and your crew at 35 Steaks and Martini’s for providing one of best get-a-ways I’ve had in many, many years. Definitely a trip worth saving the ticket!!
Unfortunately I was unable to share this adventure with the one person that is very near and dear to my heart…sorry it’s late…Happy Birthday Boss…Maybe something over the summer….
Thankx Everyone…Had a Great time.
Until Next Time
Happy Gardening
Written By: Aaron Aveiro
Photographs By: Aaron Aveiro