Viva Las Vegas Opinions/Info Query

I'm thinking about going to Viva Las Vegas this year and as I've never been I wanted to know if it's worth it. I'm not interested in socializing or buying rockabilly stuff, it's mainly the music. Are the shows usually close enough together to make it a good night? How's the sound been? Are the overpacked withg bodies? Will I get beat up by toughs in the parking lot if I arrive in a rented Focus?

I went last year (ducking out on Saturday for Mondo Tiki of course).

There is definitely a little bit of an elitist "I'm more rockabilly than you" attitude there that would trounce even the snobbiest Tikiphile's anti-Buffettness in it's intensity, but you're not going to get thumped for showing up out of your rebel-conformist uniform. I paraded around in uncuffed, black (not blue) jeans with no wallet chain and Doc Martens, and I was fine.

The crowds feel full but never uncomfortably packed in, and with two stages, there is almost continual music.

They seem to try to balance old-skool acts with newer psychobilly stuff, so there's a good blend if you like both (personally, I could do without most of the new stuff, but that's just me).

The women are awe-inspiring, and people are having fun 24 hours a day. It's a good time. The rockabilly crowd have been embracing Tiki for the past few years, so Aloha shirts are actually OK there.

I stayed at the Hard Rock last year but actually spent more time at VLV. Both events however were a total blast. Spent the daytime at the Hard Rock pool digging the tiki scene and the insane bikini's. Then I wnt to the Gold Coast to check out the car show, which varied between beaters to highly modified customs. Man I dig those Betty Page lookin rockabilly girls. Then I gambled late into the night at the Gold Coast. Everyone was milling around the tables and it looked like an old James Dean movie. Almost wish they were on different weekends because there is so much to do and see. Don't miss it!!

I agree with all of what JT posted. I've gone every year except the first. While many people go to socialize I primarily go to see the bands and hang out with my small group of friends from the Bay Area and LA who go along every year. Every year there are a handful of incredible performances that make it so worthwhile (last year's highlights were Ruth Brown's all R&B set and the performance by Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones). There are many very good bands (I never have time to see them all), some great DJs from all over the world, and there's always a few bands I don't care for. But it's Vegas so there's plenty to do if you don't have the desire or stamina to see all the bands for 4 days straight (there's a free shuttle to the strip from the Gold Coast which is a long and somewhat treacherous walk from the strip).

Also, there's a great car show and some other events (dance lessons and contests, neo burlesque shows, vendors, a huge 24-hour bowling alley at the casino) to keep one occupied. Or as James mentioned you can just park your butt on a bar stool and watch all the gorgeous girls. Most of the girls get decked out and look very glamorous, but too many guys just wear a "uniform" of jeans and t-shirts. I like to get dressed up. The Japanese and European visitors wear amazing vintage clothes more often than the American guys. I'm sure some of the people like to outdo each other in appearance and there is a bit of elitism James referred to. Still, most people there are nice and polite and accepting of everyone. I can't remember any arguments or fights happening even with people drinking so much all night long.

The ticket price is a bargain to me for so many acts.

The rooms at the Gold Coast are already booked up but last year we got some rooms there at the last minute at a low rate through the Southwest airlines web site. It's convenient to stay at the Gold Coast but the rooms aren't that great and you may not sleep too well with people partying all night in the rooms. We stayed at the Rio down the street a couple of times. They have nice huge rooms and slightly better food but it isn't very convenient because it's a good distance to walk, and it's expensive. The Orleans is a good deal but it's a pain to heve to wait for the Shuttle all the time to go to your hotel or the show. So my favorite place to stay now is the Palms across the street. The rooms are big, the beds are extremely comfortable, and the food at the Palms is very good (even in the 24-hour coffee shop). We found ourselves going over there to eat most of our meals because the food at the Gold Coast is pretty bad. But on Saturday night we always go out for steak dinner at the Golden Steer.

If you go try and make it to Sweetpea's meet and greet on Thursday afternoon at the Orleans. Hope to see you there!

Thanks kids, I'm sold.

(If I make it, I think I'll wear some sort of white guy hip hop outfit just to annoy the Fonzie set.)

If you go to have fun, and see the bands and don't give a flying f**k what anyone else is doing/looking/saying etc etc.. you'll have a blast.. I went about 3(?) years ago and had a ball.. we're planning on going this year, I know it won't be close to greenbay was (lineup wise, but will anything ever compare to that? I think not..) but, going to something like that in Vegas is something special all together..
my must do list includes actually LEAVING the hotel more than um.. once.. and going to the Elvis-o-rama museum, and going back to the souvenir WAREHOUSE! that we found last time.. I think it's called bonanza.. awesome.. I have my favourite t-shirt from there, a pink flamingo soapdish and a bunch of other crap I didn't really need..
we should have a Tiki central bowling event if more than a few of us show up!

my only complaint was that I couldn't get blue Hawaiians in my boot, because apparently... the only bar with blue curacao in the ENTIRE gold coast, is the one in the restaurant.. bastards.

Woofmutt....go man. I'm dead jealous of you being so close to Viva Las Vegas. A few of my friens from the Uk have gone there and say it's a blast. Bit too far to travel for a weekend for me, so I'll have to combine it with a holiday some time. Don't forget to post your pics.

*On 2004-01-03 09:35, Velvet Ruby wrote:*my only complaint was that I couldn't get blue Hawaiians in my boot, because apparently... the only bar with blue curacao in the ENTIRE gold coast, is the one in the restaurant.. bastards.

But you can get tropical drinks in the Monterey Room restaurant, including a Scorpion in a Scorpion bowl. The drinks aren't that good but they're cheap.

That was my main complaint though.. you could get "fancy" drinks in the restaurants but not at the casino bars.. so if I wanted to have something to walk around with (and take advantage of the cheap novelty boot refills) I had to go wait in line at a restaurant.. I thought that kinda sucked.. just because I don't like drinking gallons of beer.. I must suffer.. sigh Maybe I'll just stick to gin and tonics this year..

When Velvet Ruby wrote "...I couldn't get Blue Hawaiians in my boot" I assumed "in my boot" was some sorta drinking slang I didn't know.

How 'bout a "fancy drink" emergency kit to take to places that can't pull off a fun drink....An airplane sized booze bottle of blue curacao, some paper umbrellas, and a swell looking swizzle or two.

On 2004-01-03 23:44, Velvet Ruby wrote:
That was my main complaint though.. you could get "fancy" drinks in the restaurants but not at the casino bars.. so if I wanted to have something to walk around with (and take advantage of the cheap novelty boot refills) I had to go wait in line at a restaurant.. I thought that kinda sucked.. just because I don't like drinking gallons of beer.. I must suffer.. sigh Maybe I'll just stick to gin and tonics this year..

No different from Greenbay, dear Jen!

Just stock a bar in your room at the Gold Coast and make those trips up and down the elevator now and again.

Last year I was standing near the elevators having a conversation with someone, and we were laughing at all the people going up with empty drinks and coming down with full ones...!

That plastic boot will hold about 4 mai tais at a time, so you shouldn't need to make TOO many trips up n' down!

Hmmm...you just might get thumped if you call anyone "Fonzi"...lol!!!

They'd probably think you're a local with the homey outfit on.

On 2004-01-03 09:35, woofmutt wrote:
Thanks kids, I'm sold.

(If I make it, I think I'll wear some sort of white guy hip hop outfit just to annoy the Fonzie set.)

James!!! Not necessary at all...we just walked around with packs of beer and drink mixers wherever we went...no hassles from security.

No different from Greenbay, dear Jen!

Just stock a bar in your room at the Gold Coast and make those trips up and down the elevator now and again.

Last year I was standing near the elevators having a conversation with someone, and we were laughing at all the people going up with empty drinks and coming down with full ones...!

That plastic boot will hold about 4 mai tais at a time, so you shouldn't need to make TOO many trips up n' down!

[ Edited by: mattfink on 2004-01-08 14:29 ]

We had to sneak water glasses from the maid's cart several times to make drinks in the romm 'cause we kept leaving them downstairs.

On 2004-01-08 14:26, mattfink wrote:
Hmmm...you just might get thumped if you call anyone "Fonzi"...lol!!!

The Viva Las Vegas web site has a section with comments overheard at VLV. It's hilarious.

http://www.vivalasvegas.net/overheard/ovmain.asp