A little while after settling into San Fran, a friend stopped by on the way to a company conference in Las Vegas. I was still getting to know the area, so we rented a car and wandered around like total newbies. As we were having our last dinner before heading back, my friend asked if I wanted to tag along to Vegas.
“You can book flights and hotels at the lowest prices on Expedia!”
I thought, ‘Do you really think lazy me would join?’ But I casually downloaded the app and started browsing flights and hotels.
‘Wow, the hotel is free…’
Yep, the hotel stay was free. Of course, there was a $25 daily resort fee, but that’s pretty much a steal, right? I remembered paying $300 a night for a hotel until I found a place in San Fran. And during conferences, even a hotel that looks like it could host cockroaches charges over $2000 per night. But $25? That’s cheaper than a Korean sauna! Plus, flights from San Fran to Vegas are cheap since it’s close by.
So, I decided to go with my friend.
I rarely joined school trips back in college, but the main reason I tagged along wasn’t the $25 Vegas hotel rate, but the $300 San Fran hotel rate. 🎲
We arrived in Vegas late at night, and it was scorching hot. I mean, it’s a desert, but still, I wasn’t expecting it to be this blazing. My friend was familiar with the area due to frequent conferences here, and his constant bragging was a bit annoying. 😅
It’s super hot at night. (Already knew this upon arrival)
It’s insanely hot during the day too. (Totally expected)
The hotels here are huge… (Do I not have eyes?)
Casinos run this town. (Not curious)
You must visit Yosemite when you’re here. (Probably meant the Grand Canyon)
After staying for a few days, I concluded that watching shows in Vegas is the best bang for your buck. Sure, I’m not into shopping, nature doesn’t thrill me, and I hate gambling more than waking up early, but hey, each to their own, right? 🕺
The massive Bellagio fountain show felt no different than watching Trevi Fountain, and those ‘fancy’ hotels felt like musical or opera sets, not luxurious. With it being so hot day and night, I didn’t feel like roaming outside. Hence, show-watching was my only option. The ‘Ka Show’ and ‘O Show’ my friend recommended felt like those old circus acts in Seoul with the ‘sad long-necked lady’. Not my vibe. But hey, discovering my preferences made me feel like an independent soul. 😎
But browsing Vegas sites, you’ll find countless shows and concerts, so even the laziest folks can easily find something they dig. Among the multitude, I picked ‘Rock Vault’. When booking, I thought it was just musical actors clumsily performing rock songs. But hey, a change of pace could be fun. As a rock enthusiast, I felt right at home when I saw the quaint theater and the drum set calmly waiting. 🎸
The show kicked off with chatter among the actors, then finally the music began. The actors sported classic LA metal fashion: long hair, leather pants with fringe, and chains, perfectly recreating the look.
The first song was The Doors’ ‘Light My Fire’. But something felt different. The guitar skills were surreal, and the vocals were beastly. Why were such talents doing musical theater? (Not dissing musical actors, they just seemed overqualified.) Americans and their exceptional musicality, huh? Even the homeless guy singing outside AT&T Park was great. But,
‘This is on another level!’
The talent was off the charts. They seemed a bit older, but they could surely compete in the mainstream. As I was still in awe, the intro to Rolling Stones’ ‘Honky Tonk Women’ played, and another vocalist came out… Wait a minute,
‘Robin McAuley from McAuley Schenker Group?’
He looked older, but it was definitely him. Looking closer, the guitarist doing the hammering was Heart’s ‘Howard Leese’, and the cowboy-hatted bassist was Bon Jovi’s ‘Hugh McDonald’. Asia’s drummer ‘Jay Schellen’ and the legendary Quiet Riot vocalist ‘Paul Shortino’ were playing drums and singing. Every performer was a musician who rocked the past. 🤘
They played over twenty songs, from Jimi Hendrix to Van Halen, delivering only the gems. The crowd sang along, cheering and applauding relentlessly. Being able to hear Heart’s ‘Alone’ and Def Leppard’s ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ in one show at this quality is mind-blowing. I probably won’t experience this again unless I return to Vegas. 🎤
Usually, such legendary performances are on big stages where the sound is worse than earbuds. But here, the intimate setting let you feel the sound with your whole body. The four vocalists and seven to eight top-tier session musicians took turns on stage, executing perfectly. Only they could pull off such synergy. The mastery and pride of these lifelong musicians shook my body through the amplified sound. 🎶
After the show, stepping outside, the legendary musicians were seated at a table, mingling with the audience. Even if you’re a company executive, businessman, or retired spectator, in front of your youthful heroes, you’re a 20-year-old again. They signed memorabilia purchased there, and it didn’t feel commercial at all. 🌟
On the way back, I wanted to listen to McAuley Schenker Group’s ‘Anytime’ on Apple Music, but it wasn’t available. Apple needs to step up! (It’s available now.) Reflecting on the show, I briefly thought about a guitar-burning act during a Jimi Hendrix song, but setting the hotel on fire would be problematic. 🔥
Later, passing by AT&T Park, AC/DC was performing. They were singing ‘Highway to Hell’, just like at Rock Vault, and it made my heart race all over again. ⚡️
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