April 2023
I have reviewed past two April newsletters to gain a perspective of how far we have come, and how little we knew. The April 2020 newsletter was just two weeks into the initial shutdown. Three years ago, we were two weeks into a shutdown, and we were all losing our minds. We were so confused by what was happening. We had a couple of hundred confirmed cases of covid-19 in our state. Grocery stores had bare shelves, there was no toilet paper to be found, we woke up early and stood in lines to get into stores, and we thought it would all be over in thirty days…six weeks tops. We bragged about our new exercise routines and about cleaning out our garages. We had no idea.
Two years ago, the first rounds of vaccines were being meted out. We were in disbelief that we had lost an entire year to this pandemic…and that it was still going on. Mask mandates were in affect everywhere. We had no idea that we would soon be seeing tens of thousands of cases per day. People got pent up and did stupid things and gathered in masses, and then wondered why the pandemic was still spreading. “Don’t gather for Thanksgiving;” they did, and the virus spread. “Don’t gather for Christmas;” they did, and the virus spread. We were so often our own worst enemy and we created spike after needless spike.
Now, three years later and the mandates have lifted, and we are trying to say everything is normal again, even though we know it is not. The fifth strain of Covid has emerged, and while less virulent, it’s the one that’s supposed to get us all. Covid used to mean a death sentence; it’s now a nuisance.
April is the best month of the year (as far as I’m concerned,)...all the other months just pale in comparison. April in Vegas makes you feel alive…it’s that sense of rebirth. In Las Vegas, April is a beautiful thing...its springtime, and the world is saying, “Get out, it’s time to renew the earth!”
We have a lot of sunshine, and the weather is perfect, everything is blooming. This same growth, however, that makes me feel alive is the same thing that make some people dread this time of year. I’m lucky. I don’t have allergies. For a lot of people, though, it is a tough month. We’ve gotten a lot of rain…which means a lot of blooms coming to the valley. The Las Vegas valley seems to find whatever it is that you might be allergic to and send it your way...so allergy sufferers...bring allergy medicine.
The other monthly celebrations include: Keep America Beautiful Month, National Welding Month, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
As for the daily celebrations:
The 1st of course is April Fool's Day, but it is also International Tatting Day.
The 3rd is Don't Go to Work Unless it's Fun Day.
The 4th is Hug a Newsman Day, as well as, Tell a Lie Day.
The 5th Go for Broke Day.
The 6th Plan Your Epitaph Day.
The 7th is National Beer Day, No Housework Day, and World Health Day.
The 8th is Draw a Picture of a Bird Day.
The 9th is Name Yourself Day and Winston Churchill Day.
The 10th is Golfer's Day!!
The 11th is Eight Track Tape Day (but we’re not sure why).
The 12th is Russian Cosmonaut Day.
The 14th is Ex Spouse Day, International Moment of Laughter Day, Look up at the Sky Day, and Reach as High as You Can Day.
The 15th is Titanic Remembrance Day.
The 17th is Blah, Blah, Blah Day and Pet Owners Independence Day.
The 18th is International Juggler's Day.
The 20th is my birthday,
The 21st is National High Five Day.
The 23rd is Lover's Day and Take a Chance Day
The 26th is Hug an Australian Day.
The 27th is Babe Ruth Day and Tell a Story Day.
The 28th is Kiss Your Mate Day and Take Your Daughter to Work Day.
And finally, the 30th is National Honesty Day (really it is.)
The Romans gave this month the Latin name Aprilis. The traditional etymology is from the verb aperire, meaning "to open", in allusion to its being the season when trees and flowers begin to "open" for spring.
The Lyrids meteor shower appears on April 16 – April 26 each year, with the peak generally occurring on April 22. Eta Aquariids meteor shower also appears in April. It is visible from about April 21 to about May 20 each year with peak activity on or around May 6.
April’s birthstone is the diamond.
The birth flower is typically listed as either the Daisy (Bellis perennis) or the Sweet Pea.
The zodiac signs for the month of April are Aries (until April 19) and Taurus (April 20 onwards).
While Christians are observing Easter; Pagans are celebrating Ostara. In ancient Egypt, the festival of Isis was held to celebrate the resurrection of Osiris. The Celebration of Dionysus always took place about this time in Greece; celebrating the return of the leaves on the grapevines. It seems that there is something innate that is built into the core of our being that senses this time of regeneration for the earth. There have always been celebrations in the spring honoring that spirit of rejuvenation. It is the end of winter. Spring is about re-birth, life after death, and a fresh start after a cold period in our lives. Spring brings us hope…and we are a world now looking for hope.
Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias will make his debut appearance on The Chelsea stage inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas as a stop on his “Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias Back On World Tour” on April 7, 8, and 9, 2023. Known as one of America’s most successful stand-up comedians, Iglesias has sold out arenas around the world time and time again. Considered one of the most-watched comedians on YouTube, the comedic talent boasts almost a billion views and has more than 25 million fans across social media platforms. In 2018, Iglesias was included in The Hollywood Reporter’s “Top 40 Comedy Players” issue alongside comedy giants Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Lorne Michaels.
GRAMMY Award-nominated country music superstar Trace Adkins is bringing the Somewhere In America Tour to the Sunset Amphitheater at Sunset Station on Friday, July 28, 2023 at 8 p.m. Performed under the stars at the Sunset Amphitheater. In his 25-year career in Country music, Trace Adkins has sold over 11 MILLION albums, charted over 20 singles, earned numerous awards and GRAMMY nominations, and garnered over TWO BILLION streams
Following an extremely successful January and February show run, multi-GRAMMY Award-winning superstar Bruno Mars has announced six additional 2023 performances at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas. All shows are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.
The six additional dates are:
May 24; 27 – 28; 31
June 2 – 3
Fourteen-time GRAMMY-Award winner and 30-time GRAMMY Award nominee Bruno Mars is a celebrated singer, songwriter, producer, and musician who has sold over 200 million singles worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.
The driving music force that rocked Broadway and millions of fans in the ground-breaking musical ROCK OF AGES makes its way to Las Vegas for a performance at M Resort. Comprised of rock star musicians and lead singers from the original Broadway cast, Broadway's Rock of Ages Band® will perform inside the M Pavilion on Saturday, May 6. Audiences will sing and dance along to the electrifying performances of the 5-time Tony Award-nominated show band performing a thrilling concert for everyone.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is thrilled to welcome internationally touring comedian, nurse and viral video star Nurse Blake to The Chelsea as a stop on his brand new “SHOCK ADVISED!” comedy tour on Saturday, July 29. Fans worldwide know Nurse Blake from his viral videos and sold-out tours featuring live skits, videos and interactive stories drawn from his real life. This year, he will be bringing a new hour and promises next level fun on his “SHOCK ADVISED!” Comedy Tour. Hailed as a “genuine phenomenon” by The New York Times, Blake worked in trauma centers around the country before turning to a career in comedy. As a way to cope with the stress of his nursing job, Blake started posting original comedy videos on YouTube aimed at his profession. His unique brand of comedy struck a chord with healthcare workers, who needed a form of release after a long shift or a bad day. Since then, he has cultivated a massive following of over 3.5 million followers on social media and over 300 million collective views through his tongue-in-cheek humor.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is thrilled to welcome legendary blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa to The Chelsea for an exclusive performance on Friday, Aug. 4. Backed by a stellar band of legendary musicians, the show will feature new songs alongside career spanning favorites. Hailed as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation and recognized as “the world’s biggest blues guitarist” by Guitar World Magazine, Joe Bonamassa has almost single-handedly redefined the blues-rock genre and brought it into the mainstream. At the age of 12, Bonamassa started his music career, touring with “The King of the Blues” B.B.King. Since then, he has gone on to earn a record-breaking 25 #1 Billboard Blues Albums, three GRAMMY Award Nominations and multiple albums on Billboard’s Top 10 album chart.
GRAMMY Award and Emmy Award-nominated comedian Bill Burr has announced today a performance at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas Saturday, May 6. The show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Burr is known as one of the top comedic voices of his generation with great success on-stage and in television and film. He has starred in movies such as the Judd Apatow film “The King of Staten Island” alongside Pete Davidson and Marisa Tomei, and the indie film “Black or White” alongside Kevin Costner. Burr also has appeared in the films “The Front Runner,” “Daddy’s Home,” “The Heat” and “Stand Up Guys.” He stars in his television roles “Mayfield” on “The Mandalorian” on Disney Plus and “Kuby” on “Breaking Bad.”
Back by popular demand, Bert “The Machine” Kreischer announced today he will start the party back up this summer with his second annual Fully Loaded Comedy Festival. Stopping at 16 of the most iconic ballparks and arenas across the country, the biggest comedy event of the year will feature a “Fully Loaded” line-up including Bert Kreischer, Mark Normand, Shane Gillis, Tiffany Haddish, Stavros Halkias, Fortune Feimster, Dave Attell, Lewis Black, Jim Norton, Andrew Santino, Big Jay Oakerson, Jay Pharoah, Dan Soder, Chad Daniels, Ralph Barbosa, Rosebud Baker and Tammy Pescatelli (lineup varies per tour stop). The tour will come to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Wednesday, July 12.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas proudly welcomes legendary rock bands Manchester Orchestra and Jimmy Eat World to The Chelsea stage for an exclusive co-headlining performance on July 22. Manchester Orchestra continues to push themselves into fascinating new realms with their latest release The Valley of Vision, a reinvigorating record and awe-inspiring film that immerses the viewer in 180 degrees of 3D virtual reality. Widely considered one of the pioneers of the emo scene, Jimmy Eat World first found mainstream success with their 2001 RIAA Platinum certified album “Bleed American,” featuring their critically acclaimed hit single “The Middle,” which topped Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart.
Comedian Anthony Jeselnik today announced dates for his new 2023 stand-up tour, “Bones and All,” which will include a stop at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Friday, July 14. Jeselnik is a stand-up comedian from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He can currently be seen on his podcast, “The Jeselnik and Rosenthal Vanity Project,” alongside co-host Gregg Rosenthal. His most recent stand-up special, “Fire In The Maternity Ward,” premiered on Netflix to critical acclaim. Jeselnik also was the creator, host and producer of his series “Good Talk” and “The Jeselnik Offensive” on Comedy Central. He also appeared on multiple roasts for the network, most notably “The Roast of Donald Trump” and “The Roast of Charlie Sheen.” Additionally, Jeselnik wrote and performed the stand-up specials “Thoughts and Prayers,” an hour-long for Netflix, and “Caligula,” an hour-long for Comedy Central, which followed his debut comedy album, “Shakespeare,” for Comedy Central Records. He has performed on “Conan,” “The Tonight Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and was a writer and the first ever stand-up comic to appear on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”
Following a decade-long hiatus from creating new music and performing, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals are set to embark on their new North American tour which includes a stop at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 13. Adams will be joined by an all-star lineup of world-class musicians including Brad Pemberton, Chris Stills, Daniel Clarke and Don Was.
Led by the enigmatic Ryan Adams, the band is recognized as one of the most innovative and dynamic acts to emerge from the Americana scene. Born in Jacksonville, NC, Adams taught himself how to play the guitar at age 12. After graduating high school, he moved to Nashville to pursue a music career and quickly gained a reputation as a talented songwriter. Adams later signed a recording contract with Lost Highway Records and in 2004 formed the band alongside guitarist Neal Casal, bassist Chris Feinstein and drummer Brad Pemberton.
The Smashing Pumpkins, today announced their 26-date North American THE WORLD IS A VAMPIRE TOUR. Produced by Live Nation, the tour is set to start on Friday, July 28 at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. The tour will feature special guests Interpol, Stone Temple Pilots and Rival Sons as support on various dates, as well as some of the world's biggest champions from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), who will be competing in most cities. THE WORLD IS A VAMPIRE TOUR has already sold-out 30k plus capacity shows in Mexico City this year, as well in cities across Australia this spring, and is set to expand to more countries in the future.
The Queens are back downtown! Downtown Las Vegas' premier adult playground, Gold Spike, announces the return of Drag Queen Bingo to The Backyard. Back by popular demand, the fun and flirty event features games, live entertainment and so much more. Beginning Thursday, March 30th and continuing June 29th and August 31st, Gold Spike's favorite fabulous Queens return with their signature brand of sass, crass and high-class entertainment. Join your hosts with the most, Angel Phoenix, Asia King Adour and LaCherry Wild as they call the balls starting at 9 p.m. Everyone's a winner with plenty of performances, giveaways, extra prizes and drink specials available throughout the evening. Drag Bingo is $5 per person to play, groups of up to 6 can reserve a table and bottle service for $125.
Irish singer/songwriter phenomenon Hozier is returning to The Chelsea stage inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Friday, Nov. 3. The performance is one stop on his nationwide Unreal Unearth Tour.
In September 2013, when Irish solo artist Andrew Hozier-Byrne released his debut single – a song called “Take Me To Church” – which he had mostly recorded in the attic of his parent’s house in Wicklow (his father a blues musician, his mother an artist), little did he know about the hurricane-strength surge in public interest that the song would spark, carrying him to international stardom.
The iconic groups The Drifters, The Cornell Gunter Coasters, and The Platters will perform at M Resort Spa Casino on Saturday, June 10, 2023. During the 1950s, doo-wop, R&B, and soul became the soundtrack of the neighborhoods. This music was played on radio stations and performed live on stages, and today remains a favorite among all generations. The Drifters set musical trends singing doo-wop, R&B, and soul with 13 chart hits, most of which are legendary recordings, especially "Save The Last Dance For Me" and "Under the Boardwalk" (1964).
Igoshows.com is, of course, the place to read the reviews of all of the shows that are in town so that you can be better informed as to what you should expect from a certain production. The reviews are updated as needed to give you the knowledge you need to spend your entertainment dollars better.