June 2021 – VEGAS UNFILTERED BLOG by Sam Novak

Hot Guys of Vegas: Guitar Heroes

Songs sound so much better when the visuals match the music

“Hey, don’t objectify me. I’m a serious artist”. Yeah yeah yeah….we’ve heard it a thousand times. Beautiful people often complain that they aren’t respected for their talents. Yet most of us grew up in a time when you had to be MTV-ready to make it in the music industry. Just ask Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees.

Perennial “Hot Guys” recipient Jeff Timmons doesn’t play guitar

These days, TikTok and Instagram have made “models” out of millions, so very little has changed. Luckily for readers of this column, three Vegas hunks have been strumming their guitars like they’re pumping iron at the gym. So here they are…Hot Vegas Guitar Heroes of 2021 –

Michael Shapiro – singer/guitarist/producer

Do you remember that old Burger King jingle “It takes two hands to handle a Whopper“? Well, Michael Shapiro not only has two full hands, but he also wears hats in two separate bands. As front man to both Many Miles Away and Reckless In Vegas, Shapiro does more in one evening than most do in a week.

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I first chatted with the handsome musician when we were guests on What The Cluck, a topical comedy chat-fest by The Bronx Wanderers‘ Vin A. Prior to that, I’d enjoyed Michael’s tribute to Bruce Springsteen in World’s Greatest Rock Show at The STRAT. During the pandemic, Shapiro was busy writing music for his newest musical venture.

Produced by Paul Fletcher, MANY MILES AWAY debuted their new songs in a showcase at The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails (inside Cosmopolitan) earlier this week. It was a star-studded affair attended by movers and shakers like man-about-town Mark Messina, comedian/actress Elaina Bhattacharyya, Paula Maggio, Vin A. (of course), his behind-the-scenes muse Elizabeth Hunt, Review-Journal entertainment columnist John Katsilometes and singer Travis Cloer (see below).

This coming July 15th, Shapiro’s Reckless In Vegas will be back onstage at Italian American Club. Overflowing with style and sexiness, the retro-cool Reckless In Vegas takes vintage swagger and turns it on its ear with modern interpretations. Seating is 6:30 pm and you can get tickets/info by clicking here. This is one night on the town that you won’t want to miss.

Travis Cloer– singer/guitarist/actor

Photo by Dianne Davis

It’s impossible to follow Vegas music and NOT know Travis Cloer. A rip-roaring bundle of positive energy, Travis is beloved not just by fellow musicians and fans, but by the entire Sin City community. And because he’s smokin’, Travis has made it onto my Hot Guys of Vegas column twice.

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Last November, I told you about the Jersey Boys star’s Christmas single Holiday With Me. Now he’s prepared to heat up the summer charts with Standing Here. Releasing this week, Standing Here finds the crooner fresh off a sold-out Composer’s Showcase at NOTORIETY, where he performed the new ballad.

Produced by popular Vegas entertainer Frankie Moreno, Standing Here is the type of song you play during a relaxing summer drive. Close your eyes, imagine you’re riding along a country road with the windows down, and listen to a sample right here. Standing Here is available for pre-order via the same link.

Thanks for the great vibes, Travis!

Miles Schon – singer/guitarist/songwriter

Miles Schon is as handsome as he is talented

If I have to explain why our final Guitar Hero made the list, perhaps it’s time to visit an optometrist. Miles Schon is the ultimate hot musician. Handsome, humble, charismatic and an ace on the strings, he’s got the DNA to back up his impending super-stardom.

Miles is the son of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Neal Schon. Dad has been involved with such legends as Journey, Santana, Joe Cocker, The Allman Brothers, and Sammy Hagar. When you grow up in that type of household, you’re bound to have a passion for great music, too.

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Music is always a collaborative effort, and Miles found his perfect partner in Michael Shapiro (above). The two formed MANY MILES AWAY, a moniker undoubtedly inspired by the younger Schon’s first name. The two even wrote a single sharing the same title, which they performed in Salt Lake City earlier this year:

Miles cites R & B, pop and metal as his primary musical influences. An avid jock, he enjoys the great outdoors, which explains his stunning physique. Excited about a successful first Las Vegas performance at The Barbershop last Monday, Miles is eager to learn what comes next:

“We have no idea what the future holds. Looking back on looking into the future…I had no clue and still don’t. Just keep grinding and be the best you can be.” – Miles Schon

Photos from recipients’ social media and websites. Caricatures by Neal Portnoy.

Brent Barrett – Celebrating 40 Years On Broadway

Most entertainers put their heart and soul into a performance. But actor/singer Brent Barrett once put his life and limbs on the line for a role. While preparing for a German production of Phantom of the Opera, Barrett suffered a painful accident that resulted in a badly broken leg.

With only two weeks to go before opening night, the handsome Vegas resident underwent surgery and rehabilitation so that the “Phantom” could go on. Still sporting a metal plate in his lower leg three years later, he laughs it off as just another chapter in a stunning career…one that spans four glorious decades.

This July 11th at the Italian American Club, Brent Barrett will be presenting 40 Years on Broadway, a single-night career retrospective. Click HERE to continue reading via CHIC Compass Magazine.

Las Vegas To Host PRIDE XR – The World’s First Hybrid Pride Event

All eyes will turn to sin city for a groundbreaking new virtual reality/live LGBTQ experience

Remember last summer when we were all going batshit crazy with cabin fever thanks to a certain virus? Well, the brilliant minds at Fresh Wata Creative decided to host events outside of their home base at 3905 W. Diablo Drive (near Allegiant Stadium). Topless revues, drag shows, comedy acts and more drew crowds of locals and visitors alike And just like that, Dreamland Drive-In was born.

Fast forward twelve months, and now Fresh Wata‘s interior has been transformed into StarBase, a hybrid event center for in-person and virtual-reality functions. Born out of the entertainment needs of a deeply-changed society, StarBase is fully equipped with high tech, ten rooms of excitement and a team that’s ready to welcome revelers to our new reality.

StarBase’s creators believe hybrid events are the future for companies and brands post-pandemic and wanted to give event planners a turn-key solution by booking the event space. In hosting your conference or party at StarBase, you have the option to live stream content out to Facebook, Twitch or into the StarBase building.

There are many firsts at StarBase from the first NFT gallery in Las Vegas, to being the first fully operable hybrid event venue in the world featuring a digital twin in Microsoft’s Altspacevr called StarBaseXR. Attendees can meet at StarBase physically and virtually. StarBase XR is a world presented by a group of developers and professional producers at Fresh Wata, to replicate the venue as a 360 environment online.

StarBase XR can be visited in virtual reality from a headset, like an Oculus 2, or a Mac computer or PC. In other words, the venue is not limited to the physical location in Las Vegas and in general the team believes the sky is not the limit! Engagements will be held virtually inside StarBase XR for those unable to visit in person.

This weekend, Pride XR will lift off from the StarBase launching pad. PrideXR is the world’s first live/VR global LGBTQ Pride event:

StarBase and Dreamland presents PrideXR, the world’s first hybrid live/virtual reality Pride event on June 25 and 26, presented by Bud Light Seltzer and InterPride, a nonprofit dedicated to producing Pride parades, marches, festivals and events.

Revelers can celebrate two ways – through a custom-built virtual reality world via VR headset, or in person. Hosted on social platform AltspaceVR, the VR world features a full Pride experience with a dance floor, red carpet, vendors, hologram DJs, charity auctions and a PrideXR parade.

Friday, June 25 at 7 p.m. – Failed to Render Comedy Show

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Stand-up comedians from Failed to Render, the first-ever hybrid comedy show, will take the stage in real life for the first time while simulcasting their show in VR. Following the show, DJ Celeste and DJ Skye will perform at the after party, along with live performances by Puerto Rican trap artist DAmire MAjor and more. Tickets are $35 and include a complimentary drink. Click here to order. Table and bottle service also available for the live show.

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Saturday, June 26 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. – Starfire Saturday

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Edie from Faaabulous! The Show will host the hottest LGBTQ+ dance party in the galaxy, featuring hybrid live/virtual reality performances by DAmire MAjor, Kristine Mirelle, Vanessa Lynnae, DJ Celeste, DJ Skye, DJ Aravi and DJ Luke Dice, along with surprise guest appearances throughout the night.

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Tickets give you general access to all PrideXR events at StarBase on Saturday, June 26th, featuring the world’s first hybrid live/virtual reality nightclub experience presented by Bud Light Seltzer. With dazzling out-of-this-world performances hosted by Edie from ZUMANITY, and special celebrity guest appearances all night.

Tickets are $39.05 and include a complimentary drink. Vegas Unfiltered readers can get $20 off by using code “sam20“. Click here to purchase tickets. Bottle service available first come first serve or book in advance via email at info@dreamlandxr.com. StarBase is located at 3905 W. Diablo Drive in Las Vegas, near Allegiant Stadium.

‘NSFW’ – UNCENSORED Is The Biggest Surprise Of The Season

Treasure Island’s New male revue comes out of Nowhere and Blows The Rest Away…

This is one of the rare times that I feel guilty for writing a rave review. Why? Because I’m about to state that the newest male revue in Las Vegas is far superior to anything we’ve seen before. And that’s a pretty significant claim to make. Get ready for Uncensored International Show at Treasure Island Hotel Casino.

Regular readers know that I’m a big fan of Chippendales and Aussie Heat. I’ve also enjoyed Rock Candy and the vastly-improved Thunder From Down Under (Magic Mike Live will undoubtedly remain a steaming pile of shit when it moves to Sahara this fall). So how can Uncensored International come out of nowhere and blow the others away?

First and foremost, Uncensored International has the hottest collection of guys you will probably ever see on one stage. Their tagline is “Younger. Stronger. Harder”. The flawless faces, stunning physiques, perfect skin and stimulating body language truly are of the highest caliber. Believe me when I tell you that the cast is huge! There are at least eight jaw-dropping gentlemen onstage at any given time, and each one is sheer perfection in talent and size (ahem).

Uncensored International is performed in the second-level event space of Senor Frog’s, known to many as the home of the world-famous Voss Events Drag Brunch. The unusual, sprawling layout of this venue would be a challenge for most productions, but Uncensored International transforms it into something both intimate and epic at the same time.

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There are three performance platforms inside Senor Frogs – a wide central stage and two smaller ones. All of them are utilized simultaneously, enveloping the audience in the action from every angle. The guys crisscross from one spot to the the next, leaping across tables, swinging on poles and running from end to end. Live video feeds are broadcast on floor-to-ceiling digital screens, ensuring that you won’t miss a second of the sizzle.

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Never before have I seen a male revue packed with such energy and power. Lighting and effects are amped to the max, accompanied by a pulsating soundtrack that dares you to sit still. Thankfully, chit-chat is kept to a minimum, aside from the priceless emceeing of the Supreme Queen herself, Shannel. This world-famous drag star is known to millions via her appearances on television’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, as well as her Vegas stints at 53X and Drag Brunch.

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Uncensored International begins with a bang. Actually, lots of them, as the guys position themselves behind large drums across the entire space. When the music begins, their pounding causes a Blue Man Group-inspired water spray which drenches their clothing. So begins a striptease that gives way to pole dancing directly over the audience.

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Various set pieces include Game of Thrones-inspired barbarians, a classy Vegas crooner number, locker room showers, and a prison transport sequence. Looking to heat things up even more? Wait until the stage is literally set on fire. Audience members are frequently pulled in for some seriously raunchy antics, so don’t expect to remain a wallflower for long.

Alas, there are a few minor caveats to the new production. Despite the fact that at least one quarter of the attendees on premiere weekend were men, guys are barely acknowledged by the dancers. My companion questioned a cast member on this issue, and the response was something along the lines of “We’re working on that”. Let’s hope so. My two-part article (here and here) compares other Vegas male revues for inclusivity, an important matter these days.

Update 6/16/21 – I’ve seen Uncensored International two more times since posting this review, and the cast, producers and host have taken major steps to making the show inclusive. Shannel now acknowledges the gentlemen in the audience with jokes and banter, the performers make eye contact, give close-up dances and more.

My friend and I were drawn into the action this past Saturday, as these photos demonstrate. They even came over after the show to chat with us in the casino. Way to go, everyone!!!!

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My second beef has to do with cocktail service. There was only one bartender, who was located in a dark, grungy corner far opposite the entrance and stages. I had to ask an employee where to get a drink, then missed the beginning of the show due to a long line. A cocktail server eventually came around, but by then the show was more than half over. Everyone knows that the real money is in alcohol sales, so Senor Frog’s needs to step up their game right away. More bartenders plus more cocktail servers equals happy Vegas partiers.

Update 6/21/21 – I have now seen UNCENSORED five times since it opened, and drink service has improved dramatically. There are now cocktail waiters and waitresses on the floor during seating and canvassing the showroom throughout the performance. Since my initial complaint, I’ve had no problems getting served. It’s nice to see improvements actually taking place in an era where service and amenities are constantly being chipped away. Dollars and sense…

As for the production, it was created in 2014 and at one point featured Latino actor/heartthrob William Levy. Producer Omar Suárez is known throughout Latin America for his work on Perfume de Gardenia, the largest stage spectacle ever seen in Mexico. It was choreographed by Eitan Tellez, who specializes in jazz, hip-hop, ballet and Latin fusion. Together, they’ve delivered a scorching 75 minutes that Las Vegas audiences expect and deserve.

I was extremely pleased with Uncensored International Show, and plan to visit again and again. Sin City might still be in shock by Chippendales‘ ouster from Rio Las Vegas, but there’s new crop of bad boys to scratch that itch. And they’re more than welcome on the Strip.

Senor Frog’s is located off the casino floor at Treasure Island. Showtimes are as follows:

Tuesday: 8:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 pm
Thursday: 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm
Friday: 7:15 pm / 9:45 pm
Saturday: 7:15 pm / 9:45 pm
Sunday: 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm

Audience members must be 18 and over. Tickets start at $65 (plus taxes/fees) and can be ordered here.

Photos: Sam Novak