Las Vegas Weekly

December 30, 2009 · 8:36 AM

Photo Gallery: The Black Eyed Peas get their NYE party started early

By Don Chareunsy

The Black Eyed Peas at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Dec. 29, 2009. Pitbull opened for BEP.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

The Black Eyed Peas, one of the hottest bands on Earth right now, are in Las Vegas for three shows -- the two-night run at the Mandalay Bay Events Center that ends tonight and their New Year’s Eve party tomorrow night at LAX in the Luxor. If you had a feeling they would save their energy to build up for a really big night at LAX, your feeling would be wrong.

After the opening performance by Pitbull, which I sadly missed due to a concert ticket mix-up at will call, The Black Eyed Peas -- Fergie, will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo -- hit the stage at 9 p.m. and had the area boom boom powing for the next two hours in a high-energy concert with strobe and laser lights and disco balls that was akin to a circuit party, for all you Europeans and gays out there.

Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was front and center for our Fergalicious Vegas DeLuxe photo gallery. I spotted Tom less than 10 feet away from Fergie while BEP were onstage. Hot!

Here are a few highlights:

*The more than 20 songs in the two-hour set included many of their past hits (“My Humps,” “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” and “Pump It”); tracks from their new CD THE E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) that aren’t hits yet (“Now Generation”); and a showcase by the BEP diva herself, Fergie (“Fergalicious,” “Glamorous” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”) Their “encore” was the best received, even after nearly two hours: “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Got a Feeling,” with the requisite confetti.

*The loudest applause was for Fergie, who has never looked more toned and sexier. In case you think the 20 pounds she packed on for her role in the new movie musical Nine is still an issue, she did three consecutive forward handsprings -- with one hand. Each member of BEP had wardrobe changes, from black to white to red. Fergie’s silver glitter leggings and Taboo’s leather pants were highlights.

*An extended DJ set by will.i.am. included the fist-pumping, remixed arena anthems “In the Ayer” by Flo Rida, Kanye West’s “American Girl,” Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough,” Grandmaster Flash’s “White Lines,” M.J.’s “Thriller,” House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Otherside,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Guns ’n’ Roses “Sweet Child of Mine” and Kings of Leon’s “Sex Is on Fire.”

*In case you think BEP are only party people, there were at least three cultural references during the night: apl.de.ap’s homage to his Filipino heritage; Americans needing to stand united in love (as the intro to “Where Is the Love?”); and two references to Tiger Woods (“We need to be more concerned about health care than Tiger Woods.”) Amen to that, will.i.am.

The Black Eyed Peas finish up tonight at Mandalay Bay and are at LAX tomorrow night to ring in 2010. Actor Josh Duhamel, Fergie’s husband, will be by her side as 2010 arrives; they celebrate their first wedding anniversary on Jan. 10.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

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