Las Vegas Weekly

August 20, 2010 · 2:57 AM

L.V. in 2010: Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, ZZ Top, Meat Loaf and Chris Isaak

By Don Chareunsy

Billy Idol and Perry Farrell.

Photo: Denise Truscello/The Light Group

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

Break out the parachute pants, leg warmers, lace gloves and red leather jackets. OK, not really, but it might as well be the 1980s considering the lineup of music acts in Las Vegas this weekend, including Meat Loaf, Cyndi Lauper, Chris Isaak, Billy Idol and ZZ Top.

There might be an artist or two who was born in the 1980s. Hmmm … maybe not. Yes, it’s 2010, but there’s, ahem, always something there to remind us of the 1980s.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

ZZ Top at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Friday, Aug. 20

Meat Loaf’s bat out of hell days might be far behind him, as he shares the stage with his daughter Pearl at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. Texas trio ZZ Top’s career truly has legs, and the sharp dressed men are at the Las Vegas Hilton through tomorrow. He might tell you to “Eat It” instead of “Beat It” -- Weird “Al” Yankovic brings his parodies to Henderson Pavilion. Australian rockers Wolfmother will howl at the moon at the Hard Rock Hotel pool with J. Roddy Walston and The Business.

Music legend Roger Williams proves that he is still Mr. Piano and a pianist extraordinaire at South Point through Sunday, while Engelbert Humperdinck croons at The New Orleans Showroom through Sunday, and The Dan Band of The Hangover fame is at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Coolio, yo.

Rapper Rakim is at Pure in Caesars Palace, Jonathon Goldsmith, aka the Most Interesting Man in the World, hosts at Jet in The Mirage, and Coolio slide, slide, slippity slides to the nearby Revolution Lounge in The Mirage. And if you’d rather laugh than dance, David Spade is at The Venetian.

Photo: Hew Burney/www.hewburney.com

Mase of De La Soul at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel.

Saturday, Aug. 21

For daytime revelry, it’s me, myself and De La Soul at Wet Republic at MGM Grand. It’s amazing to think that it’s been 20 years --two decades -- since Chris Isaak gotthisclose to supermodel Helena Christensen in his video for “Wicked Game.” Isaak is at The M Resort in an outdoor concert without Helena. Billy Idol brings his rebel yell and will be dancing with the audience at The Pearl in the Palms.

Pop singer Cyndi Lauper brings her Memphis Blues to House of Blues, so don’t expect “She-Bop” or “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” San Francisco’s Michael Franti and Spearhead, who opened for John Mayer at Mandalay Bay Events Center on March 28, headline their own concert at Mandalay Bay Beach. Hey, they’ll be gone by Monday.

Photo: Harrah's

Neil Patrick Harris is flanked by Penn & Teller at The Rio.

Rappers Chingy and Mims will show the crowds this is why they’re hot in a double dose at Venus Pool Club during daylight at Caesars Palace and at Pure when the sun goes down. Lloyd will make beds rock at Haze in MGM CityCenter’s Aria, and Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s 24th annual fundraiser Black and White Party, with The Rio headliners and longtime supporters Penn & Teller, is at The Joint.

Lonestar will already be there at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, so don’t be so amazed by them. Singer Brian McKnight bares his soul with one last cry at Eastside Cannery. Dru Hill will illustrate how deep is their love at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip, and The Romantics will remind fans what they like about them at Red Rock Resort.

Photo: Las Vegas Hilton

Dee Snider of Twisted Sister.

Sunday, Aug. 22

Come away with singer-songwriter Norah Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae, who is certain to put her records on, at The Pearl. Hot Hot Heat is unlikely to need bandages when the band plays Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel with Hey Rosetta and 22-20s. And the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards end the weekend at the Hilton by featuring and honoring the likes of Lita Ford, Dee Snider, Flavor Flav and many others.

Next week

The 2010 Miss Universe Pageant at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Monday night is hosted by Poison frontman Bret Michaels and Today’s Natalie Morales, with performances by John Legend and The Roots and the cast of Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis at Aria.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Brody Jenner.

Ice, ice, baby. Vanilla Ice is at Pure on Tuesday; Carlos Santana, Clive Davis and unannounced special guests preview the guitar legend’s new album at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel and at The Joint on Wednesday; reality TV hottie Brody Jenner celebrates his birthday at Lavo in the Palazzo on Friday and Tao in The Venetian on Saturday; reality TV and Playboy hottie Bridget Marquardt is at Azure Pool in the Palazzo on Saturday; and Michael Buble comes “Home” to MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday.

Check back Monday morning for the celebrity weekend recap, and happy stargazing.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

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