Las Vegas Weekly

March 12, 2010 · 3:08 PM

Matt Goss premiere at Caesars Palace to be a star-studded affair

By Robin Leach

Matt Goss announces his residency at Caesars Palace on Jan. 28, 2010.

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

It’s time for a celebration at Caesars Palace tonight when singer Matt Goss opens as the casino resort’s newest resident headliner in his new Gossy Room. Matt has been rehearsing with his nine-piece band, including a new trumpet player, at Cleopatra’s Barge behind screened curtains, but crowds have been gathering and standing for hours to listen. He also has his sexy Dirty Virgin dancers and two backup singers.

Tonight, singers Mel B from the Spice Girls, Leona Lewis and Natasha Bedingfield are expected at the red carpet gala with Strip stars Rita Rudner from Harrah’s, Frank Marino from Imperial Palace and Holly’s World star and Playboy Playmate Laura Croft.

Matt and I sat down to chat yesterday during a rehearsal break, and I asked him how his new lounge compares to The Gossy Room he left two months ago at the Palms.

“I love my old room. I think what we did with it, we took that really basic-looking room and turned it into a valid, intimate showroom. So I was very proud of that, obviously. But there are challenges with this room, too, in that it also has a lot of history,” Matt said.

“But I am very esthetic-based. I get involved in the way things look. I don’t just turn up and do my thing. We have been really digging in with everyone at Caesars. I think now the room is looking pretty beautiful. I am trying to bring back a genuine place where after I have done my show, I want it to be a destination point where people can really come dressed up and just hang out all night long with me. This room is really starting to feel like the room I wanted. Its challenges with the shape have now become the charm of this room. It has been there forever, people know that, and I want to keep its legend alive and going.”

Matt told me that he didn’t just come to Las Vegas to sing songs; he’s planning a long stay here. He said: “I want to build and build, and I always will want to keep going toward the next level, the next stage. There’s already a lot more excitement with what we are doing now. We have already even spoken about the next stage after this. So as cliche as it might sound, it is the journey, not the destination.

“I really want to do everything I can to create a special sense of old-time Vegas in a new way with a destination point where people come, bring a date and hang out through the night. It will be unlike any other place because after I’ve performed, people stay instead of leaving. I have got my own booth here, where I can actually hang out, have a conversation, actually have a drink and enjoy my room. You will see that the room has definitely been Gossified.

Photo: MattGoss.net

Matt Goss.

“You understand what goes into even a facelift on a room. It is bloody expensive! It’s a lot of work, and we have been really digging in, as well, on that level. The show is still new, and I’m not having a lot of people try to change everything because we are in a new place. I have got to keep my head on straight there. I am a seasoned performer, and I know what works, and I want to share what works with a live audience. It is so funny how that small half a mile makes all the difference in being on the Strip. It actually really breathes new life into the show. The show, the big part of the new show for me, is the new venue.

“I might actually add a song here or there, but I am actually getting the arrangements even tighter than they were. I want it to be as hard as it was, and I want to hit the Strip audience just as hard. I have written these numbers because I am the musical director, so they will be done perfect. I am a taskmaster. I really dig into my bag. Thankfully, my band really listens to me, and I love them for that. I know when they are tired, but if they are not hitting right, they really listen. We have concentrated on the sounds of their show, so it’s on a music level. The musicality in the show is all about creating my own sound. No covers here! All original!

“Rehearsals are going great. We have people just standing around outside. They can’t see in, but they can hear our music. Every time we finish rehearsals, they’re cheering. It has been great. We have a new English host who will make our guests feel safe and welcomed when they come in. I think people will be a little in awe when they walk in, I feel, a sense of relief that this room exists now. We have made it more decadent. We want to keep the room open. I have got this saying: ‘I want to bring the sun up in The Gossy Room.’ I want people to stay. I want people to come and see the show and have a few drinks and then go, ‘I left The Gossy Room, and the sun is up.’ We want to keep the room going all night.”

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

Matt Goss announces his residency at Caesars Palace on Jan. 28, 2010.

Matt also revealed exclusively to Vegas DeLuxe that he will be broadcasting the upcoming World Cup soccer games at whatever time day or night they are aired this June. He said: “I want it to have the most insane screen and again lights down, game on. I want to create this place where people can come watch the World Cup. It’s going to be my home in Vegas where people can bring their mates, their birds and hang out with lots of fun, great entertainment and good service.

“The dancers are hitting their stride now. The backup singers are really hitting it now. The music is incredible. They’ve all become my professional family. I take that very seriously. They are loyal to me, and I am loyal to them. You’ll see that every show starting now.”

Matt has a new Web site he’s asked me to post the link to for fans, as they will all be following this story, our coverage of the star-studded premiere and our Twitter reports tonight. Check out MattGoss.la.

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 at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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

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

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