Las Vegas Weekly

September 2, 2010 · 2:26 PM

Strip Scribbles: Recycled Percussion begins run at Studio 54 in MGM Grand

By Don Chareunsy

Recycled Percussion at an America's Got Talent Live charity benefit for Keep Memory Alive at Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

They didn’t win NBC’s America’s Got Talent (they placed an impressive 3rd out of 100,000 acts), but Recycled Percussion made such a noise that they landed themselves a key spot on the run of AGT Live! at Planet Hollywood with talk show host Jerry Springer. There they made so much noise that they landed their own nightly show, and it kicked off this week at Studio 54 in MGM Grand.

Recycled Percussion will perform their 75- to 90-minute percussion, body percussion and human beat box moves nightly except Sundays, and next Tuesday, we media types get a look at the excitement. Audience members are given an instrument -- or an abandoned car part, buckets or power tools -- and drumsticks to become a part of the band’s sound. Show your skills, and you’ll be invited onstage to join in as the fifth member. The group spent four years developing their show and features founder Justin Spencer, aka the world’s fastest drummer.

The talented New Hampshire foursome has been making the rounds on red carpets, including for The Expendables, Takers and Primp Clothing during MAGIC’s Men’s Fashions Week, and were shot by contributing photographer Erik Kabik at the new Minus5 Ice Bar in Monte Carlo.

*Congratulations to sharp-tongued comedian and celebrity roaster Vinnie Favorito, who has renewed his contract with the Flamingo that keeps his act on The Strip for another six years, or through 2017. Vinnie continues his run at Bugsy’s Cabaret, which he shares with X Burlesque.

“How lucky am I to be able to hurl insults and poke fun at people for a living?” Vinnie said in a statement. “The Flamingo has been so welcoming and encouraging, and I’m ecstatic to continue my run with them for another six years.” He recently marked his fifth anniversary and 3,000th performance with Harrah’s Entertainment, and his celebrity targets have included Tom Arnold, Larry King, Jerry Springer, Magic Johnson and Pat O’Brien.

*The 2011 Miss America Pageant’s 53 contestants heading to Planet Hollywood on Jan. 15 gathered together for the first time in Orlando, Fla., during the Sixth Annual Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition. Video of photo shoots and events, including at Disney World, was shot for the January pageant, and Planet Hollywood Towers and Westgate owner David Siegel hosted a gala fundraiser at his estate for the third consecutive year benefitting the Miss America Scholarship Fund and the Westgate Foundation. Lacey Russ, Miss Oklahoma’s Outstanding Teen, was named 2011 Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. Next year marks the 90th anniversary of the Miss America, which will air live on ABC.

*Congratulations to Blush in the Wynn as it celebrates its third anniversary all month long beginning Tuesday. The Nightlife & Bar Convention named Blush the Best Ultra Lounge of the Year, and surprise guests will be popping up Tuesday and onward, and includes the star-studded crowd for Mike Posner’s appearance Sept. 18.

*Luxor comedian headliner Carrot Top will be on hand today to launch Uno! Dos! Tres! Thursdays, a weekly Thursday promotion at Hussong’s Cantina in The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, while the redheaded funnyman’s charcoal portrait is added to the restaurant’s wall of fame. Every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., $3 gets locals a combo that includes one taco, one Dos Equis and one Tres Agaves margarita or shot. Rock ’n’ Roll Mariachis provides the music, and there also is the breaking of the pinata.

*It was a star-studded turnout at the Fifth Annual Human Rights Campaign Gala at the Paris on Saturday night that included Congresswoman Dina Titus as the featured speaker, plus Imperial Palace headliners Human Nature, Vinnie Favorito, The Rio headliners and AIDS walk heroes Penn & Teller, Jubilee!, Peepshow and Holly’s World star Josh Strickland, Paris headliner Anthony Cools, Imperial Palace headliner Frank Marino and cast members of Le Reve at the Wynn. Contributing photographer Erik Kabik was onsite for this Vegas DeLuxe photo gallery.

*Nunsense, the hit musical comedy celebrating its 25th anniversary, is coming to the Las Vegas Hilton’s Shimmer Cabaret starting Sept. 15. The show about a group of nuns putting on a fundraiser includes a number of musical comedy actresses from Las Vegas. Diane Ellis has performed with Don Rickles and has done voice-over work; Michelle Johnson has been featured on HBO, TBS, MTV and all of the major TV networks and on Broadway; Janien Valentine has numerous theater credits, including Franco Dragone’s Carmen; and Kelly Clinton-Holmes has been performing here since she was a teenager and is married to entertainer Clint Holmes.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

The Avett Brothers play Silverton Casino Lodge, and if you mention the word “emotionalism” when you purchase your ticket, the trio will throw in your second ticket for free. Brothers Scott and Seth Avett and Bob Crawford play a unique blend of folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop to convey the message of “I and Love and You.” … Shibuya in MGM Grand hosts the final 2010 Restaurant Week nighttime party of food and libations at 10:30. … Robert Kelly is the headliner at The Playboy Comedy Lounge in the Palms through Saturday. … And Carey Hart has booked Adler’s Appetite for his Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

We’ll have a preview of all the stars coming to The Strip to entertain and party over the four-day Labor Day Weekend. Plus, our interview with Master Magician Lance Burton as he brings the curtain down Saturday on his 15-year headline run at the Monte Carlo. Lance reminisces about the highlights and reveals what lies ahead for him.

Vegas DeLuxe Editor Don Chareunsy contributed to this report.

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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