Kelly Clinton's Open Mic Cabaret: The Buzz: Incredible Open Mic Talent Goes On Every Monday Night!

As always, the awesome entertainer Kelly Clinton, opened Monday night’s show on the “upbeat” with her terrific performance of Jimmy Cliff’s, I Can See Clearly Now. By invite, Michelle Johnson jumped in on backup. The bright, star shining night ahead was kicked off on a high note with Kelly’s remarkable talent for making things happen!!!

The full-house crowd was overjoyed when Kelly introduced the very popular, Bill Fayne who promised he would sing for the audience their choice of either a Broadway tune or an opera piece. No surprise when the crowd yelled “opera.” Everyone’s been anxiously awaiting his return to performing. So Bill, the founder of The Las Vegas Tenors and as we well know, the musical director for headliner, Clint Holmes, performed the full version of Nessum Dorma, from "Puccini's" opera Turandot. His outstanding performance was met with cheers and a well deserved. standing ovation!

Bill Fayne heads for North Carolina this mid-week for prep rehearsals for the upcoming play starring Clint Holmes, now called “My Own Song”. The show opens at the Flat Rock Playhouse on April 3 and runs through April 25.

Tribute artist, Nicholas Brooks, who performs as Sammy Davis, Jr. in the Rat Pack show is back in town following appearances all over the States in the past several weeks. This night Nicholas gave a great show at the open mic singing Marvin Gaye’s Pride and Joy. Stephanie Anderson sang backup vocals from the sidelines and the band backed Nicholas during his wonderful performance.

Lisa Gay and Tony Drake, the amazing husband and wife team that blew us away last week was back this Monday night to give us more of their first-class act! Together vocalist Lisa Gay and master guitarist, Tony Drake wowed the crowd again, this time starting with a beautiful rendition of songwriter, Phyllis Hyman's, Old Friend --And then, with tambourine in hand, plenty of body moves and her astonishing vocal runs, riffs and scats, the fabulous song stylist Lisa ‘worked it’ in the front spotlight on Al Green’s, Let’s Stay Together, while awesome Tony led the band on guitar. The couple just moved to Vegas from LA, bringing with them their incredible combined talent and experience touring and recording with many of the best in the music business., including Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.

Popular Las Vegas-based performer and producer, the amazing Michelle Johnson, stepped up to give a fabulous and very moving presentation of that beautiful standard, Smile. Michelle was billed on the Hit Parade Show at the Suncoast this week. Check out her gig schedule for her next appearance at Brendan’s Pub inside The Orleans Hotel/Casino coming up soon.

Andrew Scott, who is using a cane while he is on the mend these day, sat on a stool but could hardly keep himself from jumping off it during his exciting performance of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On!!! ........

---- Up next was the beautiful Jacqueline, looking striking in her off-the-shoulder black sheath (wish we had a picture) at her open mic appearance this Monday night. Jacqueline gave a lovely performance of Barbra Streisand’s, Evergreen.

Changing the pace, Kelly introduced the awesome Skye Dee Miles who once again blew us away with her performance of When Something is Wrong With My Baby. The boys in the big booth, (see more pics) Brian Czach, Teddy Davey, Jeff Neiman, Clint Holmes and Bill Fayne all joined Skye on back up. The fun never ends! Kelly and Skye got a lot of laughs with their kidding around banter before Kelly gave the big announcement that Skye Dee Miles, who stars in Menopause the Musical at the Luxor, will be hosting the Cabaret next Monday night, March 15. This will be the first time Kelly replaced herself as host since the Cabaret started last June 1.

Kelly will be out of town with her husband, Clint Holmes, preparing for Clint’s theater show in North Carolina. She’ll be back the following week.

Next up was Jeff Neiman, the terrific singer/musician who has been filling in as musical director for Clint Holmes during Bill Fayne’s absence. Jeff sat at the grand piano but to everyone’s surprise he was actually there to play for Kelly Clinton during her extraordinary show-stopper performance of the Christina Aguilera number, Beautiful. Next, Kelly’s husband , Clint Holmes began singing You Are So Beautiful from off stage. Clint stepped into the spotlight with Kelly and the couple finished off the fabulous performance of the love song together. Oh, what a night!!!

Clint Holmes will be headlining at the Suncoast Showroom this weekend, March 13 and 14. The Sunday show is set for 4 pm. Jeff Neiman is musical director . Then it’s off to North Carolina Sunday night.

Speaking of Sunday shows, Mary Oliver is the headliner at Kelly Clinton’s Celebrity Spotlight show at the Bootlegger Bistro on March 14, at 8:30 pm. Make your reservations to catch this wonderful songstress perform a wide range of music from great standards to soul and jazz.

Again speaking of jazz, next up at the mic, jazz/blues stylist Kitty Montgomery sent out her song to all of the crowd but especially to one “special couple” sitting at an upper table in the bar area. Demonstrating her very unique style, Kitty gave a fabulous performance of the classic blues number, Summertime!

Jeff Neiman was back at the grand piano, this time to play for the awesome tenor, Teddy Davey, who gave a wonderful performance of Send in the Clowns…..Teddy Davey, one of three incredible singers in the show group The Las Vegas Tenors, announced the group will be heading out on a cruise ship gig this week. You can catch the very popular Las Vegas Tenors upcoming Las Vegas appearance at the Suncoast Showroom in April.

Up next, the fabulous Elisa Furr, did a really hot Chaka Khan number, Ain’t Nobody. Jumping in on backup, Stephanie Anderson and April Silk, of Silk, Satin & Lace, added their vocal parts to Elisa’s power performance.

The beautiful Stephanie Anderson stepped up next for her own terrific solo of Roberta Flack’s, Killing Me Softly……

Then April Silk changed the pace when she took over the mic with an exciting routine of Donna Summers, Bad Girl. Kelly Clinton jumped in along with Stephanie Anderson to do a few dance steps and leg kicks with April. Great fun and great show!

J.T. Thompson announced this was a special night for someone who does a great job behind the scenes managing the Bootlegger’s dining room and a lot more. The young and beautiful, just turned 23-year -old, Jenna Murawski came on stage for her Happy Birthday tribute song led by J.T. and Kelly.

Getting on to more of the entertainers, Kelly introduced Doug Jackson, a first- timer at the cabaret, who did a really fine presentation of Willie Nelson’s, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.
Loved the fringed jacket and the boots too!

Back at the grand piano this week, master musician, Sebastian gave a powerful and outstanding performance with a medley of popular “up tunes.” Sebastian appears at the Mandalay Bay and also performs at many Las Vegas corporate event engagements.

Sebastian gained a really big fan this night when the next performer, Jean Marinelli Hayek, just couldn’t stop saying enough good things about the extraordinary pianist!!
Jean looked lovely perched on a stool to perform the number she “dedicated to the man I love” and she sang her heart out on the Hal David and Archie Jordan tune, Almost Like a Song.

“She rocks, she's soulful,” Kelly said when she introduced Kat G who went on to ‘prove that right’ when she sang a beautiful rock ballad with the emotions of one who has lived the story told in the song lyrics. That’s soul!

You’ve got to have the pros behind you when you’re on stage. Just ask singer Justina Black, she knows that truth from the her latest open mic experience.

Right near the end of her terrific performance of Got No Where to Go, her track hit a glitch and stopped working -- but in just seconds Kelly got Mike Clark on the keys and Billy Adams on the drums in time for Justina’s really big finale. Ah, show biz!!!! Don’t you just love it!!!

As it got closer to winding up another great evening of entertainment at Kelly Clinton’s Open Mic Cabaret at the Bootlegger Bistro, up stepped Rayfield Taylor, a young, very personable singer visiting from North Carolina, who gave a really fine performance of the Hall and Oats tune, Sara Smile. It’s Vegas Baby!

And last up but certainly not least, veteran musician/singer, Ron Starr took over the mic and rocked the house singing Johnny Be Good followed by James Brown’s, I Feel Good , with the fabulous band behind him. There was no stopping Ron this night. Without interrupting the flow, the singer asked Billy Adams if he could sit in and Ron showed his talent as a really awesome drummer with his big knockout, surprise performance.

Thanks to Kelly Clinton, J.T. Thompson, the music maestro Mike Clark on keys, the great Billy Adams on drums, and DJ Kevin Cordova on tracks and special effects, --and all the entertainers who perform, for making this open mic cabaret a real happening every Monday night!

And so now the end is here for the March 8th fabulous entertainment line up and yet another memorable evening at Kelly Clinton’s Open Mic Cabaret! The show will be back on next Monday night, March 15, with host Skye Dee Miles filling in for Kelly. See you then!

Join us every Monday Night at the Bootlegger Italian Bistro, 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The mic is open to all talented performers. Come on down to Kelly Clinton’s Open Mic Cabaret!! Promote your gig! Take in a really great show and enjoy some fine dining. Doors open at 8:30 pm. Showtime 9 pm.
Reservations: 702-736-4939

MORE PICTURES FROM 3-8-2010