Checking out the strip on our first day in Vegas: Eiffel Tower (Paris Las Vegas); Harley Davidson Cafe (the Strip); Statue of Liberty (New York New York); Josef in front of Excalibur Hotel; the three amigos at the Harley Cafe.

The Platters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters & The Marvelettes show @ the Sahara exceeded our expectations, great performance with enthusiastic audience. A really great value show, awesome performance from all! First the Coasters came on - they were terrific and we wondered how the Platters would follow that - if these were the "warm-up guys". The Platters include one member who's been with the group 39 years...and he still really rocks!!! How could the Marvelettes follow that? But they were awesome too and got poor Bill from the audience up on stage to perform with them. He was a great sport and had us all in stitches.

We weren't ready to go home...despite the hour. We were buzzing and needed to dance...so we went on to see SixtiesMania also at the Sahara. This band did all stuff sixties. They were really versatile and very entertaining. Great night of music to dance to and great dance floor. At the gig we met Gavin and Judy from Victoria and Andrew from the band who's from Newcastle...bit of an OZ reunion in the USA (see video below).

Some of us still hadn't had enough....despite the very early hour, so we kicked on to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville at the Flamingo. Another great band and huuuuuuge margaritas...that guaranteed we slept way too late in the morning for an early check-in at the Rockabilly festival.

Went to the nostalgia markets at the Orleans. Great range of gear for rockabilly, rnr and swing dancers and fans. We'll add a selection of vendors marketing gear through the web: hair pomades, dresses, shoes, skirts, jeans, jumpsuits, accessories, etc (see pic bottom right).

We returned to the Strip for an awesome night of music with Neil Morrow, Buzz Campbell (who plays with Lee Rocker of Stray Cats) and band (video to come).

On the way home we saw the go go girls in action above the gambling tables at the Flamingo and the massage girls helping clients relax at the pokies.

Lots of retail therapy today. Spent the afternoon at the Bill's Gambling Hall watching the Big Elvis Show.

Another Elvis joined our table - a shy guy who got an Elvis jumpsuit for a Halloween party and never looked back. Now he wears it often and gets an amazing reaction - definitely a chick magnet, guys. See the video interview by Celia.

The Rockabilly Weekend goes on at the Orleans, and as the song goes, it is  - "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)". One feels definitely "under-tattooed", and we can only stand in the crowded mosh pit for so long.

Stayed on the Strip, a great band at the Venetian including go-go-girls, then on to the Sahara for more Sixties Mania.

Great afternoon at Brenden's pub at the Orleans Hotel.
Sydney band Blue Denim shone out, it seems strange to travel 10,000 miles to catch a good (Aussie) Rockabilly band - but Brad now lives in LA.

Cash O'Riley entertained for 1 1/2 hours non-stop (as the first band failed to show) and he finished with a musician's pyramid Rockabilly style and then, caught in the moment, ended by smashing his guitar. He played a wide variety of music and got the crowd rockin'.

There was a great, though brief, performance by some enthusiastic Japanese Rockabilly dancers (see below).

Reflections on Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender # 12

Overall, for us, the Wintersun Festival wins hands down - tighter organization (bands play as scheduled and turn up); lots more choice of events and gigs running simultaneously; many more vendors (and better pricing of goods); more camaraderie (in our age group, may have been different among the younger set); lots more dancing and no smoking (everything we own is smoke-saturated including our hair).

If you're into being Rockabilly in a big way, then you are in the right place. The festival was well attended by tattooed, pomaded, curled, dyed and vintage dressing Rockabillys.

There were bands from all over the place, but no major headliners of note - but still good bands. Many bands don't get paid at all, they even get to pay their own way to the festival, and buy their own drinks when playing. A few bands failed to show at all - maybe they got a paying gig!

Also people here generally dance in the breaks to DJ music, not when the bands are playing - something for us to get used to.

If you enjoy Rockabilly/Rock'n'Roll music and dancing, but are not a Rockabilly/Rock'n'Roll "die-hard", you'll enjoy the Las Vegas Strip (lots of good bands and dance floors). For those looking for a Wintersun experience abroad, you'll be disappointed by the festival, for those wanting to attend a convention-like experience for die-hard Rockabillys it's a good value experience.