There’s storm brewing at the Smith Center

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts Photo: Geri Kodey

A little more than ten years ago, CBS came up with a reality show designed to rival American Idol – which at the time, was easily among the highest rated shows in television.

It was called Rock Star and in its second and final season, featured singers competing to win a gig fronting a band called Supernova with Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee and former members of Metallica and Guns n’ Roses.

The show did okay in the ratings, the band went nowhere and the whole thing was quickly forgotten… except for one person who finished in fifth place.

Laura Domela

Storm Large has used the TV show as a springboard for a career that’s as unique as her name, going from punk and rock clubs on the West Coast to a dramatic shift into the world of jazz and classical music.

She crossed paths with Pink Martini in 2011, stepping in for China Forbes who took time off for vocal cord surgery and today, both singers perform regularly with the 12-piece “little orchestra” who defies all categorization with a blend of global musical styles, sung in more than 20 languages.

“(We are) a rollicking around-the-world musical adventure,” says pianist Thomas Lauderdale, who founded Pink Martini in Portland, Oregon. “If the United Nations had a house band in 1962, hopefully we’d be that band.”

Pink Martini

Pink Martini has performed all over the world, from the Middle East to South America, and released eight albums that have sold a combined three-million copies globally.

The group arrives in Las Vegas early in the New Year, with a stop at the Smith Center on Saturday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m.

The Smith Center Reynolds Hall Photo: Geri Kodey

Pink Martini will team up with the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra for a truly one-of-a-kind performance inside Reynolds Hall that promises to showcase a unique mix of classical, jazz, samba and traditional pop standards.

The musicians will also be joined by Kelsea Au and Erika Dalton, the two finalists in the Cox Communications Young Artists Concerto Competition.

Tickets range from $100 to $250 and are available now from the Smith Center Box Office by phone at (702) 749-2000 or online at lvphil.org.

By Rob Kachelriess

 

Rob Kachelriess is the Managing Editor of Vegas2LA magazine. He’s also a News Producer for KVVU Fox5 Las Vegas and the Las Vegas writer for Thrillist.

Twitter: @rkachelriess

Email: robertkachelriess@yahoo.com