My Oh My: Lu Kala and Aqua Perform at Caesars Windsor

All glitz and glamour: Lu Kala 

Photo credit: Chris Woodrich

Collage photo by me: Before the show, During, and 

Special moment with Lene and Soren on stage

Continuing their Canadian Tour, it was a full out 90’s dance party with Danish-Norwegian euro-pop band Aqua at Caesars Windsor.

Opening up was a Congolese-Canadian singer artist I had never heard of before named Lu Kala. If I’m going to be honest, this was a strange choice when I had seen that 90’s bands like Bran Van 3000 and even singer Simone Denny from Love Inc were Aqua’s openers before, which really fit the vibe of the show and homage to the 90’s era. Still I was open to something new.                                           

Stepping onto the stage, Lu Kala was anything but subtle showing off her glamour, complete with bright flowing orange hair. Kala’s voice at times throughout her perfomance reminded me a bit of Meghan Trainer and even Adele. She had a powerful voice and oozed feminine energy/empowerment with  songs like Lottery Pretty Girl Era and Hotter Now. Those were definitely catchy and pop-ish.  One song really struck me though called Nothing But Love. Kala poured her soul into it and I could just feel the chills. She won me over with that one.   

With a short intermission, Aqua was up next. With non-stop energy, René Dif and Lene Nostrøm were bop bop bopping on and off the stage featuring so many of their chart-topping hits like Barbie Girl, Doctor Jones, Roses are Red and many more that filled my 90’s heart with nostalgic glee. One cannot forget musician, Søren Rasted’s with his multi-talents of singing and rockin’ out on the keyboards.  The music overall stepped a bit away from the high-pitched sweet pop sounds to more edgier rock anthems and Lene’s vocals roared with passion in every note.  

Highlights:

👉A beautifully simple version of Aquarius showing the raw and vulnerable side of Lene with Soren matching her tone on piano.

👉René's intermission dj-set and rapping skills – unbelievable performance.

👉Calling You – One of my favourites that I played all the time on my cd player back in the day! It sounded even better live.

👉Turn Back Time – stripped down to the very core with one of my favourite lines of lyrics: “If only I could say what I still hide”.

👉The lighting and stage visuals were really colourful and eye-catching, if not at times a little blinding.

👉René's energy was wild. He was completely enthralled with jumping out into the audience with every opportunity he could. It was also funny to see Lene climb up onto the shoulders of a security guy while continuing to sing to the crowd.

Overall, this was the most fun I’ve had with my husband at a concert in a while especially one that hit the 90’s vibe so heavily with nothing but happy boys and girls all around us. 

💜Band's Official Site: Aqua

💜IG: Lu Kal

💜Check out all the great shows coming up at Caesars Windsor

*I received complimentary tickets to this show from Caesars Windsor - all opinions are my own!

Anything For Love: Celebrating Meat Loaf at Caesars Windsor

I remember the day that I got the call; “you won 2 tickets to see Meat Loaf!” I felt like I had won the jackpot as his iconic music had flowed through my life for years, especially during the ultimate heartbreak of unrequitted love. I felt a real connection especially to the lyrics.  

Sadly, he cancelled the show due to illness. As time passed by, I kept hoping that I would get another opportunity to see him live, but in 2022, he was whisked away, just like a bat out of hell.

Now in 2025, I finally had my chance to wear my bat necklace with pride and practice my pelvic thrust.

Meatloaf alumni band members from The Neverland Express with powerhouse vocalist and American Idol Winner, Caleb Johnson, rocked Caesars Windsor with their homage to the rock and roll hero himself, Meat Loaf. An added bonus after intermission was a little tribute to the cult classic film; The Rocky Horror Picture Show.


Highlights of the night for me:

👉The tribute to Meat Loaf on screen with interviews, and clips of his early acting days in Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Fight Club and of course, Rocky Horror Picture Show.

👉Caleb singing his entire heart out during I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.

👉 Singer Lyssa Lynne and Caleb had awesome chemistry together performing a crowd favourite, Paradise by the Dashboard Light.

👉The Neverland Express alumni – world-class guitarists; Randy Flowers and Paul Crook. They were just incredible.

👉Everyone standing up doing the iconic Time Warp together.

Was everything perfect? No. There were some noticeable sound distortions happening on stage and I wish there would have been some more theatrics during the second half for honouring to RHPS. Tell me Caleb wouldn’t have looked sizzlin’ in at least some bold makeup, a mesh shirt, or heck even some high heels while singing Sweet Transvestite?!

Overall, it was a fun show and worth seeing – thanks to Jay and Jamie for the double date!! Although I never got the chance to see Meat Loaf perform, Caleb’s infectious energy was as close to having all my rock and rolls dreams come through.

💜Caesars Windsor

💜Celebrating Meat Loaf

Book Review: Dear Me by Anthony Maria

Ah love. It’s an emotion that can make you feel like you’re that delicious maraschino cherry on the top of a mountain high ice cream sundae. On the other hand, love can be so heart-breaking that it is like a disease that slowly eats away at you, with an insatiable smile, until there is nothing left, but an empty soul.

In the novel, Dear Me, written by local author, Anthony Maria, he speaks of a love that you would think only exists in the romantic’s handbook, but in fact, we've all felt it. Mason Gallo has fallen deeply in love with a mysterious woman named Keats Cameron, while on a trip to Niagara Falls, but is devastated when she disappears from his life, only sending cryptic letters, and making brief phone calls to him, which makes him feel like he is on the brink of insanity.

Copyright: Anthony Maria

Returning back to Windsor, where he left the old days behind, Mason hopes to find answers. The recollection of how they first met and all the feelings that flood Mason every day because of Keats sudden disappearance are told to us. She’s his addiction, plain and simple. He is on a quest to find his beloved Keats, at any cost, at any length, even if that means he will search for her forever. 

Meeting many colourful characters along the way, he is faced with agonizing realization that not only the love of his life is slipping away, but there are far more skeletons in his closet that he could have ever dreamed of.

👉My thoughts:

A little on the twisted side, yet brilliant authors like Brett Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk, better take some notes because Anthony’s stylistic writing takes it to a whole new level.

The book is well-written, with subtle poetic sentiments that fill our hearts with hope, yet also laced with intense rawness and explicit language and subject matter, but will still send shivers down your spine.

I also love the fact that Windsor is the main focal point, where Caesars (in this book, known as Casino Windsor) is a prime location, along with Riverside Drive, Victoria Avenue, Hiram Walker, etc. There are also some highlights from our neighbouring city, Detroit Michigan, that are mentioned here, like  the Renaissance Centre and Joe Louis Arena.

I won’t mince words here. You’re in for a psychological mind-fu*k that keeps your heart pounding through every page. In the end, when you think that you are losing something so dear to you that you can’t seem to go on, remember that the truth is out there, you just have to be prepared to find it.

💜Anthony’s book is available online: Dear Me

💜You can also purchase his book by contacting him through IG page

 or by email: anthony.henry.joseph.maria@gmail.com

He's No Dummy: Terry Fator Performs at Caesars Windsor

On Friday, April 14th, at 8 pm, it was a packed house at Caesars Windsor as America’s Got Talent and Vegas showstopper comedic ventriloquist and singer, Terry Fator and his plethora of puppets took the stage for their “On the Road Again” tour.

Terry is known for having a lot of puppets in his show. Walter T. Airdale, is a country music sensation who forgets how many wives he has, while the sassy, Vikki, the Cougar is too hot to handle, and leave it to the Latin Lover, Fernando V. Francisco to give Ricky Martin a run for his money.

We also say “high” to Terry’s neighbour, Duggie Scott Walker, who you’ll need to have a shot every time he says DUDE.  Put on your blues suede shoes and meet Maynard Thompkins, the Elvis Impersonator, who doesn’t know a single Elvis tune and hates to be touched.  Finally, we cannot forget the lovable Winston, the Impersonating Turtle, who clearly steals the show with his impressions.  Oh and of course, there are several special guests too, but you’ll have to see the show to find out more.

Terry’s not afraid to toe the line with pushing the comedy boundaries and neither are his puppets. A lot of the material is definitely for mature audiences and for those who are wide open to commentary of the current times.  Whether the jokes have a political, religious, or sexual spin, you’ll have a ball.  The movement of “#Metoo” turns promiscuous as Vicki proclaims “Pound Me Too”, while Duggie’s “This Bud’s for you” is really about cannabis.  Don’t blame Terry though, blame his puppets – as they have minds of their own.

Overall, the show was fun to attend with my husband and a great opportunity to visit Caesars once again, after a long hiatus with the pandemic foiling a lot of our concert experiences.  A huge thanks to Steve and Donna, who graciously offered us some extra tickets they had for the show.

Performing is hard work, no matter what kind of entertainment you’re involved with, and so Terry didn’t disappoint. We laughed a lot and in the end, that’s all that matters. Terry is ridiculously talented not just as a ventriloquist but his singing chops are note-worthy too. We're sending him and his puppets lots of love as they pack up their bags and go On The Road Again. 

Visit Terry's site to learn more about him and all his puppets, and see where you can catch him next!

💜Terry Fator

City of Windsor Arts, Culture & Heritage Fund Presents: The Bill Nuvo Experience

A variety show featuring magic, juggling, sideshow stunts, comedy and original music.  Starring Bill Nuvo.  

Funded by a generous grant from the City of Windsor Arts, Culture & Heritage Fund #YQGStandsStrong

👉Website:  https://nuvoentertainment.com/

👉Facebook Page: Nuvo Entertainment

👉Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bill-nuvo 🎹🎧

Don't forget to tip the virtual hat to show your support!

🎩💞

👉Donations/Tips accepted: https://busk.co/18805/qr
or EMT/Paypal to nuvoentertainment@hotmail.com

Raising Up Caesars Windsor on a Cold, Cold Night with Josh Groban

 Photo by Dan Savoie

Hailing from Los Angeles, Josh Groban is a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-nominated singer, songwriter, and actor who continues to sell-out concert auditoriums all around the world. If you’ve never heard him before, have you been living under a rock?! No seriously, ask a friend, post on your social media or even do a quick Google search to find out the man behind the voice because I am certain he will not disappoint you.

On Sunday night, I had the pleasure to have tickets on the Colosseum floor at Caesars Windsor to enjoy an authentic Josh Groban experience with a great friend, who warned me she would be breaking out the tissues.

Josh stepped onto the stage in his eggplant purple-coloured suit and shiny black shoes, with a beautiful orchestra and choir, as well as other musicians. The collaboration of music throughout the entire evening performance especially with some bongo playing and impeccable drumming was delightful.

Josh was actually quite a jovial, quirky guy who didn’t take himself too seriously (at least not on stage that night!) but the moment he started singing, it was if he was transported into another world and took your hand to invite you in with him. His vocal range was so impressive and when he hit those high notes, it gave me goose bumps.

Josh did a number of songs from his albums, as well as paid homage to other music artists who have inspired him. Several personal favourites were Granted, Pure Imagination and Play. Of course, he did his most known hits of You Raise Me Up and Don’t Give Up.

There was also a surprise performance by a random audience member who was called up from the crowd. The man didn’t come up on stage, but shook Josh’s hand from below and with a slight hesitancy and probably a bit of jitters, agreed to sing. He knew most of the words to Where You Are and the idea was for him to start and then he’d be giving the microphone back to Josh. He went solo on this one as Josh playfully tried to reach out to get the mic back during parts of the song. What a voice! We have so much talent here. Josh stood on stage in awe and amazement and let this man have his moment.

On a side note, if you go back to the Ally Mcbeal days of television, during the prom scene, you’ll recognize a little Joshie on the show who belts out the melodic tune You’re Still You. He decided to share that fun tidbit with everyone and proceeded to perform the song with such a heart-felt vulnerability.

In a world where we have so much divisiveness between each other and the increased anxiety being thrusted upon us by every news outlet, the classic song, Bridge Over Troubled Waters seemed totally fitting for Josh to sing at the end. It brought a sense of unity, love and even for just one night, a little bit of extra happiness.

During what may seem like insurmountable obstacles and unimaginable sadness at times in our lives, we honour this message that Josh reminded us of tonight: “don’t give up because you are loved.”

--------------------------------------------

You can also find my review on 519 Windsor

Kick up your heels for a good time: Billy Ray Cyrus at Caesars Windsor

photo by Teuta Shabani, Caesars Windsor

I cannot say that I have ever been a big country music fan. Sure I don’t mind listening to the odd toe-tapping, honky-tonk song, but if you asked me what I listen to most days, it wouldn’t be this genre. I must admit though that I was a little excited when I saw that Billy Ray Cyrus was coming to Caesars Windsor and it seemed like a good time to dust off our proverbial cowboy hats and boots, and mosey on out for a fun time with my husband, also named Bill, but no, I don’t call him Billy.

You knew it was going to be a good time as Billy Ray Cyrus entered the stage, complete with his casual cowboy chic, sleek straight hair, signature cowboy hat, and flashed the brightest smile to the crowd. He started the night by channelling his inner Johnny Cash and singing “Folsom Prison Blues.” A great energy hit the crowd and it didn’t stop from there.

If you recall Billy Ray Cyrus was also an actor back in the early 2000’s on a show called Doc, which ran 4 seasons long. For the nostalgic moment, he performed his tv intro hit “Stand Still” which had the audience on their feet shouting the chorus.

“Wher’m I Gonna Live”, “Could’ve Been Me”,  and a heart-warming tribute to the veterans both here and abroad with “Some Gave All”, were a few other great hits.

Two huge highlights were Billy’s  own style of “Johnny B Good” and the well-known party song by Georgia Satellites, “Keep your Hands to Yourself.” Oh and who could forget the keyboardist showing off his skill to the synth sounds of “Jump” by Van Halen.

There were screams from groups of women as the start of the monster hit, “Achy Breaky Heart”, began. Everyone from little kids to seniors (it was an all-ages show) stood up to dance and sway. There were also plenty of teasing moments as Billy pseudo-tossed his cowboy hat and jacket to the crowd. He did actually toss out some t-shirts though, which I’m sure a few lucky ladies will wear to bed tonight without washing to preserve the fact that Billy’s hand and sweat touched those shirts first.

Even though Lil Nas wasn’t able to make the stage this time, Billy Ray gave a salute and wished him well, as he carried on with “Old Town Road” with his band. You could tell the new fans from the old ones just by the sheer joy or confusion on their faces when the bass sound came on and thumped the seats for the entire duration of the song. In all honesty, and you can always expect that when you read my reviews,  the low pitch of the bass, along the loud guitars was deafening. I know some people like that style and yes the song is catchy, but I had to start moving towards the exit.  Thankfully, the rest of the concert was a delight.

Although Billy Ray did mention having some problems crossing the border, we’re happy he made it safe and sound to Windsor to entertain us all, otherwise that probably won’t have left some achy breaky hearts!


You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine

Goodness Gracious: The Million Dollar Quartet Returns to Caesars Windsor

Photo by Dan Savoie

Whether you grew up in the 50’s, listening to Blues Suede Shoes or you had a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On in your later life, let’s take you back to the iconic date of December 4, 1956 in Memphis, Tennessee. Take a trip down memory lane to Sun Records, where Sam Phillips was always on the hunt for his next big star. The Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins) got together for a jam session that reunited everyone for a night of excitement, revelation and of course, rock and roll!

Johnny Cash (Steven Lasiter) definitely gave it his all with hits like Folsom Prison Blues and Walk The Line.  His deep baritone sound gave chills down your spine and he oozed masculinity portraying The Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash.

Carl Perkins (Nathan Burke) gave great vocal performances and played up the manly role to poke fun at the eccentric Jerry Lee any chance he could. A little bit of information that you may not know was that Blue Suede Shoes was written by Carl! Elvis took it a few steps further and had the vocal chops and moves to turn the song into a mega-hit.

Elvis has left the building… Jacob Barton made The King proud with his rendition of Hound Dog, Peace in the Valley and many others. He had the swivelling hips but I couldn’t catch the iconic snarl. With his girlfriend, Dyanne, (Taylor Kraft) stepping up on stage to the mic, her sultry sound singing Fever may have had a lot of audience members a little hot under the collar.

There is no doubt in my mind that Jerry Lee Lewis (Trevor Dorner) stole the show with Great Balls of Fire. His energy from the moment he put his fingers on the piano to the end where we was literally jumping off the piano had the audience cheering him on.  Plus who doesn’t love a quirky performance from someone who exudes that sweet southern charm with a sarcastic bite.

Let’s not forget the Father of Rock N Roll, Sam Phillips (Sean Casey Flanagan) who gave a memorable performance, Jon Rossi who killed it on the drums and bassist Brother Jay (Kroy Presley) who can play the electric and upright bass with ease and poise.

With two incredible encores to finish off the show and sporting some sparkly jackets to finish their individual looks, The Million Dollar Quartet have a bright future ahead and hopefully will be back to Caesars Windsor for more shows in the future – See You Later Alligator!

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine

Believe It Or Not: The Clairvoyants Bring Their Supernatural Abilities to Windsor

The Clairvoyants
Photo credit: Dan Savoie

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine: 

https://yqgrocks.com/believe-it-or-not-the-clairvoyants-bring-their-show-to-windsor/

The Clairvoyants are an Austrian mentalist duo who arrived here at Caesars Windsor on Friday (May 24) to perform on stage for an all-ages show.  Thommy Ten and Amélie van Tass have impressed judges on America’s Got Talent, especially the hard to please critic, Simon Cowell and even spooked out comedian Howie Mandel. They are currently on a 2019 world-wide tour and will be jet-setting all the way back to Austria soon!

With a packed house, there was a lot going on in the show from a Jelly bean prediction that left you with a sweet-tooth to an intricate puzzle board trick done by Thommy with precision and skill.

In one of the acts, two audience members were chosen at random and made a rather psycho-kinetic connection which really left the crowd with their jaws dropped.

The audience interaction throughout the night was absolutely hilarious from an older lady commenting how she liked “balls” (she was holding a large blue beach ball on stage) to a feisty woman who was ready to shake her booty.  Thommy had a lot of subtle comedic elements that brought the show to another level and sporting to the crowd his cute doggy socks.  It’s always nice when performers don’t take themselves too seriously all the time.

I could also really appreciate that both Thommy and Amélie didn’t just utilize the crowd at the front either, they made the effort to climb the stairs and seek out other random participants scattered throughout the Caesars auditorium. A simple gesture, but one that didn’t get overlooked.

The real beauty about mentalism and performers like The Clairvoyants is that these acts don’t need extravagant props or even very many at all.  Anyone can learn the secrets, that’s just part of the fun, but in the performing realm, it’s not solely about “how did they do that?”  It goes way beyond that mentality.

It does require a high level of skill, patience, connection, and let’s be honest, the grand ability to make the impossible seem possible.

Million Dollar Quartet at Caesars Windsor

Friday night, I took Bill's mom to see Million Dollar Quartet! We had a fun night out together, so thank you Caesars Windsor!

My thoughts on the show: Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash were top notch in my view. Carl Perkins was decent. Elvis though....while he had the moves, his voice was odd. Really high-pitched and not very "Elvisy" if you know what I mean. I realize this was back in the starting days of his career, but I didn't feel it at all. All I could keep thinking was "damn, my friend Norm Ackland Jr. (he is an ETA - Elvis Tribute Artist) should have been in this role!" Elvis' girlfriend Dyanne was quite the head-turner with her seductive charm and her sultry vocals during Fever was a nice touch, but I didn't particularly like her voice overall. Lastly, Sam Phillips (the man who initially discovered and launched the early careers of the guys, as well as the founder of Sun Records), he was alright. Definitely had that sleazy record producer vibe down. ;)

Anyhow, still entertaining performance to hear a lot of classic songs to bop along to like Walk The Line, Great Balls of Fire, That's Alright, Brown-Eyed Handsome Man, See You Later Alligator and more!

You can check out all the photos on the Caesars Windsor Facebook page, as there was absolutely no photography/videos allowed!

Not fooling us: Penn and Teller perform at Caesars Windsor

We went to see Penn & Teller at Caesars Windsor. Dating a performer, Friday/weekend outings are last minute because he is usually booked for gigs.

Anyhow, we caught a cool 80's band at Cosmo's before the show. My retro heart!! <3

Then it was off to see Penn & Teller. Getting mezzanine seats worked out because a. they were cheap and b. super comfy!

No photos or videos were allowed during the performance, so this was prior
to the show when people were just getting their seats.

I'll be honest, we were both not very impressed with this show. They started out strong with a fun inflatable bit, but then it went downhill fast. The performances we saw before at Caesars were much better choreographed. This felt sloppy and rushed at times. Lots of audience participation, but that didn't change our minds.

Teller was amusing, and his skill is definitely awesome, but again, something was missing. There were too many card tricks in the performance and a few tricks seemed to lack a logical ending. Staying optimistic for a kick-ass finish, we were let down with such a weak finale called the "Love Ritual" card trick that involved every patron, but sadly didn't end up working for everyone.

Penn also felt more vibrant in the past. Sure he's touring and probably exhausted, but "fool us" into thinking you're the life of the party on stage. That's your job. I felt his energy was lack-luster, despite his excessive talking. lol Seeing his weight loss in person was even more shocking than viewing photos of him online. I realize he slimmed down for health reasons, but I gotta say I miss jovial "chunky" Penn.

Highlights though were their new password prediction, the nail gun (one lady a short distance from us was yelling out loud because I think she was so freaked out!), their version of the light/heavy trick, the human blindfold and Teller's artistic shadow routine.

Once the show was done, the line up for the meet & greet was huge! It was very strange that Penn split up from Teller because that meant people would have to wait in-line twice. I'm not sure who had that bright idea. Although Bill did want to get their latest book signed, and also show them his foot-twisting trick, it just wasn't in the cards this time!

Caesars Windsor Presents: Tony Orlando

I love being able to see live shows and although I am pretty eclectic with my tastes in music (I can go from Abba to Apoptygma Berzerk in a heart beat), I won't deny though that there is something so comforting and romantic about the doo-wop era and all those golden oldies.

Being a Total Rewards Member has its perks (did I mention it's FREE to join up to reap the benefits?) because one of the best parts of being a member is the concert invites! Sometimes it will be one show, and other times I get lucky and get multiple offers! I was tickled pink when I was notified about tickets for Tony Orlando! This would be my second time seeing him at Caesars Windsor (first for Bill!), and so what a great week-night date idea. I like the fact that we don't know until we get to the box office what seats we're getting, although this time I was asked about my preference for either balcony or floor seats.

Even if you've never really heard much of Tony's music, it doesn't matter because the show is full of surprises! He is such a natural story-teller and has a way to engage his audience that you immediately feel connected. The couple he brought up on stage celebrating 60 years of marriage was so beautiful and inspiring, as he sang to them, his version of "You Are So Beautiful To Me." #marriagegoals

He also brought up this burly former wrestler who was just a character in himself, but the guy was a huge fan and they were having some fun banter back in forth on stage. "I tweeted you on Twitter and you never tweeted me back!" Hahaha...hilarious.

Tony is such a genuine soul, going through some extremely difficult times in his life and coming back stronger than ever. He really cares about his entire band, showcasing each member and their abundance of talents. The show lasted approximately 2 hours, which was really impressive. He was panting and sweating, plus losing his voice a little, but carried on like a true performer.

A great night with my babe and I hope Tony comes back again because he is worth seeing time and time again!

Stay connected on Facebook: Caesars Windsor

Find Tony on Facebook: Tony Orlando

Happy holidays!

It was a wonderful Christmas Eve with my love, seeing Saving Mr. Banks and enjoying dinner at Caesar's: The Artist Cafe. Coming home, we stopped by for a little visit with Bill's mom and watched the end of A Christmas Carol and Gremlins. We came home, snuggled up into bed, and fell asleep to Christmas Vacation. :)

It's now Christmas morning.

I gave Bill his present a few weeks ago. So now to add to his diversely growing book collection, 700 Sundays, written by Billy Crystal. Witty, heart-warming, and inspirational. This book was beyond difficult to find in-store, but thanks to Amazon, it all worked out.

In other news...someday, I will visit Duke Lemur Center and play with the lemurs.

Until that time, I am surrounded this early morning, by my ring-tail lovelies (including two more from my beau; a lemur puppet, and a cute lemur figurine). Oh and yes, I even grew a little tail as well. ;)

Happy holidays!

Caesars Windsor: Pet Shop Boys Make Windsor Electric

Pet Shop Boys live at Caesars Windsor -Sept 27/13

Truth be told, it’s certainly a dress-up love affair when you go and see the Pet Shop Boys (PSB). Not everyone can pull off chic sophistication when it’s paired with glittery outlandish outfits and keep a nonchalant demeanour. But, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have a tendency to make anything look perfectly normal. Delighting fans with nostalgic synth-pop flavour, cheeky, cynical (with that hint of romanticism), and brilliant lyrics, the night at Caesars Windsor proved that fabulous really does come at any age.

The pre-show was completely unexpected, but a great surprise, as programmer of PSB, Pedro Gonzales did his DJ set that really kicked things up by spinning hard-hitting and energy-filled tracks.

The Pet Shop Boys truly know how to make an entrance. You immediately feel transported by the stunning visceral experience, as  the opening track Axis started to play. Using video projections and creating a hypnotic laser light show throughout the night, it was a surreal experience where you felt lost in time.

Tennant’s vocals were amazing, and there is something about a British man saying, “Thank you Windsor,” and “Ontario,” that just makes you proud of where you live.

The set list was plentiful with the show lasting about an hour and 40 minutes. The focus seemed to be more on the albums that we have all grown to love over the years. However, the songs they did play from their new disk, Electric, were sensational and really showed the musical style and progression of sound from the duo.

It was a shame though that Love Is A Bourgeois Construct was not performed because I could listen to that over and over again.

Of course West End Girls, Rent, It’s A Sin, and Domino Dancing were hits with the crowd. And the two encores, Go West and Vocal, got everyone out of their seats to sing and dance along.

The diversity of the crowd was also refreshing, as you saw just about everyone from their 20's and up, and from all walks of life.

Overall, the Pet Shop Boys’ performance was the most exhilarating and wildly creative performance that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing at Caesars Windsor with my partner, Bill, and our friend Tim, who we are convinced has loved PSB from birth.

Now, I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing and end a review with song lyrics, but PSB will be Always On My Mind.

Enjoy some Pet Shop Boys footage!

The Pet Shop Boys visit Caesars Windsor

~I know it sounds ridiculous, but speaking from experience 
It may seem romantic, and that's no defense
Love will always get to you...~

TICKETS TO THE PET SHOP BOYS!!

Magic Review: Penn & Teller at Caesars Windsor

We had a great time seeing Penn & Teller at Caesars Windsor! They put on a fantastic show, although I must admit some parts I had to look away because I'm squeamish, even if it's all magic.

Seeing the lineup after the performance, I thought that our chances of getting a picture would be minimal but I knew that Bill wanted to stay as long as possible because they are two top entertainers that have inspired his own career.

Surprisingly, the duo was more than happy to stay around for all of their fans; signing autographs, memorabilia and even someone's debit card!  Thanks to a really nice couple who were waiting in line, Bill and I got photos with both Penn and Teller, Penn signed Bill's copy of "How to Play With Your Food" and he even autographed the program booklet that Jay (Bill's cousin) bought! :)


Here is the review that Bill, from Nuvo Entertainment, wrote on the show:

On June 2, 2012, my girlfriend and I saw Penn and Teller perform at Caesar’s Windsor. As a magician and skeptic, I was very interested in seeing one of my favourite duo’s perform live. I have some of their books, and DVDs, and have watched countless Youtube videos, especially being a performer in the entertainment industry.

I am definitely familiar with a lot of what they do.  However, I wanted to actually see how they interacted with the audience and handled the unpredictable nature of volunteers that were randomly chosen from the audience. They did not disappoint!

Before the show started, there was some great soft jazz music playing with piano and bass. It set the mood that you were in for something cool and different. Unlike, as Penn can often be heard saying, other magic shows that use a lot of bad Motown music. This was a jiving and groovy show.

Penn and Teller made their entrance in a very simple way, nothing flashy at all. It was just the two of them coming on stage and saying their hellos (rather Penn saying hello as Teller talks very little in the show…plus his head was in a box).

So what happens next? They go right into their first trick. They get a volunteer with glasses, and bring her onstage. Expertly, her glasses disappear and reappear on Teller’s face once the box is ripped and broken apart off of his head. No they do not tell you how it was done.

Even though Penn and Teller have been known for some exposure of magic, they don’t show you how they do everything. They treat their audiences as intelligent and as equals, but at the same time they show that even though you may realize that the card is not really lost in the deck, they can still surprise you in a different way. They basically take your knowledge and assumptions and use that against you. I have to admit, there were two routines that I didn’t see coming as I was totally taken in by them. As a magician, using my knowledge against me is probably the best thing you can do. Penn and Teller won me over.

The duo display a unique sense of wit and humour in their acts. Penn is a master of witty verbiage, while Teller is a master of subtle body expression. The two really compliment each other and create some really dynamic fluctuations in the show with loud and quiet moments. When Teller breaks his silence and tells Penn to shut up, it only makes the moment even more gloriously hilarious as that is what a lot of people were thinking (the only other moment I can relate it to that was equally powerful and comical was in a Jay and Silent Bob movie where Silent Bob told Jay to shut up).

In a huge contrast, they ended the show on a quiet note. The whole theatre was darkened and only lit by a single candle. It was at this point that Penn and Teller truly made the audience feel as equals, as Penn stated that they could now see us exactly as how we were seeing them. It was truly a deep and beautiful moment. He explained quietly and with some added humour, but still with a humble seriousness, the peril of the bit he was about to do.

In the hands of some performers, fire eating might come off as a quick and mediocre stunt. Penn and Teller elevated it to something emotional and bigger than that moment on stage. Even though, a cross-wind on stage prevented the success of one of the transfers, it did little to diminish the point: Whether in success or failure, we are on the journey together. I, for one, am glad to take the journey with Penn and Teller.

After the show, Penn and Teller stayed out in the lobby to sign autographs, take pictures and meet their fans. Even though you could tell they were exhausted, they were still playful and genuinely appreciative of the support. They were playful and masters of the perfect photogenic poses (well they ought to be after so many years of this!) They signed everything from books, programs, to tickets and even the back of someone’s debit card!

While standing with your arms around Penn and Teller, you find that these “Bad Boys of Magic” are really a couple of down to earth, lovable guys. I guess that is their real magic. They make you smile.

Penn and Teller Performing At Caesars Windsor: Bill Nuvo's Birthday Gift

Bill's birthday is coming up on Sunday, so what better gift to get a magician than to see other magicians whom he highly respects!

Penn and Teller are coming to Caesars Windsor in June!

Happy birthday, I love you!

Trivia, Concerts and Upcoming Travels!

Here's a trivia question for you, what fruit is known as the "winter banana?" It's an apple that has a distinct banana-like flavour.

We went to Windsor Eat's: Trivia Night at the Social Bean Café last Tuesday for the first time.

I love the atmosphere and hurray for something different besides the usual Tim Hortons and Starbucks in South Windsor! They have a reasonably priced selection of items like soups and sandwiches as well as a variety of loose teas. I’m quite fond of their Social Pesto Panini. Mmm.. 

Many of the questions were challenging but you definitely come out learning something new. I could spot the trivia guru's a mile away though! Aside from regular trivia questions, they had a fun music and movie round. Our team came in 3rd but once the scores were tallied, we were actually just a few points away from to winning!

It sure was a busy weekend. I loved seeing The Beach Boys at Caesar’s on Friday night, so thanks to Brad and his mom for the tickets! We had excellent seats and this crowd was definitely livelier than Hall and Oates. There were 3 beach balls being tossed around before the show started too which was fun to play with aside from the people who started to really spike them hard instead of a playful volley serve. Once the music started playing, I could feel such a nostalgic energy from the older people to even my generation. I was very impressed with the vocal quality and the doo wop moments especially with God Only Knows, In My Room, Why Do Fools Fall In Love and I'm So Young. When the catchy tune The Little Old Lady From Pasadena came on, everyone started dancing and was yelling out to the lyrics "go granny go granny go!" and passionately chanting to the song "Help me Rhonda." I was surprised how many songs were performed. Amongst all the hits that most people would know like Kokomo, Surfer Girl, Good Vibrations, etc, they did one beautiful song that I didn't know about called Disney Girls.

After attending a spa party and enjoying it so much, I hosted my first one at the house on Saturday night. Sadly, the night before, I found out that VNV Nation was performing at St. Andrew's in the States!! This was the worst timing ever! :( I've been wanting to see them again in concert so i'm hoping they'll come back. So despite a few bumps at the beginning of the party, it ended up being a successful time and tons of fun for everybody! My dad even joined in on getting a green tea facial and foot rub, and showed his softer side!

Here's a picture of William bending down to display the table. I really appreciated all his help and we made a great entertaining duo!

To end the weekend, we went to check out Festival Epicure on Sunday along with my friend Barb to see Rare Earth perform. It was a fun time although where was the tiramisu and all the other desserts? There were tons of restaurants and wineries, but I hardly saw any desserts. I was disappointed but the strawberry tartufo from Mezzo was delicious!


Rare Earth performing at Festival Epicure


Enjoying the night together

In other news here, I volunteered a bit for the Windsor Fringe this year which has been a new experience to say the least. I felt good contributing to events that will bring excitement to the city since right now things are looking rather bleak, and of course to support my partner who is performing throughout the 10 days.

To end this blog, I shall be visiting the "scallop capital of the world!" I've never been out east in Canada before so my camera is going to be filled with gorgeous pictures of everything I can possibly capture in Digby, Nova Scotia.