Diceman bringing act to local lounge

The Diceman won't bake cupcakes, but he will do his stand-up act in a sushi restaurant.

Andrew Dice Clay was the first contestant Donald Trump fired from this season's TV contest "The Celebrity Apprentice," after he failed to hold up his end of a cupcake-baking project. But local producer Adam Steck says once was still enough network TV exposure to inspire confidence in a limited run at the Palazzo's Sushisamba.

"It's a great address," Steck says of the restaurant's adjacent Sugarcane Lounge, which has room for about 200 people and its own entrance for private events and potential nightclub use. Steck saw the "chic, cool, intimate venue" and pitched the owners on doing ticketed shows there.

Clay is booked March 25 through April 4, with tickets at $65 before add-ons. The comedian has been trying to establish a steady presence here, perhaps doing two weeks per month. Clay had talked to V Theater operator David Saxe about branding his name to a new space inside the complex, but the idea never came to pass. ...

After a 17-month run at the Las Vegas Hilton, The Scintas wrap it up on Saturday to focus more on touring. A Suncoast booking April 17-19 suggests the old-school Vegas act might stay connected to locals through occasional gigs there, as their pal Clint Holmes has done. Locals also can score $20 tickets to the last three Hilton shows.

The Scintas will be followed in the Shimmer Cabaret by a show called "Voices," which opens April 17 and pairs local favorite Earl Turner with Lani Misalucha, the Filipino star who previously teamed with the Society of Seven in Las Vegas.

"Voices" will be produced by Angelo Giordano, who also outlines a plan to screen independent films in the venue on his Web site. ...

It has been a bit chilly this week, but casinos are making pool plans. A recent Neon section detailed Anthony Marnell's ambitious plans for outdoor pool concerts at the new M Resort. However, the first show has yet to be put on sale.

Perhaps in a pre-emptive strike, Mandalay Bay already is selling tickets for UB40 on April 18. Last year, the casino didn't run a full season on its popular swim-up stage, essentially pulling the plug after a Gnarls Barkley date in June. Sounds like the threat of competition from M has reactivated the "Mandalay Beach" series, recession or no.

And the Hard Rock Hotel is putting nine of its "Friday Night Live" outdoor concerts on sale Saturday. The Hard Rock has the booking clout of concert industry giant AEG Live, but also the challenge of avoiding in-house competition with the new 4,000-capacity concert hall and the indoor club Wasted Space.

That helps explain the low-dough approach to second- and third-tier acts at the pool with a top ticket price of $36; a couple of them go for $20 in advance. The season kicks off with Rusted Root on May 1 and runs through Sept. 11 with Collective Soul. Tickets for the nine shows booked so far go on sale Saturday.

Somewhat outdoors, but with a roof over your head, are concerts in a big tent at the Silverton. The casino hosts a new batch starting March 21 with Better Than Ezra, and includes Darius Rucker's first local date (April 24) since he crossed over to the country charts.

The Silverton hopes to move its concerts into a more refined "sprung structure" (a glorified tent with climate control and a floor) by May. ...

Speaking of outdoor shows, Billboard magazine lists Las Vegas as a city U2 will visit with a stadium show next fall. Vegas weather should be ideal then. Giants Stadium? Bring a jacket.

U2 knows Sam Boyd Stadium from rehearsing and launching its "PopMart" tour there in April 1997. But one report alone should not make fans overly secure that the Palms or Hard Rock won't steal the date and charge maybe $500 for the "privilege" of seeing the band in a smaller venue. ...

What shows don't have locals discounts or offers now? "Le Reve" is the latest to get on the bandwagon, or back on, since a past promotion for the Wynn Las Vegas title drew a Best of Las Vegas staff pick for Show Bargain in 2007.

The new two-for-one is good for the seats priced at $125 and the magic words are "locals offer" when you call the box office. But you also have to back it up with a Nevada license at the will call window.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.