How Lady Gaga’s bandleader boosted Biden’s 2020 Nevada campaign
Musicians play fundraisers so frequently in Las Vegas that Brian Newman’s appearance at a campaign event in May 2019 went largely unnoticed.
But now, Newman’s performance at a Joe Biden fundraising party at then-NoMad Restaurant at Park MGM is viewed as the launching point for Biden’s Nevada campaign. Along with his backing band, Lady Gaga’s longtime bandleader was the headliner at that event, which helped Biden narrowly win the state in 2020.
“I normally try to keep politics out of my show, but everybody knows what side of the aisle I’m on,” Newman said in a phone chat from Coney Island, N.Y., where he was spending the day with his family. “I was honored to have been involved so early in the president’s campaign.”
Newman, who lives in Brooklyn, had declined to talk of that event until after Biden was inaugurated in January 2021. But after Biden’s swearing-in, the trumpet maestro posted that he’d watched the ceremony through tears.
His message: “I am so proud and inspired to hear all the eloquent messages of equality, love, truth, empathy, optimism and compassion for ALL Americans no matter our race, religion, politics or sexuality. It’s a long road, but it is time for the healing and rebuilding of our Great Nation. Congratulations and thank you to the President of the United States @Biden & Vice President @kamalaharris!! That was truly beautiful.”
The fundraiser was Newman’s first performance in the room later renamed NoMad Library. He went on to set up his “After Dark” headlining series in the room. Newman hosts the late-night show with his burlesque-star wife, Angie Pontani.
“After Dark” is on pause as Gaga’s “Jazz + Piano” run closed this month. But it is likely just a matter of time and coordination to re-animate the NoMad room for Newman’s show.
The venue was renamed NoMad Library after Gaga joked that it felt like a library because 25,000 books from David Rockefeller’s’s personal collection are stacked on the shelves. The space is now in the history books.
Multiple mayoral action
Wednesday was rare in that we ran into the three most recent mayors of Las Vegas in the same day. Jan Jones Blackhurst (1991-’99) was among the dignitaries to give remarks at the closing of The Mirage. Her successor, Oscar Goodman, held court at his monthly dinner series event at Oscar’s Steakhouse at the Plaza. His wife and current Mayor Carolyn Goodman attended.
We also had a candidate for mayor, Shelley Berkley, seated at the next table and wielding emery boards branded with her campaign logo. Berkley. The former Congresswoman is running against Victoria Seaman in the general election to decide the first mayor who is not a Goodman since Jones Blackhurst termed out.
The Goodmans have stated they are not endorsing either candidate. The couple have pledged since the primaries they would not weigh in on this campaign.
Seated at Mayor Goodman’s table, attending a Goodman event for the first time in a long time, were Circa, the D and Golden Gate co-owner Derek Stevens and his wife, Nicole.
A real Hustle
The city’s predominant disco-themed comedy production started rehearsals last week. We speak of Spiegelworld’s “DiscoShow” at Glitterloft at Linq Hotel, at the suddenly iconic 3535 Las Vegas Boulevard address.
Spiegelworld Impresario Ross Mollison’s $40 million endeavor opens for previews Aug. 14, premiering Sept. 7. This is the first Spiegelworld show to open on the Strip since “Atomic Saloon Show” bowed at The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes in September 2019.
“DiscoShow” is also the first Spiegelworld project in the West since the company snapped up the patch of desert known as Nipton in early 2022. “The Hook” at Caesars Atlantic City celebrated its year anniversary this month.
“DiscoShow” boasts some top-tier talent on its creative team. Olivier Award-winning director Steven Hoggett of the Broadway production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is working on the Vegas production. But Nile Rodgers of Chic, who worked on the show’s sound design early on, is no longer involved.
The dance production employs a 20-member cast, to be announced this week. That troupe is led by adept comic performer Eli Weinberg as lead character Ake Blomqvist. The groover in the white jumpsuit is inspired by the late Finnish dance instructor of the same name. Drag star Eureka O’Hara has reportedly been cast as the show’s diva. O’Hara slayed in “Ru Paul’s Drag Race Live” at nearby Flamingo.
Spiegelworld was typically tenacious in pitching “DiscoShow” and the adjacent Diner Ross restaurant, where test dishes are already being served. The company designed 10 venues as it pitched the show around the city.
The production exhumes the infamous Disco Demolition Night from July 12, 1979 at Comiskey Park, which ended in flames, rioting and the unofficial death of disco. Mollison is bringing it back. Pack your dancing shoes, because I hear the floor lights up.
The Mirage lives on
Carrot Top has for years told a joke about The Mirage. “I walked to The Mirage, and it wasn’t even there!” The prop comic says the hotel’s closing gives the bit new life. “It makes the joke even stronger,” he said Sunday. “We have at least two more years with it, maybe longer.” He’s also working, even as we speak, on new Biden-Kamala Harris–Donald Trump bits.
Cool Hang Alert
New York-New York is running the Saturday night concert series “Summer Bridge Bash” on its Brooklyn Bridge stage through August. Zowie Bowie, with vocalists Christina Shaw and Jenn De La Torre, is up this Saturday. No cover. Open to all.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.