Labor of Love

The final weekend of summer is reason enough to switch off the TV, but the threat of another "High School Musical 2" rerun is extra incentive for some parents.

But one reason to get out of the house reminds us that on this weekend in 1969, it was hard to avoid a No. 1 bubble gum hit: "Sugar Sugar," by the Archies.

"We were all over the place that summer," says Ron Dante, who sang the words which ostensibly came from the stiffly animated mouth of a Saturday morning cartoon star.

"We didn't mean to compete with the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. It was for a different generation," Dante says of the Billboard designation as that year's biggest single, ahead of "Get Back" and "Honky Tonk Women."

Dante is at the helm of the "Bubblegum Bonanza," a free show visiting The Cannery on Saturday. The bill includes Ohio Express, 1910 Fruitgum Co. and Bo Donaldson & The Haywoods, with guest appearances from Andrew Gold and Trini Lopez.

Trini Lopez?

The 70-year-old "Lemon Tree" singer didn't run with the bubble gum posse, but Dante is producing a new album for him. You see, Dante's post-Archie's career was mainly as a record producer, including the first big wave of Barry Manilow albums.

The big ticket this Labor Day weekend is another graduate of children's television. Grown-up Mousketeer Justin Timberlake is back for his third visit since August of last year, this time bringing one last dose of "Summer Love" with producer-performer Timbaland in Saturday and Sunday shows at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

You won't be hearing "Heat of the Moment" -- a wad of prog-rock-flavored bubble gum from the '80s -- after Asia canceled a Mandalay Bay swim-up concert on Saturday due to singer John Wetton requiring heart surgery. But there are too many other shows to miss it much.

Among the highlights:

Heart -- The Wilson sisters have rocked FM radio since 1976, but lead singer Ann Wilson has only now recorded her first solo album. "Hope & Glory," due Sept. 11, doesn't quite leave her out on a ledge. Sister Nancy is on three tracks, and they plan to include some of the songs in this weekend's shows.

Impressive guests -- Wynonna, Gretchen Wilson, k.d. lang -- also help Wilson belt out classic protest songs and anti-war anthems on the new disc. Elton John resurrects a golden nugget from his early career with a duet on "Where to Now St. Peter?" Alison Krauss lends her always subtle harmonies to Neil Young's "War of Man." (Saturday and Sunday, Las Vegas Hilton)

Sarah Silverman -- The second season of "The Sarah Silverman Program" begins Oct. 3 on Comedy Central, but Las Vegas audiences can get a real live stand-up dose of Silverman's sweetly clueless and hilariously offensive stage persona. If you spot her out in locals territory, it just means boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel, a Las Vegas native, knows all the good hangs. (Saturday and Sunday, The Mirage)

Sean Paul -- It's hard to find more potential for a summer night than the notion of Jamaican toaster Sean Paul shaking the swimsuit-clad bodies in the Hard Rock pool. Paul predated current reggae-juiced hitmakers Sean Kingston and Rihanna, who can only serve to keep the waters warm for his next album, "A New Age," due in November. (Saturday, Hard Rock Hotel)

Vince Neil, Quiot Riot, Slaughter -- Check and double-check those lighter fluid levels, ladies and gents. Oh yes, there will be power ballads, along with plenty of fist-pumping and guitar licks to rattle windows in the quiet subdivision surrounding the Henderson Pavilion. Mötley Crüe frontman Neil only has to drive from his home in North Las Vegas to get to the gig, which has support from Las Vegas-based Kevin DuBrow's Quiet Riot and Slaughter; frontman Mark Slaughter grew up in Henderson but now lives in Nashville. (Saturday, Henderson Pavilion)

B.B. King and Al Green -- A lot of three-day weekends fizzle by Day Three, what with the looming specter of school, work or the drive home. This one arguably saves the best for last: an abbreviated version of King's annual touring blues festival, offering separate sets from the 81-year-old guitar legend and the still-electrifying 61-year-old soul singer. (Monday, Hard Rock Hotel)

And there's more: Country fans of more than a year or two's duration might hit the interstate for Randy Travis on Saturday at Buffalo Bill's in Primm. ... Pink Floyd junkies can get a methadone fix with a tribute re-creation of "The Wall" as part of the Classic Albums Live series at the Hard Rock on Saturday. ... Comedian Chris Bliss juggles topical ideas and real juggling stuff (his juggling act was a viral video) today through Sunday at the Southcoast. ... Clubbers will stay up for top D.J. Tiësto and his "Elements of Life" tour at Jet inside The Mirage on Sunday and Monday. ... And soulful Keyshia Cole lets you know "The Way It Is" on Saturday at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.