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GREGRIO, October 2,3,4.

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by GREGRIO, Oct 6, 2010.

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  1. GREGRIO

    GREGRIO VIP Whale

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    My Trip Report

    Well, last week I popped over to the land of..."GOOD LUCK SIR" for a couple concerts at the Hard Rock's JOINT.
    THE DUKES OF SEPTEMBER RHYTHUM REVIEW on Saturday night and VAN MORRISON on Sunday evening...came home early Monday morning.

    The Dukes...Grammy Award winning singer songwriters Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, and Boz Scaggs teamed up for a nation wide, 6 week tour that ended in Vegas last Saturday night. IT WAS GREAT!

    They played a mix of blue-eyed soul, rock, jazz, and R&B.
    Levon Helm (The Band), Ray Charles, GreatfulDead, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, ThunderClap Newman, Chuck Berry, O'Jays...they really mixed it up PLUS...each played several of their own biggest hits backed by the rest of the guys and the BIG band. THE HOUSE WAS FULL AND THE JOINT WAS-A-ROCKIN'! (watch for a LIVE album or a concert DVD...)

    I got my usual Ipanima Tower room, pool view...14th floor this time (it varies between my original, lucky 13th floor up to the 18th, I never know)
    I did most of my 'play' across the street at the PALMS.
    Ate most of my meals at the World Buffet or All American Bar and Grill, there in the RIO.
    One thing I was a bit disappointed with...I go to the World Buffet in the late morning (10:45ish) This way, you pay the breakfast price and stay for lunch (11:00) but...
    NOT ANY MORE (the choices that is) Not too long ago, the breakfast choices were moved away and meat, chicken and fish dishes were set out for lunch. Now, they hold those items back til dinner.
    You still have the carving station, asian, pasta, sushi, and salads...they're always up 'n running.
    This is my main meal of the day and my largest portions are made of of mostly salad and fruit anyway so I didn't care...(MUCH!)...but I missed the sea bass and trout choices....CUTTIN' BACK, EVERYBODY'S CUTTIN' BACK.

    I've mentioned, I'm giving up 'slots' for video poker only.
    Well...THEY haven't given ME up. They still remember me very well and were 'talkin' to me, YELLIN' AT ME...so, not being one who makes a habbit of burin' bridges, I played a couple of my ol' favorites.
    'Texas Tea', 'Dancing Dolphins' and I go waaaaay back.

    Playing my usual MAX LINE/3 coin, 5cent denomination, I hit a couple bonus rounds on each machine.
    THEY JUST DON'T PAY OUT ANY MORE!
    Harrah's has cut back the pay out so much, that they're just no fun to play. I met the RIO's 'new' slot manager. He'd just moved over from Caesars. HE WAS IN COMPLETE DENIAL about any lowering of the pay outs on ANY Harrah's slot machines. BALDERDASH! EL TORO CRAPO!

    Isn't it funny how all these floor managers aren't gamblers.
    I haven't met one yet who say they play...ANYTHING!.
    Maybe if 'WE' looked more like 'bean sheets' they could relate to us more and our gaming wishes huh...

    'Texas Tea's oil rigs payed half of what they used to (BP must have taken them over...) and when I got the 3 'treasure chest'-9 free spins on 'Dancing Dolphins'...5 of the spins were NOTHING! BOTH TIMES I HIT IT. It used to pay great! That was THE END (again, lol) of my slot play this trip.

    The main pools were open, topless side closed.
    Thunder and lightning cleared and closed the pool on Saturday afternoon...light rain both days off 'n on.

    Sunday I woke up with a stiff neck and headache...I slept on myself wrong or something...
    I ate at the buffet, wondered around for a bit, then went back to bed.
    That night was the Van Morrison Show, with his full band...again, at the JOINT.

    Woke up feeling fine (3:00pm) and took a cab over to the PALMS to play a bit of video poker before the Show.
    I got in the cab, and there...on the floor...in between my feet...was a shiny, new penny.
    Ya remember the ol' rhyme...find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you'll have good luck?....I PICKED IT UP.

    Van Morrison holds court totally different then the Dukes.
    The Dukes and their band, spread out all across the stage the way most groups do. Normal rhythm section, horns, 2 background singers and themselves.
    Morrison builds the band around him. He's in the center, surrounded by monitor speakers, tables for his water, saxophone and harmonica and a music stand. The band forms a semi circle around him and he conducts...sorta.

    I remember and interview I saw with Willie Nelson not too long ago. He was asked what he'd learned from Bob Wills about being a good band leader. Willie said he learned how to 'point'.
    That's what Van did. The band had the basics of the songs down...Morrison would conduct them in volume/dynamics...UP/DOWN...to create the effects and mood he was feeling for the song at that time AND...he'd 'point' to the various members when he wanted them to solo. THE BAND SOUNDED GREAT/VAN SOUNDED GREAT!

    *...A TIP: The cab line at the Rock and be HUGE.
    They have a 'new' entrance in the 'new' casino area which most folks didn't seem to know about. NO WAITING FOR A CAB OVER THERE. (the old JOINT was made into their new casino area, registration and main cage)

    Next trip is in November to see Rod Stewart at the Colosseum. I went right from McCarran to Caesars when I got in that Saturday morning, and got a good seat for his Show.

    Oh..........that lucky penny I picked up on my way to the PALMS before the Van Morrison concert...High Limit Lounge, DB dollar machine...got a Royal Flush in Clubs.
     
  2. rickifatboy

    rickifatboy Tourist

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    Great report again.....

    I hope i can have the penny luck too!

    30 days and counting......

    Cheers, RICK
     
  3. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Sounds like a couple of great shows - I am jealous! The set the Dukes played sounds like a lot of fun.

    What about the crowds? Boomers? Kids? Mix?

    Congrats on the royal. I'll never pass up a penny again.
     
  4. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

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    Vegas bound tomorrow

    Headed to Vegas in the morning. Hope my trip is worth a report. No concerts planned but I will have my three grown kids with me for the first time in many years. They went most every year growing up.

    So, hopefully there will be good times and stories to tell.
     
    7* and family trip
  5. BigRoss71

    BigRoss71 Low-Roller

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    I cant say i know much about the music, but i am in total agreement about HET properties and their tighter than a crab's ass slot machines. I'm mostly a table games person, but to kill time I played a few minutes of penny slots at TI and the M, and i walked away after no more than 10 minutes a piece with 16 and 11 dollars in profit respectively. Hit bonus rounds on penny slots with max bets. In any case, i didn't even have the chance to make it back to even with the WOZ machine in the Rio. Granted that was 10 bucks and a few minutes, but I don't recall ANYONE winning at a slot machine in the Rio in my 5 days there in july. From what i gather, independent properties seem to have the best slots (Palms, M, TI etc). The conglomerates seem to be tighter (even my two days in downtown, the slots werent looking so hot when i was looking), but especially HET properties. Hell, the Rio may have the tightest slot machines in town.
     
  6. justmare

    justmare High-Roller

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    Very nice, Greg. Congrats on the royal -- awesome!!!
     
  7. GREGRIO

    GREGRIO VIP Whale

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    'thecarve'...there was a good crowd, mostly boomers, didn't see and kids however
    there was a mom and son sitting at my table. He was 22...always wanted to see
    Van Morrison. His mom was (some how) involved in the entertainment scene and had
    bought the tics...they had a great time!

    'SandsFan' you're a head of the game already. Mom and the Kids together...in Vegas...
    THAT'S A WINNING COMBINATION RIGHT THERE!

    THANKS Mare...I owe a lot of my video poker interest to you ya know. You've given me
    a lot of advice over the years...ALL YOUR EXPERIENCE, BIG WINS, BIG MONEY, lol.
     
  8. VegasDiva

    VegasDiva VIP Whale

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    Sounds like a fun weekend you had , 2 great shows to see!!

    I hear you about the slots being tight.....seems each visit I've had over the past 5 yrs, they pay less n less and you have to bet more n more per spin

    Looking forward to your Rod Stewart review......I wish I had known he was going to be there earlier (they sorta announced it with not much notice)
    My schedule changed at work for Oct /Nov/Dec and its hard to get time off now , as less people to trade shifts with :grrr: Otherwise , I would have considered a trip to see him.......saw him in concert here in Calgary about 6 yrs ago (finally) Would be nice if he takes up Cher's spot early next year .....

    Thanks for the great TR and congrats on the Royal :)
     
  9. MWJ51102

    MWJ51102 Low-Roller

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    So.........how much for the penny? :thumbsup:
     
  10. Jinx

    Jinx VIP Whale

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    Nice report Greg, I'm definitely thinking about seeing Stewart in November as well, definitely looks like a trial run for the casino.
     
  11. GREGRIO

    GREGRIO VIP Whale

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    Rod is doing these 8 Shows as a 'test run'.
    AEG wants him for a 2 year residency so if
    you can't make it now...YOU'LL HAVE 2 YEARS
    TO CATCH THE SHOW if he goes for it. I worry about his
    voice holding up in Las Vegas...
    And Joe...4K.
     
  12. Gaggles

    Gaggles VIP Whale

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    Funny you would mention Texas Tea and Dancing Dolphins. Those are about two of the only slot machines I had ever played as I know slots are for chumps but I loved the bonus round. I remember one night in Ceasers before they took the Dolphins out I put in $100 and played $2.50-$5 a spin for over 2 hours while my friends played cards.

    These machines have tightened up I don't care what anyone says.

    So tell me since we like the same machines oddly enough...I used to play a lot of African Dusk and root for those Lions! You play that one too? I have stopped all slot play in the last year but those were literally the only three carny games I played!

    And I also remember when I was younger those Odyssey Phantom Dealer machines were a ton of fun!
     
    Boys DT Trip
  13. GREGRIO

    GREGRIO VIP Whale

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    I don't play many slots 'Gaggles'. TT and DD were always guaranteed bonus
    round winners for this 'chump', lol. Like clock work...I'd sit at TT, play a shot
    while (10-15min) hit and TAKE the bonus round...move to the DD and do the
    same...there was also one of the 'Train' Penguin games I'd hit, then move to the
    last machine during my morning plunder in Masquerade Village...THEN I WAS DONE.
    Some mornings I'd stay and play afte the bonus rounds...I'd get others too, but by
    11am, I was usually done with my slot play for the day.
    ...got $2800. out of that damn Texas Tea one time! DD was always a good pay winner
    too...NOT ANY MORE! LOL.
    GOLD FISH is a newer slot around these days....Silly little game, but great for running
    up slot point while being entertained with all of it's bonus rounds and not much
    money in. (NOT Gold Fish II, but the original)
     
  14. blackjacknut

    blackjacknut VIP Whale

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    Nice report and Royal! I'm picking up the first penny I see in Vegas in December :thumbsup::thumbsup:
     
  15. Rock'n Rick

    Rock'n Rick Guest

    Great Trip Report Greg !!!!

    CONGRATS ON THAT ROYAL :thumbsup:


    Rick :cool:
     
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