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I'd seen The Smithereens a number of times in the 80's and 90's, so I knew this show would be top-notch. I was BLOWN AWAY by the the warmth, power, and love that Pat and his band put into it! Great stories, awesome music: perfect for this cozy venue. I WILL be back for an encore!!! Great job, guys! Thank you!
Pat DiNizio gives you all the dirt on his garbage man turned frontman of his platinum-selling band, The Smithereens. He weaves jokes and stories in-between playing songs by his influences and band, as well as amusingly sharing songwriting processes. My only complaint is that I did not want the show to end. It was great fun. Bassist Kenny Howes and drummer Nate Stalfa nicely back up Pat. The show is not in the fanciest theater, in the newest resort on the strip, but it's all about great music. Not glitz and flash. Hop in a cab and head to the North Strip. Give the show a chance. The ticket price is not much more than a couple of martinis from down the road. The memory of the show will last longer than those martinis.
Just got back from Pat Dinizio's brilliant show " Confessions of a Rock Star " at the Riviera Hotel and Casino on the Vegas strip. This show could have been subtitled the question once and still asked by Ray Davies " Where have all the good times gone" because one definite answer to that question would be right here a the Pat Dinizio show because the crowd there tonight had not only a good time b......ut a GREAT time to say the least and I highly recommend this show to everyone and anyone even if you have no idea who Pat or the Smithereens are. If you have one trace of of rock & roll in your DNA, love hearing about the old times and how early rock and roll changed his & other peoples lives comingled in with current stories of Pat's personal life of growing up in New Jersey in a typical Italian American family when at 31 years of age he went to sleep a garbage man and woke up a rock and roll star, then you SHOULD NOT MISS THIS SHOW! Besides loving the great music, Pat also interwove personal and very funny and interesting stories through out the whole show.
This easily the best entertainment value on The Strip !!! So many songs,so many stories ! Hearing Pat Dinizio talk and sing his memories was a total thrill. Anyone who wishes they knew what the back story was behind songs will love this. Anyone who wonders what it is like to be doing your day job one day and having everyone hear your song the next will LOVE this. Just GO, Okay ?
Just got back from Pat Dinizio's brilliant show " Confessions of a Rock Star " at the Riviera Hotel and Casino on the Vegas strip. This show could have been subtitled the question once and still asked by Ray Davies " Where have all the good times gone" because one definite answer to that question would be right here a the Pat Dinizio show because the crowd there tonight had not only a good time b...ut a GREAT time to say the least and I highly recommend this show to everyone and anyone even if you have no idea who Pat or the Smithereens are. If you have one trace of of rock & roll in your DNA, love hearing about the old times and how early rock and roll changed his & other peoples lives comingled in with current stories of Pat's personal life of growing up in New Jersey in a typical Italian American family when at 31 years of age he went to sleep a garbage man and woke up a rock and roll star, then you SHOULD NOT MISS THIS SHOW! Besides loving the great music, Pat also interwove personal and very funny and interesting stories through out the whole show. Congratulations to my rock & roll hero and friend Pat Dinizio and I hope this show will " Keep on Running " for a long time, just as long as he takes breaks to play Smithereens shows too
Madonna was going to sing back up for one of the Smithereen hits but didn't! Paul McCartney met Pat becuase of his tribute song for Buddy Holly's widow! (I don't think Sir Paul would remember his brief encounter with Pat.) If Pat DiNizio's music and career were so amazing, why is he playing a dive venue like the Riviera? The show time was changed from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Confessions of a Rock Star didn't open the doors until 11:30 and the show was promptly over at 12:30 a.m. Tickets were given away at the hotel which indicates half the audience was there for free. At 44 years of age (and someone who listened to the Smithereens) I was most likely the youngest person in the audience! Pat attempted to connect with the crowd by bitching about his 80 year old mother that he lived with. (Wow, if that's what I would confess from my Rock and Roll career, I would keep silent.) I think there were around 20 people in the audience. The only positive is to say I saw a Vegas show. If you can score a free ticket, go. Don't pay for this show! Pat DiNizio is an extremely obsese man in dire need of a gastric by-pass. He has a great voice and attempts to be be charming and witty. But, he's clinging to his "glory days" and wants to engage the audience with his brief encounters with famous people. Snore.....
Pat has great potential for a dynamite show that chronicles the history of rock and roll. However, he needs to cut way back on the personal stories and do more singing. A group of strangers, myself included, were in agreement about this as we talked while waiting for the valet to get our cars.
Pat was great both performing and story telling. Excellent show
How many times have you either seen, or had the chance to see, a bonafide million selling rock star tell stories of his "garbageman to glory" ride in a very intimate setting? Probably very few if any. Pat DiNizio is the leader of one of the best pure rock-n-roll bands ever (30+ years and counting!) called The Smithereens, as well well as putting out several solo records as well. You don't really have to know his work to enjoy this amazing show. In "Confessions Of A Rock Star," Pat on guitar heads up a stripped down show with just a bass player, Kenny Howes and drummer Nate Stalfa. Together they weave through Pat's humble beginnings in New Jersey, one day waking up and having a hit song on the radio, and all the good/bad times in between, using a mix of songs to go along with the videos and pictures that run on screens positioned on both sides of the stage. It's cool to see someone open up and give a true account of what really happens behind the curtain of the rock world we think we know. The stories are quite personal with happy (touring with The Ramones) and sad parts (break-ups), but all mixed to make for a story that is worthy of a big screen telling. The show moves along at good pace, but it never feels like it's scripted. I actually saw it twice ! There is even audience participation that is quite fun to see! All in all this show is a wonderful departure from the standard Vegas show going on at most of the hotel venues. Kudos to the Riviera for taking a chance on Pat as it's more fun and entertaining than I expected. Not bad for a kid from Jersey who grew up loving The Beatles and then one night getting to hang out with AND get compliments on his band from none other than Sir Paul McCartney...
Confessions of a Rock Star was perfect inspiration to make my first ever trip to Vegas! DiNizio managed to make me laugh and cry during the show. Learning about his meeting with Buddy Holly's widow, watching videos from his family and hearing about his mother and father....these stories were both funny and sad in parts. I expected to be entertained by the songs and stories, but this exceeded my expectations! It was also facinating to uncover some of the mystery of "how does someone come up with a hit song?" I'd recommend this to people who aren't even familar with the Smithereens, but who love music and the creative process. If you're a fan of the Beatles or Buddy Holly or even Madonna, you'll find interest in DiNizio's music and stories. The Riviera is an old school Vegas hotel (Dean Martin and the Marx Brothers were former investors), the cocktails are moderately priced, and by the escalator to the showroom there is an annex of the Pinball Hall of Fame with 25 and 50 cent vintage pinball machines. I don't think you could have a better setting and show!
