Wayne Newton presides over vow renewal during Bronx Wanderers show

By John Katsilometes Las Vegas Review-Journal

September 27, 2019 - 6:13 pm

Vinny Adinolfi plays a game called, “What would Wayne do?” It’s a reference to big decisions, with Wayne Newton in the pivotal role.

As his 36th wedding anniversary approached, Adinolfi wondered how to mark a special moment for his wife, Carol. As Adinolfi, founder of the family rock ‘n’ roll act the Bronx Wanderers, told the crowd at Mat Franco Theater on Monday, “Every time I have to make a decision at home, I ask, ‘What would Wayne do?’”

At that, Newton himself arrived from the wings with a microphone.

“What would Wayne do?” Newton asked as the crowd shouted and applauded. “I think that Wayne would renew his wedding vows.”

Kathleen Newton, Wayne’s wife, also took part in the ceremony, which was certainly unrehearsed (those faltering microphones were one indication). The Adinolfis and Newtons became close when they shared residencies at the former Windows Showroom at Bally’s, which is now The Magic Attic.

Carol had not been told of this plan, which was several days in planning and included an invitation for Vinny’s brother, Richie, to join the band on keyboard. “Carol! You have to come down!” Vinny called toward the back of the theater.

Carol Adinolfi would later say, “Can you believe this? Mr. Las Vegas! But I thought something might have been up when I was walking to the theater and I knew everyone who was lined up for the show!”

Thursday’s appearance was Newton’s second unbilled performance in less than a week. He also joined The Black Keys, unannounced, at Life is Beautiful late last Saturday night.

The Adinolfis plan to vacation in Maui, where they spent their honeymoon. Vinny is notoriously reluctant to take any nights off — he never missed a performance in two years when the show was at Bally’s. So the couple are due for some down time, some sunshine and a few waves.

“Carol is always telling me I’m not romantic,” Vinny said, grinning. “I think this is pretty romantic.”

Old-School Feels New With The Bronx Wanderers at The Linq

April 29th, 2019

By Brock Radke

So many great bands have made the Strip their home through the years, turning casino lounges and showrooms into the most buzzed-about parties in Las Vegas. The must-see band of the moment is the Bronx Wanderers, who paid their Vegas dues for the last two years at Bally’s intimate Windows Showroom and recently slid into the Mat Franco Theater at the Linq, a larger space that can feel a little cavernous without some serious energy.

Don’t worry. These guys have energy to spare. The Bronx Wanderers is a celebration of American rock and roll and the story of one musical family, told through their favorite songs (and yours) with plenty of laughs and memories along the way.

After a pre-show video provides a bit of backstory, the six-piece starts things off, of course, with “The Wanderer,” originally recorded by Dion, who hails from the same Italian-American Bronx neighborhood as Vinny Adinolfi, the longtime record producer now living his dream performing on the Strip. He sings, tells stories and plays guitar, anchoring the show, while his sons Vin A. and Nicky scorch the stage with band mates David Braun on guitar, Fernando Torte on bass and Joe Bari on horns and keyboards.

This is the second generation of the Bronx Wanderers, which originated with some of Adinolfi’s older peers and has toured the country for years, but it’s one of the tightest outfits playing the Strip these days and the groups’s mastery of some challenging rock classics - everything from Billy Joel’s “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” - is beyond impressive. The set bounces between dad’s picks (Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Neil Diamond, Elvis) and songs for the boys (the Stray Cats “Rock This Town”) and nobody misses a beat. It doesn’t matter what genre of era the songs are coming from, if it’s a hit, these guys can play it with power.

The dynamic between Vinny, Nicky on the drums and Vin A on piano, vocals and guitar is familiar and effortlessly entertaining; they take the music seriously but not so much themselves. A while back they added a two-song medley acknowledging U.S. veterans and service people (The Animals’ “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son”) and it resonates emotionally while straight-up rocking the house. You’ll only get a better version of “Fortunate Son” in Las Vegas when John Fogerty is in town at Encore Theater.

There are sing-alongs and stories about Wayne Newton and Paul Anka. There’s surf rock and “Johnny B. Goode” and Bruno Mars. There’s more music than you can handle and when it’s all over, you’ll feel like you’re part of the family.

The Bronx Wanderers take the stage at 4 p.m. Sunday, 9:15 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday (dark Saturdays) at the Mat Franco Theater at the Linq.

THE BRONX WANDERERS TO FEATURE SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS KEITH THOMPSON AND BEAU CASSIDY

LAS VEGAS (August 20, 2018) – The Bronx Wanderers will be joined by two special guests this week as the group’s Vin A. will be taking a much-deserved vacation. In the nearly two years that The Bronx Wanderers have been performing at Bally’s Las Vegas seven days a week, Vin A. has not taken off a single day, except for when he opened for Bon Jovi at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, March 17.

It actually took two people to fill in for the very talented Vin A.! From Monday, Aug. 20 through Sunday, Aug. 26, well-known musical director, arranger and composer Keith Thompson will fill in on the keyboard and background vocals, with Beau Cassidy as a featured vocalist.

“Because of the parallel of being a part of a musical family and legacy and his great talent, Beau was a natural! Having produced Beau’s dad, David Cassidy, and The Partridge Family, Vinny Adinolfi is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Beau. Vinny will also perform some of his own favorite tunes,” said Kathi Glist, one of the show’s producers.

About Keith Thompson

Creator and director of “The Cocktail Cabaret,” currently running at Cleopatra’s Barge in Caesars Palace, Keith Thompson’s professional credits include vocal director for the Nickelodeon comedy series, “Roundhouse,” musical director and conductor for the Las Vegas companies of “Jersey Boys,” “The Producers,” “Hairspray,” “We Will Rock You,” and musical coordinator for the most recent Las Vegas production of “Mamma Mia!” He conducted the first national tour of “Cabaret” starring Teri Hatcher, and supervised the music for the Australian production of “Cabaret.” Thompson won the 2000 Dora Award as musical director for “Cabaret” in Toronto. He also conducted the First National tour of “Mamma Mia!” as well as “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” starring Donny Osmond. Other tours include the 25th anniversary tour of “HAIR,” “Peter Pan” with Cathy Rigby, “Jesus Christ Superstar” with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson, and “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber,” an orchestra concert tour that featured Sarah Brightman. Thompson’s New York credits include “Les Miserables,” “When Pigs Fly,” “Sideshow,” “Three Men and a Horse,” Forbidden Broadway” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Voted best composer in Las Vegas by Vegas Seven, Thompson is founder and host of a popular monthly Composers Showcase at the Smith Center. He is the co-composer and musical arranger of the new comedy-musical, “IDAHO!” which won “Best of Fest” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) with a full production at the Smith Center’s main stage in July of 2016. His original comedy/novelty song revue, “Kooky Tunes,” enjoyed a limited run at New York’s Laurie Beechman Theater in NYC and the cast recording is currently available on Amazon.com. “God Lives in Glass,” Thompson’s newest original show, premiered at NYU’s Provincetown Playhouse and was recently presented at the Smith Center to much popular and critical acclaim.

About Beau Cassidy

Beau Cassidy is a 26-year-old singer, songwriter, and actor from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. An alumni of Boston University, he got his start playing in the successful YouTube band “The Fates,” which garnered more than two million views over the course of the band’s yearlong lifespan. He proceeded to work with GRAMMY winning producer/songwriter Terry Britten, to which Britten described Cassidy as, “one of the most wonderful talents I’ve worked with.” The time that followed was where Cassidy truly came into his own. Writing under Skrillex-found label OWSLA Publishing, he penned two songs for Chinese Mega Pop Star Luhan, and sold over two million records both domestic and abroad. Currently, Cassidy is co-writing his very first musical entitled “Porn Awards” and is the lead singer/guitar player for his band The Rivalry with his two cousins of the same last name. Cassidy currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif. He is the son of teen idol and icon David Cassidy and is proud of his family’s lineage. His grandmother Shirley Jones still mentors him today and he is the grandson of the late Jack Cassidy.

About The Bronx Wanderers

Since opening on September 22, 2016, the most energetic show on the Las Vegas Strip has performed more than 360 shows for over 70,00 fans, and was voted the Bronze Winner of the “Best New Act/Show” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Best of Las Vegas Awards 2017.

United by their passion for great music, The Bronx Wanderers are helmed to perfection by charismatic master entertainer Vinny, who is a former chart-topping record producer. He is joined on stage by his two sons – Vinny “The Kid,” a young Brian Wilson who sings, arranges and plays several different instruments, and drummer extraordinaire Nicky “Stix” – as well as a killer hand-picked backup band.

With superlative vocals and musicianship, dynamic enthusiasm and a genuine love of the music they perform, The Bronx Wanderers recreate the magic of the era and build an energetic bond with their audience. The show tells the stories and plays the music that will take you as close as you can get to having lived the actual experience. The Bronx Wanderers take the stage each night with new material, but they never leave out the favorites that their fans and audiences have come to love.

The Bronx Wanderers have toured the country over the past 12 years, playing pop/rock classics spanning six decades in front of sold-out audiences everywhere. The show covers all musical bases, and hits an out-of-the-park home run with audiences of all ages every night. This is more than just an amazingly talented family band. The Bronx Wanderers are a heart, a sound, a feeling and a harmony that goes right to the heart of the crowd, getting them singing along and up on their feet like no other show can do.

For more information, visit thebronxwanderers.com or follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Bronx Wanderers perform seven nights a week at 8 p.m. through September 9. Beginning September 10, performances are at 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $69.99, $79.99 and $99.99 for VIP seating which includes a front pass for a meet and greet with the cast. Pricing includes all additional fees. Locals can purchase premium seats for $34.50 (additional fees apply) when they mention the code BWLOCAL. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ballyslasvegas.com, by calling (702) 777-2782 and (855) 234-7469, or in person at any Las Vegas Caesars Entertainment Box Office. For groups of 10 or more call 1-866-574-3851 or email EntertainmentGroupSales@Caesars.com.