Show Review: Good Times in the “Gossy Room” With Matt Goss
Kelly Lamrock sways to the smooth sounds of Matt Goss at Caesars Palace…
If I had sat down years ago to predict the latter-day successor to the Vegas lounge tradition, Matt Goss would not have come to mind. His commercial heyday with the Britsh band “Bros” had more in common with the synth sounds of Rick Astley than the Rat Pack. And his high, laddish vocals would never have evoked the verb “to croon”.
What a difference a decade makes. Perhaps because he was never well-known on this side of the Atlantic, Goss has been able to fully reinvent himself as a Vegas lounge singer. He has brought his voice down an octave and curated a catalogue of songs that lend themselves to an intimate room and martinis rather than bleached hair and Linn drums.
We had designs on seeing a Sinatra tribute show but it had long closed. Looking for an old school Vegas experience, I swallowed my scepticism and bought two tickets to see the new, hip Matt Goss in the “Gossy Room” at Cleopatra’s Barge inside Caesars Palace.
Goss will be taking a break from Vegas at the end of September, and I cannot urge you strongly enough to check this show out. (Editor’s note – Goss’s run has ended at Caesars and has been removed from the Caesars website. He currently has tour dates available here). It was an unexpected highlight of our Vegas trip.
The Gossy Room is a well-run ship. We were greeted professionally and a friendly host took us to our seats, moving us to a location that accommodated my 6’5” frame comfortably. Drink service was quick and our lemon drop martinis were ice cold and well-made.
But the show is the thing, and Matt Goss has become a consummate pro. In his fedora and suspenders, with backing dancers and brass instruments befitting a true lounge king, he had the audience in the palm of his hand right away. His own songs swing and are catchy – the “girl will do ya wrong” number “Evil” was particularly strong on this night.
His covers, from “Luck Be A Lady” to “Hotel California” to a swinging remake of the Bros hit “When Will I Be Famous” were all received enthusiastically by the crowd. Goss’s ability to bond with the audience was truly outstanding. By his last number, he could work the crowd and sing the praises of audience members who had become recurring characters in his patter. They ranged from “Guy In The Shirt” to “Guy Who Looks Like Tim Curry“. It was simply a well-curated set, delivered with class and professionalism.
Goss is an unlikely heir to the microphone of Rat Packers past, but he won me over. I hope his absence from Vegas is brief. This town needs more of what Matt Goss is selling.
Photos: [Caesars Palace, Matt Goss and Cleopatra’s Barge via Facebook]
Kelly Lamrock didn’t see Vegas until he was 40. Now, he goes several times a year. When home in Atlantic Canada, he’s a lawyer, international consultant, and former Attorney-General. When in Vegas, he is consumed by the search for the best craft beer, the perfect sportsbook, and a post-show cigar. He loves Vegas because, as Jerry Seinfeld says, “wherever you’re from, Vegas is pretty much the opposite of that.”
