Review – Raiding the Rock Vault

After a three year wait, Michael James gets a second chance to see Raiding the Rock Vault

I love this quote (below) because it describes, exactly, what the show is… and what happens during Raiding the Rock Vault.

“Rock Vault” is mainly an excuse for a bunch of almost-famous rock vets — heavy on guys who were in big groups, but not as original members — to play the hell out of the classics. – MIKE WEATHERFORD LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, April 12, 2013

But first, a little personal background. In planning for our May 2013 trip to Reno to bowl a tournament, a buddy and I came across the news that Raiding the Rock Vault was opening at the then-LVH while we were in Reno. Both of us being squarely in that middle-aged rocker demo, we decided to add a side trip to Las Vegas to our planning so that we could see the show. We bought tickets for the third show of the run, a Wednesday night, and got tickets in the second row.

We were stoked – until they canceled the first week’s shows and refunded our money. Because our bowling schedule was carved in granite, there was no way we’d be around the following week.

For some reason, I had this sinking feeling that both the hokie story concept (hazmat workers in the future find a vault that contains these classic hits)–and the venue (LVH? Really?)–would be a bad fit and the show wouldn’t last long enough to offer me a chance to see it.

Happily, I can report that I was wrong. Though it had a choppy run at LVH, Raiding the Rock Vault really got its legs when the former owner of the Tropicana, Alex Yemenidjian, snatched the show and moved it once Mamma Mia! busted in 2014. As part of the move, the show dropped the hazmat/vault opening and changed it instead to an aging roadie waxing nostalgic.

Fast Forward to 2016

While my wife and I were planning this year’s mid-April visit, I really had wanted to make time to see this show. In January, I was able to find a discounter and found tickets in the third row of theater seats (which is behind a few “old Vegas” tables that abut the stage) for $47 (before fees).

We arrived at the show and were first impressed with the theater. The Tropicana being an older building (though remodeled) I wasn’t sure of the condition of the theater. But the plush red seats comfortably held my ample carriage, and there was plenty of leg room for others to pass in and out without the need to stand.

The show started with the aforementioned roadie coming out and setting the theme of the show. Soon, the stage exploded, and the band started with “My Generation” from The Who (talk about the perfect song to open a show about fundamentally changing Rock and Roll!)

The band is large, and not all band members play each piece… which is good because, well, they are getting on in years. But the rotation of the players and singers works well because each song is given the full treatment without these geezers gasping and wheezing along the way.

The three lead singers when we attended were Andrew Freeman (from The Offspring, and in my opinion, head, and shoulders above the others), Mark Boals from Dokken (who was completely adequate) and Paul Shortino from Quiet Riot.

Though Freeman was the best singer, Shortino stood out in a different way. All through the show, all band members and singers showed energy and danced around the stage. Shortino, however, stood there like his feet were in concrete, just kind of rocking side to side with a smile on his face that said “See? I can do this without pain!” He sang fine, but he was completely immobile compared to the others. Well, when it came time to cover Aerosmith, Shortino took the mic. Imagine my surprise (see what I did there?) because Shortino didn’t quite have the moves that one would expect from Steven Tyler.

Other featured performers were Howard Leese, who played guitar with Heart, and Hugh McDonald, who was a bassist for Bon Jovi. It was pretty cool when the band played Heart’s “Alone” and Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” and allowed Leese and McDonald, respectively, some center stage time.

The other standout musician was special guest Tracii Guns (founder of both Guns and Roses and LA Guns). Guns makes appearances with the band but is not a regular. But on the night of our show, he absolutely nailed the guitar solos on “Along the Watchtower”, “Smoke on the Water, “Wayward Son”, “Jump” and others.

The songs were played mostly chronologically, and they played about 15 full songs and two medleys of about six or seven songs each over about two hours. This really was like listening to a Classic Hits radio station without commercials. With Freeman to do the vocal heavy lifting, it was sometimes hard to picture how he didn’t sing the actual record (like when he nailed “Separate Ways” and “You Shook Me All Night Long”).

The best part of the music? The amps weren’t at ear-splitting levels like most rock concerts. I know that’s the getting-older man in me talking, but it was great to be able to hear the words and the music and then also be able to hear my wife speaking to me after the show.

The crowd itself was interesting. It was mostly 35-55-year-olds that rarely stood… it was kind of weird to be at a rock concert, while sitting in these plush seats. There were a couple of exceptions at our show. One section to the left of us was a lady on the upper, upper, upper edge of the demographic that stood for the whole show while her husband kept tugging on her arm to sit. But she stood there, clapping to the beat with the energy of, well, a 60-year old lady. And down front, at the table in front of the stage were three 20-something blondes that stood and danced and tried to get the band members attention the entire time. I had to believe they were hired plants because they were so out of place. And sure, the band members gave them attention (whether because they were in on it, or because they actually thought they’d have a chance after the show).

The other thing I noticed was that the theater was only about half full on a Saturday night. That was disappointing because it really was a great show. For those of us too old for bottle service at clubs, for playing beer pong at O’Sheas or shuffleboard at Encore, this is the perfect show, and I encourage each of you to try to get there. You won’t be disappointed. Hell, it was so good that I can write a review seven weeks later without referring to any notes!

[Images: Michael James]

Michael James

Michael James is a true Vegas Nerd. First falling in love after hearing details of an aunt’s visit in the ’70s, and nurtured when the gambling bug hit as casinos started opening on every street corner across the country in the ’90s. When not reading Vegas blogs and message boards, he’s a metals buyer by day and a competitive bowler by night in Milwaukee.