Really, we just wanted a reason to put up a picture with Rihanna in it.

Has anything good happened in ‘09? Anything at all? Other than the Yankees winning the World Series, we mean. Trainwreck economy, pop-star icons dropping dead (We’ll mourn ya till we join ya, Swayze) and now even underpants are capable of knocking a 757 out of the sky. You can begin the long, slow process of drinking enough to black out the whole crap year with a few tunes. Maroon 5 headlines at The Pearl, along with opening act and baring-his-dong-enthusiast Jason Segel for $125, $150 or $200. Or, choose from a stone-cold plethora of other shows. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Overly high-waisted pants? Jacket with obvious shoulder pads? Blublocker sunglasses? We’re pretty sure Laday Gaga is our grandma.

Professional freak show Lady Gaga rocked the house at the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms on Friday night.

The sold out show featured several of Ms. Gaga’s signature costume changes, futuristic sets and overall feeling of unsettling weirdness and she touched on all her nightclub mainstays like “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.” The music, much like Lady Gaga herself, was said to be “oddly attractive” after a brief initial encounter but “downright repulsive” under closer scrutiny.

By Jared Harmon

The Gnocchi Master, hidden in the shadows. (Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna)

There are really only two Renaissance men left (three, if you count Renaissance Man star Danny DeVito): Linebacker/author/actor/mohawk enthusiast Brian Bosworth and musician/comedian/winemaker/occasional mohawk enthusiast Maynard James Keenan.

Of the two (again, discounting DeVito), only one of them has a genre-bending tour launching at The Pearl Oct. 29. No, Seahawks fans, it’s not Bosworth.

Keenan’s Puscifer, a freewheeling mix of music, video and performance art, debuted at The Pearl in February. He’s taking the show on the road, with its first stop back a return engagement at the Palms. Just don’t expect the project to stay strictly a band — Keenan talked about everything from turning it into an Adult Swim staple to a cooking show.

(Expect Keenan’s culinary tutor, Wynn chef Alex Stratta, to be in the audience. “Absolutely, I’m definitely going to go to that. I saw them the last time they were here. I really enjoyed it. I’ve seen him with Tool a few times as well. I really like (Puscifer). It’s a departure from Tool, but it’s got the same spirit I think. Half my kitchen is just crazy for him, so he’s still a very popular guy,” Stratta said. “My AM staff, they’re all pretty much going. It’s Thursday night so more than likely my nighttime guys are S.O.L. as they say.”)

Keenan was soft-spoken, laid-back and unassuming. He spent our interview last week petting his Yorkie and trading jokes with Primus/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer drummer Tim Alexander. We would’ve been hard-pressed to pin him down as the same guy who wrote “Hooker with a Penis.” Still, we sat in a corner of the lobby at The Pearl and talked to Keenan about the tour, gnocchi and carrying the torch for Andy Kaufman vis-a-vis Vegas clubs. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Does that mean Mimi has to officiate the ceremony? (Photos by Scott Harrison | Retna)

Mariah Carey was back for her second weekend at The Pearl inside the Palms — which just happened to coincide with husband Nick Cannon’s birthday weekend. And what sort of birthday treat does he get? He gets to — wait for it — dance next to the soundboard! Man, that is so much better than a cake shaped like a race car and some sweet new Nintendo games.

During the show, one gentleman went on stage to propose to his boyfriend during the show, which we guess is the equivalent of putting your proposal on the scoreboard at Dodgers Stadium. Except with significantly less chance of accidentally having your moment interrupted by a Manny Ramirez foul ball.

After Saturday’s show they went to The Bank at Bellagio to celebrate Cannon’s birthday. He still totally didn’t get the race car cake there either. What a gyp.

By Jason Scavone

Daft Punk robots and Kylie Minogue at the center of the solar system year-round? (Photo by George Bekich)

The U.K.’s Mirror is reporting that last Sunday’s Kylie Minogue show at The Pearl was such a hit that according to sister Danni, “She has now been asked to take the show back to Vegas and extend it as a residency over there. I’m so proud of her.”

It is, of course, material from a British tabloid, so take it with an appropriately chunky grain of salt. If true though, you’d have this international superstar coming in for a residency at a time that, while it might not be the prime of her career anymore, certainly isn’t the downside either. The show drew Paris Hilton, Doug Reinhardt, Vanessa Minnillo, Carson Kressley, Howard Stern and wife Beth Ostrosky while they were all in town for various reasons, so it would have the potential to be one of those must-stop celeb spots, like Love or the back of an ambulance after Rehab*.

We’ve reached out to officials to see if there’s anything to this, or if it’s just a star’s sister running her mouth.

* Saints tight ends only.

By Jason Scavone

She’s bestowing the gift of glitter. (Photos by Denise Truscello)

Mariah Carey is doing a limited engagement at The Pearl inside the Palms starting Friday night, and she was rehearsing the show inside the friendly confines of the music venue earlier in the week. Shows are set for Friday and Saturday, and again Oct. 9 and 10. Tickets start at $129, with this being the smallest venue Carey has played. We haven’t seen what the over/under is yet on Nick Cannon DJ Sets for the four nights she’s in town but we’re assuming it’ll stand at at least six.

Maybe she’ll really like doing smaller venues and you can see her doing after-concert shows at Divebar. It would certainly raise our level of respect for Mimi.

By Jason Scavone

This thing should really light up if you moonwalk over it. (Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna. Additional photos by Denise Truscello)

Aside from the whole “being dead” thing, this was a big weekend for Michael Jackson. Captain Eo, who died in a tragic wrist-bound knife fight in 1983 (we think) got his own star at the Palms with father Joe Jackson on hand for the dedication along with Johnny Brenden and George Maloof Saturday.

Then, inside The Pearl, the Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson brought together performers from Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Phantom, Peepshow, the guys of Mosaic, Terry Fator and others to raise more than $100,000 for Clark County schools.

The only way it could get better for a Michael-filled weekend is if Macaulay Culkin would man up and admit he’s Blanket’s babydaddy.

By Jason Scavone

Flashing back like an episode of Lost. (Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna)

Last night it was Duran Duran and Pat Benatar, tonight it’s not only the New Kids on the Block at The Pearl inside the Palms, but the Regeneration Tour with ABC, Wang Chung, Missing Persons and Cutting Crew at M Resort. We’re one Zombie Reagan appearance away from traveling back in time. Not just metaphorically, but actually traveling backwards in time. Do you have any idea how crappy cell phone service is in the past? Forget about getting mail on your BlackBerry. You’ll be lucky just to catch a roaming signal. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

It’s the show critics are calling ‘A lot like slutty ballet!’

The Pussycat Dolls are at The Pearl inside the Palms tonight, so you know what that means: Lots of dudes lying about how they hooked up with Nicole Scherzinger the last time she was in town will be milling around the concert hall. It also means the largest box of emergency sequins the casino has ever seen will be sent backstage. If you missed our Scherzinger interview the first time, go check it out now. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

The thrill of victory. Defeat is covered in 40 percent more welts. (Photos by Denise Truscello)

Saturday’s Ultimate Fighter finale at The Palms drew a solid celebrity contingent led by Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford who watched the fight from a stage seat near beloved, internationally famous Half-Baked actor Harland Williams.

Also coming out for the fight were Holly Madison, Benji Madden, Chris Chelios and George Parros of the NHL in a skybox, along with Ricco Rodriguez from Celebrity Rehab, Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans, Stephan Bonnar, Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping.

Crawford was at the owner’s table at Tao inside The Venetian after the fight until 4 a.m., where he was going into the booth with DJ Vice and shouting out his sister, Candice. Crawford was hanging out with his sis, and on Friday they grabbed a quick snack at First after spending all day at the pool. So, for the record, that’s a day of eating, drinkingg and fighting. Three out of four ain’t bad.

By Jason Scavone