Las Vegas nostalgia has always been about reaching back into a sort of kitschy past. Wayne Newton and Barry Manilow, both of whom play Las Vegas residencies, exist in that sort of "cool because they were never cool" space.
Acts like Donny Osmond and Carrot Top, who also headline long-running Las Vegas Strip shows, don't exactly speak to cutting-edge entertainment. They're throwbacks in a city that has increasingly become home to more current artists.
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Numerous big names headline various Strip properties and, in many ways, those artists are sort of current nostalgia. Some current and past Las Vegas Strip headliners, like Garth Brooks, Celine Dion, and Aerosmith broadly live off their past glories, no longer recording new material (or at least not making much of a mark with it.) Others, like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, still record, but their Las Vegas acts trade off the hits of their past.
Las Vegas has also recently updated some of its nostalgia to reflect the childhoods of its current visitors. Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston's music have been celebrated in tribute shows (a hologram show for Houston at Caesars Entertainment's (CZR) Harrah's closed in June and various Jackson tributes have come and gone).
Both Houston and Jackson had their heyday in the 1980s. Now, MGM Resorts International's (MGM) Excalibur is welcoming an act that pays tribute to one of the biggest groups of the 1990s, the Spice Girls.
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Excalibur Brings Spice Girls Show to the Las Vegas Strip
The Spice Girls had a very short prime in the 90s before the band fell apart. And, while they only had a few hits in their short existence, the group has maintained a very large following and has arguably grown bigger in its post-active band life than in when it actually toured and recorded.
That's partially because some of the members of the band have remained in the spotlight, and "Posh Spice," Victoria Beckham, has become a sort of household name in her own right. Now, a tribute to the band featuring live performers will be taking up residency in July at MGM Resorts International's Excalibur.
The show features a team of Spice Boys dancers, choreographed by Jonathan Claudio,
"Spice Wanna Be — The Spice Girls Tribute plays Excalibur’s Thunderland Showroom from July 1-27. Performances are 7 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 p.m. Saturdays (dark Fridays). Tickets are on sale Tuesday at Excalibur.com, ranging from $49.95-$80.95, not including fees," the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
A Look at the Sprice Girls Tribute Band
Wannabe, the group's official name, has been touring for 10 years. The group has a clear target audience, according to comments shared on its website.
“Spice Wannabe is bringing us back to the 90’s with their high energy show, paying tribute to the best selling girl group of all time The Spice Girls! Live with five part harmonies, original choreography, iconic costumes and British accents, this Girl Power cast delivers a nostalgic experience that is sure to “Spice Up Your Life,” the group shared on its website,
The original band is the best-selling all-female group of all-time. The tribute group will be playing all of the original band's greatest hits including "Wannabe," "2 Become 1," "Say You’ll Be There," "Spice Up Your Life," "Too Much," and many more.
The show features a team of Spice Boys dancers, choreographed by Jonathan Claudio, according to the Review-Journal.
