Music was once the centerpiece to any trip to Las Vegas. In the 1960s, stars like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra would perform in the showrooms with a 70-piece orchestra behind them, while the lounges — smaller, low-key bars overlooking the casino floor — offered a space for lesser-known players to really let loose. A typical jam session might last until 5 in the morning. No matter what time you checked in, a show was always about to start.
Those freewheeling days are long gone. Yet the lounge itself endures; in fact, it’s enjoying a renaissance. From the Bruno Mars-led Pinky Ring to speakeasy-style clubs like Easy’s and the Count Room, there is a renewed focus on the Strip on bars and restaurants that spotlight local singers in an intimate, theatrical setting. Just make sure you come with requests.
In the late 70s, Bill Murray memorably spoofed a lounge singer on “Saturday Night Live,” yet the caricature holds true. Unlike singer-songwriters, lounge singers generally abstain from original material, bounce wildly between genres and go heavy on charisma. Mostly, their job is to set the vibe.
“We’re not 100 percent the focus point,” said Christina Amato, a singer with a regular gig at the Wynn’s supper-club-inspired venue, Delilah. “We’re creating an environment where people want to come.”