Dazzled by Vegas
“Even rock musicians are beneficiaries now”, he explains, “I’m proud that I’ve hung around. People putting on events think about ticking certain boxes for arts funding.”
It’s important to be different, says Beveridge, which Vegas aims to do.
“We do a Tom Jones number, which is something I wouldn’t normally do. I sing Sex Bomb and the showgirls look untouchable. They completely ignore me,” he laughs.
It’s the way Vegas should be, avers Beveridge, whose Neophonic Orchestra is paying tribute to Las Vegas’ golden years with The Diamond Showgirls.
“It’s the Vegas I’d love to visit but isn’t there anymore. I wanted to do a spectacular Sinatra-style swing,” although he dislikes using Sinatra’s name – “It’s been abused!” – and would rather say his influences are Bobby Darin and Sammy Davis Jnr.
“Those guys were first and foremost live entertainers. That’s what it’s all about: fun and big swing. Our band is smoking hot and the showgirls add a huge dollop of sex appeal,” says Beveridge
But New Zealanders aren’t known for being showy or ‘over the top’, words that typify Vegas, and creating the show in a politically correct arts landscape was a challenge, “I realised how much people like the fantasy figure of the Vegas showgirl” says Beveridge.
He describes the experience of singing the opening number, Viva Las Vegas, and being ecstatic he’d made it happen.
“I looked around and thought ‘How on earth did I craft this reality?’ Vegas shows these days are massive. You couldn’t bring one here.”
With 20 dates set on the Vegas tour, Beveridge is loving being able to bring glitz and glamour to small-town New Zealand.
Vegas, Wellington Opera House, August 25; Southwards Theatre, September 3.










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