Las Vegas Mixtape v4: A Gloriously Old-School Diner, a Hellbound Show, and More

Track #4: Atomic Saloon

The “Atomic Saloon Show” at the Venetian logged its 1500th show this past September, and it’s as gloriously indecent and witty as ever. Having seen the show for a second time in early November, I’m happy to report that it remains a celebration of sin and all-inclusive sexuality with showgirls and showboys, staged in an intimate and impressively designed funhouse resembling an Old West brothel.

The folks at Spiegelworld—who’ve also brought us such equally insane and long-running Vegas shows as “Absinthe” and “OPM”—are masters at overloading your senses. The fast-moving “Atomic Saloon” has in-your-face near-nudity, skits mocking religious conservatism with deliberately corny lines, and virtuosic acrobatic dancers hanging from ropes without a net.

Every character in the revue, including the preacher, is going to hell, and the perfectly chosen music—with such songs as Big & Rich’s “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy),” Britney’s “Work Bitch,” and Jace Everett’s “Bad Things”—amps up the proceedings. “Atomic Saloon” has a lot going for it: campy flair, non-stop energy, hoop dancing, hand balancers, dazzling choreography from the entire cast, and more. Long may it run.