Top hits, a 68-piece orchestra, and the Las Vegas Raiderettes converge on Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall for a unique rock symphony…
Las Vegas audiences have enjoyed a myriad of genre-busting combinations in recent years. From Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett to RECKLESS IN VEGAS and POSTMODERN JUKEBOX, these delightful mash-ups work amazingly well… sometimes just because they shouldn’t.
Now musician/conductor David Perrico has created POP SYMPHONIC, which is ready to bring down the house at Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall. Fans know Perrico as the musical director for the Las Vegas Raiders house band and creator of Pop Strings Orchestra. This week’s show at Smith Center for the Performing Arts blends a 68-piece version of the Raiders Band with eight vocalists and the entire Raiderettes Cheerleading Squad. It’ll be an evening of music like you’ve never heard before.
Perrico recently joined host Jason Feinberg on FOX5’s MORE to discuss the upcoming concert. According to Perrico, the “rock symphony” will feature “songs that people can sing”. That means music by AC/DC, Guns and Roses, Earth Wind & Fire, Heart, Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Bruno Mars, Celine Dion, and many more. In an exciting twist, the ensemble will also deliver rock versions of Beethoven and Mozart.
Manager Tiphanie McNiff is excited for fans to see her Raiderettes in an entirely different atmosphere. Their previous appearance at a Pop Strings holiday show became a huge hit. “They like working with a live band — any dancer will say that,” Perrico added. McNiff hints that the performance will provide a peek into what’s in store for the next season of Raiders games.
Perrico made his mark in major Las Vegas residencies with Donny & Marie, Natalie Cole, Toni Braxton, Gladys Knight, and Cirque du Soleil’s “Viva Elvis”. He and his wife, vocalist Lily Arce, have created numerous groups including Pop Evolution, String Queen, Pop 40, and Vinylin…a party band that fuses deejay showmanship with violins. Arce tells VEGAS 411 that POP SYMPHONIC will feature a number of surprise celebrity guests on the microphone.
Lily Arce (left) and David Perrico
While Pop Strings Orchestra frequently plays Smith Center’s intimate Myron’s Cabaret, this will be the group’s first full performance inside Reynolds Hall. The idea for POP SYMPHONIC arose after shooting a music video at the grand venue. Perrico loved how glorious the stage looked when filled with a full symphony. “Everyone was so jazzed about it,” he recalls. “I thought, ‘Maybe we could do a show in here.”
The addition of The Raiderettes adds an even larger scope to the party-like event. Lily Arce is thrilled to join so many artists onstage, having fun with their unique arrangements. “As you can imagine, we are excited and honored for this opportunity” she stated. “It’s sure to be a pretty amazing night.” And if David Perrico has his way, this could be the first of many POP SYMPHONIC showcases.
‘David Perrico’s POP SYMPHONIC’ will perform at Reynolds Hall on Friday, July 14th at 7:30 pm. Tickets start at $29 (plus taxes/fees) and can be ordered here. Smith Center for the Performing Arts is located at 361 Symphony Park Avenue in Downtown Las Vegas.
