Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18 Archives

(Note: Check out my Wednesday & Friday & Saturday & Sunday adventures)

It’s like Christmas Morning! VIVA is officially here, bring on the bands, shopping, clothes, the bowling, the burlesque etc. etc. etc. But first bring on my wristband for the weekend!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 wristband. — Viva Wristband

Since it was so cold in Toronto, I decided that we needed to hit up the pool. I mean seriously..look how nice and warm it looks outside…

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015

WRONG…oh so very very wrong. It was windy and cold and we lasted a half an hour. Booo Vegas! What’s up with that? So we decided to grab a drink in our room and get ready for a favorite event of mine that afternoon…”Sweetpea’s Hooch and Smooch“.

Sweet Pea's Hooch N' Smooch at Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. — Poster from the afternoon event-So fun!

What I love about Sweet Pea’s event is that she always seems to find the best bands, has fun games for VIVA attendees to meet each other and there is always a good turn out. It honestly for me is the perfect way to start my Viva weekend.

Of course I had to dress up for the afternoon (this is Viva after all). Vintage 1940s Blouse is from Cabaret Vintage, Belle Blossoms Hair Flower, Luxulite drink tab necklace, Vintage Bakelite bracelets and black pencil skirt acquired on my recent trip to Seattle from Diva Dollz.

The Vintage Inn Blog Vintage Rockabilly Style-Hair Flower, vintage 1940s blouse, pencil skirt, vintage bakelite

Okay back to my Sweet Pea Afternoon. The First band that we heard when we finally got there (and LOVED) was Shuggie B. Goode. Their sound was really fun and fantastic for dancing and when we walked in the band was singing a song about the Lindy Hop (win!).

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015-Bands Shuggie B. Goode — Shuggie B. Goode

Here is the most adorable couple dancing together (they danced all weekend long). I just adore her dress with matching running shoes…too cute!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 Dancers-Older couple enjoying themselves. — Dancing is not reserved for the young.

Even Elvis likes to dance!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 Dancers — Viva Las Vegas!

Now I’m going to probably mess up the order of who I listened to next but does not really matter. We also heard the killer sounds of TJ Mayes from Oklahoma, who kept the dance floor packed the whole set.

Then I finally got to hear the Roy Kay Trio. They have been on my bucket list for some time of bands I needed to hear live and boy did they deliver a great show. With their country/Hillbilly Bop Rockabilly sound I could have danced all night long to them.

Roy Kay Trio Viva Las Vegas 18 Rockabilly Weekender

Hunger has by this time consumed my thoughts so time for food..really healthy food (wink wink) before we change and attend the first official evening of VIVA.

Dinner of Champions-VIVA 18 Rockabilly Weekender — See mom there is green on my plate!

THURSDAY NIGHT-Tonight we travel around Europe to hear the best sounds of Rockabilly.

Up first, meeting up with my lovely friend Sabine who lives in Las Vegas and is a swing dancer like myself. Sabine always has the prettiest dresses and hair and is an amazing dancer as well.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 vintage 1940s dress and pinup swing dress — Evening Outfit Vintage 1940s Dress from Jack Lux in Toronto

Thursday Night Band # 1-The Hi-Tones from Russia. These guys were really really good and I now know why they played the main Ballroom because they sound is too huge to contain to one little room.

The Hi-Tones VLV 18 Rockabilly Weekender — The Hi-Tones

After the Hi-Tones we all zipped out of the Ballroom to the room down the hall that had the band “Li’l Mo and the Unholy 4″ on stage. We were greeted by a PACKED room (which got really really hot, really really fast). But Li’l Mo was so good and worth sweating to death over.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 - "Li'l Mo and the Unholy 4 — Packed Bienville Room

BUT I think maybe the heat was getting to at least ONE of my friends.

Li’l Mo done, time to head BACK to the Ballroom to continue our European Rockabilly tour with “The Go-Getters” from Sweden.They were incredible and the room was super packed for them as well.

During this band my husband decided to ask the lovely lady from earlier pictures in the striped dress to dance with him.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 - dancing at Viva

After the dance we found out that my hubby was the FIRST man OTHER than her husband that had asked her to dance in over 60 years. 60 years! Wow!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 dancers at Viva

After the Go-Getters we were BACK to the other room for Mike Bell & the Belltones from Finland (I’m getting dizzy from all the running back and forth lol!).

During their set Rockabilly legend “Huelyn Duvall” joined them on stage. Huelyn hit the Billboard charts with “3 Months to Kill”/”Little Boy Blue”. That was a pretty cool experience for fans of Rockabilly.

Huelyn Duvall VLV 18 - Viva Rockabilly Weekender. — Huelyn Duvall

We ended our evening BACK at in the Ballroom for London, England’s Rockabilly Band “The Savage Hornets” and they turned out to be my absolute favorite band of the evening..hands down. So much fun!

I also scored some “It’s really late but don’t we still look awesome” photos with Toronto friends. Then.. I went to bed.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 Rockabilly Style / Vintage Style

And that is my LONG post on the first day of VIVA. Can you believe that was only day 1? Man I’m tired just reliving it thru this post 🙂

Thanks for stopping by and if you attended VIVA tell me who you favorite Thursday band was?

Further Reading:

Liz 🙂

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, Unique Vintage, RocknRomance Vintage & Collectif are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Viva is done for another year and I have to say that of all my 4 years going this year was the best..ever. I don’t know why because the bands, the vibe and the weather were just as awesome but something just clicked and made this weekend truly a showstopper for me. Now I’m a bit sad it’s over but I have 2016 to look forward to as I have my room already booked. Woo hoo!

(Note: Check out my posts on Thursday & Friday & Saturday & Sunday)

And on that note, lets check out what I did on the Wednesday the day before the event officially started.

on the plane to VLV 18 — On the Plane! Sorry an Iphone photo pic.

I have found that coming into Vegas the day before Viva is the best way to go because it allows you to have at least one day to do some sightseeing, sleep, veg out by the pool etc. For us it allows us to go to Frankie’s Tiki Room and then do Kitschy but fun Fremont St. This has become a tradition that I absolutely love and this year was no exception.

Up first..room check in! I had a friend who is not really into the world of Rockabilly and Vintage attending with me this year and her comment as we walked into the lobby and she saw everyone hanging around there all dressed up was..”Wow this is overwhelming”. I turned to her and said “dear, you have seen nothing yet!”.

Viva las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18 New Orleans Hotel-Vintage Style / Rockabilly Style. — My Friend Liisa and I in the front lobby at Check in (My Vintage Dress is from Cabaret Vintage in Toronto)

Unpacked, vegged out and now it’s time to hit up Frankie’s Tiki Room. I had brought a Tiki Dress but I honestly was just not feeling it so I went with my vintage Mexican skirt (purchased from Cabaret Vintage) and white top from Collectif (purchased in Toronto at Loveless boutique).

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Collectif are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Frankie's Tiki Room Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18-Sign — The Big Question.

Just like last year a good group of friends made the trek by cab (the worst cab driver though lol) to Frankie’s. I was so excited because I could not wait for a yummy Tiki Drink or 2!

Frankie's Tiki Room Las Vegas VLV 18-Tiki Drinks and Tiki Style — The lovely Kassandra Love and I enjoying whatever we were drinking.

Frankie's Tiki Room Las Vegas VLV 18 -Tiki Drinks, Tiki Style and Rockabilly Style — Some of the VIVA Gang. I love my new camera and I love that I’m holding 2 drinks!

While I was at Frankie’s I was excited to have the fantastic “Miss Victory Violet” and her really nice husband Matt join us at our table. I have been following her blog for some time as she has the most amazing wardrobe and so it was wonderful to finally meet her in person. They are from New Zealand and are currently doing a whirlwind tour all over various countries.

Frankie's Tiki Room with Miss Victory Violet -Tiki Bar / Tiki Style / Pinup Style — The Vintage Inn meets Miss Victory Violet

One last Frankie Photo…

Frankie's Tiki Room VLV 18 2015-Tiki Style, Tiki Statue, Pinup Style. — Tiki gods are the best.

Then we jumped in a cab and ventured off to Fremont St. to see what adventures we could get into. Of course the first thing we had to do was get our picture taken at Binions with the Million Dollars (note Binions took a blurry shot of us, not my fault).

Binions las vegas million dollars picture. — So close but yet so far

Then we met some Canadian Viva attendees while wandering. My husband joined their Black Shirt Gang 🙂

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. group of attendees. — Canadian’s only wear black shirts. True Story.

Zoltar! My friend Liisa needed to get her fortune told by this ancient and supposedly wise man.

Zoltar Fremont St. Las Vegas — What is that you say Zoltar?

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. Viva las Vegas rockabilly weekender — What does the ancient card say?

I think her fortune told her that she would find the strangest but yet pretty darn good chips seen below.

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. — Herri’s brand can do no wrong.

Fremont is so bright and pretty and a bit gawdy but I like it that way.

Anyone for $0.99 Deep Fried Twinkie? Or Oreo?

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. Glitter Gulch famous sign.

Let the Lightshow Begin! This is always cool and I never get bored of seeing it.

One of the things I really like about Fremont St. is how there are lots of cool vintage neon signs all over the strip. Here are some of them.

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. Vintage Signs. Giant Martini Glass

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. East District signs.

Can’t stand this beer, but I LOVE the sign (The Beer of Rockabilly weekenders everywhere).

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. Pabst blue ribbon neon sign.

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. giant palm tree with dice neon sign. — Kassandra and the Giant Palm Tree coming to a theatre near you

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. giant flamingo neon sign. — I Love Flamingos!

And then the night was done with one final picture.

VLV 18 2015 Fremont St. Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly weekender group of attendees.

Have you ever been to Vegas, Fremont St. or Frankie’s? Or maybe all of them. If so tell me your favorite parts!

Further Reading:

Liz 🙂

Tag: Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18

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