Travis Kelce makes Vegas night club return
Traversin’ Travis made it back to Las Vegas in time to rock the Strip on Saturday.
Kelce successfully reached his favorite party destination after flying out of Sydney, Australia, on Friday after meeting with Taylor Swift on her “Eras Tour” stop at Accor Stadium.
The indefatigably partying tight end joined Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Rashee Rice, Mecole Hardman Jr., Skyy Moore, Jerick “Jet” McKinnon, Isaiah Pacheco, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith for the rowdy club hang.
They here … #PatrickMahomes, #TravisKelce lead the #ChiefsKingdom party to XS Nightclub @WynnLasVegas … pic.twitter.com/YlVxEDw0KB
— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) February 25, 2024
The list is likely not complete, but those are the Chiefs who have been confirmed at Vegas clubs this weekend.
Marshmello, he of the flashing bucket head, was to be the night’s superstar DJ headliner. As of he started his set just after 1 a.m.
Kelce joined the superstar DJ for an extended set, shouting, “You (expletive) better sing along to this!” and calling out, “You’ve gotta fight! For your right! To Paaarrty!”
Then the tight end toweled off, found a tray of tequila shots, and paid it forward. He later sang a segment of Swift’s “Love Story” from the stage.
Kelce was the purveyor of the party, but hardly alone. The Chiefs’ crew was set up on the stage-left side of the DJ booth. The team moved to the stage repeatedly, spraying the crowd with champagne and fake cash from “The Rainmaker” money-shooting devices.
The bills spelled out “2024 champs.” Red and yellow confetti (matching the team’s cherry-and-lemon color scheme) rained; and a five-tier, football-themed cake were part of the prize package.
Shots!l @tkelce is wide open, again … #ChiefsKingdom @marshmello @WynnLasVegas @vegasrevealed pic.twitter.com/Jzt48f4sOL
— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) February 25, 2024
Then team also accepted a pair of WBC-UFC styled championship belts, one of which was commandeered by Moore. The Lombardi Trophy was not in the club, but the crowd roared for those belts.
Also, there was ample, aggressive party-cannon blasting.
The Chiefs on hand arrived at 12.30, filing into an outside VIP stage, announced loudly and accurately as “The Super Bowl champs,” and, “The best team in football!” Mahomes and Kelce, as has become custom, walked in first.
Earlier Saturday, the group rolled into Lavo Champagne Party Brunch at Palazzo. The announcement said the entourage was “spotted” at the restaurant. True. Hard to miss all these big, boisterous football players being showered with adulation, champagne and sparklers.
We have #Groovers … @tkelce @PatrickMahomes live it up like champs @WynnLasVegas XS Nightclub #Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom … @reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/bc1Hgciscl
— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) February 25, 2024
On Friday night, Mahomes and an entourage celebrating a bachelor party blew into Zouk Nightclub on Friday night. The event was a fete for Mahomes’ friend from Whitehouse High School and Texas Tech, Brennan McDaniel.
Meantime, the above-mentioned Chiefs (not including Mahomes and Kelce) dropped into Drai’s at then Cromwell. Club resident artist Fabulous headlined.
Here … #TravisKelce @marshmello XS Nightclub @WynnLasVegas @reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/t4WRMDEeIl
— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) February 25, 2024
Prior to hitting Zouk, the Mahomes his fellow bachelor-party celebrants dined at Toca Madera at The Shops at Crystals.
Saturday, the party at XS and Encore Beach was still pumping at 3 a.m., even after Marshmello closed his set Kelce was spotted walking out of a VIP men’s room, his phone to his ear, sweating, smiling, chatting animatedly. Wonder who it was.
New arts Center
We’ve been following the mercurial path of development at Historic Commercial Center for more than two decades. The piecemeal process has kept the Commercial Center’s potential afloat, as community leaders organize to take advantage of the vast parcel on East Sahara Avenue.
We have some positive movement, from higher education, elected officials and an veteran Vegas entertainment professional. Last week, the UNLV College of Fine Arts Dean Nancy Uscher, Clark Country Commissioners Tick Segerblom and Ross Miller, and The Composers Room founder Damian Costa announced the Arts in the Center performance program.
The shows kick off Wednesday and will run through June 5. Music, visual arts, film and theater showcases are planned between Wednesday and June 5. Most are scheduled The Composers Room at Commercial Center. The events are free and open to the public (some will require a reservation).
The first is the UNLV Joe Williams Quintet, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday (go to thecomposersroom.com for reservations and intel). Musicians from UNLV’s Jazz and Commercial Music Department headline.
The next scheduled show is March 20, another Joe Williams Jazz Quintet performance. The full list is at unlv.edu.
The series is a product of the just-launched UNLV Arts Innovation Lab, designed to provide college arts students the chance to perform in community venues. Uscher said in a statement, “This will inspire students and faculty to create knowledge for the future within and across disciplines, explore creativity and design thinking, and celebrate bold ideas within a truly inventive and enterprising ethos.”
Headed up by program director Dave Loeb, the UNLV Jazz and Commercial Music Program has sent musicians to headlining productions across Las Vegas and around the world. You can currently find them in the Lady Gaga “Jazz + Piano” show at Dolby Live at Park MGM, and Adele’s orchestra at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
And if you are reading this early enough, you can still catch the 34th “Joe Williams Scholarship Concert” at 3 p.m. Sunday at UNLV’s Ham Hall. The best 10 bucks you’ll spend; go to unlv.edu for intel.
Cool Hang Alert
Ariat Flagship Brand Shop opens at 4 p.m. Thursday at 63 Las Vegas on the southwest corner of Harmon Avenue and the Strip. Ariat artist Annie Bosko performs through the event. Bosko has appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Her “Neon Baby” single has drawn such positive reviews as Billboard’s, “Bosko’s vocal is energetic…with a set of songs seemingly tailor-made for rousing live shows.”
A unique pairing of apparel and art; no cover, boots optional.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
