Going ‘Gossy’ at the Palms

The following post was contributed by WHV contributor Julie Kasperson. She can be contacted through her Facebook Site.

The Palms Hotel and Casino has yet another pleasing distraction added to its roster: Matt Goss. He opened September 4th at the Lounge at the Palms, a smaller venue holding between 100-200 people. I have always enjoyed spending time at the Palms and love the fact that it caters to both the celebrity jet-set with Moon, Rain, Ghostbar, and Playboy nightclubs, and also tempts the locals with gaming and state-of-the-art movie complex, Brenden Theatres.

The Palms has turned The Lounge into The Gossy Room, replete with cocktail waitresses dressed as either old-fashioned usherettes or stewardesses from an era gone by. As you wait for the show to begin, Sinatra croons over the PA system. Goss has called his show “just this side of civilized” and the atmosphere and music emphasize his point.

Goss and his ten piece band rock the joint in a classy, sexy fashion. He moves from Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” to the Nina Simon classic “Feeling Good” with easy grace. His own compositions are also included in the show; some are featured on his new CD “GOSSY” which was released in September 2009. He reminded me of an older, British version of Justin Timberlake: handsome, able to play a multitude of instruments like piano and guitar, with a sexy, supple singing voice comfortable belting out rockers or crooning falsetto when it’s called for.


His band was tight and moved confidently through different musical styles. During one song they changed the beat into a rap/reggae workout, and Goss threw in some Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing” lyrics. Oh yes, and for the men there’s eye candy too: the Dirty Virgins. They are the four back-up dancers that grace the stage in eye-popping black lingerie during a good portion of Goss’s performance and venture out into the audience a few times during the show.

It’s not surprising that the Dirty Virgins are part of Goss’s show: his producer and manager is Robin Antin, creator of the Pussycat Dolls. She has succeeded in showcasing a singer/songwriter who is a virtual unknown in the U.S. Goss had success in the ‘80’s with his twin brother Luke in a pop group called Bros. Now it’s up to the Vegas scene whether this blue-eyed Brit is rewarded with a long run here or not.

Downside: it was difficult to understand Goss’s banter at times because of his British accent. Also, the mix in the room needs to be adjusted so that more of Goss’s stellar vocals shine through instead of mostly his band. He has a powerful voice and it needs to be heard. Congratulations to the Palms for creating a residency for this very talented Englishman.