80s Live, renamed Back to the '80s, is at the Borgata.
80s Live, renamed Back to the '80s, is at the Borgata.Elite Casino Marketing Group Inc.

Pop culture memories at Atlantic City casinos this weekend; Santana headed to Hard Rock; Resorts comedy club

Bally’s, Borgata, and Resorts are banking on nostalgia to bring in the crowds.

Those who enjoy living in the past are directed to Atlantic City this weekend as three gambling dens will be diving into the nostalgia pool:

What the ‘Shrek?’

By far, the most unusual event is the Shrek Rave set for The Yard at Bally’s Atlantic City March 4.

Shrek Rave, which is currently on a U.S. tour, is a dance party inspired by the 2001 computer-animated blockbuster film about a green ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) who sets out to rescue a princess (Cameron Diaz) on behalf of an evil prince (John Lithgow). Guests are encouraged to dress like the characters as they boogie to various dance tracks.

“I feel like Shrek is the right amount of cringe, but also the right amount of nostalgia,” producer Ka5sh told www.edm.com. “It's dumb enough, but also still fun. There are not a lot of pop culture references that you can put the word ‘rave’ in that you'd want to attend. Even Spongebob Rave sounds a little childish, but something about Shrek Rave just works.”

For tickets and info, click here.

Salute to AM radio hits

Tribute bands are hardly unique in casinos (or elsewhere), but the act hitting Resorts Hotel-Casino March 4 has certainly staked out a unique piece of musical turf:

Super Trans AM deals exclusively in the pop-rock (no disco or R&B) hit singles of the 1970s--tunes that filled the airwaves during a time when Top 40 radio stations were still heard on the AM band in many markets. Among the artists the band covers are Styx, Peter Frampton, Boston and Foreigner.

For tickets and info, click here.

Sounds of the ’80s at Borgata

If you’re more of a fan of 1980s pop, then Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is where you want to be as Back To the ‘80s this weekend begins a five-Sunday-afternoon run at the Music Box.

Produced by AyCee-based impresario Allen Valentine, the high-energy revusical (which last year played Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City under the name ’80s Live) features a cast of singers, dancers and musicians performing MTV-era tunes from the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Billy Idol and Joan Jett.

For tickets, click here.

Santana rocks the Rock

Tickets are now on sale for the AyCee return of Santana. The band led by guitar icon Carlos Santana, which has dealt in a unique brand of music that melds rock, blues and Latin motifs into a signature sound for more than 50 years, will hit the casino’s Hard Rock Live At Etess Arena for two shows July 28 and 29. 

Laughs at Resorts

The Screening Room, the jewel box of a venue on the 13th floor at Resorts, is now home to the AC Jokes comedy club.

Every Friday through Sunday beginning March 10, the laugh lounge will feature top regional comics. For more, click here.

Guitarist’s art at Hard Rock

Speaking of superstar guitarists and Hard Rock, the latest musician to have his artwork on display at the casino’s Wentworth Gallery is six-string wizard Joe Satriani, who’ll meet and greet fans from 6 to 9 p.m. on March 11.

“Joe is a master storyteller,” says Wentworth Gallery’s Christian O’Mahony. “Just as his music draws in the listener, his art draws in the viewer. His artwork is emotional, imaginative and fantastic. Not only do you see the universe through Joe’s eyes, but you also contemplate our place in it.”

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