Las Vegas’ Historic Commercial Center hasn’t seen much action over the last decade, or so, but that’s about to change.
EDM artist Deadmau5 is heading up “The Fabulous Commercial Center Block Party” Thursday at the historic entertainment and hospitality center on East Sahara Avenue. Nina DiGregorio’s Bella Strings and Las Vegas favorite Franky Perez will also perform the free-admission event.
The party will happen on three stages in the Commercial Center parking lot, that is being converted to a festival grounds for the event.
Gates open at 6 p.m. Bella Strings perform at 7 p.m., followed by Perez at 8 p.m. and Deadmau5 at 9 p.m. Though there is no cover charge, but tickets are required they will be limited to two tickets per email address. Click this link for tickets. Availability is limited, and may already be sold out.. A crowd of 10,000 is expected. Organizers suggest ride sharing, as parking at Commercial Center and surrounding areas is very limited.
In addition to music, several large scale art pieces will be featured. Like El Pulpo Mecanico, a 35-foot-tall mechanical octopus. El Pulpo belches fire from eight limbs, and has been a popular attraction for years at Burning Man.
The point of the event – other than to just have a great time – is to show investors that Commercial Center is still viable. It coincides with the renaming of Karen Avenue, to Liberace Avenue.
Clark County has a gentrification effort to create an arts colony that would take up about 60 acres in the larger South of Sahara Avenue District. SOSA, as the county refers to that entire property, is bordered by Sahara Avenue, Maryland Parkway, Liberace Avenue and Joe W. Brown Drive.
When the Mob ran Las Vegas, Commercial Center was often a meeting place for the mobsters in the 60’s & 70’s. The famed Ice Palace drew some big rockers back in the 60’s (SEE BELOW), and it was a place to see and be seen. From Liberace at Tiffany’s cleaners and John Fish To Elvis Presley, The Rat Pack, and even the Rolling Stones.
Over the years, Commercial Center shuttered most of it’s businesses, but is now on the way to improvement. Suffice to say, Commercial Center has not seen such a large-scale event like the Deadmu5 event, since opening in 1963, but they are looking to make a name for themselves again.
Here’s hoping Commercial Center will make some noise again, because we really don’t have a lot of Las Vegas history left in the way of buildings, and structures.
Here are the few huge acts that played the Ice Palace at Commercial Center in Las Vegas in the 60’s and 70’s. We can now add Deadmu5 to the list of Commercial Center Concerts!
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Grateful Dead - March 29, 1969
The Grateful Dead became a mainstay in Las Vegas for “Deadheads” until the death of Jerry Garcia
Led Zeppelin - August 11, 1969
Most likely the first – and LAST – time Led Zeppelin played Las Vegas.
Hulton Archives via Getty Images
The Doors - November 1, 1969
The Doors played Las Vegas a few times. The now-legendary Vegas gig at the Ice Palace skating rink in Commercial Center appears to be the last time, and by that time, the world saw a heavier, bearded Morrison, a deteriorated shell of the sleek, lean lead man of 1968, that worked in Vegas.
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Poco / Yes - April 6, 1973
Here are the actual setlists:
POCO: 1. Pickin’ Up the Pieces 2. Hoe Down 3. Blue Water 4. Fool’s Gold 5. I Guess You Made It 6. Hurry Up 7. Railroad Days 8. And Settlin’ Down 9. A Right Along 10. Restrain 10. Ride the Country 11. A Good Feelin’ to Know”
YES: 1. The Firebird Suite 2.Siberian Khatru 3. I’ve Seen All Good People 4. Mood for a Day 5. Clap 6. Heart of the Sunrise 7. And You and I 8. Close to the Edge 9. Keyboard Solo 10. Roundabout 11. Yours Is No Disgrace 12. Starship Trooper
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Boz Scaggs / Steely Dan - September 22, 1973
Steely Dan 9Walter Becker has passed away), and Boz Scaggs both continue to play Las Vegas on occasion.
Scott Gries via Getty Images
