Viva Las Vegas / Rockabilly Weekend

Not far away headlights taillights run like a river down the neon strip. I aimlessly wandered among the chirping spinning rows of slot machines at the Vegas Orleans Hotel, taking in the cool dudes and their gals. Somehow it said, this weekend was gonna’...“Rock.”

Just imagine... take that said Hotel and fill it full of throw-back 50’s garb, hair cuts and dews, burlesque shows and bathing suit contests, pool parties, fashion shows, round the clock rock & roll bands, vendor areas,  add plenty to drink, and supply it with over 700 badass rods... you have a weekend that’s certainly worth a clean shirt. As I think about it, it was as if everyone said, “Screw the world today, we’re opting out and heading back to a simpler day.”  That’s what they did, with appetite.

It started on a Thursday with non-stop action in the hotel, and building to the rod show on Saturday with the crush of people gathered around the main stage outside. The Dynotones set the pace for Jerry Lee Lewis to later take the stage and pound the keyboards the only way he can. It was wonderful.  As the music played I made a final purchase at the outside vendor area, only to realized the cars calling me back to meet up with more old friends of flat paint, chrome, pinstripes, flames and “Mag“ wheels.

So in a time of hopped up electronics, iPads, iPhones, iClouds and more, with most youth other than these having no idea why or how to do a build, this event gave me, as an older rodder, a little glimmer of hope that all the goodness of the 40's/50’s decades will not disappear. There will be a increasing  number left to enjoy a time of mechanical innocence, imagination and the creativity to build a wicked ride and enjoy it with friends.

I recall, this gathering popped into my consciousness a few years ago, and now it's happened to me leaving nothing but a smile. Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend has been permanently etched into my inner cranial cells with only good thoughts. On Sunday morning setting off for home, I thought back to the drive heading to the event, and having never been before, it was a blank page in my mind,…now I’m glad it's full!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Image © John Straub

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Image © John Straub

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Image © John Straub

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Image © John Straub

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Image © John Straub

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Image © John Straub

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Image © John Straub

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Image © John Straub

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Image © John Straub

Hopefully the movement keeps growing, I just ordered our tickets for next year!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend for April, 2012 is listed on the calendar page here.

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