Levi Kreis Returns to The Palm and Puerto Vallarta
Levi Kreis’s exuberant return to Vallarta and The Palm Cabaret and Bar necessitated adding chairs to accommodate the number of people clamoring to see him as quickly as possible on Opening Night (he does have a few more shows). To exclaim that he is such a great entertainer, I would have to become more evangelical than him.
He was truly among friends – old and new, his eyes constantly searching the audience for people he knew and acknowledging them with a pointed finger and that dazzling smile.
Jason Antone, Levi’s husband, joined him onstage for a couple of songs; I imagine their days together must ring with harmonies – two gorgeous voices.
Levi dug deep and found a couple of new hilarious family stories of growing up in rural Tennessee that he shared with us; he could have retold his old tales, line by line, and we would not have minded anything to keep him onstage working that Southern drawl or singing.
A year ago, again at The Palm, Levi told us, the audience, that he was in the process of writing a book that he wanted to put to music and present in New York City. “Already Perfect” is making the required rounds, gathering up directors, cast, musicians, and more. Levi hopes to open this year.
In 2010, this six-foot-tall, child piano-playing prodigy won his first Tony award for creating Jerry Lee Lewis in The Million Dollar Quartet on Broadway; could Already Perfect lead to more awards in way more than one category?
This charismatic musician and actor will be 45 years old this November. It certainly appears his future will be superabundant, as will ours if he continues to visit and keeps on spreading the love.
Gabe Arciniega threw an Open House in his charming downtown Vallarta casita. He said he was tired of seeing various groups of his friends in different parts of town and wanted them all under one roof for a couple of hours. And so we converged for conversation, cake, cocktails, and to share with Gabe our love for him. He pulled out all the stops and hired caterers and a couple of bartenders. Evidently, ALL of Gabe’s friends are a thirsty lot! A little after 6, Kiko Santiago-Taruc, Cassandra, her two doggies, and I rode together to Biblioteca Los Mangos Centro Cultural for the balance of the Vallarta Girls School fundraiser.
The lawns under the towering mango trees teemed with families on blankets, singles, and couples scattered about in chairs, eating, drinking adult beverages, and enjoying the music.
Two bandstands meant no lulls in the live music for seven hours. We caught Slyvie and the Zippers, The Roxsand band, and last, but not least, Diego Guerrero and The Dirties, who I deliberately stayed for even though it was late. They have only played a handful of times in Vallarta and I think I have been to every concert and will continue to do so. I had a few minutes with Diego, and we threw ideas back and forth on various combinations of old, great rock bands for possible upcoming tribute shows starring Diego and a few other notable singers in town. If any of these ideas come to fruition, you’ll be the first to know!
Some notables in the crowd: The Lymans, Madeline Celeste and her lovely Jose, Andrea Jackson, Francie Nguyen, Sarah Joy Heckbert and daughters, Ana Letuka Adame and loads more.
Heading upriver this aft for the Beach Boys at Rancho Santiago and later, Open Mic at Nacho Daddy. See you somewhere.