Todd Kerns and The Minges Turn It Up at Vamp’d!

Todd Kerns played Count’s Vamp’d on Friday, May 17, 2024, with The Minges opening the night.

Count’s Vamp’d is always your leading home in Las Vegas for all things rock and roll, and with the return of Todd Kerns to Sin City following a lengthy tour as Slash’s bass player, it was a gathering I knew I had to get out and be a part of. Having been someone following Mr. Kerns for well over a decade with his various projects, I’m a fan who absolutely doesn’t want to miss a single Vegas performance!

Shows that involve Todd Kerns playing at Vamp’d, whether solo or with his Original Sin bandmates, usually offer a VIP package/soundcheck option as well. I had the luxury of attending the soundcheck this time around, and this is something well worth attending for anyone who’s a fan. Todd and company always turn the soundcheck into a party of sorts, often “taking requests” from the audience and ad-libbing their way through songs, often with surprisingly good results. This time around we got everything from Billy Idol to Metallica! Following the soundcheck, Todd and company took pictures with those attending the VIP event.

One of the reasons I wanted to attend this night (in addition to the obvious of getting to hear Todd Kerns perform) was to hear The Minges opening up for Mr. Kerns. The group features Stephy Muzio on bass, who I’ve known for years but never actually seen perform with a band, so that had me excited. The four-piece band is quite energetic but doesn’t shy away from having a sense of humor either. The set features a combination of covers and originals, all of which flowed together quite well. For me the absolute highlight of this set was the band’s fearless and sassy frontwoman, Jessica Moinichen. In addition to being a great singer and a beautiful woman, she’s got a sense of humor that’s unrivaled by many of the other groups I’ve seen on this stage; many audience members were stating after their performance that she’d also make a fine stand-up comedian! I think I’ve found my new favorite singer in Vegas.

The Minges have endless potential, and I truly believe they’ll tighten up over time and become even more energetic and animated. Here’s to more excellent performances to come in the weeks, months, and years ahead!

Of course, it was Todd Kerns that attracted a wide array of people to Vamp’d on this evening, with some folks even coming from out of the state and the country to partake of this man’s brand of rock and roll. One of the highlights of my life was going to see Todd perform nearly weekly at the Station Casinos back when those venues had rock-centric entertainment every weekend. So, any opportunity I get to see this guy again is welcomed with open arms.

One of my favorite things about a Todd Kerns gig is that you get a little bit of everything. The gig opened with a cover of Prince’s “Let’s Get Crazy” (complete with the pre-recorded “Dearly Beloved” intro speech) and Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way?”, both of which were performed with plenty of energy and enthusiasm by Todd’s talented band of musicians, featuring some of the local scene’s best. The set also included a wide array of other covers, including several Guns N Roses classics (appropriate since Todd is Slash’s bass player), and some Todd Kerns originals including “Turn It Up” and “It’s Not You It’s Me.”

Todd was even joined in his set by classic Faster Pussycat guitarist Brent Muscat, with whom he’s often collaborated, culminating in a great performance of the FP classic “Bathroom Wall.” The audience was enthused throughout, with Mr. Kerns never letting up. Probably my only minor complaint with the otherwise excellent set was a lack of acoustic material, which Todd does so well. Songs like “Broken Record” and “The Devil in Me” were sorely missed, though I don’t think the audience seemed to mind too much.

I loved this night of rock and roll and so did everyone else in attendance. Mr. Kerns satisfied with the results he always brings. And the opening set from The Minges was a pleasant surprise; I strongly look forward to seeing Jessica Moinichen perform again in the near future – and the sooner the better. An all-around excellent night that impressed all the rock fans in Vamp’d, this one included!

Live photos by Mary Bodimer for ZrockR Magazine 2024 – All Rights Reserved.