Opened in 1969 under the name International Hotel, the Las Vegas Hilton is approximately one city block east of the Strip on Paradise Rd. It is enormous by off-Strip standards and is considered one of the largest hotels in the world. It books headliners regularly, and is perhaps the single most popular choice of hotels off the Strip for convention goers and business people. This is where Elvis Presley first broke all Vegas show attendance records and went on to sellout 837 consecutive shows; and he’s still there today! Okay, Elvis really is dead but Hilton is home of The King starring Trent Carlini, an Elvis tribute show.
The tribute show is far more intimate than the original Elvis performances, and there aren’t nearly as many screaming young ladies in the audience. Trent Carlini is a charismatic presence though, with a powerful voice and a look that will just about have you fooled. Along with Carlini, a live band and two back up singers really bring the memory of Elvis back.
The show starts with a giant screen displaying the real King. When the curtain comes up Carlini struts out very Elvis-like, launching into the hit “Blue Suede Shoes.” The show goes through tons of Elvis hits, complete with hip swivels and the occasional Elvis sneer.
