Vegas Sun Rises on Terraplane Sun: Y&P goes to the Cosmopolitan Hotel with Terraplane Sun

Reported by Teddi Curtis
Filmed by Laura Sortwell

Experiencing Terraplane Sun’s residency in Vegas first-hand was just exactly what experiencing Terraplane Sun’s residency in Vegas first-hand should have been. From the initial cozy meeting at bassist Cecil Campanaro’s house to the dry heat and highway dust that bid us farewell on our ride home three days later, the trip satisfied just about everything that a road trip to Vegas in the name of Rock n’ Roll brings to mind. The highway cut through a seemingly endless range of desert mountains, some wind beaten to complete smoothness and some carved so intricately that they looked painted. In-N-Out burger was a wholly satisfying pitstop, not only due to its dependable supercalafragalisticness, but also because it was off of a dusty highway in an area of big brand concrete sprawl. Is concrete sprawl ever so beautiful as when you’re eating a cheeseburger to the soundtrack of cars whizzing down a desert highway? Nah.

Our second pitstop was more professionally motivated. The van pulled over, Laura and I close behind, next to a massive field of cacti, each the subtlest bit different than the spiky plant next to it. Some bands would look posed next to the wire fences running the length of the highway, and others simply out of place, but listen to Terraplane Sun’s latest album, Coyote, and its no wonder the guys meshed, chameleon-like, with the rustic and dry setting. Terraplane’s drawling, zangy, alternative, and live take on contemporary folk-rock conjures images of open road, dusty boots, and some mid-west (in our case, real west) abandon. Linking back up with the band’s five members, singer Ben Rothbard, lead guitarist Johnny Zambetti, Gabe Feenberg on keys and accordion, the aforementioned Cecil on bass, and the newly induced Lyle Riddle bringing the percussion, there was no doubt that an impressive and unique show would commence upon arrival in Vegas.

The Cosmopolitan, the latest and, I dare say, trendiest of the hotels on Vegas’ strip, lived up to its reviews almost immediately. From the large, mirrored letters, spelling the hotel’s name that lined the parking tunnel, to the entirely crystal draped bar that met up as we stepped off of the elevator, it was clear that the Cosmo’s owners had finally given the strip what it was missing – The Belagio’s standard for a younger generation, and minus the looking down of noses at dresses too short and voices too loud. Daytime at the hotel meant bouncing between the three pools, one ‘zen’, one family, and one party: The Day Club, which was stocked with dangerously delicious tropical drinks, purple bikini clad cabana girls, and glass hot tubs lining the pool, all to the bubble of house music and top 40. Nighttime meant dancing around our room overlooking the faux Tour d’Eiffel across the street until meeting the band at one of the hotel’s many yummy dining options to fuel for the night’s shows.

Terraplane played twice each night at the Book & Stage, and all shows were met with the enthusiasm their talent deserves. Lyle’s intense drumming style brought more definition to our old favorites, adding a hint of edge that enhances the band’s live shows. Laura and I enjoyed the performances while staying within vicinity of the CD box. Good thing, as crowds approached with questions about the band and where they were headed next. Many didn’t have questions but were simply glad that we were there to hear them rave about the guys’ artistic chops. Now on our second excursion with the band, Y&P felt a healthy sense of pride in the positive reaction. As more and more people were distracted from their gambling ambitions, a lofty accomplishment, by the pleasing noise emanating from Book & Stage, it became obvious that the Young & Pretty team are not the only ones aware that Terraplane Sun is a band on the verge of something big.

Word of The Marquis, The Cosmopolitan’s renowned in-house club, had been making its way to Laura and I from the moment we had entered the hotel days earlier. We watched our last show of the residency that Monday night; it was Terraplane’s most energetic, and included the new song that we had seen workshopped earlier that day. A great finale followed by the first trip to Marquis. The packed dance floor, wild DJ, near futuristically styled layout, and a visit from The Far East Movement, did not disappoint. In the words of our photographer: “I don’t like clubs. This is.. the best.. club.” Not a bad send off.

Driving home we reviewed pictures: the guys performing, the picturesque aqua pools, our sequined first night in Vegas duds, acrobatics on the hotel beds. The MGM had hosted the Billboard Music Awards that same weekend: with the likes of Beyonce and Justin Timberlake as fellow Cosmopolitan guests, the whole event seemed to foreshadow exciting times to come for Terraplane Sun. Y&P will definitely be staying tuned.