LowLife Staff Reviews

"Campy and Over-The Top"

Review by Joe Brown, Las Vegas Sun

'Bite’: As lifeless as its bloodsuckers
Vampire show disappoints despite hitting cultural sweet spot

It’s common knowledge what vampires dislike: crucifixes, garlic, wooden stakes, daylight, mirrors ...

But how many of us have given any thought to what might make vampires happy?

Before seeing “Bite,” the topless classic rock vampire revue at the Stratosphere, I was unaware that vampires really, really like spanking. During the show, they frequently give one another--or themselves--a good smack right on the pert little undead behind.

That’s not all I learned about vampires--at least the lithe, young female vamps from "Bite.": Aside from human blood, they also enjoy cute, up-to-the-minute haircuts, and they have an eternal boudoir’s worth of complicated-looking but easily removable black lingerie, including bustiers and corsets, vinyl microminis, cropped camisoles and fringed G-strings.
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When they appear, the vamps don’t waste a moment--they doff their capes, baring their fearsome fangs and their yearning-to-be-free breasts before the second verse of "Welcome to the Jungle."
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There’s not much of a story line: A buff black demon with glowing green contact lenses craves to be reunited with his long-dead Queen of the Night. He compels his scare-’em harem to enact the torment of the darned through dance. Their gyrations and feral facial expressions are broadcast via closed-circuit on large screens flanking the stage. The effect is like a cheesy Skinemax soft-core flick set to hard rock.
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I’m afraid I may have made this bloodless "Bite" sound more exciting than it is. It’s hardly as camp, creepy or clever as it might have been. I don’t as a rule give "grades" in performance reviews, but if I had to give "Bite" marks, it would be a lukewarm C-minus. You’ll feel like a sucker if you pay full price.

Complete review of "Bite"

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Review by Mike Weatherford of the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Campy and Over-The Top
"Staying in Character: 'Bite' embraces its outrageous premise -- fangs and all

There's boring bad and there's brilliant bad. Even when you're talking topless vampires, as in "Bite," they couldn't shake their groove fangs all of four years without a spark of warped genius.

Here's one way to explain it. Some other topless vampire show might decide to include "Nessun Dorma." But has anyone ever had Puccini's famous aria lead right into "Stairway to Heaven"?

Not even Michael Bolton thought of that one.

This is what separates "Bite," and its creator/producer Tim Molyneux, from your standard-issue girlie shows. Since "Bite" debuted on Aug. 13, 2004, the Strip has become ever-more hifalutin, shoveling dirt over hoot fests such as "Splash." Even rival topless revues, such as "Fantasy" and Crazy Horse Paris, now strive to be artsy and ambitious.

Pickings are slim for those who still search the Strip for something camp and over the top, though Donny & Marie bring hope just over the horizon. There's "Jubilee," but it held on long enough to turn the corner from dated to retro. There's Cher or "An Evening at La Cage," but they're in on the joke.

The beauty of "Bite" is that you aren't sure if they are or not. The revue embraces its outrageous premise without a bunch of self-aware jokes.
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When I see vampire babes climbing out the lid of a grand piano, I remember an old argument offered, I believe, in defense of warped poverty-row filmmaker Ed Wood: "The only bad movie is a boring one."

And of "Bite," it's safe to say many shows on the Strip are boring by comparison."

The Complete Bite Review

More LowLife Reviews

"Unsexy "

We found "Bite" to be decidedly unsexy. Although there were some outstanding individual performances, such as the performers who did the aerial rope routines and the "Ice" character, and the male singer who was very good, the sexiness quotient was way, way lower than what we'd expected. It was a yawn in that way, and at times it felt like some really strange high school production, albeit with topless girls.
Not a sexy night out in Vegas. In fact, we found the Filipino band playing for free in the lobby of the Stratosphere more exciting than the "Bite" part of our evening!

Also, the room itself was disappointing, and we were glad we'd gotten two for one, as it would not have been worth full price.

"GREAT SHOW!!"

This was a great show and all the players are totally HOT!!! The only drawback was the location. It was our first time in the Strat and it looked pretty dumpy to us plus plenty of construction in the main casino. That said, we totally recommend this show.