REVIEW: Gospel Brunch at House of Blues in Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay
By Michael P Coleman
Contrary to what most people say, what happened in Las Vegas this Sunday morning just can’t stay in Las Vegas!
Folks in Vegas, of all places, have church! And I’m told they have it every Sunday.
The House of Blues’ world-famous Gospel Brunch, in the Mandalay Bay resort, is the only like event on the strip in Las Vegas. That tracks, as Sin City isn’t the first place one thinks of when one is in need of a little bit of Holy Ghost.
That said, I wasn’t prepared for all of the anointing that hit me in the face a few hours ago. We knew we were in for a good one, when we walked in to be seated for brunch to the strains of BeBe & CeCe’s “Addictive Love.”
Sharon Smith, who MC’d the show, and singer Pat Pennington lead a spirit filled 90 minutes praise and worship service that had everyone on their feet, and some of us shouting, by the finale, set to their version of Kirk Franklin’s “Why We Sing.” The audience was about as multicultural as you could get, and all seemed to enjoy the traditional, black gospel music shared throughout the show.
And brunch.
Lord, Jesus, that brunch.
We had bacon, sausage, BBQ chicken, fried chicken, ham, and jambalaya…and those were just the main courses, along with omelettes, greens, Mac & Cheese (my GOD, it was good!), and every fixing you could practically imagine, all to be wrapped up with succulent, moist bread pudding.
I’m writing this poolside back at my hotel, two hours later, and still can’t imagine that I’ll be eating anything else for the rest of the day. That gospel brunch won’t soon be forgotten, and will definitely be repeated the next time I’m spending a weekend in Las Vegas.
In fact, the Sunday morning House of Blues’ Gospel Brunch is enough of a reason to decide to stay over in Las Vegas on a Saturday night!
Connect with freelance writer Michael P Coleman at michaelpcoleman.com.
