Review of the Raunchy “Atomic Saloon” in Las Vegas

Key Points:

• Atomic Saloon showcases a collection of variety acts while following a humorous wild-west storyline.

• Its a raunchy brand of humor that some will enjoy… but isn’t for everyone. Leave Grandma at home.

• I found the theater, impressive variety acts, and interactive cast made this a worthwhile experience.

Atomic Saloon is a Wild West-themed variety show that calls The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes home and is a product of Spiegelworld, the folks behind the popular Absinthe at Caesars Palace.

The show follows the exploits of Madame Boozy Skunkton and her eclectic crew, which includes clergy, nuns, a cowboy, young lovers, a couple of drunks, and more.

Throughout the show, various acts take the stage, blending crude humor with amazing physical feats.

What I Liked About Atomic Saloon

The Venue and Theater

The moment my foot crossed the entryway into the venue, I felt as though I was transported into an old-timey Western saloon.

The hallways, bars, wall decor, everything, felt authentic. I felt engaged before the show even kicked off.

The theater itself is small, with chairs around the stage, restaurant-style booths along the walls, balcony seating on the second level, and even church pew seating *ON* the stage… which is where my seat was.

I didn’t realize I’d be up there coming in, and I was terrified of being pulled into the performance.

Cast Interactions

Even before the show, cast members were milling about, interacting with each other and the audience.

Nuns were offering “communion” with Pringles, and there was a cowboy-looking character dragging a fake dead body around the joint.

My front-row pew seat put me directly in the line of fire of some cast member bun-throwing (apparently an Atomic Saloon tradition).

Then the two goofballs below set up a table directly in front of me and started pouring shots for audience members.

Throughout the show, performers would whisper things to me under their breath or reach out for a fist bump.

I felt genuinely part of the show, and I’m sure other audience members did too. It was a cool vibe.

While no audience members were pulled onstage, a few folks seated in the front row of chairs surrounding the stage were the subject of “additional attention”. One poor guy was even asked to belt out a line of the song “Rhinestone Cowboy”… but he also received a free beer to chug, which was fun.

One audience member received a passionate smooch… on the lips… from Boozy Skunkton.

Avoid the front row if you prefer not be in the line of fire.

Raunchy Humor

Raunchy, inappropriate humor is my jam. I like it. I live for it. Just know, this show isn’t one you want to bring your kids or grandma to. Unless grandma is cool as hell, that is.

You’re going to see buttcheeks, be treated to sexualized storylines, see a xylophone played with ping pong balls & genitalia (what the hell did I just write?!), and hear the F-word.

Grow up and enjoy it.

Variety Acts

Variety acts you’ll see throughout Atomic Saloon include hula-hoop routines, tap dancing, acrobatics, feats of strength, a stripper pole routine, and even a talented little chihuahua.

There was even one occasion in which I was concerned for the safety of the performer – That’s how good some of the acts were.

You’ll be impressed. I sure was.

What I Didn’t Love

Tried Too Hard At Times

While I live for raunchy humor, there were times when Atomic Saloon tried too hard… Almost being overly raunchy for raunchiness’s sake, leading to a lot of fake smiles and “cringey” moments in the crowd.

An example of this was the opening act, where a cowboy came out with a guitar, repeating inappropriate lines over and over, eventually inviting the crowd to repeat those lines. It was chuckle-worthy at first, but then felt like it went on forever, leaving me thinking, “Ok, we get it. Move on”.

It reminded me of how my 8-year-old will say something funny, get a laugh, and then keep repeating the same joke over and over, thinking it’ll still be funny.

Again, this IS a show that’ll make you laugh. There were just a few occasions where I didn’t think it “worked”.

Uncomfortable seating

Full disclosure – I have a bony rear end and minimal butt cheek fat to provide cushioning; however, I was in pain by the end of the show. The pew seating reminded me of Sunday mornings of my youth. Ouch.

I can’t speak for every seat in the house, but the pews lacked comfort.

Best Seats at Atomic Saloon

If you want the potential to participate: Sit in the front row chairs around the circular part of the stage, or on an aisle.

If you want anonymity: Snag one of the booth seats on the outside of the theater or even second-level balcony seats. You’ll still have a great view of everything, without having crosshairs on you.

Although physically uncomfortable, I thought the pews at the back of the stage were amazing. I was inches away from the cast, had several low-key interactions with performers, and felt as though I was part of the show.

No matter where you are in the theater, the intimate nature of the venue and the fact that cast members mill about ensure you’ll have a unique and memorable experience.

View-wise, there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

The Verdict: Is Atomic Saloon Worth Seeing?

Tickets start at $109 if you buy directly from their website; however, I was able to score a slight deal by purchasing on Vegas.com (at this moment $64).

My base ticket cost $71.74, the total came to $84.65 after fees.

Although some of the attempts at humor “missed the mark”, Atomic Saloon was one of the more engaging shows I’ve been to.

Everything, including the theming, the intimate nature of the theater, and the way the cast interacted with the crowd, made this a one-of-a-kind experience.

That said, the show is wildly inappropriate. If you don’t like crude jokes, male butt cheeks, female butt cheeks, or sexual content in general, I’d recommend skipping this one and hitting something by Cirque du Soleil instead.

Especially if you’re looking for something fun to do as a couple, put Atomic Saloon under consideration – It’s a show you won’t soon forget.