Rapper-songwriter Everlast to close out Mandalay Bay Irish festival

Mandalay Bay is kicking off St. Patrick's Day early and in an authentic Irish way with an Irish festival and a concert from Irish-American rapper and songwriter Everlast.

"An Evening with Everlast, the music of Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, House of Pain and La Coka Nostra, along with special guest performer B-Real of Cypress Hill" starts at 8 p.m. Saturday at Mandalay Bay Beach. The concert wraps up the resort's first St. Patrick's Day Festival.

"Any excuse to get drunk and dye a pool green," Everlast, whose real name is Erik Schrody, joked about closing out the inaugural festival.

Schrody's music resume is long and varied, with a style that has changed over the years but has been defined by his desire to break the dividing line between genres.

"It's always been my objective to change things up. I would never try to do country music, but I would try to do my own version of it," Schrody says. "My whole thing is about blending styles."

As the former frontman for House of Pain in the 1990s, Schrody is one of the first white rappers to enjoy commercial success, with the song "Jump Around." He is well-known for his solo hit "What It's Like." Currently, Schrody is part of La Coka Nostra, the hip-hop group featuring former House of Pain members Danny Boy and DJ Lethal.

The concert will be one of the few times Schrody has combined all of his musical endeavors into one show.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the festival will feature live entertainment, food and a beer garden. Irish bands will perform starting at noon. Admission to the beach area is free for guests and locals. Beer garden tickets cost $40 for unlimited beer access, and food costs will vary. An all-day beer garden pass and concert ticket costs $100.

After the festival, the beach will close in preparation for the concert, with the area reopening at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the concert cost $40, plus tax and service charge. They are available at the Mandalay Bay box office (632-7580) and Ticketmaster (800-745-3000; ticketmaster.com).

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.