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 by
Jacqueline Monahan
jaxn8r@msn.com
Photos by Stephen Thorburn
Country
Superstars Tribute at Fitzgerald’s Hotel & Casino
There’s a little slice of Nashville in Downtown Las Vegas and it’s
located on the second floor of Fitzgerald’s Hotel and Casino. In the
intimate 250-seat Events Center Showroom, a nightly revue of country
superstars revs up and rocks the house.
The show starts with a patriotic video depicting scenes from small town
USA set to the Rodney Atkins tune of These are My People. Saluting
policemen, firemen, farmers, military personnel, heartland Americans,
kids, and pets, it set the tone for the rest of the show, complete with
scenes of an American flag and eagle.
Country performers and aficionados are not afraid to express love of God
and country; they’re proud to sing about it, stand up for it, and shout
it to the mountains. There’s no pretense to this genre of music, and
even if you’re not a fan, chances are you’ll be moved by the sincerity.
At 70 minutes in length, the show moves swiftly. This night featured an
all-male cast, sans Shania Twain and Faith Hill. Tribute performers
Leonard Quenneville and Ronnie Lee Keel as mega-star duo Brooks and Dunn
opened the evening with their rendition of “Cowboy Town”, followed by
“Red Dirt Road.” (I learned the path to heaven/ is full of sinners and
believers/ learned that happiness on earth/ ain’t just for high
achievers).
Leonard Quenneville and Ronnie Lee Keel as mega-star duo Brooks and Dunn
Dave Hoover’s Tim McGraw got the hat and skin-tight jeans down to an art
form as he belted out “Real Good Man”, an abbreviated but heartfelt
“Live Like You were Dying” (And I loved deeper/ And I spoke sweeter/ And
I gave forgiveness I'd been denying/ And he said someday I hope you get
the chance/ To live like you were dyin'). He finished his set with his
smash hit, “I Like It, I Love It.”
Dan Hoover as Tim McGraw
The talented band featured brothers Sam and Dan McCaslin on keyboards
and lead guitar respectively, Mark Kotaska on Bass, Harvey Sharp on
pedal steel guitar and Mat Chambers on drums. All assist with vocals and
harmony as well and appear more Rock than Country. The hard-driving
rhythms bear this out and translates into hand-clapping to the beat, and
periodic “hoots and hollers” from the good ol’ boys and gals, always an
indication of a good time.
Quenneville and Keel returned as Brooks and Dunn to sing the B.W.
Stevenson classic “My Maria” and an extraordinarily moving version of
the faith-based song “Believe.” (When I raise my hands, bow my head/ I'm
finding more and more truth in the words written in red/ They tell me
that there's more to life than just what I can see/ I believe).
Next, Roy Hammock took the stage, a convincing if a bit fleshy Willie
Nelson tribute singer. With his long braids which just touched his belt
and his red bandanna and black Jack Daniels shirt, Hammock’s
Willie-inspired, mellow voice crooned through Whiskey River,” (Whiskey
River take my mind/ Don't let her memory torture me/ Whiskey River don't
run dry/ You're all I've got, take care of me). “You Were Always on My
Mind” and of course, “On the Road Again.” Hammock is a good ol’ boy,
skillful in channeling the superstar.
Roy Hammock as Willie Nelson
Eric York bounded onto the stage with his high-energy Garth Brooks in
black hat, blue and white checked shirt and signature headpiece
microphone. His vocal shortcomings were somewhat compensated by his
enthusiasm as he through himself into performances of “Callin’ Baton
Rouge”, “Wrapped Up in You”, “Friends in Low Places”, ('Cause I've got
friends in low places/ Where the whiskey drowns And the beer chases my
blues away/ And I'll be okay/ I'm not big on social graces/ Think I'll
slip on down to the oasis/ Oh, I've got friends in low places) and
“Ain’t Goin’ Down til the Sun Comes Up”. York got the audience revved
up, much as the real Brooks is known to do.
Eric York as Garth Brooks
Quenneville and Keel’s Brooks and Dunn, wrapped up the show with an
audience participation number “Little Country Girl” featuring a friendly
split-room rivalry involving shouted lyrics. This was followed by their
seminal hit “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”
The last performance of the evening brought out the entire cast to
salute the unique city that made all of their careers possible. Singing
the upbeat “Viva Las Vegas” to an exuberant audience, the guys marched
down the center aisle and out the front door to form a reception line
for exiting guests. There you could chat and snap photos to your heart’s
content, turning heads at the buffet across the way.
Standout performer Ronnie Lee Keel as Ronnie Dunn dominated the stage
and the show with his star-quality presence. Even portraying someone
else, this guy’s got personal charisma and mesmerizes audiences with his
tall countenance, strong vocals and exciting stage persona. For me, Keel
is the jewel in The Country Superstars Tribute crown.
The Events Center Showroom’s walls are covered with Beatle pictures and
acoustic and electric guitars signed by the likes of Carlos Santana,
Simon & Garfunkel, and Garth Brooks himself. A Jimi Hendrix painting in
vibrant colors is near a signed Paul McCartney album – Give my regards
to Broad Street. There is a rock ‘n roll feel to the venue, and the
small stage is capable of decidedly big sounds.
An exceedingly friendly staff will answer any and all questions about
the show. Special $10 tickets were made available to the audience for
the 9:00 show featuring 75 Billboard Music superstars in 75 minutes.
If you’re looking for a way to get your heart pumpin’ and your boots
stompin’, The Country Superstars Tribute is sure to deliver the
attitude, the music and the moves.
For further information:
Fitzgerald's Events Center Showroom
301 Fremont Street, Las Vegas Nevada (702) 388-2400
7 pm nightly Thursday through Monday
http://www.countrysuperstarstribute.com
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