Taylor Hicks settles in for yearlong run in Indigo at Bally’s

By John Katsilometes

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 | 9 a.m.

This finding-a-niche-in-Las-Vegas approach seems to be working well for Taylor Hicks.

Formally and finally announced this morning is Hicks’ return to Indigo at Bally’s, the venue of his well-received summer stint and entry point to a Strip residency. In what is specified as a yearlong commitment, Hicks is back Oct. 17-Nov. 12 and Dec. 3-16, with dates next year to be announced.

Ticket prices are unchanged from Hicks’ appearances over the summer, $39.99 and $69.99 (absent fees). Tickets are on sale Monday at 10 a.m. by calling (888) 746-7784 or (702) 777-7776. Or hit the Bally’s website. Hicks’ show is staged Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays (dark Tuesdays and Fridays).

Hicks says he hopes to reunite his roaring band Soul Patrol, which rocked a venue that doubles as a fairly traditional Las Vegas lounge where seats are not set out and black curtains are drawn for Hicks.

“We’re gunning for the whole band to be back,” Hicks said in a phone interview Tuesday. “We’re obviously going to work diligently on the production of the show. We’re in the process of scaling up the production with more video content.” Of the roadhouse atmosphere Hicks and his five-piece band established in his first run at Bally’s, Hicks laughed and said, “We’re not going to have peanuts on the floor, at least not yet, and you can subtract the roadhouse brawls.”

Hicks is billed as the only “American Idol” champ to secure a residency on the Strip. He won Season 5 of the show, defeating Katharine McPhee in the finals. He swiftly became immersed in the scene in Las Vegas and was frequently spotted watching performances on and off the Strip.

“I love the atmosphere in Las Vegas,” he said. “Everyone, to a certain degree, is a connoisseur of live entertainment, and I share the passion everyone has for live entertainment. I want to keep that idea alive as much as possible.”

Caesars Entertainment says it plans to book Hicks in venues at its resorts across the country. Hicks performed a set of dates at Harrah’s in Reno soon after he ended his original run at Bally’s last month.

“Taylor was enormously successful in his first headlining engagement here at Bally’s this summer,” David Hoenemeyer, president of Bally’s Las Vegas, said in a statement. “Locals as well as tourists from around the nation flock to see him perform on the Strip, and we look forward to continued success here in Las Vegas and at some of our other properties.”

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