Everlys wake up little Las Vegas

Joe Delaney

Friday, July 25, 1997 | 9:10 a.m.

The Everly Brothers, Phil and Don, plus five outstanding musicians are the entire show this week and next in the Orleans Hotel Showroom. Their 75-minute show is more than enough for the most demanding fan. Phil and Don have improved with time. It's hard to believe that "Bye Bye Love" was a mega-hit in 1957, 40 years ago. They open with a Kentucky medley: "Green River," "Kentucky" and "Way Down In Bowling Green," close to their old Kentucky home.

Very little talk -- "We're here to sing for you," they say. This leads into "So Sad To Watch Our Love Go Bad," Roy Orbison's "Claudette," and Carole King's "When Will I Be Loved." More talk: "We're just back from England where it rained every day. We landed here and it was raining." This led into a sad songs medley followed by a blues medley, and songs taught by their dad, Ike Everly, including the country classic, "Blues Stay Away From Me."

Don is the talker. Here he introduced the band, led by Albert Lee. All are from England except the steel guitar virtuoso who, unfortunately, shall be nameless here. Then "All I Have To Do Is Dream," "Wake Up, Little Susie," "Lucille," Chet Atkins' "Let It Be Me," and the original Jimmie "Blue Yodel" Rogers' "T for Texas, T for Tennessee." This resulted in a standing ovation and two well-received encores and a second standing ovation as the audience moved down front to shake hands with the duo.

There have been some great evenings in the Orleans Theatre lately. This is the best so far with a promise of just as good to come. It appears that the Orleans has found its groove; this goes for the sister ship, the Gold Coast, as well.