Vegas showrooms go country during NFR

Friday, Dec. 7, 2001 | 8:50 a.m.

It's December -- time for the annual convergence of the fans of Ricky and the Redstreaks, an old-time rock 'n' roll band that has acquired cult status over the past 30 years.

Oh yeah, and the National Finals Rodeo is also in town.

Some visitors probably are in Las Vegas to catch the equivalent of the World Series of rodeo, held at the Thomas & Mack Center, but a good many may also be here for the Redstreaks.

The six-member group performs at 11 p.m. nightly at the Stardust ballroom through the last day of the NFR on Dec. 16. There's a $5 cover charge.

While cowboy boots, western shirts and Stetsons are in abundance among the throngs of partiers, the Redstreaks (who perform at rodeos around the country, as well as nightclubs) are more apt to be playing songs made popular by such groups as the Jefferson Airplane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and ZZ Top, rather than Ernest Tubb or Hank Snow.

The ballroom is a madhouse when filled by fans of the Redstreaks. The entertainment gets progressively raunchy as the night goes on -- and that's just from the audience.

If classic rock 'n' roll is not your thing, there will be plenty of country music in town the next couple of weeks.

Simply put, during the annual NFR, Las Vegas takes on the trappings of Nashville, Tenn.

One of the most popular young groups, Ricochet, will perform for free at the Palms' 200-seat Polapa Lounge at 11 p.m. nightly through Dec. 15, and at 4 p.m. on Dec. 16 (the show will be dark Tuesday).

Among Ricochet's hits are "Daddy's Money," "What Do I Know" and "Love is Stronger Than Pride."

The following is a list of acts performing in and around Las Vegas during NFR:

Who: Chad Brock.

Vitals: Brock ("A Country Boy Can Survive") once supported himself as a professional wrestler with the World Championship Wrestling Federation.

When: 7 and 9:30 p.m. today and Saturday.

Where: Stratosphere's Broadway Showroom.

Tickets: $21.45.

Information: 380-7711.

Who: Lorrie Morgan.

Vitals: A former opening act for George Jones, Morgan has made a name for herself with such songs as "I Must be Gettin' Older" (which she never seems to do).

When: 10 pm. today, Saturday and Sunday.

Where: Orleans Showroom.

Tickets: $49.50-$71.50.

Information: 365-7075.

What: Montgomery Gentry.

Vitals: The duo of Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry first called themselves "Deuce," then changed it to Montgomery Gentry. They're known for hillbilly honky-tonk music.

When: 10 p.m. today.

Where: Hard Rock's The Joint.

Tickets: $45.50-$70.50.

Information: 693-5000.

Who: Dwight Yoakam.

Vitals: Buck Owens' protege, Yoakam ("Love Caught Up to Me" and "What Do You Know About Love?") keeps on singing, even though he keeps his eye on Hollywood (he wrote and directed a film not yet released, "South of Heaven, West of Hell").

When: 10:30 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday.

Where: Paris Las Vegas' Le Theatre des Arts.

Tickets: $68.50.

Information: 946-7000.

What: Alabama.

Vitals: The group has won more than 150 major music awards performing such songs as "Mountain Music," "Take Me Down" and "Close Enough to Perfect."

When: 10:30 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday.

Where: Las Vegas Hilton Theater.

Tickets: $57.50-$68.50.

Information: 732-5755.

Who: Gary Allan.

Vitals: Allan debuted in 1996 and recently completed his third album, "Smoke Rings in the Dark." He was inspired by such country legends as Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Willie Nelson and Buck Owens.

When: 8 p.m. today.

Where: Boulder Station's Railhead.

Tickets: $22.50-$40.

Information: 432-7777.

Who: Mark Chesnutt and Aaron Tippin.

Vitals: Chesnutt ("Brother Jukebox" and "Bubba Shot the Jukebox") and Tippin ("What This Country Needs") keep traditional country music alive.

When: 10:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

Where: Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Tickets: $35-$45.

Information: 785-5000.

Who: Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker.

Vitals: Lawrence was Billboard's Top New Male Vocalist of the year in 1992, and won the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist trophy a year later. Walker defies a stereotype, singing such hits as the country song "Say No More," the classic "La Bamba" and the honky-tonk favorite "Rough Around the Edges."

When: 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Where: Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Tickets: $35-45.

Information: 785-5000.

What: Brooks & Dunn.

Vitals: Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have sold 22 million albums and had 18 No. 1 records, such as "When She's Gone, She's Gone."

When: 10:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Where: Las Vegas Hilton Theater.

Tickets: $52-$74.

Information: 732-5755.

Who: Clint Black.

Vitals: Too many hits to list, including "Killin' Time," "A Better Man," "Put Yourself in My Shoes" "A Bad Goodbye" and "A Good Run of Bad Luck."

When: 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Where: Paris Las Vegas' Le Theatre des Arts.

Tickets: $68.50.

Information: 946-7000.

Who: Tanya Tucker.

Vitals: Sang her first hit, "Delta Dawn," at age 13. Attended Basic High School.

When: 10 p.m. Wednesday through Dec. 15.

Where: Orleans Showroom.

Tickets: $49.50-$71.50.

Information: 365-7075.

Who: Chris LeDoux.

Vitals: A former rodeo star (1976 bareback bronc world champion with the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) who now sings for a living, such tunes as "It Ain't the Years, Boys, It's the Miles!"

When: 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Dec. 15.

Where: Silverton Showroom.

Tickets: $44.

Information: 263-7777.

Who: Deana Carter.

Vitals: A popular performer since her 1996 debut album, "Did I Shave My Legs For This?"

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Where: House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

Tickets: $25-$30.

Information: 637-7600.

Who: Brad Paisley and Chely Wright.

Vitals: Paisley ("Who Needs Pictures" and "He Didn't Have To Be") teams up with Wright ("Woman in the Moon" and "Single White Female").

When: 10:30 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 14-15.

Where: Las Vegas Hilton Theater.

Tickets: $30-$52.

Information: 732-5755.

Who: Rodney Carrington.

Vitals: Cowboy comic noted for his irreverent, brutally honest humor.

When: 8 and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 14-15.

Where: Boulder Station's Railhead.

Tickets: $22-$44.

Information: 432-7777.

What: SHeDAISY.

Vitals: The SHeDAISYs are sisters Kristyn, Kelsi and Kassidy Osborn, born and raised near Magna, Utah. SHeDAISY, the women say, was taken from a Native American word meaning "my sisters." The relative newcomers recently released their debut album, "The Whole SHeBANG."

When: 10:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

Where: Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Tickets: $35-$45.

Information: 785-5000.

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