Columnist Joe Delaney: Neville Brothers descending on Sam’s Town

Joe Delaney

Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 | 9:27 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com.

The new, hot Sam's Town Live! entertainment complex will be like a visit to New Orleans Friday and Saturday as the Neville Brothers perform their steamy gumbo of pop, rhythm and blues, gospel and jazz music in what has been described as a spiritual revival and a Mardi Gras parade combined, the musical essence of the Crescent City.

Art Neville, founder, keyboardist and oldest of the four brothers, working with a group called the Hawkettes, had a hit, "Mardi Gras Mambo," in 1954, 23 years before the Nevilles came together as a group ... The recording is still widely played on radio and in jukeboxes during the annual Mardi Gras observance in the brothers' hometown.

Saxophonist Charles is the second oldest, a regular at the famed Dew Drop Inn on Dryades Street, launching pad for Fats Domino and other New Orleans artists ... Aaron arrived next, growing up as a fan of the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autrey and Roy Rogers. The latter two also were childhood idols of blues great B.B. King ... The late Sam Cooke was another major influence on Aaron.

It was while attempting to learn to yodel that Aaron developed the golden falsetto style that has led to numerous Grammy Awards, with the group, as a soloist and for duets with Linda Ronstadt and Trisha Yearwood.

Cyril is the youngest, the historian ... He describes the Neville's music: "It's African, American, Irish and English, as well. It's military, because there was a lot of military stuff happening here with parades, and the military drum cadence got mixed with African cadences. The result is this thing of ours that the record industry can't seem to put a label on."

Art describes the Nevilles as a "family and a tribe," that included their mother's brother, Uncle Landry, who for years was the Big Chief Jolly in a Mardi Gras Indian group called the Wild Tchoupitoulas ... It was Landry who brought the brothers together as a group in 1977, telling them that it was their mother's wish.

The Neville Brothers' first album in 1978 was titled "Wild Tchoupitoulas," after the uncle's Mardi Gras group and a street where the family lived ... Today, many award-winning albums later, the Neville Brothers are an institution, an authentic part of musical Americana ... Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, takes place on Feb. 27 this year.

Weekend wrap-up

The Nevada Ballet Theatre's production of "Giselle" continues through Sunday in UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre; Andrea Marcovicci performs at 2 p.m. Sunday in UNLV's Ham Hall ... This is a weekend when one can catch both "Riverdance" (Aladdin) and "Lord of the Dance" (New York-New York) ... LV Little Theatre's "Second Time Around" concludes Sunday.

Treasure Island's "Mystere" will be performed for the 5 millionth person this evening; congrats, all concerned, on more than 3,300 performances and never a cancellation ... "Lord of the Dance" will give an extra performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, observing President's Day weekend.

Neil Sedaka in concert at the Orleans is our special recommendation, as always, this weekend ... Comedian Max Alexander is a huge plus for Tom Jones' current engagement in the MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre ... Larry Scarano performs his XXXtreme Comedy at the Riviera, late shows tonight and Saturday.

Please support Variety Club's 2001 Gold Heart Campaign ... Stop in Saturday at Border's Book and Records on North Rainbow Boulevard, noon-3 p.m., or contact Variety at 838-8466, become involved ... See you next Thursday.