Peace of History: Sixtiesmania promotes Flower Power at Castaways

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003 | 8:19 a.m.

Sixtiesmania is rocking the 220-seat lounge at Castaways.

The nostalgia group has captured the hearts of fans who lived through the era of Flower Power, Give Peace a Chance and Don't Trust Anyone Over 30.

Sixtiesmania debuted at the Boulder Highway casino on Dec. 17, settling in for a monthlong gig that has been extended three times.

"Now we're looking at them being here at least until the end of March, and maybe beyond," said Mitch Graham, who wears many hats at Castaways, including that of entertainment director. "There's no end in sight."

Business was slow when the five-piece show band opened at the Windjammer Lounge and began performing twice a night, five nights a week but it didn't take long for word to spread about the multitalented entertainers.

Now almost every performance is standing room only. The demand is so great that Graham says Castaways has begun shuttling fans who live in Summerlin to the show.

"We're bringing in 50 to 60 guests a night by shuttle," said Graham, who calls the group "the hottest '60s show band in Las Vegas right now."

What is this phenomenon that has seemed to arrive out of nowhere to cause such excitement?

While Sixtiesmania performs songs that were hugely popular in America when youths seemed to rule the nation, the group originated in Australia in 1990 and has toured the world ever since, primarily Asia and Canada.

While the group is billed as performing two shows, it's more like one show divided into two parts, each lasting almost 90 minutes. The second show is a continuation of the first, so that by the end the entire decade of the '60s has been covered.

There are so many classic rock 'n' roll songs of the '60s to choose from that each show is slightly different. One recent evening, before the curtain went up, the first half of the production began with classic theme songs from such television icons as "The Flintstones" and "Green Acres" playing in the background.

When the performers appeared, they were wearing flashy gold, green, blue and orange jackets and quickly launched a 10-year musical journey accentuated by occasional routines by the Curvettes, a four-member female dance troupe that did the Twist and other dances popular during the era.

Among the legendary artists whose songs were featured were The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Roy Orbison, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and Tom Jones.

Andrew Hill, bass player, vocalist and founder of Sixtiesmania, says the band doesn't do Motown "because other groups do it better" and they don't do Elvis, "because everyone is doing Elvis."

Hill is accompanied by Darren Farr (vocalist; guitarist), Los Angeles native Steve Geller (drums), Glenn McCallum (vocals and lead guitar) and Arkansas native Spencer James (guitar, bass, keyboard, vocals).

They perform dozens of songs and medleys of songs.

The Beatles probably receive more attention in the show than any other artist of the '60s because -- well, they are The Beatles and they deserve it because they were at the forefront of the British Invasion that changed the music of the world.

In the second show the band emerges wearing Sgt. Pepper uniforms and continue a tribute to The Beatles that began earlier in the evening.

Also receiving their due salutes are the Doors, Byrds, Monkees, Loving Spoonful and Neil Diamond.

Hill says one of the reasons Sixtiesmania has been successful is that music from the '60s appeals to so many people, spanning generations.

"The kids love it, and their parents and grandparents love it," he said. "We did the Calgary Stampede (rodeo in Calgary, Canada) three years in a row (from 1995-'97) and thousands of kids signed petitions wanting the show back. It's a winning situation."

Hill said the music makes listeners feel good and comfortable.

"They feel secure and forget their worries," he said.

Hill, 38, has been performing professionally for 20 years. Before creating Sixtiesmania he toured in a Beatles tribute show.

"I'm not a songwriter," he said. "I just like playing music."

Sixtiesmania began touring Canada in '93. During the past five years they have toured extensively throughout the United States, in addition to their international gigs.

"We've been everywhere outside of Vegas," Hill said.

Sixtiesmania first appeared at the Castaways in Las Vegas more than a year ago, for a two-week date.

"But two weeks doesn't do anything," he noted. "You're gone by the time word gets out."

The Windjammer Lounge is a miniature showroom, without a lot of fancy equipment to support a production.

"Basically, we're relying on the talent onstage," Hill said. "There are no bells and whistles, just sheer talent."

Apparently fans don't miss the high-tech stuff as they crowd into the lounge night after night.

Not surprisingly, Sixtiesmania has its eye on the Strip. If the reception they have received on Boulder Highway is any indication of their drawing power, the group might not have to look too long.