Globe-trotting Sixtiesmania returns

Friday, Dec. 2, 2005 | 7:57 a.m.

What: Sixtiesmania When:8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. through Sunday Where:Sahara's Casbar Lounge Rating (out of five stars) ****

Fans of Sixtiesmania, and there are many, will be happy to know that the Australian group that performs tribute songs from the '60s is back at the Sahara after being away almost a year.

Since leaving the Casbar Lounge, they have been performing in other parts of the world, including a six-month gig in Hong Kong.

Their return engagement premiered Tuesday -- but if you want to attend a performance, you'll have to move quickly. They close Sunday.

Hopefully, more dates can be arranged.

The first night's performance was a little rough, but that isn't a reflection on the talent of the group, which includes guitarist/vocalist Andrew Hill; lead guitarist/vocalist Glenn McCallum; rhythm guitarist/vocalist Jimmy Campanaro and drummer Steve Geller.

Also, female vocalists Miki and Heidi, who both go by just their first names, rotate performances.

The roughness came from such a large group having to adjust to cramped quarters, whose space is shared with another band that comes on after them.

There is also a timing issue.

Sixtiesmania could put on a three-hour concert without breaking a sweat. In larger venues they have multiple costume changes and their repertoire of '60s songs is more expansive.

But in the lounge they must compress their concert into two one-hour performances, forcing them to squeeze everything, from the number of songs to the number of costume changes.

While the group pays tribute to a lot of different groups and individuals from the '60s (from the Doors to the Byrds to Linda Ronstadt), this week they are focusing a little more than usual on the Beatles, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the death of John Lennon.

Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building on Dec. 8, 1980.

The Sahara is to be applauded for providing quality free entertainment at its lounge.

"Free" is becoming an obscene word in Las Vegas' brave new corporate world, which is determined to wring every dime it can out of tourists who once thought a vacation in the entertainment capital was a bargain.

In the not too distant past, who would have dreamed of paying $300 to attend a concert?

Taking a page from Las Vegas history, Sahara entertainment director Ron Garrett has lined up a talented roster of performers for the venerable Casbar.

Old-timers remember when lounges featured some of the top entertainers in the business, including Louie Prima and Keeley Smith (who debuted at the Casbar in 1954), Don Rickles, Harry James and countless other legends.

And fans heard them for free.

Those performing for free at the Casbar this month (besides Sixtiesmania) include the Checkmates, vocalists Denise Clemente and Bertie Higgins and comedian Kathleen Dunbar's "Divas of Comedy."

Also performing: Elvis impersonator Pete Willcox; magician Dixie Dooley; Freddie Eckstine, son of the late, great Billy Eckstine; and "Honky Tonk Angels," late of the Gold Coast.

If you are looking for a place to relive the old Las Vegas experience, check out the Casbar.

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at jerry@lasvegassun.com.