Sunday, April 9, 2006 | 7:35 a.m.
They expected to awaken at the doorstep of the Aladdin.
Instead, they awakened at the Flying J Travel Plaza on Cheyenne Avenue and Interstate 15.
What-the?
The travelers in question were a collection of nomadic musicians known as the Strangers, who back country music legend Merle Haggard. The crew launched their cross-country tour with Bob Dylan on Friday night with a gritty performance at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.
But before hitting Vegas, on Tuesday night Haggard and the Strangers performed in Mobile, Ala. Immediately after the concert, the band, which travels separately from Haggard (who has his own rig but usually rolls in tandem with the band) hopped on their customized bus and rumbled 1,800 miles to Vegas.
"There are nine of us on the bus and we've got our own bunks and TVs, our own AC outlets, and curtains for privacy," keyboardist Doug Colosio said during a phone interview Saturday as the band was again moving on to Sun City, Ariz. "We are very familiar with Flying Js."
Even more so after Thursday. Believing they would be delivered directly to the Aladdin after their long bus journey, members of the crew woke up about 7:30 a.m. to see the unmistakable Flying J sign outside their windows. A mixup in booking rooms at the hotel meant that Merle Haggard's band sat idling in the Flying J parking lot for about three hours.
"It was a lack of communication, and we'd driven all night, and we were sweaty, greasy and in a bad mood," Colosio said. "So our sound guy called the hotel and we ended up parking behind the Aladdin to wait for some rooms to be ready." Finally, at 2 p.m. (more than six hours after pulling into town) the Strangers were shown their rooms.
Not that this affected Haggard himself - he arrived around 2 p.m. when the crisis had been resolved.
"They were ready for Merle," Colosio said.
NoteMart
More from Merle: Haggard turned 69 on Thursday. When a fan shouted "Happy Birthday" during Friday's show, Haggard responded with a robust version of "Happy Birthday to You" to himself, sounding like a man grateful for every one ...
Wynn buys Venetian ... painting: A mystery telephone bidder purchased J.M.W. Turner's vision of Venice, "Guidecca, La Donna della Salute and San Giorgio" for $35.8 million during an auction Thursday conducted by Christie's in New York. The mystery didn't last long - the New York Times reported in Saturday's editions the buyer was Steve Wynn.
The Times' story said two people familiar with the transaction, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the buyer was Wynn. Wynn spokeswoman Denise Randazzo said Saturday she had not yet learned of the report and could not comment.
For the auction, the Turner masterpiece was put on public view for the first time in 30 years, according to the Christie's Web site. As the Times' story notes, the painting is one of three Venetian subjects the artist exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1841. The scene is of a cloudy day as boats glide through Giudecca Canal, with the Doge's Palace shown in the background. Turner lived from 1775 to 1851 ...
On Fier: Worth a listen for anyone interested in lively conversation is Dave Berns' interview at with "Hairspray" star Harvey Fierstein, on KNPR 88.9-FM's "State of Nevada," which was taped Friday and airs at 10 a.m. Monday. Fierstein's run in "Hairspray" ends on April 30 ...
More wine, art: The second "wineNart Sunday Festival," a combination wine tasting and art exhibit, is set for today from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas (kitty-corner from the Hard Rock Hotel on Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road). Local artists featured today displaying and selling their works are Marty Walsh, KD Matheson, Cybele, Jason Stein and Mark T. Zeilman. As usual, E&J Gallo Winery wines are available for tasting. There is no cover charge ...
Innerspace: Word is that the plans for the Aladdin to be converted to Planet Hollywood by the end of the year are still on target. The construction crews have uncovered several large spaces in the casino and convention areas that were simply walled off after funding dried up during the hotel's most recent renovation, which was finished in 2000 ...
A new wrinkle: In what I believe is a first in Vegas, the Bellagio nightclub Light is home to an event tonight featuring Dr. Jeffrey J. Roth, who is billed as "One of Las Vegas' Most Renowned Plastic Surgeons." Roth is hosting the party and will be stationed at a table to provide advice, give consultations, that sort of thing. Doors open at 10:30 ...
Toby or not Toby: Country music star and proud American Toby Keith stopped by his Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill on Friday afternoon/evening for a series of interviews with local media and to perform an acoustic set from is new CD, "White Trash With Money," which goes on sale this week.
A CD release party is set for the restaurant/bar beginning at 6 p.m. Monday (Keith is not scheduled to be in Vegas for that); at 8 p.m. the "CMT Awards" show will be broadcast. The new CD will be available for purchase from midnight to 2 a.m. at the gift store hooked to the club (where you can also pick up an official "Toby Keith American Soldier" dog tag for $5). Keith's whole Vegas operation is doing crazy business ...
Music to our ears: The "Evening of Elegance and Style" fundraiser for the Las Vegas Philharmonic on March 31 took in more than $175,000. During the program, LV Phil Music Director Hal Weller presented longtime LV Phil supporter and Saks Fifth Avenue executive Mari Landers with the symphony's Golden Baton award ...
Ruff ride: Reader, friend and Animal Foundation development specialist Kara Kidwell reports spotting an appropriate vanity plate a few weeks ago: DOGSLBR. The windows were covered in such, along with several nose prints.
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