‘Caveman’ leaving, Brown returning to Nugget

By Jerry Fink

Friday, Sept. 19, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Impressionist Gordie Brown left the Golden Nugget in 2006 to perform on the Strip at the Venetian and V Theatre at Planet Hollywood.

While he was away, “Defending the Caveman,” starring Kevin Burke, became the resident show at the downtown resort.

Last week Brown announced he is returning to the Nugget, and “Caveman” producer John Bentham proclaimed his one-man show was headed for the Strip.

“We’ve been working on a deal to move the show to the Strip for a while,” Bentham said. “Our surveys have shown that 50 percent of our business comes from the Strip. We think we should take the show to where the fans are.”

He declined to say where “Caveman” will end up.

“Caveman” is scheduled to end Jan. 18, at which point there will have been 724 performances during an almost two-year run. There’s a possibility “Caveman” will be extended, Bentham said, and he’s looking at “Caveman” productions in Laughlin and at Lake Tahoe.

Brown’s scheduled to return to the Nugget in early February, performing five nights a week with a four-piece band.

Meanwhile, Brown is the opening act for fellow Canadian Celine Dion during the North American portion of her “Taking Chances” world tour.

Up and down at Pogo’s

Pogo’s fans take note:

The jazz lovers who hang out on Friday nights welcome back keyboardist Dick Fazio, who suffered a stroke this summer. He is sitting in for a set or two, playing one-handed — as well as many two-handed pianists.

Football fans may be confused. The new owners have decided to fly different colors this season at the neighborhood bar at 2103 N. Decatur Blvd. It’s now a Buffalo Bills bar. Under the old management, it was an Oakland Raiders establishment.

The switch should make for an interesting Sunday morning when the Raiders line up across from the Bills on the TVs.

Outstanding performance

Vocalist Mark Giovi and special guests Margaret Menzies and Nino Rossano performed brilliantly for a full house at DeStefano’s Italian restaurant Sunday night.

Management had to turn folks away for the first in a series of dinner theater productions planned for the 100-seat restaurant.

You wouldn’t have felt cheated if you paid $60 to see this show on the Strip. At DeStefano’s, it was only $30 for the show and a meal, a bargain in these hard economic times.

Salvatore Rainone’s musical “Come Back to Brooklyn” will be the next offering, on Oct. 19, at DeStefano’s. For information call 436-3275.

Out and about

Bill Fayne, musical director for Clint Holmes and founder of the Las Vegas Tenors, unveils a new show, “La Voce: Vegas,” featuring four pop-opera vocalists. (8:30 p.m. Sunday; Bootlegger, 7700 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; free; reservations at 736-4939) ... George “Harmonica Red” Heard seems amazed he’s getting international airplay. “It’s incredible to me that a little ol’ harphead like myself could get so much attention without greasing the wheels of the Machine.” He brings the New Heard back to Station Casinos’ blues series. (8 p.m. Thursday; Ovation lounge, Green Valley Ranch; free; 617-7777) ... Keyboardist/vocalist Joe Darro has a weekly gig at Frediani’s. (7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays; 2895 Green Valley Parkway ... Darro also plays with Larry Wild Wrice and the Gents of Swing. (1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sundays; Black Label Bar and Restaurant, 3550 S. Decatur Blvd.)

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum’s 16th Annual Dinosaur Ball honors MGM Mirage, the Luxor, Luxor President Felix Rappaport, and Assemblywomen Barbara Buckley and Marilyn Kirkpatrick, both D-Las Vegas. They helped ensure that items from the King Tut exhibit at the Luxor will go on permanent display at the 17-year-old Las Vegas Natural History Museum. (6 p.m. Oct. 4; the Luxor; $250; 384-2008) ... Broadway star Linda Eder returns to the Suncoast. (7:30 p.m. Oct. 10-12; $29.95; 636-7075) ... Keith Barry, who combines illusion with hypnotism, is coming to Planet Hollywood. (Oct. 28 to Nov. 27; $55; 474-4000)