Funk ’n’ rollers headed for Vegas, by way of the Mangy Moose

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Someday the four young New York City musicians will remember these as the good old days when they piled into their sedan in the dead of winter and headed across country promoting their latest album.

But now, the members of Turbine are talking with a reporter by cell phone as they drive through snow-covered Wyoming, looking for a passable route to Jackson Hole, where they have a gig at the Mangy Moose.

After the Mangy Moose they’ll bring their eclectic blend of funk ’n’ roll, blues and bluegrass to the Knotty Pine in Victor, Idaho, before dropping down to Las Vegas where they will perform at 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Thunderbird Lounge at the Aruba hotel.

The 50-city tour includes such colorful joints as Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz, Calif.; Sam Bond’s Garage in Eugene, Ore.; and El Bait Shop in Des Moines, Iowa.

While the nation’s economy is rocking, Turbine is rolling.

“Honestly, things are kind of better for us right now,” says Ryan Rightmire, the band’s vocalist, harmonica player and acoustic guitarist. “Gas is cheap. We can afford to drive across country. Last summer gas was over $4 a gallon. Now it’s a lot better.”

This is the group’s third tour. It’s just a matter of time before they upgrade from a sedan to a bus and their fortunes won’t depend on the price of a gallon of gas.

“This is the biggest tour we’ve ever undertaken,” Rightmire says. “Usually we’re centered around festivals in the summer — like the 10,000 Lakes Festival (in Minnesota). We’ve never undertaken anything on this level before. This is the next step for the band.”

The group writes its own music. When the tour ends in February they head back to New York and the studio.

The band also includes Jeremy Hilliard on electric guitar and vocals, Justin Kimmel on bass and vocals, and Eric Johnson on drums.

“We started out (in 2004) as a duo,” says Rightmire. “Me and Jeremy. After a couple of years we added the rhythm section and started writing songs together.”

This will be Turbine’s first Vegas gig, thanks to the sponsorship of the Las Vegas Jam Band Society.

“We’re ready for Vegas,” says Rightmire. “Is Vegas ready for us?”

Details: Doors open at 9 p.m. Wednesday; Thunderbird Lounge, the Aruba, 1215 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; $10; 383-3100

Extending ‘The Caveman’

After leaving the Golden Nugget in December, “Defending the Caveman” landed at the Excalibur for a limited run.

Instead of closing last week, the one-man show starring Kevin Burke has been extended to a year.

“We’ve been doing great business, despite the economy,” producer John Bentham says.

The Broadway comedy about the differences between the sexes played at the Golden Nugget for more than 18 months. The show’s producers began looking for a new venue when impressionist Gordie Brown, who was the showroom’s headliner before “Caveman,” decided he would return to his old home after two years at the Venetian and several months touring with Celine Dion.

Details: 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, dark Mondays; Excalibur; $34.95 (matinee), $39.95 (evening); 597-7600, defendingthecaveman.com.

Around town

Thanks to acoustic guitarist and producer Michael Soli, the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay is featuring more blues music than ever this year. His productions — all free, open to all ages and beginning at 9 p.m. — include Alternative Tuesdays, Nothing But the Blues Wednesdays and Acoustic Strip Thursdays. Also featured at the HOB are Blues Mondays and Purple Reign Sundays (featuring the Prince tribute band; must be 21; locals free, $10 nonlocals). The HOB restaurant features live music beginning at 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information visit hob.com/lasvegas ... Bonkerz, a national chain of comedy clubs, will open a branch at Palace Station on Thursday. The initial lineup includes Dean Napolitano with Kathleen Dunbar Thursday through Saturday and Jan. 22-24 and Big Tony Esposito with Aaron Bowden, Jan. 29-31.

(8 p.m. Thursdays, 8 and 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; $29.95, $10 discount for locals.; 547-5300 or go to www.stationcasinos.com) ...

After almost five years at Bally’s Tequila Bar, blues/jazz/rock musician Rick Chavez is headed down the hallway to Paris Las Vegas. (4 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays; Napoleon’s)