A superstar’s last roll: Bryan salutes dice dealers in Vegas sendoff
Gratuities are not just monetary. Not in Luke Bryan’s casino experience, at least.
The country superstar closed his show at Resorts World Theatre by shining the spotlight on the resorts’s swing-shift dice crew.
“We’ve had some bad nights,” Bryan said during his freewheeling finale, “but last night was a good night.”
The dice-throwing headliner then brought up those who made his ride in Vegas memorable, and occasionally profitable: Floor Supervisor Beth Kavka; dealers Ralph Ciancio, Vivian Shih, Kremena Valkova and Brian Lee; and Casino Manager Patricia Carton.
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This bunch had been dealing to the country superstar and his band throughout the two-year residency. Those sessions characteristically strayed long after Bryan’s performances.
The crowd whooped it up when the group ambled to the stage and posed for a victory photo. Carton said the staff was thrilled to join Bryan, who was a high roller and casino favorite throughout his two-year run.
“Our team was hoping to express their admiration for what a wonderful man Luke is, as is his entire team,” Carton said. “We need more people like him in this world. Luke, his crew, and his fans will greatly be missed at Resorts World.”
An avid golfer, Bryan often drove it off the fairway in his show-closing performance. From the piano and joined by the great keyboardist Scotty Wilbanks, Byran unfurled a number off -the-set-list classics. He mixed in segments from Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” the Lionel Richie/Commodores classic“Sail On,” Tim McGraw’s “Indian Outlaw,” and Elvis’ “The Wonder of You.”
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“I’ve never played this song before,” Bryan said as he jumped into a few moments of, “We Are The World.” He uncorked a Ronnie Milsap medley. He sampled George Strait, too, remembering buying tickets (for $10 and $15) to see these artists even though they hadn’t played all of their No. 1 hits.
Bryan paid tribute anyway, singing Milsap’s “No Getting Over Me” and Strait’s “You Look So Good.”
The midshow acoustic medley brought to mind wide-ranging shows at lounges or honky-tonks, where requests are written on a cocktail napkin and dropped on the piano. Usually with a tip.
Bryan told me last month his favorite moments of the Resorts World shows were when he took it down at the piano or acoustic guitar. This extended jam might have been a test of a longer format. I couldn’t help but recall Garth Brooks’ soaring one-man show at Encore Theater, the model for loosely scripted superstar performances.
Bryan told me last month he wants to return, for fewer dates and a different style of production. Performing without all the pyro, flashing stage platforms and LED screens might seem a roll of the dice. But Bryan would be fine with that. He knows the game.
Laughlin steps it up
The Edge Pavilion at Edgewater Casino Resort in Laughlin is turning heads (this one, anyway) with a wide-range of name headliners this year. Country star Jason Aldean plays the 2,000-capacity venue Sept. 21, a show that marks his return to the exended Las Vegas market and also closes Edge’s upcoming summer season.
Edge is thumping its summer schedule, with comedy vet Jeff Foxworthy (June 15), country artist Tracy Lawrence (June 27) and ’70s hit-makers Little River Band (Aug. 24) in the mix. The Clairvoyants are next up next headline at Edge on Saturday night (full schedule is at Edgewater-Casino.com).
For the uninitiated, Laughlin is about a 90-minute drive from Las Vegas. It’s a pretty righteous getaway, good value, sits alongside the Colorado River. The town is hypnotic. Something about that place makes me want to hit the tables.
Not ruling this out …
Bruno Mars performing at the opening of his new cocktail lounge and jazz club, The Pinky Ring at Bellagio. Opening “early 2024.” It would be a very Bruno way to kick this off.
Tease this …
The Red Rocker Sammy Hagar has definitive, intoxicating plans for the Palms this year. Please keep checking. I know I am.
May We Recommend …
Clint Holmes’ return to Myron’s at the Smith Center, 7 p.m. Friday. “Behind The Songs” is the theme, for the tales behind the music being played. The fabulous multi-instrumentalist Christian Tamburr accompanies Holmes on this one.
I saw these two headline at Dizzy’s at Lincoln Center in August 2019, along with Smith Center President Myron Martin (the Myron of Myron’s) on a great night in NYC. Tamburr also led the “Soundcheck” band with Holmes and Earl Turner in 2018 at the Westgate. And! Keyboard great Bill Zappia is special guest. This is a show to catch; hit TheSmithCenter.com to make it so.
Cool Hang Alert
Column fave Skye Dee Miles is premiering her “Carmen’s Love Brunch” from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday at The Composers Room at Commercial Center. Gospel music. Gospel food. Maybe some gospel grooving. Skye is all of that; the “E” stands for “extra everything.” Go thecomposersroom.com for intel.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
