Working the Crowd
Impressionist Gordie Brown breaks a sweat with fast-paced show
SHOW LISTINGS
This week's schedule for singers & impressionists
America's Neil Diamond Tribute
Jay White is a convincing '80s-era Neil Diamond, albeit sometimes a little too casual and jokey. Devout fans should be satisfied with a show that has no production value or narrative arc to lure the less enthusiastic. (Riviera)
Barbra and Frank - The Concert That Never Was Sharon Owens and Sebastian Anzaldo actually pull off the wacky premise of teaming a '90s-era Barbra Streisand with the snap-brimmed, skinny-tied Frank Sinatra of the '50s. There's a sense of care and detail to a show that attempts to rise above the staging limitations of an enclosed lounge and mixes recorded tracks with live piano. (Riviera)
Gordie Brown His impressions are so-so. The comedy is hit and miss. But it's safe to say everyone who walks out of Brown's show leaves entertained and pretty damn impressed. (Planet Hollywood)
Fab Four Mania
An established Beatles tribute band cloned itself for a sit-down run in Las Vegas. The live band offers three segments saluting the 1964 mop tops, the "Sgt. Pepper" era and a "Let It Be" finale. (Sahara)
Danny Gans
The singing impressionist is back in stride at The Mirage, returning with the energy of his early days in Las Vegas and a tighter act. (Mirage)
Elton John
If you can get past those major qualifiers, the larger truth is as big as the giant screen: "The Red Piano" perfectly captures the contrast between John's diva-glam persona and the grit underscoring his music, reinterpreting classic songs while celebrating a career that's still moving forward. (Caesars Palace)
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow's Las Vegas career goes back to 1976, and his exclusive residency at the Las Vegas Hilton feels, for better or worse, like a show from a veteran Las Vegas entertainer that could have been there a long time already. The king of '70s pop balladry plays to his fan base and doesn't do much to broaden his appeal beyond loyalists. But his voice has aged well and his showman's instincts are in sync with the legends he salutes in an original tune, "Here's to Las Vegas." (Las Vegas Hilton)
The Platters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters and Beary Hobbs' Drifters
Gunter and Hobbs are dead, so authenticity isn't exactly the issue in this package of oldies vocal groups. Yet all three acts offer seasoned performers who will pass the scrutiny of all but the serious musicologist. Ultimately, it's all about a nonstop parade of hits, delivered with showmanship and authority. (Sahara)
