Symphonic rock show to be Yellow Brick Road founder’s finale

It's too tempting to resist, so: Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road.

Except that Yellow Brick Road isn't going anywhere. But frontman/founder Brody Dolyniuk is, and that's why The Symphonic Rock Show on Saturday featuring Yellow Brick Road will be such a landmark event for Southern Nevada music fans.

The show, which begins at 8 p.m. at The Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway, will be Dolyniuk's last performance with the classic rock tribute band he founded 14 years ago. And, seeing as how Yellow Brick Road will be backed by a 30-piece orchestra for the occasion, Dolyniuk certainly will enjoy a stylish send-off.

Yellow Brick Road began in 1997 as an Elton John tribute band. Since then, it has become a popular fixture at area lounges and music venues, specializing in standards from the classic rock songbook and often presenting them, and itself, in atypical ways.

"Over the years, we've tried to challenge ourself and take on projects that were fairly ambitious," Dolyniuk says. "We've done full-scale production shows, and we've done large corporate events, and we've staged a night of all The Beatles and a night of all Rush and done some things that go above and beyond normal shows."

"But," Dolyniuk says, "this kind of takes the cake."

Dolyniuk has been putting the show together for about two months. It will see 30 musicians backing the five-piece Yellow Brick Road, symphonic arrangements of some classic rock classics and "some visual things and some production things," Dolyniuk says. "We've got some lasers coming in, we've got some minor pyrotechnics that are going to be going off, and we've got a 40-foot video screen of the band ... (and) a four-camera video feed."

Dolyniuk says he recruited the best local musicians he could find for the show's orchestra.

"Two key elements are the horn and the string section," he says. "Lon Bronson's horns are taking care of the brass section, and Lon Bronson himself is conducting the show. I couldn't think of a better person to have aboard with me as a friend and an excellent musician."

On the strings side, Dolyniuk turned to Nina DiGregorio, the Las Vegas electric rock violinist whose credits include work with The Killers, David Foster and Toni Braxton and who founded the rock string ensemble Bella Electric Strings.

"So they're kind of my two cornerstones of this," Dolyniuk says.

Fans who attend the show will see some classic rock tunes -- including some unexpected classic rock tunes -- given a symphonic transformation.

"There are some songs that are kind of symphonic in nature," Dolyniuk says. "Let's say, 'Kashmir' by Led Zeppelin. It's a very orchestrated piece on the record."

But, Dolyniuk continues, "there's also a song like Whitesnake's 'Still of the Night' where there really is very little orchestration, so I'm writing for wind and strings and brass.

"It's a neat concept, to take popular music and add an orchestra to it and present it in a way most people haven't heard it before."

Still, Dolyniuk remains cagey about the set list. "There are a couple (of songs) I don't even want to give away," he says. "I want people to be surprised."

Saturday's show wasn't intended to be Dolyniuk's last gig with Yellow Brick Road. But Dolyniuk says his decision to move on "just coincided with this, and I can't think of a better way to say goodbye to fans other than for it to be in front of a few thousand of them at once."

Why is he leaving? "I wanted to step off of this thing while it was still going strong," Dolyniuk says.

After 14 years with Yellow Brick Road, "I needed a change and I needed to challenge myself," he says. "I think that I've allowed myself to become a little comfortable, and I sort of stopped challenging myself. I think that's really what it's all about."

Stepping in for Dolyniuk as Yellow Brick Road's lead singer will be Kelly Christian, who has filled in for Dolyniuk often over the years. Fans, Dolyniuk says, "are already comfortable with him, so it was kind of a no-brainer.

"I'm just very happy Yellow Brick Road can continue on despite my decision to leave. We have a very loyal fan base that I'm hoping will still be there for the band."

"A lot of this sounds silly over a cover band, but I I'm really proud of it. It has meant so much to so many people over the years," Dolyniuk says. "It's been like a big family for me, getting to know people over the years.

"The band started off as nothing more than a jam band to do songs that me and the guys just enjoyed playing and it blossomed from there. We had no idea it was going to become a full-time situation and be as successful and last this long.

"I'm very proud of it. No regrets," Dolyniuk says. "And it allowed me to do so many other things in my life I couldn't have done before."

Dolyniuk says he's not exactly sure what's next. He has been touring with a Virginia-based Queen symphonic show for two years and will continue to do that. He also performs in a symphonic show by the same producers featuring the music of The Who.

Last year, Dolyniuk premiered "Brody's World," a one-man show in which he displays his talent for singing and musical impressions.

"I'm in the process of moving right now, and I have to let the dust settle before I say for sure what I'm going to do," he says. "I do have my 'Brody's World' show, and I'm still very hopeful something will come of that. I also hope this symphonic show will lead to more opportunities to do things like that."

He adds with a laugh: "I'm also going to put in an application at the Jiffy Lube at Windmill and Pecos in case nothing else turns out."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.