The Band Heats Up Las Vegas
By Donna Stanley and Patti Mroczek
HLN Today Reporters
Las Vegas, Nevada April 20-23, 2000 - The mild temperatures of the Southern Desert, ranging from 75 - 85 degrees this week, made ideal conditions for exploring all the unique settings Las Vegas has to offer. But things heated up considerably in the evenings when Huey Lewis and the News took the stage in the Circus Maximus Showroom at Caesar's Palace. From the opening bars of (She's) Some Kind of Wonderful to the final notes of Workin' For a Livin', Huey and the guys had the audiences rockin' in their seats.
Thursday evening's song list included the newer songs My Other Woman's Got Another Man, Plan B (showcasing the individual talents of Rob Sudduth, Ron Stallings and Marvin McFadden as the "horn section" of the News) and (pre- encore) closing song Not Here for a Long Time, Here for a Good Time. Friday and Saturday evenings Huey moved the show into a more nostalgic direction, after announcing this was the last time the News would play on that stage. He cited the fact that the Circus Maximus would be closing its doors in September to be torn down. The history of performers gracing the showroom stage in addition to the band includes Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., to name just a few of the major stars. The trip down memory lane for fans included (Sooner or Later) Some of My Lies Are True, Surely I Love You and Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do.
The acapella set, each evening, featured the crowd pleasing--or should we say women pleasing--Sixty Minute Man and A Little Bit of Soap, highlighted by Sean Hopper's bass vocal solo.
The band rocked the house playing most of their more well known songs, but really got the audience pumped up with Too Hip to Be Square. Huey slowed the pace at that point with a little blues launching into a fan favorite, He Don't Know, "to let the new kid, Stef, show off a little," to quote Huey. Stef Burns, touring as lead guitarist, demonstrated a real affinity for "the blues" with a show stopping guitar solo. The crowd showed their appreciation with applause in recognition of the talent he brings to the group.
The ever popular But Its Alright and I Want a New Drug had the audience begging for more. But as Huey led into We're Not Here for a Long Time but (surely to all his fans) Here for a Good Time the fans knew this good time was drawing to a close.
The band’s road crew humorously enhanced Thursday night’s encore song of Couple Days Off by coming onstage to join in on each of the choruses. Huey's comment to them after the song ended was, "Dream on guys! You still have three days ON!" Friday's encore included Heart of Rock and Roll, and for the "hardcore fans who've seen us more than five times" they played the seldom heard (anymore) Do You Believe In Love. This old favorite was remixed to update the song to the less commercial and newer sign of the band. Saturday's encore included (by request according to Huey) the also seldom heard Back in Time and to the thrill of many fans the Sunday encore featured The Boys are Back in Town. Each night Huey and Bill really took off on the harmonica/drum ("harp bit") lead-in to the final number Workin' for a Livin'.
Huey Lewis and the News demonstrated, once again, that there is nothing better than hearing music played by a great "live" band who are the heart of rock and roll!
