SLS hosts Rockie Brown, Yellow Brick Road at The Sayers Club

SLS Las Vegas has had a lot of fun with its non-specific SLS title since opening in August 2013. Customized SLS acronyms have ranged from Style Luxury Service to Silly Little Surprises.

Today, Save the Lounge Scene applies.

The hotel is sharpening its focus on locally generated entertainment at The Sayers Club. Two acts, long favorites of this column and around VegasVille, are debuting in the room this week: Yellow Brick Road, for 20 years a popular classic-rock band, is beginning a two-month run at the hotel at 9 p.m. Thursday night. YBR is booked each Thursday through Oct. 26, with a $10 cover charge ($5 for those with a Club 52 players card).

Friday night, Rockie Brown performs at the release party for her new album, “Rockie Brown Vol. 1,” which does imply there are to be future volumes. The album/CD/download is Brown’s collaboration with Vegas producer and musician Jason Tanzer. Doors are at 9 p.m., the show is at 10:10 p.m. (to disclose, I am emceeing this shindig, so feel free to rush the stage).

Those performing before Brown hits the stage at The Sayers Club include a cappella act Sound Collage, Vegas burlesque performer LouLou D’Vil, stunt artist The Baron of the Universe, and singer and multi-instrumentalist Sherry St. Germain.

At the Foundry, SLS is quenching the thirst for jazz in Las Vegas jazz scene — at least for top national acts. Smooth jazz sax master Dave Koz, with special guest Larry Graham Jr. of Sly & The Family Stone, headlined the hotel’s primary entertainment venue on Aug. 17-18. Sax greats Candy Dulfur, Peter White and Kirk Whalum have headlined the room. The “West Coast Jam” featuring sax man Richard Elliot, trumpet player Rick Braun and guitarist Norman Brown sold out the venue in July. R&B and jazz pianist Brian Culbertson rocked the venue on Aug. 26.

Upcoming at the Foundry: Jonathan Butler (Sept. 16), Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers (Sept. 23) and Boney James (Nov. 18).

Those headliners run counter to the Dana Carvey-Jon Lovitz “Reunited” comedy showcase, which runs for six more performances by the end of November. Lovitz and Carvey were signed before the hotel was purchased by Reno-based Grand Sierra Resort operator Alex Meruelo and Meruelo Group.

Recent executive shifts have led to SLS’s recent emphasis on jazz and locals acts. The hotel’s new entertainment director, Candace Davis-Martin, late of Aliante, is well-educated about the Las Vegas entertainment scene.

“We’re spreading our wings and are very excited about the opportunities out there,” Davis-Martin says. “We want to diversify our programming, and at this point jazz gives us a different identity at the Foundry. There is a big jazz audience out there, much larger than one would think, that we can capture as a Strip property. It’s not just tourists from California, either, but people who live in Las Vegas are coming to SLS for these shows.”

The Foundry, is a flexible venue, seated for around 600 up to 1,500 for standing-room-only. And at The Sayers Club, a 170-seat room with a refined speakeasy vibe complete with couches in the VIP areas, SLS has a unique gem of a lounge.

“It’s one of the best venues out there,” Davis-Martin says. “We’re starting to animate the room. Let’s face it, many of the great venues are now gone, and we have some acts we want to tackle at SLS. It’s a locals-friendly property, and there is some great local talent out there that doesn’t have a chance to play because there aren’t enough rooms.”

Recently, the Lounge at the Palms was shut down, where such top acts as Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns, Frankie Moreno, Franky Perez and David Perrico’s Pop Strings had headlined over the years. Locals are still bemoaning the closing of Ovation at Green Valley Ranch, home of such top draws as the Lon Bronson Band and — yes — Yellow Brick Road.

“We’re looking to make more moves, too. We’re just getting started,” says Martin-Davis, sounding much like a musician who is just tuning up.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.