Tribute acts offer next best things

In terms of "The Next Best Thing," Ronnie Keel's money is on Trent Carlini.

"I think he has the best shot to win it," Keel says of Carlini, the star of the Sahara's Elvis salute, who was seen last week on the ABC "American Idol"-like competition devoted entirely to celebrity impersonators.

But when it comes to spending money on live shows, Keel hopes to compete with Carlini for a share of tribute-act dollars. He co-produces and co-stars in "Country Superstars Tribute," which opens today at Fitzgeralds.

Keel performs as Ronnie Dunn with Eric York as Kix Brooks; the two spent more than a year in "Country Music USA" at the Riverside in Laughlin. The new show pulls together people Keel has worked with in the past: Cathy "C.C." Carter as Shania Twain and Faith Hill, Dave Hoover as Tim McGraw and Tim Tracy as Toby Keith. All of them will perform with a live band in the 7 p.m. show that launches with five shows per week.

"Downtown is a great home for country music in Las Vegas," Keel says, noting the number of concerts on the two outdoor stages of the Fremont Street Experience. And he's not discouraged by the failure of two country nudie revues, "Bareback" and "Buckwild."

"Trying to mix in burlesque didn't work for me. Country music is a family-oriented art form," he says. Country has its time-honored drinkin' and cheatin' songs, but also "a patriotic and spiritual element as well."

Keel was busy working the NASCAR weekend in March when "Next Best Thing" had its Las Vegas auditions. The local competition was to air Wednesday. The program was unseen at this writing, but word is that Sharon Owens and Sebastian Anzaldo of the Riviera's "Barbra and Frank -- The Concert That Never Was" got some TV time.

Carlini, who stars in "The Musical History of the King," jetted to Orlando, Fla., to impress the judges in last week's episode. There was no plug for his Las Vegas show, but his a cappella rendition of "Unchained Medley" was the week's lead-off performance. ...

Two local hypnotists will be relaunched July 1 in a new format at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, which attempts to fuse the entertainment value of ticketed shows with the atmosphere of a nightclub. "Dirty: Rock Hard Comedy Hypnosis" features hypnotists Michael Johns and Terry Stokes, who performed "Hypnosis Gone Wild" at the Stardust and Krave, and have lately been at the Empire Ballroom under the title "Hypnosis Unleashed."

Go-go girls and a live band will spruce up the first nightly ticketed show at the House of Blues, which will be co-produced by Bill Voelkner -- who oversees magician Mac King at Harrah's Las Vegas and comedian Vinnie Favorito at O'Sheas -- and former Caesars Palace publicist Michael Coldwell.

Noting the proliferation of nightclubs and club-themed outdoor pool areas, "We just felt there wasn't a great situation for people who don't want to go to a club," says Greg Encinas, the House of Blues' general manager. "They approached me about the hypnosis show and we started brainstorming. What would freshen this? What would make it unique? It just evolved."

"Dirty" will be staged six days a week at 11 p.m., after the ticketed concerts in the 1,800-seat music hall. House of Blues still will host the Latin salsa night "Mambo" on Saturdays, but other late-night events such as "Flashback" already have moved upstairs to the Courtyard area.

Instead of booting audiences the minute a concert has ended, "Dirty" will try to hold concertgoers by offering them half-price tickets. And the live band will play into the night once the hypnosis part of the show has ended.

Voelkner also will present an afternoon show, "Keep It Funny: The Magic of Comedy," at 3 p.m. in the Courtyard starting July 14. Magician Tim Gabrielson has filled in for King during vacations, Voelkner says, and King's percentage of the new venture should offset any potential threat to his capacity crowds at Harrah's. ...

More than 200 performers converge at Bally's this weekend for the 21st "Ribbon of Life" shows to raise money for the Golden Rainbow organization to assist AIDS patients and fund awareness programs.

This year's "red carpet" theme includes John O'Hurley of "Monty Python's Spamalot" and offers 20 production numbers covering everything from "Sunset Boulevard" to "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas." The cast of "Jubilee!" -- performing on its home court -- will stage the finale salute to "Dreamgirls." Broadway musicals as recent as "Spring Awakening" will be represented.

"It's a surprisingly eclectic show this year," says Chris Coaley, who co-directs with Chris Nelson. "Each choreographer and show (cast) bring something new every year that makes the show twist and turn."

Tickets range from $50 to $250 for the 1 p.m. performances Saturday and Sunday. Call 384-2899 for details.

Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays. Contact him at 383-0288 or e-mail him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com.