As you’ve probably noticed by now I spend a great deal of time in and around the tourist-y parts of Las Vegas for entertainment and fodder for this column but there’s one “locals” place that I hold near and dear to my diva heart: The Cannery in North Las Vegas.

Sure, it’s a valid assumption that the mega-resorts have first class venues, like The Joint at the Hard Rock and The Pearl at the Palms, but The Club at the Cannery in North Las Vegas is this amazing indoor/outdoor venue that holds about 1,000 people when the back wall is closed and it’s set up as a smaller club and 3,000 people when the back wall is open and the outdoor seating is set up. The Club also has state-of-the-art sound and lighting that rivals the look and feel of a high-end Strip showroom. I love it when it’s set up with the back wall open as there’s nothing like sitting in the back of the venue under a fabulous Vegas starry sky on a late summer’s evening.

I don’t know why I haven’t been up there yet this summer so when I got an email a few days ago from a friend of ours that his band, Room At The Top – A salute to the music of Tom Petty, was playing the club Friday night I just had to go. After all, the summer nights are so beautiful and we haven’t seen our friend Albert in a while. We jumped into the divamobile, put the top down and took the little drive north on the I15 to Craig Road (it’s not as far as you may think) to enjoy The Club.

Room At The Top is a Tom Petty tribute band based in Orange County CA that consists of Jamie Browning (vocalist/guitarist), Larry Bustamante (guitarist), Bruce Borden (bassist), Frank Cotenola (drummer) and our dear friend Albert Margolis (keyboardist). These guys have many years experience under their belts with major musical acts and it shows. Jamie Browning has enjoyed a music career spanning 40 years and has performed and recorded with such artists as Buffalo Springfield, Iron Butterfly, The Association, Neil Young and Bill Medley just to name a few. Bruce Borden began his music career in the mid 1960’s and has had the honor of opening for Linda Ronstadt, B.B. King, Cheech & Chong, and performed with some of the greatest musicians of all time like Chuck Berry, Al Wilson, Chuck Negron, The Coasters, The Drifters, and The Platters. Frank Cotenola brings forty years of recording and touring experience to the tribute band. His musical accomplishments include performances with Bill Medley, the Righteous Brothers, the Funky Kings, John Stuart, Jose Feliciano, Walter Trout, and the Missiles of October. Albert Margolis has toured with Leo Nocentelli of the Meters for the past ten years and has performed with such diverse veterans as James Brown, Joan Osborne, Jackson Browne, Average White Band, The Bellamy Brothers and Galactic.

This night the back wall was closed and The Club was set up as an intimate venue for approximately 500 or so people with small cocktail tables for four and it was nearly full with an enthusiastic crowd. I admit I’m not a huge Tom Petty fan but not because he isn’t an amazing songwriter…it’s more about the tone of his voice that I don’t find appealing. Room At The Top played those Petty songs with such love and enthusiasm that I couldn’t help but fall in love with those songs and the band. Kudos to the top notch Cannery team of Don at the sound board and Matt at the lighting board for making a 5-piece tribute look and sound as good, if not better than, the real deal. Of course it always helps to have a table reserved for you smack dab in the middle of the room…the sweet spot for any show’s sound and lighting. It’s not helping to keep my ego in check when I get to the door a little late, give my name and get “Oh, we’ve been expecting you” and getting escorted to our table. As we were leaving and saying our goodbyes to our friend Albert and thanking the Cannery staff for their hospitality my hubby mentioned to Don that he wished we were coming back the following night to see Edgar Winter to which Don replied, “call me and I’ll make that happen.” OK, this really isn’t helping keep my ego in check…

For Saturday night’s show with April Wine and Edgar Winter the back wall was open so we took advantage of the fabulous Vegas summer night by sitting in the bleacher seats (which, by the way, are really seats and not benches). We brought our bass player, Danny Buss, with us who used to be in a band that opened for April Wine back in the day and the three of us enjoyed their set but were completely blown away by Edgar Winter’s set. Words cannot describe how musically perfect this 4-piece group is, how amazingly talented each and every person in this band is and how they managed to become one musical entity. I intentionally left my camera at home as this night was supposed to be just for musical enjoyment but I did have my pocket camera with me so I shot a little clip of video of Edgar Winter doing his hits “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride” so you can see what I mean about this band and the venue.

My band, Rev Bill & The Soul Believers, has played The Club in the past and it’s a fantastic room with a fabulous staff of top-notch sound and lighting guys. I can tell you that seeing a show at The Club inside The Cannery is a safe bet, and one that won’t cost you an arm and a leg…sometimes even free.

Upcoming “can’t miss” shows include: On September 6th CSI: New York’s Gary Sinise and The Lieutenant Dan Band (Military Appreciation Show with a special surprise guest) at 8:00pm. Ticket prices range from $19.95 to $34.95 with a special four-person table for $99.95 and there’s a discount for active and retired military. I went to this last year and was completely blown away at how good Sinise and his band are and I’m telling you that even the most cynical of the military will leave will leave waving a flag and singing God Bless America. On September 12 The Pointer Sisters will get you “So Excited” that you will “Jump” up and do the “Neutron Dance” at 8PM (sorry, couldn’t help it). Tickets range from $14.95 to $34.95 and the special four-person tables are $79.95. Tickets for these shows are available on The Cannery’s website.

On September 26 my older sister’s teenage crush, Peter Noone (of Herman’s Hermits) will no doubt be performing “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” and “I’m Henry The VIII” along with one of my favorites The Turtles (Happy Together, Elenore, It Ain’t Me Babe). The show starts at 8PM and tickets range from $14.95 to $34.95 and the special four-person tables are $79.95. We saw this show the last time they played The Club and had a fabulous time.

If you’re a Beatles fan you won’t want to miss The FAB performing “Rubber Soul” in it’s entirety starting at 8PM on September 25 and the admission is a mere $10 at the door.

Short on dough but would love to check out the club? No problem! Upcoming free shows include: Strange Brew (classic rock cover band) on September 11 and a KJUL listener Appreciation party with The Association and Gary Lewis & The Playboys on September 19.

If you’re looking for something to do Saturday night August 29 my band, Rev Bill & The Soul Believers, will be playing at the Las Vegas Country Saloon on Fremont St. I think I’ve mentioned this before but I’m mentioning it again because I want to see as many of you on the dance floor as possible. The bargain price of $5 at the door includes a drink and here’s a hint: The El Cortez is only one block away and offers free parking for “customers” (so put a buck or two in a machine on your way through). It’s a little hard to find the door if you’ve never been there before but the Saloon is directly above Mickie Finnz and the door to the escalator is in between that bar/restaurant and Hennessey’s at the east end of the Fremont St Experience and go to the left at the top of the escalator. Be sure to yell out “Photo Diva” so I know you’re there. I’ll be the one on stage with the cowbell. Either that or on one of the numerous stripper poles. Trust me, you won’t miss me.