Honky Tonk Diva

Bobby Kingston at Las Vegas Country Saloon
Bobby Kingston at Las Vegas Country Saloon

OK, I have a confession: I am a huge music fan but when it comes to country music…not so much. Now what passes for country music these days really falls more along the lines of either pop or rock but that debate I’ll save for another time. The more traditional style of country music (with lyrics ranging from the gun rack breaking off the back window of your pickup to Grandma just got out of prison and is now sleeping on your sofa in your trailer) is the kind that I usually find…well…annoying. Add a twang or a yodel to the mix and I’m usually running for the door.

The Bobby Kingston Band is what you’d call a traditional country band consisting of Bobby Kingston (on Vocals and Acoustic/Electric Rhythm Guitars), Jerry Williams (Vocals, Acoustic/Electric Lead Guitars), Dave Sifrit (Vocals, Electric Bass) and filling in on drums for Jim Lovgren is Brett Barnes, the drummer from Bobby’s other band, Rocky Tonk. We shared the bill with them this past Saturday night at the Las Vegas Country Saloon so I stuck around to watch his show.

Originally from Canada (and now a United States citizen), singer/yodeler/rhythm guitarist/drummer Bobby Kingston is a Las Vegas resident and has been performing his own brand of country music at just about every type of venue imaginable over the past 14 years. Now, the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree as Bobby’s father is Canadian country music performer and renowned yodeler, Jack Kingston, who had two singles go gold, was the first Canadian country artist signed to Capital Records and is currently up for induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Dueling country guitars
Dueling country guitars

Bobby Kingston, with a reported four plus octave vocal range, was selected as the Western Music Association’s Yodeler of the Year for 2006 and 2007 and has performed gigs like the Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko NV, the Western Music Association’s annual festival in Albuquerque, NM and various venues in Nashville, TN, including the famous Tootsies Orchid Lounge and Roberts on lower Broadway. He operates a professional-grade recording studio in the Valley and has self produced all of his own music including his CDs “Since I Lost You,” “Lounging Around,” “Different Kind Of Cowboy,” “Rocky Tonk,” and “Down The Road.”

This guy’s the real deal in a traditional country music kind of way and the band was a real treat to listen to if you like the more traditional side of country music and I stuck around and actually enjoyed it–yodeling and all. If you missed the show never fear! The Bobby Kingston Band will be playing again at the Las Vegas Country Saloon at the East end of Fremont Street Experience above Hennessey’s and Mickie Finnz on September 26, October 3, 10, 24 and a big Halloween bash on Oct 31. Trick or treat, y’all.

Comments

One response on “Honky Tonk Diva

  1. I HAVE KNOWN BOBBY NOW FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN VEGAS, HE IS A GENUINE SOUL WHO CAN SING AND PLAY ON HIS HEAD IF HE HAD TO, NOT ONLY IS HE A GREAT MUSICIAN, BUT A GREAT HUMANITARIAN. WHEN YOU ASK SOMETHING OR NEED SOMETHING HE IS ALWAYS THERE.
    I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK BOBBY FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR MY SON AND DAUGHTER LETTING THEM GET UP WITH HIS BAND WHENEVER HE CAN, HIS BAND MEMBERS
    THANK YOU ALSO: WE WILL SEE YOU IN PAHRUMP:;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    ROBERT NELSON

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