Jerry Fink's lounge column appears on Fridays. Reach him at [email protected] at (702) 259-4058.
The blues start around 10 p.m. at 3355 Spring Mountain Road and continue into the early morning hours.
Seven nights a week fans pull into the parking lot at the Sand Dollar Lounge. Some are in limousines and wearing expensive suits and evening gowns. Others are on motorcycles wearing denim and leather.
Inside the dark, intimate nightclub, with its low ceiling and dominating, U-shaped bar, is a melting pot of Las Vegas culture.
Doctors, lawyers, business people, store clerks, mechanics, writers, bikers -- it's a hodgepodge of humanity that mixes like oil and water outside the club's black-painted walls.
But inside, it's a perfect blend of those who enjoy the blues.
"It's the only place in town where there's music seven nights a week," said Doug Steigerwald, who, with his wife Donna, books the bands.
Steigerwald also is a guitarist and leader of the SpellCasters, who perform at the club on Fridays.
The group's other musicians are trombonist/vocalist Brian O'Shea, keyboardist Junior Brantley, guitarist Charlie Tuna, bassist Chris Koman, drummer Brett Barnes and saxophonist Sid the Kid.
Yvonne Wesley recently joined the band as lead singer. The native of Las Vegas spent the last six years performing at clubs on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
"With Yvonnne, we're developing a contemporary blues form, combining elements of rock, R&B and and hip-hop into a more contemproary style," Steigerwald said.
The SpellCasters are carrying on the rich tradition that began at the Sand Dollar almost 15 years ago by John Earl Williams, of John Earl and the Boogey Man Band fame.
Williams and his wife, Shirley, managed the club for almost 13 years before they split ways with the venue after a disagreement with owner Brad Huffman.
"John Earl built the club up," Steigerwald said. "But you have to give the owner credit for his commitment to music. He underwrites the bands on slower nights -- the band on Tuesday doesn't even pay for itself."
Four or five bands perform regularly at the Sand Dollar, others rotate. Each Monday is an all-star jam.
With a cover charge that ranges between $3 and $5, none of the musicians are going to get rich -- but they don't play the blues for wealth, they play because of some burning need.
"We do some rock 'n' roll, but blues is the core of what we do," Steigerwald said. "A funny thing is, a lot of people, when they hear we are a blues band, say they don't like the old stuff -- but they haven't heard us."
The blues at the Sand Dollar has a beat that puts fans on the dance floor.
"There is a lot of improv, like jazz," Steigerwald said. "But it's a simpler music than jazz, with a dance beat. Those who like musicianship like our blues, and they want to dance. Blues is the basis of rock 'n' roll and R&B."
The 48-year-old native of New York has been a musician most of his life, having taken a few breaks for personal reasons.
"I got involved in a shady contract with some people in New York who said I would have to pay them even though I was not in a particular band anymore," Steigerwald said. "So I joined the Air Force (in 1975) to get away from all that. After six years I got out and went back to New York, but there was a recession in 1981."
He said things were so bad he re-enlisted and spent another 18 years in the Air Force.
"For 12 years I completely stopped playing," Steigerwald said. "I didn't even take the guitar out of its case."
He was stationed in England for several years, where his first wife, Susan, received a master's degree at the Shakespearean Institute at Stratford.
"We got married when we were 21," Steigerwald said. "She was a brilliant person."
In 1994 Steigerwald was transferred to Nellis. His wife entered graduate school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and he started playing music again -- at the Sand Dollar's Monday night jam session and other venues.
He was living a good life. Everyone was happy. He was going to retire in 1999. His wife was going to finish her studies.
"Everything seemed so perfect. But somebody was telling me, 'You make plans and God laughs,' " Steigerwald said.
On the day he retired, his wife died of a rare blood disease.
"She was sick for two weeks and then she was gone," he said.
He said he was a zombie for several months after his wife's sudden death, and then he emersed himself in his music.
"I decided this is what I wanted to do."
He had been a member of the SpellCasters for several months and eventually took it over after the original leader left.
Steigerwald remarried eight months ago and, finally, he is beginning to play the blues instead of living them.
The SpellCasters, meanwhile, are spreading their wings, performing at other venues in addition to the Sand Dollar.
"We're hoping to play the lounge at the Palms," Steigerwald said. "But they are concerned about the demographics. A lot of 20- and 30-year-olds are not used to hearing bands like ours."
Then they haven't been to the Sand Dollar.
Lounging around
The Steven Lee Group, featuring saxophonist Rocco Barbato, performs from 5:30 p.m to 9 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Fontana Lounge at Bellagio. The group, which combines traditional and contemporary jazz with some blues and rock, formerly was anchored at Bellagio's Allegro Lounge.
Outstanding jazz vocalist/pianist April Spain performs Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at Fellini's, 5555 W. Charleston Blvd.
San Fernando Band arrived in Las Vegas from Manila 14 months ago, hoping to expand its horizons. The events of 9-11 slowed them down a bit, but they've been picking up steam the past few months and recently landed a long-term deal with the Barbary Coast, where they will appear Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 9:15 p.m until 2:30 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. The group is on a rotating schedule with other bands. For specific days call 737-7111.
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