For many musicians, Las Vegas has become a desert. The town is full of top-notch performers who can't get a gig.
Many casinos are cutting back or doing away with live musicians, opting for DJs or tracks.
There's a bar or lounge on practically every corner, but it's cheaper to play canned music than to pay musicians, so musicians struggle to survive while pursuing their art.
There are notable exceptions and this column has, for several years, sought out the venues that feature live music. One of the most recent to embrace the tradition of old Las Vegas is Ollie's Tavern, 8075 S. Decatur Blvd.
Ollie's, founded by a group of golfing buddies, celebrates its first anniversary this month.
"We try to provide a family gathering spot for local patrons, who can enjoy the restaurant as well as the gaming side of the bar," bar manager David Kring said. "We're bringing a homey atmosphere to the neighborhood lounge."
It's a friendly locals hangout with large, comfortable booths, hardwood floors and paintings on the wall by local artist Michael Godard, whose whimsical pieces often reflect Las Vegas' heritage of lounges and gambling.
The cuisine is American, the music live -- at least from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
"The live music helps create a more intimate feeling," Kring, a Las Vegas native, said.
Ollie's began offering guests live music about six weeks ago. The intent is to have live music at future Ollie's locations. So far this is the only one, but ground is expected to be broken after the first of the year at the next site -- Stephanie Street and Paseo Verde Parkway in Henderson.
The new location will be a two-story building, with the upstairs featuring a banquet facility and a place for live music.
Entertainment director Heather Kefalas, who grew up in Las Vegas and has been part of the local music scene for almost 30 years, says the owners eventually hope to have as many as 10 Ollie's.
That should be music to the ears of musicians seeking an opportunity to perform.
Since bringing in live music, among the performers have been the duo Double Standard, featuring David Miller and Elizabeth Melendrez singing a variety of music -- from Patsy Cline to Pink, from standards to Motown and R&B.
Also, the duo Mickey Brown and Robert Brookins (keyboardist with Earth, Wind and Fire from 2001-03). John Kaye and the Overlords performed Halloween weekend.
The goal is to alternate bands every week. The same band may play there several times, but rarely have back-to-back engagements.
Gerald "Jerry" Kring, David's father, is one of the partners in the tavern. He owned several business (among them a fast-food restaurant and an apparel shop) but sold them to concentrate on Ollie's.
"Las Vegas may be saturated with bars but it's not saturated with the Old Vegas kind of bars," he said.
Which means offering live entertainment, among other things.
Gerald Kring has spent most of his life in Las Vegas. He remembers the days when lounge entertainment thrived.
"There is too much good entertainment here to let it go to waste," Kring said.
One of his reasons for getting into the bar business was to re-create that atmosphere he grew up with.
Chiropractor John "Doc" Moehrle is another partner in the tavern. He, too, has a passion for live music.
"I have always enjoyed it," Moehrle said. "I've been in town almost 40 years and I have heard a lot of great musicians here, the best musicians, the best entertainment in the world.
"It's amazing how much talent is in this town."
He laments the spread of canned music (even though he says in his younger days he had a lot of fun with disco).
"I would like to see live music brought back, especially on the local level," Moehrle said. "When I moved here in '66 there were a lot of great places to go and listen to local musicians, but there are very few places to go anymore, and I think it's unfortunate."
He says he remembers seeing some great acts in lounges around town -- Willie Nelson, the Righteous Brothers.
"You name it," he said. "They played the lounges -- B.B. King, Little Richard. What I saw in the lounges was unbelievable."
Those experiences left an indelible mark, which has influenced how Moehrle perceives Ollie's future.
"My objective is to incorporate music into this environment," he said. "A lot of operators of taverns in Vegas don't think it works, but I think it enhances the atmosphere if it's the right music."
Trombone jam
Steven David's nightclub, 545 E. Sahara Ave., will host a trombone jam session at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Some of the trombonists who will perform in UNLV's annual "76 Trombones plus 4" concert Sunday afternoon will gather at Steven David's after the show to spend a few hours jamming.
"They always like to get together after one of their concerts," David said.
Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at [email protected].
archive