Las Vegas Mixtape v21: Late Night Dining Scene, Twang Heaven, and Dazzling Art

Track #2: Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives @International Theater, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino

Hippest band in the land? My vote goes to silver-haired Country Music Hall of Famer Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Decked out in sparkling customized cowboy suits, the quartet played with jaw-dropping musical dexterity at the International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

They’re a band that proudly resides at the anything-goes intersection of country, rockabilly, honky tonk, bluegrass, Western swing, and even surf music. Watching their show, I was transported to my teenage days when I would see the similarly wide-ranging Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. Might I add that the sound at the historic venue (where Elvis Presley reigned supreme from 1969-1976) was the best I’ve heard at any Vegas show?

An alumnus of Johnny Cash’s band, Stuart possesses a clear-as-a bell-voice. The band’s sturdy original songs, like “Whole Lotta Highway,” “Tempted,” and the Byrds-inspired “Time Don’t Wait,” stood out with stellar three-part harmonies.

Both Stuart and Kenny Vaughan took the audience all the way up to twang heaven with seamlessly woven guitar licks. Lifting the show’s energy level even higher were covers including “Six Days On The Road” (with a distinctive bluegrass arrangement, caressed by Stuart on mandolin), Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” and “El Paso” by Marty Robbins (for whom Stuart was named).

Look for Kool and the Gang to perform here on October 4 and 5 as part of their residency.