The mood is serious at Revolver when I arrive for ladies night. Nelly Furtado’s “Say It Right” has the country line-dancing crowd intently swishing and slowly shuffling. It’s overtly sexual, nontraditional music for this form of dance, and from the ladies’ smiles, that seems to be the taboo appeal. Furtado quickly gives way to ’80s standard “Your Love” by The Outfield, before resident DJ Sinner builds back up to the exuberant country-bar staple “Cotton Eye Joe,” which detaches even the staunchest non-dancer from the bars, sucking them into the mass gliding counterclockwise over the smooth wooden dance floor that is the center of Santa Fe Station’s new country-crossover nightclub.

Hands down, Vegas’ hottest armadillo-shaped disco ball.
“It’s time to get sleazy!” Sinner calls to the room, an apparent cue to those who like their dancing linear; it’s time for a Sleazy Slide. Next up, “Cupid Shuffle” has the same instant pandemonium-inducing effect as “Cotton Eye Joe.” Despite Revolver’s status as a Saloon & Dance Hall, the crowd could have been downloaded from the party photos of any major club on the Strip, save for the addition of a few Stetsons. Emulating other famous country-crossover clubs—Denver’s Stampede comes to mind—Revolver blends mechanical- bull-riding, line-dancing, two-stepping and country music with Top 40 and hip-hop to an effect that pleases all.

Somewhere between Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” and the Peas’ “Imma Be,” I slip silently off my barstool and scribble my name on a waiver that says that if mechanical-bull operator Sean accidently sends me through the tin roof, I won’t sue. It’s only my second time on a bull, but “Hold on like hell” was not a difficult lesson to learn. Sean goes easy on me … at first, then turns that little dial, inching me closer to airborne. I can sense his increasing frustration as I successfully push and pull to steady my place on the saddle. But fatigue finally overtakes me. I loosen my grip on the as-yet-unnamed bull’s harness and fly off, landing softly, legs akimbo and laughing like a loon.

Nightlife Editor Xania Woodman takes her career to new highs and, shortly thereafter, new lows.
“Hey, Delilah,” I inquire of Revolver’s beloved 6-foot long armadillo-shaped disco ball, “Why is country so hot right now?” It’s not often that I get to interview an inanimate object, but then Revolver’s disco armadillo “Delilah” is pretty accommodating. (Either that or I hit my head.)

Without missing a beat, she answers: “I think it’s because more people can relate to new country. It’s no longer just the old honky-tonk music. It has transformed into songs about relationships, cheating, poker, rock ’n’ roll and relaxing beachside. You have top country artists topping the pop charts—Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum and Keith Urban. I hear them on Top 40 country stations all the time here in Vegas.”

Hey there, Delilah! Interview with an armadillo

From the archiveshttp://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2010/mar/17/hey-there-delilah/
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2010/mar/17/hey-there-delilah/
An exclusive first look at Revolver Saloon & Dance Hall (2/3/10)

Revolver Saloon & Dance HallRevolver isn’t alone in its aim. Town Square’s Cadillac Ranch readily blends country with pop, rock and hip-hop sensibilities, as does Stoney’s Rockin’ Country (named for the second consecutive year among Nightclub & Bar Magazine’s top 100 clubs in the nation). Stoney’s North 40 returns to the scene in early April at 5990 Centennial Circle. Stratosphere’s Back Alley Bar is already bringing country-rock band WolfCreek Thursday through Monday at 10 p.m. Gilley’s Barbecue, Dancehall & Saloon opens the second week of April in its new location at Treasure Island. Jonathan Fine’s PBR Rock Bar arrives at the Miracle Mile Shops in April for a short preview during the Professional Bull Riders’ festivities. And even more country-crossover venues are rumored to follow.

Another round of drinks arrives, delivered by cocktail servers in black leather chaps. Is Vegas ready for a country-crossover club, Delilah? “For sure!” she retorts from her place of honor, the lights playing off her mirrored belly. “Vegas has always been the cutting-edge city when it comes to nightlife and entertainment … so it’s just natural that Vegas does the same in the country world.”

Delilah and Revolver are on to something: If Vegas hasn’t already “gone country,” it’s just about to! And I might just go with it.

By Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Sun
Never has a Kia Sorento gotten such great mileage — and never has Las Vegas enjoyed such a free ride.

South Korea’s second-largest car manufacturer made its Super Bowl advertising debut in the third quarter of Sunday’s game with a collection of life-size toys joy riding through the National Football League’s ban against showing casinos, much to the delight of Las Vegans who have long ridiculed the ad policy — and much to the NFL’s chagrin.

Most of the key players are in no-comment mode, but here’s what happened: Kia contracted with El Segundo, Calif.-based ad agency David&Goliath for a 60-second TV spot showcasing the 2011 crossover SUV. The ad, titled “Joyride,” featured a sock monkey; Muno, from the children’s cable television show “Yo Gabba Gabba!”; Mr. X from the blabla dolls collection; and a robot and a teddy bear invented for the ad.

The road trip included bowling on an alley with exploding pins, Jet Skiing, riding a mechanical bull, a trip to a tattoo parlor, a dip in a hot tub — and a visit to the Strip.

The Las Vegas portion featured about 10 seconds of Strip images, including the characters posing in front of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, motoring past Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s and New York-New York and pulling up to Monte Carlo’s porte-cochere.

The bits with the resorts are what bug the NFL because they violate its policy on showing gambling-industry imagery in ads during its games. For years, the NFL banned Las Vegas ads outright, but relaxed the policy for this year’s postseason, allowing ads as long as they didn’t show hotels, casinos, slot machines or any gaming.

MGM Mirage spokesman Gordon Absher said his company had no product-placement agreement with Kia. Although Kia had to get permission to tape at the Monte Carlo’s entrance, Absher said there was no backdoor plan to get a resort in a Super Bowl ad.

Kia reportedly negotiated with CBS, the network that aired the Super Bowl, to run the ad for an estimated $5 million.

But that’s where the story gets a little fuzzy. Although David&Goliath delivered the spot well in advance of the game, NFL officials said they didn’t see it.

“CBS sells the ads that appear in the game. We did not see this ad before it aired,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy wrote in response to the Sun’s e-mail. “The shots of the casinos did violate our policy, and we have since addressed the matter with CBS.” Asked in a follow-up e-mail how the matter was resolved, McCarthy replied, “We already addressed it privately with CBS. End of story.”

A CBS spokeswoman said the network wouldn’t comment on the matter. David&Goliath referred calls to Kia, whose marketing department didn’t return phone calls.

But Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, chairman of the convention authority’s board, had plenty to say.

“I’m watching the ballgame and I said, ‘My goodness, I thought that the convention authority wasn’t going to place an ad this year,’ ” Goodman said Tuesday. “I see ‘Welcome to Las Vegas,’ I see all the hotels, I see the glitz and glamour of the Strip and I see it’s not a (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority) ad. It’s Kia. So I was happier than a pig in mud.

“I personally thought the ad was better than some of the ads we put out. I think it was a great statement about Las Vegas with the cool little monsters running around on the Strip. And all that makes us great was there for the world to see.”

He said legal wagering on games has helped make the NFL what it is today and that other leagues have determined that partnering with Las Vegas — the National Basketball Association with its All-Star Game and postseason events for the National Hockey League and NASCAR — have made them more successful.

The ad was ranked the fourth most popular of the Super Bowl broadcast in a national survey conducted by SpotBowl.com, trailing two produced by Anheuser-Busch and one for Snickers.

That’s right. So bring your friends to join you!
Free line dancing lessons from 8-9pm Friday followed by the rocking country music of the Voodoo Cowboys as they heat up your night.
In addition there will be free mechanical bull rides, pole dancing, great food, drink specials and fun that will go late into the night.
Fri Sat Country

Cowboys for The Salvation Army Charity Event will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7 at The Las Vegas Country Saloon located at 425 Fremont Street on the Fremont Street Experience at Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada.

All proceeds will benefit the Salvation Army. It will be a night of country music, dancing, mechanical bull riding and raffles to benefit the Las Vegas Chapter of the Salvation Army.

Entertainment will kick the night off at 7 p.m., with The Bobby Kingston Band (http://www.myspace.com/bobbykingstonband ) and the local favorite The Voodoo Cowboys (http://www.voodoocowboys.com ) will close out the night from 10:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

Admission is free. However, checks for donations can be made payable directly to The Salvation Army and dropped into the familiar Salvation Army Red Kettle.
The money raised will be spent on programs to benefit Las Vegas residences in need. The Salvation Army depends upon Las Vegas locals in order to reach out to those in our community who are in need. Identified by author and management expert Peter Drucker as: “By far the most effective organization in the United States.” The Salvation Army invests charitable gifts it receives in the lives of men, women, and children who need a hand up.

Ongoing and annual Salvation Army Programs include, but are not limited to:
• Pack to School drive. The school supply drive runs from July 13 to Aug. 4 and will benefit more than 20,000 underprivileged students from 30 schools across the Valley.
• Adult Rehabilitation Center provides assistance to men and women, ages 21-64, suffering from drug and alcohol dependence. All treatment costs, medical needs, accommodations and meals are provided, as are GED and parenting classes. The residential program has a minimum required stay of 6 months to 1 year.
• The Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel Program is a holiday event, which provides presents bought by the community that are distributed to thousands of children.

About VIPette Events: VIPette Events is a dedicated booking agent for Las Vegas entertainers whose mission is to keep live music playing throughout Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. VIPette Events is a sponsor, promoter and benefactor of many local non-profit events.

For more information regarding this incredible event contact Cynthia Weber, VIPette Events at: (702) 556-388 or e-mail VIPette@cox.net or regarding the Salvation Army Las Vegas Chapter contact Charlie Desidero at: (702) 870-4430 or e-mail ChasDesi@cox.net.