"Hot August Night - Vegas" (Neil Diamond Tribute) @ the Cannery Casino - 8/10/12

Online, August 5, 2012 (Newswire.com) - For more than 45 years, Neil Diamond has unquestionably been one of the most popular and successful figures in pop/rock music. In the last few years alone, Diamond has received long overdue recognition and respect from peers and critics, some who forsook him when he seemingly shifted his attention away from his rock roots and directed it towards writing and recording more of the schmaltzy MOR tunes in the late 1970s/early 1980s - songs that most of his huge fan base possibly even loved him more for.

In the summer of 1971, Diamond elevated himself from pop superstar to rock demigod by playing seven sold-out nights at the famed Greek Theatre in Los Angeles to a rapturous reception. The following August, he returned for ten more sold-out shows. It was this engagement that spawned the iconic (double) multi-platinum album entitled Hot August Night, forever connecting Diamond to that particular venue and month.

This coming August 11th, the 71-year old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will return to the Greek Theater to perform the first of five nonconsecutive concerts to commemorate the 40th anniversary of "Hot August Night". Tickets for Diamond's Greek Theater concerts run anywhere from $50 to $250 - assuming you are still able to purchase them at face value. However, if one is not able to attend any of the Diamond concerts, one might consider the option of going to see his No 1 emulator, Rob Garrett. Garrett, whose physical and vocal resemblance to a "Jazz Singer" era Diamond is uncanny, has been a Las Vegas performer/resident for more than three decades. He has won awards ("Male Musical Tribute Act of the Year") and accolades from critics ("Best Tribute Artist in the business"), performing his tribute in the USA as well as around the world since 1995.

Garrett names Diamond as one of his three musical idols (along with Elvis and The Beatles) while growing up as a child in New York City. He has accumulated quite a following that attend and help sell out his shows with the same loyalty and fervor that the real Diamond has been accustomed to - on a smaller scale, of course.

On Friday, August 10th, Garrett, aka the "King of Diamonds," will perform his third consecutive Hot August Night - Vegas show in the 500+ seat Club at the Cannery Cannery Casino & Hotel, 2121 E Craig Road in North Las Vegas, in homage to Diamond's Greek Theater legacy. Tickets are very modestly priced at $10 - but good luck with that as Garrett's shows always sell out and people line up hours in advance just to wait in line to get tickets. Garrett performs his 90-minute show, beginning at 8 p.m., accompanied by his 8-piece Vegas band, which includes Keith Neal (electric/acoustic guitar), Daryl Slade (bass), Steve Gerard (piano/keyboards), John Grieco (keyboards), Tony Cobb (percussion/acoustic guitar), Jeff Borree (drums), with vocals by Christine Zellner and Elisia Tutt. Elisia just so happens to be the daughter of Diamond's longtime, renowned, drummer, Ron Tutt.

Footnote: Diamond actually finalizes his current tour with a Las Vegas concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 1st. Garrett will be in the audience watching his legendary alter ego for the 15th time.