You can take him out of the roadhouse, but you can’t take the roadhouse out of Taylor Hicks.
Taylor Hicks returns to the roadhouse this weekend for “Shindig on the Sand” celebrating Gulf Coast musicians at the Flora-Bama, Perdido Key, Alabama.
The Flora-Bama is a music landmark on the Gulf Coast renowned as The Last Great American Roadhouse. In his autobiography, Heart Full of Soul, Taylor Hicks calls the Flora-bama “fabulous” and describes it as what Alabamans call a “real good time.” And it’s gotten shout outs from his Vegas show.
He knows it pretty well. It became somewhat of a regular stop for him traveling the South as a young musician on the ‘miles-from-Vegas’ chitlin’ circuit.
“Let me tell you, there is nothing remotely glitzy about life on the chitlin’ circuit…” Yet, Taylor says, “…you’ll find some of the most discerning and enthusiastic audiences there nonetheless.”
And although they were struggling times, they served him well.
“The lessons I learned in those sweaty roadside clubs—often for close to no money and too many times in front of almost no people—are the same exact lessons that helped me capitalize on the biggest break imaginable when it came my way. Playing the chitlin’ circuit any chance we got …we learned the simple rule that I still live by to this very day: either you entertain people or you go home.
“I remain proud to have cut my teeth as a performer at some of those less than glamorous southern joints long referred to as the chitlin’ circuit….I’m talking about the same sort of down home fantastically greasy southern clubs and roadhouses where great artists like my hero Ray Charles and the Ike and Tina Turner Review and countless other R&B greats played once upon a time.”
It was a long and winding road from the chitlin’ circuit to the club circuit: winning American Idol, touring, starring on Broadway, and now, headlining in a “glitzy little” club on the Strip at Paris Las Vegas.
“…but you can’t take the roadhouse out of Taylor Hicks.” .
And it served his well when he became the first American Idol to land a residency in Las Vegas.
“The kind of rootsy rock that is Hicks’ bread and butter is simply too rare on the Strip. You’ve got plenty of Rat Pack pastiches, big-ticket headliners and impersonators galore, but few entertainers who approximate what it’s like to be traveling through a backwoods town and stumble across a smoky roadhouse with a hot band. That’s Hicks.” –Las Vegas Magazine
With its 'rootsy rock' and 'searing soul,' #TaylorHicksinVegas has been named one of the "hottest shows in Las Vegas!"
There may be little resemblance in the Flora-Bama and the Parisian flavored Napoleon's Lounge in Paris Las Vegas, but they both breathe with good music from an artist who has kept it real wherever he goes.
~~~
While more than miles may separate Paris Las Vegas and the Gulf Coast landmark, it should be noted that the Flora-Bama has global stature as the 17th BEST roadhouse in the WORLD!
Ceasar’s Entertainment might want to check it out!
~~~
The chitlin’ circuit can be proud of its alumni. Check out one this weekend headlining at Flora-Bama’s “Shindig on the Sand”
Tickets and more information: http://store.florabama.com/fun-stuff/shindig-on-the-sand-a-salute-to-gulf-coast-musicians-weekend-pass.html
See how roadhouse plays in Vegas when Taylor returns to Napoleon’s Lounge at Paris Las Vegas on June 17 at 8:00 p.m. where he headlines through November, 2013. Check calendar for show dates.
Tickets: http://www.parislasvegas.com/shows/taylor-hicks.html
And catch Taylor Hicks this summer at:
July 3-7 ~ Harrah’s Reno, NV – Sammy’s Showroom
Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/189318/1092763/
August 29-September 1 ~ Harrah’s Laughlin, NV
Tickets: http://www.harrahslaughlin.com/shows/taylor-hicks.html
For all Taylor Hicks news, events, and appearances, visit www.taylorhicks.com
Follow on Twitter @TaylorHicks
~~~
Photo Credit: Dave Morton, via al.com; Taylor Hicks on stage in Las Vegas.
Blog Quote Sources:
“More Than a Matter of Pride” Las Vegas Magazine
http://lasvegasmagazine.com/2013/04/12/more-than-a-matter-of-pride/
Heart Full of Soul, by Taylor Hicks with David Wild. Random House. 2007.
Posts
