Vegas Unfiltered Blog, by Sam Novak - Thursday, May 6, 2021
LOVINGLY-RENDERED SALUTE BRINGS THE SIBLING DUO TO LIFE…
I have no shame in admitting my passion for music of the seventies. The legendary rock groups, family bands and solo artists will be remembered long after today’s contemporary noise has disappeared. And very few artists represent the heart of that era better than Karen and Richard Carpenter.
Much like the Osmonds, the Carpenters wrapped us in their warm embrace. Known for their gentle nature. loving rapport, Karen’s flawless voice, and Richard’s instrumental wizardry, the clean-cut siblings felt very much like family. Karen’s untimely death in 1983 still hurts, but her songs remain a part of our lives, especially during the holiday season. With her life cut prematurely short, fans never got the privilege of an expanded songbook or a Strip residency (Donny and Marie played at Flamingo for a full decade). Thankfully, the timeless music of The Carpenters is coming to Las Vegas in a new residency at Town Square. CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT will debut at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country on May 11th. Slated to perform every Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, the new residency is an authentic recreation of the duo’s 1976 U.K. tour. Starring Sally Olson as “Karen” and Ned Mills as “Richard”, the comedy-spiced production promises spot-on performances of all the hits you know and love. Vegas fans have enjoyed CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT for a number of years. The show has performed throughout the city, most recently at Chianti’s Restaurant and the ever-popular Italian American Club on East Sahara Avenue. During the pandemic, the production offered live streaming performances to keep fans entertained during quarantine. Sally Olson is the only artist to have performed as Karen Carpenter for the long-running LEGENDS IN CONCERT. The Rutland, Vermont native studied at Middlebury College and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and is an avid painter. In addition to being the central performer, Ms. Olson serves as Artistic Director for CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT. Pianist Ned Mills studied jazz composition and arranging at North Texas State University. He’s served as musical director for a number of entertainment heavyweights like Joan Rivers, the Ink Spots, and The Shirelles. Mr. Mills is also the founder and president of SONORE, a music-based company here in Las Vegas.
The announcement of Olson and Mills’ upcoming residency took place on May 5th at a benefit for The Composers Showcase Entertainment Relief Fund. The event was held at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, the location for their six-week st. CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT joins the sexy new Apero (which I covered here) in an ever-growing list of live entertainment to be featured at Town Square.
Tickets for CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT start at only $15 (plus taxes/fees) and are available here. Stoney’s Rocking Country is located at 6611 S Las Vegas Blvd # 160 at Town Square.
Photo by Edward Foster