 COMEDY…
PARODY… GORDIE!
It
seems Las Vegas is gearing up for the “Battle of Impressionists.”
And while we make it sound far more sensational than it actually
is, the reality is that in February, three shows will be opening,
up and down the Strip, and all have something to do with “impressions.”
For now, though, all focus seems to be on Gordie Brown, who’s
the first to open.
No
stranger to the Strip as a performer, Gordie was famously doing
shows at The Venetian, and then at The V Theater, and he’s
recently just finished touring with Celine Dion, serving as her
opening act on the North American leg of her “Taking Chances
World Tour.” On top of this, the man is an accomplished political
cartoonist, a trade he left for the neon lights of Las Vegas. He’s
also a musician, most notably he wrote and recorded the theme song
for the Emmy award-winning animated series, “Life with Louie.”
Also in the works is an upcoming album featuring songs he wrote
and performed. There’s also a compilation of his caricatures,
as well as a new video – Gordie Brown Live! But it all comes
back to the comedy, the live performance and the impressions.
The
Canadian (feel free to insert joke here) cites fellow countrymen
and entertainers, Rich Little and Paul Anka, as his heroes. He recounts
the story of the circuitous way he finally met Anka, during his
early Vegas days, stressing the importance of persevering; and wonders
at how things always work out in the end. Today, he marvels at the
fact that his dressing room at the Nugget is the very same one that’s
hosted both Anka and Little.
We
bring up the topic of fellow entertainer Danny Gans, and Brown is
quick to point out, “I saw his show and I think he’s
absolutely fantastic, but I just have my own style and Danny has
his, and I’ve seen that I’ve created something different.
Even though we’re using the same paint, we’ll be different.”
And this difference lies in the comedy. Long known for a comedy-style
that’s fast and furious, and coming from every direction,
Brown says, “I love being cheeky, love being a live performer.
It’s me on stage, with a microphone and away we go.”
This
isn’t a race of who can do the most voices in a minute, it’s
about “what I can do with this particular character,”
Brown says. “I’m not the type of guy who spends time
studying voices and characters. What’s most important to me
is the comedy side of it,” adding “I’m not fanatical
about their voices. I don’t do it on planes, I don’t
even like to do it on radio – it’s almost like stand-up
comedy meets these characters.”
Here’s
proof that he always works on full-speed – his show at the
Nugget opens on February 5, and he will be landing in Las Vegas
on the very same day, with only a couple of hours to go home, shower
and prepare for opening night. This is also proof that he has been
doing this for so long that he’s so “in the zone”
and has a very comfortable working relationship with the members
of his five-piece band, The Gordie Brown Band.
It
looks like he’s here to stay, for now anyway. He has a two-year
contract with the Golden Nugget, adding, “Vegas is key for
now. Live entertainment is what I’ve done in Canada and Las
Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world.”
We
don’t doubt that in the future, up-and-coming comedians and
impressionists will add him to their stable of characters and that’s
probably the biggest compliment you can give the man.
-Rachel
M. Sugay
Gordie
Brown – Live!, Gordie Brown Showroom, Golden Nugget,
downtown. Show opens February 5. Show times are 7:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday.
Tickets are $39.95 - $99.95. For audiences 16 years old and above.
Call 866-946-5336.
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