GREEN VALLEY RANCH RESORT, SPA AND CASINO

Nashville Unplugged: The Story Behind the Song

Featuring Lee Miller and Travis Howard

Venue: Ovation

Genre: Country

Date:  Friday, March 12, 2010, at 8 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $5 cover, and includes first well or draft drink

Artist Info: Aptly called Nashville Unplugged, this show is based on the concept of getting to know what’s behind the song, similar to the famed Bluebird Café in Nashville. Each month features two songwriters who go through the process of what went into writing a particular song and then they perform it at the show.

March’s featured songwriters are Lee Miller and Travis Howard. Miller has written countless No.1 hits, including “The World” and ”I’m Still a Guy” performed by Brad Paisley and “I Just Wanna Be Mad” performed by Terri Clark. Miller’s work has also been recognized with Grammy-award nominations for writing the songs “The Impossible” performed by Joe Nichols, “In Color” performed by Jamey Johnson and “You’re Gonna Miss This” performed by Trace Adkins. Howard quickly gained fame after being cast on the first season of “Nashville Star.” It was there that he met cast mate Miranda Lambert –sparks flew between the two culminating in an incredible songwriting relationship. Since the show, the Howard has written 10 songs for Lambert, including “Bring Me Down,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” the smash hit “Famous in a Small Town” and the upcoming single “Heart Like Mine.” Howard has gained a career in acting, with roles in the movie “Elizabethtown” and the CBS show “Cold Case,” among others. 

Each month is hosted by singer/songwriters Brian McComas who wrote and sang “99.9% Sure (I’ve Never Been Here Before)” and Aaron Benward of Blue County who wrote and sang “Good Little Girls.” Another fun aspect of Nashville Unplugged is “Songs from a Hat” where guests that arrive between 7:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. can make up a title to a song and place the suggestion in a hat. The songwriters will pick one title from that hat and then pen a song throughout the course of the evening, to be performed at the end.

Must be 21 years or older

The Neal Schon Band

Venue: Ovation

Genre: Rock

Date:  Friday, March 19, 2010, at 8 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $24, $34 and $44 plus tax and applicable fees

Artist Info: Neal Schon’s career kicked off at the age 17 when he played guitar for the band Santana. He played alongside frontman Carlos Santana for two years and made three albums with the band. Schon is most famous for his subsequent career move when he started the band Journey as its lead guitarist. He is the only member of Journey to have played with the band throughout all 14 studio albums, performing on hits including “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Schon has since started performing as a solo artist to much success and has released five albums, including the 2001 Grammy Nominated album Voice and i on U in 2005.

This is an all ages show; those under 21 must be accompanied by an adult

Gentlemen of the Night

Featuring Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor and Michael Lington

Genre: Jazz

Venue: Access Showroom

Date: Friday, March 19, 2010, at 8 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $22, $32, and $42 plus tax and applicable fees

Artist Info: Gentlemen of the Night is a new live urban jazz tour that combines the music styles of the three accomplished saxophonists Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor and Michael Lington. 

Marion Meadows got his big break when he signed with RCA in the ’90s. With RCA, he released three studio albums: Keep it Right There (1993), Forbidden Fruit (1994) and Body Rhythm. In 1996, Meadows signed with Heads Up International and released Another Side of Midnight which critics have described to be his strongest work. Meadows’ latest album Secrets was released in 2009. Over the course of his career, Meadows has worked with music legends The Temptations, Brook Benton, Eartha Kitt, Phyliss Hyman and Michael Bolton.

A native of Denver, Paul Taylor graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and earned a degree in musical performance where he remained to pursue his career.  Taylor has had a very successful music career with the releases of his smooth jazz albums, such as Burnin’; Ladies’ Choice, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart; Steppin’ Out; and Nightlife which is his latest to hit the Top Five of Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart.

Michael Lington is contemporary saxophonist from Copenhagen, Denmark whose musical stylings focus on the pop side of jazz, with classical, Brazilian, Latin and gospel undertones. Lington’s 1997 debut album, Stay with Me landed him on the Radio & Records national jazz charts with “Show Me” and “Two of a Kind” at No. 2 and “Pacifica ” at No. 6. His album Everything Must Change had several Top Five hits as well, including “Still Thinking of You.” Lington released A Song for You in 2006, which features his jazz take on hits such as Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” and “You’ve Got a Friend,” and Sting’s “Fragile.” In September 2008, Lington released his latest funk-inspired album Heat.

This is an all ages show; those under 21 must be accompanied by an adult

Stephen Pearcy of Ratt

Genre: Hard Rock

Venue: Club Madrid

Date: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 8:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $20 plus tax and applicable fees

Artist Info: As the founder, lead singer and songwriter for the ’80s glam metal band Ratt, Stephen Pearcy knows rock. In these numerous positions, he led the band to multi-platinum success with hit albums such as 1984’s debut Out of the Cellar that reached Top 10 as well as included several Top 10 singles. Hit songs include “You’re In Love,” “Back for More” and “Shame, Shame, Shame” that showcased Pearcy’s high-pitched yet raspy voice that fans have grown to love. In 2002, Pearcy went the solo route, releasing albums Social Intercourse and Fueled. Five years later, he teamed back up with the members of Ratt for a 2007 tour, released his third solo album Under My Skin 2008 and is once again touring as a solo act. 

Must be 21 years or older

About Station Casinos

Station Casinos’ concerts are presented by Belvedere Vodka, where on concert nights guests can enjoy half off Belvedere cocktails that are available at any casino bar from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. Station Casinos’ concert and entertainment lounge venues include: The Railhead at Boulder Station, a 650-seat venue; Ovation, a 500-seat venue, Grand Events Center, a 2,000-seat venue, and The Backyard, a poolside venue accommodating up to 4,000 guests, at Green Valley Ranch; Club Tequila at Fiesta Rancho, a 380-seat venue; Bonkerz Comedy Club at Palace Station, a 250-seat venue; Rocks Lounge, a 350-seat venue, and Sandbar, a poolside venue accommodating up to 4,000 guests, at Red Rock Resort; Chrome Showroom at Santa Fe Station, a 550-seat venue; Club Madrid, a 500-seat venue, and Sunset Amphitheater, an outdoor venue accommodating up to 5,000 guests, at Sunset Station; Dallas Events Center, a 1,800-seat venue, and South Padre, a 300-seat venue, at Texas Station; and its latest addition, Access Showroom at Aliante Station, seating more than 600 guests. For up-to-the-minute news, connect with Station Casinos on Facebook or follow on Twitter.  

Tickets can be purchased at any Station Casinos Reward Center, The Fiestas and The Galleria Mall or by calling (702) 547-5300 or log onto www.stationcasinos.com.