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Gaming NewsRobert Earl Keen to play Nevada casino16 September 2011SPARKS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Country singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen, one of the nation’s finest musical storytellers, plays John Ascuaga's Nugget on October 8. Keen’s success has been guided by self-imposed rules and traditions that tend to go against music industry standards. His formula has worked well for him since he began performing in 1981. He paints musical portraits that are as vivid as sunsets over the great Southwest and tells stories that are as compelling as novels. His songs are infused with such deep insight and humor that a new meaning and perspective is revealed with each listen. That’s why artists including George Strait, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett and the Dixie Chicks have chosen to record his songs over the years. Keen abandoned his tried-and-true formula for his latest release, Ready for Confetti. As a result, he has produced one of the finest albums of his career. Almost everything about Ready for Confetti is different for Keen, from some of the songs’ shorter lengths to the songs’ topics and attitudes and his method of songwriting. “I always said that I never write on the road because it’s too sterile and I’m too tired,” says Keen. “Last year I just decided that we were going to throw that rule away and write on the road.” Writing whenever and wherever the mood struck allowed him to explore ideas as they developed while performing 180 shows a year. “I’m an OK singer and an OK player and I’m an OK melody guy when it comes to making up a song,” he says. “But I feel like my gift is my lyrics.” Words have been a constant in Keen’s life since the days before elementary school, when he started writing songs, and during college, when he studied English at Texas A&M and added music to his writing. After graduation he moved to Austin, where he worked as a newspaper reporter by day and musical performer at night Keen’s band has been with him nearly two decades and performed on every album since 1997’s Picnic. “I believe my players are as good as any players that there are,” he says “This is not just me. It’s a product of a band of almost 20 years and great friendship. If anything is going on here, it’s true love of music.” Robert Earl Keen plays one night only in the Celebrity Showroom at John Ascuaga’s Nugget on Saturday, October 8. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 and are available by calling (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300 or by visiting janugget.com. Dinner and show packages are also available. |