With apologies to Muddy Waters, MontBleu’s got its Deep Fryed Mojo working Tuesday after Tuesday night’s Sarah McLachlan concert.
The casino will have after-party shows for each of the 13 summer concerts at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys.
South Shore’s Deep Fryed Mojo takes the stage at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 24 in the Zone/Race Book, located atop the stairs at the Highway 50 entrance of MontBleu.
“The Zone/Race book was a late-night dead area of the casino until it was decided in 2010 to add two 10-by-10 screens to the race book side and start having UFC viewing parties,” said Director of Entertainment Dave Davis. “That concept was so successful that a party pit was added with Go Go dancers every weekend.”
Singer-guitarist Doug Schwartz formed Deep Fryed Mojo in 2007.
“We do everything from outlaw country to the Dead and the Doors,” Schwartz said.
The band, which recently had a long run at the Flight Deck, often plays at the Beacon and Steamers. It has a Truckee show this summer at Bar of America, and on the Fourth of July will be at Heavenly Village.
Deep Fryed Mojo is comprised of players who play in various bands across town: drummer Danny Barnes, bassist Gregg Noonberg, pedal steel guitarist Raybob Bowman and keyboardist Mitch Brown.
A Seattle native who has lived 10 years at Tahoe, Brown explained why plays keys.
“That’s what we had in the house,” he said. “I listened to AM radio and melodies would get stuck in my head. The only way to get them out was to learn to play them.”
Noonberg, who is inspired by John Entwistle, was enthused about performing last weekend at an Optimist event at Tahoe Paradise Park.
“It’s fun playing with your friends,” he said. “Sometimes it’s work, but sometimes it’s just butter.”
Bowman, who also plays with the bands Bison and Cash Only, was guided musically by his Kentucky roots.
“I was gonna be a rocker but the only jobs I got was country,” he said. “When I heard a steel guitar, I want crazy for it.”
Bowman has built more than 80 replicas of 1960s-era Fender amps. His shop is upstairs at Elephant’s Music.
Schwartz, Noonberg and Jonathan Seal play in a trio called Whiskey Mojo.
Mojo apparently goes a long way in this gaming community.
The Zone
Music starts after the Harvey’s outdoor concertsJune 24– Deep Fried Mojo
July 18 — Island of Black & White
July 20 — Sil Shoda
Jul 26 — Denver J Band
Jul 30 — Deep Fried Mojo
Aug 2 — DJ Keenan and the incredible Go Go’s
Aug 3 — Jakes Garage
Aug 8 — Jakes Garage
Aug 14– Weapon
Aug 16– Cash Only
Aug 24 — Sil Shoda
Aug 29 — DIVA KINGS
Aug 30 — DIVA KINGS
