TURN UP THE CELEBRATION
Mohegan Sun marks 20th anniversary with a long month of entertainment
Since Oct. 12, 1996, the Mohegan Sun Casino has produced thousands of shows, sporting events, festivals and productions in a variety of venues that date back to an inaugural concert (in a Bingo Hall!) by Al Jarreau. Eschewing the traditional “Vegas-y casino entertainment” logic that featured crooners, comics, magicians and show girls, the Sun has explored as wide an array of stylistic artists as populates the planet and helped change the entire industry template.
In observation of this commitment and their 20th anniversary, the Sun, courtesy of booking maestro Tom Cantone and his staff, has assembled an astonishing array of live acts — 46 shows by 57 artists — for the month of October. And while the overall celebration includes all manners of events, parties, celebrations, celebrity interaction and an Oct. 8 exhibition NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Charlotte Hornets, headline performaces in the casino’s two main rooms, the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena and the always-free theater-in-the round Wolf Den, are impressive and appeal to a wide variety of music and comedy fans. Below, then, are whimsical capsules of some of the shows that will take place in those venues during October.
Tim McGraw 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Mohegan Sun Arena, $59-$149
A true anniversary: McGraw wasn’t a random choice. He played the first-ever concert at the Sun Arena on Nov. 9, 2001.
A busy week: On Wednesday, McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill, will each receive stars on Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame.
Song you mighta heard at McGraw’s first Sun show that you probably won’t hear now: He opened with Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.”
Tonic, 8 p.m. Saturday, Wolf Den, free
Song to scream for: “Waltz with Me”
Bruno Mars, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7, Mohegan Sun Arena, $79-$600
Looking ahead: Cantone literally went to work to secure Mars for the 20th Anniversary celebration exactly 53 weeks ahead of the gig.
Right place, right time? Mars has been in the studio for almost a year and insiders suggest a single in advance of a new album could be released any day now. What better way to introduce the tune than at the Sun?
A popular celestial body: Bruno isn’t the only rocker who looked to the fourth planet for pseudonymous inspiration. Who can forget Mars Cowling (longtime Pat Travers bassist) or Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars? Or David Bowie’s Spiders from ...?
Everclear, 8 p.m. Oct. 7, Wolf Den, freeSong to scream for: “AM Radio”America, 8 p.m. Oct. 8, Wolf Den, free
The name is Dan Peek: No, the band hasn’t decided to finally give the poor horse – the one that’s been through the desert without a name – a name. Along with Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Buckley, Peek was the third member of the original trio. He left the band in 1977 and passed away a few years ago.
The Yardbirds, 7 p.m. Oct. 9, Wolf Den, free
Over, under, sideways and who? The only original ‘Bird still in the group is drummer Jim McCarty so, no, don’t expect Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton or Keith Relf to drop by – particularly since Relf was fatally electrocuted in 1976.
What does this have to do with the Yardbirds? Buy and listen to the self-titled album by Armageddon, which was Relf’s last band. It’s magnificent, intelligent hard rock.
Megadeth with Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church and Havok, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13, Mohegan Sun Arena, $35
Towel Boy Rick: In 2013, I did a phone interview with Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine, who was on holiday in Paris with his family. He was cheerful, but warned that his wife, who was in the spa, hated him doing phoners while they were on vacation. He laughed, “So, if she comes in suddenly, don’t be surprised if I say something like, ‘Yeah, could you bring up some fresh towels?’ and hang up on you.”
Necromancy: Born-again, Mustaine has long refused to play “The Conjuring,” a Megadeth tune he wrote about practicing black magic during his teens. The lyrics reportedly have a literal hex in them. Recently, he says he might put it back in the set list as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. But if your hot dog vanishes suddenly during the show ...
Comedy All-Star Gala hosted by Kevin Hart and starring Sarah Silverman, Dave Attell and Margaret Cho, 8 p.m. Oct. 14, Mohegan Sun Arena, $95-$110
Per capita mirth: All of these folks are pretty funny, but you can evaluate your Laugh Dollar by dividing punch lines by height. Hart is 5/4”, Cho is 5’5”, Silverman in 5’7” and Attell is 5’9”.
Little Anthony & the Imperials, 8 p.m. Oct. 14, Wolf Den, free
Song to scream for: “Tears on My Pillow”
Fergie, 8 p.m. Oct 15, Mohegan Sun Arena, $69-$89
You’re in luck: On Oct. 7, Fergie’s scheduled to release her new “Double Duchess” CD so this means fans will be getting an early taste of a new show with all the production and pyro you’d expect.
Perfumer? Perfumist? Perfumifier? In addition to her solo stardom and lead vocalist duties with hip-pop standard-bearers the Black Eyed Peas, did you know Fergie has also launched three different designer scents for Avon? Yes, her music frequently stinks, but ...
Conceptual: Yes, her varying, kooky (but reasonably thematic) onstage personae – obscured face, dramatically oversized sheepdog-hair explosions, giant bows, war paint makeup etc. etc. – are distinct. But does it all ultimately distract from her visionary pop or, as per Kiss, King Diamond and Ghost, enhance?
Speaking of concepts: Sia’s latest album, “This is Acting,” consists entirely of her arrangements of songs that were rejected by other artists.
Air Supply, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, Mohegan Sun Arena, $20
A bargain: Speaking of Simmons, did you know you can actually buy replicas of his Beast Boots, the knee-high, monster-tooth platform constructs that appear to have been made by a taxidermist working on Godzilla? Yep.
Song to scream for: “Freebird.”
Tedeschi Trucks Band, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 30, Mohegan Sun Arena, $35
Let no man cut asunder: In the long line of bands that have featured a husband/wife team, there’s something genuine when you watch guitarist/singer/spouses Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks onstage together. Maybe Air Supply will write a song about them.
Bottleneck: Other than Sonny Landreth, is there a better slide player in the world than Trucks? Methinks not.