VegasChatter

Here’s a promotional video created by the Golden Nugget. It’s a lot safer in content than some of his racier gags:

Some jokes hit, some miss. Some are directed just to the hard-working band. Some are just for Gordie to make himself laugh. Don't like one gag, wait 20 seconds. They'll be another right along. Relentless. There's zero slacking on stage, even in a mid-week show. Gordie will remind you of that. Even point out the empty seats. This is brave, confident stuff. And, frequently very funny. We defy you to laugh out loud, as the kids say. (Lots of age jokes in this show. And, the audience certainly skews older.)

It's certainly one of the most self-deprecating shows we've ever seen. Gordie warns younger folks in the audience will need to Google certain impressions, like Neil Diamond. He does a running series of George Bush and Dick Cheney gags. And, mocks their expiration date.

It's frequently raunchy and often weird. Very non-PC. The loose and relaxed performance allows him to drop in strange quips. Think a Fremont Street vibe. Not fancy, a bit rough around the edges. At least three Brokeback Mountain jokes. A clever Michael Bublé bit. Johnny Mathis singing Led Zeppelin made us laugh. Nat King Cole dueting with Natalie, minus Natalie, is just good dumb fun. Yes, you'll get impressionist standbys of Jimmy Stewart and Jack Nicholson, but his repertoire runs to dozens of voices. The advertising proclaims him the "World's Greatest Impressionist." A bold claim. But, he certainly has huge range and skills.

The second floor showroom is quite nice. The fabulous shimmering sign out front is pure Vegas. As is Gordie's very funny Elvis finale. Tickets need to be picked up and bought on the ground floor which confuses a few people who make their way upstairs. We suspect there are a lot of comps and discount tickets fueling this venture. Which is fine. It certainly didn't dissipate the energy on the stage.

This may be one of the biggest surprises we've witnessed this year. Shows run Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and there are all sorts of offers connected to his show, including buffet combinations. Look out for discounts in the local free coupon books. But go in with no expectations and enjoy the show. We were surprised we did. Downtown show options are limited but if you don’t want to venture to the Strip and have an open mind, Gordie Brown will start off your evening’s Fremont Street experience just right.