BoDeans Offer “Closer to Free,” Other Hits at John Ascuaga’s Nugget

Sparks/Reno, Nev. – Armed with two-plus decades of material, including the catchy, “Closer to Free,” the BoDeans deliver a solid upper-Midwest blend of roots and rock. See the BoDeans one night only in the Celebrity Showroom at John Ascuaga's Nugget on July 23.
The BoDeans are a rock & roll band formed in Waukesha, WI, by singer/songwriters and guitarists Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neumann, who had played together since high school, along with a rhythm section of bassist Bob Griffin and drummer Guy Hoffman. The quartet signed to Slash Records (manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros.) and released its first album, the critically well-accepted Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams (the title comes from a line in the Rolling Stones song "Shattered") in 1986. Outside Looking In (1987), produced by Talking Heads and Wisconsin native Jerry Harrison, saw the band reduced to a trio with the departure of Hoffman. It broke into the Top 100 best-sellers, as the BoDeans toured with U2, appeared on Robbie Robertson's self-titled debut solo album, and were named Best New Band in Rolling Stone magazine. By the time of the release of the third album, Home (1989), Michael Ramos (keyboards) and Danny Gayol (drums) had joined. This lineup stayed intact for the release of Black and White (1991), but was drummerless again as of the release of Go Slow Down (1993). Following the release of the 1995 live double album Joe Dirt Car, the BoDeans returned in 1996 with Blend. Around the time of that release, "Closer to Free," a song taken from Go Slow Down, became a hit, thanks to its exposure as the theme song for the popular television show Party of Five. Eight years later, the band made its Zoe debut with Resolution. In 2005, the band released Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst on Back Porch Records. Griffin left the group in 2006 and was replaced by Eric Holden. Still arrived in 2008, with Sad Mr. Clown in 2010.
The BoDeans play one night only, Friday, July 23 at 8 p.m. in the Celebrity Showroom. Tickets are just $32, and are available by calling (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300 or by visiting janugget.com. Dinner and show packages are available. “Do the Nugget Tonight!”