Route 91 Harvest festival at MGM Resorts Village is country without borders

By John Katsilometes

Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014 | 6 p.m.

I believe it was Buck Owens who once said, “If it ain’t AC/DC, it ain’t music.”

Wait. That’s not right. That is me, kidding.

But those country artists who carry the tradition of such superstars as Owens are summoning some real rock ’n’ roll, among other non-country flavors, at the first Route 91 Harvest festival this weekend at MGM Resorts Village on the Strip.

The mood is set between sets as Las Vegas’ DJ Dee Jay Silver keeps up the ebullience as Dierks Bentley breaks down to clear the way for Miranda Lambert. To fill those chunks of time, Silver does a sterling (hah) job of snaring song segments from non-country genres, especially rock.

So during the breaks, it been AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” among other rock classics.

The stars, too, have expanded beyond the traditional country bass line at this festival. It’s not new for the country culture to grow beyond its roots. Garth Brooks’ shows at Encore Theater in the Wynn were pockmarked with references to, and samples of, Bob Seger and KISS.

KISS even turned up at the Academy of Country Music Awards a couple of years ago at MGM Grand Garden Arena sharing the broadcast with Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan and such.

On Day 1 of Route 91, Neal McCoy detoured through “Yesterday” and “Come Together” by The Beatles.

Other noteworthy crossover covers from Day 2:

“All These Things I Have Done.” From The Killers’ debut album, “Hot Fuss,” as covered by Clare Bowen of ABC’s “Nashville.”

“Thunder Road.” The Bruce Springsteen anthem, as covered by Chip Esten, also of “Nashville” (and, at one time, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”).

“Lay Down Sally.” The Eric Clapton original, covered by Esten.

“Suspicious Minds.” Made famous by Elvis, delivered by Dwight Yoakam.

“Little Sister.” Elvis, once more, issued insistently by Yoakam.

“Counting Stars.” The recent One Republic hit, belted out by Bentley.

“Travelin’ Band.” Creedence Clearwater Revival, taken on by Lambert (who was wearing a Rolling Stones shirt from the late 1960s with the sleeves cut off).

“Gimme Some Lovin’. Lambert with the Spencer David Group song, famous (in part) as the song The Blues Brothers were playing at Bob’s Country Bunker when the crowd went nuts and started flinging beer bottles at the chicken wire protecting the stage. The band shifted to “Rawhide,” which was not covered by Lambert, sadly.

“Gimme All Your Lovin’. ZZ Top’s hit, also from Lambert.

“Happy Trails.” Lambert’s play-off music, recorded, from Van Halen. But it ain’t a Van Halen song.

That’s Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, a pair of real rock stars in the history of country music.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.