Saturday Night, May 23rd, 2026
First, I'd like to say that Korie Koker Motormouth Promotions sure knows how to throw a party!
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| Sally Steele (Vegas Rocks Magazine) with Counting Cars Cast Members |
From the Meet & Greet with members of Counting Cars, to the two‑hour sonic barrage that Danny “Count” Koker and the rock assassins of Count’s 77 unleashed on the main stage of the Rio Hotel, to the late‑night after‑party at the VooDoo Nightclub & Lounge high above the Strip, on top of the Rio, man, what a view! What a night, what a full‑throttle Las Vegas rock pilgrimage!
By the time the clock crept toward 9 PM, the Rio main stage was already buzzing like a wall of dimed‑out tube amps. The massive neon sign above the stage glowed like a beacon, and the room was filled with a wild mix of Count’s 77 diehards, Count's Vamp’d regulars, stage crew, and rock‑scene lifers who treat Count's 77 like family. It wasn’t just a crowd; it was a tribe, a reunion, a celebration of everything this band has built and everything they’re about to unleash next!
And when Count’s 77 hit the stage, they didn’t just walk out; they stormed in, owning the stage!
Click on pic to enlarge
Danny Koker didn’t just front the band; he owned the entire stage! His voice came out like a supercharged V8: powerful, blues‑soaked, and road‑tested. He prowled the stage with that unmistakable "Count" swagger, part preacher, part outlaw, part rock‑and‑roll general leading his troops into battle. Every line he sang felt like it was fired straight from his soul!
John Zito unleashed a blues‑driven blast of tone that felt tailor‑made for a stadium stage. His slide work tore through the mix with precision and attitude, soaked in soul, grit, and that unmistakable tube‑amp glow that makes every note feel larger than life. When John Zito locks in, the whole room feels the hit, right in the chest, right where hard rock belongs!
Stoney Curtis hit the stage like a high‑gain lightning strike, unleashing solos that screamed with molten intensity. His tone was a firestorm of overdriven tubes, Wah‑soaked attitude, and searing upper‑harmonic bite — the kind of sound that turns a simple riff into a battlefield anthem. When Stoney steps into the spotlight, the room doesn’t just listen… it braces for impact!
Barry Barnes delivered a masterclass in precision low‑end craftsmanship, laying down bass lines with surgical tightness and a tone built on pure analog muscle. His sound was big, focused, and loaded with harmonic richness, the kind of bass presence that sits perfectly in the mix while still punching you right in the chest. When Barry Barnes locks into a groove, the entire band snaps into a higher gear!
Jeff Tortora delivered a percussive onslaught with the precision of a seasoned arena veteran. His playing was tight, aggressive, and relentlessly powerful — double‑kick bursts, whip‑crack snare hits, and cymbal crashes that shimmered like sparks off steel. He’s the kind of drummer who doesn’t just keep time; he drives the whole engine of the band at full blasting throttle!
Jonathan Gilcrest brought the kind of keyboard-driven fire that would make the classic‑rock gods grin. His keys growled, roared, and wrapped around the guitars like a velvet‑covered chainsaw, adding warmth, grit, and soul to every track. With every swell and every run, Jonathan Gilcrest proved he’s the band’s secret weapon, the keeper of the vintage flame!
The setlist was a high‑octane mix of classics and originals, including Saturday Night’s Alright, Rockin’ Do The Talkin’, Radar Love, Shame On Me, Ace of Spades, White Room, Summer of ’77, and Break On Through. Each track landed like a hammer strike, louder, faster, and heavier than the last!
More than three hundred fans, friends, and Vegas rock heavy‑hitters packed the stage area, transforming the Rio into a full‑blown hard‑rock party! The energy was electric, fists in the air, heads banging, and the crowd roaring back at every chorus.
Count’s 77 didn’t just play a show — they delivered a high‑voltage, hard‑rock masterclass that reaffirmed their status as one of Las Vegas’ most dominant bands!
When the dust finally settled on the Rio, it was clear we’d just lived through one of those rare Vegas nights where everything clicks! The Counting Cars Meet & Greet was packed with fans and gearheads, the full‑throttle music celebration thrown down by Motormouth Promotions and Count’s 77, and the late‑night after‑party high above the Strip at the VooDoo Lounge where the city lights looked like they were cheering along with us. The fans showed up loud, proud, and ready; the Count’s Vamp’d regulars rolled in like a reunion of the rock‑and‑roll faithful; and the local musicians and Vegas rock stars in attendance turned the whole night into a who’s‑who of the scene. From the first Meet & Greet handshake to the last chord thrown down by the band, to the final toast overlooking the city, the entire experience felt bigger, louder, and more electric than anything the Rio has hosted in a very long time. If there was ever a night that truly felt like “Vamp’d Beyond,” this was it! A celebration of past, present, and future Vegas rock scene culture all colliding at the Rio!
As the stage lights dimmed and the afterparty ended, it was clear this wasn’t just another night in Vegas; it was a full‑scale rock saga, a reunion of the faithful, and a declaration that Count’s 77 and the spirit of Vamp’d Beyond still rule this city’s music heart and soul!
Last night felt so good!
Gary England
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