Jett's show among impressive lineup at Stir Cove
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COUNCIL BLUFFS — The sun was going down and stage lights coming up Sunday night when Joan Jett went bouncing backward across the Harrah’s Stir Cove stage in her version of a classic Chuck Berry move, a broad smile on her face while she hit the strings with passion.
Midway through her 80-minute concert, Jett was having a great time. So was the audience of about 2,400 that gathered in the venue behind the casino’s hotel.
The weather was perfect — temperature somewhere in the 70s with a nice breeze. The presentation — lights and sound — was very good, with none of the echo or distortion that often occurs when shows take place next to relatively tall buildings.
And, as is invariably the case from Jett and the Blackhearts, the show was energetic and crowd-pleasing, even though the band was down to a four-piece outfit due to the absence of keyboardist Kenny Laguna.
It was, in other words, the perfect way to start a rock ’n’ roll summer.
Jett’s Sunday night show was the second concert in an impressive lineup set for the casino’s outdoor venue this year.
Two nights earlier, the Stir Cove Summer Concert Series began with a show by Cake. Tonight, it continues with a show by Buddy Guy, the last of the Chess Records blues masters, and Texas guitar legend Eric Johnson. Also coming to Stir Cove this month are: Ben Harper, Ziggy Marley, Jonny Lang and George Thorogood and the Destroyers.
That’s a pretty impressive list and it continues throughout the summer.
The Stir Cove lineup has become top notch because the venue is now being booked by Charles Attal Presents, the Austin, Texas, independent promoter that books the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Lollapalooza and several Austin venues, including Stubb’s BBQ, a large outdoor venue. Attal now books for Harrah’s nationally.
Looking at the list of artists coming through Council Bluffs, Attal’s “something for everyone” policy is apparent.
Because those shows are likely to draw well, generally filling up the bowl if not selling the place out, the stroke of genius in the creation of Stir Cove about four years ago by Harrah’s management is also clear.
Sunday’s crowd for Jett’s show wasn’t your typical casino gathering, and last summer’s Flaming Lips/Sonic Youth audience certainly didn’t head over to the boat to drop a few bucks. So the concerts are bringing in “town money” that wouldn’t ordinarily come to Harrah’s, providing a boost in revenue from ticket sales, alcohol, food and other concessions. Smart, very smart.
Stir Cove’s capacity is about 3,000, about the perfect size for a show. The natural bowl behind the hotel is divided into two sections — reserved seating in front and a lawn section in the back. The reserved seats are plastic chairs, like those found in many backyards, that are moved on and off the grass for each performance. The lawn area has no seating, but concertgoers can bring in lawn chairs and blankets.
Parking isn’t a problem. There is a large lot across the street from the bowl and other lots around the casino. Sunday night, I left the venue at the end of the show — it helps when you know what the last song is going to be — and made it to my car before most of the crowd had left the bowl and was on the interstate back to Lincoln about 10 minutes after the concert was over.
It’s even easier getting to Stir Cove. Just follow I-29 north to the Harrah’s Blvd. exit, turn left and follow the “concert parking” signs. It’s a trip that will be well worth taking a few times this summer to see, say, Emmylou Harris or Chris Isaak or Willie Nelson or Blue October or Bob Weir and Ratdog or …
Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.
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