By Josh Bell
House of Blues 9 p.m. doors, Dec. 31, $79.50-$124.50 plus tax and fee, 21+. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
Given how thoroughly country music has taken over Las Vegas, it’s no surprise that one of this year’s New Year’s Eve offerings is a performance by a current country superstar. Gary Allan will be ringing in 2013 at the House of Blues, and it’s the perfect place for country fans to be on the biggest party night of the year. In fact, it’s all happened before: Allan played the House of Blues on the night that 2009 turned into 2010, and he obviously created the kind of celebration that the venue wanted to repeat.
Over the course of eight albums and two greatest-hits compilations, Allan has placed more than 25 singles on the country charts, including hits like “Man to Man,” “Best I Ever Had” and “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful.” His most recent single, “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” is his latest to reach the Billboard country top 10, and it’s set to appear on his forthcoming album, Set You Free. “Every Storm” isn’t just a radio hit for Allan—it’s also turned into a benefit single, with the singer offering a download of an acoustic version of the song as an incentive for fans to donate to relief efforts for superstorm Sandy.
Allan is bound to offer up plenty of his hits for the New Year’s Eve audience, and he’ll probably throw in some new songs as well. If your typical Las Vegas attire involves a cowboy hat and boots, then this is the New Year’s show for you.
