Last night I got a chance to listen to my buddies, The Rayford Bros at the Golden Tiki as the unofficial beginning of the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend adventure. On Saturday the adventure will continue with a full day watching several bands outside at the car show and then ending with more Rayford Brothers at the Sand Dollar Lounge, where I first saw them seven years ago. Then on Wednesday I get to see my next most frequent band, Same Sex Mary, at the Downtown Sand Dollar. Since moving to Las Vegas in 2016 I’ve seen the Rayford Bros 15 times and Same Sex Mary 10 times. I do love watching live music.

Music has been a big part of my life, even before picking up the guitar as a 15-year-old. I’ve been so lucky over the decades to have gotten to know some really talented people at various stages of their musical pursuits and capture many of those moments with my camera. I was reminded last night that I really need much more of this in my life. Here are just a few of those moments:

Rayford Bros at the Golden Tiki playing One After 909 (2025-04-24).

Just a simple video shot with my iPhone of the boys doing a little nod to the Beatles and showing their versatility stretching beyond Rockabilly. Click here  for images and videos shot at the Sand Dollar Lounge with better lighting and sound from their annual Halloween party. Enjoy. 

Lauren Ruth Ward at the Bunkhouse Saloon (2018-06-22).

I discovered this place a couple months earlier that year and brought some out of town friends here to catch the show. Same Sex Mary did their set, and then we got a chance to see this talented artist do her thing. Enjoy.

Le Butcherettes at the Bunkhouse Saloon (2019-02-14.

This turned out to be a great way to spend ones Valentines’ Day evening. I came for another Same Sex Mary show and was treated to this dramatic music from this garage/punk band from Guadalajara, Mexico. Enjoy.

Same Sex Mary at the Bunkhouse Saloon (2019-03-08).

Let’s end with a video of a set from the band that I became acquainted with because they are friends of a nerdy podcast, The Morning Stream, who has an annual get together right here in Las Vegas. I saw them at the 2018 get together and tried to see them whenever they were in town. I also got to enjoy the wonderful venue, The Bunkhouse Saloon, that sadly burned down during the pandemic and appears to be gone for good. 

We need more music in our lives… Enjoy as often as possible. Xoxo

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Tags: Las Vegas music scene, Lauren Ruth Ward, live music, same sex Mary, the Rayford bros

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