Good News Travels East and West:

After the Butanes got done backing New Orleans R&B hero Earl King at the Blues Saloon last weekend, the band headed to Las Vegas, to play Siegfried & Roy's Holiday Party - no kidding. Last year, Liz Taylor and Michael Jackson were among the party's attendees - no kidding again. After two nights spent at the famous Aladdin Hotel, the Butanes should have plenty of stories to tell. Somebody call Robin Leach. It appears that new drummer Dan Hostetler, an Indiana native with impressive jazz credentials, joined the Butanes' ranks just in time. That boy's jet-settin now. By the way, Curt Obeda and his gang are accompanying Earl King again this weekend, in Chicago. Congrats!