Nic Roulette is excited. Roulette has called to talk about what's new in Nashville, the city he relocated to from Fort Wayne three years ago.

      “Mastodon was at our last show at the Bluegrass Inn. They bought our new record, some t-shirts and said they really dug us!” This is why Roulette moved to Nashville. Eschewing outside management, record labels and other (not always reliable) associations, Roulette depends on constant exposure and word of mouth to promote his rockabilly band, Hillbilly Casino. The appearance of the highly regarded, Grammy- nominated metal band Mastodon at a Hillbilly Casino show represents yet another connection for Roulette and company.

  The energetic, charismatic frontman (more accurately described as stuntman) first wowed crowds in Fort Wayne as part of the wildly successful Blue Moon Boys. Combined with local guitar hero Kenny Taylor, along with Jerry Sparkman and Jamie Simon, the rockabilly monster released four solid records and toured the globe during their tenure. Holiday staple Rock & Roll Christmas Show (1998) still rates a few spins every December in my home, as well as at the whatzup office.

      Wanting to pursue his music dreams in a city historically connected to such things, Roulette headed for Nashville, Tennessee in 2004 and proceeded to assemble a backing unit that held to the simple, loud and fast ethic. He soon recruited guitarist Ronnie Crutcher, bassist Geoff Firebaugh and drummer Andrew Dickson. Crutcher spent time with Brian Setzer’s Nashvillians, while Firebaugh did a stint with BR549 (post-hyphen era) before teaming up with Roulette.

      Hillbilly Casino take the traditional rock n' roll element from the glory days of Sun Records (Presley, Cash and Perkins) and distill it through modern references such as the Ramones, Social Distortion and even Black Sabbath. The band has certainly wasted no time padding its resume. Hillbilly Casino regularly energize the Delta Lounge at the Opryland Resort and are a Friday night fixture at Layla’s Bluegrass Inn on Nashville’s infamous lower Broadway. Drive-By Truckers, Hank Williams III and Ralph Stanley are just a few of the notable acts that have also played recently at this Nashville hot spot.

      The Brian Setzer Orchestra headlined a 2006 Ryman Auditorium show that also featured Hillbilly Casino. As you might recall, Setzer was the leader of the Stray Cats, the trio that engineered the early 80s rockabilly revival. Setzer was so taken with Roulette and the band that he asked them to join him for several shows on the West Coast last December as part of his Christmas Extravaganza Tour. Roulette was most excited about playing the Universal Amphitheatre (now known as the Gibson Amphitheatre), a prestigious Hollywood venue since 1972. Prior to hitting the road Roulette told a Nashville TV station, “I think the Universal Amphitheatre holds about 6,500 people. That’s more people than I’ve ever played for, but that doesn’t make me nervous. I’m just gonna suck all the energy out of all those people.”

      Hillbilly Casino released a new record, Sucker Punched, in December 2006. It’s highly recommended if you were ever a Stray Cats or Blue Moon Boys fan (feel free to sample tracks – and purchase the CD – at thehillbillycasino.com, or pick up a copy at a show). The band is already planning a return to the studio for a follow-up this spring. Roulette reports that the band stayed around Nashville through the winter but expects to hit the road as spring breaks. He has already booked shows for Detroit; Chicago; St. Louis; Knoxville, Tennessee; Roanoke, Virginia; and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

      Favorite son Roulette brings Hillbilly Casino to Fort Wayne on March 16 for a show at Mid City Grill. Roulette confesses, “I love playing in Fort Wayne. It’s great to be able to see all the people I used to hang with and catch up a bit. The band enjoys it as well.”

       Expect a packed house of friends and family welcoming home an entertainer the Fort certainly misses. The following night the band heads for Smalls in Hamtramck, Michigan, where  they’ll share a bill with the Twistin’ Tarantulas.

      Roulette is a performer you’ll never forget. In his words, “I’m a song-and-dance man. It’s a show. I put on a show.” My favorite Roulette moments don’t even involve a stage. As a server at Mad Anthony Brewing Company years ago it was common to see Roulette hopping over the bar, flying over tables or suddenly entertaining some startled (lucky) guests a cappella. Then there was the infamous Three Rivers Apartments farewell moment. Let’s just say Roulette decided to acquire a parting gift while moving out of the downtown high-rise. As a current resident there, I still think of Nic every time I walk through the lobby. All is forgiven, Nic. New owners, new lobby furniture.

Copyright 2007 Ad Media Inc.