Photographs of Chase Brown by Lisa Garrett

Chase Brown: Country Music with a Side of “GLAM”

BY SAMUEL NOVAK

Muscles and mascara. A cowboy hat and nail polish. Disco balls, line dancing, and a stepladder. It’s a list of ingredients that you’d never expect to find in a one-man country show. But that’s how young singer Chase Brown rolls, and the hot Texas native somehow manages to make it all work.

Sin City’s reigning “rhinestone cowboy” has been gaining popularity and notoriety like never before. So, it only seems fitting that he’s packing them in at a brand-new residency inside NOTORIETY Live, a popular downtown music venue at the corner of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard.

With twenty years of performances under his flashy belt buckle, Chase has earned a loyal following of fans from several different musical genres. He appeals to both young and old, gay and straight, and everyone in between. His setlist defies categorization, too…much like the man himself. A fitness fanatic with chiseled abs and finely-manicured features, Brown is a strutting combination of raw male sensuality and gentle sensitivity wrapped inside a conspicuously open, bedazzled vest.

Chase Brown

Last summer, Brown quite literally took his music to the streets. During the height of the pandemic, he roared through the center of Las Vegas, belting out tunes to anyone within earshot. The impromptu concert gained worldwide attention, thanks to an unforgettable encounter so picture-perfect that it almost seemed staged:

“That was as real as it gets! A pickup truck starting at the ‘Welcome to Las Vegas Sign’ served as my stage as we made our way down the Strip. So many cars were surrounding us and videoing the show that the police pulled us over for obstructing traffic.”

“After realizing that I was a real singer who performed all over the Strip, the officer offered to throw out the ticket if he could sing with me for thirty seconds. The rest is history! Two hundred thousand views overnight, a retweet from Toby Keith and making the news from here to Austin, Texas. Every time I sing ‘Should Have Been a Cowboy,’ I think of Officer Evan Spoon.”

While most of his songbook is steeped in down-home favorites, a Chase Brown performance can include anything from pop tunes and rock anthems to both sides of a Sonny and Cher duet. Along with classic standards and top hits, there are plans to present some original works in the months ahead.

“I love all kinds of music. My favorite genre is completely up to the audience. I sing to make people happy, so my favorite song is the one that hits that sweet spot for that room that night. I’m working with a great new songwriter and hoping to release original music next year.”

Lately, Brown has been taking bigger chances, spreading his Devil-may-care irreverence to upscale venues like The Nevada Room and Star Lounge. Most surprisingly, he entertained members at the exclusive Stirling Club….in a speedo, no less. CHIC Compass asked if there is anything too wild for a Chase Brown show:

“The first time I saw Elvis’ performance on Ed Sullivan, I was hooked. The way he made those girls scream was so fascinating to me. I needed to know what it felt like. Garth Brooks, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Janet, Shania, Reba, Britney, Cher, Dolly…these were my idols. I’d be rocking back and forth in front of the TV before they’d come on. I love when an artist can get you that excited! I take from all of them and try to engage my audiences in a dramatic way, give them something to talk about.”

“Even in high school, when I performed at pep rallies and rodeos, I remember being told not to tear my shirt off. Whoops, there went the pearl snaps. I’ve just always expressed myself that way. People don’t think twice if a woman is a showgirl or performing wearing next to nothing, so why should I be bashful as a man? I’m an entertainer in Sin City. There are no limits.”

Most performers have a signature move or fashion statement that makes them unique. Chase Brown comes with a stepladder. It’s a mind-blowing moment that has to be seen to be believed.

“I was doing a show in El Campo, Texas, with over 1200 people – my biggest crowd to date. I wanted to see the people in the back to take it all in, saw a ladder on the side of the stage, pulled it out, and started climbing. With every step, the room got louder and louder. I straddled the top, gave it an impromptu hop to the beat, then had that damn ladder dancing all over the stage. It became my trademark overnight.”

He may be from a small town in Texas, but Chase Brown was born with a heaping helping of Sin City glam in his blood. He arrived here in 2011 and has performed in diverse venues at Gilley’s, Le Cabaret Lounge (Paris Hotel), Tommy Rocker’s, and the local Italian American Club.

“I was the worst thing an entertainer could be…comfortable. Making great money, performing for crowds, and winning ‘Best of The Best’ awards, I needed a change and a challenge and found both in Las Vegas. Now, after years of paying dues all over again, my fan base is beautiful people from all walks of life who come out to celebrate.”
Chase Brown is raring to rise even higher with his overflowing talent, stunning looks, and flashy ambition. This time around, rhinestone vests won’t be the only glittery weapon in his fight. “Now my ladder is covered in thousands of disco ball mirrors. It’s all about the climb!”

Chase Brown