‘Echoes of the 60s’ reminds that not all fun shows can survive in Las Vegas

The Twitter feed has been burning up to see a show at V Theater at Miracle Mile Shops, and, sadly, by the time I made it to see “Echoes of the 60s” at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood this week, the show had just about ended its run.

Too bad, too, as the short-lived “Echoes” reminds of how even a good show struggles to find its groove in a tight economic climate. “Echoes” is a well-paced, vocally and musically strong show that rolls through that decade in a systemic, chronological manner. As in, this happened in 1961, then 1962 there was this event, and so on.

Of course, reviewing a nostalgia show that will itself be history by the end of the week makes about as much sense as mulling the social impact of The Archies (with apologies to Ron Dante). But this production was smartly staged, hard-focused on its mission -- to revisit the 1960s for 90 minutes -- and, most important, musically tight. The six-member band is made up mostly of Danny Gans’ backing band. The co-leads know their way around a stage. Bill DeLoach was for a time a member of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and soaring vocalist Marilyn James dates to “Enter the Night” at the Stardust and “Country Tonight” at the Aladdin.

The band is fine, and the experience is as advertised, but the show is looking for a new home after struggling for attention in the wave of shows at the David Saxe V Theater empire. It is not an ideal venue for a concert-driven show, even one that employs great musicians, period costumes and video panels. And “Echoes’ ” $50 ticket price pushed it outside the budgets of most tourists for this type of show, which is not the type of production visitors always plan for when mapping out a three-day jaunt to Vegas.

The crew is now looking for a new home, at venues in Atlantic City and possibly elsewhere in Las Vegas. In a theme that dates at least to the ’60s, the band is hungry for a gig.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow "Kats With the Dish" at twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.