LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Palm trees, desert sands and cowboy boots -- they all go together in Las Vegas.
There's more than a thousand miles between Las Vegas and Nashville, but singer- songwriter Jake Rose says the Entertainment Capital of the World embraces country with the same enthusiasm as Music City.
“I was so surprised when I played my first show here at Stoney’s and I was like, wow!” Rose said. “There's a massive crowd here for people that love country music!”
The crowds the Route 91 Harvest Festival drew until 1 October, and the community response in the wake of that tragedy, both bear witness to the effect country music has on fans in Las Vegas.
Rose performed a snippet of a song he wrote about his tattoos called “Sleeves.”
"And I saw a lot of people with these Route 91 tattoos,” Rose said. “And I just think it’s really cool how the country community here has come together and supported each other through all that. "
Raised on a Minnesota farm Rose comes by his country roots honestly even if he took a bit of a detour getting there.
"I was trying to be rock, but it turns out I’m a little more country. I'm a little more edgy, but it works."
He counts among his influences Las Vegas Strip headliners Florida Georgia Line as well as Kenny Chesney and Eric Church, who he said gets his vote to take home the Entertainer of the Year Award when the CMA Awards air on ABC Wednesday night.
"He's been on tour all year long playing four hours,“ said Rose. “No opening band. It’s like a Bruce Springsteen show and I think he deserves it this year."
And he has a lot of respect for this year’s CMA cohost Dolly Parton.
"I think she is one of the first people in the business to make herself a brand and then build it up,” he said. “And I think it’s really cool. Something to aspire to."
Rose said the story telling and just plain raw emotion of country continues to resonate with fans everywhere.
