With a touring schedule that is chock full demanding nearly constant travel, it is hard to believe that the band “American Made” has found the time to write and record two CD’s.

Somehow they have managed to do just that, and they offer these discs (the latest of which is titled “Heart to Haggard” and includes 17 songs) for sale from the stage.

American Made opened a two week run in The River Lounge of the Virgin River Hotel and Casino on Tuesday night and they featured some of the music from these CD’s.

Normally when a band presents one of their original tunes, dancers take the opportunity to catch their breath or perhaps make a “pit stop”.

Such was not the case with American Made.

It may be a result of the fact that American Made has played this venue a number of times in the past and dancers are quite familiar with their work, or it could just be the fact that their original work more than holds its own in the midst of a set from the country legends.

Whatever the case, American Made enjoys that rare opportunity to play their original works and still bring them to the floor.

The band is “fronted” by husband and wife team Nat and Sharon Wyner.

Nat roams the stage, and the room for that matter, playing a six string fretted violin called a Viper.

This is a whole new breed of violin, offering new and exciting methods of play for violinists, and a self support system that offers the freedom violin players have only dreamt about in the past.

The sound is unmistakably “fiddle”, but with six strings and a full set of frets, the instrument takes violin to a whole new level.

And Nat handles it like a virtuoso.

Sharon carries most of the vocal load from behind a bank of keyboards as she carries the workload of three musicians.

Not only does she sing and play the keys, but she is also the band’s bottom end, playing the bass parts with her left hand on a second keyboard.

She and husband Nat are also the band’s sound production team.

Upon opening the first set on Tuesday night, they thanked a modest crowd for turning out and then begged their indulgence while they tweaked the sound.

These two are veterans of the business and from the beginning the sound was nearly a perfect mix.

The only tweaking that really needed to be done was in the monitor mix, and that took only a matter of seconds.

With the mix just right and the room beginning to fill with folks harking for a line dance, the band went to work.

The result was a toe tappin’ two steppin’ line dancin’ feast.

One patron, who would only identify himself as “Chris from St. George”, had actually made the trip through the Gorge to go to another lounge across the street.

Chris was surprised to find no live music over there and he wandered across the street to the River Lounge.

“This band is really rockin’”, he said with a huge grin, “I’m glad there was no music over there, I never would have come over here, and these guys are great. I will be back.”

The band is rounded out by guitarist and vocalist Jeff Sadie, who is not only a fine guitarist and singer; he is a bit of a comedian.

Sadie, early on in the set, announced that the band was glad to be back, and since this was the first time the band had been here this year he wished everyone a happy new year.

He then went on to explain that the band would be accepting late Christmas presents through the end of their run.

When asked if he had brought presents for the patrons, he replied “yes, I have brought my presence.”

Drummer Jerry Stollman also adds vocals, giving the band a solid four part harmony at times, and together with Sharon on the keys, they are as tight a rhythm section as you are likely to see.

Line dancers will be out in force, as always, for this two week run, and the band comes highly recommended for those who enjoy a little two steppin’.

But get there early, as Chris from St. George will be bringing his friends, and the place is sure to be packed.