This year marks the 25th anniversary of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life." It made its appearance in "Dirty Dancing" with the vocals provided by Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley.

Medley was initially reluctant to participate. His wife was pregnant and he had just bombed in another duet, "Lovin' on Borrowed Time," which he recorded with Gladys Knight for the movie "Cobra." That was supposed to be a sure thing. How could a duet for a movie that starred little-known actors at the time possibly have a better chance?

Still, Warnes possessed a pretty good track record when it came to songs in movies. She had sung "It Goes Like It Goes" for "Norma Rae" in 1979, "One More Hour" for "Ragtime" in 1981, and "Up Where We Belong" with Joe Cocker for "An Officer and a Gentleman" in 1982.

And Medley had a stellar reputation, being one-half of one of the most beloved duos in pop music, the Righteous Brothers.

The teaming paid off, but only after Medley felt pressured to sing the song. "The Time of My Life" won an Academy Award, there was an extended "Dirty Dancing" tour, and Medley's star power took off.

That may have become a bit less luminescent over the last 25 years, but not much. Bill Medley performs tonight at Thunder Valley, and it's a pretty sure bet that the audience will include not only those now in late middle age who remember the first successes of the Righteous Brothers, songs such as "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" and "Little Latin Lupe Lu," but also a lot of younger people who can sing every note of "I've Had the Time of My Life." There will also be fans whose favorite songs are Medley's own, like "Brown-Eyed Woman."

One aspect of a Bill Medley performance is unlikely to have changed much over the years. Not one of his hits can be said to be "dusted off." He has, from his early appearances in Harrah's cabarets for a $5, two-drink minimum to his later appearances in giant venues, always performed his music as if fresh, expecting the audience to build along with him to the irresistible and persistent beat of, say, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," making it a terrific musical moment of the present. They happily do so, although now they pay a bit more than $5 (8 p.m.; 1200 Athens Ave., Lincoln; $39.50, $49.50; ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000).

Call it a 'driving beat'

At Lake Tahoe on Saturday night, the bigger name on the Harrah's marquee is Fitz and the Tantrums, but it would be wise not to arrive late.

The opening band is Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., a name chosen, according to founding member Daniel Zott as just fun.

"It feels silly and childlike, but we'll do anything we feel like pretty much," Zott said. "We'll dress up as we want. And, really, at the end of the day, the Beatles is one of the worst names ever, but nobody even talks about that now.

"So, why not Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.? We thought of other options, like Counting Crows Part II, of course. But we wrote Dale Earnhardt Jr. and he responded very kindly, saying he wouldn't come after us."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.'s other member is Josh Epstein, and their album is "It's a Corporate World," a clever mix of rock and funk, highlighted by songs with titles such as "Skeletons," "An Ugly Person on a Movie Screen" and "We Almost Lost Detroit."

Fitz and the Tantrums make their Tahoe debut with this engagement, fresh off the release of "Pickin' up the Pieces." Classy appearance, some Ike and Tina-style repartée, and that vintage organ that helps define their sound have become trademarks (7:30 p.m.; 21 and over; 15 Highway 50 in Stateline; $30; 800-427-7247; SouthShoreRoom.com).

Elsewhere

On Jan. 31, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release "Styx: The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight Live" on DVD and Blu-ray. The show was recorded Nov. 9, 2010, at the Orpheum in Memphis on a tour that saw the band perform the two albums in their entirety live for the first time. It's a two-hour, 11-minute presentation, and it follows closely last October's release of "Regeneration: Volume I and II," which included 13 Styx classics and the new "Difference in the World." A lot of those songs can be expected in Saturday's Silver Legacy Reno performance of Styx, a band that epitomizes arena rock (8 p.m.; 407 N. Virginia St., Reno; $69.50; 800-687-8733or silverlegacy.com).

Original members Bobbie Smith, Henry Fambrough and Pervis Jackson are still with the Spinners, now joined by lead singer Charlton Washington and Harold "Spike" Bonhart. With their four lead singers and five-piece band, the Spinners bring back their 1970s hits such as "Games People Play" and "I'll Be Around" in the Grand Oak Ballroom at Jackson Rancheria on Thursday (7 p.m.; 21 and over; 12222 New York Ranch Road, Jackson; $20 club members, $40 general admission; 209-296-5495; JacksonCasino.com).

The country's most prominent cowboy poetry gathering, now in its 28th edition, will run in Elko, Nev., Monday through Feb. 4, with 50 poets, musicians, and musical groups performing on seven stages at four venues, including big names such as Baxter Black, Waddie Mitchell and Wally McCrae on the verse list and Michael Martin Murphey, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Ian Tyson on the song list. Call (888) 880-5885 or visit westernfolklife.org for ticketing and venues for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

The Mel Brooks Broadway musical version of "Young Frankenstein" runs at 8 tonight, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundasy in Reno's Pioneer Theater for the Performing Arts ($45-$83; 775-686-6600 or PioneerCenter.com).

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