Columnist Jerry Fink: Stratosphere’s Crazy Armadillo has reached epoch

Friday, May 24, 2002 | 9:05 a.m.

Jerry Fink's lounge column appears on Fridays. Reach him at jerry@lasvegassun.com at (702) 259-4058.

Kudos to Michael Enoch, Stratosphere's new entertainment director.

Enoch is a man who knows what lounges are all about -- getting crazy and having fun.

Since joining Stratosphere more than a month ago, he has started pumping some life into the Crazy Armadillo. The former Montana Steakhouse became the Crazy Armadillo Oyster Bar and Tequila Sky Bar in November.

"It opened up right after 9/11 -- a tough time for anything to open," Enoch said.

Enoch said the 130-seat venue has changed its focus.

"Originally it was a Tex-Mex restaurant, but we thought it would be better as a fun place -- a crazy, rock 'n' roll, wild party kind of place," Enoch said. "Plus, we have a fantastic oyster bar."

Since it opened, the Armadillo has been a popular karaoke spot on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from about 8 p.m. to midnight.

"We're going to continue the karaoke, plus now we have a late-night DJ from midnight to around 3 a.m.," Enoch said.

In early June the Armadillo will feature dueling pianos on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Two pianos will be set up on what is the dance floor, and party-minded patrons will be able to gather around and join the show.

"All of our waitresses will sing along," Enoch said. "It gets the audiences going."

Stratosphere has two other lounges of note -- Top of the World Lounge at the top of the tower, which features one of the most romantic settings in Las Vegas, and Images, where couples can dance the night away.

"Right now the Top of the World is more of a jazz-type atmosphere," Enoch said. "Sometime in mid-June we'll probably change acts and do even more of a romantic type of thing -- make it a high-end romance place."

Romance at the top, dance on the ground and craziness at the Armadillo.

"This is our crazy place," said Enoch, whose background is as varied as the entertainment in Stratosphere's venues -- director of operations for UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center (1986 to 1993); senior vice president of sports and entertainment for the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand (1995 to 1997); director of planning and construction for Cox Pavilion at Thomas & Mack (1999 to 2000).

The Crazy Armadillo lounge recently began a weekly flair bartender contest. Through June 10, every Monday at 9 p.m. local bartenders will juggle in competition for $2,500 in cash and prizes.

Two weeks ago Enoch instituted a Sunday-night showcase. Each Sunday a different band performs, just for the opportunity to demonstrate its talents.

"We get calls from agents all the time," Enoch said. "There are hundreds of acts out there. This gives us the opportunity to see the band and it gives them a chance to show off their wares, so to speak."

The first showcase group was the San Fernando Band, which came to Las Vegas from Guam about six weeks ago after 14 years as the house band for the Guam Hilton.

The seven-member group covers every kind of music -- from Frank Sinatra to funk to soul to "boy bands."

They were so good that by the time they finished their two sets for the evening they had four performance dates -- one at Aladdin, one in Laughlin and two at Stratosphere.

"They did so well we booked them here for the week of the Memorial Day holiday and also the week before Christmas," Enoch said.

Last Sunday's showcase band was Sho-Tyme, which performs R&B music at Harrah's Carnaval Court lounge and at corporate events.

The relatively new group is made up of veteran entertainers who have spent years in the spotlight. Lead singer Andre "Drey" King, founder of Sho-Tyme, is a former member of the Drifters, the Imperials and Sound Investment.

Keyboardist/vocalist Lannelle "Electric Fingers" Johnson is also a part of Block Party, which is producing a tribute to The Fifth Dimension.

Other members of this outstanding group include vocalist/dancer/writer/producer Kenny "Little Ken" Walcott Jr.; drummer Anthony "Spoon" Bankhead; bassist/vocalist Kevin "Little Jordan" Turner; vocalist Tony "Smooth" Scruggs; and guitarist/vocalist Dave (no nickname) Zimba.

Enoch pointed out that the Crazy Armadillo is next to a bank of elevators. His goal is to catch the attention of the people headed for the elevators and draw them into the craziness of the lounge.

If groups such as Sho-Tyme and the San Fernando Band continue performing at the showcase, there may be empty elevators all over Las Vegas on Sunday nights.

Lounging around

I'll take Manhattan: pianist/vocalist Howie Gold and others put together a surprise party for me recently at the Manhattan of Las Vegas. Several lounge entertainers I have written about showed up to help celebrate, among them Gary Anthony (the singer formerly known as Gary B), Nick DiNapoli (who has a Tony Bennett voice), Renee Dawn, who does a great rendition of "Georgia"; Dennis Bono, Sonny King and Blackie Hunt. I was speechless, to say the least. My proudest moment was when Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt (who frequently performs on weekends at her restaurant, the Bootlegger Bistro) not only sang me a song but gave me a proclamation -- I don't know, but I think I'm now the Official State Lounge Lizard.

"Big Elvis" has hit the big time. Pete Vallee, a man of enormous talent and girth, is performing at the Barbary Coast lounge 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. I first met the big fella 18 months ago when he was doing his Elvis tribute at the Roadhouse on Boulder Highway. After leaving the Roadhouse's Pink Cadillac lounge shortly after the meeting, he began performing at the Magic Star. Now he's on the Strip. The 36-year-old Vallee has been impersonating Elvis since age 14. He has developed a huge Las Vegas following since moving here in 1998. You've got to hear him to believe him.

Poppermost, a '60s- and '70s-style alternative pop/rock band, will be among the bands performing for the Acoustic Asylum show, which will begin at 9 p.m. Wednesday at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. Performances are in the Crossroads Bar. Also scheduled to appear are Layne Weight, Mama Zeus, Michael Soli, Anne Donohue, Adena Sampson, Magna-Fi, Sara Thiel, and Monty Banks and the High Rollers. Admission is free.

Can't get enough of John Earl & The Boogie Man Band? The uncrowned king of the blues scene can be heard Thursdays through Saturdays from about 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Memphis Championship Barbecue restaurant at Santa Fe Station.

Frank Sinatra sound-alike Andrew James will perform a tribute to the golden years of Las Vegas June 7-8 at The Rampart Casino at the Resort at Summerlin's Addison's Lounge. (The casino is in what was formally the Regent Las Vegas). For information call 869-7777.