Columnist Spencer Patterson: A sprinkle of Cheese is grate — er, great

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Nov. 8, 2002 | 9:28 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers music for the Sun. Reach him at spencer@ lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-2309.

For Las Vegas' younger residents and visitors, the words "lounge singer" generally evoke a quick, simple response: cheesy.

The modern lounge sensation known as Richard Cheese, leader of the group Lounge Against the Machine, doesn't see it quite that way.

"I've never really noticed the word cheese being anything other than my last name and a calcium-rich diary product," Cheese deadpanned during a recent phone interview.

Cheese has made it his mission to bring lounge music to the masses, particularly younger audiences looking for lounge sounds beyond Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.

As its name would suggest, Lounge Against the Machine performs and records modern hits, taking familiar melodies and lyrics and layering them with is own blend of ... well, Velveeta.

Just a few the 19 songs on "Tuxicity," the group's latest album: Britney Spears' "Crazy," The White Stripes' "Fell in Love with a Girl," Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back," Weezer's "Buddy Holly" and Cypress Hill's "Insane in the Brian."

"We like to take the songs of the day that the kids are listening to and swankify them," Cheese said. "There are so many great songs out there and there just aren't enough lounge singers doing the current material.

"The great songs of our time didn't stop in 1951. There's a new golden age of songwriting out there. And it's nice to carry that tiki torch to the next stage and the next audience."

Cheese and his band -- which includes pianist Bobby Ricotta, bassist Gordon Brie and drummer Buddy Gouda -- perform Friday night at 10 at Venus Lounge at The Venetian.

The charismatic singer prefers to keep his true identity and the location of his residence under wraps.

"It would be like if you interviewed Superman -- you wouldn't reveal that he was really Clark Kent," he explained.

True enough, but since Cheese isn't exactly fighting crime, we'll clue you in that his real name is actually Mark Davis.

Cheese did admit a certain desire to spend more time in the nation's lounge capital.

"We're looking for a regular slot in Vegas. We'd like to headline the Sands, the Desert Inn or the Hacienda," Cheese said. "And I'm hoping to move into Tony Curtis' estate."

Over the past few years, Cheese and his band have developed something of a cult following, even appearing on NBC's "Last Call With Carson Daly."

The act also inspired a "Lounge Against the Machine" category on VH1's "Rock & Roll Jeopardy."

"I think we were even an Audio Daily Double, but I try not to let that go to my head," Cheese said.

For information on Cheese's upcoming tour schedule, to sample his music or buy his CDs, visit iloverichardcheese.com.

Music notes

Loss of a legend: In a phone interview just four days before the Oct. 30 death of Run-D.M.C.'s Jam Master Jay, Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton paid tribute to the legendary rap trio.

In 1986 the two groups collaborated on Run-D.M.C.'s remake of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way," a moment that not only helped push rap music into the mainstream but also helped kickstart Aerosmith's flagging career.

"It was like putting a turbocharger into the engine," Hamilton said of the memorable moment in rock/rap history."The engine was running, but that just sped things up. They're still very much known for causing a lot of cultural changes, and it was nice that we got to help with that."

Run-D.M.C. recently completed a set of dates with Aerosmith, all of which ended with the two groups -- along with rapper Kid Rock -- performing "Walk This Way."

"It was a great moment when they would come out onstage with us at the end of the show," Hamilton said. "The audience would just go completely bonkers."

In a September entry in his Internet tour journal, Hamilton told of his fascination with Jam Master Jay's turntables:

"I love watching Jay do his thing on the turntables. One night I went over to where his turntables are set up to check out how he does that thing and hung out for the whole song," Hamilton wrote.

"The next night I went over there and he started pointing at me and then the turntable. 'Wow,' I thought, 'Maybe he wants me to try it!' When I got over there he waved me over like he wanted to say something. 'This is it,' I thought. 'I hope I do this right!' I leaned over and he yelled: 'No stompin' around near the turntables.' So much for my big chance."

Rock the vote: Some of Nevada's political candidates relied on rock music to aid in their recent campaigns.

John Hunt, who failed in his bid to become attorney general Tuesday, chose Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" as his theme song. His opponent, victor Brian Sandoval, told the Sun his tune of choice was "anything by Triumph."

Dario Herrera, who lost to Jon Porter in the race for a seat in Congress, campaigned behind "Gonna Fly Now," the theme from "Rocky."

And Lorraine Hunt, Nevada's re-elected lieutenant governor, borrowed a page from Frank Sinatra, doing it "My Way."

Quick hits

A look at a few of the shows scheduled to hit Southern Nevada in the next week:

Punk rock fans should head over to the House of Blues tonight at 6 for "Punk O Rama," a four-band bill featuring Guttermouth, Nerf Herder, Authority Zero and 1208. Tickets for the all-ages show are $13.

Soul legend Ray Charles performs tonight at 8 p.m. the Dallas Events Center at Texas Station. Charles recently celebrated his 72nd birthday. Tickets are $24.50, $36.50, $47.50 and $57.50.

Singer/songwriter Al Stewart plays Saturday night at 8 at Roxy's at the Fiesta-Rancho Hotel. Tickets are $12.50, $17.50 and $22.50. Stewart is best known for his 1976 album "Year of the Cat."

Heavy metal outfit Korn holds court at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel Wednesday night at 8 with opening act TRUSTcompany. In June, Korn released its fifth album -- its first in three years -- "Untouchables." Tickets are $68.50. On Thursday, metal band Disturbed plays The Joint. Tickets for that show are $35.50.

Sans longtime frontman Jello Biafra, punk pioneers the Dead Kennedys play the Huntridge Theatre with D.I. and Fear Thursday night at 7. Brandon Cruz, formerly of punk band Dr. Know, replaced Biafra after a bitter legal battle between the singer and his former Kennedys bandmates. Tickets are $15.

On sale

Tickets for Great White's Nov. 29 show at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay with L.A. Guns and the Bullet Boys go on sale Saturday at noon. Tickets are $25 and $30 and will be available at the venue, at Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 632-7600 or 474-4000.

Tickets for Counting Crows' Dec. 6 performance at The Joint go on sale Saturday at noon. Former Toad the Wet Sprocket singer Glen Phillips opens. Tickets are $40 and will be available at the venue, at Ticketmaster outlets and by phone at 474-4000.

Tickets for Reverend Horton Heat's Dec. 30 show at the House of Blues go on sale Saturday at noon. Tickets are $17 and $23 and will be available at the venue, at Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 632-7600 or 474-4000.

Tickets for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Dec. 14 concert at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets are $21, $26 and $38.50 and will be available at the venue, at Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 785-5000 or 474-4000.