Columnist Jerry Fink: Bricker & Co. turn Spanky’s into Liar’s club

Friday, June 4, 2004 | 9:17 a.m.

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

Betty Bricker is a large woman who belts out classic rock and blues for Betty and the Liars with intense feelings.

"I'm not 20-something in a size 2," said the 36-year-old vocalist and mom. "We're not such a pretty band -- but we're loud."

And they're good -- no lie.

She and the Liars perform at Spanky's Pub, 6720 W. Cheyenne Ave., the second and fourth weekends of the month. On the first weekend they can be found at the Tailspin Bar and Grill, 6295 S. Pecos Road.

They also perform at private parties.

The core of the group has been together for three years, including Bricker, guitarist Tom Dahlman and bassist Chris Bussey.

Late comers include drummer Mark "Doc" Young and percussionist Robert Moore.

Although many call them a rock and blues band, Bricker doesn't like to be stereotyped.

"I don't see us that way," she said. "We are eclectic. We'll even do country. We like to do fun music."

Bricker has been performing since she was a child in Canoga Park, Calif., where she was born.

"I put on shows for my family when I was 4," she recalled. "All my life I wanted to be a star."

The family moved to Vegas when she was 10.

In 1984 Bricker graduated from Bonanza High School, where she performed in a band called Pegasus.

When she was 19 she joined a group of impersonators called the Time Machine. She performed as Madonna.

"We played a couple of clubs, one at the Riviera," Bricker said. "But it never took off."

She joined a group called Hayden's Gyration, an oldies band that performed briefly in Primm at Whiskey Pete's and the Gold Strike.

Then Bricker worked in a video store by day, and performed five nights a week with the band Sound Advice, doing Top 40 songs.

"We performed in lounges at Vegas World, the Hacienda," she said. "Everywhere we played has been blown up."

Bricker attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for a couple of years as a dance major. She married, divorced, remarried and moved to California with her husband and children, Kayti, now 14, Ryan, 12, and Hannah, 8.

While in California she ran a karaoke business for three years and also taught music in schools.

After 10 years she and her family returned to Vegas about three years ago.

"I tried to put together a kid's music program with the Clark County School District, like I did in California, but the schools here have an amazing music program," Bricker said.

That left her with little to do.

"I was so depressed," Bricker said.

She sang at karaoke sessions from time to time. She got a part-time job with a law firm. She taught music at the Desert Torah Academy. And she started looking through the classifieds for bands that needed a vocalist.

"I had about given up on singing," Bricker said. "I thought I was too fat and too old."

But a friend gave her some sound advice.

"As soon as you start singing, no one knows how big you are."

Bricker learned about an opening with a group called Wildcard.

"I auditioned for them three times, but they wouldn't talk to me because I was fat," Bricker said. "They talked to a lot of skinny girls who couldn't sing, and finally they talked to me and wanted to know if I could join them for a gig that weekend -- I was the only one who knew the words to the songs."

She was with Wildcard for six months.

Guitarist Dahlman eventually joined the group and he and Bricker started jamming and decided to form their own group, which became Betty and the Liars.

For their fans, they list their gigs at bettyandtheliars.com.

The crew of talented musicians don't have the aspirations they once had, which was playing in casinos.

"It's hard to break into the casino side of the business," Bricker said. "Besides, none of us want that anymore. In a casino you have to play a certain style at a certain volume -- it's a very controlled environment."

They prefer the unfettered environment of local clubs where they can play loud.

And well.

No lie.

Lounging around

Tragedy struck the local entertainment community over the weekend when vocalist Ana Outcalt, 38, was found strangled in the desert Saturday. Joseph C. Suggs was arrested Monday in connection with the death. Her body has been returned to Southern California, where her family lives, according to sister Maria Outcalt.

Services will be at noon Saturday at the Humphrey, Robert Community Mortuary, 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, Calif. Cards may be sent to the Outcalt family at 3455 Agosto St., San Diego, Calif., 92154.

Former cop Michael Lee ("The Singer of Memories" at Fitzgeralds' first-floor lounge) is vocalizing his vast repertoire of R&B, country, soul, pop and rock at the Cannery's Pinup Lounge through June 13. Performances at 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays through Thursdays and 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Dark Monday.

Vocalist Mark Giovi, who made his local debut at Cafe Nicolle on March 25, proved to be such a hit he is being brought back to the venue for a couple of more engagements -- 8 p.m. to midnight June 10, and 8 p.m. to midnight, June 29.

Cigar fans have another venue to pursue their interests. The Tropicana has opened Havana Hideaway, a smokers room with a huge selection of hand-rolled cigars, as well as domestic and imported cigarettes. The room includes soft jazz, premium wines and liquors and several television screens for sporting events.

The talents of local jazz guitarist Raj Rathor and his jazz trio, and the singing talents of jazz singer Diana Smith, will be showcased starting at 7 tonight at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. Home Town Jazz Guitar III is sponsored by the Guitar Society Las Vegas. Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 for seniors and students and $7 for members of the Guitar Society of Las Vegas and Las Vegas Jazz Society members. For more information call 455-7340.