When Tony and Marlene Golamis took over Cafe Nicolle four years ago, they envisioned a local hangout where folks could come and have a great meal and also enjoy good music, dancing and hanging out with their friends.
The elegant restaurant at 4760 W. Sahara Ave. (at Decatur Boulevard) is finally beginning to realize its vision.
Providing the entertainment from about 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays are vocalist/percussionist Lou Martinez, drummer Conrad Csogi and keyboardist Dennis Mellen.
The trio is frequently joined by other musicians and singers who drop by to join in the fun, performing rock, jazz, blues and other styles of music for fans who are itching to dance, or just to listen to some great sounds.
Martinez, Csogi and Mellen have created a tight combo -- each are very talented and have decades of experience.
Mellen is a self-taught pianist who began playing at the age of 8 and by age 11 was performing classical music. The native of the Chicago area has been a professional musician for more than 30 years, including an 11-year stint in the Air Force. He moved to Vegas from Phoenix in '92 and has become one of the most respected keyboardists in the area.
Martinez and Csogi's history together goes back almost 40 years.
They were born and raised in Pueblo, Colo., where each was playing in a different band before they were in their teens. Martinez is 50, Csogi 48.
Martinez' father was a musician.
"From 1956 to '70 he had the Don Martinez Latin American Combo," Martinez said. "He had 12 kids, six boys and six girls. All of the boys became musicians. When I was a kid I remember helping him set up for gigs."
Martinez was 13 when he began performing professionally in nightclubs.
"The clubs were in restaurants where food was served, so I could be in the band," he recalled.
Although there was a slight age difference, Martinez and Csogi became friends, traveling in the same music circles.
Then Csogi's father (who was a firefighter) was transferred to Geneva, N.Y., and the two friends lost contact with each other for about 30 years.
Martinez eventually moved to Southern California, where he performed in lounges for more than 20 years until moving to Las Vegas about two years ago.
Csogi continued pursuing his interest in music while growing up in New York. He received a degree from Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music in 1977, and then spent several years with bands on cruise ships.
"That was my first experience with a Vegas-type show," Csogi said. "That's where I got my feet wet, backing up various types of acts."
The experience helped him when he came to Las Vegas 18 years ago.
"Within about a week I started to get gigs," Csogi said. "It was a smaller, different Vegas. I caught the last of the old Las Vegas."
He has performed about everywhere in town, but Csogi says his claim to fame was when he was with the Redd Foxx show at the Hacienda.
"It was great," Csogi said. "We broke up because he went back to L.A. for a new sitcom, and then he died two months later of a heart attack.
"We played for him at his wedding at the Hacienda."
Csogi and Martinez renewed their friendship two days after Martinez moved to Vegas.
"Out of nowhere I get a call from Lou," Csogi said. "He had kept in touch with my father, and he got my number from him."
They have been performing together ever since, first at Capozzoli's (where Martinez was resident vocalist for more than a year), and now at Cafe Nicolle.
Martinez, Csogi and Mellen are busy with other gigs -- Mellen is at City Lights Cafe on Mondays through Wednesdays, Martinez is at Bali Hai Country Club's Cili's restaurant (6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays) and Csogi is all over town.
But when they get together on weekends at Cafe Nicolle, that's when they are really cookin'.
Lounging around
Buddy Greco and his wife, Lezlie Anders, were among several entertainers who gave impromptu performances at the Bootlegger Bistro over the weekend. Greco and Anders are home after a two-month concert tour of their Peggy Lee tribute show, "Fever." Also on hand to share the spotlight with "Off the Cuff" host Sonny King were Vegas newcomer Mark Giovi (a blues singer who seems to get a standing ovation after every song), Frankie Scinta, Cher impressionist Heidi Thompson and comedian Meagan West.
Appearing at the Bellagio's Fontana Bar Tuesday through May 29 will be Paragon, a nine-member group of musicians who combine classic and modern rock. Performances are 9:30 p.m. until 1 a.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays. Their style ranges from Elton John to Led Zeppelin to Alanis Morissette to Sheryl Crow.
The World Famous Mountain Spring Saloon (at the Mountain Springs summit between Las Vegas and Pahrump) will feature rocker John Kaye & The Overlords and The Road Work Blues Band through May. The two groups will alternate weekends, with John Kaye leading the way Saturday and Sunday. The following weekend the blues band will be the featured entertainment. Show times are 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
The schedule for cocktail pianist Bob Williams at the Plaza's Center Stage Lounge is expanding his territory. In addition to his Sunday and Monday performances (from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.) at the Plaza, he may also be heard from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays at El Cortez (at Ogden Avenue and Sixth Street).
Cheers to the Hurricane Bar and Grill, 10420 S. Bermuda Road, for expanding live music in Las Vegas. The venue (on Bermuda Road, south of Pyle Avenue) hosts a Sunday Jam Session (9 p.m. until closing). Among features musicians are Darryl Williams, Pete Rad, Joel Richman, and Tommy Alvarado.
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