Not a scene from "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance 2" but rather, singer Candee Jay and her producer, Sebastiaan Molijn.

Thursday, January 29, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

2 AM: Club life with Meme Hsu

Although e-mail lists can be tiresome, it is never a bad idea to get on the Ra nightclub event list. Unless you have an in with the entertainment world, you probably didn't know that Las Vegas had a special guest last week, Candee Jay. If you're saying to yourself, "Who's that?" let me give you the scoop. Candee Jay is a very talented singer born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and has been seen all over the U.S. promoting her new song, "If I Were You."

She made a stop in Las Vegas last Wednesday at Ra at the Luxor to shoot part of her new music video. Her producers, the award-winning Pronti and Kalmani, are best known for their work on club classics such as "Better Off Alone," "Back in My Life" and "Will I Ever."

In addition to Ra, Candee Jay also filmed her video at Towne and Country Motel, 2033 E. Fremont St., the Fremont Street Experience and the Las Vegas Strip. I hung out on site for the four-hour filming of her video at Towne and Country and found her to be incredibly charming, friendly and absolutely brilliant. She signed autographs for guests at the motel and took time to take some photos with the staff.

So if that isn't reason enough to get connected by e-mail, I don't know what is. Check out her music and bio at http://candeejay.com. That way you can say you listened to her before the craze that I am sure is coming. She will be on club play lists in no time. (Ra, 262-4400, www.rathenightclub.com)

Chasing Jay

After chasing Candee on Wednesday, I found myself chasing a character from Chasing Amy on Saturday: Jason Mewes, a.k.a. "Jay," to be exact. Jay, for those of you living under a rock, is the talented actor who has been featured in Kevin Smith movies such as Clerks, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

I had the opportunity to hang out with him at a party presented by Clique Las Vegas at Risqué in Paris Las Vegas. As I walked up to his booth, I found him being introduced to the supermodel Summer Altice.

After excusing himself from his guests, Jay took a moment to talk to me on a private balcony. Jay was nothing like I had expected from his movie appearances. He was soft-spoken and incredibly nice. He took on a "Silent Bob" attribute by being reserved and really considering his words before he answered my questions.

"Kevin [Smith] is like the character Jay sometimes because he is really witty and funny," Mewes said. "Most of the time I am more on the quiet side. When we go to comic book conventions, Kevin answers most of the questions because I'd rather listen to Kevin talk."

I asked what he thought of Risqué: "I really like this club. They play good music. I usually listen to hip hop, house and reggae. I've been listening to a lot of reggae lately."

Mewes signed an autograph for me and gave me a smile that could have lit up the club. Though he is not working on any movies at the moment, he seems to be having fun with his friends. He recently moved back to Los Angeles. Thanks, Jay...wishing you the best in your future endeavors. (Risqué, 946-4589)

Big hair is back

Direct from Los Angeles, the birthplace of Poison, Motley Crue, Van Halen, Ratt, Great White and more, comes Hair Guitar, the authentic tribute to your favorite '80s rock bands. Hair Guitar's playlist is packed with great songs, rock anthems like Kiss' "Rock and Roll All Night," Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" and classic arena power ballads such as Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and Warrant's "Heaven." Hair Guitar will perform at the Monte Carlo Brew Pub Sunday, Feb. 1 through Thursday, Feb. 5 at 10 p.m. (Monte Carlo Brew Pub, 730-7420; Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, 730-7777, www.montecarlo.com.)

Beautiful and talented

Curve at the Aladdin will be presenting the Miss Hawaiian Tropic 2004 Web Launch Party on Friday, Jan. 30. Doors open at 10:30 p.m. Make it back on Saturday, Jan. 31, to check out the official Miss Hawaiian Tropic Competition After Party. (Curve, 785-5525; VIP, 290-9582; Hawaiian Tropic, www.hawaiiantropic.net)

Drenched Thursdays at Rain in the Desert at the Palms will be presenting DJ Irene. DJ Irene is America's top-selling female DJ, and among the top-selling DJs overall. (Rain in the Desert, www.rainathepalms.com, 938-9999)