Friday Nights at Cascamorto Piano Bar

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What's the deal?

Though there's piano-bar entertainment nightly, blame its Friday fame on Steve Odabashian. "Steve's very self-promotional," says Melissa Soutar, who co-opened Cascamorto in October. As a comic, Odabashian, 37, is known for a wry stand-up routine and, when he dons the proper mustache, his Andy Reid impersonation.

But it's as a lounge pianist/singer that Odabashian is MVP. He knows more than 300 songs verbatim (there's a songbook you can choose from), learns at least 30 new ones weekly, and can tinkle his way through anything. Mention songs - Bowie's "Heroes," Radiohead's "Creep," Guns N' Roses' "November Rain" - he plays them. "I can play anything because I play by ear," Odabashian says. "The question is, 'Can I sing them?' "

Who's there?

Odabashian is popular with the young professional crowd, men and women ages 28 to 40, who start requesting songs by 6 p.m. That's not only because of his renditions of '80s hits such as Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" ("Inside everyone, there's a hair-metal monster-

ballad fan that comes out when they feel most anonymous," Odabashian says).

It's because he seems to know everyone who walks in the door, from his days in high school (Lower Merion), law school (Villanova U), or Quizzo (the Good Dog). "I play a lot of Quizzo," says Odabashian.

Playlist

"Drive" by Incubus (although "Drive" by the Cars is also big).

"99 Luftballons" by Nena, sung in faux German.

"Just a Friend" by Biz Markie, which gets the whole place crooning off-key, "You . . . you got what I need . . . but you say he's just a friend . . . oh baby you-u-u-u-u."

What's the look?

From its shiny onyx walls covered with Audrey Hepburn paintings and lizard prints to its piano, the lounge is black-black-black. The black velvet lips-shaped love seats and glass-topped tables with high-heeled feet bottoms are corny, but cool.

The men wear everything from nicely tailored Brooks Brothers suits to EMS-brand puffy down coats, baggy jeans, and unironic Timberland boots. The women are business chic with long skirts and high black boots.

Overheard:

"Is that the Church's 'Under the Milky Way'?" asked Rob Armstrong, a Fairmount Park preservationist during his first time at Cascamorto. "I want to figure out his forte and beat him at that . . . after a few more beers."

"I could never get to the end of the song, it was so bad," Odabashian said during "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)." "I mean, these people answered the same ad? Who enjoys getting caught in the rain? These goofballs deserve each other."

What to do:

If you request more than three songs, make sure you tip the piano player.

What not to do:

Don't shoot the piano player or get angry when he doesn't know a song. There are 300 others to choose from.

Why go?

The once-quiet corner of 20th and Arch, formerly St. George's Diner, is now a busy hub with Tom Hagen's Tavern and Bamboo Lounge making danceworthy noise. But the Cascamorto speaks pretty loud, too, while carrying a soft stick. And though piano bars are always cool, Odabashian adds a bit of cheekiness to the chic surroundings.

Besides, it's always nice to have a place to go where someone knows your name, and the words to "The Piña Colada Song."

- By A.D. Amorosi