Dan Finnerty started his show biz career off in "Hair" (as Woof), then appeared in "The Guiding Light," and followed the soap with an extended gig in "Stomp."

He was gaining a much-needed diversity of experience – a sense of humor – to survive.

All of it would eventually pay off in the energetic performances of the Dan Band, returning to Harrah's Tahoe on Saturday night, much to the delight of dedicated fans who love to hear songs like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" loaded with expletive-heavy extra lyrics.

Finnerty himself set the tone when he decided one night to sing "I Am Woman" during a karaoke session. The idea of a man performing a song originally sung by a female was fairly unique outside of gay bars, and the alteration of lyrics followed naturally. The Dan Band has covered songs like Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Makin' Love" and Toni Basil's "Mickey," and has been seen in "The Hangover" (performing "Candy Shop" and "Fame").

This performance is just in time for the holidays, which should make the crowd extra exuberant, because that means there are bound to be songs from "A Dan Band Xmas," the "X" carrying double meaning as do the words in the song "Ho, Ho, Ho."

"Please Don't Bomb Nobody This Holiday" is a must, given its famous video which included appearances by Christina Applegate, Neil Patrick Harris, Meg Ryan, Macy Gray and Christopher Guest, among others. (7:30 p.m.; 15 Highway 50 in Stateline; $29.50; (800) 427-7247, SouthShoreRoom.com)

Around the Silver Circle

• "Fill Up My Can" is an early autographed illustration by Walt Disney, dating to the early 1920s, years before the debut of Mickey Mouse. It and other items, such as stock certificates issued by the O-Zell Jelly Co. of Chicago, which may be the very first stock issued to Disney, go on auction Tuesday and Wednesday at the Atlantis. Also on the block are a rare gold slug from the California Gold Rush, a 100-pound silver ingot from the shipwreck Atocha, and Western tokens, photographs, saloon collectibles and brothel items. (10 a.m.; Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, 3800 S. Virginia St. in Reno; (877) 852-8822, holabirdamericana.com)

• One of the more popular Christmas displays, Candy Cane Lane, a drive-through light display, is now open next to the Carson Valley Inn. It's a good time to check out the downtown displays in Gardnerville's Heritage Park and the gazebo in Minden Park, as well. (1627 U.S. Highway 395 North in Minden)

• There is lots of dining news: The Café Alfresco inside the Atlantis has debuted a new Italian menu, centered around the wood-fired oven. Michael A. Norton, the executive chef at John Ascuaga's Nugget, has been inducted into the Disciples Escoffier International. And, construction is to begin on The Cantina, inside the Grand Sierra, where it is hoped Northern Nevada's largest tequila collection will be available.

• "Dubstep, glitch, and grime" are used to describe the new creation of San Jose native Danny Beall, a band he calls NiTGriT, which will play the Knitting Factory in Reno on Friday, joined by special guest Boggan. (9:30 p.m.; $13 advance, $15 Friday general admission standing, $30 reserved seating; 211 N. Virginia St. in Reno; (775) 323-5648, knittingfactory.com)

• In recognition of World AIDS Day, the Nevada Museum of Art joins Northern Nevada Hopes to screen "We Were Here," the David Weissman documentary about the arrival and impact of acquired immune deficiency syndrome in San Francisco. The showing will be at the museum at 2 p.m. next Saturday. ($10; 160 W. Liberty St., Reno; (775) 329-3333 or nevadaart.org)

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