You won't see local rock lotharios Jay Cheddar and the Cheesetones wearing gold lam, blue jean hip-huggers or a Barry Gibb-type weave.

But while an affinity for Vegas and '70s disco culture warms their hearts, the Cheesetones groove as post-punk's answer to Sinatra.

"It's like taking Sub Pop, just grungy music, and having it fronted by Wayne Newton," said Jay Williams, alias Jay Cheddar. "These guys just play straight ahead and I just croon."

Along with Williams' crooning, the band has steadily shifted gears to more untamed, liberal readings of songs. A musical syndicate, the band is capable of playing everything from the "Barney Miller" theme to a reggae version of "Crazy Train."

"In the beginning we would take cheesy old songs we heard when we grew up. Songs that people regard as cheesy, we take and hook into a rift," said Conan Lingler (senior-photography), the Cheesetones' drummer.

Now when playing live, the band likes to tease its audience with a little sweet nostalgia.

"We know just enough of the songs to make you recognize it but just as you start to sing along, we'll change it completely," said Tim Benacci (senior-photography), Cheesetones' guitarist.

All members live under one roof in a seemingly techno-color, pop culture cesspool where "Yogi Bear" characters share wall space with pictures of George Foreman and Public Enemy.

Despite thorough insulation, the band's noisy din has proved disruptive to neighbors -- so much so the group has been slapped with a $70 noise violation from police, Williams said.

The Cheesetones are looking for a new place to practice.

"Somewhere where the bass won't drown out the dialogue on 'Murder She Wrote,' " said Bob Sweeny (junior-general arts and sciences), the Cheesetones' bassist.

Out from the basement, the Cheesetones sounded off Monday night on WPSU, 91.1. Performing tunes from Ned's Atomic Dustbin to Black Sabbath in a drunken stupor, the band came off like the Replacements at their worst.

"We played this song by Led Zeppelin only I didn't know they were playing Led Zeppelin," Williams said.

Performing unpretentious distortion, for the band, sets them apart from those who take covers seriously.

"To me the main thing is to never take ourselves seriously," Williams said. "The thing I hate most is going to a bar and seeing bands just play covers -- you might as well get a jukebox."

You can get down with Jay Cheddar and the Cheesetones and its brand of sloppy nostalgia at The Battle of the Bands contest at 8 tonight in the HUB Ballroom.