Photo by Beverly Poppe

Matt Goss Where: Caesars Palace Cost: $40 and up When: 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Info: (800) 745-300

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when the term "Gossy" meant nothing in Las Vegas. But today it reflects a certain distinctive, Old Vegas disposition. An inherent confident, cocksure swagger once exuded by the Rat Pack and today embraced by former Bros boy band member Matt Goss.

As his fans will tell you, or more likely scream at you, the British vocalist is simply Goss-tastic.

Energetically styling himself in the manner of Frank, Sammy and Dean, Goss has set up at a similarly storied iconic Las Vegas treasure – Caesars Palace. Beginning March 12, Goss can be seen at the newly renovated Cleopatra's Barge lounge – now known as The Gossy Room at Cleopatra's Barge at Caesars Palace – in a show officially titled Singing Sensation Matt Goss Live From Caesars Palace Produced by Robin Antin.

For those uninitiated, Antin is the creator of the sultry singing/dancing act The Pussycat Dolls, and Antin's influence in the production is felt in the shapely forms of The Dirty Virgins dance troupe, which gyrates to Goss' covers of such familiar Las Vegas-tinged classics as "Luck Be a Lady" and "I've Got the World on a String."

But Goss, who performed for several months at The Lounge at the Palms, isn't satisfied by singing the standards made famous in such Vegas venues as the old Sands' Copa Room, Casbar Lounge at Sahara and even the Circus Maximus Showroom at Caesars (since demolished to make way for The Colosseum). He and his snare-tight, nine-piece backing band uncork such unexpected gems as a powerhouse version of the Eagles' "Hotel California."

To make the move to Caesars, Cleopatra's Barge is being given a renovation to expand seating to 165. By spring it will be 250. The Barge features one of the city's more popular photo ops, the Egyptian-themed female stretching from the hull of the fake watercraft and above the walkway to the casino.

"We consider it good luck to touch her," Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner said in January, as Goss' residency was announced. The figure, which needs to be repainted monthly for all that touching, remains intact, but the carpet is being torn out and new lighting and sound systems are being installed.

Consider the Cleopatra's Barge engagement a rare, and even short-term, chance to see Goss in such close quarters. As he said during his official unveiling in January, which featured a five-song performance adjacent to the famed Caesars fountains, Goss has far Gossier objectives than performing at a lounge for the rest of his career.

He's not ruling out larger venues, including arenas.

"(Frank Sinatra) did that his whole career," Goss said. "This show can play a lot bigger. I do understand what it's like to play in front of thousands of people, and I'd love to play The Colosseum on New Year's Eve, something like that." But for now Goss is barge-bound, the wind strong at his back.