American Idol contestant Rudy Cardenas isn't revealing the song he plans to perform during Tuesday's competition, for fear of jinxing himself.

"I will leave everything on the stage, no regrets," said the Venezuela native who graduated from Cherry Creek High School and the University of Northern Colorado. "I'm going to sing something from my rockier side - a '70s rock tune. I kind of want to surprise everyone since people are expecting something Latin from me right out of the gate."

Being in the top 24 on America's most popular TV show is a far cry from high school choir.

"In Cherry Creek, I was in every choir I could possibly be in," said Cardenas, 28, who moved to NYC, Seattle and L.A. after college graduation. "By the time I was a senior, I was in four or five choirs."

He says his classmates and mentors at Creek wouldn't be surprised at his singing situation. "They would say it kind of figures. I was so involved in music and every aspect of music there. I had my own vocal group called The Other Side of Soul - very embarrassing, but we had so much fun."

Although Cardenas says he's "in it to win it," if he gets the hook Tuesday (7 p.m., Fox 31), he'll go back to his L.A. life as a professional musician with no regrets.

"I'm so confident in myself, I will be happy whatever the outcome is. I have the highest hopes that I will go far."

MEL'S MOVE: Mel Master, owner of Mel's Bar and Grill for 12 years in Cherry Creek North, has decided to pull up stakes.

As I told you last month, Master was unsure of the popular eatery's fate after Western Development Group - headed by Christian Anschutz, son of mogul Phil Anschutz - bought the building at 235 Fillmore St. With two years left on the old lease, Master said he wasn't willing to pour dough into the spot without a long-term lease.

Western Development did offer Master a new lease, but the deal wasn't to the restaurateur's liking. Whether Western Development planned to rehab the building or tear it down, it would mean that Mel's would have to close for an extended period. Instead, Master will close the place as soon as a new buyer comes forward who is willing to take over the rest of Mel's lease and negotiate a new deal with the landlord.

"We'll keep it going until someone comes forward with an offer," Master said. "Meanwhile, our staff will work their hardest to keep it as wonderful as ever, and we'll have one (heck) of a party when we close."

Meanwhile, Master has taken over the old Ventura Grill space in the Tech Center and signed a letter of intent to buy Ocotillo, the restaurant space next door.

RED FACES, RED CARPET: Local lawyers K.C. Veio and Brent Kline, along with their wives, were caught red-faced on the red carpet during the Directors' Guild awards this month in L.A.

After a day shopping, the foursome, in jeans and T-shirts, drove a rented Lincoln Continental to the front door of their hotel, where a crowd had gathered to watch the red-carpet celeb strut.

"Needless to say, the fans behind the ropes were a little dismayed when we got out of the car and popped the trunk open to unload our shopping bags," Veio said. "They were not disappointed, however, when they saw Brad (Pitt) and Angelina (Jolie) arriving just moments after us."

BHTM TIME: Big Head Todd and the Monsters return to their roots for a March 7 concert at Boulder's Fox Theatre. The trio will feature songs from their latest CD, From The Archives, a compilation of demos and songs from their earliest studio days. Tickets: 303-443-3399.

EAVESDROPPING on a man walking down the top-level steps at the Pepsi Center after the Bob Seger concert: "That little ant down there sounded a lot like Bob Seger."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.