Dave Alvin, the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist, and younger brother of Phil Alvin, was at one time a Pleasure Baron. The Barons were a San Diego band formed in 1989 by Dan McLain, aka Country Dick Montana, who was a founding member of the Beat Farmers. The other Baron was Mojo Nixon, a local headliner at area venues such as the Spirit Club, Bodie’s, and the Spring Valley Inn.

They toured twice and released a CD, Live in Las Vegas. The Barons specialty was goofball rockers such as Montana’s “Ultimate Tom Jones Medley,” on which Alvin performed with rootsy glee.

Their rowdy stage show chronicled on their 1993 concert album (from their second and final tour) didn't include the following encounter with an audience member.

"Some guy in the audience in Isla Vista was heckling me nonstop," Alvin told the Reader, "and Mojo...jumped off the stage, grabbed the loudmouth, threw him to the floor, and dry-humped him into submission while the audience cheered. The poor heckler -- after Mojo was finished punishing him -- ran out the front door and probably never heckled anyone again. When Mojo jumped back onstage, Country Dick said, 'Good job, Mojo. Please come by my room later.'"

The Pleasure Barons once described themselves as "a Las Vegas revue from acts who aren't going to be asked to play Vegas."