A NEW PLACE TO DWELL LISA MARIE PRESLEY CARVES OUT HER OWN MUSICAL IDENTITY ON TOUR.

Byline: Sandra Barrera Music Writer

The other day, before a show, Lisa Marie Presley was holed up on the tour bus with her mom, Priscilla, who was starting to get a bit antsy.

``She didn't have anything to do so she decides to clean the bus and, you know, make coffee for the bus driver. And she's just being,'' the doting Presley laughs, ``a mom.''

The other day, before a show, Lisa Marie Presley was holed up on the tour bus with her mom, Priscilla, who was starting to get a bit antsy.

``She didn't have anything to do so she decides to clean the bus and, you know, make coffee for the bus driver. And she's just being,'' the doting Presley laughs, ``a mom.''

Listening to Presley - performing Saturday at Avalon Hollywood - talk about her famous actress mother is one of those rare moments in the course of an interview when she lets down her guard.

The 35-year-old rock singer, who is also the only child of the legendary Elvis Presley, comes across as serious for the most part. But even so, it's clear that Presley seems to be enjoying this recent outing across the country. Certainly she's enjoying it much more than she did her last tour as opener for roots rocker Chris Isaak, and for good reason.

This is Presley's first headlining trek in support of ``To Whom It May Concern,'' the debut album that Rolling Stone praised as ``a dark memoir, alternately regretful and scathing, dripping confessional acid.''

With the album, Presley, for years the quiet subject of sensational tabloid journalism and romantic mismatches, shows people she's got something to say.

``I honestly think nobody really had a clue about me before my album came out,'' she says. ``I can understand the usual cliche (that the) celebrity kid trying to do something would erect cynicism, but I'm too much of a music person.''

It shows. Since its April release, ``To Whom It May Concern'' has sold nearly 600,000 copies and scored a top 40 hit with the countrified rocker ``Lights Out.'' In her surprisingly throaty alto, Presley allows herself to be vulnerable as she laments over her family legacy. In other songs, she lashes out against her ex-husbands, including Michael Jackson.

But it's in her title track about prescription drugs given to children (Presley has a daughter and son) and in the tribute to ``The King'' called ``Nobody Noticed It'' that she's struck a chord with what Presley describes as a ``potpourri'' of young women and men, bikers and the occasional Elvis impersonator or two.

``I get all types of fans, and it's good. The only time I get upset is when I hear a critic go'' - she says affecting a southern accent - ``she's not like her daddy.''

She laughs at the sarcasm.

``I get mad right off the bat,'' she continues. ``They come to the show thinking they're going to see - I don't know, what? - me in a white jumpsuit or something. So they show up and rip me because I'm not like him.''

It's at moments like this, she says, her support system comes in handy. Her band has become especially protective in the wake of the last several months.

Opening for Isaak over the summer found Presley sick to her stomach much of the time. She was later diagnosed with acid reflux, which was further aggravated by frazzled nerves - and understandably so.

Presley had never before performed for more than three people at a time. And while she dreaded seeing the reviews that would nit-pick her every move, all she could do was grin and bear it.

But why put herself through it?

``I'll tell you why,'' Presley says. ``I see the fans and I know they're singing. I can hear them sometimes almost as loud as I am, you know? It's not about personal torture. I'm not a ham. I'm really quite modest.''

For her, music is serious business, a chance to acquaint people with her on a new level.

``There's no way I could've done this quietly,'' she says. ``I had to stumble through it in front of people and find my own way, which I've finally done. And it's only by doing it every night that it happened.''

Speaking midtour from New Orleans, Presley admits she's still green.

She prefers smaller venues to arenas because it allows her the chance to connect with her following.

``I've got a strong fan base, and it's really amazing to see that every night,'' she says. ``Maybe at some point I'll feel comfortable with trying to dive into that arena thing, but I really just want to do this normally, you know?

``I just want to enjoy it.''

Sandra Barrera, [phone]

sandra.barrera(at)dailynews.com

LISA MARIE PRESLEY

Where: Avalon Hollywood, 1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets: $29.50 to $34.50. Call [phone] or www.ticketmaster.com.

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no caption (Lisa Marie Presley)