A Guide for Those Fans Who Follow the Beat

So where do you go to rock ‘n’ roll to live music this side of the Santa Monica Mountains? Here’s a sampling of what’s out there:

METRO, 7230 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park (818) 713-9440. This nightspot has gone through several incarnations over the years and seems to have come out better than ever. Its unobtrusive exterior conceals a dark, sparsely decorated interior that retains a grace not apparent in most clubs (a holdover from its days as the Phases disco). A varied booking policy--hard rock and heavy metal on weekends, old psychedelia Wednesdays at Club Dead, and a variety of sounds (from pop to New Wave) Wednesdays and Sundays.

The youngest crowd shows up, ironically, for Club Dead. The bar prominently offers a variety of juice drinks alongside the beer, both moderately priced. Capacity is 297; covers range from $5 to $8. Special shows are planned this weekend (Fun House, World War III and Bone Idol tonight; The Lost City, United Snakes and Velocity on Saturday) to introduce the club’s new stage and light system.

BEBOP RECORDS & FINE ART, 18433 Sherman Way, Reseda (818) 881-1654. This small room is an eclectic record shop by day and coffeehouse (minus the coffee, or beer, for that matter) by night. When the sun goes down, 49 folding chairs are unfolded, the lights dimmed and a living room setting created. You’ll see anything from punk to poetry here, with folk, blues and rock thrown in. It’s owned and operated by CalArts grad Richard Bruland: “What I look for is bands that tend to tell me something, people who are trying to put out a certain personal viewpoint so at the end of evening, you have something to think about.”

Among the more popular bands are the Bed Shredders, a local rock ‘n’ roll band with a “Tex-adelic” sound; Chance, a combination classical folk and pop band; and Life is Grand Band, “three women who do real good vocal harmonies”; plus solo artists like Victoria Williams and Tony Gilkyson (still of X and formerly of Lone Justice).

SASCH, 11345 Ventura Blvd., Studio City (818) 769-5555. This trendy club is a disco with live music on weekends (Ecstasy has played there for six years), but turns into a music showcase Tuesdays through Thursdays. The clientele changes accordingly. The club, which boasts of having hosted early appearances by Animotion, Richard Marx, Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo and Mr. Mister, still lures nationally known musicians (Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon) to sit in unannounced with friends.

Rock and R&B--some; of it quite good--dominate weeknight bookings, but do call first. “The only thing I don’t book is country-Western,” said owner Tommy Chin, “and no New Wave or punk bands either.” Fire marshals have set a 355-person maximum. Weeknight covers vary, $7 on weekends.

FM STATION, 11700 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood (818) 769-2220. This club has gone through a number of transformations over the years--before and since L.A. rock entrepreneur Filthy McNasty took over the place. Despite some obvious wear and tear on the once-plush decor, it has retained a certain allure. Boasts booker Janna Jonet: “They’re calling it the Valley Rainbow,” referring to the once-glamorous Sunset Strip club/eatery.

Straight-ahead rock is king here, but acts do run “from soft to hard to glam rock to KROQ bands.” There also are occasional concert acts (Leon Russell, Edgar Winter, Billy Preston and, most recently, Firefall). The fire marshal says the place holds 350. It features a big dance floor, lots of colored lights, a video screen, a couple of pool tables and a back-room bar. Live music seven nights a week from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. (4 a.m. on weekends). Covers vary.

TEN PESOS, 15627 Ventura Blvd., Encino (818) 783-9639. If you rocked 10 years ago but don’t anymore, this could be the place for you. This trendy new Tex-Mex restaurant on Ventura Boulevard near the San Diego Freeway has the best bar around for disenfranchised rockers. It fills the void created by the closing of Josephina’s in Sherman Oaks, which specialized in vintage rock and R&B.; It’s as if all the fine players just moved their things down the block and set up shop.

R&B; dominates, but you can hear blues, rock and what-have-you on a given night, mostly because you never know what sideman might stop by to unwind after a day at the studio. It appeals to the 25 and up crowd, mostly up, and is one of the few upscale places that the Valley trendy have to hear music. Music from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

PALOMINO, 6907 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood (818) 764-4010. Nothing has changed physically here in the last 10 years--photos of country music legends are everywhere and hand-painted black-light posters still advertise upcoming bookings, but since the passing of longtime owner Tommy Thomas 2 1/2 years ago, the musical focus has changed to rock. The club hosts more national acts than anywhere else around, but it’s mixed with the more obscure.

“I tend to carry more roots rock, R&B; stuff like the Blasters, or blues or country rock,” said owner Billy Thomas, Tommy’s nephew. “We don’t carry the heavy stuff or mainstream or pop rock.” It holds 480 and, these days, the seating isn’t quite as tight as it used to be. Monday is talent night, Tuesday is local country night and Wednesday is a KROQ local music showcase.

COUNTRY CLUB, 18415 Sherman Way, Reseda (818) 881-5601. This 10-year-old, 950-seat club/concert hall is going through some tough times and, while still a great place for music, is only a shadow of its former self. The focus remains straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll (“We stopped booking speed metal”), but now features local bands about to break rather than, as it once did, those that already had broken.

Some of the classic rockers still stop by but, most nights, it’s a slate of three or four local bands. Watch the weekends for the top names. Caters primarily to the 18-35 set who see rock as a way of life, but crowds change dramatically with the booking. Beers run $3 and covers from $8 to $15.

THE STAGE, 10540 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood (818) 985-9937. More a local bar with music than a nightclub, this small room was the Plush Bunny back in the 1960s. There’s nothing very plush about it these days, but it does have a casual atmosphere, friendly regulars and concerned employees who make sure you’re having a good time. Music seven nights a week at a nominal cover, reasonable drink prices and, yes, sometimes even good music.

R&B; dominates, but rock and blues (Monday night is blues jam) also are offered up. The atmosphere fits the earthy neighborhood--as do some of the patrons--but if you’re 30-plus and strictly casual, it could be worth a try. As one longtime regular put it: “There aren’t many places you can go to hear some music, have some fun and just relax.”

STAGE WEST, 17044 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills (818) 360-3310. This unassuming club, formerly the Antique Mirror, has changed little in the past decade. Like its namesake, it’s more a bar with music than a nightclub, only here the edge is harder and the music less refined. A partitioned, sofa-filled room has seen better days and in no way provides an escape from its hard-rock booking policy. So don’t come here to talk. Full bar and cover on weekends only, when local talent fills the stage.