It’s a few degrees cooler on Lankershim

Just when you thought North Hollywood couldn’t get any cooler, Kane Wickham buys a bar. The Hollywood rocker, who worked as a bartender, manager and booking agent at such nightclubs as Bar Deluxe, Hollywood Billiards and Golderfingers, is now heading up the Thunderbird Saloon, a red-hot gem of a bar on Lankershim Boulevard.

Smack in the middle of NoHo’s arts district, which includes a multitude of thrift shops, coffeehouses and theaters, the Thunderbird Saloon is a rock ‘n’ roll haven. In a mere six months, Wickham has created a scene that’s like an annex to Hollywood. On any given night, you can see first-rate rock bands hit the stage, along with top blues, alternative country and rockabilly acts. Not to mention the weekly burlesque shows.

It’s a tall order for a small bar, but the space is so cozy and the sound system so sharp, artists are already lining up to play.

“Kane’s always been a huge supporter of the Hollywood band scene,” says rocker Texas Terri, whose band, Texas Terri Bomb, plays the Thunderbird Saloon on Friday, along with the Chelsea Smiles and the Blare Bitch Project. “He’s such a music lover, and it’s a great club to play.”

On a recent rainy Saturday, Jennifer Albers made the trek from Redondo Beach to see the Chelsea Smiles rip it up. “I like this club because it’s dark and swanky,” says Albers. “And they’ve got the bands I want to see.”

Formerly the Blue Saloon and the Devil’s Punchbowl, the Thunderbird Saloon is doing a lot of things right. The bar is very dark and very red, giving it a warm feeling from the moment you walk in, like you’ve entered the womb of rock. And those who like to enjoy their music rather than be assaulted by it will appreciate the fact that Wickham knows that “louder” doesn’t mean “better.” He encourages each band to play at a suitable volume. In addition, the cover charge is never more than $10 and is often free.

And despite a great weekly lineup, which includes bluesman Carlos Guitarlos on Monday nights, soulful crooner Jake LaBotz on most Tuesdays, the burlesque troupes Caberet du Carnale on Wednesdays and the Reservoir Cats on Sundays, Wickham likes to keep switching things up.

“Sometimes it’s just a bar,” he says. “It’s almost too small to be a rock club, but I know too many musicians to not put them in here. But I don’t always want to have live music every night, because I like people to just be able to come down and hang.”

Even on those nights, the Thunderbird Saloon offers plenty of entertainment. Culling from the freshest crop in Hollywood, DJs such as Casper, Annathena and Marty McMartin give club-goers plenty to rock about. A smartly stocked jukebox doesn’t hurt either. Among the selections are the Misfits, Cheap Trick, Social Distortion, the Damned, Tom Petty, Rose Flores, Hank Williams, the Doors and Elvis. Attracting Hollywood to this side of the hill is no small feat, but it seems everyone’s getting in on the action. Rapper DMX came out to see the band Backbiter, while the Distillers hung out on a recent Sunday to check out the Reservoir Cats. Bands such as Motochrist, the White Trash Debutantes, No Means No and the Groovy Rednecks keep coming back for more. And Speedbuggy recorded a live album at the Thunderbird.

The most recent bit of news is that Ronnie Mack’s Barndance -- a free night of alternative country music now in its 16th year -- recently relocated to the Thunderbird. You can check out the Barndance the first Tuesday of each month.

With the success of such hotspots as Studio City’s Minibar, Firefly, Clear and Sapphire, along with NoBar in North Hollywood and Coda and Senor Fred in Sherman Oaks, the Valley is starting to look like a smart place to open a bar.

The best thing about the Thunderbird Saloon, however, is it’s simply a cool spot to kick it for a night.

“It’s a fun little place to hang,” says Reggie Ige, who drove from Huntington Beach to check out the latest incarnation of the Seattle surf-rock band the Boss Martians. “There’s no attitude here, and that alone makes it worth the trip.”

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Thunderbird Saloon

Where: 4657 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood

When: Nightly, 8 p.m.-2 a.m.

Who: 21 and older

Info: (818) 766-4644 or www.thunderbirdla.com