Raji’s Is Downscale, But Not Out, Among Hollywood Boulevard Nightclubs
Dobbs, the monosyllabically named proprietor of Raji’s, was shaking his head. “We’re the McDonald’s of nightclubs,” he noted with a sigh. “There’s got to be a place for people like us.”
By “us” he was referring to himself and the habitues of Raji’s, an alternative to all the aiming-to-be-upscale clubs that have sprung up on Hollywood Boulevard recently--Spice, Hollywood Live, that bunch. Raji’s is downscale with a vengeance, starting with its location: the basement of an unfashionable hotel on the “wrong” side of Vine Street, across the boulevard from Pep Boys.
Eighteen is the minimum age for admission; the kitchen serves Mexican food, hamburgers, hot dogs and the like; beer is the strongest drink sold; the door charge is either $5 or $7, depending on the act; there’s no dress code; and those aspiring to fashion would be laughed out of the room--if the patrons of Raji’s were the type to worry about such things, which they’re not.
Dobbs, 43, stout and often sporting a couple of days’ growth of beard, comes to Los Angeles from Peoria, Ill., where he and two partners owned a chain of 25 record stores scattered throughout the Midwest. Dobbs managed the Cathay de Grande, another modest club, which went out of business. (The China Club, another of those upscale hangouts, occupies its space now, a couple of blocks from Raji’s.) Dobbs has spent nearly five years building Raji’s in his own image.
In so doing, he’s attracted most of Los Angeles’ best bands, including Thelonious Monster, Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs, Dave Alvin, Rosie Flores. One wall is papered with album covers, autographed by acts that have played the 175-person-capacity room. Even Guns N’ Roses has played Raji’s.
Last Saturday night, Dobbs was despondent. Onstage was Billy Bremner, a member of Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe’s former group, Rockpile, and the guitarist on two Pretenders albums. Though the room was moderately full, with fans including “Cheers” co-star George Wendt (who would have figured beer-nursing “Norm” for a rock fan?), attendance was down. According to published rumors, the club was ready to close, and at least one local weekly paper had not run Raji’s calendar listings for the weekend.
The truth is, Dobbs said, that he and his silent partner (for whose 16-year-old son the nightclub is named) are selling their lease on the space, but the prospective new owners--Korean investors--have pledged to keep him and the present staff in place, after refurbishing. Escrow on the sale hasn’t closed yet, and with current city restrictions on nightclub licensing, it might not.
Raji’s is open Wednesday through Saturday nights, with live music between 10:30 p.m. and 2 a.m., until further notice. The club is at 6160 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Call (213) 469-4552 for current listings.
Shandi--another single-name personality--has been playing L.A. clubs since she moved here from Florida about 15 years ago and recorded two albums for nationally distributed labels.
But you might know her best for a couple of appearances she made earlier this year on “Late Night with David Letterman.”
“Jenny Muldaur, Michelle Grey and I were touring with Todd Rundgren,” Shandi said the other day, “and when we heard Letterman joke to Paul Shaffer, his bandleader, that he’d like to see some backup singers with the band, we called up and volunteered. After our offer was accepted, we’d fly in to New York from wherever we were on the tour, rehearse for 15 minutes in Paul’s office and for a few more minutes with the band, and then go on.”
Shandi, whose last name is Sinnamon, is currently working on her own music, which she describes as “Patsy Cline meets Billie Holiday in Connee Boswell’s house, and they’re discussing how they’d like to make love to Ray Charles.”
She’s been cutting an album with producers Keith Wechler and Rod Coark, and will be previewing some of the original songs at At My Place on Wednesday night. “I know what I’m doing isn’t Paula Abdul or Madonna,” she said, “but I feel very led to this music. It sounds like old standards, and I hope that the songs become new standards.”
Shandi and her band will perform at At My Place, 1026 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, at 9:30 Wednesday night, with the Housewives opening at 8. Admission is $7.50. For further information, call (213) 451-8596.