Dreamlands for Our Critics : If you could enjoy your favorite pastime anywhere, where would it be? Calendar’s film, music, pop, theater, art and TV critics reveal their wishes. : Lemme Take a Tijuana Taxi to Iguana’s

The early months of 1992 shape up as an especially inviting time for rock ‘n’ roll concerts around the country.

Look for these possibilities:

* The first U2 dates since the release of the band’s “Achtung Baby,” album, which was voted the best album of 1991 by The Times’ pop writers.

* Bruce Springsteen’s first tour since the worldwide Amnesty International swing three years ago and, presumably, his first without the E Street Band.

* The North American debut of the Stone Roses, the wonderfully appealing English band that mixes ‘60s American guitar-rock sentiments with contemporary dance-funk currents.

* The first West Coast dates by Guns N’ Roses since guitarist Gilby Clarke replaced Izzy Stradlin in the colorful hard-rock group.

* Prince’s first U.S. tour since the “Lovesexy” dates in 1988.

Now, if we could only see them all in my favorite rock club in the world . . . Iguanas.

Located within walking distance of the U.S. border in Tijuana, the 1,000-capacity venue is everything that a rock ‘n’ roll club should be: great sight lines, ample dance floor, superior sound system and a touch exotic.

Because of its limited capacity, Iguanas mostly features upcoming new bands such as (among its actual 1991 bookings) Jesus Jones, EMF, Deee-Lite, Nirvana and Dinosaur Jr.

However, the room is such an ideal showcase for a band that it’s only a matter of time before some arena-sized attractions realize the advantages of opening--or perhaps just spicing up--a tour in such a seductive setting. No other room of its size lets you feel so completely the energy and sizzle of a band.

Opened in 1989, the $1.3-million facility is located, unlikely enough, in a small, otherwise nondescript shopping mall. But going to Iguanas is like stepping into a special world.

You start by walking up the winding staircases to a patio area that seems part of a free-zone between the urban Mexican landscape around you and the sounds of pulsating rock ‘n’ roll coming from inside the club.

Entering the main room, you walk through a dimly lit tunnel of sorts to the dance floor in front of the stage. It’s fine place to watch the show--if you don’t mind the human bumper-car action that seems to start up at the hint of a guitar riff.

But you can get an even greater sense of the action by going up to one of the two side balconies or the rear balcony where you can lock into the shared energy and emotion of the band and the audience.

With just an average band, it’s a great place to be. Put a great band in there and it’ll be a night to treasure--for the band and the audience. How long before a U2 or Stone Roses accepts the challenge?