Australian Beach Club Is Forging Big Crowds From Metal

The increasing number of places hosting “KNAC Nights” indicates that metal fans like to do more than bang their heads and chug down brews. They like to dance too.

The growing crowds also mean that hard-rock nights are becoming profitable ventures for club owners--which the Australian Beach Club in Orange seems to have figured out. After about eight months, the club is drawing about 800 partyers a week to its Thursday KNAC Nights, and has decided to go metal on Sunday nights as well.

With its gauche beachy interior, the ABC works great for the metal crew. The fluorescent mural of a string bikini-clad scuba diver, hanging out with the wonders of the sea, is but one of several such paintings decorating the walls. From a bubbling hot tub near a small aquarium, two blond babes in black two-pieces sell icy beers to drooling patrons.

Heavy metal videos and concert tapes play on large screen TVs throughout the club on KNAC Nights--not in sync with the tunes blaring from the sound system, but who’s noticing? The club’s playlist includes contemporary metal fare as well as old favorites from Kiss, Cheap Trick and AC/DC; even grinding songs from such “alternative” bands as Jane’s Addiction and the Red Hot Chili Peppers get a spin.

Regardless of all their music’s S&M;/skulls and death-inspired lyrics and imagery, the metal heads at ABC still got into the holiday season this month, decking out a Christmas tree with black and white KNAC buttons and stickers (how sweet).

Another, uh, perfect touch: the tall chain-link fences along the dance floor and enclosing the elevated go-go areas, where anyone can hop in and act out a video vixen fantasy. Patrons seem to love interacting with the walls of these cages, holding on, shimmying down and back up again--a sometimes treacherous task in those four-inch spiked thigh-high boots.

Indeed, KNAC Nights at the ABC are when young ladies can dance as though they’re auditioning for Poison’s next video, and young red-blooded American men can act like Neanderthals. Together, they have a mighty fine time down on the dance floor, discovering new ways to shift and sway to songs never really meant for dancing.

Actually, much of the action takes place on the second floor, where four pool tables stay busy until closing.

All beer and well drinks are $1.50 on KNAC Nights, except for such specialties as the Australian Quaalude, Malibu Wipe Out and Stubbs Green Reef. If your belly starts grumbling, ask a waitress for the Melbourne Munchies menu which features appetizers from fries to spicy barbecued wings, served in hearty portions.

The dress code: no baseball caps. Everything else goes, from stretch pants slashed to reveal buns and thighs to such supposedly rebellious statement T-shirts as the ones sold near the bar (the politically incorrect tees knock safe sex and other people’s sexual preferences and use the F-word in every grammatical form possible). There is, of course, plenty of long overtreated tendrils on the gals and guys, bleached or dyed for maximum effect.

* KNAC NIGHTS at the Australian Beach Club

Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

3845 Metropolitan Drive, Orange.

Age limit: 21 and over.

No cover.

(714) 634-8308.