Into the Underground

It may get a little cramped, but Club Dump at The Blue Saloon every Thursday and Saturday offers local, alternative rock bands a chance to do their thing before a receptive crowd. Five dollars gets you into the club, hosted by a dude named Yowsah; if you bring a can of food for his food drive, you get a $1 discount.

THE SCENE: By midnight, the tiny venue is in full gear. People are squeezing by each other and standing on tippy toes to see the band located in an area that resembles a room more than a stage. The performance area is not elevated, forcing patrons to peek in-between and peer around heads to see. There are games going at both pool tables, which barely fit between the entrance and a small seating area. The bar has two TVs overhead, one on each side, and roughly 150 people make the place standing room only.

CROWD: Club Dump is a 21-and-over melting pot of T-shirts, flannel, bandannas, tennis shoes, boots, goatees, tight blouses, tattoos, Harley Davidson-wear, nose rings, shorts, enough black leather jackets to make a cow nervous and hair of all kinds--long, short, shaved, dyed, permed and severely damaged.

MUSIC: These bands would have Beavis and Butthead in the middle of the floor bobbing their heads. Kiss the Monkey--who could give Whale a serious run for its money--and Dazed Pigs were the featured bands this particular Saturday. Although people seemed genuinely into the music during the early hours of the evening, the crowd was low on energy, opting for hearty yelps, whistles and Homer Simpson-like “woohoos,” rather than the more taxing practice of clapping. Madison, the lead singer of Kiss the Monkey, took this personally and began to vent her frustration.

MADISON (after fourth song): “You can make some noise, we did!”

GOOD: Raffi Agopian, a member of the underground rock/punk band Capital Radio, likes the fact that Club Dump hires local bands to play without too many questions. “All other bars care about is how many people you can draw. Club Dump cares more about the music, so they get better underground bands.” About the atmosphere, Hollywood resident Johnny Szary, 27, said, “People are young and usually eager to talk to you. There’s no attitude here.” MADISON (after sixth song): “You can clap now . . . I hope you’re liking it as much as me!”

BAD: “There’s not enough seating,” said Kathee Schneider, 28, of Hollywood, lucky enough to find a seat at the bar. “The stage needs to be higher so people can see,” added Agopian.

MADISON: (before the last song): This has got to be the most fun in the world, man. My suggestion, get your ass a band, man, ‘cause this rules.”

Club Dump at The Blue Saloon, 4657 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, offers live alternative rock, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays. $5 cover. Live music from blues to rock is offered Wednesday to Saturday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Saturday, noon to 2 a.m. Sunday. Call (818) 766-4644.