From Mosh Pits to Disco Hits, Thunderbird Is a Perfect Fit
As Thunderbird enters its sixth month, the Newport Beach super-club in Lido Village is enjoying the kind of consistent success that its longer-running competitors must surely envy.
Weekends are as busy as the best rides at Disneyland. But the crowds don’t seem to dissuade anyone from returning. In fact, many are stopping in a second or third time during the week.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. April 13, 1995 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday April 13, 1995 Orange County Edition OC Live! Page 4 OC Live Desk 2 inches; 51 words Type of Material: Correction
Different owners--Because of an editing error, last week’s Wanna Dance? column incorrectly identified Gregg Mullholland, Jonathan Marshall, Mike Tuomisto and Johnny Drummond as former owners of Bacchus in Newport Beach. None of the four was involved in the operation of Bacchus. Mullholland and Marshall now run Thunderbird, at the former Bacchus location.
Thunderbird owners Gregg Mullholland and Jonathan (Scorchman) Marshall must be feeling pretty smug about now.
The pair were part owners of Bacchus, the club that previously inhabited this 17,000-square-foot building. Bacchus was a dud from Day One, and two of its owners, Mike Tuomisto and Johnny Drummond, opted out when it closed in April of last year after about six months of operation. Mullholland and Marshall reopened the club as Thunderbird and have managed to keep its format popular enough to seduce every surf punk within a 20-mile radius. Veteran green-hairs in golf shoes, skimpy imps with kiddie backpacks, college kids and even a half-dozen or so yuppie suits make up the mix.
Thursdays take a stage-dive into the weekends with Thunderbird Lodge. Live punk bands pack the upstairs area, where a mosh pit usually erupts. But it’s more a case of roughhouse nostalgia among these “old” (twenty- and thirtysomething) punks than a frenzied release of pent-up energy. In the downstairs lounge it’s deejay E-Wok, hosting a less crowded, dance-mix getaway for those who want to groove and chat instead of slam and yell.
The dance hall downstairs opens Friday and Saturday, with Scorchman working the vinyl both nights. It’s mostly a radio-friendly mix, but the packed room doesn’t seem to care.
The rest of the club takes on a smoother feel those nights. Fridays, deejay Mo (nee Paul Moen) spins acid jazz and rare groove in the front lounge, while stick players upstairs can get blue with the likes of Bernie Pearl, the Henry Carbohal Four, the Rhythm Lords and Harmonica Fats on stage. At “Scorch’s Haus” on Saturday nights, the deejay is replaced by live jazz and blues outfits performing in the downstairs lounge.
The Sabbath is no time to rest, just another reason for some serious bumpin’ at Thunderbird Boogie Nights, with deejay E-Wok in the lounge and Lil’ Ken in the main dance hall. It’s a disco thing.
If you’re totally broke by Tuesday, Mullholland and Marshall entice you back without a cover to Strut. This showcase for grunge and garage bands gives new acts a chance to jam for local feedback (and possibly a gig on a better night). The crowd is mostly band buddies and die-hard partyers.
On any night, a secret getaway from all the sweaty raucousness is the upstairs den, next to the Locals Lounge.
A large table surrounded by a dozen antique chairs occupies the expanse of the rectangular room, and heavy drapes canopy the ceiling. It looks like a spooky boardroom designed for vampires.
Thunderbird serves $2 drafts nightly. A glass of wine, well drinks and domestic or imported bottled beers are $3; call drinks are $4 and premiums, $5.
THUNDERBIRD
* 3505 Via Oporto, Newport Beach.
* (714) 960-7067.
* Open Thursday through Sunday and Tuesday, 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
* $5 cover Thursday through Sunday. Free on Tuesdays.
