New Frills for the Palace

“Free at last” are the words Katie Neill (nee Kate Nelson) is shouting from the Palace balcony. The owner-president of the renowned Hollywood music venue says her recent divorce means big changes for the Palace. She plans to add more interior frills and thrills that were originally vetoed by her ex.

Neill, who received a Woman of the Year award last year from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, can hardly contain her joy. Neither could we when we witnessed hometown hero Bluebird open for the Foo Fighters at the Palace on Friday. With its industry guest list overflowing, the rock quartet rose to the occasion. Their fierce opening set won them new fans--although many Foo fans in the audience believed it when singer Sam Velde proclaimed the group to be from the Canary Islands. (Get it? Bluebird, from the Canary Islands?)

FYI, if the Foo Fighters were any tighter, they’d be spitting diamonds. Kudos to Foo guitarist Chris Shiflett, a former Hollywood scenester who co-promoted the club the Flu, where all newly converted punks got a vinyl history lesson in the real thing. Shiflett’s definitely packing a knock-out punch for the Fighters. . . . Speaking of KO-OGs, Rick Calamaro, who recently opened his first restaurant, Cyrano in West Hollywood, says he had his biggest weekend yet.

I’ll say. Some of the kids who stopped by to check out the scene so far are Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock, Chazz Palminteri, James Woods, Elisabeth Shue, Mark McGrath, Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez (with those boys back on the scene, you know we’re headed for fun).

Why the heavyweight interest? Calamaro’s night life track record includes putting the Fenix Room at the Argyle Hotel on the map, as well as the enormously popular Grand Ville (named after a car Charlie Sheen gave him) and the enormously infamous On the Rox. . . .

Rumor has it, the 7969 club was scorched by a male arsonist. Guess he wasn’t on the guest list.