At Kulak’s Woodshed, More Song Than Scene

The guy on stage at your average Hollywood nightclub has competition. Showy scenesters, flashy bartenders, flirty patrons all demand attention. But at Kulak’s Woodshed, a homespun nook reserved for serious songwriters, the only ones who come to be seen are the performers.

Nestled into two storefronts in a North Hollywood strip mall, Kulak’s Woodshed features the decor of a college apartment. Album covers and posters of music icons are tacked to the walls, CDs hang from clothespins strung along the wood beams, bookcases are filled with dusty literature and the furniture is a mix of mismatched chairs, a threadbare couch, a row of theater seats, even a recliner--all facing the stage.

Here, the focus is on the performer. Owner Paul Kulak, 42, was himself a struggling singer-songwriter who wanted a musical outlet for, as he says, “my own selfish reasons.” But in the two years he’s been running the Woodshed, Kulak discovered that he wasn’t so selfish, that other artists wanted a low-key, no-attitude setting to hone material and to jam.

What makes Kulak’s special for musicians are the attentive audiences. They radiate respect for talented songwriters who might otherwise fall below the mainstream radar. Patrons not only keep distracting chitchat to a minimum, they sometimes join in with performers. A pile of percussion instruments by the stage encourages it. Regulars, such as cowboy songs-man Mark Romano, often have the entire audience rattling shakers and singing along.

Marlena Bond invites that kind of behavior by booking quirky acts and providing lots of opportunity for experimentation. There’s an open-mike night on Mondays and open poetry-reading nights are scheduled. “I want artists who have something to say,” says Bond. “We’ve been really blessed with a lot of musicians who have the ability to write great songs. There’s a lot of raw talent out there. They don’t need to have a professional career to play here.”

Kulak runs his club with no cover fee and a staff of volunteers. The labor of love nearly collapsed in the first year, until Bond stepped in. Donations keep the place out of the red. Coffee and sodas are sold on the honor system (dropping a dollar into the bucket). But sales aren’t pushed: the drinks are in a lounge in the back-strategically placed in the rear to keep the focus on the stage.

Despite its humble digs and champion-of-the-underdog spirit, Kulak’s attracts its share of nationally known talent. Regulars here include guitarist Shane Fontayne (who played with Bruce Springsteen and Lone Justice) and Freebo (of Bonnie Raitt’s band); both come to try out their impressive solo material. Guitarist Albert Lee, John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) and Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses) also have taken the stage at Kulak’s.

Often Kulak and Bond invite one artist to host a night, encouraging each to bring other favorite acts. “Usually great performers know other great performers, and you get a whole night of great performances,” says Kulak.

On one recent Saturday night, crowds spilled out on the sidewalk for host Kyle Vincent, a noted pop songsmith who brought along artists such as Ron Dante (who sang the Archies’ hit “Sugar, Sugar”), much to the delight of the audience.

Asks Vincent, “Why in the world would I want to play a club in Hollywood where I have to sell myself and people don’t even pay attention to the show? At Kulak’s I can play a packed house where people are listening to every word I’m singing and appreciating every song.”

Kulak’s vibe is so downright homey that people even bring their pets. One evening a woman sat in front of the stage with her cat on her lap. At the same time, a beagle tagged along with its owner, zigzagging through the maze of chairs. A birdcage, a fish tank and frogs can be found in residence here, and nobody seems to mind. “I’ll be in the middle of a heartfelt ballad and hear ‘Croak, croak, ribbet, ribbet.’ I’ll think, yep, I’m at Kulak’s!” says Vincent, laughing. “I played once and a dog was at my feet under the piano.”

For Kulak, the venue is not about money or the number of people coming in the door; it’s about spreading the word on unknown talent.

“I’m kind of on a mission to hip people to the enormous wealth of singer-songwriters out there who are routinely ignored,” he says. “They should be celebrated. That’s where I’m coming from.”

Kulak’s Woodshed, 52301/2 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood. Show times vary. No cover. All ages. (818) 766-9913 or www.kulakswoodshed.com .