It’s an ‘80s thing

It’s midnight at Dragonfly and the singer’s wearing a neck brace and high-water pants. The guitarist has tape on his geeky glasses and teeth so bucked-out he could chew corn through a picket fence. The bass player’s wearing a crash helmet and a SpongeBob backpack and the drummer’s break dancing in lederhosen.

So why is the Hollywood nightclub packed with screaming babes and dudes so hot they look like Abercrombie & Fitch cover boys?

Because the Spazmatics are in the house. The ‘80s cover band is the hottest thing to hit Hollywood since Ace Ventura rolled up in a tweaked-out Monte Carlo. For two months, the Sunday night scene at Dragonfly -- one of Hollywood’s classic-rock haunts -- has been building word of mouth.

And when something’s this hot, word travels fast. In a town that prides itself on hipster chic, the Spazmatics trot on stage sporting New Balance tennies and so-snug perma-knit pants.

But the moment they begin their set, it’s revenge of the nerds and then some. The Spazmatics go way beyond kitsch as they blaze into memorable early-’80s tunes by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Wham!, Billy Idol and Adam Ant.

By the time they’re working the Depeche Mode medley, you just can’t get enough.

Despite their chess-club attire, the Spazmatics rock. Here’s the deal: The Spazmatics are one in a long line of uber-groups conceived of by the Wizard of Odds, a.k.a. Perfect World Entertainment manager Jamie Brown.

Brown ushered in the neo-disco era a decade ago as the singer of Boogie Knights, a ‘70s cover band that forever changed the club landscape by offering good times with bad wigs.

The savvy musician figured there’s gold in them thar hills and has since launched the careers of such stellar musical comedy acts as Metal Shop, a howling rock troupe that’s achieving legendary status at the Viper Room on Monday’s “Camaro” night.

Along with a half-dozen disco cover bands, Perfect World’s stable includes the rap crew Hey Whitey 5-0, and such funk acts as Dr. Funkenstein and the Atomic Doggs. Perfect World Entertainment offers serious quality control by putting musicians in each of its bands through a rigorous audition process, and the Spazmatics are as good as it gets.

As it got close to midnight on a recent Sunday, what appeared to be four roadies fine-tuned the equipment for nearly an hour while kids bounced to DJ Morty’s hot set of ‘80s hits. The whole time I’m thinking, “This has to be the band,” and sure enough, the roadies reappeared as first-class nerds, with greased-back hair and Izod sweaters.

The night succeeds on so many levels and much of the credit goes to the Dragonfly itself. Promoter Wes Sabastian (WS Productions) has kept Saturdays bouncing with hip-hop for years and canvassed the town before launching Spazmatics Sundays in mid-March.

Dragonfly owners Anthony Belinger and David Schockett continue to break new ground in a scene that’s become increasingly competitive. At 10 years old, the Dragonfly has managed to stay ahead of the curve by being inventive.

From Wednesday’s rock staple the Pretty Ugly Club to Thursday’s reggae blast, Jamaica Live, and Miss Kitty’s fetish Fridays, the Dragonfly’s nightly entertainment is as varied as it is fun. With the Spazmatics, they now own Sundays. And really, wasn’t the time right to celebrate all things Duran Duran?

Seriously, the fresh-faced crowd was barely born when George Michael worked his groove in sporty shorts while crooning, “Wake me up before you go-go!” But such images will spin in your head as you cruise home, still bouncing.

Truly, the best part of the night is playing name that tune. By the time I remembered “Love Plus One” was by Haircut 100, I was scouring my closet for a polka-dot mini to wear to next Sunday’s gig.

The bottom line, ladies and gents: The boys of summer have arrived.

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Spazmatics

Where: Dragonfly, 6510 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood

When: Every Sunday, 10 p.m.

Cost: $5 cover, 21 and older

Info: (323) 466-6111