CLUBS
It’s a jam on Vine
So it’s nice to have the China Club Pro-Jam back. The weekly jam session organized by Allan “AK” Kaufman, absent the last couple of years, features often-revelatory performances by studio musicians, sidemen or touring artists. And that’s exactly what happened at Thursday’s grand opening of the Vine Street Lounge, the hot new Hollywood club. The moment that dreadlocked singer Bernard Fowler from One Good Reason opened his mouth, everyone in the room asked, “Who is that?” Fowler, who anchored the Rolling Stones’ vocal section for the last 15 years, delivered a knockout rendition of David Bowie’s “Heroes.” The China Club Pro-Jam will settle into a regular Monday rotation.... King Straggler, the band fronted by actor John Hawkes (“Deadwood,” “The Perfect Storm”), opened the party.... More Vine Street: Danny Masterson will be moving his Sunday jazz club to the new venue, and promoter Michael Sutton will take over Tuesdays on Feb. 22.
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Star sightings
Endeavor uber-agent Patrick Whitesell celebrated his 40th birthday Saturday at Las Palmas with such A-listers as Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and David Arquette.... Bumped into doorman Steven Harlow at the Diffs gig at the Roxy on Monday -- Harlow’s cousin Danny Boy is now the doorman at Geisha House.... And while we’re on the subject, we popped into Geisha on Thursday and got an eyeful of star power. Kicking it at the sexy new restaurant and nightclub, which looks like it was transported straight outta Tokyo, were Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, all celebrating Tallulah Willis’ 11th birthday.... And you didn’t hear it from me, but the Alliance is throwing Usher a Grammy party at Geisha on Sunday. Shhh....The lunatics known as Heavy Metal Happy Hour kick off a Sunday residency at the Scene in Glendale this weekend.
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Burger bonanza
Attention all party crashers: We hear In-N-Out is catering Louis XIV’s midday show at the Gig in Hollywood on Tuesday.... Don’t miss Mata Hari at Tangier on Wednesday. The event includes Abby Travis and her six-piece band, DJ Bonebrake’s Orchestra Superstring and Club Make-Up songstress Mz. Alanna.... The Monday Night Social is now turning up the heat at Nacional.... And just when you’re thinking Colin Farrell couldn’t be any cooler, he shows up at Cozy’s in Sherman Oaks to catch a set from Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys.... Speaking of heartbreakers, here are a few Valentine’s Day options: Poncho Sanchez at the Conga Room; a special erotic menu at the Zen Grill in Westwood; and dancing at Chi in WeHo, where DJs David Orlando and Scott Oster promise to spin oodles of Barry White, ladykiller extraordinaire.
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-- Heidi Siegmund Cuda