Rock Out

ROCK OUT

Remember when Thursday nights used to be totally bangin’ at The 3 Clubs? Well, looks like Hollywood’s OG (original guzzler) dive is busting eardrums once again, with a new stage and sound system — and promoter Big Blackhawkbooking Thursday nights.We popped in last week to catch the noisy nymphettes in Rocketwhipping the crowd to attention with their trashy, ’60s-tinged tart rock. The ladies have been everywhere lately: After opening gigs for Morningwood and The Ark, and notice from iconic producer Tony Visconti, they’re currently doing the West Coast dates of the Warped Tour. The 3 Clubs’ new stage is sure to renew interest in the space — it’s perfect for the club’s Monday comedy nights, Tuesday “Tease at 3’s” burlesque revues, and weekend DJ parties. (Velvet Margarita’s Big Daddy Carlos still mans Fridays, while Motochrist’s Ricky Vodka pumps up Saturdays.) But owner Marc Smithtells us he’s even more amped about his latest downtown drinking spot, The Edison, due to open by summer’s end. Housed in an authentic old electric-company building, the bar will feature vintage-style live entertainment and maintain its generators and boilers as part of the décor. Thankfully, the corpses Smith found in the formerly abandoned space are long-gone.

KNOCK OUT

Speaking of Hollywood dives, if ya like ’em laid-back & lowbrow (in a cool way), check out Tiny’s K.O. on the boulevard between Ivar and Cahuenga. Proving you can’t go wrong with pictures of naked ladies and clowns — not to mention a little wood paneling and orange-hued accents — this intimate bar and grill was just opened by indie/punk producer Steve Kravac, Ten Foot Pole guitarist Steve Carnanand Bad Religion/Circle Jerks’ Greg Hetson. The place aims to take over where old faves such as Smalls K.O. left off; last Friday, the place sported more ink than a printing press, while the jukebox blasted some hell-raising hardcore from the likes of The Misfits and Fear. Oh, and all the food has punk-rock-type names, too — for example, the BLT is called a T&A. Yup, this one is absolutely not for the velvet-rope crowd, and it’s about time. On a street oversaturated with swanky/snobby dance clubs, it’s a hole in the wall ya won’t want to crawl out of.

JOCK OUT

Magic Johnson handed over the torch for his children’s-charity work to L.A.-born NBA players Baron Davis and Paul Pierce at last weekend’s Midsummer Night’s Dream series of events. The benefit, which raised dough for local underprivileged youth, kicked off with a celebrity poker tournament Friday at Avalon: The club was transformed into a Vegas casino, attracting gamblers including Donnie Wahlberg, Benji Maddenand loyal Lakers fan Penny Marshall. The next night, Snoop Doggand David Bannerperformed a very late show at House of Blues, though it didn’t seem to affect either rapper’s skillz the following day at Staples Center, where both participated in a celeb B-ball bout along with Usher, Brandy, Nick Cannon and football fella Terrell Owens. Snoop got game all right; he and the other singing stars actually played harder than the pros, who seemed more concerned with their bling (which was blinding) and goofing around than the basket most of the time. It was like watching the Harlem Globetrotters “on ice.” Fun fo’ shizzle.