China Beach Rushes In With the Live Disco Tide

Orangenoes can’t get enough of old school disco. Club promoters keep providing it, and patrons continue showing up--in droves. But not all disco nights are created equal. The China Beach Canteen in San Clemente has put a spin on the format, forgoing deejays and vinyl Saturday nights for live grooves by two blistering bands.

The old, family owned Chinese restaurant was transformed in August into dudesville, complete with spray-painted surf murals, dried palm leaves and surfboards doubling as signs. The dining room tables have been replaced by pool tables, pinball machines and a jukebox stocked with alternative music. Most of the Chinese lamps are gone, and in their place hang plastic beer lights.

The few artifacts left from its former self are a couple of embroidered, red lamps at the entrance, dozens of seats covered in red Chinese satin and plastic (which are getting a slight thrashing) and several traditional Chinese pictures that compete with banners from county-based surf-wear companies.

The result is an eclectic mix of China and beach, emphasis on the latter. The clientele is pure San Clemente--which boasts more surfers per capita than even “Surf City” Huntington Beach: young, tan and kick-back. Jeans and tees are de rigueur . And forget platforms. Thongs get another use as dancin’ shoes.

It’s dancing that the few hundred regulars return for. Two barrooms become dance salons, each with its own featured house band. Campy disco revivalists Sweet Polyester & the Platforms perform in the front room, which is crowned by a massive, mirrored ball. Backstreet fills the back room with old school hip-hop and funk fans. (Saturday, the Valley-based band Mother Luv filled in, as it does occasionally, for Sweet Polyester. This fabulously wacky band of gals is fronted by a singer who takes a cue from the legendary pop divas.)

Responsible for the changes is owner Olund Thi, one hyper bartender who keeps his hands flying most of the night mixing drinks. Though he certainly knows his stuff on Saturdays, it’s the rest of the week that his energies are going to now. Good thing, because the word among some locals is that Saturday is the one and only night.

Wallet damage: $4 cover. Sodas are $2 or free to designated drivers. Domestic bottles of the Bud and Miller families are $3; import bottles, including Newcastle, Tsing Tao, Steinlager and Heineken are $3.25, $4.50 for the 22-ounce versions when available; a glass of wine, $3.50, well drinks, $3.

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* Saturdays at CHINA BEACH

* 2369 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente.

* (714) 492-6228.

* 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

* Cover: $4; ages 21 and over.