Super sonic club scene

Concorde nightclub in Hollywood is so hot, even the boss gets kicked out of his booth.

“I was sitting down with friends, and the hostess asked me to give up my booth,” owner Loyal Pennings says. “I thought, ‘What?’ Then I saw her escorting Bono, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake and Leonardo DiCaprio to my table. I figured, well, I better get moving.”

Yeah, the year-old Concorde is “that” kind of nightclub. After all, Paris Hilton came up with the club’s name, and it’s the type of spot where celebrities revel in comfort and scenesters revel in the fact they can get close to today’s biggest names.

And, if they were giving out nightlife achievement awards, Concorde would garner Club Most Likely to Appear on “Celebrities Uncensored.”

The modern, understated venue at the north end of the chic Cahuenga Corridor has managed to remain under the radar despite its high-profile clientele. You have to know how to find it, but once you’re inside, there’s no place you’d rather be.

“If you look around at all the people in here, they’re all smiling. Everyone’s happy,” says Ashleigh Meyer, a slinky regular who makes her way to the dance floor and usually bobs all night. “Every time I’m here, I feel like I’m at ‘the’ best party.”

Although Concorde debuted with a high-profile Ben Affleck birthday party, its weekly club nights are some of Hollywood’s best offerings. Upon its launch in June 2003, the Brent Bolthouse-hosted affair on Wednesdays is the club’s flagship night, where Hollywood’s young starlets and studs are most likely to be found getting down on the dance floor.

The latest addition, Friday’s Metro night, is the talk of the town. Not only does it have two of L.A.’s best hip-hop turntablists, DJ Vice from Power 106.1 and DJ Adam 12, sharing duties, but promoter BoJesse Christopher took a cue from the ‘80s and filled the club with old-school video games. That’s right, you can get your groove on or you can get your game on -- with Ms. Pac-Man, Asteroids, Millipede and Space Invaders. You can even boogie down to 50 Cent while working your angles with Donkey Kong.

Some of Metro’s repeat customers include the Rock, Jessica Alba, multiple Wayans brothers, Nicolas Cage and various members of Blink-182, the Roots, Linkin Park and the Black Eyed Peas.

“Metro is one of the most diverse weekly clubs in Hollywood,” says Christopher, who hosts the night with fellow promoters Herman Town and Suk Sung. “We get pretty much everybody coming through here.”

Singer Ashlee Simpson chose Metro for her recent record release party. And two weeks ago, David Spade celebrated his 40th birthday at the club.

“Once you do just a handful of high-profile private parties, you become the spot,” says Pennings, whose partners at Concorde include Shereen Arazm and Jason Shaw. “Perception is reality. After Ben and Jennifer’s party, Jessica Simpson had her party there and it just snowballed. The majority of our business isn’t private parties, but we certainly get more than our share of high-profile birthday parties.”

One of the allures is that Concorde is low on pomp and big on simplicity. The club is clean and uncomplicated, with smooth exterior walls highlighted by a sidewalk-level fountain that surrounds the entrance. Although it’s mostly shades of gray, the club is warmed throughout by orange lanterns.

Its best feature is its flow, which includes easy indoor/outdoor access, so despite its small size, the club feels airy and light. Pennings and partners raised the ceiling at the club -- formerly a strip joint called Legg’s -- to make the room less claustrophobic.

Concorde serves simple American food for those with late-night appetites, and its employees are scene veterans, culled from such venues as Las Palmas and El Centro -- two spots also co-owned by Pennings.

A personal favorite is Ruby, who is the matron of the pretty-in-pink ladies’ room.

“I know we get celebrities in here,” Ruby says. “But I couldn’t tell you who any of them are. It’s not my generation.”

Certainly, they must appreciate that. In a city where the walls have eyes and ears, it’s nice to know they can do their, um, thing in peace.

And that’s part of what Concorde brings to the table. A bit of anonymity in a star-struck world. Because once you’re in the club, everyone’s treated well and that’s something guests take home with them.

“The first time I went there, all I could think about is how much I couldn’t wait to go back,” Meyer says. “The club just makes you feel good.”

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Heidi Siegmund Cuda can be reached at weekend@ latimes.com.

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Concorde

Where: 1835 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood

When: Wednesdays through Saturdays

Price: Cover varies; 21 and older. Reservations required most nights.

Info: For Wednesdays, call (323) 848-9300. For Friday’s Metro club, call (323) 938-9048. For additional information, call (323) 462-3663.