BUZZ CLUBS

A catalytic hip-hop Crew

There’s little doubt L.A. is suffering from a shortage of hip-hop clubs dedicated to showcasing new talent. Enter the Likwit Crew, a West Coast hip-hop collective of artists and producers which is launching a monthly rap club at the Knitting Factory on July 29. “Right now the West Coast scene has been dwarfed by the South, Midwest and East Coast,” says Jeff Antebi, the CEO of Waxploitation Records and a partner in Likwit. “To get things cooking again here, it’s important to jumpstart a vital scene from scratch.” ... Dragonfly celebrated the opening of new dance club Secret Saturdays on July 17 with a Dragonfly Clothing fashion show. For info: www.dragonflyclothing.com. ... And speaking of all things ‘fly, we hear the folks behind the Firefly in Studio City have purchased the Thunderbird Saloon in NoHo, with ownership scheduled to change in August.... Keanu Reeves and rocker Gilby Clarke showed up at the Roxy on July 12 to help Coyote Shivers celebrate the release of his double CD “Coyote Shivers Gives It to You Twice.” Along for the ride were World Without Sundays and Metal Skool.

Go wild, it’s your 18th birthday

Lindsay Lohan celebrated her 18th birthday at Avalon on July 9 with a rainforest/jungle theme, including go-go dancers dressed as animals in cages, with faux waterfalls and birds everywhere. Among the guests were Wilmer Valderrama, Enrique Iglesias, Tara Reid, Michelle Rodriguez, Blu Cantrell and David Spade.... On July 7, Concorde was the site of a launch party thrown for producer Damon Dash’s new photo magazine, America. Guests who partied down were Scarlett Johansson, Leelee Sobieski, Hugh Hefner, Ashlee Simpson and Jamie Foxx.... We hear trendy club promoter/actor Michael Sutton (the Roof/Hollywood Canteen) is anchoring a new night at Falcon on Mondays. I can hear Marilyn Manson now: “The Beautiful People! The Beautiful People!”

-- Heidi Siegmund Cuda