Buzz worthy strip mall?

Strip MALLS are not cool. Oh, they might be notorious for hiding away some of the Southland’s best sushi restaurants, but generally these homogenized plots of land are about as interesting as happy country music.

But on a recent Tuesday, something is abuzz at a Newport Beach strip mall. As DJ Colette’s “Feelin’ Hypnotized,” an intoxicating disco/techno beat with subtly sensual vocals -- think Donna Summer meets Roger Sanchez -- plays in the background, a group of about 30 people congregates in a light drizzle outside Tapas restaurant. Dressed mostly casually and in their late teens or early 20s, they huddle in a semicircle, smoking and talking as a muscled bouncer stands between them and the door.

It’s not two-for-one cellphones, or all-you-can-eat pasta at the Olive Garden, or even killer sushi that has these kids standing in the damp evening air. It’s the music offered by Focus.

“You like house music?” a clubgoer asks J.B. Bronner III, nattily attired in a top hat and a three-piece suit.

“Yeah,” Bronner says, grinning ear to ear. “And I know you do, because you’re here.”

The whole scenario recalls a signature line from the first season of the television series “The O.C.” Chris Carmack’s Luke decked Benjamin McKenzie’s Ryan and said, “Welcome to the O.C. ... bitch. This is how things are done in Orange County.”

One moment you’re hanging outside a modest strip mall restaurant, and then, boom, the next moment your body is shaking to the beats of a top DJ. Yes, Focus is how house music is done in Orange County.

Focus is the brainchild of 22-year-old entrepreneur Josh Billings, whose mom is in the house to visit him on this night. His Tuesday nightclub has not only become the spot for O.C. house, the promotion, which began in June 2003, is attracting the best and brightest of L.A.’s house music DJs.

On this night, Colette is making her fifth appearance at Focus at Tapas. “It has a weekend feeling on a weekday, like tonight. I mean it’s Tuesday,” Colette says admiringly, scanning the capacity crowd that is spread out among an outdoor patio, a sprawling L-shaped bar and a dimly lit dance floor.

The venue might pale when compared with the designer glitz of Hollywood nightclubs -- a mirror ball is pretty much the lone nightclub adornment -- but the intimate room and casual vibe make for a bustle that is less about laser lights and go-go dancers than conversations and Coronas.

By the time Colette gets behind the decks at midnight, the crowd will have migrated almost exclusively into the dance room, following her opera-trained vocals and eclectic house beats like she is the Pied Piper.

“It’s an hour drive on a Tuesday,” she says, “but it’s obviously one of the most fun parties I get to play at on a weekday.”

Billings, who co-promotes the night with partners Dave M. and Pauley (their preferred names), says Colette was among the first DJs to cross the county line.

But her fellow DJs have followed. Among those who’ve laid down beats at Focus, providing the intimate gathering of 200 or so with Spundae or Giant-esque talent, are L.A. favorites such as Richard “Humpty” Vission , Marques Wyatt, Julius Papp and Andy Caldwell.

Impressive talent compiled by Billings, whose only prior experience as a promoter was as a rave organizer. Colette says that Billings’ youthfulness is part of what makes Focus so appealing.

“Josh is one of the sweetest promoters,” she says. “And I don’t think it’s a financial thing as much as it is that they love this genre of music and are really into making an environment for people to enjoy.”

Billings does 90% of the bookings, maintaining the same carefree spirit that lured him into promoting. “I decided throwing a party was like the coolest job you could ever have,” he says.

Billings, who grew up in Tustin, is particularly pleased to see how the community has adopted the music he loves. (He also DJs, usually taking the opening or middle slot at Focus.) In fact, he has a message for people who don’t think his town can support house music.

“If they don’t think Orange County can harbor house, come check it out,” he says. “There’s a misconception a lot of people have about legit house and Orange County, but I think we got it.”

Steve Baltin can be reached at weekend@latimes.com

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Focus at Tapas

Where: 4253 Martingale Way, Newport Beach

When: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesdays

Price: Cover usually $5 to $10

Info: www.mindboxmedia.com