CLUBS: Where the Groove Resides

When England’s Mixmag, the world’s largest club culture magazine, did a special issue on “International Clubbing” in 1996, L.A. was not mentioned.

Why? No one has created a noteworthy dance club space in more than a decade. City laws make it difficult to put together a legitimate dance venue. And clubs cater to the whim of a film industry more concerned with the guest list than the playlist.

L.A. does have dance music leaders--record labels (Quango, Moonshine), media (Groove Radio, 103.1 FM; Urb magazine) and deejays (Doc Martin, Jason Bentley) that are world-class.

And there is a core of hot spots for ’97 that strive to bring good vibes to the Feet of Angels:

* The Monday Social at Louis XIV restaurant provides jazzy British down-tempo dance for a cozy dinner and bar crowd. The deejay lineup often hails from the best U.K. dance halls. Mondays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.; 21 and older; usually no cover. 606 N. La Brea Ave; (213) 934-5102.

* The roving rave crowd has found a stable home at Magic Wednesdays, housed in the World nightclub in Hollywood. The huge main room features resident deejays Eli Star and Jimmy and out-of-town stars who spin up-tempo techno that is not for the aerobically challenged. Wednesdays, 10 p.m.-3 a.m.; all ages; $10 cover. 7070 Hollywood Blvd.; (310) 358-5975.

* Bossa Nova on Thursday combines the progressive techno stylings of radio deejay Jason Bentley; the world music influence of Bruno Guez; and the hyper-speed hip-hop (“drum-and-bass”) of DJ Jun. Thursdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.; 21 and older; $10 cover. The Pink, 2810 Main St., Santa Monica; (310) 392-1077.

* Irvine’s Metropolis is a modern, 1,000-person-plus venue with sharp sound and fast lights. Resident DJs include Taylor and Sandra Collins. Thursdays, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.; 18 and older; $0-$10 cover. 4255 Campus Drive, Irvine; (714) 725-0300.

* Hyperdisc record store and coffee shop brings out the Sunday drivers for Sunday Brunch, put on by the React America dance music label and dedicated to the more experimental side of sit-down dance. (Hyperdisc also hosts Extended Play Thursday nights as a forum for up-and-coming club deejays.) Sundays, 1-7 p.m.; all ages; no cover. 2623 Main St., Santa Monica; (310) 581-3545.

* Logic is a thumping, house music sweat factory at Santa Monica’s West End. It is the only club in the area to claim L.A.’s own Doc Martin, a star in London. Other residents are no-less legendary: Steve Loria and Marques Wyatt. Sundays, 9 p.m.-3 a.m.; 21 and older; $10 cover, special events more. 1305 5th St., Santa Monica; (213) 882-4181.