Urban Renewal

Music City has rock ‘n’ rolled with the punches over the past few years, but will the home of oldies embrace the ‘90s? Its regulars appear to be game.

The Righteous Brothers opened the place in Fountain Valley as Medley’s, changed its name to the Hop, then to Music City (about five years ago) before selling it to a half-dozen co-owners. They recently invited in promoters to draw a twentysomething set on Saturday nights with a beat that’s more up to date.

In fact, the official premiere of Live Large was broadcast live on the Internet (reportedly drawing 6,000 hits).

The club’s loyalists, older by a generation or more, seemed to sign on to the change. They dug disco, and when deejay Johnny Goa rotated house, a few formed for an Electric Slide, proving again that line dancers never die, they just adapt.

Even Jim “The Poorman” Trenton’s comments didn’t observably offend. The bad-boy deejay, whose “Anti-Radio” show on KPLS-AM 830 features unsigned acts, served as the premiere’s emcee, burbling his usual juvenilia:

A limo had dropped him off, he said, but wouldn’t be returning. Would any cute young things in the crowd care to chauffeur him home, he wondered aloud between slugs of beer and a feeble attempt to stir excitement over the Net-cast by suggesting women go topless.

Next, he asked if he had any Anti-Radio listeners in the audience, which, it appeared, he didn’t.

Therein lies the challenge for Live Large promoters Mark Kukla and Dan Smith. Can they get the younger following they want without alienating the club’s stalwarts?--which Music City management won’t allow.

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On opening night, the crowd was about half and half, but only the oldies, if you please, were out on the floor. The mini-skirted and tattooed hovered by the bar, looking as if they were waiting for their parents to clear out so the party could begin.

When the jazzy band Stout went on around 11:15 p.m., many who hadn’t already abandoned hope filed outside, either to leave or to smoke. The Internet broadcast, while an interesting idea, didn’t play out. A few people waved to the folks at home as they passed the camera, set up on a tripod by the bar, but otherwise the concept was pretty much ignored.

Kukla, whose credits include Bar One in Los Angeles, and Bacchus and Thunderbird in Newport Beach before that, hopes to go for a younger crowd with deejay Priest, known for spinning edgier gigs at the successful Tap House in Huntington.

He might consider popping a different video in the VCR, something other than “Grease.” Maybe take down or cover that framed Rod Stewart poster too, although the Tina Turner can stay. Kukla’s got the right idea with the verily hip, awesomely gorgeous crushed velvet shirts he’s hawking by the door.

Whether the public allows him the time to work these kinks out remains to be seen. In the meantime, Music City on Saturday night is a fine place for a 50th birthday party and maybe a lab for a grand social experiment: What better place than the bedroom community of Fountain Valley to try to bridge the generation gap?

BE THERE

Live Large at Music City, 18774 Brookhurst Ave., Fountain Valley; (714) 963-2366. Saturday, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Cover: $10.