New World's New Name: China Club

It's another installment of "As the New World Turns."

The New World, the Chinese restaurant and rock venue at 1471 N.W. 85th St., known largely for presenting bands barely hatched from the garage, has turned again. Newly renamed the China Club - no relation to the L.A. or New York establishments - it's upgraded its decor, menu and the caliber of its acts.

Perry Feigenbaum, former Off Ramp booker, has a basic club criteria: "Four walls, a great sound system, cheap drinks and good bands," he says, "and that's what we're going to have at the China Club."

He's off to a good start. Tomorrow night Rorschach Test, Abusement Park and the Distractions will play. Saturday it's B.C.'s reigning rockabilly band, the Rattled Roosters. In upcoming weeks look for Carol Lund and Janis Durham, the Pleasure Elite and Squirt, Missing Persons with Second Coming, Sublime, Sweaty Nipples and England's Phantom Rockers. -- Also newly opened: Earl's on the Ave. at 4720 University Way. Elmo Hancock & Cruise Control play tomorrow and Saturday. Wednesday it's Hendrix Guitar competition winner Jay Roberts and "Guitaraoke." Yes, if you bring an instrument you too can play along. -- So much for the new clubs. On to the other good stuff.

The absolutely optimistic power pop trio Supergrass, newest faves from England, play the Crocodile tomorrow night. They're totally tuneful, boisterous and just a tad older than Silverchair. Their new release, "I Should Coco," is a romp.

At the Croc tonight there's a concert to benefit Noel House, the Belltown area women's shelter. Playing is PDA, True Human, Speed Twin and Journal of Trauma. The show starts at 9 p.m. On Saturday, Juned celebrates a single release, Croc-style. -- Patty Larkin sings, writes and plays a mean guitar. Her current tour has received cross-country kudos, and she's expected to blow out the walls when she plays the Backstage tomorrow night. The 'stage also will have the Jayhawks Monday and Tuesday. The 'hawks are top-notch purveyors of American music, something they describe as "like folk, only really loud." And Wednesday the Band From Utopia, all members of Frank Zappa's original group, will play a tribute to the late maestro.

-- Elsewhere in the Ballard area: Willie and Lobo, your basic violin-guitar, gypsy-surfer types, are at the Tractor Tavern Tuesday. Highly entertaining players.

-- Luna, the ethereal quartet out of Bath, England, is at Moe's tonight. Tomorrow it's the aptly named Unsane, the brutally loud trio from New York's Lower East Side. Bring your plugs.

Saturday night Buffalo Tom plays the lovely Moe twice - at 6 p.m. with Jennifer Trynin and at 10 p.m. with the Inbreds. The Tom has a new release, "Sleepy Eyed," the contents of which will make you anything but close-lidded. Spine-snapping stuff.

-- Francis Dunnery used to play guitar for Robert Plant. Now Dunnery plays for himself. He writes terrific songs and he'll be showing them off at the OK Hotel Tuesday. He's a wry, dry and caustically funny Englishman now living in New York. Dunnery's new record is "Tall Blonde Helicopter." What more need be said other than Human Drama, Faith & Disease and Colour Theory will be at the OK on Saturday.

-- Also Saturday: The once-a-month performance of Moonlight Vocal Jazz Express at the University Plaza Hotel. Swingin' singin'.

-- The Bumrush lineage includes former members of the Cramps, the Germs, Mookie Blaylock (all right, it's McCready), L.A. Guns, TCHKUNG! and more. Bumrush will be at the Lake Union Pub on Sunday for FREE! How can you resist?

Sunday also will find Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys at the tony Paragon B&G on Queen Anne. Rosie's from Louisiana, so it's the real deal.

-- Cedric "The Entertainer" is exactly that: a bright funny man from St. Louis probably best known for his television appearances on "Showtime at the Apollo," "Def Comedy Jam," "Uptown Comedy Hour" and "Comic View." He's also a fine live act and will play two shows a night at The Showbox Saturday and Sunday.

-- And does the name Terence Trent D'Arby ring a bell? D'Arby, a New Yorker by birth, broke out of England in a big way in the late '80s with the sweet, soulful hit single "Wishing Well" from the album "Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby." The only trouble was that D'Arby's talent was overshadowed by hype and his own self-aggrandizement. Well, he's back and will be at Under the Rail Tuesday night. We wish him well.

Send club information to Clubs, c/o Tempo, Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle WA 98111; or fax to 464-2239.