Shark's hangout

By Eliza Escano, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, September 30, 1998

Live Bait, located on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Loynes Drive, is now home to hip hop, funk and reggae every Tuesday night.

Formerly part of Bentley's restaurant chain, Live Bait plays host to Cabana, which is a collaboration by disc jockeys and promoters Customer Service and Tyronius Maximus.

Cabana is a haven for hip hop heads as long as they do not mind the sharks.

These are not the sharks one finds among the high-testosterone men in the crowd, but rather fake sharks that hang from the ceiling.

The shark motif throughout the club makes it look like a bait store at the end of a pier. The decor leaves much to be desired. All that is missing is the smell of fish to complete the ambiance.

But ambiance takes a backseat when the music starts pumping. Turntable masters JACE-1 and Beat Junkies' DJ What?! deliver your weekly dose of underground hip hop and funky grooves, mixed with the thought-provoking sounds of reggae.

It is a refreshing switch from the usual club atmosphere of over-played radio hits.

Cabana offers a live performance every week. Respectable hip hop artists such as Dilated Peoples, Of Mexican Descent and Divine Styler have performed here in the past.

As far as wallet damage is concerned, ladies get in free before 10:30 p.m. Drinks are cheap so you do not need to be a sugar-daddy to have a good time.

The crowd is a mix between those in casual garb who look like they just finished night class and others who actually get dolled up and floss their style.

Whatever your style is, if you love the genres of music mentioned above, Cabana is sure to fill your belly.