BUZZ CLUBS

Lobsters winging in

Veteran Hollywood nightlife mogul Steve Scarduzio (Cat Club/film producer) teamed up with former Palm GM Tommy Saboni to open the Scarboni New York Lobster & Steak House. The name is derivative of their last names and the two mean serious business. The week-old Santa Monica hotspot has already attracted oodles of celebs, in part because the venue is flying in its lobster daily from Nova Scotia. Rock lobster.... Week’s best merch: Whole Wheat Bread, an African American punk band from Texas opening for the Bouncing Souls and Street Dogs at the House of Blues on Friday, selling a silk-screened image of Bill Clinton saying “I Love Black People.” ... Kilts, bagpipes and a lot of saucy attitude all the way from Dublin landed at 14 Below, a Santa Monica nightclub that scored the Irish bands Sally’s Gap and Republic of Loose on Tuesday night. While the funky Republic of Loose ended up hitting the Hideout for karaoke after its show, Sally’s Gap is readying for its close-up as the opening band for Seven Grand, Cedd Moses’ new downtown bar, which is slated to open in December.

Behind the scenes

Seen backstage at Tuesday’s Aerosmith/Motley Crue show at the Hollywood Bowl: Jackass Steve-O and members of the Mars Volta.... Bumped into veteran gadfly Danny Shades on his way to check out Joan Jett at the House of Blues on Tuesday. The sunglasses-at-night scenester never seems to miss a rock show. Carmen Electra, Cherie Currie and Brody Armstrong of the Distillers were among the others in the house.... Former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra brings his spoken word political vitriol and humor to the El Rey Theatre on Nov. 20. The longtime free thinker tells me: “One thing which is in seriously short supply today is an extreme liberal satirist to balance off the clown of ‘entertainers’ of the right-wing talk radio monopoly.” He says he’s aiming to combine the wit of Mort Sahl with Lenny Bruce and dashes of Jack Kerouac.... Justin Bell’s getting a cult following. The young Texas crooner hits karaoke night at the Hideout each Tuesday and he’s already got groupies.

Power bar, perhaps?

Marc Smith (Three Clubs/Golden Gopher) is inviting pals to get a sneak peek at his latest bar, the Edison, in downtown L.A. tonight.... Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo were set to celebrate their birthdays Wednesday night at Social Hollywood.... Shadows Fall made a guest appearance at the Key Club on Monday night, giving Metal Skool fans a reason to shout, shout, shout at the devil.... Leonardo DiCaprio made a recent stop to his favorite eatery Il Sole, where pal Lukas Haas chowed on meatballs and Kevin Connolly dug deep into chicken Marsala.... Don’t miss the Pet Shop Boys at Virgin Megastore in West Hollywood at 5 p.m. today signing new records for the “I Love the ‘80s” crowd.... And the sexy striptease act of the Suicide Girls hits the Key Club on Wednesday.