‘Drop’ for Club’s Money Bucket : Pop Beat: A group of alternative bands has compiled a benefit album to raise funds for Jabberjaw, a floundering L.A. nightspot.

“Good to the Last Drop” is yet another benefit compilation album to arise out of alternative rock’s social conscience. But while most recent efforts have focused on such major national issues as abortion rights, freedom of speech and animal rights, “Last Drop” is designed to raise funds for a floundering Los Angeles rock club.

A group of respected alternative bands has joined forces to help Jabberjaw--a tiny, homespun L.A. club that features both unknown indie bands and established acts--stay afloat. The 18 contributors, all of whom have played the tiny room near Crenshaw and Pico, range from Top 40 fluke Beck to Courtney Love’s group, Hole, to obscure locals Slug.

“It’s a great compilation, regardless of what it benefits,” says Bill Barbot, guitarist for Washington, D.C.-based Jawbox. “But for humanitarian reasons, Jabberjaw is a unique and great place to play compared to most clubs we’ve played across the country.”

It’s independent clubs like Jabberjaw that support bands in their early stages and allow kids to choose what they do and do not like, free from the bullying of record labels and MTV. Without the aid of promoters, they present music in the raw, with low admission and often no age limit.

These are the places that gave such bands as Nirvana their start, incubators in which offbeat and experimental bands develop their sounds. They also give bigger bands an intimate place for unannounced shows. When clubs like this go under, it’s as if part of the city’s music scene has been ripped away.

Though it would make sense for “Last Drop” (set for release by Mammoth Records on Aug. 23) to feature live recordings taped at Jabberjaw, most are studio tracks donated by the bands. Anyone who’s ever heard the scratchy buzz of the club’s sound system will agree that was a wise decision.

The album is unusually consistent, without the filler that makes most such compilations fluffy. Among others in the lineup are Scotland’s Teenage Fanclub, New York’s Helmet, North Carolina’s Southern Culture on the Skids and L.A.’s That Dog.

Aside from the music, Jabberjaw’s intimacy and comfortably shabby interior are major assets. The old storefront, which has only a 200-person capacity, has worn couches and chairs on the patio, and inside there are plenty of knickknacks and furniture circa 1970 to gawk at. There are no bouncers to push the audience around, no age limit, and the cover hardly ever exceeds $5.

But some of the allure of the club could also be its downfall. Its limited capacity means limited income, and it has no parking facilities in a dilapidated, high-crime area.

“The ideal situation is to move the club, but it depends on what the album sells,” says co-owner Gary Dent, who opened the club with his partner Michelle Carr nearly five years ago.

“If it doesn’t do so well, we’ll just try and fix Jabberjaw up,” Dent says. “But if it does make money, we’re gonna move to a nicer neighborhood, a bigger location with more parking. But we’ll try to keep it exactly the way it is--all ages, no alcohol, low door covers--just on a bigger scale.”

Add Clubs in Trouble: A benefit for the Troy Cafe--a club co-owned by Beck’s mom, Bibbe Hansen--will take place Sunday night. Beck, That Dog and the Charles Brown Superstars are among the many artists playing the benefit, which will be held both at Troy in Little Tokyo and nearby Al’s Bar, with a shuttle taking patrons back and forth. Admission is $10. Information: (213) 617-0790.

Odd Couples: Ministry’s Al Jourgensen and rockabilly renegade Horton Heat teaming up? Frank Black and Guns N’ Roses’ Gilby Clarke jamming? Hunk o’ Man Tom Jones and fringe artists Wolfgang Press collaborating?

Sounds like a demented dream, but it’s actually demented reality.

Ministry’s almighty Jourgensen and Texas’ rampaging rockabilly band, Rev. Horton Heat, collide on the Rev’s new album, “Liquor in the Front.” Produced by Jourgensen (who also plays pedal steel guitar on a number!), it’s as out of control as a drunken joy ride in a stolen semi and double the thrill.

Tom Jones will feature two songs written by England’s arty Wolfgang Press on his upcoming album out later this year. One of the tunes--”Show Me Some Devotion”--has the dark 4AD band actually backing the steamy Welshman.

Least likely pair: the critically acclaimed Frank Black, former head Pixie, and GNR’s Gilby Clarke. The two can be found jamming on bluesy, Stones-style riffs on Clarke’s new solo album, “Pawnshop Guitars.” Parallels between the two artists? Uh, they both play guitar.

But these would be nothing compared to a hoped-for meeting of Australian punk god Nick Cave and country titan Johnny Cash.

On the surface, the two may seem as compatible as caviar and Cheez Whiz, but the enigmatic singers actually have a lot in common--both are seminal figures in their fields, and both draw on the darker side of life.

When asked about the potential collaboration backstage at “Lollapalooza” earlier this month, Cave said, “Well, it’d be great. I’m looking forward to it. Now all we have to do is get Cash to agree.”

POP DATE BOOK

Three shows are set for Counting Crows at the Greek Theatre, Sept. 25, 26 and 27. All go on sale Monday. . . . On sale Sunday is Stevie Nicks at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, Aug. 31. . . . A Rolling Stones spokeswoman says that wire service reports about added Southern California stadium dates for the band are premature. A second Rose Bowl show is expected to be added in addition to the already-announced Oct. 19 date, as well as a San Diego show, though plans for another Orange County or L.A. appearance are only tentative. . . . On sale now is Tori Amos at UC Irvine’s Crawford Hall, Aug. 27. . . . Following his “Lollapalooza ‘94” set Sept. 4 at Cal State Dominguez Hills, George Clinton will take his P-Funk All-Stars to the Hollywood Palladium for an evening show. Tickets are on sale today. Clinton will also be at the House of Blues on Aug. 26. . . . Also new on sale for the House of Blues is Michelle Shocked, Aug. 17. . . . Coming to the Whisky are The Call featuring Michael Been on Aug. 4 (on sale now) and Course of Empire on Aug. 13, Machines of Loving Grace on Aug. 17 and Swell on Aug. 23 (all on sale today). . . . On sale now is Stereolab at the Troubadour, Aug. 26. . . . The Proclaimers’ show Friday originally scheduled for the Wiltern Theatre has been moved to the Troubadour. Wiltern tickets will be honored. . . . On sale Friday for McCabe’s are John Gorka, Aug. 19, and Maddy Prior, Aug. 20.

O.C. POP DATE BOOK

On sale Sunday is Stevie Nicks at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, Aug. 31. . . . On sale now is Tori Amos at UC Irvine’s Crawford Hall, Aug. 27. . . . A Rolling Stones spokeswoman says that wire service reports about added Southern California stadium dates for the band are premature. A second Rose Bowl show is expected to be added in addition to the already-announced Oct. 19 date, as well as a San Diego show, though plans for another Orange County or L.A. appearance are only tentative.