Club Underground‘s New Year’s Eve Ball is ready to drop this Sunday, December 31 at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown. I’ll be DJing alongside Larry G. and Malvada as we takeover both floors of the venue from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. Tickets for the party, which is a NYE event pick in Southern California News Group papers, are going fast online, so get yours as soon as possible via Dice or Eventbrite. Last year’s event sold out, so don’t wait until the last minute for this. This is a 21+ event.

Aside from New Year’s Eve, there are a few other L.A. music events that I want to highlight this week. Check them out below. I might update this if anything pops up on the first couple nights of January.

Thursday, December 28

A Celebration of the Life of Shane McGowan

Fans of The Pogues might want to head down to Alex’s Bar on Thursday night, where the Long Beach Irishmen, featuring members of Good Fiction, 5th Story Tenants and Hot Karl, will pay tribute to the late singer and songwriter Shane MacGowan in a special event that will also include special guests Flesh for Fantasy, Mica and the Dekades. Tickets are available now via Dice. 

96 Tears: Fleetwood Mac vs. The Doors @ Grand Star Jazz Club

Perksandkisses is closing out this year with a double-dose of Fleetwood Mac and The Doors on Thursday night. Head down to the Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown for retro dance party 96 Tears if you’ve got the urge to dance to “Rhiannon” or “L.A. Woman” this week. Advance tickets available on Eventbrite. 

Friday, December 29

Pearl & the Oysters @ The Echoplex

It’s been a stellar year for L.A.-based duo Pearl & the Oysters, whose album Coast 2 Coast came out on Stones Throw this past summer and ranks as one of my personal favorites of 2023. Catch them live on Friday night at The Echoplex, where they will be joined by Vinyl Williams, Jacob Mann and DJ Annie Wonders. 

Saturday, December 30

Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Spiritual Cramp @ Alex’s Bar

Local psych punks Frankie and the Witch Fingers are playing a three-night stint at Alex’s Bar this weekend. Of that trio of shows, my recommendation is to hit up Saturday night’s event, which includes San Francisco-based Spiritual Cramp, whose self-titled full-length is one of my favorite albums of 2023, on the bill. The lineup also includes Expen$ive Shit, Hoop Jail and DJ Ryann Peebles. Tickets are available on Dice. 

Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs.