by Tomm Carroll

Friday, Dec. 17-Thursday, Dec. 23-- It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in clubland. In other words, things are slowing down on the live music front as shopping, wrapping, addressing and mailing are taking up most people’s free time.

There are still some fun shows to be had, for sure, but mostly the clubs -- and clubbers -- are awaiting the big New Year’s Eve extravaganzas (see below). If you’ve got the time and the inclination this week, there are a few recommendations for escaping the holiday craze.

Pop chanteuse Marilyn Scott and Friends perform a special holiday concert at Arcadia on the Santa Monica Pier Friday night, while Sunday brings the annual McCabe’s Holiday Concert, featuring the Guitar Shop staff struttin’ and strummin’ their considerable stuff. There are no big names (at least none advertised, but you never know who’ll show up), and the show is FREE!

14 Below welcomes back Hellride, the local indie supergroup consisting of Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE), Peter DiStefano (Porno for Pyros) and Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction). Also sharing the bill are Full Metal Racket, Front Side Grind (the Band Name of the Week) and Wretched.

Starting Saturday, there’s a new band performing in the weekly "Flashback Saturday" show of 1980s nostalgia at the West End. Replacing the M-80's is The Spazmatics, although DJ Scotty Boy remains behind the turntables. O’Brien’s on Main Street also features some new bands as well. Dry September performs Sunday, while The Ghost Town All-Stars invade the Irish pub/club on Tuesday.

At Temple Bar Saturday night, it’s Starless, Mini Bar and the Screamin’ Fools, while Blowin’ Smoke and the Fabulous Smokettes will undoubtedly put a little seasonal swing into their floor show at Harvelle’s on Saturday. Blues and soul collide when the Dan Patrick Project and Lynsey Russell share the stage at Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the pier Friday night.

NOTE: This column will not appear for the next two weeks as I will be on vacation. But before I brave the winter on the east coast, here’s a few New Year’s (and faux Millennial) Eve options to consider for Friday night, Dec. 31 in Santa Monica:

14 Below

party favors and champagne toast

$20 ($25 at door)

310-451-0251

Arcadia

Live bands, including Macy Gray, DJs

champagne toast, party favors

$75 ($150 with dinner)

310-260-4807

Harvelle’s

champagne toast, snacks, party favors, gifts

$40 (price increases as Dec. 31 nears)

310-395-1676

O’Brien’s

Black tie party with dancing and DJs

open bar, party favors and hors d’oeurves

$100

310-396-7514

Rusty’s Surf Ranch

champagne toast

$99

310-393-PIER

Temple Bar

Jive Shaft Percussion Group, Rhythm Room All-Stars, One Nut Stand (featuring The Superstar Funksters)

champagne toast and hors d’oeurves

$30 ($40 at door)

310-393-6611

West End

open bar, party favors and hors d’oeurves

$150

310-394-4647