This Friday, December 20, Klub Nocturno presents a special new wave vs. post punk night at Catch One (4067 W. Pico, 90019, in the Noise + Tavern room) to benefit Refugee Children Center. This is an 18+ event for a great cause, plus I’ll be in the DJ booth with all the bangers from Joy Division to French Police, so click this link to pick up tickets for Friday night.
On Sunday, I’ll be at The Mermaid (428 E. 2nd St. 90012) for Splash Sundays. Catch David Christian and I on the decks playing a cross-genre, cross-decade mix from 8 p.m. until last call. I’m playing the first half of the night and David will be closing. While you’re there, check out the Siren Who Stole Xmas menu with special holiday themed drinks benefitting Adopt-a-Family. There’s no cover, but this is a 21+ venue.
Speaking of The Mermaid, the Little Tokyo bar will be open on Christmas Eve, which, as you likely know, is a rarity in Los Angeles. I actually stopped by their Christmas Eve karaoke party last year and it was a good time, so check it out if you’re in the area.
As for the rest of the week, Ride, who released one of the best albums of 2024 (according to me), is playing The Fonda on Thursday, December 19. Tickets are still available. Maybe get one as a Christmas present to yourself. Meanwhile, The Monolators are at Scribble on Saturday night. The long-time local band has a smattering of seasonal jams to their credit like “Santa Claus vs. Dave Matthews” and “Hot Sleigh,” so if you’re looking for something with super indie holiday vibes, this is the place to go. And, if you’re all like, “but I have kids and no babysitter,” bring them with you. The show is all ages *plus* there are discount tix for those 12 and under.
Mostly, clubs and concert calendars are light between now and New Year’s Eve, but movie theater schedules are stacked. For the Westsiders, there’s a 50th anniversary screening of Phantom of the Paradise at the Aero on Thursday night. Across the city, you can catch holiday classics like Black Christmas, Die Hard and, one of my personal favorite, Tokyo Godfathers. Elf is screening on multiple days at multiple theaters, but I went to an Elf Movie Party at Alamo Drafthouse earlier this month and it was so much fun that I have to tell you to try and snag one of the few tickets left for Monday’s event. Also, although I didn’t list it below, Y2K is still showing around L.A. I caught it at Alamo recently and loved it. Go check it out before it becomes whatever the equivalent of a cable classic is today.
Keep scrolling for details on these and other events happening in L.A. between December 19 and December 25, 2024.
Thursday, December 19
Ride, Rocket @ The Fonda
6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8 p.m.; All ages; Get tickets
Rocksteady Lounge (ska, rocksteady, boss reggae, northern soul) @ Akbar
4356 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake 90029; 8 p.m.; 21+; No cover
96 Tears (‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s) + Ugly sweater contest @ Grand Star Jazz Club
943 N. Broadway, Chinatown 90012; 9:30 p.m.; 21+; Get tickets
Phantom of the Paradise (50th anniversary screening w/special guests) @ Aero Theater
1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica 90403; 7:30 p.m.; Get tickets
Black Christmas @ Alamo Drafthouse
700 W. 7th St., Suite U240, DTLA 90017; 10:45 p.m.; Get tickets
Saturday, December 21
The Monolators Holiday Party @ Scribble
5541 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 7 p.m.; All ages; Get tickets
Club Disintegration: A Very Gothic Christmas @ Grand Star Jazz Club
943 N. Broadway, Chinatown 90012; 9:30 p.m.; 21+; Get tickets
Brazil @ Gardena Cinema
14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena 90249; Multiple times; Get tickets
Die Hard (35 mm screening) @ Egyptian Theater
6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7 p.m.; Get tickets
The Man Who Fell to Earth @ Vista Theater
4473 Sunset Drive, Los Feliz 90027; 11:30 p.m.; Get tickets
Deep Red @ New Beverly
7165 Beverly Blvd 90036; 11:59 p.m.; Get tickets
Monday, December 23
Exposure Drag Christmas Extravaganza w/Aura Mayari @ The Offbeat
6316 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 8:30 p.m.; 21+; $5
Elf Movie Party @ Alamo Drafthouse
700 W. 7th St., Suite U240, DTLA 90017; 4:15 p.m.; Get tickets
Holiday Cartoon Cavalcade @ Vidiots
4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 4:30 p.m.; Get tickets
Cinematic Void: Lady Terminator @ Los Feliz Theater
1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90037; 7 p.m.; Get tickets
Tuesday, December 24
Ugly sweater party + karaoke @ The Mermaid
428 E. 2nd St., Little Tokyo; 8 p.m.; 21+; No cover
Tokyo Godfathers @ Los Feliz Theatre
1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90037; 7 p.m.; Get tickets
Wednesday, December 25
House of Flying Daggers @ Egyptian Theater
6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 4:15 p.m.; Get tickets
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs.
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