Celebrating New Year’s Eve, on a Budget

Still straddling the fence on whether to venture out this New Year’s Eve? Here’s a hot list of quick picks and cheap dates, geared toward the last-minute shopper. From the Valley to the sea, these fine venues are allowing club crawlers to ring in ’98 without having to take out a loan. (All ticket prices are per person and include a champagne toast and party favors. Food not included unless otherwise noted.)

SEVEN BUCKS

Bar Deluxe: Spend the night in psychobilly, rockabilly and willy nilly heaven, with such bands as Calavera, the Groovy Rednecks and Bad Luck--and hope ’98 won’t bring you any. Bar Deluxe, 1710 Las Palmas Ave., Hollywood, (213) 469-1991. 21 and over.

FIFTEEN BUCKS

Jacks Sugar Shack: Enjoy the hillbilly bop of Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, with opening act Carl Sonny Leyland with Deke Dickerson (of the now defunct Dave & Deke combo). Jacks Sugar Shack, 1707 Vine St., Hollywood, (213) 466-7005. 21 and over.

Country Club: Who could resist returning to the Country Club in Reseda for a night with the Atomic Punks, the best Van Halen cover band in the biz, and its simulating cohorts Bad Medicine (a Bon Jovi tribute band) and Caress of Steel (Rush aficionados)? Country Club, 18419 Sherman Way, Reseda, (818) 757-0780. 21 and over.

TWENTY BUCKS

Lava Lounge: The Blue Hawaiians won’t be coasting in the new year at Encounter (as we reported previously). The Sunday night house band at the Lava Lounge already had a date to play its favorite tiki-time bar, which is on the small side of the clubland spectrum, so be advised to arrive early. Lava Lounge, 1533 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood, (213) 876-6612. 21 and over.

The World: The folks behind the weekly Gothic-Industrial-New Wave clubs Perversion, Stigmata, Velvet, Helter Skelter and Asylum, invite you to join the madness at their New Year’s Eve shindig, which includes three zones (dance rooms) of various alternative sounds. The World, 7070 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, (213) 935-1399. 18 and over.

Los Angeles Sports Arena: The promoters “Insomniac” presents a New Year’s rave with “Countdown ‘98,” which includes a live performance by the Crystal Method, and about a zillion deejays getting their respective grooves on. 18 and over. L.A. Sports Arena, 3939 S. Figueroa St., (310) 288-3436 or (213) 748-6131.

Variety Arts Center: The popular weekly Goth and gay-spirited clubs Sin-A-Matic, Cherry and Coven 13 have bonded their fetishistic sensibilities together for a night celebrating decadence, dancing and dominatrixes (not exactly in that order). Variety Arts Center, 940 S. Figueroa St., downtown, (213) 896-9099. 18 and over.

Encounter: The Wonderful World of Joey, one of the most original and humorous lounge acts of our fine era, will touch down at this colorful LAX restaurant and nightclub, with deejay Sen~or Amor tweaking the turntables for the cocktail set. There’s a big buzz on this event, so arrive early or plan on flying standby. Encounter, 201 World Way, Los Angeles International Airport, (310) 215-5151.

TWENTY-FIVE BUCKS

Martini Lounge: Get ready to rumble at this New Year’s Eve rockabilly hoe-down, with live performances by the Sprague Brothers, the Hyperions, Champagne Velvet and Slick 50. A prime rib dinner will be served from 7 to 10 p.m., and DJ Big Daddy Carlos will keep guests moving between bands. Martini Lounge, 5657 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, (213) 467-4068. 21 and over.

The Gig: Those in the mood to celebrate New Year’s Eve ‘97, in ’77 fashion, might want to amble on down to the Gig, which has invited disco cover band Jungle Boogie to “tear the roof off the sucker.” The Gig, 11637 W. Pico Blvd., West L.A., (310) 444-9870.

THIRTY BUCKS

Dragonfly: Folks just can’t get enough of Ozomatli’s funky stuff, and the popular L.A. band with the East Los Angeles cool will be rockin’ in the free world with the rest of the D-fly denizens. Dragonfly, 6510 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, (213) 466-6111. 21 and over.

LunaPark: The main room will feature the salsa and soukus sounds of Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, while the cabaret room gets the party started with the Gila Monsters. DJ Michael Sanchez will fill in the blanks with music from all around the globe. 21 and over (includes appetizers).

The Mint: If ’97 had you singing the blues, you may want to commiserate with Harry Dean Stanton, Duke Daniels and Catfish Hodge, all of whom are scheduled to perform at this tony but casual nightclub. The Mint, 6010 Pico Blvd., L.A., (213) 954-9630.

FORTY FIVE BUCKS

Country Star American Grill: Country music lovers will enjoy the plans this CityWalk restaurant/club is offering. Guests can chow on a three-course meal and dance to the country rock sounds of Spaghetti Western till 1:30 a.m. (the band begins performing at 9 p.m.) KZLA deejay Bob Harvey has been enlisted to emcee, and the club has opened up two dance floors. Yee-haw. Country Star American Grill, 1000 Universal Center Drive, CityWalk, UniversalCity, (818) 762-3939. 21 & over, $45 cover.

FIFTY BUCKS

L.A. Cabaret: Combining comedy with nostalgia, this Encino-based club is showcasing comedy with a performance by the Moptops, a popular Beatles tribute band that hones its set and style toward the feel-good ‘60s-era Fab Four. L.A. Cabaret, 17271 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 501-3737. 21 and over.

A Final Note: The tradition of sobering up in the Fairfax district at such happening all-night eateries as Canter’s Deli, Swinger’s and Damiano’s has been expanded to include Hollywood coffeehouse Highland Grounds, which will open its kitchen at midnight, serving breakfast and coffee all, um, morning long.