L.A. Clubs Are Planning to Rock the Old Year Away

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, here are some great last-minute suggestions for those of you who want to hear some live music without blowing all your January rent money (the following selections will cost you anywhere from nothing to $80, and each includes party favors and free champagne at midnight):

The Viper Room has booked ‘70s soul group Rose Royce to ring in the New Year with some old favorites. Among the group’s classics are “Wishing on a Star,” “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” and “Car Wash.” Tickets are $50.

The new and improved Dragonfly also looked to old-school artists, but it went all the way back to the beginning of time--hip-hop time--by booking the Sugar Hill Gang. The club also has deejay Johnny Knight spinning funk, rap and disco all night. $35.

Retro funk really seems to be the flavor of the New Year because LunaPark is also turning to ‘70s R&B; for its New Year’s Eve celebration. The West Hollywood club has enlisted the Polyester Players to funk it up in the main room and the Gila Monsters to perform their New Orleans-inspired R&B; in the Cabaret Room. Tickets are $25 for the show, and $80 will get you the show and a four-course meal.

For those who can’t get enough of KROQ deejay Richard Blade’s favorite New Wave/early ‘80s flashback tracks on the air, the Palace has Blade’s “Flashback New Year’s Party.” Guests can expect to dance to lots of Depeche Mode, New Order and Cure. $45 ($20 after midnight).

The Hard Rock Cafe is hosting a performance by the alternative band Geggy Tah. It’s first-come, first-served for this free event.

For a taste of the dark side, Hollywood’s World Night Club is offering the ultimate in fetish dance parties. Combining the top Hollywood industrial/fetish dance clubs--Perversion, Stigmata and Velvet--this bash features three rooms of industrial, Gothic, New Wave, disco and alternative music. $20.

* Viper Room, (310) 358-1881. Dragonfly, (213) 461-6111. LunaPark, (310) 652-0611. Palace, (213) 462-3000. Hard Rock, (310) 276-7605. World Night Club, (213) 467-7070.

*

Club Buzz: Last week, we told you about Goldfinger, the piano lounge that opened recently at the former Hell’s Gate location in Hollywood. But what we didn’t know is Rickie Lee Jones was gonna pop by for a visit. Jones dropped in on a quiet night, sat at the piano and performed an impromptu set with some neighborhood barflies. . . . Another fresh addition to Clubland is the rather sporty Irish pub Dublin’s, on the Sunset Strip at the former site of Carlos ‘n’ Charlie’s.

* Goldfinger, (213) 962-2913. Dublin’s, (213) 656-0100.