Kevin Bronson on December 30th, 2008

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Nailed down your plans for New Year’s Eve yet? The Times has exhaustive guides of options for ringing in 2009 — I went through two plates of hors d’oeuvres just reading them, then got a stomach ache over the ticket prices. Not one to partake of any of the dance-music massives (and not one to dress up), I’ve compiled a Top 5 bang-for-your-buck, we-like-our-music-live New Year’s Eve shows:

The Henry Clay People, the Happy Hollows and the Pity Party at Spaceland. $10. THCP are to indie rock what bubbles are to champagne. The never-disappointing quartet (brothers Joey and Andy Siara, pictured) is supported by the agit-experimentalism of the Pity Party and the winsome thrash of up-and-coming trio the Happy Hollows. Yes, these three bands played around a lot in ’08, but if you’re looking for a reliable good time, this is it. And maybe the Pity Party will knit some new sweaters for the occasion.

Beachwood Sparks, Crystal Antlers, Port O’Brien and others at the Old Bank Building. $20. DJ Kutmah and J-Logic are among the others partying at 401 Main St. in downtown L.A. Beachwood Sparks, of course, reunited for the Sub Pop 20th anniversary shindig this year, and with its members spread out all over the country, who knows when they will play again? This just in: According to promoters, Brent Rademaker from Beachwood Sparks is so sick that the band is having to scratch. New headliner: Ariel Pink, appearing with members of Beachwood Sparks.

LA Riots, Mattie Safer and others at the Viper Room. $50 (or $100 with open bar). Dancetastic techno dudes LA Riots could easily be playing one of the massives. If you like your dancefloor cozy and sweaty, this could be good.

We Are the World, the Blood Arm and others at the Echo. $10. This 18+ party has the Club Underground and Hang the DJs crew on the decks, along with guest Eddie Argos of Art Brut. Newbies We Are the World are part of the Manimal Vinyl roster, and the Blood Arm, longtime strivers in L.A., have done better for themselves across the Atlantic than at home.

Wayne “The Train” Hancock, Mike Stinson and others at the Redwood Bar. $20 One of L.A.’s country treasures, Stinson will be onstage for the “country New Year’s toast” (that’s Pabst in a champagne glass), but it’s the veteran Hancock who will turn downtown’s kitschy “pirate bar” into a juke joint.

P.S.: As much as I’d love to compare air quality at the House of Blues (Snoop Dogg, $115 and up) and the Roxy (the Wailers, $75), I think my next-favorite show (if I were more flush with cash) would be the 1990s flashback of seeing the Stone Temple Pilots ($75, $125) at Club Nokia. Even though I’m already tired of Club Nokia after only three trips there.