BIG & BAD

New Year’s Eve was a bust for thousands in town, with both GiantVillage and Flauntmag’s Pamela Anderson–hosted outdoor shindigs getting canceled due to rain-related concerns, though we managed to salvage the evening at the Little Radio warehouse bash, where Z-Trip spun a surprise set. But what about all the other artists who were left with nothin’ to do that night? We hear that John Digweed checked out Sander Kleinenberg at Avalon, while The Crystal Method and Junkie XL did the house-party thang. No word on what Black Eyed Peas, Flaming Lips et al. did, but we hope all will be onboard for one of Giant’s makeup shows, as yet unscheduled. Posting on giantclub.com, organizer Dave Dean says he’ll be offering ticket holders a makeup event package or a full refund. Dean also states that he didn’t have event-cancellation insurance. Giant bummer.

UNO, DOS . . .

The first few weeks after NYE are always kinda sucky. Nesting sounds way more appealing than nightspot-trotting, and most bars and clubs around town are feeling the slump. But that wasn’t the case at two Latin-themed casas this past weekend. Silver Lake’s new Cha Cha Lounge (which should probably just add “across the street from the Red Lion” to its name, since that’s how everyone refers to it) had a line down the block by 11 p.m. on Friday, and it only got longer as birthday-bash guests of Amoeba Music staffer (and party girl who seriously puts us to shame) Mary Patton started to show. Favors included a competition in which participants could buy outrageous acts from one another (one chick was offering squeezes of her boyfriend’s butt for 5 bucks) and grab-bag gifts for everyone who bought the birthday girl a drink. Hail Mary! Echo Park Records’ Alexis Rivera had a farewell show at downtown’s just-sold Little Pedro’sBlue Bongo Saturday, featuring S.F.’s Chow Nasty and Stones Throw’s Peanut Butter Wolf, who’s producing the new Nasty disc. Also in the house: new proprietor Dana Hollister (4100 Bar, Cliff’s Edge, The Brite Spot, The Paramour Estate), who’s already taken over the space — it now has a classier earth-toned lounge vibe. Nice, but it was the lowbrow charm — and wacky mix of emo kids, cholos and drag queens — that gave this bongo its rhythm, and it remains to be seen if the crowds will be diggin’ the beat. Either way, it won’t be as rowdy — looks like the capacity restrictions are now gettin’ enforced, which meant Saturday’s show was roomy inside, while hundreds were stuck outside.

TEEN SCENE

Popped into Teenacide Records head (andNightranger pal) Jim Freek’s Sunday-afternoon Echo show featuring catchy neo-wavers The Checkers, 14-year-old cutie-pies The Regulars and Janemagazine band-contest winners The Holograms, who unveiled their new singer, a sweet, pigtailed 16-er who sounded like a midpuberty Donna A, or, as Jimbo described her, “young, dumb and full of bubblegum.” See for yourself when they play with fellow Freek femmes Rocket at The Key Club, February 28.

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