Seal Beach Daily

Close to home, you’ll find an eclectic mix of live music to party and dance away the final hours of a tumultuous 2008. Here are a few choice suggestions.

Queen Mary, downtown LB
Seal Beach drummer Matt Johnson and the HiFi Quintet bring their retro lounge act to a ballroom aboard the The Queen Mary — one of five parties on the ship Wednesday night. Also playing: the Platters, Donna and the Lost Boys, Red Loquita, and DJ David Gil. One admission price ($99) covers all five shows, which start at 8 pm; fireworks are at 12:20 am. More info. Close by, Pine Avenue is throwing a free street party that kicks off at 8 p.m downtown.

Kona in Sunset Beach
Kona, formerly known as Sam’s Seafood, is still tiki central. The restaurant hosts a “Jungle Jetsetter’s New Year’s Eve Ball” headlined by the Tikiyaki Orchestra and the Eliminators. Doors open at 8 p.m.; the show starts at 9 p.m. and includes hula dancing and belly dancers, too. Tickets are $15. Info and reservations.

Spaghettini in Seal Beach
The 2008 Grammy-nominated Greg Adams Band brings its smooth jazz sound to town at the Spaghettini Grill and Jazz Club. Wednesday’s show runs from 9 p.m to midnight. Reserved seats are $100. Info and tickets.

Mahe in Seal Beach
Mike O’Brien and his band play in the Mahe bar starting at 8 p.m. There’s no cover charge for the bar. Dinner reservations are always a good choice at this lively, very popular PCH restaurant, sushi bar and watering hole.

O’Malley’s on Main Street
The Mulligans, an Irish band, start up sometime after 8 p.m. No cover charge, but an O’Malley’s staffer offers this advice, “Get here early. We fill up quickly and nobody ever leaves.”