A Small Goodbye

It hurts to report this, but Small’s owner, Sean MacPherson, has sold the Melrose Avenue club and it’s officially closing early next week. Memories, like the corners of that dimly lit joint, are all we’ll have left of this great nightspot that for years was the neighborhood bar for Hollywood scenesters--the last-call pit stop. Expect it to reopen as the Gin Joint. . . .

The Dragonfly’s feeling a little nostalgic for the ‘80s these days, offering its fabulous stage to the L.A. Guns this Saturday, who undoubtedly will (loudly) rock the house. The ‘Fly is also offering a new Monday night “Kabbali-core” club, featuring house band Ras Daveed and the Providence. Think Ravi Shankar meets Bad Brains. . . .

Outsider Entertainment, the promotions team that breathed new life in the Long Beach club the Clipper, has also formed its own record label using the Outsider imprint, with a 10-inch picture disc featuring the music of the U.S. Bombs as its first release. In celebration of the release, the Bombs will be dropping by the Clipper on Saturday night to perform. . . .

Stumbled upon DJ Jun in our travels, working a Saturday night shift at the swanky Beverly Hills restaurant Bokaos, offering some soothing dance music for late-night revelers. . . .

The Catalina Bar & Grill’s been attracting quite a crowd of young jazz aficionados lately, with recent sightings of Rage Against the Machine singer Zack de la Rocha and “Beverly Hills, 90210” veteran Brian Austin Green (now there’s a dichotomy for you!). Stargazers and jazz fans alike will have to wait until after Labor Day weekend when the club, which has been closed for remodeling, is scheduled to reopen with a larger stage, new sound system, lighting, fresh paint job and carpeting. . . .

Entertainment trivia buffs might enjoy this one: The star of the new “G.I. Jane” movie recorded an album some time ago for the local independent label Action Box Records. Aah, sorry, we tricked you into thinking it was Demi Moore, but it’s actually the male lead, Viggo Mortensen, whose “Don’t Tell Me What to Do” is available only through Action Box mail order; for info, call (818) 566-1278. Bon appetite.