Von's Island, Paramount and Deader take over Crash Haus on Dec. 19

A three-band bill at the small Whittier Boulevard room costs less than nine dollars on the Saturday before Christmas.

The Saturday before Christmas usually means mall parking and family obligations. On Whittier Boulevard, it means a three-band bill for less than the price of a burrito plate and a drink.

Von's Island headlines Crash Haus on Saturday, Dec. 19, with Paramount and Deader in support. The show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $8.81 through DICE. The date was announced Oct. 28.

That price is the headline here. Eight dollars and change for three bands is the kind of number that has kept DIY-scale rooms on the Eastside alive, and it's an easy yes for anyone who would rather spend a December Saturday in a small, loud room than in a crowded bar.

Crash Haus is part of the appeal. The room, listed as CRASHaus at 6417 Whittier Blvd. in East Los Angeles, is described by the promoters who book it as an underground, intimate space with a small capacity. It has been home to shoegaze nights among other things, which says a lot about the room: it's built for bands that play loud and crowds that stand close.

Eight dollars and change for three bands is the kind of number that has kept DIY-scale rooms on the Eastside alive.

Small rooms like this matter in a city the size of Los Angeles. The big clubs on the Sunset Strip and downtown book the bands that are already touring nationally. The Eastside's smaller spaces are where local bands build a following, where three acts can share a bill without anyone worrying about guarantees, and where you can see a band from a few feet away before it's playing anywhere bigger. A December show at a place like Crash Haus is exactly that kind of night.

With three acts on the bill and a 7 p.m. start, plan to get there on time. Openers at small shows often play to the people who showed up early, and that's frequently where the best surprise of the night is. A room this size also fills up quickly once word gets around.

A few practical notes: DICE tickets live in the app, so have your phone charged before you head out. Whittier Boulevard is well served by Metro buses if you'd rather skip parking, and the stretch has plenty of places to eat before or after the show.

The holidays get busy. Give yourself one night of three bands, one small room and one very cheap ticket. Dec. 19 on Whittier is a good one to circle.

Sources: CRASHaus — Music of Our Desire venue page (events.musicofourdesire.com); Von's Island at Crash Haus — DICE tickets (link.dice.fm)