Monterey''s seasonal nightlife has more to offer than just pretty street decorations. Check it out:

McGarrett''s is hosting its first Christmas Bash on the Bay. Rumor has it that aside from complimentary champagne and hors d''oeuvres, McGarrett''s will also give its customers the one-time opportunity to have a drink (or two, or three) served from a glacier bar. You''ll find this mountain of ice standing in the smaller of its two bars. How big exactly this sculpture will be is not yet quite clear, but club owner Brooke Lewis assures us that a beautiful creature will be sitting gracefully atop its crest, bottle in hand, waiting to pour your drink. How does it work? You order a drink and walk, equipped with a glass, to this iceberg. You hold your glass to the designated spot at the bottom. The waitress now pours the drink from the top onto the ice. Watch it run down the mountainside like a rivulet, straight into your glass. It''s going to be interesting to see who''ll be able to keep a straight aim as the night progresses. In any case, this sculpture will give new meaning to the term, "Pour me a drink." Now, be merry and dance the night away to the sound of house music supplied by McGarrett''s own DJ Donna.

Christmas Bash on the Bay, Thursday. 8pm, McGarrett''s, $7, 646-9244.

Here''s an interesting twist to rock ''n'' roll sound. All Day Wire, an Orange County quintet makes its Monterey debut at Blue Fin Billiards on Friday. The band was born in 1997, when All Day Wire''s lead vocalist, Monica Salci, put an ad in the local paper, looking for fellow performers who shared her artistic ideas. Bassist Joe Ayroso and guitarist Craig Stockl answered the ad. Earlier this year, lineup changes brought in drummer Adrian Alvidrez and Natalie Brockway (with keyboard and background vocals), giving the band its finishing touches. The band''s sound is definitely upbeat; alternative that combines a little funk, rock, pop and reggae in an appealing mix.

From the very beginning, all the pieces seemed to fall into place for All Day Wire. After only two weeks of rehearsal, they performed their first live show, and have since appeared live every week throughout Southern California for a total of nearly 200 shows. Who Booked This Gig?, their first six-song CD, was released in the summer of 1997, and now, it seems All Day Wire is on a roll, and just plain having fun. Their live shows have earned them a lot of positive feedback, and their intense energy seems contagious. Says Salci, "It''s all about peace and fun up there, and sharing that energy with the crowd. Yes, we have attitude, but it''s all positive attitude." Judging from earlier previews, this is a band worth checking out, especially if you are in a jammin'' mood.

All Day Wire, Friday, 9pm, Blue Fin Billiards. No cover, 375-7000.

Sean Michael White (vocals, bass guitar), Justin ''Juice'' Saunders (guitar/vocals), Mitch Fadem (Piano/organ/bass), and Charlie Sutter (drums) of the band Juice cordially invite you to join them for a CD-release party at Doc''s on Thursday. In the beginning, the band consisted only of White and Saunders, both ready to create a sound to fit their ideas. Enter Fadem, whose music combines classical training with modern ideas. And finally add East Coast import Sutter on the drums, rounding up the sound, to create a mix which blends rock with a touch of blues and pop for good measure. The band met with Josh Roberts (who has worked with Creeper Lagoon, The Melvins, Meat Beat Manifesto and Squirrel Nut Zippers, in the past) at Berkeley''s Roof Brother''s Studios to record a four-song EP, which was still on its way from the manufacturer when I spoke to White on Sunday. Juice, with Jedi opening, Thursday, 9pm, Doc''s Nightclub, $3, 649-4241.

Moving right along, Doc''s is hosting its Fourth Annual Rock for AIDS Benefit Concert, promising good sound for a good cause with a full lineup of local musicians. Tom Ayers is going to MC and headline the evening, which can only add to the temptation of leaving holiday preparations be, and taking a break instead. After all, the tinsel and wrapping will still be waiting in the morning. The proceeds of this concert benefit the Monterey County AIDS Project (MCAP), which will have representatives on hand to answer questions and provide literature. Among those rocking the night away are Blue, Foamscape, The Amazon Mollies, Roger Masson & Denny Phillips.

Tom Ayers and the 4th Annual Rock for AIDS Benefit Concert, Friday, 8pm, Doc''s Nightclub, $7, 649-4241.

Sunchild is spending the weekend at Whitey''s Place. The band from Southern California with their retro rock sound, is no stranger to this town, and will surely pack the house as always.

Sunchild, Friday & Saturday, 9:30pm, Whitey''s Place, $2, 646-8383.

And from the "You are what you hate" files, meet Hate Dept., featured in the Tuesday Night Local Band Showcase at Doc''s.

If you like the techno/industrial/electronic beats which have gained more and more recognition over the past few years, but also the verse-chorus-verse of post-alt rock, then this four-player band is right up your alley. At its core stands Seibold, who has produced such bands as Berlin and Information Society. He''s also worked with Smash Mouth, remixing their song, "Walking on the Sun (Love Attacks Mix)." In the early ''90s, he formed Hate Dept. with Charles Hunt (drums), Mark Greco (guitar), and Jeff Smith (keyboard). What started as a contemporary band with influences by groups like Nine Inch Nails and Skinny Puppy, and the seminal punk of the Sex Pistols and Clash, has come a long and interesting way.

Today, there is a little of everything in Hate Dept.''s sound: punk, metal, ambient, and dance. Seibold tries to bring his message across. "I am an anti-system kind of guy," he said in an earlier interview. "Hate Dept. is my vehicle for screaming about all the things I can''t stand." The formula seems to work. The band''s first two albums, Meat.your.maker and Omnipresent, both appeared on Rolling Stone''s Top Ten alternative album chart, and Keyboard Magazine placed Seibold on its list of "Best New Talent" in 1995. They''ve earned national airplay in 20 U.S. markets and have been on tour through the U.S. four times. After more than two years of studio work, Hate Dept.''s third album, Technical Difficulties, is about to be released, and its single, "Release It," might make you want to do just that.

Hate Dept., Tuesday, 9:30pm. Doc''s Nightclub, 649-4241.

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