For the first time in years, clubs in this night-life mecca on Sunset Boulevard and nearby will be ringing in 2009 on Wednesday by slashing cover charges or offering special incentives, such as open bars and free hors d’oeuvres.

The less extravagant tone for New Year’s reflects the big hit that nightclubs have taken in the yearlong recession. More than half the nation’s 50,000 or so clubs, bars and dance halls had their last call in 2008, said J.C. Diaz, chairman of the National Club Industry Assn. of America.

Most of those that closed were smaller neighborhood venues, he said, but bigger clubs are also feeling the pinch.

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