Rocking in the New Year
By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 30, 2008 6:20PM
Jay Reatard at The Empty Bottle
$25 includes 40oz. and champagne toast
New Year's Eve at The Empty Bottle is a stripped down, relatively no frills affair, and Jay Reatard is the perfect musical complement to that approach. When onstage he delivers his turbo-charged garage rock with the dedication of revivalist preacher on a methamphetamine fueled acid binge. Expect full-on mouth-frothing rock and/or roll to knock over anyone within earshot at this show.
Local H at Bottom Lounge
$35 / $45 day of
As far as local bills go, this is far and away the best one. Local H and Big Science both released albums we loved this year, and OFFICE's as-yet unreleased Mecca has spent quite a bit of time in our headphones over the past few months (OFFICE has canceled). Expect all three them to unleash bone-shuddering doses of melodic rock throughout the evening. Rounding out the bill is another of our favorites, Sybris, sure to deliver a set submerging the audience under waves of guitar.
The Dandy Warhols at Metro
$55
The Dandy Warhols used to be incredibly undependable when it came to their live shows, but since they've struck out on their own and escaped the land of Major labels the group is on a roll. We saw them play a few months ago and thought it was a terrific show. They're upping the ante with their NYE show at Metro, promising a two-plus hour set that will featuring a setlist filled with both songs of their choosing and tunes voted in by fans. Expect to hear all the band's hits alongside rarely heard lost gems.
Justice at The Congress
$60 SOLD OUT
usually we wouldn't promote a show primarily populated by DJs as a "rock option" for NYE, but Justice is more a hard-grooved metal band than house DJs. Their aggressive beats are hell bent on whipping the throngs into a frenzy and we have yet to see them disappoint a crowd. Add in the electro-pop of local openers Hey Champ and you've got a recipe that will keep us moving on the floor for sure. An added plus? Judging by the amount of drunk hipsters sure to be choking the room no one is going without a kiss when the clock strikes twelve.
Local H photo from their MySpace