New Year's Eve: Top concerts for ringing in 2011
Looking for a New Year’s Eve party with an ace soundtrack? There are plenty of choices for music-loving revelers this year. Here are some of the best (arranged alphabetically by artist):
Big Freedia and her Divas: This is the place to be if you will settle for nothing less than a sweaty, fanny-shaking Bacchanal to ring in the New Year. Freedia proudly puts the “Sissy” in New Orleans’ longstanding bounce tradition, 10 p.m. Friday at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, $25; ticketweb.com.
Black Keys: http://bit.ly/ffMy0O
Shemekia Copeland: The blues is in good hands as long as this lion-hearted vocalist is in the room, 10 p.m. Friday at Space, 1245 Chicago Av., Evanston, Ill; $40, $45 (day of show), $60 (table reservation); ticketweb.com.
Cursive: The Omaha, Neb., art-punk band will pay a 10th anniversary tribute to "Sweetie" and "Pretty Baby," lead characters in their 2000 concept album “Domestica,” which they’ll play front to back, 10 p.m. Friday at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Av., $30 (sold out); ticketweb.com.
Flosstradamus: Hard to imagine a better place to dance in the New Year than with J2K (Josh Young) and Autobot (Curt Cameruci) on the decks, 10 p.m. Friday at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Av., $30 ($35 door); lincolnhallchicago.com.
Japandroids: The minimal essentials (drums, guitar, voice) deliver maximum
high-energy kicks wherever the Vancouver duo of Brian King and David Prowse roams, 10 p.m. Friday at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, $30; schubas.com.
Local H: Power duo Scott Lucas and Brian St. Clair deliver the volume and intensity of a band three times their size with nearly two decades’ worth of worthy material. Plus, they’ve got a sense of humor, which should come in handy while dodging popping champagne corks, 10 p.m. Friday at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., $50; ticketweb.com.
Magic Slim and the Teardrops: The Mississippi-born Morris Holt is a fixture on Chicago’s blues scene with his Stetson hat and houserocking shows. The brilliant veteran guitarist John Primer will open, 9 p.m. Friday at Buddy Guy’s Legends, 700 S. Wabash, $30; etix.com.
Mucca Pazza: In New Year’s parties past, swank big bands helped the hipsters dance past midnight and straight through dawn. Mucca Pazza is about as close to that tradition as you can get, a gypsy-punk marching band with more than 30 members -- including cheerleaders, 10 p.m. Friday at Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie, $25; ticketweb.com.
Pegboy: These alumni of Chicago’s excellent ‘80s indie scene (Naked Raygun, Bloodsport, Bhopal Stiffs) joined forces in the ‘90s for a series of no-nonsense, teeth-baring, ultra-melodic punk. They now play only a handful of shows a year, and they always bring it. Get there early to check out White Mystery, 8:30 p.m. Friday at Abbey Pub, $35 ($30 at door); ticketfly.com.
Tossers: Chicago’s contribution to Celtic punk. Expect boozy ballads, boozy jigs and proof that tin whistles, mandolins and accordions are every bit as formidable as electric guitars, 10 p.m. Friday at the Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, $25 and $30 (at door); ticketweb.com.
Yeasayer: It’s been a fine year for this Brooklyn quartet, punctuated by the “Odd Blood” studio album and a captivating Lollapalooza appearance. This show should serve as a celebratory capper, 10 p.m. Friday with Health at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., $56 and $66 (sold out), $500 (balcony table package); etix.com.
greg@gregkot.com
Ike Reilly Assassination....House of Blues....New Years Eve.
Posted by: Rohn | December 27, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Someone needs to warn people about the graphic and disgusting nature of Big Freedia. I'm not kidding!
Posted by: m | December 27, 2010 at 11:52 AM
#1 Yeasayer's performance at Lollapalooza this past summer was pretty lame.
#2 You don't mention Umphreys at Riv, Pretty Lights at The Congress, or Sublime with Rome at Navy Pier, all of which would be better shows than all of the above you mentioned.
Posted by: Anthony | December 27, 2010 at 08:39 PM