New Year’s Eve 2009: Where to rock, where to roll
New Year’s Eve is inevitably one of the biggest nights of the year for live music events. If you’re looking for a killer show to check out in the cities you might find yourself a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of possibilities. But we’re here to help out by giving you a simple venue-by-venue list with all the important details included below. This list may also be added to as more information comes in.
The Varsity Theater
Mark Mallman →
with
White Light Riot
First Communion Afterparty
Koo Koo Kanga Roo
8 PM doors (9 PM show), 18+, $12
Mike’s note: This is the show I’ll be at. Mallman, already one of the most epic performers in town, truly pulls out all the stops on NYE and has done this show at The Varsity since 2006. This show will sell out as usual. I went in 2007, which featured his now-notorious “scooter solo” stunt. He revved a power scooter’s tire back-and-forth across his keyboard from a ramp set up at the front of the stage. Also of note: NYE falls on a second full moon in December (sometimes referred to as a “blue moon”), which means that there’s serious potential for a MALLWOLF sighting. YES.
400 Bar
Best New Bands of 2009 (subject to change)
Machine 22 →
The Good Armada
Our Feature Presentation
Seventh Ascent
Mister Fister
8 PM, 18+, $10 advance/$20 door
7th Street Entry
Unicorn Basement (Final show)
Gospel Gossip
Gay Beast
MC/VL →
Eye of the Great Protector
8 PM, 18+, $6 advance/$8 door
Mike’s note: MC/VL is one of the most fun live shows in town. Think Beastie Boys, subtract one emcee, and add an iPod. Throw in some inevitably-memorable antics which will likely include the duo covering every square inch of The Entry and you’ve got a recipe for awesome rock-infused hip hop insanity.
Carole Martin & the Irv Williams Quartet
9 PM, $35 before 12/23, $45 thereafter
Missledick
Shovelhead
Pair of 7′s
The Rock & Roll Whores
The Filthy Cheaters
Gash Blood
9 PM, 21+, $5
Fucking Sick (2/4 of Kidnap Kings [formerly Dropping Daylight])
9 PM, 21+, $65 (tickets are all-inclusive)
The Cabooze
Wookiefoot
with
Roster McCabe →
The Limns
8:30 PM doors (9:30 PM show), 18+, $15 advance/$?? door
Mike’s note: I’m convinced that Roster McCabe is poised to be the “big” breakout Minneapolis band of 2010 if the local press actually picks up on their awesome sound, especially with a new album on the horizon. Then again, do they really even need that kind of help? They’re already buzzing via word-of-mouth and tour more than almost anyone right now anyway. This is the show I would be at were I not already planning on going to The Varsity, and it could sell out in advance.
Gus Lynch
Brooks Robinson
Gabe Noah
John Conroy
The Skullcranes
The Grande Machine
Clubhouse Jager
Transmission with DJ Jake Rudh
9 PM, 21+, $5
Mike’s note: If you’re looking for a dance night that isn’t overpriced or overpacked, this is what you want. Tickets are limited to keep the place from getting overpacked and they’ll go quite fast too. Plus Jake is only the best DJ in town if you didn’t already know that…
Irvin Mayfield Quintet (also broadcast live on NPR’s “Toast of the Nation”)
10:30 PM, $80
Trampled By Turtles
Two Many Banjos
9 PM, 21+, $66 advance/$76 door (tickets are all-inclusive)
Vita.mn and Radio K present New Year’s Eve 2010 – Deep Space Danceteria
with
Sovietpanda (Too Much Love)
DJ Smitty
Roy Freedom
and more!
8 PM, 18+, $5 advance/$15 door
Hexagon Bar
Pretty Boy Thorson →
The God Damn Doo Wop Band
The Evening Rig
Banner Pilot
The 86′d
Amen & The Hell Yeahs
9 PM, 21+, Free
Lee’s Liquor Lounge
E.L.nO.
Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles →
DJ Jill Riley of 89.3 The Current
9:30 PM, 21+, $10
Minneapolis Marriott City Center
Solid Gold →
Freddy Fresh
Heatbox
The Histronic
7 PM doors (9 PM show), 18+, $25
Nomad World Pub
Cadillac Kolstad and The Flats
Fuck Knights →
The Goondas
9 PM, 21+, Free
Mike’s note: If you’re a punk rocker at heart this is the show to see. All three acts are badass in their own unique way. Fuck Knights is a stripped-down but punk-rocking three piece, Cadillac does some of the best punkabilly in town, and The Goondas basically arrived straight out of the 1970′s/80′s British punk scene if you believe that time travel is possible. (It should be as far as I’m concerned.)
Far From Falling
Drift Effect
Tepetricy
Blood Root Mother
9 PM, 18+, $6 advance/$8 door
3rd Annual New Year’s Eve cover night with
Vampire Hands covering Television
Leisure Birds covering The Monks
Daughters of the Sun covering The Jesus and Mary Chain
Marijuana Death Squads and Total Fucking Blood covering Brian Eno
with DJs Winship and TRL, and Secret Language in the Clown Lounge
9 PM, 21+, $8
posted December 28th, 2009 at 12:31 pm MN Rock
So, so many options! Guess that’s the beauty of the cities.
Mallwolf sounds enticing. What do you suppose are sighted more often in the metro: Mallwolves or mountain lions?