The Best New Years Eve Shows in New York, Upcoming 12/31/08

Because many of us have cabin fever and would like to go out on New Years Eve despite the economy, empty wallets and the usual profusion of amateurs clogging the streets, we’ve put together a special page for the night.

 

Our #1 pick is the Mike Hunt Band at Lakeside, 11 PM, free. The Mike Hunt Band (as in, “”have you seen Mike Hunt?”, ha ha) are another one of Tammy Faye Starlite’s projects, in this case a Stones cover band which she uses as the stepping-off point for her typically spot-on, hilarious, politically charged improv comedy. Those too young to know who Lenny Bruce was ought to discover this far better-looking troublemaker. Because the bar is small, early arrival (i.e. 9 PM) is very highly advised.

 

Here’s another really good one, and it’s also free: Yarn at Hill Country, 10 PM. They’re a country band with a horn section and they have it all – good original, oldschool 60s style tunes, tight harmonies and a killer mandolinist. This place is a restaurant: you might want to find a place at the bar if money is tight.

 

Here’s another good, free country show: Sean Kershaw & the New Jack Ramblers at Hank’s, 10ish til late.  

 

For blues fans, it’s hard to imagine anything more fun than Mississippi hill country blues guitarist Will Scott and drummer Wylie Wirth who play a rousing, hypnotic duo show at 68 Jay St. Bar, probably starting early (8ish) and no doubt going all night. It’s also free. This is a small place, so the earlier you get there the better.

 

For reggae fans, roots/dancehall reggae band Noble Society  plays a free show at Rose Bar in Williamsburg at 11ish, early arrival is likewise highly recommended.

 

For world music fans, Brazilian combo Nation Beat doing their innovative, danceable stuff at Barbes starting around 10 PM and going til late. Cover is $10. The club wants you to know that there will be no champagne toast, no noisemakers and no ball-dropping countdown, although you will learn to count to ten backwards in Portuguese.

 

For fullscale all-out revelry, nothing beats Irish-American rockers Black 47’s show at Connolly’s on 46th St. Tix are $20 and available at the club. Caveat: the bar is a stone’s throw from Times Square, which may mean a whole lot of trouble getting out unless you plan on staying til the not-so-wee hours.

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