New Year's Eve: Twin Cities Music

In less than two weeks we will be stumbling our way into another year! With the holidays still left to endure it's difficult to think about where you want to be when that ball drops at Midnight.  House party? On a couch w/ a loved one? Drunk outside The Drink in Uptown?

Well, the Twin Cities' music scene is giving you plenty of reasons to spend your last seconds of 2009 at a concert venue near you. Some of the best in local music are throwing killer parties throughout our little metropolitan area. Here's three that are on my radar:

*NEW YEAR'S EVE W/ MARK MALLMAN*
Veteran rocker, Mark Mallman, has put together a stellar lineup for his New Year's Eve bash in Dinkytown.

Featuring: Mark Mallman, White Light Riot, & First Communion Afterparty

Where: The Varsity Theater

Details: Doors @ 8pm
                Tickets: $12
                18+

*2010: THE YEAR WE MAKE CONTACT*

89.3 The Current presents this benefit for music programs at Edison High School in Minneapolis. It may be one of the more expensive events of the night (go figure, it's in Downtown...at a hotel), but what it has to offer could be well worth the admission.

Featuring: Solid Gold (above), Freddy Fresh, Heatbox, & The Histronic

Where: Marriott City Center Ballroom

Details: Doors @ 8pm
                Tickets: $25 General/$75 VIP or donate an instrument
                18+


*NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE TRIPLE ROCK*
Perhaps one of the more eclectic shows of New Year's Eve, the Triple Rock is offering a night of R&B, hip hop, reggae, and soul. Also included...champagne jello shots and Confessions of 2009.

Where: Triple Rock Social Club

Featuring: Black Blondie (above right), Toki Wright, The Prizefighters, & DJ Turtleneck (of MPLS Kids Have More Fun)

Details: Doors @ 9pm
                Tickets: $7 Advance/$10 Door
                18+

Just a little food for thought. I began 2009 with a flying-champagne-cork to the head at a house party, so I plan on starting this new year a bit more positively with some good music and friends. Hope to see you out.

Here's City Pages' list of music events for Dec. 31st 2009.

-Tim

New Year's Eve: Twin Cities Music

Australia Needs to Chill Out: It's Britney Bitch

Britney Spears has arrived in Australia and already the Aussies have their knickers in a bunch. Ms. Spears is set to perform 14 shows while in Australia with tickets going for as much as $1,500. This creates a problem because Brit Brit is known for lip-synching during her shows and the Australian government wants consumers to know that's what they're paying for.

The Aussies want to pass a law that would require artists to claim whether they will be lip-synching or performing live during their performance so audience members will know exactly what they're paying for. That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard.



As my good friend Tyler once told me, "Honey, if you want to hear a good voice you go to a Christina Aguilera show. You go to a Britney Spears concert for the performance." I agree. Everyone knows that Britney Spears lip-synchs. We've known this since day one of her career. That's not why we like her, it's because she's the whole package. It's because she is the pop princess and she can do whatever the hell she wants. I couldn't dance around and sing for an hour and a half straight, yeah right. So Australia back off and let her do the damn thing. Her fans know exactly what they're paying for.

-Rachel

Australia Needs to Chill Out: It's Britney Bitch