12/31: Cheap NYE Preview

It's one of those years where we enjoy a weekend New Year's Eve, so at least there's plenty of time to 'rest yo self before you wreck yo self'...

While it sucks to pay to get into a bar where you usually just walk in, there are plenty of places that offer admission for $10 or less (or free) -- and some are listed below.

Maybe your favorite spot is going to be a cool place to go if you don't feel like going to a house party or drinking with a loved/lusted one at home...

Over in my 'hood, Olde Magoun's Saloon is not doing anything NYE-related they describe as "No cover, cheesy band, lousy DJ, noise makers, silly hats, champagne toast, amateurs", etc.

For an easily readable list of NYE options of varying costs, I saw one at The Phoenix.

A more detailed post should be forthcoming. Most of the options below are music-centric, so I separated them in "categories" instead of the usual chronological order.

I only had one gig on today's CTB calendar. Most of the people will know each other virtually, but it's free...

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SAT 12/31

Various Times
First Night - Outdoors
at Various Locations around Boston
FREE / $18

There's a plethora of entertainment options available to you if you bought a button, and you could easily get your money's worth while supporting this decades-old tradition.

There seems to be less outdoor entertainment than other years, where you can walk around as a public citizen. Some of it happens early in the night for those passing by onto their destination, and there's enough free entertainment to stay out until midnight.

For example: A parade goes from Hynes Convention Center to Charles Street and finishing at Beacon Street (5:30pm to 6:15pm)... A skating performance on the Frog Pond (6pm to 7pm)... There will be 3 bands playing at the Parkman Bandstand: Amos Blood (10:45pm), Vanzetti (9:15pm), Chris North Dream Quartet (7:30pm)... Or you could be part of the crowd in WBZ-TV's live show (10pm to Midnight) at Copley Square with DJ's and performers.

If they don't melt, there should be three ice sculptures in Boston Common and two in Copley Square (including a frozen version of the Green Icicles at the MFA).

And there will be about 10 minutes of fireworks over Boston Harbor at midnight.

Bring a discreet flask of something to keep you warm...

*** For those who want to rock:

SAT 12/31

8:30pm
Casey Desmond, Herra Terra, Streight Angular, Pressure System
at Magic Room Gallery, Sound Museum, 155 N. Beacon Street, Brighton
$10 / 21+

There's a cash bar, "free midnight champagne toast (while supplies last)", and a variety of rock/synth/pop party-dance sounds.

"Dress Code: Readytoripitup"

SAT 12/31

9pm
Mellow Bravo, Township, Planetoid, Cocked N Loaded, The Grinds
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 advance / $12 day of show / 18+

Ryan's Smashing Life "presents New Year's Eve" with rock on top of rawk on top of rock on top of punk and so on.

SAT 12/31

Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents (12:45pm), John Powhida International Airport (11:45pm), Andrea Gillis Band (10:45pm), The Dirty Truckers (9:45pm)
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10

Dang, there's a lot of good rock 'n soul 'n Americana in my new favorite club which is a lot bigger then you'd think if you never went to the location's former incarnation.

I'm assuming the DJ will spin a lot of vintage garage and punk starting at 9pm. They should be open until 2am.

SAT 12/31

9:30pm
Jason Anderson & The Best, Math The Band, Ette
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / 18+

I expect these folks to bring a positive vibe. Jason Anderson suggests that people wear tuxedoes. Right...

*** For those who want to get folky/old-timey:

SAT 12/31

9pm
The Four Legged Faithful
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE / 21+

It's probably going to be a full house for this bluegrass-y blend. Mainly because you can't fit many people in Toad.

SAT 12/31

10:30pm
Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10-ish

It's probably going to be a full house at this New Year's Eve Party with a country/Americana vibe -- also mainly because isn't that much bigger than Toad.

*** For those who want to dance the night away and have a gay ol' time:

SAT 12/31

9:30pm to 2am
Don't Ask Don't Tell: "Opulence"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 before 11pm / $12 after 11pm / 21+

The theme is opulence, so think about dressing well. The drag queens and kings definitely will...

*** For those who want to funk:

SAT 12/31

10pm
Po Boyz, Jimmy Johnson
at Middle East - Corner, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / 21+

The Po Boyz are a organ-based funk band, and Jimmy Johnson spent the '60s and '70s playing guitar with various soul-funk bands in and out of his native New Orleans.

The cover is a $5 'donation'.