On the New Year's Tip (The Weekender)

New Year's Eve is obviously the most important night of this particular weekend, so we'll start the list with Sunday and work backwards. There appears to be a few cool things going on around town on Sunday night, and several of them are happening in Expo Park, which might be a good place to be for anyone that just wants to hop in a cab, go somewhere and drink without worrying about running around all over town and avoiding the goddamn po-lice (at least in your car). Obviously there are a lot of house parties and things of that nature happening too, but if you want to go OUT out for New Year's, you can try some of this stuff:

Select/ Big J (Clever Monkeys) New Year's Party (Monkey Bar- 408 Exposition): My favorite thing about the Monkey Bar is that it isn't the Expo Lounge. Don't get me wrong, I liked hanging out in that place as much as the next guy, but if I hear one more person talk about how its "not the same, man," I'm going to have to get Marty McFly to go back in time and destroy the place by running into his other self or losing a Sports Almanac or something. The truth is that Monkey Bar has been holding its own all year with a lot of different hip hop parties and DJs that actually play music you haven't heard before, and their New Year's eve party should be a good representation of what they've been doing over there lately. Once you get past the Tikis, all that will be left is the fact that Select and Big J will be playing better records than just about anyone in town in a place that leaves plenty of room to dance or just sit around and be drunk. These guys know how to throw a party, and the fact that its free pretty much makes it a no brainer. Expect the usual diverse set from Select, along with a lot of good hip hop that you know you'll want to hear more and more with every alcoholic beverage you consume.

Happening just down the street at 842 1st Ave. (loft apartments above the Meridian Room and Bar of Soap) will be the High Society New Year's Party featuring Dj performances from Lolita Massacre, Paris Riots and Justin V. of the High Society crew. They'll also have several kegs and a bunch of booze which you are free to drink with the purchase of a moderately priced cup. Everyone is welcome, but if you want to go, just RSVP at the High Society Myspace page and let them know that you're coming. These guys (and girls) spin a lot of trash pop, hip hop, electro, dancepunk and pretty much anything else you can think of. Always a good time, this could either be a fantastic after hours spot or a place where you decide to camp out all night. A smart dance party where you're allowed to act stupid because the High Society kids are always acting like weirdos and having a blast.

At the same time just below the High Society thing, The Smoke will be doing their New Year's Eve party at Avenue Arts. Six bucks gets you in to hear a whole shitload of motown, northern soul and 60's psychedelic, and the BYOB thing makes it even better. Jerky drunk dancing is a strong possibility.

If you've got 50-75 bucks that you want to waste or use to impress someone you're trying to take home at the end of the night (presuming said person doesn't really have any taste), then you might want to try fighting through the lines of Republicans, trust fun bros, My Chemical Romance look a likes, snobby gay guys, ex Dallas Cowboys and strippers at Ghost Bar to see a half naked member of Pussycat Dolls and some DJs and stuff. I dig that "buttons" song ok and everything, but even trying to park at the W on New Year's eve is probably too high maintenance for me. Coke consumption is assumed.

The Gorilla vs. Bear approved Ghostland Observatory will be playing at the Gypsy Tea Room with someone named Dj Booth. Its a bit expensive to get in ($15 a pop) and yes, Ghostland is a bit derivative of a lot of the disco/dance punk bands that everyone is sick of, but they do what they do very well, and I don't see any way that this show will be anything less than fun (and I must admit to sorta digging on that "Sad Sad City" song recently too). I'd expect a big crowd at this one.

Elsewhere, Unconscious Collective will be performing at Lee Harvey's... I'm quite sure I'm not a Shanghai 5 guy (who are also playing), but UC is usually more than enough of a reason to take a short trip in Dallas.

Over in Ft. Worth, Koji Kondo is playing with Boogdish and Galuc Dadu at 1919 Hemphill.

As far as Denton, I'm not seeing a whole lot up there that I would be interested in. Of course Current Leaves is playing at Dan's, which is a good thing, but they also happen to be playing with the Drams, which is not such a good thing. Not that I have a bone to pick with dudes, I just don't feel the need to listen to the Singles soundtrack EVER again. And that's the truth, Ruth.

There might be some other random things going on in Denton that we just haven't heard about yet, so check back with us this weekend or take a peep at the comment thread. Now for the rest of the weekend, which is actually happening before all of this stuff:


FRIDAY

Teenage Symphony/Sydney Confirm/Joey Kendall (1919 Hemphill):

A good show for Pop fans. Especially with the adorably mopey harmonizing of Teenage Symphony and the complex pop of Joey Kendall.



SATURDAY

Shapes Have Fangs /The Party (Art Prostitute
- $10 cover with free drinks):
Shapes Have Fangs make their Dallas debut with this show. They list both The Monks and Ana Da Silva as influences and I'd like to see them on that alone. Top it off with The Party and you have another AP event that will probably be unlike anything else in Dallas.


Stumptone/Pleasant Grove/Dovehunter (Doublewide)

The Paper Chase /The Crash That Took Me /Hardin Sweaty And The Ready To Go (Zac Crain fundraiser Club Dada)