It’s New Year’s Eve. Still need plans? Here are eight more concerts to see.
You’ve procrastinated. You’ve played it by ear. And now New Year’s Eve has rolled around and you’re not sure what you’re doing. Fear not, we’re here to help. Being the live music advocates that we are here at The Key, we encourage you to ring in 2015 at a concert. And several of the concerts that were announced early are now sold out. Here are eight more in a variety of genres to amplify your night of revelry.
1. The Hoppin’ John Orchestra at Chris’ Jazz Cafe – Second line style New Orleans brass band ragtime jams from right here in Philly, and holy smokes they’re a lot of fun. Get your mummery on early. Tickets here.
2. Mike Bell and the Movies at Everybody Hits Batting Cages – Power pop and amps and beards. A pretty sick Marshall Crenshaw cover, a respectable Hurry cover. Baseball. Dude. Plus those Left & Right guys are playing, they’re great. Info here.
3. West Philly Orchestra vs. You Do You at Underground Arts – Balkan dance party vs. funkaphonic dance party. Theatrics in the middle from Johnny Showcase and Mercury Radio Theater. YDY keys player Crills Wilson just got back from a sojurn in Iceland. Buy him a drink, pay for it in króna, blow his mind. Tickets / info here.
4. Marietta at The Fire for Kat Kat Phest – Long time Philly emo underdogs (featuring former Key intern Ethan Willard) headlines the final day of the all-ages DIY extravaganza Kat Kat Phest. The awesome new five-piece Leaky Soups are also on the bill. More info here.
5. Making Time Hyper Rager at Union Transfer – No bands, just beats and vibes and HYPER-RADNESS and LOTS OF ALL-CAPS MESSAGING. This mega party from Dave P and co. is either sold out or very close to being sold out, but as of press time, Ticketfly is down and we can’t tell for sure UPDATE: it’s most definitely sold out. But if you go on the party’s Facebook event page, you’ll find a veritable free market if people in search of tickets / people looking to relieve themselves of tickets, so there’s that. Godspeed.
6. Killer Bangs, Ruby the Hatchet and more at Kung Fu Necktie – Scuzzy rock and roll at a scuzzy rock bar in the best way possible. Killer Bangs just released a charitable holiday single, Ruby The Hatchet is getting ready to rock a new release on Tee Pee Records next year. Gonna be loud and righteous. Info here.
7. Various punk and college rock tributes at 502 South – The good folks at West Philly’s 502 South house are throwing a tribute show party of sorts, celebrating the music of Lifetime, Alkaline Trio, The Misfits, Blink 182 and R.E.M. You’ll know all the words, you’ll be able to sing along, and you can dress casually. Awesome. Info here.
8. Cedric Gervais at Soundgarden Hall – Or maybe you just want to dance. France-born, Miami-based Cedric Gervais brings his hooky 90s-style house jams to EDM mecca Soundgarden Hall tonight. Sweat in the new year; info here.
Also, don’t forget: many shows on our original round-up are not yet sold out, including PhillyBloco at World Cafe Live and A Sunny Day in Glasgow at Boot and Saddle, and there’s also the jam at Dawson’s Street Pub with Schooly D, Cookie Rabinowitz and WXPN’s Dan Reed.