Scott Weiland: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Irving Plaza; 11/30 at 7 p.m.; 17 Irving Pl., at 15th St., 212-777-6800
You can buy his Christmas album, but nothing says “holiday spirit” like Stone Temple Pilots front man crooning through a show of standards like “Winter Wonderland” live. Look for the reggae arrangement of “Silent Night” (we’re not kidding).
Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays
Beacon Theater; 12/4 at 8 p.m.; 2124 Broadway, nr. 74th St.; 212-465-6500
Ms. Lauper knows that girls just want to have fun, but so do her high-profile friends, including Norah Jones, Lou Reed, Rosie O’Donnell, Debbie Harry, Alan Cumming, and and many more, who will be joining her in a benefit to raise awareness about LGBT youth homelessness.
Holiday Cheer for WFUV: A Benefit Concert
Beacon Theater; 12/5 at 8 p.m.; 2124 Broadway, nr. 74th St.; 212-465-6500
The member-supported radio station jingles its bells with a benefit show as diverse as its “rock and roots” mission statement. The lineup features gospel legend Mavis Staples, folk-poppers the Head and the Heart, and Dawes.
Jingle Ball
Madison Square Garden; 12/9 at 7:30 p.m.; 4 Penn Plz., nr. 31st St.; 212-465-6741
Top-40 lovers must have been good boys and girls to get this lineup: Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Pitbull, and more will be dancing and prancing in Madison Square (Garden), at this annual pop-stravaganza, hosted this year by “YouTube sensation” Karmin.
Ingrid Michaelson’s Holiday Hop
Music Hall of Williamsburg; 12/10 at 8 p.m.; 66 N. Sixth St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; 718-486-5400
Now in its fifth annual installment, the singer–songwriter’s fun, season-embracing show has become an affair to look forward to—which is why this year’s already sold out. Just an excuse to get creative, though. (Maybe you can audition to be a backup dancer?)
BrooklynVegan Holiday Party: Anna Calvi
Music Hall of Williamsburg; 12/13 at 8 p.m.; 66 N. Sixth St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; 718-486-5400
The guitar-shredding Mercury Prize nominee returns to our shores to headline the music blog’s affair, where one dollar from every ticket sold will be donated to Toys for Tots.
“A Not So Silent Night” Rufus & Martha Wainwright
The Town Hall; 12/15 at 8 p.m.; 123 W. 43rd St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-840-2824
The super-talented and super-attractive siblings surround themselves with loved ones, including their dad Loudon Wainwright III, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Teddy Thompson, Lucy Wainwright Roche, and more. For the second time on this list, Lou Reed shows his love for the season, so might we suggest taking him a present?
PopGun Holiday Party
Glasslands; 12/15 at 8:30 p.m.; 289 Kent Ave., nr. nr. S. 1st St., Williamsburg; 718- 599-1450
It’ll be a deck-the-halls dance (okay, head-bopping) party with the twangy North Highlands headlining and openers including clap-happy BELL, power-poppers Parlovr, and the maudlin (but hanging in there! for the holidays!) Leisure.
Roots/Americana Holiday Concert
City Winery ; 12/17 at 7 p.m.; 155 Varick St., at Vandam St.; 212-608-0555
Talents including Laurelyn Dossett (Polecat Creek), Mike Compton (Elvis Costello & The Sugarcanes, Nashville Bluegrass Band), Joe Newberry, Jason Sypher, and Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops) banded together one hot summer week in North Carolina to record a Christmas album called The Gathering. Here they’ll play from it, in more seasonally appropriate conditions.
Twisted Sister: A Twisted Christmas Extravaganza
Best Buy Theater; 12/17 at 8 p.m.; 1515 Broadway, at 44th St.; 212-930-1950
Dee Snider and Co.’s last studio album was a guitar-ripping holiday extravaganza with covers of songs like “Silver Bells,” and perennial audience fave “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” They’ll bring their unique brand of yuletide cheer to our own Mecca of madness, Times Square.
The 8 Nights of Hanukkah With Yo La Tengo
Maxwell’s; 12/20-12/27 at 8 p.m.; 1039 Washington St., at 11th St., Hoboken; 201-653-1703
The stalwarts will once again light up Hoboken with their annual Hanukkah residency, with each night featuring a musical and comedy guest (not divulged until the last minute but who in the past have included Marc Maron and Bonnie “Prince” Billy). The run is currently sold out, but hey, ‘tis the season for miracles.
Matisyahu: Festival of Light
Music Hall of Williamsburg; 12/19-12/22 at 8 p.m.; 66 N. Sixth St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; 718-486-5400
For his sixth set of Hanukkah-centric shows, the beat-boxing Hasidic reggae artist will play four nights of Jewish holiday music in Williamsburg before heading up the East Coast.
98.7 KISS FM Holiday Concert with Chrisette Michele
Best Buy Theater; 12/23 at 8 p.m.; 1515 Broadway, at 44th St.; 212-930-1950
The R&B songstress will be putting some soul into the season, regaling the masses with her Grammy-winning pipes. For this one, take someone you’re hoping to impress.
The Gift of Laughter
There are also comedy offerings aplenty this holiday season. On Dec.19 and 20 John Waters smuts it up in a classy setting at B.B. King Blues Club, revealing his fanaticism for Santa Claus and love of true crime holiday stories. In midtown, The PIT is the home of folks telling true (and most likely embarrassing) holiday stories at Risk! on Dec. 15 and “A SRSLY Grumpy Holiday Show“, with film shorts, drag, and semi-nudity (oh my!) on Dec. 6, while downtown On Dec. 9 the 92YTribeca has you covered with the variety show Kevin Geeks Out—Holiday Grab Bag. On Dec. 19, swing by for The Moon, with Michael Showalter and Julie Klausner, and on Dec. 24 bust out the dreidel for Hannukkomedy, hosted by Liam McEneaney.
In Brooklyn, yuk it up two times over at The Bell House: first at The Party Machine Holiday Benefit with Bobby Tisdale, Showalter, Seth Herzog, and more on Dec. 8 and then again on Dec. 11 at The Pretty Good Friends Holiday Show with Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal, John Mulaney, and their other assorted cronies.
Happy holidays!