Amanda Palmer & The Danger Ensemble
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St., nr. Bowery; 212-533-2111
Patti Smith is on the undercard at eight o’clock, but once again Bowery will party well into New Year’s Day. Dresden Dolls front woman Amanda Palmer won’t even start her rollicking, vampy set—alongside bizzaro performance troupe the Danger Ensemble—until 2 a.m.
Blonde Redhead
Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th St., nr. Eleventh Ave.; 212-582-6600
The long-running, cultishly beloved experimental New York City trio brings along a pair of stellar opening acts: delightfully odd Montreal indie-pop act Islands and delicate, gifted singer-songwriter Elvis (son of Anthony) Perkins.
Crystal Castles
Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 N. 6th St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 212-260-4700
A bumper crop of avant-garde electronic acts dominated much of the indie-rock conversation this year, but this Toronto duo was arguably the head of the class. Front woman Alice Glass’s alternately shrieking and swooning vocals layered over Ethan Kath’s video-game blips are an unorthodox but foolproof dance-party spark.
Hall & Oates
Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn.; 860-862-8499
Scoff if you must, but the former eighties chart toppers’ singles have held up surprisingly well: “Rich Girl,” “Private Eyes,” and “Maneater” will fuel a night of satisfying pop sing-alongs.
My Morning Jacket
Madison Square Garden, 4 Penn Plz., nr. 31st; 212-465-6741
Jim James’s scruffy Kentucky crew put out the weirdest album of its career this year with Evil Urges but still managed to complete its ascent from critical darlings to bona fide phenomenon. Nabbing the city’s biggest stage on New Year’s Eve—with nary a radio spin—is the cherry on top.
New York Philharmonic: Susan Graham
Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, nr. 65th St.; 212-875-5900
The Philharmonic hosts mezzo-soprano Susan Graham for a program featuring highlights from Bizet’s Carmen and Lehár’s The Merry Widow.
A Place to Bury Strangers
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St., nr. Ludlow St.; 212-260-4700
The peals of feedback from this brooding, atmospheric rock—wrangled through custom guitar pedals made by front man Oliver Ackermann—should reverberate nicely in the cozy Mercury Lounge. Brooklyn faves Dirty on Purpose play a final, farewell show as openers.
Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca: The Rhythms of Joy
Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., nr. Astor Pl.; 212-539-8777
Flamenco-dancing legend Soledad Barrio will be accompanied by the fleet-footed Spaniard Juan Ogalla, guitarist Jesús Torres, and flamenco singer Emilio Florido.
PARTY PEOPLE
• Hip-hop purists the Rub throw a special edition of their monthly Southpaw party alongside the extra-smooth D.J. duo Certified Bananas.
• Superstar trance D.J. Tiësto headlines a 24-hour party at Roseland Ballroom.
• Tatiana, the jewel of Brighton Beach nightlife, hosts a supercharged version of its over-the-top, Vegas-style stage show.