The Detroit Cobras
Mercury Lounge, 8 p.m.; 217 E. Houston St., nr. Ludlow St.; 212-260-4700
The balls-to-the-wall ladies of the Detroit Cobras will be belting out their repurposed garage-rock covers at the Mercury Lounge alongside the A-Bones and the Underthings.
Dean & Britta
Southpaw, 7 p.m.; 125 Fifth Ave., nr. Sterling Pl.; Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-230-0236
The veteran shoegaze duo play an early New Year’s show, performing their compositions from 13 Most Beautiful … Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests while the shorts are projected above them. A perfectly delicate way to start off a night of raucousness.
Antibalas
Knitting Factory Brooklyn, 9 p.m.; 361 Metropolitan Ave., at Havemeyer St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 347-529-6696
The kings of Brooklyn afro-soul take a break from their day job as the house band for Broadway’s Fela! to rock the Knitting Factory.
The Felice Brothers
Southpaw, 10 p.m.; 125 Fifth Ave., nr. Sterling Pl., Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-230-0236
The Brooklyn-via-the-Catskills folk-rockers (and real-life brothers) hope to bring you back to easy days of backyard barbecues and pleasant summer nights. Tickets are sold out, but where there’s a will there’s a way.
Obits, Eli Paperboy Reed & the True Lovers
The Bell House, 8 p.m.; 149 7th St., nr. Second Ave., Gowanus, Brooklyn; 718-643-6510
The Bell House is welcoming the New Year with a “legendary Rock and Soul blowout.” Subway Soul Club’s D.J.’s will be joined by Orbits and Eli “Paperboy” Reed & the True Loves.
Fischerspooner
Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, 10 p.m.; 17 Irving Pl., at 15th St.; 212-777-6800
Part performance-art project, part exuberant dance-pop duo, Fischerspooner broke out of New York City’s electroclash scene, worked with songwriter to the stars Linda Perry on a major-label album, and have finally arrived at Entertainment, the irresistible, whip-smart disc they released independently this year.
Mariah Carey
Madison Square Garden, 9 p.m.; 4 Penn Plz., nr. 31st St.; 212-465-6741
Mariah’s had a shaky 2009, with the lackluster reception of her latest, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, and a weird back-and-forth with alleged ex-boyfriend Eminem. But she’s still got more No. 1 hits than anyone else, ever, meaning her “into midnight” concert is still a must-see.
Sandra Bernhard
Joe’s Pub, 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.; 425 Lafayette St., nr. Astor Pl.; 212-539-8778
The sharp-tongued vixen says good-bye to 2009 through her outrageous tirades and cutting comedy act and with a little help from her band, the Rebellious Jezebels.
Gilbert & Sullivan Favorites
Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 8 p.m.; 155 W. 65th St., nr. Broadway; 212-769-7406
This annual event once again promises renditions from Gilbert and Sullivan’s legendary catalogue, including scenes, songs, parodies, and overtures. Bonus: Requests will be taken from the audience, leading to impromptu performances from the full orchestra.
New Year’s Eve: Hampson, Gershwin, Copland & Broadway
Avery Fisher Hall, 7:30 p.m.; 10 Lincoln Center Plz., nr. 65th St.; 212-875-5030
Favorites like Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and Copland’s “Appalachian Spring Suite” are on the bill for the New York Philharmonic’s end-of-year bash.