What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? (If You’re Doing Anything?)

Chicago Sun-Times critic Jim DeRogatis notes that this year’s New Year’s Eve offerings in his hometown are pretty lacking compared to previous years, at least as far as live performances go: “[A] quick scan of this year’s musical New Year’s Eve celebrations is ample testament to how much all of us are cutting back: I cannot recall a quieter New Year’s in Chicago in terms of high-profile rock celebrations,” he writes. The big shows on the docket include concerts by Jay Reatard, Local H, and the Dandy Warhols, as well as the reunited Hum. There are also a few dance parties on the docket.

New York has My Morning Jacket, Yo La Tengo with the Feelies, Blonde Redhead, and a Guns N’ Roses tribute band, among others. (The YLT/Feelies show is actually in Montclair, N.J., and were it not a probably-annoying-because-of-everyone-heading-to-“The City” train ride away I’d probably head out there. I’m still scarred by that night on the Long Island Rail Road with the puking Phish fans.) While talking to Dan about DeRogatis’ piece earlier today, I learned that the Tuscon area had shows by Los Lobos and Frank “That Annoying Guy Who Plagues The MLB Playoffs” Calliendo on tap. And my hawklike watching of blogger Mass The Soup has helped me learn that Joel McHale is performing in Boston that evening.

But I dunno. I never really enjoyed New Year’s Eve shows that I wasn’t playing in^* for a lot of reasons—no chance to catch up with friends, being stuck in one place, way-inflated ticket prices. A friend and I did have an awesome New Year’s playing “spot the show this person is coming back from” in Penn Station about 10 years ago, thanks to Marilyn Manson, some jam band, and other artists all having engagements that evening, but I think that sort of enjoyment is very separate from going to the concerts themselves. And my aversion to going out extends to big huge dance parties, too: They’re often so expensive (and so filled with annoying people trying to make the most out of the open bar!) that they’re just not fun. I’d rather have a long night with friends, capped off by a big old splashy brunch, as a way to drop three figures in celebration of the year (finally, NOT SOON ENOUGH) changing.

Anyway, I have no New Year’s plans at present (except to try and hasten 2008’s demise along as much as possible), but I’m curious: What are you doing? Do you have a set show that you go to every year? Is the economy putting a crimp in your plans? And finally, do you even like going to New Year’s shows or dance parties, or are you more of a party-with-friends type?

Options quiet this year for rockin’ eve [Chicago Sun-Times]

^* What’s up, 40 Watt Club?