All the ugly sweaters have gone back into storage. Those SantaCon pub tomfoolery hooligans have dispensed with the extracurricular reindeer games. More importantly, that Buster Posey “talkin’ out the side of your neck” fervor has become stale as yesteryear’s fruitcake. It’s a bastard pastry at best.
(Mr Posey, you are a pillar of the community, a local sports hero, and part-owner of a Bay Area sports organization that is NOT focused on moving to Las Vegas. Don’t blame the victim. Help change what you believe kept Shohei Ohtani from signing with the Giants. If free agents have reservations about coming to SF, think for just one second about what people who live here, amidst challenging conditions, would say if they had the platform to express their frustrations. Maybe you could take their calls?
Or maybe Mr Posey, you could investigate why Bruce Bochy was not kept in the Giants management circle after he retired. With the Texas Rangers winning the World Series this season after just ONE YEAR of Bruce Bochy coming out of retirement and doing an exceptional job of coaching, I think he’s still quite cognizant and in touch with today’s players. It’s my understanding that management gave him full power to do as he saw fit, with no passive-aggressive notes from the GM. Maybe focus on that, Buster.)
ANYWAY…
We can finally get down to the serious SF business at hand which is the NYE portion of activities. One thing I’ve learned from this charismatic city: There is not one way to do NYE, it’s all about choices. And we have a plethora of them come December 30 and onward.
We here at 48 hills like to focus on augmenting the numerous types of celebrations that speak to the Bay Area’s medley of yearly salutations.
You could do the all-about-town approach. Hitting up as much activity as your Red Bull and five-hour energy drink concoction can take you in some good walking shoes. Until your knees vote and go on strike either at Monarch or Bar Part-Time on 14th Street?
When the body overrides the brain, it’s a done deal. We suggest taking different paths for different results.
That NYE Party that feels familiar but lets you celebrate with professionals:
SAT/30: REGGAE GOLD XL, FEATURING RESIDENT DJS DADDY ROLO, DJ POLO, KING I-VIER, DJ HENROC, AND YOUNG FYAH, AT THE NEW PARISH OAKLAND, 10PM
Sometimes you need to start in Oakland so that by the time you head back to SF, you have a Yoda-type vision for seeing all the shenanigans hours before they play out.
So this reggae, dancehall, soca, and Afrobeat party has been bubbling for 20 years (and won several Best ion the Bay awards), but these DJs have been at the forefront of Bay Area selecting and blending much longer.
You are getting an all-star lineup that other venues would charge $50-$100 per head, here just $10-$20.
These are the professionals. Special shout-out to the Jedi that is Henroc!
Get this done the night before with like-minded folk who don’t have time for the NYE foolishness.
Grab tix here.
We have two entries for The ‘Catch “em This Time’ grouping:
SAT/30: FISHBONE AT THE GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, SF, 8PM
Listen, Fishbone is the truth. Always have been, always will be. Formed in Los Angeles in 1979, they play a fusion of ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, and soul. Combining all these elements, Fishbone remains one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands ever created. But enough ass-kissing.
I first caught them at Spring Fling at UMASS Amherst in the 90s, where The Bone was the opening act for The Beasties: Starting several mosh pits. When Angelo Moore jumped off the stage and dove into one of ’em, injuring his ankle, he stoked The Beastie Boys’ following into pure chaos and then limped back on stage to finish his set so The Beasties could feed their masses.
Some gangster-type ish. He’s still a real one.
Moore knew that Fishbone had to do double and triple duty for these ‘spring breakers’ to understand why The Beasties were fanboys of Fishbone, just like they worshipped (rightfully so) Bad Brains as their other God band impetus.
Fishbone is back in 2023, with frontman Angelo Moore leading the charge, John Norwood Fisher on bass, Christopher Dowd on trombone blast, and Dirty Walter on trumpet jolts. Granted, I’ve had many good times seeing Moore in the basement of Cafe du Nord on that feisty Theremin over the years, and those are great memories. But this band as a whole, putting that amalgam in the air for new fans? It’s a good time to catch them.
Grab tix here.
SAT/30 AND SUN/31: LCD SOUNDSYSTEM FEATURING 2MANYDJS AND PEACHES AT BILL GRAHAM CIVIC AUDITORIUM, 8PM
Fronted by the charismatic bandleader James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem made dance music accessible to rock fans who had two left feet and never set foot in a dance club. LCD was responsible for redefining the fusion of dance music with rock elements, ultimately becoming the face of a new music revolution in New York City.
Over the years, Murphy has oscillated between quitting music altogether and returning to his band on a full-time basis. Great music, longtime bandmates, fame, and the spotlight will make you unretire.
This past autumn, LCD Soundsystem concluded a 12-date residency in New York City ensuring that the band is finely tuned for an unforgettable double-header New Year’s Eve celebration. With the badassery that is Peaches as the opening act, this is an excellent opportunity to experience Murphy’s talents, rants, and all.
Grab tix here.
And now the ‘Let’s Keep It Fun and Informal’ NYE choice:
SUN/31: NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH WITH SONNY & THE SUNSETS + BUZZED LIGHTBEER, SKYWAY MAN, RYAN WONG, AND COUNTRY RISQUÉ AT 4 STAR THEATER, 8:30PM
With promises in the advert for Champagne, NYE Celebration Toys, Dancing, Free Hugs, and Kisses? This is the community, neighborhood option that promises to be rocking, has an informal feel, energy, not too big type of charm, that fits your keep it ‘low-key fresh type of get-down.
Granted with Buzzed Lightbeer on the bill, it’s gonna get wild. They crushed it so hard at Noise Pop a couple of years ago. Chix sandwiches went flying all over Benders, but the clientele went wild, knowing they experienced something unplanned and awesome.
Sonny and The Sunsets are a hometown band that besides moving mountains, are a nice collection of humans.
All for $40 bucks in the legendary 4-Star Theater too?
C’mon mang, make that NYE move personal.
Grab tix here.
And to close out your selections we have the ‘Wait, That’s an Option?” entry:
SUN/31: YOI TOKI—A FUTURE FUNK/VAPORWAVE PARTY, FEATURING MEIKEE MAGNETIC, VALENTINE, AND SPECIAL GUEST ENGLEWOOD AT RICKSHAW STOP, 9PM
City Pop, the genre of analog synth-laden R&B arrangements properly connected to saccharine-sounding Japanese vocals, has not only fueled the vaporwave movement but has also spilled over into ’80s funk and boogie club nights. Future Funk is a Vaporwave subgenre that emerged around 2010 (championed by artists such as Yung Bae, Night Tempo, and Macross 82-99). It draws from ’70s disco, disco house, conceptual computer vaporware, and City Pop.
The Yoi Toki party has added Rickshaw Stop to its New York and LA rotation for a while now, so your NYE experience will be new and yet, somewhat familiar. Those types of parties tend to be on the “smooth sailing” spectrum for New Year’s types events. Plus, the bar staff at Rickshaw are always fun.
Put that nostalgic mix of ’90s anime and ’80s consumer culture into your celebration fun bag.
Grab tix here.
