New Year’s Eve Music Picks
SALT LAKE CITY
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003: For the first New Year’s Eve in what seems like forever, we have no Zephyr Club or Dead Goat Saloon festivities to report—that’s even stranger on this end than it is on yours, people. But, lest ye allow the apathetic sentiments of “There’s no good clubs to see bands in anymore” or “DJs are taking over the world” to overcome you, know that one is completely untrue. Yes, Virginia, DJs are taking over the world, but Salt Lake City (and Park City) still has plenty of cool venues in which to experience good ol’ live instruments in your face—lucky for you, they’re all advertised and/or listed in City Weekly. Start browsing; we guarantee you’ll find something (personal pick: The Urban Lounge’s full-rawk blowout with Red Bennies and The Wolfs). For a more cosmopolitan DJ mix, check out the superfine SLCParty.com—not affiliated, but damn, are they wired-in and pretty. Another option: Since you have six days to plan a road trip, dig what’s going on in other across-the-border burgs for New Year’s Eve 2004 ...
BOISE
Distance from SLC: 294 Miles. NYE concert highlights: The Samples. Fun forecast: C’mon, it’s Boise—and The Samples will be here next month, anyway. Friends don’t let friends party in Idaho. Alt-weekly info hook-up: BoiseWeekly.com.
LAS VEGAS
Distance from SLC: 362 Miles. NYE concert highlights: The Strokes with Kings of Leon, Metallica, Crystal Method, The Trammps with War, REO Speedwagon with Styx, 38 Special with Blue Oyster Cult, Goo Goo Dolls, Marky Ramone with Adler’s Appetite—and, of course, Celine Dion and Wayne Newton. Fun forecast: The ultimate New Year’s Eve ’04 party town of the West, obviously. Grissom and the CSI crew are going to be busy, busy, busy next Thursday. Alt-weekly info hook-ups: LasVegasWeekly.com, LasVegasCityLife.com.
DENVER
Distance from SLC: 379 Miles. NYE concert highlights: Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Blackalicious, Speedealer, Jay Farrar, New Monsoon. Fun forecast: Not bad, and surprisingly short on hippie bands. Alt-weekly info hook-up: Westword.com.
PHOENIX
Distance from SLC: 499 Miles. NYE concert highlights: Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Live. Fun forecast: Nil, unless you’re willing to make like Homer Simpson and scream “Takin’ Care of Business!” at BTO repeatedly. Even better, scream it at those pansies Live. Alt-weekly info hook-up: PhoenixNewTimes.com.
LOS ANGELES
Distance from SLC: 581 Miles. NYE concert highlights: The Polyphonic Spree, Reverend Horton Heat, Crystal Method (pulling a Cali-Nevada double), Sugar Ray with Psychedelic Furs, Dread Zeppelin, Doors of the 21st Century, Gary Hoey. Fun forecast: Not as great as you’d expect from L.A., but only because all available space is being taken up by members of the Polyphonic Spree. Alt-weekly info hook-up: LAWeekly.com.
SAN FRANCISCO
Distance from SLC: 605 Miles. NYE concert highlights: Andrew W.K., Village People, The Dead, The Supersuckers, Les Claypool Frog Brigade with the Bad Plus, Lee Rocker. Fun forecast: Bangin,’ but would have been sooo much better if they were all on the same bill—probably could have gotten the Crystal Method, too. Alt-weekly info hook-ups: SFBG.com, SFWeekly.com.
COMING UP (IN SLC)
Bo Diddley (Harry O’s, Jan. 3). Global Funk Council (Harry O’s, Jan. 8). SXSW Preliminaries (Various, Jan. 10). Bacon Brothers (Eccles Center, Jan. 10). The Toasters, Guttermouth (Albee Square, Jan. 14). Sundance Music Café (Plan B, Jan. 16-24). Slamdance: NYC Rock & Roll Kick-Off (Brewvies, Jan. 16). Blackalicious (Suede, Jan. 16). Cypress Hill (Suede, Jan. 17). SXSW Finals (Port O’ Call, Jan. 18). Ima Robot (Liquid Joe’s, Jan. 20). Maceo Parker (Port O’ Call, Jan. 20). Clumsy Lovers (Jan. 20). Howie Day (Suede, Jan. 21). The Chieftains (Kingsbury Hall, Jan. 23). Hamell on Trial (Halo, Jan. 24). The Samples (Suede, Jan. 28). Hank III (Liquid Joe’s, Jan. 31).
