New Year's Eve 2009: Shows Announced, So Far

Because though you might already be "royal," for $25 extra, you are "platinum" instead of "ultra"

While you can see Tiesto at Roseland for $150 (plus tax), and New Years Cruise are a dime a dozen (more like a few grand a dozen, for one special working stiff, plus tax), and while there is the Z100 New Year's Eve Ball at Webster Hall (starting at $70, if you buy your own drinks, or $125, if you engage in hand-to-hand combat for free drinks upstairs, plus tax), the slightly less organized DIY organizers we know and love will probably be offering you a better ratio of girls to guys, tickets that will be closer to your blood alcohol level, and, most likely, bands.

For now, all we know is that entertainment4every1 seem to be one of the few organizers that have at least pinned down a location and a concept. "NYE Covers Night!" exclaims their webpage, thus far with Necking standing in for Black Flag and Love or Perish as the Misfits.

In other news, Bowery Presents has obviously done it's homework, offering up a sliding scale of shows that are only roughly twice as much as they'd be on any other night. A Place to Bury Strangers for $25, Yo La Tengo, the Feelies and Vivian Girls are playing the Wellmont Theatre for $35, Crystal Castles at Music Hall of Williamsburg for $35, Blonde Redhead at Terminal 5 for $35, My Morning Jacket at MSG for $50, and Patti Smith at the Bowery Ballroom for $55.

Perhaps most importantly though, New Year's Eve will mark the last party that Knitting Factory will ever have at its old location. While the Knit still hasn't confirmed a lineup (Vegan says Deer Tick will be there), the venue's moving on out to Williamsburg come 2009 thanks to neighbors who live in condos, probably with tiny dogs, strollers, or both. I predict retributive vandalism, and hopefully mayhem.

Look out for many more reasonable options as they're announced, and remember: even on the most hedonistic night of the year, the economy's still in the crapper! -- Jeremy Krinsley

Updated, 12/23: All the announced shows we know of are here.