Now that Christmas has come and gone, the next big holiday is New Year’s Eve. Fortunately, in Chicago at least, New Year’s Eve is synonymous with dancing your butt off at a really good show. This year is no different as you can ring in 2017 with these five awesome shows (including a shameless plea for y’all to come to my NYE party).
Thursday
Post Animal, Lucille Furs, Jude Shurma
Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
Watching Post Animal (yes, the band that features “Stranger Things” co-star Joe Keery) perform has made for some of the most fun live experiences of 2016—their opening slots for The Walters and Twin Peaks were basically show-stealers. A sure candidate for being a local rock band that will have a huge year in 2017, Post Animal’s year-end Empty Bottle bash (with Lucille Furs, which recently and correctly changed their name from Shah Jahan) might be the last chance to catch these folks before they blow up.
Tickets: Sold out.
Friday and Saturday
Diane Coffee, Modern Vices (Friday)
Diane Coffee, Yoko and the Oh No’s, The Voluptuals (Saturday)
Schubas
3159 N. Southport Ave. 773-525-2508
Diane Coffee is an excellent vintage-hued psychedelic rock band fronted by Shaun Fleming, the former live drummer for Foxygen. The band’s tunes are self-consciously throwback, soaking up all the sunshine from the ’60s and ’70s, but they still stand out now, especially on their 2015 album “Everybody’s A Good Dog.” Another draw is sets by local openers Modern Vices and Yoko and the Oh No’s, who have been really honing their live sound recently.
Tickets: lh-st.com
Saturday
The Hood Internet, Air Credits, Celine Neon
Lincoln Hall
2424 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-525-2501
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We’ve covered every act on this bill, from The Hood Internet’s incredible mash-up of “Go Cubs Go” with Chance the Rapper’s “No Problem” and their ShowYouSuck collaboration Air Credits to Celine Neon’s progressive and fun pop. There’s a lot to love about this show, and if I wasn’t hosting my own thing (see below), I’d be spending New Year’s Eve at Lincoln Hall.
Tickets: lh-st.com
***BONUS***
Saturday
New Year’s Free featuring DJ sets by members of Whitney, Twin Peaks, NE-HI, Homme and more
GMan Tavern
3740 N Clark St., 773-549-2050
Though technically not a show, this New Year’s Eve event at GMan Tavern will be a fun party. Hosted by some jamoke from the RedEye (aka yours truly), this event features our four favorite Chicago bands spinning tunes from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. It’s totally free unless you feel like making a contribution benefiting the Lakeview Pantry. And no, I’m not going to tell you who the special guests are, and no, if you’re under 21, I can’t get you in. It’s a bar. Go watch cartoons and drink apple juice or something instead.