Now that we’re in the homestretch of this holiday season, we’re guessing that what to do for New Year’s Eve is on many of your minds. While staying close to home might be a good idea when the streets of Philadelphia are filled with stumbling drunks looking for a cab (ha…we had to walk almost five miles to get home last year after our party with Dangerous Ponies, Arrah & the Ferns, and Slutever – twas definitely a buzzkill), we don’t blame you for wanting to venture out to celebrate another year of survival. Where should you go? Well, at the top of our list, nothing will most likely rock harder than Screaming Females, Swearin’ and Batty at Johnny Brenda’s. There has never been a doubt in our minds that Screamales frontwoman Marissa Paternoster is something special, ever since we heard the petite guitar goddess wail a few years back at Pi Lam’s annual Human BBQ. Ladies will be ruling JB’s NYE. For those looking for a little more testosterone and a folk-ish, bluesy, indie-rock twang, then TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, The Lawsuits and Commonwealth Choir will be taking you to the other side at MilkBoy Philly. The local folk community vibes will be filling the second floor of the Center City establishment. Speaking of vibes, you might not find more posi ones in the city on the celebratory evening than at Underground Arts with West Philadelphia Orchestra, Johnny Showcase and The Extraordinaires. And if you still can’t decide what to do, here are some more local area artists on our radar who will also be performing: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at the North Star Bar; Grimace Federation at Kung Fu Necktie; Lotus at the E Factory; Brother JT, Creem Circus and St. James & The Apostles at Ortlieb’s; Kat Kat Phest Day Four with the reunion of Stinky Smelly at The Fire; and The Last Burlesque Show on Earth with Mercury Radio Theater. Yeah, we know that we might have just made your decision more difficult. Sorry, we’re not sorry.
