By Bee Hill & Nicole Disser
Fuck yeah, we’re in the home stretch! Our bags are packed and we’re heading home for some much-needed holiday chillness. We’ll be resting and gearing up for the mother of all nightlife, coming at us full-speed next week: NEW YEAR’S EVE. There are many amazing things going on, so we suggest narrowing it down from the following by considering: 1. The vibe you’re looking for (All night dancing? Upping the punx? Pseudo grownup?) and 2. Your price range (New Year’s shit can be so expensive, but there are also really, really fun less-expensive options if you know where to look.) Also, these things WILL sell out, so get your ticket, like uh, yesterday.
No matter what you end up doing: Be safe and have fun! We know there can be a revolting amount of hype around New Years, and although we don’t mean to perpetuate that with this list, we think there really is something special about celebrating another year of humanity’s existence. So gear up to celebrate (If you’re like “Oh yeah, I totally just want to sit in my apartment alone, like any other night. New Years sucks,” you’re lying/ wrong.) but just don’t stress out: surround yourself with good people and good music and the rest will definitely fall into place. Happy New Year, Brooklyn!
Machinedrum & Friends NYE 2015
DJ Spinn // Taso // DJ Earl // Dan Wender // Blacky II // Dave Q // Mess Kid // Tripletrain
Brooklyn Night Bazaar $40- $85
If you’re into the hip-hop sound this is definitely your move. Machinedrum and his crew will bring the fast-paced jungle vibes that will keep you dancing hard until this thing ends at 6 AM. Also, the people who bring you RINSED are behind this, so you know aesthetically it’s going to be dope with some serious attention paid to the details. The ticket options are kind of crazy. Right now general admission tickets are still available for $40 (could potentially go up to $60 by day of), but then there are also “Friends With Benefits” packages which include expedited entry, access to “Friends w/ Benefits Lounge” and 4 drink tickets (those are between $75 and $85 until they sell out.) We’re kind of rolling our eyes at the whole paid VIP thing, kind of cheesy if you ask us, but we suppose it will be nice to not be standing in line (in the cold) at midnight. (BH)
Mutual Dreaming New Years Eve
Galcher Lustwerk // Huerco S. // DJ Richard //
TBA $15
I’M IN
This is the New Years Eve for the heads. Mutual Dreaming is definitely one of Brooklyn’s most buzzed about parties. Aurora Halal, the mastermind behind Sustain Release, started Mutual Dreaming several years ago, but the party has been on hiatus basically since their home base, 285 Kent, closed down in January. Brooklyn techno staples will be giving you the dance fuel and Nitemind will be doing the (amazing, as always, we’re sure) lighting and environmental installations. (BH)
Nothing Changes Presents: NY Night Train Annual New Years Ball
Kid Conco and The Pink Monkey Birds // Andy Animal All Male Review // PMS And The Moodswings // Jonathan Toubin // Josh Styles // Baby Alca Traz
Home Sweet Home, $20
I’M IN
Thankfully, Nothing Changes will not rest for New Year’s Eve, when the Home Sweet Home-turned goth punk after hours club continues to be the place on the Lower East Side to avoid Taylor Swift, et al. However this time around they’re taking a break from the usual and teaming up with New York Night Train for a show featuring Kid Congo (one time member of the Gun Club, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, and the Cramps– wow) and his band, the Pink Monkey Birds and local garage rock wild man, Andy Animal. Live music will be followed by DJs doing their thing until close to dawn. (ND)
Shade: 2084 New Years Eve
Egyptrixx // Physical Therapy // Michael Magnan // Morgan Louis // Nita Aviance
Secret Brooklyn Location $40-$50
I’M IN
So this is the grand mother of the grand mother of nightlife. We’ve honestly been looking forward to this since we went to Shade’s last party at Halloween (in which tickets went on sale for $30, sold out and the night of the event we saw them being re-sold online for $100), and then when tickets for this were so (relatively) reasonable, we were like, “Well, our New Years plans are decided then.” This is pretty much a quintessential over-the-top immersive-experience rave circa New York in the ‘90s (think new-wave Club Kids.) Ladyfag and Seva Granik, the minds behind Shade, are largely responsible for the recent revival of that whole scene. The theme is basically some kind of industrial dystopia (The year is 2084) in which “Big brother is not watching.” The music will be insane. The people will be insane. The outfits will be insane. The venue will be insane. The lights will be insane. We will go, you guessed it, insane. (BH)
Holy Ghost
Irving Plaza $40
I’M IN
If you’re hoping understated synth pop will be the soundtrack to your New Year’s Eve, you better hurry and pounce on tickets to see Holy Ghost! and Museum of Love at Irving Plaza. Here’s to hoping it’s not completely overrun by NYU co-eds. (ND)
Resolute / Blkmarket / Output Presents New Year’s Eve 2015
DJ Koze // Raresh, Rhadoo, Petre Inspirescu // Wareika (live) // Sven Weisemann + more
Output $90-$100
I’M IN
Oh hey, Money-Bags-McGee, didn’t see ya there. First of all, this party is expensive as fuck. Apparently there were earlier tiers of less expensive tickets but those are long gone. Now you’re dealing with between $90 and $100 dollars a pop, so there’s that, but technically the party goes until January 2nd at 4AM, so that’s like an entire 24 hours longer than some of the other parties, so more bang for you buck, right? Well, we highly doubt anyone will be able to bear being at Output for 32-straight hours, but what do we know. However, DJ Koze is pretty cool. He has been around forever, originally coming from the German hip-hop scene, and although his most recent releases have been on the chiller side, he can definitely kick it up for the whole New Years euphoria vibe too. If you aren’t usually into dance music or the whole nightlife thing but want to go “CrAzY!!” for New Years, Output will definitely be a good call. (BH)
#LastLands
Glasslands, $50
I’M IN
The Williamsburg waterfront’s last remaining DIY venue is taking a note from Death By Audio and keeping their final lineup top secret. But Glasslands promises guests won’t be disappointed with the four very special bands playing the venue’s final show. The only hint we’ve got is that all of the acts are a blast from Glasslands’ past, all the more reason to spend your NYE at this show, which also happens to be the venue’s last shindig ever. Tickets are $50, but if you get there early enough, there’s going to be a full hour-long vodka open bar to help you get warmed up for the midnight champagne toast. (ND)
The Bunker LTD NYE
Prosumer // Mike Servito // Bryan Kasenic
Trans Pecos $30
Not only is this a New Year’s celebration, this party marks Bunker LTD’s one-year anniversary of throwing parties at Trans Pecos and it also marks its 10th party anniversary with German house honcho Prosumer. The night won’t be short of acidy techno vibes either thanks to Servito, who recently was awarded Mix of The Year by Resident Advisor. As always, Trans Pecos parties are intimate, and that always has its pros, especially on New Years when there seems to be an excessive amount of people out that just so happen to have had their first beer ever. (BH)
Obits New Years Eve
Obits // Dead Stars // Tournament
The Acheron, $15-$20
I’M IN
If dance music isn’t really your thing, then head to the Acheron for a night of Brooklyn garage sounds. Obits (Sub Pop), Dead Stars, and Tournament will be providing the night’s entertainment. We’re not sure what sort of special festive stuff the venue has planned for the night, but the event is definitely billed as a NYE one. We’re guessing a midnight boilermaker toast might not be too far off. (ND)
Disco New Years Eve 2015: Dark Disco Presents Tiki Disco
Sugar Hill Supper Club, $20-$40
I’M IN
The fine people at Tiki Disco know how to throw a killer party and there are few New Years Eve settings we can think of that will be breaking the old former warehouse or enormous concert venue standards. Thankfully, Tiki Disco is breaking that mould with their dance party held at Sugar Hill Supper Club, a venue/ bar/ restaurant that’s been a Bed-Stuy neighborhood staple for decades. Yes, guests here are usually treated to a soul food buffet and reasonably-priced drinks, both of which can be enjoyed in a setting that’s changed little since the ‘70s, amongst mirrors and black velvet. Tiki Disco has a strong tradition of hosting outdoor affairs, so we’re hoping Sugar Hill’s Astro Turf-covered courtyard is open for business. (ND)