What's Going On: 12/31/15, 1/1, 1/2 & 1/3, 2016

The Battery Electric watch the ball drop in NYC tonight with Handsome Dick Manitoba.

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve at CDMHQ is kind of like Halloween on Buffy The Vampire Slayer. On the biggest, scariest night of the year all the monsters and demons of Sunnydale would disappear and stay in for the night. That's what we've done on New Year's Eve for the last several years. We stay in, make dinner and play board games with the cooldaughters. They have to listen to all my 2015 records. It's something we all look forward to. You, on the other hand, have got quite a few options for getting out of the house.

Things start on New Year's Eve when those boys in The Battery Electric head up to the big city to play with Handsome Dick Manitoba's Dictators NYC at The Bowery Electric. Also on that bill are NJ's Liquor Store and Moral Panic. Remember Jones and The Emancipation Congregation ring things in for free at Langosta Lounge. Cranston Dean helps see 2015 off at The Saint. If it's a holiday, then that probably means it's a Dark City covers show. The Stone Pony hosts "Another 90s New Year" featuring Lost In Society (The Offspring), The Black Clouds with a little help (Pixies), Accidental Seabirds (Alice In Chains), YJY (Oasis), The Cold Seas (Smashing Pumpkins), and Matt Wade (One Hit Wonders). Vincent Minervino of Black Flamingos DJs the Talula's New Year's Eve Tiki Party. Gashouse Gorillas headline the House of Independents Rockabilly New Year's Eve.

2016 kicks of with a few Friday shows. Teenage Halloween head to BoonTunes in Boonton for a show with Skull Kid, Driver, No Friends, and Basement Beers. Rick Barry hosts the Holiday Hangover at The Saint featuring Rick Barry and The New Rick Barrys, Dentist, The Sunday Blues, Paul Rosevear, and Ian Coletti. Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band, Shining Star, are at Wonder Bar.

On Saturday night, The Battery Electric come home for a free show at APYC with Visions & Wakes and Stained Glass. Naner Manor (neé The Banana Stand) hosts Living Tradition, Pine, Have A Good Season, and Lunch Ladies. Dentist head up to New Brunswick's Paradise: Lost for an evening with Ghost Camp, Zanois, and Boy With A Pink Drumset. The Brighton's got The Double Negatives, The Shift, and Reed Spacer.

dollys are in Montclair at the Old Mogul Theatre on Sunday with Forth Wanderers, Vanillalord, and Pioneer The Eel. The Saint presents another in its free show series with Gina Royale.

Goodbye 2015. You've been a pretty good year here at CoolDad Music. Lots of fun stuff. Lots of new friends. I hope 2015 was a good one for everyone out there. Even if it wasn't, we all get a clean slate for 2016. Wishing you all health, happiness, and peace for the coming year.

Blowing you all a New Year's kiss.

THURSDAY (12/31)

The Bowery Electric (NYC): The Dictators NYC / The Battery Electric / Liquor Store / Moral Panic, 8pm, $30 adv, $35 door

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): NYE at The Court Tavern, 7pm, No Cover

House of Independents (Asbury): Gashouse Gorilas Rockabilly Party, 7pm, $30

Langosta Lounge (Asbury): Remember Jones and The Emancipation Congregation, 11pm, FREE

Roxy & Dukes (Dunellen): The Razorbacks / Quiet Storm, 8pm, $80 (incl. dinner, open bar, champagne, continental breakfast)

The Saint (Asbury): Cranston Dean Band, 8pm, $10, $30 open bar 9-11:30 (18+)

The Stone Pony (Asbury): 90s New Year ft. Lost In Society (Offspring) / Black Clouds (Pixies) / Accidental Seabirds (Alice In Chains) / YJY (Oasis) / The Cold Seas (Smashing Pumpkins) / Matt Wade (One Hit Wonders), 8pm, $17 adv, $20 door (ALL AGES)

Talula's (Asbury): New Year's Eve Tiki Party w/ DJ Vincent Minervino of Black Flamingos, 9pm