Michael McDermott
The week opens and 2012 closes with dozens of New Year's Eve parties around Madison, from family-friendly gatherings to all-night dance bacchanals. The arrival of 2013 serves up the Tandem Press exhibit at the Chazen, along with and live music by Michael McDermott, Tres Hongos, and The Queers.
Monday 12.31
Various locations, 4 pm onward
The annual New Year's Eve event features family-friendly fun at six locations. Highlights include juggling, dancing and an obstacle course at Monona Terrace; a giant gerbil wheel and chickens at the Madison Children's Museum; zoo animals at Olbrich Botanical Gardens; active events at Keva Sports Center and the Sun Prairie Athletic Club; and crafts and a kiddie countdown (at the reasonable hour of 8:30 pm) at U.S. Bank Plaza, 1 S. Pinckney St.
Five Nightclub & Showbar, 5 pm
This year's blue-themed New Year's Eve party will feature cerulean cocktails, plus dance-friendly music from DJ Tim Walters and a free buffet and champagne toast.
Essen Haus and Come Back In, 7 pm
Bust out the lederhosen and kick it German-style at this bash featuring unlimited food and drinks. Live at Nine will fill Come Back In with rock and blues, and the David Austin Band will lead polkas and the Hokey Pokey at Essen Haus.
Marriott West, Middleton, 7 pm
After dining with other fans of local radio station WJJO, enjoy a sonic digestif from hard rockers Aranda, 12 Stones, Wayland and Sand.
Cardinal Bar, 8 pm
DJs Colorao, Chamo and Mr. Jones will explore the modern, urban side of the Latin music tradition at an epic nine-hour dance party.
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
DJs Nick Nice and Mike Carlson will ride their decks through the eras, starting with tunes from the Everly Brothers and Frank Sinatra. Then it's on to James Brown and, if all goes according to plan, some marvelous modern releases.
High Noon Saloon NYE Celebration
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
Party on with time-traveling tributes to Van Halen, Dio, Sublime, the Black Crowes and R.E.M. With DJs Lovecraft and Richard Lopez.
Goodman Community Center, 8 pm
These nationally renowned, Madison-based performers will share their whimsically funny folk music at a Goodman Center benefit.
Ivory Room, 8 pm
Josh Dupont and Chris Lange will face off at this all-night ivory-tickling extravaganza that includes champagne and party favors.
Plan B, 8 pm
Win a trip to Sin City at the LGBT dance club, which will morph into a Vegas-style casino as DJs Lizzy T and Cover Gurrl blast tracks old and new.
East Side Club, 8:30 pm
Lube will rock the upstairs while the Larry Busch Big Band performs swing standards and tangos on the lower level.
DLUX, 9 pm
Show your sweetie's palate a good time with gourmet hors d'oeuvres and an open bar stocked with 12-year-old scotches. Other perks include a champagne toast and a festive soundtrack from DJ Christian Rokk.
For Your Eyes Only: A Spy Affair
Inferno, 9 pm
At this secret-agent themed event, a cadre of DJs, including Psychotron and WhiteRabbit, will concoct a heady blend of industrial, electro and dubstep tunes as bartenders ready a champagne toast and late-night snacks. Expect a dramatic countdown around midnight, even if there are no detonator clocks in sight.
Best Western Inn on the Park, 9 pm
The hotel's classy Signature Lounge will whoop it up with music by DJ Todd Olsen, party favors, free appetizers and a champagne toast.
Brink Lounge, 9 pm
Craving a lazy, hazy evening that will open your mind? This Grateful Dead tribute is just the ticket.
Orpheum Theatre, 9 pm
Celebrate new beginnings as the historic State Street theater reopens following legal battles and foreclosure. At the main stage, you'll find rock tunes from Hometown Sweethearts, plus dubstep, trap and electro-house from DJs Von, Mad Major Melvin, and Wyatt Agard.
Frequency, 9 pm
Celebrate local pop-punk band Masked Intruder's recent ascent to Fat Wreck Chords' roster, along with Whisky Pig, the American Dead, American Plains, Bereft and Iron Gate.
Segredo, 9 pm
To start 2013 on a positive note, balloons and $1,000 will rain from the heavens. Then a half-dozen DJs -- Mr. Physix, Mrhorror, Ryet, Radish, Billy the Kid and Chicago electro phenom Dani Deahl -- will keep the bass bumping till the sun comes up.
Club Tavern, Middleton, 9 pm
This affable local trio will be just about anything you want them to be on New Year's Eve, from the space rockers of their latest release, The Slingshot Effect, to the mystical misfits of their rock opera, Major Arcana.
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
Kick off 2013 with a local band that has racked up a Madison Area Music Award for its blues album Gimme the Jimmys and a Wisconsin Area Music Industry award for best swing or big band ensemble.
Crystal Corner Bar, 10 pm
Nothing fights a case of year-end regrets like a passionate set of Chicago blues featuring seasoned guitarists such as Joel Paterson and Billy Flynn.
Great Dane NYE Parties
Great Dane-Fitchburg, 9 pm, Great Dane-Hilldale, 9 pm, and Great Dane-Downtown, 10 pm
The local chain will celebrate the new year with music and party favors at multiple locations. DJ Vilas Park Sniper provides the tunes at the downtown location while bartenders serve up locally produced suds and a free champagne toast. DJ Landology will also spin records at the Fitchburg location (9 pm), and Celtic rockers the Kissers will tag-team the Hilldale location with DJ AudioMaxx (10 pm).
Natt Spil, 10 pm
This tucked-away club's dark, cozy ambiance and craft cocktails are perfect for lovers in lust. DJ Jeremy Thomas will spin dance records that make your heart race.
Woof's, 10 pm
Whether you've been doused in glitter or smooched by a radioactive spider, you're eligible for drink specials at Woof's if you've made yourself glow. The bar will hand out bubbly at midnight, and DJ John Murges will deliver effervescent house music.
Alchemy Cafe, 10 pm
This might be the most hipster of local New Year's Eve parties: a nonprofit radio station (WORT) hosting a funk band named after facial hair (the Mustache) at a restaurant loaded with vegan options for an event dubbed "Nasty New Year's."
Mickey's Tavern, 10:30 pm
Wash down blistering rock from New Year Gang, Morbid Tales, Fire Retarded and Sinking Suns with the bar's wintry Wisconsin brews, then switch to their therapeutic bloody marys when late night fades into early morning.
Merchant, 11 pm
Make romantic plans for 2013 as chef Michael Liotta builds four-course dinners from locally sourced ingredients (reservations required). For a calorie-free dessert, stick around for electronic ear-candy from DJs Wes 3 and Bruce Blaq, who'll hit the decks at 11 pm.
Tuesday 1.1
NOTEWORTHY: North American Free Trade Agreement goes into effect, 1994.
Wednesday 1.2
NOTEWORTHY: President Richard Nixon lowers maximum speed limit to 55 mph, 1974.
Tandem Press: Twenty-five Years
Chazen Museum of Art, through Feb. 3
The UW-affiliated press celebrates 25 years of innovative printmaking with works by Judy Pfaff, Suzanne Caporael, Robert Cottingham and others.
Thursday 1.3
NOTEWORTHY: Leonardo da Vinci unsuccessfully tests flying machine, 1496.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
This Chicago folk-rocker's sound brims with traces of Irish music, and his lyrics are so memorable that they've been quoted in at least two Stephen King novels.
Audio for the Arts, 8 pm
This experimental jazz trio will play tunes from their latest album, Where My Dreams Go to Die, part of which was recorded at this very venue. (See Tour Stop.)
Frequency, 9 pm
Ramones-style pop-punk gets an infusion of silly, sassy lyrics when this 30-year-old cult favorite hits the stage. With the Manges and the DUIs.
