NYE2010: Let's Go Back in Time at Harper's

A new decade is fast approaching, but we're still ass-deep in '80s nostalgia and throwback tributes. While most NYE parties are rolling out the superstar DJs local and beyond, the kids in Waltham are celebrating another reunion (maybe? I feel like I've seen this before) by turning New Year's Eve into Halloween.

Not a bad idea, really. But it's not a throwback to October, it's a throwback to the days of "Back To The Future," and maybe moreso than the promised live tributes to Pat Benetar and the Ramones, I'm intrigued by turning the Pool Room at Harper's into an "Enchantment Under The Sea" prom setting straight out of the 1985 Michael J Fox flick.

Will the crowd act like the family photograph and disappear over the course of the evening? Will a member of the esteemed Harper's security team play the roll of Biff? Can I make out with Lea Thompson? I guess we'll find out when the ball drops on Brighton Avenue.

Vanyaland's New Year's Eve index:
- Waltham's Back In Time @ Harper's Ferry
- Rezolution @ Privus/Kells
- Porterhouse @ Flat Top Johnny's
- Cash 4 Gold @ the Milky Way
- Thunderdome @ Vila Victoria
- Bodega Girls/Ninjasonik @ Good Life

NYE2010: Red Carpet @ the Alchemist

Been detailing all the New Year's Eve parties around Boston for the past few weeks, but here's something unique: NO COVER. That's always the M.O. at the Alchemist, and for the second year running the Jamaica Plain nightspot has enlisted So Dope's Damien Paul to throw the party on the free.


"Red Carpet 2010" gives the truly broke no excuse to not rage, as alongside DP's electro beats n' treats, they've got Coralcola's Mikey Lee and my boy John Bittrich (ex-Perennials, Black Freighter) in the DJ booth. So Dope photo James Coletta documents the Hollywoods, and performing live during dinner is something called Hedgehog Hodgemony, billed as "a jazzy 4-piece improvisational dance band featuring the music of Daft Punk (and) Radiohead." Cool shit, I always dig what Damien whips up.

Vanyaland's New Year's Eve index:
- Rezolution @ Privus/Kells
- Porterhouse @ Flat Top Johnny's
- Cash 4 Gold @ the Milky Way
- Thunderdome @ Vila Victoria
- Bodega Girls/Ninjasonik @ Good Life

NYE2010: Rezolution @ Kells/Privus Lounge

It's all hands on deck on Brighton Avenue for Rezolution at both Privus Lounge and the Kells (sold earlier this week, eh??), where for one night we truly hope no one gets stabbed out front. But it's New Year's Eve, so who the fuck knows what will happen. This is billed as Rave Vs Electro, with the latter going down at Privus in an extension of last year's famed "Fuck 2008" NYE party.

I can't ever support anything involving the clusterfuck den of date rape disease known as the Kells, but here's the bill on the Privus side, which looks a lot like the safer, gentler, don't-need-to-palm-the-rim-of-your-glass-at-all-times side from this vantage point:

House, Electro, Breaks, Techno, Garage -- Providence's DJ Venom leads the charge along with Melee, DJ Parallax, Knowlton Walsh, Domonique and Roguewaves' Justincredible.

NYE2010: Porterhouse FTW @ Flat Top Johnny's

And away we go! Finally some reservation about my Southie art space appearance on New Year's Eve, as leave it to my boy Vadum Rankin to enlist not only the #2 ranked DJ in America in Steve Porter, but offering up reserved pool tables with bottle service. Oh shit, Kendall Square, you haven't looked this nice since that whole Shine debacle.

Yeah sure, it's a pool hall, but clubs on NYE always let you down, and here's something different. This looks dope, Porter in a 180-person room is sardineapalooza, and oh hai, doesn't that flyer make you reminisce about those good ol Circus days... Night Society back FTW.

NYE2010: Cash 4 Gold at the Milky Way

Ok, I'm not even going to pretend I have a jimmyrigging clue what's going on here, but 1) It's called Cash 4 Gold for fuck's sake, and 2) Tony Toni Tone Braxton is something that exists. The Milky Way in JP might as well be on Mars, I still haven't seen the new Brewery space and here's the description from the email I received if you are still reading this:

"DJs Just Joan and Monster Carl will be spinning on all night basked in the glow of a GOLDEN WONDERLAND so as to properly usher in the 2010, the year of the sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Look no further you have found the fun that you need for your New Year's eve right here. There will be Adidas prize giveaways, special performances, video projections, a special late night snack menu, and LOTS OF PEOPLE DRESSED TO THE GOLDEN HILT. Bizzaou!

NYE2010: Thunderdome @ Vila Victoria

You know the Thunder-dudes were gonna come up with something big for New Year's Eve, and I suppose this is it. The usual suspects of the electro mega-party are all involved, as well as the creepalicious sounds of Chicago's Gatekeeper, whose dark, brooding sonics added a bit of humor to last night's Christmas Decorating Session at the LTD. The bad here news is that I'll miss this event and the frequent PBR countdowns, but the good news is that I know where all my ghosts will be. Cheers to the organizers for keeping this relatively affordable.

NYE2010: Bodega Girls @ Good Life

I might make this a series. The first launch in the brutal New Year's Eve Party lineup around Boston comes from the Good Life, where Bodega Girls, Ninja Sonic and Wasted Talent drain the brain. Bodega Girls, as you know, played the pill in July and just won a Boston Music Award for "Best DJ/Electronic Act." And Wasted Talent has "Khed." Looks very cool, even for $35. (Still pumped I'm doing the South Art Space party and not a club thang, though).