New Year’s Eve Events in Santa Cruz

Brothers Comatose play Moe's Alley on New Year's Eve.

Last-minute New Year’s Eve plans never seem to work out.  It’s the evening of the 31^st, you don’t have a babysitter or your friends have already opened the champagne, and before you know it, you’re wearing sweatpants and thinking about ice cream.  It’s the first ball drop without the iconic mumblings of the ancient Dick Clark, so you can spend it watching Carson Daly interview the Backstreet Boys for the third year in a row (One Direction, meet The Future) or you can get to planning your night out now.  Here are some NYE events to get you started (all Dec. 31):

BROTHERS COMATOSE:For those in the mood for some Americana bluegrass and groovin’, the Brothers Comatose will be teaming up with Miss Lonely Hearts at Moe’s Alley for a rowdy little 2013 kick-off party.  Two of these Brothers are actually brothers, who have stuck together through countless living room sessions with coffee table stages and Haight Street jams with the musicians who eventually joined their family. The Santa Cruz favorites command a foot-stomping good time whenever they’re in town, but a New Year’s Eve show might get a little more raucous than usual. In a good way.

LAST NIGHT:When the city did away with its beloved First Night downtown celebration, the party people took matters into their own hands, creating the Last Night DIY Street Festival and Parade. Every New Year’s Eve since 2004, the community has banded together in spontaneous organization to put on a march down Pacific Avenue to celebrate not only the coming of a new year, but also the power that a community can have in action.  The parade traditionally starts in the Saturn Café parking lot at sundown. Guests are encouraged to bring their bikes, costumes, unicycles, noise-makers, musical instruments, banners and, of course, friends.

ANTSY MCCLAIN AND THE TRAILER PARK TROUBADOURS:Tear up the farm with the fifth annual New Year’s Bash at the Rio from Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours.  This year’s Barn Dance theme leaves you with plenty of downright country activities to choose from, whether you choose to find the artist on hand to paint a commemorative license plate or participate in the Trailer Park Beauty Pageant. You’ll feel like you’re in a barn, but with less livestock, which is probably good for the smell.

ROACH GIGZ:The most urban thing going on in Santa Cruz on New Year’s: white rapper at the Catalyst. 16 and up.

ZELDA’S MASQUERADE BALL:Zelda’s on the Beach presents its second annual Masquerade Ball for the 21 and over crowd, featuring a costume contest, as all legit Masquerade Balls should.  Drink specials from 8pm and what I can only assume are some of the bumpingest beats in town from DJ Dex. Be whoever you want to be, there’s no cover and you get party favors! And may the rest of your 2013 play out the same way.

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