Welcome 2021 with Bob Weir and others
We have concerts, movies and more for a fun night
Goodbye, 2020!
And don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Yes, it's finally time to flip the calendar on a year that, to be honest, most people will not miss one iota. But just because 2020 wasn't ideal doesn't mean that its final evening can't be.
Thus, let's turn our thoughts toward Dec. 31, which certainly will be a New Year's Eve like no other due to what's still going on with the coronavirus pandemic. People won't be (or, at the very least, shouldn't be) going to parties or any other big gatherings. There won't be concerts to attend or fancy nights out on the town.
Plus, it's really hard to find someone to kiss when the clock strikes 12 if everybody is wearing a mask.
All that said, however, there are still plenty of ways to have a memorable last night of the year — even while sheltering in place and adhering to social distancing protocols. And we're here to help. So order some great takeout or bake a delicious boozy cake for dessert, and check out these five cool ideas on how to spend your stay-at-home New Year's Eve.
Streaming concerts
Thousands of fans are missing out on going to New Year's Eve concerts this year. Yet, they can still get their “live” music fix by tuning into some livestream shows. Here are some that should be worth your time.
• KISS: Not even a worldwide pandemic can stop KISS from making money. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and the other two guys not named Peter Criss and Ace Frehley will KISS 2020 goodbye with a livestream event that promises to include “the largest pyrotechnics show ever.” Stream starts at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 and packages range from $34.99 to (gulp!) $249.99; kissonline.com.
• Big Hit Labels' 2021 New Year's Eve Live: BTS — aka, the most popular band on the planet — is ready to ring in 2021 with a major concert that will also reportedly feature Halsey, Steve Aoki, Lauv, TXT, Lee Hyun and other acts. But you'll have to get up mighty early to catch this show, presented by the Korean web platform Weverse, since the stream starts at 9:30 p.m. Korean Standard Time, which translates to 4:30 a.m. PST. Still, this is BTS we are talking about. Tickets start in the $45 range; venewlive.com.
• Justin Bieber: The Biebs is back and ready to perform his first live show since 2017, which will likely feature music from his most recent chart- topper, “Changes,” as well as from past offerings. Streams at 7:15 p.m. Dec.
31 (and will be available again Jan. 1), and costs $25 — although T-Mobile customers can view for free; justinbiebermusic.com.
Bob Weir and Wolf Bros: Seeing the Grateful Dead on New Year’s Eve was a cherished tradition for thousands of fans (who were lucky enough to score those incredibly tough tickets), so it’s only fitting that original Deadhead Weir is continuing the tradition with his Wolf Bros troupe. Stream is at 7 p.m. Dec. 31 and costs $19.99 to $35; fans.live.
Avett Brothers: Enjoy the last night of 2020 with the two Avetts — Scott and Seth — and their band of indiefolk champs. Streams at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 costs $39.99 to $49.99; nugs.net.
Classical blast: Berkeley arts presenter Cal Performances is serving up a streaming New Year’s Eve show featuring some of the artists who were part of its fall At Home series. This is a seriously talented lineup: Cellist Yo-Yo Ma; soprano Julia Bullock, trumpeter Bria Skonberg, pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, jazz phenom Matthew Whitaker, the Tetzlaff Quarte and more, performing season programs. The show streams at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 and is available on demand through 4 a.m. Jan. 2; tickets are $15 to $98; calperformances.org.
Drunken opera singers: Well, we’re pretty sure they won’t actually be inebriated, but Opera San Jose has come up with a smashing idea for bidding “good riddance” to 2020 — a night of drinking songs set in an actual tavern. Performers in the virtual “Parting Glass” include baritone Eugene Brancoveanu, mezzosoprano Ashley Dixon, soprano Maya Kherani, tenor Carlos Enrique Santelli, baritone Efraín Solís and more. Of course, you are encouraged to sing along. The event is available to stream beginning 6:30 p.m. Dec. 31; access is free but a variety of available extras (from party favors to food and drink) will raise funds for the opera company; operasj.org/the-parting-glass.
Lucinda Williams: The singer-songwriter is wrapping up her “Lu’s Jukebox” streaming concert series with a New Year’s Eve show performing Rolling Stones songs, backed by a full band. Music starts at 5 p.m., tickets range from $20-$40 and can be accessed via the music clubs that are benefitting from the show, including the Troubadour in West Hollywood (www. troubadour.com) and Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage (thefreight.org).
Rocking on Netflix
None of those livestreams catch your fancy? Well, you can also stream plenty of concert films on Netflix, which has been steadily adding to that area of its catalog. Here are five tuneful Netflix originals worth checking out.
“Homecom ing”: Grammy-winning film documents Beyonce’s appearance at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which is one of the most widely acclaimed live music performances of all time.
“Springsteen on Broadway”: Get ready to yell “BROOOOOOCE!!!!” and listen to this first-tier Rock and Roll Hall of Famer spin both tunes and tales during this gripping concert film, which was recorded during his lengthy residency at the Walter Kerr Theatre in New York City in 2017-18.
“Shawn Mendes: Live In Concert”: The Canadian pop superstar delights a huge hometown crowd at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, as part of his blockbuster 2019 tour in support his self-titled third studio album.
“Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour”: It’s a great document of the singer- songwriter’s 2018 tour, which was one of the year’s most thrilling concert spectacles. It was recorded on Oct. 6 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys — AT&T Stadium — and then released a little over two months later on, appropriately enough, New Year’s Eve.
“What Happened Miss Simone?”: It’s a biographical documentary, not a concert film. Yet, the performances in it are so compelling, wonderfully showcasing one of the greatest vocalists of all time — Nina Simone.
Make a NYE playlist
New Year’s Eve should always have an accompanying soundtrack, even if you’re just listening to it at home as you munch on pizza and surf the web. So, make your own playlist on the music platform of your choice and get ready to to crank it up on Dec. 31 ( but not too loud, since you can bet this is one New Year’s Eve that your neighbors will indeed be home).
Need help get ting started? Here are five of our favorite songs of 2020:
“The 1”: We’re suckers for a sad love song and this Taylor Swift gem is the best one of the year.
“Alone”: Missing someone you love this NYE? Australian outfit San Cisco feels your pain on this spellbinding slice off bittersweet indie-pop.
“Millionaire (Good Like That)”: From one extreme to another, we turn to this uplifting blast of R&B-pop sunshine from Tauren Wells and Kirk Franklin.
“XS”: An impeccable piece of dance-pop from Rina Sawayama, who is one of the brightest new stars in all of music.
“Shot in the Dark”: One of the best music stories of 2020 was the return of AC/ DC, the iconic hardrock troupe that deliver the goods on its first single in five years.
Movie night
Spending the evening tucked safely away at the cinema, with some popcorn and Red Vines, is typically a great option on Dec. 31. But 2020 is a very atypical year (to say the least), so the movies will have you come to you this time around. Here are five of our favorites from this year — all of which are available for streaming. Oh, and don’t forget the popcorn and Red Vines!
“Freaky”: This bodyswap offering — which is kind of like “Freaky Friday,” only substituting a serial killer in the mom role — stands as further proof that director/co-writer Christopher Landon is the current king of horror-comedies.
“Driveways”: Take the time to remember the brilliant Brian Dennehy, who died in April — but not before delivering one of the best performances of his career in this heartwarming indie. The film actually had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2019 and then was released via videoon-demand earlier this year.
“I Still Believe”: Looking for a romantic tearjerker? This tale of platinum- selling singer- songwriter Jeremy Camp and wife Melissa — played by “Riverdale” star KJ Apa and Britt Robertson, respectively — definitely had us reaching for the Kleenex.
“Invisible Man”: Director-writer Leigh Whannell’s stature in the horror movie pantheon grows even larger with this chilling update on the classic Universal monster movie property, sold to perfection by Elisabeth Moss as the woman who is hunted by something — or someone — she can’t see.
“Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey”: Bring 2020 to a close with one more blast of Christmas goodness, which comes in the form of arguably the finest family film of the year, from director (and former Berkeley resident) David E. Talbert.
Stick with tradition
Millions of people tune in each year to watch the famed ball drop in New York City’s Times Square. The event will be quite different this time around, of course, due to precautions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, fans can still nestle themselves in front of their TVs and enjoy the dramatic countdown to the new year.
You’ll have some options for how to watch the ball drop, but we like to stick with the classic — “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” — which this year is marking its 49th anniversary. Hosted once again by Ryan Seacrest, the show will be headlined by Jennifer Lopez and features such talents as Billy Porter, Cyndi Lauper and Jimmie Allen. The broadcast event, which is closed to the public, airs at 8 p.m. on ABC.