As if New Year’s Eve itself wasn’t reason enough to party down, this year there’s the added bonus of a three-day work week leading up to the big night with four days off to follow. Ample time to both prepare for and recover from this most bacchanal of celebrations.
For a roundup of the best clubbing on offer, see the Vinyl Word on Page 15. Read on if you’re seeking a more intimate pub environment or a chance to see live music.
Rocking out in Taipei
Roxy Vibe, located at B1, 155, Jinshan S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市金山南路一段155號B1), has a wide range of live bands and DJs for New Year’s Eve, with electro and disco-punk DJs the Sinister Sound Syndicate hosting a party that includes Sons of Homer, a rocking quintet of mock-hipsters from Ilan; Afro-Caribbean drum troupe Pan Africana; and two new acts: instrumental band Collider, composed of members of To a God Unknown and Consider the Meek; and Space Funk, a collective of musicians from Taiwan, North America and the UK who play R ’n’ B, electro-disco, hip-hop and swing with a funk edge.
The party goes from 8pm to 3am with Roxy’s own DJs finishing the night until closing time at 7am. Tickets are NT$500 with two drinks.
Underworld is also organizing a two-part event that features a combination of live bands and DJs, with Taiwan’s version of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs — White Eyes (白目) — and anarchist rockers LTK Commune (濁水溪公社) playing from 9pm to 11:30pm, followed until 5am by house DJs Fish, Randy Lin (林志堅), Hsiao Yao (小姚), Tsung Ming (宗明) and Floaty, who says, “expect anything from Blur to Chemical Brothers to Justice to the Ramones and more ...”
Tickets for the bands are NT$500 including two drinks and are good for the whole night. If you come after the bands finish at 11:30pm, cover is NT$300 and includes one drink. Underworld (地下社會) is at B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information.
Sappho de Base is hosting a free party for New Year’s Eve with electro-rock and multimedia band Gross Fugue from 11:20pm to 5:20am. The lounge is located at B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1).
There will also be a free party there tonight with folk and roots from the Dana Wylie band. It’s vocalist, guitarist and keyboard player Dana Wylie’s birthday and she says it’s “sort of a gig disguised as a party ... Every time we play at Sappho I end up staying out way too late and drinking too much.”
For lovers of reggae, dance hall and hip-hop there’s a free New Year’s Eve party by Black Reign International Sound at Nakhla Shisha, 2-3F, 3, Ln 50, Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北西寧南路50巷3號2-3F). The party is from 11pm to 4am. Call (02) 2383-2618 for further information.
Getting funky in Taichung
In Taichung, funk supergroup the Moneyshot Horns will be playing at a casino party with roulette and black jack tables. Chips won are redeemable for drinks, or dinner and room vouchers at Hotel One, which is hosting the event on its 28th and 29th floors. Presale tickets from Hotel One are NT$600. Door damage is NT$800. Both prices include two drinks and chips to start gambling with. The party begins at 9pm, and the band plays from 10pm until late. Hotel One is at 532 Yingcai Rd, Taichung City (台中市英才路532號). Call (04) 2303-1234 for more information.
Blues rock band the Rising Hedons will be playing in Taichung at 89K, 21 Taguan Rd, Nantun Dist, Taichung City (台中市南屯區大觀路21號). Lead singer Bradley Tindall has an engaging stage presence that’s reminiscent of a slightly mellower Robert Plant circa 1973. The party includes alternative psychedelic/country band Point 22 (.22) and goes from 10pm to 5am. Tickets are NT$500, including one drink. Call (04) 2320-7010 for more information.
Wining and dining
For those who prefer to ring in the holiday at their favorite pub, there are a few noteworthy events taking place around Taipei.
Brass Monkey, at 166 Fuxing N Rd, Taipei City (台北市復興北路166號), is having a buffet dinner from 6pm to 10pm for NT$799 including a beer or glass of wine. Making a reservation secures a table for the night; otherwise, cover for the party to follow from 10pm to 4am is NT$300 for men with two drinks or free for women. DJ Paul Energy will be spinning pop, hip-hop, house and Latin tunes.
On Tap’s only requirement is that people spend a minimum of NT$500 to drink “in the shadow of Taipei 101,” though it’s worth noting that on Sundays the bar has an all-day “Power Hour” from noon to 9pm with regular drinks for NT$99 and a new brunch menu. On Tap is located at 49, Ln 308, Guangfu S Rd, Taipei City (台北市光復南路308巷49號).
Bliss, under new management, has taken a radical turn from last year’s party that had multiple bands upstairs for NT$200 and no cover downstairs. This year Soul, Sweat, and Swank DJs Grant Pullman and Paul Duffy will be playing soul, funk, R ’n’ B and rock, with drink specials including NT$100 tequila shots during the night. Cover charge is NT$500 with tables offered by reservation: NT$3,000 for the three-top by the window downstairs to NT$8,000 for an eight-top. The reservation charge includes entry for seated guests with one bottle of champagne for the smaller tables and two for the larger. Bliss is located at 148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號).
Convenience stores selling beer, wine and spirits still have no cover charge for New Year’s Eve. Seating on the steps outside is, as always, first-come first-serve.
The MRT in Taipei is scheduled to run all night for New Year’s Eve, but be wary of huge crowds and restricted access to stations around the Xinyi District. Please make sure not to drink and drive, and best of luck with those resolutions for 2009.
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