In the words of Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall, and Zooey Deschanel among many others – what are you doing New Year’s Eve?  And while we’re at it, how about tomorrow night (the video will show on TV tomorrow so ‘tonight’ refers to the 30th) straight through to Saturday, January 2nd.  If your plans aren’t set, here’s New Year’s Music in New York City to kiss off a mean ’15 and bring on a sweet ’16.

We’ve got hip hop with Future.  The Atlanta MC will perform downtown on the East side at Pier 36 that juts out from Clinton Street.  We’ve got jazz with Macy Gray in Times Square and Chris Botti in the village, and rock (or jam bands if you like) from both Phish at the Garden and Gov’t Mule at the Beacon… all on New Year’s Eve.  All but Future are doing multi-night engagements.  They Might Be Giants, who I did not mention in the vid, are also doing a year end run of shows in Billyburg.

Long time Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes has released an album unlike any in his tremendous career.  Ashes & Dust was made with Railroad Earth at The Barber Shop Studios in Hopatcong, New Jersey.  Haynesy explained that he’d been collecting songs for years that were the kind of thing that suited his solo acoustic shows but not so much for The Allman Brothers or – the band he founded in the mid 90’s – Gov’t Mule.  When he met Railroad Earth, he knew the chemistry was right to get those songs recorded.

Performance video courtesy of the artist.

I posted my usual two minute piece a couple of weeks ago but wanted to share more substantial conversation here with Warren…

Warren Haynes is part of two great traditions at The Beacon.  In addition to the annual spring run with The Allman Brothers, Haynesy likes to celebrate new years in the city with Gov’t Mule.