Philadelphia Weekly

Gogol Bordello

Is it wrong to be more excited for the opener than the headliner? No offense to Gogol Bordello's mad gypsy swagger, but the Balkan barnstorming of the West Philadelphia Orchestra is a dream addition to the most celebratory night of the year. With an ever-changing lineup and songbook, Gregg Mervine's horn-kicked troupe should easily win over a crowd hungry for Eugene Hutz and co.

Dada

Still best known for the 1992 oddity "Dizz Knee Land" ("I just ran away from home/ Now I'm going to Disney Land"), the L.A. trio Dada pursues spaced-out pop that stretches far into the distance. Fifty bucks is a steep price, but something tells me diehard fans will pony up--not to mention travel from out of town for this--in a big way.

Todd Rundgren

Remember on 30 Rock when Liz complained that a co-worker had called her a name "that rhymes with the name of your favorite Todd Rundgren album" and Frank replied, "It rhymes with Hermit of Mink Hollow?" She meant Runt, though there's more to Rundgren--who, like Tina Fey, sprang from Upper Darby--than that high-water mark. How about "Hello It's Me" and producing everyone from Cheap Trick to the Band?

Erin McKeown

More singer-songwriters should follow the lead of Erin McKeown, the kooky songbird who's proved both playful and daring throughout her career. With a lilting delivery and chameleonic instrumentation, she even slipped into French for "Coucou," a gem off her unlikely standards album Sing You Sinners. But with McKeown, is anything really unlikely?

Al� Brasil

What would Dec. 31 be without the South American-bred blur of color and sound that is Al� Brasil? Stationed at World Caf� Live again for a pair of sets, the beloved ensemble will play to a dinner crowd tucking into a Brazilian-inspired buffet before ramping things up for the later bunch. Dancing is a must.

Slo-Mo + Mic Wrecka

Every year steel guitarist Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner shares the upstairs stage with rapper Mic Wrecka while Al� Brasil do their thing downstairs. This year, though, Slo-Mo and friends finally have a new album to pedal: their cameo-packed third outing, Smokey Mountain. It's about time, guys.

Dark Horse & the Carousels

Arriving with vintage style to burn, locals Dark Horse & the Carousels spent the past year pushing their self-titled debut and, intentionally or not, contributing to the gathering storm of retro-minded garage rockers in this city. Grubby and raucous to the core, the young five-piece does the time warp in all the right ways and just may lead the pack.

They Might Be Giants

Although it's tempting to think They Might Be Giants' audience is made up entirely of either rabid super-fans or mildly curious folks who only know "Birdhouse in Your Soul" and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," there are lots of us in between. Whether you dig "Snowball in Hell," "She's Actual Size" or their more recent children's records, the two Johns remain cerebral yet accessible.

Pattern Is Movement + The Mural & The Mint

As much a puzzle as their name suggests, Pattern Is Movement turn vocals, drums and keys into one of the coolest Rubik's Cubes around. Also finding new ways to tackle a pop song is the Mural & the Mint, Michael Kiley's moody vessel for assaying married life with the help of some friends and a trusty ukulele. Full disclosure: I set up this show as a send-off party before my wife and I move to Australia. That said, I'd like to let the bands, DJs and, ahem, recession-friendly cover charge, sell themselves.