JAMES HILBORNE & THE PAINKILLERS

>>> Friday, December 30

The music of James Hilborne and the Painkillers would be odd in any number of places, but, in Tacoma, it's more or less an anomaly. Ostensibly, the Painkillers play Americana: streaks of country twang and blues rock run through the band's songs, but these elements are accompanied by errant spells of psychedelia and druggy macabre. On record, the Painkillers' music is tremulous and strange, smothered as it is in the kind of haze that one might think would envelop country rock was born under Tacoma's unforgiving gloomy skies. James Hilborne and the Painkillers are the perfect band to send you drifting dreamily along into New Year's Eve, and from there the uncertain future. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Humble Cub, special guests, 9 p.m., Cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

HIP-HOP NEW YEAR'S EVE

>>> Saturday, Dec. 31

$krilla, one of the best party-throwers/planners/promoters in town, is throwing a New Year's Eve show at Krickets in Spanaway with The Gonzo Family, Blue Nose Music and hosted by Tak Patron. I can personally attest that $krilla consistently throws good New Year's Eve shows. He has the performances wrap up by 11 p.m. or so - so everyone can dance and celebrate by midnight. Also on Saturday, the BreakLites will perform at Top of Tacoma - a triumphant return home show from a tour the group is currently on. The BreakLites have really had a breakout year. It looks like the rest of the country is recognizing the live talent and instrumentation this crew brings. I'm positive the BreakLites will make sure you had a good time if ya choose to bring in the New Year with them. On another note, if you're the revolutionary type who likes to brave the elements, there will be hip-hop and other live music down at the Occupy Tacoma camp on New Year's Eve. The Occupiers in Tacoma are bearing in for the winter, and have no plans to leave. They've outlasted Occupiers in New York, Seattle and many other cities. This is the second event Occupy Tacoma has hosted with Hip-Hop Occupies, which is a national group using hip-hop culture to infuse the Occupy movement with renewed energy.  I'm throwing down there myself. It will be a fun, celebratory, yet cold night. - Josh Rizeberg

[Krickets, The Gonzo Family, Blue Nose Music, Tak Patron, 10 p.m., $10, 14815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma]

[Top of Tacoma, The BreakLites, 9 p.m., 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1502]

[Occupy Tacoma, with The Fun Police, Ten Miles of Bad Road, Wes Sp8 and the Finites, Reptile Eruption, Kayley Rae, Josh Rizeberg, Anthony Robinson, Justin Hosea, free, 21^st and Pacific Ave., Tacoma]

CZAR

>>> Saturday, Dec. 31

My, what a strange duck Czar is. Combining elements of black metal and jazz fusion in what amounts to a head-on collision of tonal opposites, the ultimate result is the realization that - despite the obvious disparities in sound and effect - these two genres are actually quite similar in structure. Weird. When Czar bounces your ears back and forth from plodding, aggressive guitars and shrieking vocals to what could pass for a Gentle Giant journey of the mind, your brain just might suffer from a kind of whiplash. If any band could easily be saddled with the moniker "progressive," Czar might be it. Bonus: this show is a free Hell's Kitchen New Year's Eve extravaganza packed with bands, in addition to Czar, that'll make sure your ears ring well into 2012. - Rev. AM

[Hell's Kitchen, with Absence of Grace, Deathbed Confessions, American Wrecking Company, Psycho Rehab, Beyond Theory, Doors at 6 p.m., No Cover, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

THE YOUNG EVILS

>>> Thursday, Jan. 5

This is a band, led by songwriter Troy Nelson and the female voice of Mackenzie Mercer, that approaches the act of songwriting almost as a dare: How tight, bright and ebullient can you make each song while still maintaining the certain gobsmacking efficacy that comes with taking in a great pop song? Because of the boy/girl dynamic and the old-fashioned, slightly folky songwriting, comparisons can be made to the Young Evils and another Seattle outfit, the Dutchess and the Duke. But, where the Dutchess and the Duke embrace the attitude and cigarette smokiness of bands like the Rolling Stones, the Young Evils more frequently come across sweeter, more innocent, like a band that would light up a college radio station and excite the young people on weekends in cars with friends. - Rev. AM

[The New Frontier Lounge, The Young Evils, Oh Dear!, Not From Brooklyn, 9 p.m., Cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

LINK: New Year's Eve live shows in the South Sound