I guess it's that time of year again--the time when it ends and people celebrate the numerical divisions of time by going out, drinking too much, and watching brightly lit objects drop from a high place to a low place. If you're like me and huge crowds make you want to eat your own esophagus, you probably skipped out on heading to New York City this New Year's Eve. Thankfully, the Windy City has about as much to offer us in the ways of year-end jubilations as the Big Apple. And why not wring in 2012 with a killer soundtrack, enjoying some of the best live acts the city has to offer? Here's what we're scoping out for the eve this year.

 

 

Urban Jungle's not a band--it's the collective name given to a performance by some of the city's most energetically funky offerings. Between the samba ensemble Bloco Maximo, the theatrical, hard rock-edged soul outfit Mathien, and Fatbook's effervescent grooves, your own raucousness will be well-scored. $85 at the door gets you admission and all you can drink from 8pm to 2am, or you can pick up your tickets in advance for the discounted rate of $70. The Room sold out last year, so act fast if you want to catch these dudes live.

 

 

This guy is sold out for now, but I bet if you're sneaky you can still catch a glimpse of Chicago's premiere DJ/remix duo The Hood Internet. These guys are responsible for some of the catchiest mashups you've heard in the past few years and I'm sure whatever's on their DJ set will be stuck in your head well into 2012. Local dance-pop outfit My Gold Mask and Chicago partymaster Willy Joy will open up.

 

 

The entry fee to this little soiree includes all the inventive cocktails the Whistler has been known for since it opened. Come for the beats and stay for the drinks as Dino Soccio, one-third of local synth-pop group Only Children, does a mean DJ set. 

 

 

If you're less about the dance tracks and more into enormous, earth-swallowing guitar riffs, then head over to the Empty Bottle for the most ferocious noise rock ever to emerge from this city. Disappears will play a midnight set that will make your eardrums tingle. DJ Sriracha and Jimmy Hollywood will do an opening DJ set around 10 or so, and Bare Mutants and Outer Minds will also play a set each.