Catch Phish at the American Airlines Arena

NYE In Concert
Ring in 2010 With a Ringing in Your Ears

By Dominick Scala

So here we are, just a mere two years away from the widely misunderstood and yet highly publicized 2012. The economy may have fallen to pieces but there are much worse places to reside than good ’ole sunny South Florida. With the stress of the holidays, the flooding, the job search, the road rage, the pending doom lurking in our not so distant future, etc. I find importance in reminding myself of one key thing in particular: gratitude. Every breath is a conquest! The body is the soul’s vehicle for experience. The earth under our feet is constantly changing, evolving and adapting. We (Earth’s inhabitants) must also adapt and evolve. The process is so delicate it almost goes unnoticed. Some of the key people in igniting our evolution are artists and musicians. To me, an artist is a person that affects you with what they do. You walk away and think thoughts that you would not have otherwise, perhaps even learning something about yourself. These artists push limits and boundaries. They tend to be visionaries that are slightly more elevated than the masses and assist the rest of us to learn, understand and grow.

New Year’s Eve is one of those nights where the majority comes out to play and I feel it necessary to state the above points in a reminder of the true essence of celebration — being alive! So, pretty please, stay that way!

Now, what to do musically this New Year’s Eve: If you fancy trolling the streets of Downtown Fort Lauderdale with your homies, then definitely swing into the Poorhouse, 110 Nugent Ave., to catch the Hep Cat Boo Daddies (never a disappointment). If you’re a hippie (or just play one on TV) or looking for a long and drawn out evening of jams, improv and whatnot, make your way to the American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., in Miami. Phish will be playing four nights in a row with a three-set NYE performance (which will probably last 12 hours. Seriously). Phish has taken over where the Grateful Dead has left off, so even if you just want to kick it in the parking lot for a few days, have a smoke and eat some PB&Js you’ll at least be able to hear some quality jams in the background. If you are a TV/radio/media junky, then you probably listen to Lady GaGa, aka Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is on a tour called “The Monster Ball” and will be appearing at the James L. Knight Center in Miami.

Electro/house heads, LA Riots will be spinning at Louis (Gansevoort Hotel) in Miami Beach. For an evening more ‘inclusive,’ head out to the Hard Rock casino, where the B52’s are performing and the venue offers a dinner package as well. Plus, you can gamble the night away and/or dance at one of the many clubs and retire to one of the lovely hotel rooms (you know, I’m always thinking of preserving life, or perhaps just the act of making it).

So, whatever your night entails, please, stay sexy, stay alive and kiss someone you love. Happy New Year!

See more details and find more events in The Lead’s New Year’s Eve Guide.

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