New Year's Eve concerts in the suburbs and Chicago

Who cares if New Year's Eve is on a Wednesday this year? It's still a big night for live music. Here's a look at your Dec. 31 options in the suburbs and in Chicago. Since some prices include drinks, party favors or other amenities, calling ahead is highly recommended.

SUBURBS

New Year's Eve Rock N' Roll Ball at Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont. 8 p.m. $49, $119 VIP (dinner and hotel packages available). (312) 559-1212 or ticketmaster.com.

This all-local bash includes alternative rockers Lovehammers, whose vocalist Marty Casey was the runner-up on "Rock Star: INXS," and new wave-inspired popsters Dot Dot Dot, who were on "The Next Great American Band." Funk band Bumpus, DJ Roland and Chicago Underground Comedy haven't been on any reality TV shows yet, but they will be at this event.

Smoking Popes with Catfish Haven, Tall Dark Stranger and Kid, You'll Move Mountains at Mad Maggie's, 51 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. 8 p.m. $30 advance, $40 day of show. (866) 468-3401 or ticketweb.com.

The reunited Popes finally put out a new album ("Stay Down") this year, giving local fans of intelligent pop-punk something to celebrate. An eclectic slate of local indie bands opens.

Lucky Boys Confusion at Cubby Bear Lincolnshire, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire. 10 p.m. $25, $55 VIP. (312) 559-1212 or ticketmaster.com.

The burbs' favorite pop/punk/ska act follows their annual Christmastime "Songs From a Scene" shows at Metro with a non-city gig. Great. Now, how about canning all the side projects and giving fans another LBC album?

Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women at SugarToad at the Hotel Arista, 2139 CityGate Lane, Naperville. 8:30 p.m. $150 (hotel packages available). (630) 778-8623 or sugartoad.com.

Saffire is a middle-aged, multiracial feminist acoustic blues trio, an identity which has helped them carve a singular niche. If you're a fan, don't sleep on this, since the group has announced it is breaking up in 2009.

Back to the Rat Pack at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. 8 p.m. $99 (hotel packages available). (630) 584-6300 or pheasantrun.com.

Top Hat Entertainment presents a revue saluting Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. An 11-piece orchestra and a Liza Minnelli tribute artist join the boys for music and comedy.

The Pimps with Livin' It Up, Wicked Soul, Amrita and Old Ironsides at Penny Road Pub, 28W705 Penny Road, South Barrington. $60. (866) 468-3401 or ticketweb.com.

The Rockford-based Pimps bring their punky fun-time rock to their loyal local fans. Livin' It Up and Wicked Soul add volume to the upstairs stage, while things get proggy downstairs with Amrita and Old Ironsides in the Underground.

Mike & Joe at The Fuel Room at Austin's Saloon and Eatery, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. 10 p.m. $75. (312) 559-1212 or ticketmaster.com.

Indiana University grads Mike Notaro and Joe Valentino are a big bar draw across the Midwest for their radio rock covers, but they do originals, too.

16 Candles at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. 9 p.m. $70 (hotel packages available). (312) 559-1212 or ticketmaster.com.

Celebrate the birth of 2009 with a look back on the 1980s, as 16 Candles performs covers of vintage hits by Michael Jackson, Journey, Wham! and the like.

Slamabama at Cadillac Ranch, 1175 W. Lake St., Bartlett. 9:30 p.m. $15. (630) 830-7200 or cadranch.com.

Slamabama plays favorite songs by Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and others, plus original rockin' country tunes.

Smash Corps with Life in Shadow, Hexus and Lasting Vengeance at Doug's Rockhouse Grill, 333 E. Indian Trail Road, Aurora. 8 p.m. $7. (630) 892-7833 or myspace.com/dougsrockhouse.

Have an affordable, headbanging holiday with this scrappy assortment of local metalcore, thrash, death metal and hard rock bands.

CHICAGO

Umphrey's McGee at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway. 8:30 p.m. $65-$75. (312) 559-1212 or ticketmaster.com.

With a new album ("Mantis") due on Inauguration Day, Chicago's biggest jam band concludes a three-night run at the Auditorium. Blues queen Koko Taylor visits the boys, along with a "special" surprise guest, and DJ Lou Dooben starts the party at 6:30 p.m., spinning funk and Afrobeat cuts in the lobby.

Justice with So Me, Peanut Butter Wolf, Hey Champ, Home Video, Willy Joy, Zebo, Dark Wave Disco DJs, The Glamour, Skyler and Bearries at the Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. 7 p.m. $60, $200 VIP. (866) 468-3401 or ticketweb.com.

In the town that birthed house music, ultra-popular French electro/house duo Justice rings in 2009 with a DJ set. A gamut of DJs, from Paris' So Me to California's Peanut Butter Wolf, gets the crowd good and sweaty beforehand.

The Dandy Warhols at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St. 9 p.m. $55 advance, $65 day of show, $500 VIP (table for four). (773) 549-4140 or metrochicago,

Formal attire is encouraged(!) for this intimate set by Oregon's celebrated psychedelic garage rockers. Robert Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club DJs as an opener.

Chicago Samba at Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Blvd. 10 p.m. $25 advance, $35 door. (312) 957-6073 or hothouse.net.

The folks behind the greatly missed world music venue HotHouse present the city's premiere Brazilian dance group, with samba dance lessons during the breaks. In Brazil, people wear white as a symbol of peace on New Year's, so white clothing is certainly encouraged for this show.

Hum with The Life and Times and Dianogah at Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. 10 p.m. $65/sold out. (312) 559-1212 or ticketmaster.com.

Hey, remember Hum, the Champaign-based psychedelic grunge act who had a hit called "Stars" in the mid-1990s? Well, apparently a lot of other people do, too, since this reunion gig is already sold out, as is another one the following night.

The Sea and Cake with Chandeliers at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave. 10 p.m. $40. (773) 525-2508 or schubas.com.

Almost breezy enough to be considered "yacht rock," indie fixtures The Sea and Cake delight a hometown crowd with their deceptively complex, jazz-influenced pop rock. Fellow locals Chandeliers open with a set of experimental electro.

Future Rock with Daedelus, Dark Party and Ben Silver at Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St. 9 p.m. $25 advance, $30 day of show, $75 VIP. (866) 468-3401 or ticketweb.com.

For those who like dance music but find something weird about watching a DJ, Chicago's Future Rock concoct driving progressive house anthems with instruments, real-time samples and live loop manipulation. They've mainly found success in the jam scene, but this isn't your average tie-dye show.

Local H with Sybris, Office and Big Science at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St. 8 p.m. $35 advance, $45 day of show. (866) 468-3401 or ticketweb.com.

Area legends of yesterday, today and tomorrow converge here. Incorrigible riff rockers Local H headline, new wavey newcomers Big Science kick things off, and indie favorites Sybris and Office are the tasty stuff in the middle.

The Bottle Rockets with The Saps and Rego at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave. 10 p.m. $25. (866) 468-3401 or ticketweb.com.

St. Louis' Bottle Rockets counter the standard glitz of NYE concerts with a modestly priced set of comfortable roots rock. Like-minded local openers include the indie pop-leaning Saps and decidedly rustic Rego.

The Lawrence Arms, The Methadones, The Arrivals, The Copyrights and Off With Their Heads at Reggie's Rock Club, 2109 S. State St. 8 p.m. $25. (866) 468-3401 or ticketweb.com.

Not just a who's who of Chicago's modern melodic punk scene, this show is bound to be one of the evening's sweatiest. If someone had booked it in the suburbs, it would be sold out already.