rock Waco Brothers
There’s no better way to say, “Don’t let the door hit you, 2011,” than with a roof-raising holiday concert from these local rebel rousers. The band delivers hard-core country twang mixed with melodic punk wallop, topped with a pro-underdog rallying cry. And in a year like 2011, we all had our underdog moments.
GO: 12/28–29 at 9. $14. Schubas, 3159 N Southport. schubas.com

OR, ON NEW YEAR’S EVE: Local H, the ever-chugging, never-quitting, hard-driving rock duo, returns to Bottom Lounge for a concert 12/31 at 10, with tickets a very affordable $25–$30.

jazz Roy Hargrove Quintet
New Year’s Day can be a rough hangover for music lovers, offering little more than noisemakers and day-old confetti. But jazz fans can kick off 2012 with something far better than leftovers: one more night with the luminous New York trumpeter Hargrove and his bang-up band.
GO: 1/1 at 8 and 10. $20–$25. Jazz Showcase, 806 S Plymouth. jazzshowcase.com

OR, ON NEW YEAR’S EVE: The Green Mill is the only place in town to ring in the new year with a Battle of the Saxes, featuring the Chicago native Frank Catalano trading licks with the prodigious Ed Petersen. Doors open at 7; cover is $25.

eclectic Robbie Fulks
Expect less of a traditional concert from this local alt-country hero and more of a year-end variety show: a few songs, a few gentle ribs at 2011, and most likely, some good feelings all around.
GO: Through 12/29 at 9. $15. FitzGerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn. fitzgeraldsnightclub.com

OR, ON NEW YEAR’S EVE: Chicago’s own Disappears takes noisy guitar rock and twists it in the tradition of Sonic Youth, with whom the group shares drummer Steve Shelly. Hear the band 12/31 at 10 at Empty Bottle for $20–$25.

comedy Silent Night of the Living Dead
If the spirit of Christmas can win over even old Scrooge, surely it can conquer a few flesh-eating zombies. New Millennium Theatre Company pays tribute to George Romero with this new play, with a plot that’s pretty much what the title implies. In other words: Awesome.
GO: 12/29–30 at 8. $18. Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont. nmtchicago.org

OR, ON NEW YEAR’S EVE: Behind door number 1: a special all-ages performance of the beloved improv show now entering its 24th year, the Neo-Futurists’ Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. Advance tickets, $50, required; doors open at 9:30. Door number 2: The Chuckle Bowl Spectacular, or open bowling with a side of comedy from Lincoln Lodge regulars, returns to Lincoln Square Lanes 12/31 from 9 to 1:30; tickets are $30–$35.

film The Tree of Life
One year ends, another begins: Ponder the meaning of it all with one more chance to see Terrence Malick’s origin-of-life epic (Brad Pitt! Dinosaurs!)—and dare we say Oscar shoo-in—on the big screen.
GO: 12/30, 1/3, 1/5 at 6:30; 1/2 at 2:30. $7–$11. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State. siskelfilmcenter.org

OR, ON NEW YEAR’S EVE: The Music Box hosts its annual showing of The Poseidon Adventure, timed to coincide with the New Year’s countdown onscreen. Tickets run $22–$27; the party starts at 11; costumes are encouraged.