December 24, 2015 6:00 AM
There may not be a more appropriate rock lyric for today than the Band’s “I pulled into Nazareth, was feeling ’bout half past dead./ I just need some place where I can lay my head./ Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?/ He just grinned and shook my hand. ‘No,’ was all he said.” From there, of course, it rather loses its Christmas feel.
There also may not be a better way to ring out 2015 than to go out Wednesday, Dec. 30, and catch the Weight, “Playing the Songs of the Band,” consisting of former members of the Band, Jim Weider and Randy Ciarlante; current members of Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band, Brian Mitchell and Byron Isaacs; and Marty Grebb, who’s played with the Band members Rick Danko and Richard Manuel. They’re at Harrah’s Tahoe and $30 will buy a lot of top-class classic rock. (7:30 p.m.; Ticketmaster)
Cache Creek brings in Ambrosia on Saturday, Dec. 26, with three original members of the band that gave us “Biggest Part of Me.” (Free with card or $20; cachecreek.com)
For those who celebrate on New Year’s Eve, Northern Nevada and Northern California offer ample opportunities, many of which go above and beyond:
KC and the Sunshine Band just came out with a new Christmas album and Thursday, Dec. 31, may not be too late to hear a couple of the tracks, but most people will simply be dancing at Thunder Valley’s party featuring the band. (10:30 p.m.; $89.75; thundervalleyresort.com) The casino will also have a party in the Ultra Lounge Illusions. (8 p.m.; $50)
The Fifth Annual Snowglobe Festival will take place Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 29-31, at Bijou Park on the campus of Lake Tahoe Community College on the South Shore. More than 50 bands are set to perform, including Kaskade, Cashmere Cat and Claude Van Stroke. There will be New Year’s Eve fireworks. ($209-$449; snowglobemusicfestival.com)
The Hard Rock focuses its party on the ’80s. (10 p.m.; $20; hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com)
The Grand Sierra in Reno hosts two shindigs: one inside its Summit Pavilion (9:30 p.m.; $44.95), the other, “The Majestic Ball,” in its Lex nightclub. (10 p.m.; first 100 $30; second 100 $40; the rest $50; grandsierraresort.com)
Parties at the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus in downtown Reno – all under the same ownership – are abundant with Cash Presley appearing at the Eldo’s Brew Brothers; Roni V and DJ Miller at the NoVi Lounge, also in the Eldo; Superbad on the Rum Bullions Stage at the Legacy; and DJ Teddy P at the Legacy’s Aura Ultra Lounge. (All of these are $15 in advance and $20 on Thursday, Dec. 31; there are also all-access passes available; eldoradoreno.com or
The Eldorado will host “Zoot Suit Riot,” a salute to the big band sound and swing, in its showroom Tuesday, Dec. 29-Sunday, Jan. 3. ($26.95-$42.95; eldoradoreno.com)
And not to forget: Fireworks will be blasted off three rooftops in downtown Reno at midnight.
Wherever you go, go early. Both Reno’s Virginia Street and Highway 50 at Stateline will be closed to accommodate the crowds pouring out from the casinos for the big countdown.
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