Jimmy Eat World, Rx Bandits, Ed Kowalczyk, and Other New Year's Eve Concert Options

Rx Bandits are scheduled to perform on Friday, December 31, at Scottsdale's Ultimate Block Party.

​Without being too hyperbolic, New Year's Eve is a major night when it comes to revelry. Besides the endless amounts of nightclub events and parties that will take place in an around the PHX, some big name band and music acts will be in town to bid farewell to 2010. In addition to an appearance by hometown heroes of Authority Zero and Jimmy Eat World, plenty of other chart-toppers will be jetting to the Valley for Auld Lange Syne.

Read on for a rundown of who's playing and where.

Authority Zero:
Jason DeVore and the rest of the punks of Mesa's Authority Zero will be celebrating New Year's Eve in front of a hometown crowd when they take over the Marquee Theatre in TempeSoCal skate-punkers Strung Out are also scheduled to perform, along with locals Fayuca, Westcott Ave, and DCVD. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are $10-$22 in advance, $25 day of show. Call 480-829-0707 or visit Luckyman's site for more.

CityScape New Year's Eve:
Former Live frontman (and all-around sensitive New Age guy) Ed Kowalczyk will headline the New Year's Eve spectacular taking place at CityScape, 1 East Washington Street. Expect the alt-rock troubadour, who launched his solo career after Live broke up last year, to shed a tear or two as he strums his six-string. Meanwhile, local bands Metal Elvis and Snakeburner will also perform. Gates open at 7 p.m. and general admission is $15. VIP tickets are $30 and include skybox viewing, a private bar, champagne toast at midnight, party favors and more. Visit www.protixonline.com.

Scottsdale's Ultimate Block Party:
Rock fans of every stripe will likely be satisfied by the slate of bands scheduled to perform at this annual Old Town affair: SoCal group Rx Bandits rock an alt-prog/reggae vibe, Breakdown offers tribute to Tom Petty's musical oeuvre, Unskinny Bop serves up Poison's greatest sleaze metal hits, and the boys from La La Lust do their electro/hipster thing. This massive Auld Lange Syne event, which encompasses Craftsman Court and such bars as The White House and Dos Gringos, will also feature eight different DJs, beer and wine vendors, and more. Gates open at 6 p.m. and general admission is $20-$35. A VIP package is also available for $100 per person and includes a hosted food buffet, drinks, and a special view of the stage. See www.scottsdalesultimateblockparty.com.

Fiesta Bowl Block Party:
The 2010 version of this downtown Tempe mega-event will feature a performance by local boys Jimmy Eat World, as well as more than three dozen Valley bands. There's also magic shows, food courts, dance clubs, beer gardens, fireworks, sports bars, street performers, a "Legends of Rock Lane," and - of course - the countdown at midnight. 4 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. $20. See www.fiestabowl.org.