So tomorrow is the big day.  You don’t think that $100 NYE party sounds worth it.  Downtown scares you.  Maybe you don’t even really care about a midnight makeout session and just want to party.  Here are 3 parties that combine good music, cheap covers, and swanky locals.  Have a happy new year and we’ll catch up with you on Friday with our free week guide.

Beauty Bar - Your favorite old hipster kid hangout features DJ Mel inside along with The Strange Boys, Dans La Lune, The Ugly Beats, The Boxing Lesson, and Petals outside.  Not sure on a cover charge, but drink prices should be the same as always.  Beauty Bar tends to get overly crowded on nights like these so don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Mohawk - The Transmission run venue features indie karaoke and DJ sets by Car Stereo(Wars) all night long.  Cover is only $5 with drink specials and a midnight champagne toast.

Spider House - Not usually known as a live music venue, Spider House brings you music from The Strange Attractors, Wine & Revolution, and a few other local acts.  Cover is only $10 with champagne all night for the same price.

These are only a few options and I’m sure you’ve got some crazy party going on and your mom’s house.  Drop us a line if you’ve got a hot tip.

A promising new Austin band, The Great Nostalgic, are gettin’ down at The Beauty Bar on Saturday evening and it might just be worth your time.  Being so new to the Austin scene, you might not know that the band’s debut LP, currently in the works, was recorded by Erik Wofford(Black Angels/Octopus Project) and features guest vocals by Pink Nasty.  They’ll be playing Saturday evening in support of DJ Go Go Garcia.  The Beauty Bar website says things will get going around 9pm and go on till 2am so make a night of it!

Download: The Great Nostalgic - County Line [MP3]

If King Khan and Ghostland Observatory aren’t your thing, head out to Beauty Bar on Saturday evening for two masters in the art of the mash-up with Car Stereo (Wars) & The Hood Internet. Not sure what the cover charge will be, but things should get started around 9pm and go on till 2. Click on the fancy poster for more information, and don’t forget you can still download The Hood Internet’s new Volume 3 mixtape from their website.

A band fairly new to the Austin music scene, Frantic Clam, will be gettin’ it down at Beauty Bar on Wednesday evening.  Here’s a sample of the band’s music with their latest catchty little single “Richard Cory”.

Download: Frantic Clam - Richard Cory

The triumphant return of Car Stereo (Wars) to Austin! After being gone for quite some time, our favorite DJ/master of the mash up returns to Austin on Saturday night (8/30) at the Beauty Bar. Things are set to go off around 10pm. This finally gives me an excuse to post the greatest mash up ever created, “Ghostface Observatory”.

Download: Car Stereo Wars - Ghostface Observatory [MP3]

Be sure to catch the car stereo (wars) “farewell” show at Beauty Bar   this Saturday night from 10:00-2:00. Christopher Rose (the brains behind CSW) will be leaving for Europe soon, so this will be the last time in a while to catch him in Austin. Beauty Bar fills up quick, so we would recommend getting there early and staying put.