THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY STARTS HERE:

...with THE BEAT FARMERS!  Making a tradition of this more sober than usual, professionally-shot, early BF gig recorded at Universal Studios, including "There She Goes Again" (VU); "Road to Ruin," "Bigger Fool," "Reason to Believe" (Springsteen), "Powderfinger" (N. Young), "Happy Boy," "Big Ugly Wheels," "Bigger Stones," "Gun Sale at the Church," "Dallas Blues," "I Wanna Be Free," "Lakeside Trailer Park," "Death Train," and "Seven Year Itch."  If you're new to the band, my picks would be "Bigger Stones," "Happy Boy" and the cover of your choice.  BONUS:  Now how much would you pay?  But wait... there's more!  If you really want to see someone put the "bar" in "bar band," watch these NSFW clips from Houston, TX of the late Country Dick Montana leading the band through "Lucille" (K. Rogers) -- complete with his favorite beer bottle stunts -- followed by "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Wino," "Are You Drinkin' With Me, Jesus?" and "Mondo."  SUPER-SPECIAL BONUS: Country Dick rolls out "California Kid" and "Anarchy in the UK" (Language warning).

U2: Crushingly obvious, I know. 

NICK CAVE & SHANE MacGOWAN: "What a Wonderful World."

ABBA wishes you a "Happy New Year,"  but it doesn't sound anywhere as celebratory as "Take A Chance On Me." 

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS perform "This Year" at the M-Shop in Ames, IA.

OTIS & CARLA have a "New Year's Resolution."

JOE JACKSON: Pate frequently attempted "One More Time" to often hilarious effect, so today I stick with Joe's early material, including "Sunday Papers" live on the OGWT, "Kinda Kute" on the Kenny Everett Video Show, and a Beat Crazy-era run of "On Your Radio."  The Rock Goes To College show provides live takes on "It's Different For Girls,"  "I'm The Man," and this pulsing version of his signature "Is She Really Going Out With Him?"  BONUS: The appropos finale, "Got The Time?

FLUXBLOG 's 2020 Survey Mix.

AMANDA SHIRES covers Genesis' "That's All."

REMEMBERING ADAM SCHLESINGER and the Year Music Died.

THE NUMBER ONES on white man's overbite music and Steve Winwood's "Higher Love."

THE ZOMBIES: "This Will Be Our Year."

HILARIA BALDWIN is in full damage control mode.

DAWN WELLS, who starred as the demure Mary Ann in popular 1960s sitcom “Gilligan's Island,” died Wednesday of causes related to COVID-19 in Los Angeles.  She was 82. 

ANGELA KINSEY: The office alum revealed her positive COVID-19 status to fans on Instagram.

MICHAEL SHEEN returned hs OBE.

THE DOGS of 2020.

A DOG invaded a professional soccer match in Potosi, Bolivia, halting play for around three minutes.

WHICH DOGGO are you?

ROAD BLOCK in Tanzania.

EELS are dealing with cocaine in the Thames.