Big Gigs for Dec. 26-Jan. 1: the Suburbs, Four Fists, Brandi Carlile and much, much more

For once, the Suburbs are spending New Year's Eve in the suburbs. Long revered as one of the Twin Cities' best party bands, the '80s dance/pop/punk stalwarts are going strong after dropping a well-received new album last year, "Sí Sauvage," and after moving past co-leader Beej Chaney's unfortunate hiatus from the group. New guitarist Jeremy Ylvisaker added spark to a new-era lineup that was already burning bright. The pioneering punk trio that helped spawn the 'Burbs, Suicide Commandos are reuniting again to open the show and get a jump on what will be their 40th anniversary year next year. (8:30 p.m. Wed., Medina Entertainment Center, $32-$37.) Riemenschneider

The annual Infrasound NYE bash takes over the warehouse-y Loft for two evenings of experimental bass-facing. Moody glitch-hop-to-down-tempo duo Love and Light, which dropped its upbeat "Shift Happens" mini LP this year, tops Tuesday's bill with locals Bogtrotter, Profresher and Toffler. Colorado's one-man Vibesquad — Aaron Holstein's funky, hip-hop-forward, future-bass pseudonym — headlines NYE proper, with trippy Utah dubstepper Grimblee (performing under his Hecka alias) and Minnesota-to-Cali transplant Mumukshu. (9 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Loft at Bar Fly, $10-$20; $20-$25 for two-night pass.) Rietmulder

While Infrasound occupies the Loft on Tuesday, dirtier bass drops will descend like the Times Square Ball in the larger Skyway Theatre. After igniting this year's Summer Set fest, big-name dubstep bro Datsik returns to do the same for what will assuredly be a ready-to-rage NYE crowd. The brain-crunching wobble addict dropped his hip-hop inflected "Down 4 My Ninjas" EP last month via his Firepower Records label. The Canadian bass monster is joined by Firepower fam Terravita, Mayhem, Fox Stevenson and Bear Grillz. (7 p.m. Wed., Skyway Theatre, $35.) Rietmulder

Four Fists, the emo-rap vehicle fronted by local rhymeslayers P.O.S. and Astronautalis, is not exactly a far cry from their stock-in-trades, showcasing the two rappers' strengths as dynamic vocalists and gifted songwriters. On the other hand, it sort of sounds like a hip-hop version of Underoath — remember Underoath? P.O.S.' Doomtree crewmate Mike Mictlan and Tender Meat open. (8 p.m. Wed., Triple Rock, $30.) Mehta

The Totally Gross National Product label is offering a Totally Stacked Lineup of local heavyweights for New Year's Eve. If you've lived in Minneapolis for more than 10 minutes, you're familiar with the micro-fame and distorted pop virtuosity of Poliça. And if you've lived here for more than 20, you've probably already seen them play a show with their electro-noise improvising pals Marijuana Deathsquads. Rising hip-hop star Allan Kingdom enjoyed a strong 2014, both as a solo artist and with Spooky Black (or is it Corbin?) in the Stand4rd. (9 p.m. Wed., The Turf Club, sold out.) Sally Hedberg

Looking for a classy, quiet alternative to the usual New Year's Eve hoopla, one that will have you off the roads before 2015's first dog is hung? Then check out fingerstyle guitar aces Tim Sparks and Phil Heywood, world-class pickers who released great albums in 2014 ("Chasin' the Boogie" and "Rollin' On," respectively). They'll be joined by percussionist Tim O'Keefe for an early bird show with cool cover tunes (Reverend Gary Davis, Tom Waits, Roy Orbison) and free admission — gotta love that. (6:30-10:30 p.m. Wed., Icehouse, no cover.) Surowicz

Testing the theory that three harp players are better than one, this year's Lamont Cranston Band celebration is graced with a couple of other hard-blowing veterans besides Pat Hayes. Openers Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin' Altar Boys are bringing savvy guest harmonicat Westside Andy while big and brassy fellow Wisconsinites the Jimmys will feature the most famous harp player in all of Cheesehead land, Jim Liban, a fellow who once jammed with Jimi Hendrix. Toss in two McCabes — piano playing Bruce and his trombone-playing cousin Larry — and it should be a swell old friends/new year evening, with a triple-harp meltdown at the end. (7:30 p.m. Wed., DoubleTree Hotel Ballroom, 7800 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, $25-$30, 952-893-8430.) Surowicz

It's been a tough few months for Dada Life, arguably EDM's most happy-go-lucky duo. Olle Cornéer, one half of the Swedish electro-house team, was diagnosed with cancer in September, but his recovery is reportedly going well and apparently the Dada dudes have been working on new music. It remains to be seen when Cornéer will rejoin his banana-tossing, Champagne-spraying comrade Stefan Engblom for their energetic live shows. (9 p.m. Fri., Myth, $25-$35.) Michael Rietmulder

While the 'Mats, Hüskers and Soul Asylum boast more notoriety, Run Westy Run established some serious Twin Cities punk-rock cred in the 1980s. St. Louis Park brothers Kraig, Kirk and Kyle Johnson provided an artful, psychedelic spark that led to albums on Cali punk bastion SST, with production help from REM's Peter Buck. The group's 2013 reunion stood in the shadow of the Replacements' reformation ("Sorry, it's just us," Kraig quipped) but local rock geeks weren't seeking apologies. Sadly, rhythm guitarist Kyle died in August but his brothers soldier on with openers BNLX and reunited 1990s rockers Likehell. (8:30 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $20.) Jay Boller

After a few tough personal years and several lineup changes, Twin Cities metal mavens American Head Charge are charging full steam ahead. The industrialized thrashers just finished a tour with Powerman 5000 and have dates booked early next year with Coal Chamber and Filter. In between, they're squeezing in a home-turf "holiday hangover" gig with Mad Mad Ones and the Rope opening. (9 p.m. Sat., Turf Club, $20.) Chris Riemenschneider

An almost-annual tradition timed to expat frontman Martin Zellar's return from Mexico, the Gear Daddies' post-holiday gig has itself made quite a far-out relocation to the western 'burbs. The Austin, Minn.-reared country-rockers played the Skyline Fest at Target Field this summer and always seem to fall right back in line together. Openers the White Iron Band will add to the rowdiness. (8:30 p.m., Medina Entertainment Center, $22-$27.) Riemenschneider

Angerfist didn't pull any punches with his fourth full-length. The Jason-masked hard-dance hero dropped a mammoth triple album last month. With "The Deadfaced Dimension," the ultra-aggressive Dutch "King of Hardcore" incorporates elements of hardstyle and hip-hop with his relentless kicks and disturbing samples. Sub Selectorz, Johnny Jihad, K Drive, the Legion of Boom crew and more also perform. (9 p.m. Sat., Loft at Bar Fly, $20-$25.) Rietmulder

Just when some critters are going into hibernation, songwriting ace Bill Giese is resurfacing with a new band, the Pedestrians, and some great old songs. You may remember Giese from "A Prairie Home Companion" back in his Stoney Lonesome days, or "Waitin' out the Storm," a song that Kate MacKenzie and Emmylou Harris recorded. A restless fella, he has a bad habit of changing bands before they can gain momentum, but his phrase-turning talent is well worth indulging. (7 p.m. Sat., Underground Music Cafe, 1579 N. Hamline Av., Falcon Heights, 651-644-9959, no cover.) Tom Surowicz

Earlier this year the Cedar debuted its 416 Club Commissions, which funded new works by five Minnesota songwriters and composers, then sent them on a 10-day tour of the state, dubbed MN Express, in October. Vocalist Aby Wolf, bassist Nick Gaudette, guitarist Kyle Sobczak, fiddler Sara Pajunen and saxophonist Nathan Hanson performed collaboratively on those works and some newer ones. The group caps the program with a hometown show. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, $10.) Jahna Peloquin

Employing everything from vocal percussion to live looping, onetime Minnesotan Ari Herstand has won over a variety of audiences with his sentimental folk-pop since leaving for L.A. in 2010. In addition to music, he's been an actor on "2 Broke Girls" and maintains an advice blog for indie musicians called — wait for it — Ari's Take. His Kickstarter-boosted third LP, "Brave Enough," came out in March. (8 p.m. Mon., 7th Street Entry, $12-$15.) Mehta

In what is becoming a tradition, Brandi Carlile is returning to her biggest market for the last two days of the year. The singer-songwriter, who lives in a small town outside Seattle, might preview her March 3 release, "The Firewatcher's Daughter," which she promises is more rock 'n' roll. However, one preview track, "The Eye," for which a video has been released, is a front-porch, acoustic, three-part harmony song delivered with "the Twins," who play in her band. (8:30 p.m. Tue. & 9:30 p.m. Wed., Varsity Theater, $65-$200.) Jon Bream

Fourteen years ago, Tim Kasher released his open-wound divorce album, "Domestica," with Cursive. That same year he founded the Good Life, a warm and stripped-down indie-folk reprieve from the roaring agony of his flagship Omaha band. Kasher, who'll return to Triple Rock in March with Cursive, hasn't released anything with the Good Life since 2007's "Help Wanted Nights," so he's seemingly getting the band back together just for kicks. Opening are Big Harp and locals Tiny Deaths. (8 p.m. Tue., Triple Rock, $10-$12.) Boller

St. Paul native Aaron Hedenstrom comes home from Texas, where he's firmly established as a teacher and big band leader, to celebrate his debut album as saxophonist in a small group setting. "A Moment of Clarity" is an impressive modern jazz outing in which he excels on various reeds and has lofty goals indeed as a composer. "My hope is that this album will be a contemplative, beautiful experience that inspires deep thought about life, the world around us, and eternity," he writes in the liner notes. "A Moment of Clarity" grooves quite a bit, too. This weekend he will musically ponder our place in the cosmos with a great rhythm section: pianist Bryan Nichols, guitarist Zacc Harris, bassist Graydon Peterson and drummer Brian Claxton. (7 p.m. Sat., Studio Z, 275 E. 4th St., Suite 200, St. Paul, $10, 651-755-1600.) Surowicz

The sublime duo of pianist Dan Cavanagh and vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn used to pack the Artists' Quarter, most often around Christmas, when award-winning composer Cavanagh could get back from Texas to visit friends and relatives. Those gigs had shades of Chick Corea and Gary Burton, with fun-loving empathy and often better original material. This year, with no AQ and nothing else yet in that sadly shuttered space, the cross-generational duo is invading a suburban music shop for an afternoon soiree. (2 p.m. Sat., Schmitt Music, Southdale Square, 2906 W. 66th St., Edina, $10.) Surowicz