This is what my New Year’s Eve used to look like: a bag of Tostitos, salsa, a bottle of champagne, and the TV tuned to New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, where I could watch Dick Clark age (now in high-def).

But then I discovered the New Year’s Eve concert. Oh, glorious concerts. Live music can make any night out better—and take some pressure off the mandatory fun you’re supposed to have on December 31.

Your options for fun start here:

CONCERTS
The Crocodile
An all-Seattle lineup: U.S.E., aka disco-pop group United States of Electronica, with indie rock band Aqueduct and hip-hop duo Fresh Espresso.
Doors open at 8pm; 21+; $20.

High Dive
Soul jazz by McTuff, featuring Skerik (tenor sax), Andy Coe (guitar), Joe Doria (Hammond organ) and D’Vonne Lewis (drums). With DJ Haiku-Chi.
Doors open at 8; 21+; $10.

Moore Theatre
Cake, the Sacramento alt-rock band that brought you “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” and “Sheep Go to Heaven.” With Throw Me the Statue, Locust, and King City.
Doors open at 8; all ages; $63-$73.

Neumos
German DJ Apparat mixing dance floor techno. With Nosaj Thing, Lusine, and Nordic Soul.
Doors open at 9; 21+; $20.

Re-bar
Dina Martina’s Christmas Show closes its month-long run. 7-10pm; 21+; $20.

Showbox at the Market
Another all-Seattle lineup: Indie rockers Minus the Bear headline, with Lonely Forest and Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground.
Doors open at 8; 21+; $28-$30.

Showbox SoDo
Tribute bands! Fascination Street (The Cure Tribute)
with Love Vigilantes (New Order Tribute), This Charming Band (The Smiths Tribute), and Dead Souls (Joy Division Tribute).
Doors open at 8; 21+; $15-$20.

Tractor Tavern
Two New Year’s Eve shows with rockabilly act The Dusty 45s and Matt Pickerel and His Praying Hands.
“Manhattan New Year’s Eve” show at 6:30 and “Seattle New Year’s Eve” show at 10. $20-$25.

EVENTS
New Year’s in Bellevue
Plenty going on Eastside. Our favorite outing on offer is the Dinner Gala at Artisanal Brasserie and Wine Bar with a five-course tasting menu, music by local jazz group Black Lab Trio, party favors, and a champagne toast. 9pm; 21+; $95. Click here for more Bellevue options.

Experience Music Project
Take this party’s name as a cue: Indulgence 2010 promises 25 bars, disco cover band Dance Factory and ‘80s cover band 80s Invasion, Movin’ 92.5 DJs, three dance floors, a stand-up comedy stage, cocktail hour for singles, admission to the EMP museum, two VIP areas, and free coat check (sigh). You’ll pay to be a VIP ($350), but reasonably priced general admission tickets ($59) are still available. We’re a little worried this could end up like an over-21 post-prom, so anyone who’s been to this party before, please weigh in.

Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
The Grammy-winning Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band plays a little bit of everything: jazz, soul, Latin, Afro-Cuban, swing, bebop, salsa. Pick from one of two shows on New Year’s Eve: 8.45pm (doors open 6.30), with cocktails ($52.50) or a four-course meal ($105.50) that includes butternut squash soup, salad, prime rib or salmon, and desserts; or 11pm (doors open 10.30) with dessert, coffee/tea, and party favors ($80.50).

Jet City Improv’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular starts with three hours of comedy and an impressive menu of hors d’oeuvres (roast Cuban-style pork! duck and mango spring rolls!). Then there’s a champagne toast at midnight, plus the Space Needle fireworks show broadcast on a big screen, followed by a DJ dance party. Food served 8-9, comedy 9-midnight. All ages. $50-$65 single, $80-$100 couples. Cash bar.

Seattle Aquarium’s Bonza Bash promises to bring “sophistication and elegance back to Seattle” (which begs the question: Where did they go?). This is a night of swanky attire and real dance moves. Swing to The Mach One Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece big band, and music broadcast live by C89.5 and KISS 106.1’s Victor Menegaux and DJ Rhythma. Black tie is suggested, cocktail attire is required; anyone caught in jeans and sneakers sleeps with the fishes. Doors open 8:30pm; 21+; $69-$209, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Seattle Aquarium Society.

Seattle Symphony
End 2009 with Beethoven’s Ninth, including the majestic “Ode to Joy” sung by the Seattle Symphony Chorale, and Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes conducted by Gerard Schwarz. Featured vocalists include soprano Amanda Pabyan, mezzo-soprano Kathryn Weld, tenor Jason Collins, and bass-baritone Charles Robert Austin. After the concert, local salsa band Orchestra Zarabanda will swing in the new year in the Grand Lobby. Free sparkling wine toast included; a pre-concert three-course dinner with dessert and a glass of wine is also available. Dinner starts at 6:45; concert at 9. $50-$150.

Seattle Tango’s Tango Ball includes a 30-minute beginner’s lesson, a performance by Tony Fan and Ilana Rubin, and 4.5 hours of dancing and dipping. Dessert bar and champagne toast also included. Lesson starts at 9, performance around 11; $25-$40.

The Triple Door
hosts two shows with singer-songwriter LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends. The first starts at 7 and includes a three-course dinner, champagne, and cover charge for $100. The second starts at 10 and includes dessert, champagne toast, party favors, and cover charge for $70.

FAMILY
Winterfest
at Seattle Center runs till the end of the month, but the ice rink and carousel will stay open until January 3. Wear the kids out with a spin around the rink at Fisher Pavilion on New Year’s Eve—it stays open until 8. $2-$5.

FILM
Central Cinema
Turn Back the Clock: Decade Do-Over This music-video party celebrates the best of the ’90s: Nirvana, Blind Melon, No Doubt, and R Kelly. (Though that R Kelly pick is questionable.) The best part: Start 2010 with an hour of Prince videos. Beer, wine and food available. Starts at 10; 21+; $12.

Still don’t know what to do for New Year’s? Consider restaurant critic Kathryn Robinson’s dinner picks or bar outings culled by Sauced editor Jessica Voelker.