Evein' More

by A.D. Amorosi

Party Circuit

Like others aim to make and hold a dinner reservation for the night of the 31st, this year I plan on keeping the beat and holding it. The eve starts, most appropriately, with Philadelphia's own The Roots during what's become their annual all-night December 31st stop-off at the Electric Factory. (For the uninitiated, this means that, rather than Black Thought and company simply playing tracks from their recent The Tipping Point CD by rote, expect long jams, odd cover versions and unexpected guests shimmying down the chimney to rap and strum.)

After he's done drumming this long festival of light at the Factory, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and DJ pals like space-case Vikter Duplaix relive the glory days of SquareBiz and Thompson's Candyland party at their New Year's Eve bash at Fluid until the wee earlies.

For anyone looking to savor the flavor of live band interaction, you can check out the Caucasoid funk squawk of !!! (or Chk Chk Chk) as part of Dirty Dave Pianka's Making Time extravaganza, celebrating "The Year of the Cock" with the boys of Rock Tits at Transit. They keep advertising Sparks as a big part of their festivities. Damn, if I'm heading to Making Time, I'm going to need more than Sparks to keep my ass moving and grooving. Then again, their promise of "Cocainesexjams" is also part of the Making Time motto.

Finally, PAPERstreet welcomes you to an intimate VIP gathering — just you and 700 friends, with Philly's own soul-sonic force, Mr. DJ King Britt, and hip-hop maestro Scott Melker, Latin-vibe DJ Lucas Rivera and live percussionists Xande Cruz and JK doing their things on floors one and two of Marathon Grill and MarBar. Start the year right by getting a leg up (or a cock up) on the new year.

The Roots, Fri., Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m., $49.50, Electric Factory, Seventh and Willow sts., 215-336-3600. New Year's Eve with Squarebiz, the official after-party for The Roots with ?uestlove, Vikter Duplaix, L Boogie, Statik, Lil' Dave and Mike Nyce, Fri., Dec. 31, 9-11 p.m., open bar and buffet, $20-$40, Fluid, 613 S. Fourth St., www.squarebiz.org, www.okayplayer.com. Making Time: Welcoming The Year of the Cock, featuring Dave P, Mike Z, Dave Pak, Roy, Nez, Joel, Michael Geida, Adam Sparkes, Julian S. Process and !!! (latter performs at midnight), Fri., Dec. 31, 10 p.m, $40, Transit, 600 Spring Garden St., www.igetrvng.com. PAPERstreet NYE with King Britt, Scott Melker, Lucas Rivera, Xande Cruz and JK, Fri., Dec. 31, 9 p.m., $75-$100, Marathon Grill and MarBar, 40th and Walnut sts., 215-222-0800, 215-906-6460, www.paper-street.com.