Events for December 2009

Mariah Carey

Madison Square Garden - 4 Penn Plaza - New York (Chelsea)

9 p.m.

Mariah Carey may get a lot of flak for her diva-like ways and tabloid-worthy lifestyle, but lest we forget, she's also one of the most successful recording artists of all time. Her patented use of melisma should resonate well inside the cavernous Madison Square Garden, as the singer performs from...

@QtipTheAbstract

Brooklyn Bowl - 61 Wythe Ave. - Brooklyn (Williamsburg)

6 p.m.

As a member of hip-hop golden age legends A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip has been under constant pressure to reach the same stratospheric heights as that storied band on his own. Q-Tips 1999 solo debut, Amplified, was a much-maligned affair that was actually just ahead of its time, featuring fantastic...

Paul van Dyk

Roseland Ballroom - 239 W. 52nd St. - Manhattan (Midtown West)

9 p.m.

The DJ-as-superstar era is long gone, but there remain a select few that can command large crowds and memorable performances based on name alone. Trance/techno DJ Paul Van Dyk is one of them. Followers of the DJ probably shouldn't expect anything too out of the ordinary by now, but for Van Dyk,...

Night & Day at FIT

FIT - Seventh Avenue at 27th Street - New York

The changing rules of day and evening dress through 100-plus day and evening pieces.

Dean & Britta

Southpaw - 125 Fifth Ave. - Brooklyn (Park Slope)

7:30 p.m.

For music fans too old or too sober to do much rocking out, there's always gentle bedroom pop. This couple, formerly of Luna, play dreamy, lyrical pop that can be heartwarming or snooze-inducing, depending on one's disposition. (They scored The Squid and the Whale, if that helpsor hinders). This is...

Los Lobos

City Winery - 143 Varick St - New York (SoHo)

7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Ring in the New Year with everyone's favorite Latin rock band who have been playing the unique style of music for the past 35 years. For breaking New York music news, concert announcements and to see what the editors are up to, follow us on Twitter: @MetromixNewYork

Chuck Berry

B.B. Kings Blues Club - 237 W. 42nd St. - Manhattan (Midtown West)

8 p.m. - 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Chuck Berry fuses blues, country and a defiant outlook into songs that have influenced every rock musician since pretty much the mid-'50s. His virtually endless hit list includes 'Rock Roll Music,' 'Sweet Little Sixteen' and 'Johnny B. Goode,' which will be played at this very rare NYC appearence....

The Word

Terminal 5 - 610 West 56th Street - New York (Midtown West)

8 p.m.

If ever there was an all-star blues jam band, The Word would be it. Composed of pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph (The Family Band), keyboardist John Medeski (Medeski, Martin Wood), and the three members of North Mississippi Allstars (bassist Chris Chew, guitarist Luther Dickinson and drummer...