PrintIn Albuquerque and across the state, the biggest names in New Mexico are coming out to perform on New Year's Eve:
El Gringo
With a little luck, by this time next year Shawn Kiehne will have quit his day job.
Kiehne, best known to most of us in New Mexico as El Gringo, has signed a record distribution deal with major label Universal Latin to distribute his new CD, which will appear in February. It's not that Kiehne doesn't enjoy being a real estate broker in Los Lunas, he said, but music is his true passion.
"Music takes up 80 percent of my time as it is," he said.
Kiehne will play songs from his new record, which most likely will be named "El Gringo," and more when he performs on New Year's Eve at Santa Ana Star Casino.
Kiehne rose to fame a couple of years ago when his song "El Corrido del Gringo" hit the airwaves. The song is about how Kiehne grew up with Mexican immigrants on his family's ranch and supports immigrant rights.
Though he grew up singing and performing country music, he found that norteño and banda music moved his soul more and started writing songs in Spanish. He's earned several accolades for his work, including awards from the New Mexico Hispano Entertainers Association.
His new record will feature more banda songs, as well as some traditional country songs.
Kiehne will perform at 9:30 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Casino. The casino will hold a New Year's Eve countdown and a champagne toast to kick off 2010. Tickets are $15 or $20 per couple for the show.
Also, Santa Ana Star will host two other New Year's Eve shows at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., which will feature dancers from Baila! Baila! Tickets are $30 to $60 per couple. Call 867-0000 or visit www. santaanastar.com for tickets.
Solar Street Band
Good old 1950s and 1960s rock 'n' roll is on tap when the Solar Street Band will play the 2010 New Year's Party at the Inn at Rio Rancho.
Tony Martin of the band grew up in England, where he was a DJ and played old American rock before coming to New Mexico to work in radio. It wasn't his radio voice, but his singing, that caught the attention of the Solar Street Band 12 years ago, he said.
The band plays covers of Elvis, Roy Orbison and Dwight Yoakam, as well as some modern country. The Solar Street Band New Year's Eve Party at the Inn at Rio Rancho, 1465 Rio Rancho Drive SE, starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $5 and includes a midnight champagne toast. Call 892-1700 for more.
Tobias Rene
Tobias Rene is ready to start a new decade by getting back in the studio. It's been four years since he last released a record, "A Taste of Texas" with Flaco Jimenez and Ruben Ramos.
But he has new songs and in the new decade, Rene said, he's going to focus more on the music that made him the king of New Mexico music.
"It was a big year for me and I'm ready to kick out two new records in 2010," Rene said.
His New Year's Eve show will be in the grand ballroom at Buffalo Thunder Resort, just north of Santa Fe, where he'll play his hits and roll out some of the new songs with a full band, including a multipiece horn section, he said.
Rene will perform at 9 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 through www. tickets.com or through the casino, at 877-848-6337.
The Lodge
The Lodge in Cloudcroft will hold two New Year's Eve shows, one for children and one for adults. The adult party will feature a DJ, dancing, an international cheese and fruit buffet, two champagne toasts and a breakfast buffet at midnight, all with the Under the Sea theme. For children, in the main hotel there will be a pizza dinner, snacks, sparkling juice toasts, games, music classes and more. Tickets for the adult party are $151.87 per couple, or $75.93 each. Tickets for the children's party are $29.04. Visit www.thelodgeresort.com , or call 575-682-2566 for more information.
Al Hurricane
The annual Al Hurricane New Year's Eve show returns to Isleta Casino and Resort this year, where he will be joined by Al Hurricane Jr. The Hurricanes' New Year's Eve shows are known for their high energy and a blast of the pair's hits.
Al Hurricane is one of the greats of New Mexico music, which is a combination of older Spanish songs done with a revved-up rock 'n' roll style. Over the last 40 years Hurricane Sr. has recorded 30 records. Hurricane Jr. has carried on the family tradition with a style that's similar to his father's.
The pair will perform beginning at 9 p.m. at Isleta Casino and Resort, 11000 Broadway SE. Tickets are $44.50 through www. isletaeagle.com or by calling 244-8191.
The Pink Flamingos
The Pink Flamingos will ring in the new year at the Sandia Resort & Casino with a high-energy, all-night dance party.
The Pink Flamingos are an internationally known music and performance troupe who perform party songs and theatrical shows. This year, Lisa de Wolf of the Flamingos said, the show will feature a short dinner performance featuring giant Pink Flamingos puppets and a dance party.
"It's a very spontaneous performance," de Wolf said. "We never predetermine what we're going to do. Our goal is to keep everybody involved all night and raise the energy level in the room."
The Pink Flamingos will perform beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $95 and include dinner and the show. Hotel specials are also available. Visit www.sandiacasino . com or call 877-272-9199.
Downtown Albuquerque
In Downtown Albuquerque, several clubs will be holding their own special New Year's Eve parties. The Atomic Cantina, 315 Gold SW, will host a New Year's Eve Atomic Bass Takeover. The free night of heavy drum and bass music, provided by local DJs, will kick off at 9 p.m. Visit www.atomiccantina.com for more.
Next door, at Burt's Tiki Lounge, 313 Gold SW, the weekly Universal dance party will be kicked up a notch for New Year's Eve. The weekly dance party, which starts at 9 p.m., plays 1960s British rock, 1980s dance pop and more. Free. Visit www.burtstikilounge.com for more.
Lotus Nightclub and VIP Ultralounge, at 211 Gold SW, will host a New Year's Eve 2010 blowout. The Black and White Ball will feature some of the hottest dance music all night, with special champagne bottle service available, starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.
