Mathematicians, Parwana, Bible Study

Looking to celebrate the start of the new year geek-style? Well, Saratoga Springs’ King’s Tavern is putting on the geekiest of New Year’s Eve shows featuring the adding- subtracting rock machine known as the Mathematicians. These three nerds have given us reason to believe that people who are good at math actually do know how to use the right sides of their brains.

Special guests for this show are six-member rock outfit Parwana, art-rock trio Bible Study, and the Vertical Agents.

The big New Year’s Eve bash at King’s Tavern (241 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs) will take place—you guessed it—tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 31) at 9 PM. This 21-and-over show costs $10 to get in, and of course, the good people behind the bar will provide you all with a free champagne toast at midnight. For more information, call the club at 581-7090.

Berkshire Bach Ensemble

Vienna has its symphony and a festive concert of waltzes; Sheffield, Mass., and Troy have Bach for New Year’s. And the venerable tradition of a New Year’s concert with the Berkshire Bach Ensemble continues. Kenneth Cooper will conduct the group—from the harpsichord—in J.S. Bach’s four orchestral suites.

No word what order they’re in, the order they’re numbered or the order they’re supposed to have been written in. (It matters to some folks.)

If you want to get your Bach on before you get your party on, the BBE will perform tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 31) at 6 PM at the Consolati Center for the Performing Arts, Sheffield, Mass. If you want to enjoy your party before your Bach, the BBE will perform Saturday (Jan. 1) at 3 PM at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (Second and State streets, Troy). Admission is $30, $20 for Berkshire Bach Society members. For tickets to the Sheffield show, call (413) 528-9277. For Troy tickets, call the Music Hall at 273-0038.

First Nights: Albany and Saratoga

Let’s get ready to rumble! The battle of the First Nights is back. Upstart Saratoga Springs again takes on First Night veteran Albany to see who can attract more holiday crowds to their family-friendly, nonalcoholic events. While Albany has put up some ringers side-by-side with old favorites, Saratoga is going with a solid lineup of local stalwarts.

Here are a few of the performers on the card at Saratoga’s First Night: Hair of the Dog, the McKrells, Sonny and Perley, the Joey Thomas Big Band, Sensemaya, Ernie Williams and the Chinese Music Concert. For nonmusic events, there’s Michael Carlito’s interactive fun for kids, the [Insert Something Funny] Players and David Pitkin’s Ghost Stories of Saratoga.

First Night Albany will counterpunch with legendary Irish musician Tommy Makem (pictured), the Makem Brothers and Aoife Clancy at the Palace Theatre. Plus: Beatles tribute band the Brits, Musicians of Ma’alwyck, the Mendelssohn Club of Albany, the Incredible Larry, Gelvis and Horse in a Box.

First Night Saratoga opens at 5:30 PM with a ceremony in the Broadway parking lot between Professor Moriarty’s and Lillian’s. Events continue through 11:40 PM, when there will be fireworks. Admission buttons are $12, and there’s no fee for kids 5 and under. Buttons can be purchased at Price Chopper and other Saratoga locations. For more info, call 584-8262. First Night Albany opens at 2 PM with assorted new kids’ activities. Events for adults really kick off at 6 PM, and continue through 11:45 PM, followed by fireworks at midnight. Admission prices are identical to Saratoga’s: free for kids 5 and under, $12 for everyone else. For more info, call 434-2032 or visit www.albanyevents.org.