TODAY
The Crow Flies -- a veteran Pittsburgh band that mixes heavy riffs with a little twang -- hits the stage as The Crow Flies Trio (Evan Knauer, Mark Miller, Sam Matthews). Missing, of course, is Matt Marcus. But there are plenty of guests, like Karl Hendricks, Becky & Sara (featuring Becky Corrigan of Local Honey and Sara Radelet of Peevo), Ritual Space Travel Agency with Jesse Prentiss and Erin & Evan. The show is at 10:30 p.m. at Club Cafe. Call 412-431-4950.

Earlier in the evening, at 7 p.m., Club Cafe welcomes avant-rockers The Capgun Quartet with poets Romella D. Kitchens and Michael Wurster. Cover is $5.

FRIDAY
It was such a hit the first time, Christine Laitta reprises her Evening of Favorite TV Theme Songs at the Cabaret at Theater Square at 9:30 p.m. If you go, you're going to want to sing along, so brush up on your TV themes in the next two days. Tickets are $8 advance; $10 at the door. Call 412-456-6666.

Like Paul McCartney, only blonder, Greg Hoy handled all the instruments on "Tastemakers & Heartbreakers," a new release that kicks off with the most infectious put-down of the Bush administration since that Kanye West speech earlier this year. But he can't do that live (he's no Frankie Capri), so when he hits the 31st Street Pub at 10 p.m., he'll be joined by a stage full of ringers he used to play with when he lived in Pittsburgh. Should be fun, and maybe next time, we'll be treated to his new all-female backing band, the Boys.

Phat Man Dee, Soma Mestizo, BirdmanDancing and others gather at the Rex Theatre for Denny Fest 12-'05, a benefit where all proceeds go to helping sound man Denny Strauser pay for eye surgery. The cover is $10, but any donation will be appreciated. It begins at 9 p.m.

The New Year's Eve Hot List
Last year, Rusted Root played a big New Year's Eve block party, starting a new tradition at Station Square.

Tick Tock Rock returns this New Year's Eve with headliner Bret Michaels. Most people know the Butler native as the frontman for Poison ("Every Rose Has its Thorn"), but they might not know that more recently he's ventured into the country market with a third solo album, "Freedom of Sound," that pushed a single called "All I Ever Needed" onto the Country Singles Chart.

Opening will be indie-pop artist Eric Himan and Missing Pages, winners of Station Square's Rock Off 2005.

It begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free. One dollar from every car parked at Station Square and a percentage of beer sales will go to support the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. For details, go to www.ticktockrock.com.

For a New Year's Eve with a bit more punk attitude, the Dirty Faces headline a multi-band bill at Artists Image Resource at 518 Foreland St., the North Side, with Air Guitar magazine, self-described as "Mariachi/Prog/Noise/Polka Death Squad," plus Harangue, Brown Angel, Whitetail and others. It begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $7; $5 (if you are not drinking or BYOB). Call 412-321-8664.

Just how popular are The Clarks in Pittsburgh? The band is finishing a four-night stand at Mr. Small's in Millvale with Jean-Marc & Kevin from Grapevine and Bill Deasy. It begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. Call 1-800-594-8499.

You can have a hardcore holiday at the Mr. Roboto Project in Wilkinsburg with I Accuse, XBRAINIAX, Warzone Womyn, Build Your Weapons. It begins at 7 p.m. www.therobotoproject.org.

David Tauberg, who's played bass and mandolin with the Powers Run Band, Deanna Dawn Denning, Dave Iglar, The Bridge and others, celebrates New Year's Eve and his 50th birthday with The Cause, a Grateful Dead jam band with former members of Left for Dead and Fungus. The show is at The Birmingham Bridge Tavern, 29th and Sarah St., South Side at 10 p.m.

Sandy Staley, one of the city's premier jazz singers, slides into the Rhythm House Cafe with the Max Leake Trio to party with The Pittsburgh Jazz Society. The $50 tickets buys dinner, open bar from 8 p.m. to midnight and admission to all three bars. Call 412-221-5010.

Instead of the traditional champagne toast, The Church Brew Works will celebrate with its Millennium Trippel Ale, a balloon drop and music by The Avery Brothers. It starts at 10 p.m. There is no cover. For dinner reservations, call 412-688-8200.

Here are some other choices:

Carnegie, 412-276-6600. The Mark Pipas Band 9:30 p.m.

CLUB CAFE South Side. 412-431-4950. New Year's Eve Funk-a-thon with the Boogie Hustlers, 9 p.m. $15.

MAGOO'S McCandless, 412-635-2300. Cloud 9, 10 p.m.

MOONDOG'S Blawnox, 412-828-2040. Norm Year's Eve with Norman Nardini, Mark Stutso 8 p.m.

REX THEATRE South Side. 412-381-6811. Josh Clary and Boderless Puzzle, Jazzam 9 p.m.

ROYAL PLACE Castle Shannon, 412-882-8000. Mark Zucco 9:30 p.m.

ST. ELIAS SOCIAL HALL Munhall, 412-461-5847. Tom Watt, dinner, drinks, champagne toast $55.

31ST STREET PUB Strip. 412-391-8334. The Cheats, Kabuki Thunder, Hellbound Honkeys, 10 p.m.

Monroeville, 412-372-4337. Rich Kacin & the Blues Sector Band 9 p.m.

MCDAIN'S Trafford, 412-373-3335. Mystic Knights 9 p.m.

412-642-2377. Old School Band with Flo Wilson 9 p.m.

STONE MANSION INN Wexford, 724-934-3000. Trudy Holler 9 p.m.

Penn Hills, 412-244-1600. Liz Calfo & Total Recall 9 p.m., party starts at 7 p.m.

LIVING ROOM ... AGAIN Norman Center, 19 South, 412-835-9772. Chuck Corby & Quiet Storm 9 p.m.

Canonsburg, 724-746-2250. Ruff Creek 9 p.m.

Irwin, 724-864-3222. The Flow Band 9 p.m.

Waterfront, Homestead, 412-462-5233. Tommy Davidson, 7:30 p.m. Dinner show, $65; show and champagne, $45; 10 p.m. New Year's Eve Countdown with champagne, appetizer and show, $65.

Green Gables Restaurant, Jennerstown, 1-814-629-9201. Candle in the Wind band, dinner, champagne, $75, 7 p.m.

SINGLES Holiday Inn Ballroom, Green Tree, 412-572-5259. Sophisticated Singles dance with hot & cold appetizers, pizza, hats and horns, $20, no reservations needed, 8 p.m.

HOMEWOOD COLISEUM Homewood. 412-401-7912. Mighty Man Productions Presents The Biggest New Year's Eve Cabaret Eve, 8 p.m.

First Published: December 29, 2005, 5:00 a.m.