For rock fans, the most exciting show in town is probably the Raconteurs at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine. In 2004, Jack White's other band memorably rang out the year at the Aragon Ballroom with the Flaming Lips. His side-project collaboration with Detroit power-pop favorite Brendan Benson and the rhythm section of Cincinnati's garage-rockin' Greenhornes is even more tuneful and high-energy than the White Stripes -- or at least it's better suited to a party. The Features open at 10 p.m., and tickets are $80. Call (312) 559-1212. (The same bill plays the Riv at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, but that show is sold out.)

My other top pick is an inspired Chicago-centric pop-punk tag team at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. In a bill sure to make many nostalgic for the Fireside Bowl circa 1997, the reactivated Smoking Popes, who are gearing up to record a new album in 2007 (and are providing samples of the new tunes online at www.myspace.com/smokingpopes) will share the stage with their old pals the Alkaline Trio, who recently left Vagrant to sign to V2 Records. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $66. Call (773) 549-4140.

The main room offering at the House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, is an odd one, bringing Canadian roots-rockers the Tragically Hip together with Orthodox Jewish rapper and jam-band favorite Matisyahu starting at 9 p.m., and at $145 per ticket, it's pretty pricey, too. But plenty of rock fans raved about "Boys and Girls in America," the 2006 album from emo-punk Springsteen fans the Hold Steady, and the Brooklyn band will perform on the club's smaller backporch stage starting at 10 p.m., for the more reasonable price of $45. Call (312) 923-2000 for more information about either show.

Speaking of jam bands, local favorites Umphrey's McGee are spending New Year's Eve at the Aragon, 1106 W. Lawrence, with openers Taj Mahal and the International Rhythm Band starting at 7 p.m. (tickets, $65; call 312-559-1212), capping a three-night stand that starts tonight (the North Mississippi Allstars open at 6 p.m.) and continues Saturday (Los Lobos opens at 7 p.m., and tickets Friday and Saturday are $32.50). But if that's not quite your pot o' patchouli, Chicago's ever-groovy Poi Dog Pondering perform at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield, starting at 9:30 p.m. Sunday; tickets are $40 in advance through Ticketmaster (312-559-1212) or $45 the day of show at the box office. Call (773) 472-0449.

For its 10th year, the New Year's Eve Rock 'n' Roll Ball has moved from Navy Pier to the Sheraton Hotel, 301 E. North Water Street. This year's performers: Collective Soul and Chicago hard-rocker band the Lovehammers, aka the group fronted by Marty Casey from the reality show "Rock Star." Tickets are $85 through Ticketmaster.

Of the area's other coolest rock clubs, the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace, features singer-songwriter Josh Kelley plus Chicago rockers Strain Busy Sky and Todd Carey and Matthew Santos starting at 8 p.m. (tickets, $48, or $80 with admission to the hosted-bar VIP section; call 773-478-4408), while HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo, is hosting a night of Latin and African dance with a masquerade carnivaland a burlesque show with Yves Francois et Rocambu Jazz. The fun starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $75 in advance or $90 the day of the show. Call (312) 362-9707.

Equally funky will be the sounds at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, as Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and openers the Budos Band take the stage at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30. Call (773) 929-5959.

Always one of the most raucous parties in town, the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, starts its festivities at 9:30 p.m. and presents a lineup including Girl Talk, Lando Mondo Versus Waterbabies (a supergroup with members of Mahjongg and Waterbabies) and White Savage. Tickets are $25. Call (773) 276-3600.

Out in Berwyn, FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt, hosts slide guitar master Sonny Landreth, the rootsy soul of the Pat McLaughlin Band and opening act Patrick Sweany starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40. Call (708) 788-2118. And back in Chicago at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln, Tributosaurus, the city's best cover band, becomes Sly and the Family Stone after openers the Big Three get things rolling at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30. (Tributosaurus also performs its Sly set at 10 p.m. Saturday with a $20 cover.) Call (773) 404-9494.

At Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, Chicago's Beatles-inspired garage-rockers the Redwalls perform after an opening set by Catfish Haven at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call (773) 525-2508. At Subterranean, 2011 W. North, Th' Legendary Shack Shakers and Scott H. Biram stir things up starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $70. Call (773) 278-6600.

The powerhouse blues singer and adopted Chicago favorite Shemekia Copeland takes the stage at Buddy Guy's Legends, 754 S. Wabash (the cover is $30 and the show starts at 9:30 p.m.; call 312-427-0333); genuine Chicago blues greats Magic Slim and the Teardrops perform at Kingston Mines, 2548 N Halsted, after opener Joanna Conner (tickets, $25; call 773-477-4646), and the Beat Kitchen, 2100 W Belmont, presents forward-looking Chicago metalheads Russian Circles along with Maps & Atlases and Teith starting at 10 p.m. for the most reasonable cover of $12. Call (773) 281-4444.

Meanwhile, if you're like me and you're mulling staying home and watching 2007 arrive on TV, the traditional "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" broadcast at 9 and 10:35 p.m. on WLS-Channel 7 is pretty dire, with performers including Rihanna, Ludacris, KT Tunstall, Christina Aguilera, Rascal Flatts, Fergie and Meat Loaf, but "MTV Goes Gold: New Year's Eve 2007" at 10 p.m. is slightly more promising with a lineup that includes Chicago pop-punk stars Fall Out Boy as well as Gwen Stefani, Nas, the Pussycat Dolls, Ciara, AFI, Chamillionaire, Lady Sovereign and Three 6 Mafia.