[The Record Crate] Another great year for music in Baton Rouge

The Record Crate will be taking a well-needed vacation until the new year, when we will return with our picks for the top 10 albums of 2008 -- you never know when one might sneak in at the last second. 2008 was a fabulous year for music, but then I am in agreement with the late BBC announcer John Peel, who when asked the best year of music would always respond with a resounding “This one!” It is great that we have the whole history of music available to us at the click of a mouse, but to really feel it, you have to see it live, to hear it as its being made. Thanks for another great year, Baton Rouge. I’ll expect an even better one next year.

In the final run down, here are some shows to catch:

With two accordions, seven languages and every possible kind of drunken revelry in their repertoire, The Zydepunks are proving to be the most potent sonic cocktail this part of the country has to offer. They will be backed up by the one-man blues dynamo Scott H. Biram at the Spanish Moon on Friday, Dec. 19.

Garage a Trois, the mind altering quartet of percussionist Mike Dillon, drummer Stanton Moore, saxophonist Skerik and master of the keyboards Marco Benevento will bring their downtown-NYC-meets-Frenchman-Street jazz funk rock supernova to the Chelsea’s stage on Saturday, Dec. 20. Do not attempt to operate heavy machinery after witnessing Garage a Trois.

Reception Is Suspected return from whatever backchannel wavelength they have been hiding on, promising a whole new set-up. I am picturing Tesla coils and possibly a Van der Graaf generator added into their assortment of electronics, but one will have to trot out to the Red Star on Christmas night to find out for sure.

Wednesday, Dec. 17

Mike Foster Project at Chelsea’s

A Band Named Sue at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s

Thursday, Dec. 18

Kristin Diable at Chelsea’s

An Empire at Sea and Panthalassa at North Gate Tavern

Sweet Root at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s

Friday, Dec. 19

Scott H. Biram & The Zydepunks at Spanish Moon

The Myrtles at Chelsea’s

Long Neck Society at The Varsity

Starscream’s Revenge, No Fuego, and justinbailey at North Gate Tavern

The Instagators at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s

Saturday, Dec. 20

Fleur de Tease Holiday Show and Hollywood Blues at Spanish Moon

Garage a Trois at Chelsea’s

Supervillain at North Gate Tavern

Bryan Lee at Teddy’s Juke Joint

Sunday, Dec. 21

Big Al & The Heavyweights at Teddy’s Juke Joint

Wednesday, Dec. 24

Mike Foster Project at Chelsea’s

Thursday, Dec. 25

Reception Is Suspected at Red Star

Friday, Dec. 26

Rebirth Brass Band at Chelsea’s

Meriwether at The Varsity

Saturday, Dec. 27

Eddie Bo at Chelsea’s

Tuesday, Dec. 30

BeauSoleil avec Micheal Doucet at the Manship Theatre

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Colour Revolt at Spanish Moon

Eric Lindell at Chelsea’s

Friday, Jan. 2

Ashes of Babylon at Chelsea’s

Mike Foster Project at The Varsity

Saturday, Jan. 3

A Band Named Sue at Chelsea’s