It’s time to raise a glass to "Auld Lang Syne" while making some new acquaintances as you ring in a new year with the best live music in town.

Nearly every door with a bar and a liquor license in Houston has something to sip, pop or make noise with in celebration of 2010 and to send 2009 out in style. For those with a little extra spending money (yeah, yeah, I spent all mine on Christmas, too) looking to make the first seconds of 2010 moments to remember forever, may I suggest these shows:

Cross Canadian Ragweed at House of Blues

It’s not very often that a new sub-genre of music pops up that I feel is clever (or even necessary), but the “American red dirt” music revolution is a perfect description of the brand of alt-country popping up around Oklahoma and North Texas. No one exemplifies the spirit of that scene like Yukon, Okla.’s Cross Canadian Ragweed.

It’s appropriate that the band’s acronym is CCR. Just like Creedence Clearwater Revival, this new CCR is a college mainstay that has started a slow infiltration into the country charts with hits like “Fightin’ For” and “Kick in the Head.”

New album “Happiness and All the Other Things” is not only the band’s latest American red dirt masterpiece, it’s a commemoration of the group’s 15 years together.

Tickets $55-$150

Eli Young Band at Verizon Wireless Theater

The Eli Young Band hosts the unofficial “Texas New Year’s Eve Celebration” and all of Houston is invited.

Guitarist James Young and vocalist Mike Eli originated the Denton-based band as an acoustic group while students at the University of North Texas. After getting road-savvy by opening for Lone Star guitar heroes like Robert Earl Keen and Jack Ingram, the Eli Young Band broke out in 2008 with the album, “Jet Black & Jealous.”

Anchored by the hits “When It Rains” and “Always the Love Songs,” the group is continuing the Texas country music tradition in fine style.

Tickets $23.50-$97.50

Flowers To Hide/If The War Should End at The Mink

Two Houston favorites, Flowers to Hide and If The War Should End, invite all ages to come rock and dance into 2010 with a mix of psychedelic pop and modern rock.

The beats won’t stop until the calendar changes with the help of DJ sets by The Watermarks. Kasey from Kakes By Klassik will round out the evening by offering her distinctive brand of "KupKakes," sweet treats to help you get in one last sugar rush before your New Year's resolution kicks in.

There is no better way to start a new year than with cutting edge new music and tasty confections.

Tickets $10 (also a $12 champagne toast option for those age 21+)