Tonight, while the usuals will be counting down with their commercial-filled extravaganzas of excess and nil, Austin City Limits will light up our TVs brighter than Times Square with a special 90-minute concert by Coldplay starting at 11pm (Pacific Time) on PBS (you can also stream the concert via www.pbs.org).  The band will perform a cache of songs off their new album, Mylo Xyloto, along with live favorites from their back catalogue.  We can’t think of a better band to lively-up New Year’s Eve.  So check it live or set your DVRs.

And then afterwards (at 12:30 Pacific), Austin City Limits will re-broadcast a 60-minute concert of Tom Waits filmed in 1979 (circa Blue Valentine and Heartattack and Vine.   You can check out previews of both shows below. Don’t miss it.

Coldplay:

Watch Behind the Scenes: Coldplay on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

Tom Waits:

Watch Tom Waits – Preview on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.