Music Forecast 12.25-12.31: Mac Lethal, the Phantastics, Radkey, Split Lip Rayfield, and more

Mac Lethal’s Christmas Extravaganza
This year was tremendous for rapper Mac Lethal. In July, he performed his speed-rap tongue twister “Alphabet Insanity” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He’s also working with FX on a TV show based on his book, Texts From Bennett. And he’s recording a new album, Congratulations, which has yet to be given a release date — though a few fresh music videos have dropped. You’ll have the chance to hear some of those new tunes Thursday during Mac’s third annual Christmas Extravaganza at the Riot Room. As always, he’s inviting some special guests to help him spread the holiday cheer.

Thursday, December 25, the Riot Room (4048 Broadway, 816-442-8179)

Radkey, Bummer, Drop a Grand, Mace Batons, Scruffy and the Janitors
RecordBar’s New Year’s Eve lineup foreshadows bad decisions and a fuzzy January 1. Punk-rock trio Radkey rings in the new year at the venue as it did last December. If memory serves, you’ll definitely want tickets to this party. Another young, suburban-born trio, Bummer, delivers its brass-knuckle rock. (These guys recently signed to local label High Dive Records, so keep an ear out for their 2015 full-length.) Drop a Grand, Mace Batons, and Scruffy and the Janitors also are on deck, each prepared to knock you loose and get you liquored up in time for the ball drop.

Wednesday, December 31, RecordBar (1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207)

Split Lip Rayfield
Leave it to Wichita bluegrass badasses Split Lip Rayfield to offer a low-key and raucous New Year’s Eve option. Expect the lauded trio to fill the Bottleneck with enough fast-paced picking to be worthy of a true hoedown. Few things compare with the sight of Jeff Eaton playing his homemade bass as banjo player Eric Mardis and mandolin player Wayne Gottstine conjure a hurricane of wailing strings and stomping rhythms. Forget the swanky suit and the elegant dress. You’ll want boots and denim for the dancing that this band will coax out of you.

Wednesday, December 31, the Bottleneck (737 New Hampshire, Lawrence, 785-841-5483)

The Phantastics
If you’re trying to decide between a fancy black-tie New Year’s Eve and a less formal, more dance-friendly Wednesday night, look no further than the Jazzhaus in Lawrence. The Phantastics, an eight-piece hip-hop and funk ensemble led by rapper thePhantom* and singer Leigh Gibbs, makes that venue its own. ThePhantom* — also known as “the Dapper Rapper” — is likely to be rocking a bow tie, so pick out your best neckwear, coordinate your socks and prepare to get down.

Wednesday, December 31, Jazzhaus (926-1/2 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-749-3320)