New Year’s isn’t just about the passing of another year of wasted potential. Heck no! It’s about making resolutions you’ll never keep. So I ditched the whole “quit smoking” thing in favor of some some new and rarely-visited Beijing music venues. See if you can hit all four in 2012.

13 Club

Believe it or not, before the rise of Gulou, Wudaokou used to be the home land of punk and hard rock—and 13 Club was its capital. These days, 13 remains the city’s primary haven for metal, but don’t let the vampire-like Europeans loitering out front deter you. 13 is worth checking out for its cheap drinks, decent sound system and—honest to God—the nicest bathrooms of any music spot in Beijing. If you aren’t into headbanging, wait for an off night when a folk band is playing, and spend the evening playing foosball.

Drink of choice: Cheap shots

Expert Tip: Find this boozy venue next to D-22 (RIP)

Tiny Salt Club

Specializing in folk rock, this hidden gem boasts a cozy, rustic interior that defies its coarsely commercial setting. With a mezzanine and a low stage, the compact café/bar is decked out with portraits of famous musicians and CDs. Though Tiny Salt recently changed hands, it continues to host punk and folk most days, along with well-attended crosstalk performances.

Drink of choice: A classy Erdinger

Expert Tip: Check out their schedule at weibo.com/weibozhiyan shangdu before going

Raying Temple

Located in the wilds of Tongzhou, hippie house/performance space Raying is the home of the NoJiji collective, known for wild noise shows, DIY label and destroying sound equipment. This place takes dedication to get to, but once you’re there it’s like being transported. Sit on a cloth-covered couch and take in the homemade art which festoons brightly painted walls, or take a breather on the balcony overlooking the fish-farm pond. Then step back inside and watch some band destroying their instruments as the 3-D bespectacled crowd throws poppers at them.

Drink of choice: Cheap beer

Expert Tip: Go with three or four friends so you can share a car back into the city

Temple

Temple may just be my favorite new venue. Hidden away in a courtyard near the Drum Tower, this unmarked second-floor bar is the perfect mix of hangout and show space, with couches and tables hemming in a low, intimate stage. Part-owned by one of the guys from Long Shen Dao, Temple hosts a variety of acts, ranging from gypsy jazz to reggae and punk. Even on off-nights, the bar is a fun, cozy dive, with plenty of beer on tap.

Drink of choice: the Super Mario

Expert Tip: See the unmarked glass doors? The door to Temple is inside on the right