Riding Out the Preapocalypse - The 2012 Halloween Show Roundup

By Sasha Geffen

This is it, kids. This is the last time you'll get to drink in costume before ancient dead Mayans suck the world into an unknowable void. Better break out your freakiest faces; better shell out for those blackout contact lenses, those gore prosthetics you've always been too timid and poor to don. Better push past the urge to dress in prepackaged cliches and cheap political jokes against presidents who will never get the chance to be sworn in. Better costume yourself in a fitting tribute to the end of days, 'cause this is your very last shot. 

Better stomp out into the streets, your faces twisted up so far that even your friends think you're the first of the inevitable Infected to turn. Better duck into bars and watch bands thrash out tributes to their favorite songs. Better love it while you can.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26

Township (2200 N. California): It starts tonight. Logan Square's Township will host part one of their newer-minted Halloween Party as local bands celebrate the best and most biting sounds of the '90s. Noise rockers Rodeo will take a stab outside their genre as they perform the songs of the Beastie Boys, while garage pop outfit Warsaw Vices gear up to spin vintage emo as the Get Up Kids. Nerd rock ensemble We Love You aim true to their roots, transforming into We Love to Spill for a set of Built to Spill's best, while their guitarist/vocalist Spencer Heck will do his best one-man rendition of Guided By Voices. 9pm, $7, 21 and over. Tickets here.

The Abbey (3420 W. Grace): Meanwhile, the Abbey returns for their annual Halloween bash. On night one, Pinto and the Bean will honor everyone's favorite garage rock duo of the 2000s as they hammer out White Stripes tunes. Lying Delilah will tune down the distortion for a soulful take on Fiona Apple, while acoustic midwestern vets Stellar Road will perform a surprise Dave Matthews Band record in its entirety. Doors 8pm, show 9pm, $14, 21 and over. Tickets here.

The Great Pumpkin cometh - 2011 Chicago Halloween show roundup

By Sasha Geffen

The veil is thinning again. Basic cable has steadied its classic horror assault and everything tastes vaguely of cinnamon and fear. Benevolent anthropomorphic pumpkins will undoubtedly fail to appear yet again no matter how carefully you tend to your patches and Chicago's venues are once again loaded with rollicking costume parties. We've got all sorts of doomy celebrations to look forward to, from local outfits dressing up as their favorite bands to international indie-metal stars stopping by to terrorize your eardrums. Be sure to stimulate your horror receptors with at least one of these Halloween festivities. 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

darkroom (2210 W. Chicago): Unicycle Loves You will light up Ukrainian Village's darkroom with their bombastic psych pop, possibly even playing a few new tracks from their upcoming LP, which will drop this Valentine's Day. The Wheelers and The Melismatics will also make appearances and Jack Armondo of My Gold Mask will be DJing. Tickets are only $7 if you come in costume so be sure to break out that zombie makeup and/or robot mask. 8pm, $7 advance or at door in costume, $10 at door uncostumed, 21 and over. More info and tickets here.

The Vic Theatre (3145 N. Sheffield): If you like your Halloweekend heavy and smeared with the primal goo of the Dark Lord, the Vic has you covered on Friday. Legendary Scandinavian metal outfit Opeth will be swinging by these parts. Fellow Swedish dark rockers Katatonia will open. 7:30pm, $28.50 in advance, all ages. Details and tickets here. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

Elbo Room (2871 N. Lincoln): A whole slew of bands will be playing dress-up at Elbo Room's Halloween Extravaganza. Swing by to hear a ton of classics covered. We'll get Pine Cone Alley as Weezer, The Plastic Boots as The Who, Bullet Called Life as Sly and the Family Stone, Model Stranger as Nirvana, Lucid Ground as Tom Petty, and The Hot Sauce Committee doing double duty as both the Beastie Boys AND Limp Bizkit. Everyone will be in full costume so it's probably just going to be awkward if you show up plainclothed. 8pm, $10, 21 and over. RSVP here, tickets here.

This day anything goes: Halloween show roundup 2010

Posted by Sasha

I dig Halloween a lot. I always feel like dressing up like an idiot and it is the one day I get to without being judged. I wanted to be Danzig this year and then I realized I was five foot two and a hundred pounds and also a girl. And I feel that if I tried it ironically, Glenn himself would rise up from the netherworld and destroy me with disdain. So that won't work out so well for me. Maybe it will for you.

If you feel like bringing your costume-clad self to a show this year, worry not, for there's plenty of opportunity to flaunt your dress-up skillz. Here are some of the Samhain celebrations we're most excited about.

Halloween weekend show roundup

Chicago music fans have no excuse to stay at home this Halloween. Not only does the holiday fall on a weekend this year, but the Windy City is once again offering up plenty of excellent shows to check out. Below is a roundup of promising selections for both Friday and Saturday night to help make sure your Halloween rocks. If you're heading to a show not listed, be sure to leave a comment with the details.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30

Double Door (1572 N. Milwaukee)
In keeping with its annual tradition, the Wicker Park club will serve up another batch of Chicago-based acts performing as other bands. On the roster this year are Black Angus as Black Sabbath, The Midnight Shows as Huey Lewis and the News, Catfish Haven as Nirvana, Viceroy as Cheap Trick, Blackbox as Snoop Dogg and Hobo and the Boxcar as the White Stripes.

Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., $12. More info and tickets.

Abbey Pub (3420 W. Grace)
While the Double Door has only one night of Halloween extravaganza this year, the Abbey Pub will offer two, kicking off Friday night with six bands masquerading as some excellent acts. The lineup: Penthouse Sweets as The Sex Pistols, Pleezer as Weezer, Broken China as the Bangles, Phil Angotti as Squeeze, Chris Dorf and friends as R.E.M. and Benge & Short as Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe.

Doors 8 p.m., show 8:45 p.m., $10 advance, $12 at door, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

Carmichael's Warehouse (1052 W. Monroe)
No, this isn't a new music venue. It's a 9,000 square foot warehouse in the West Loop that will hold XPLO Massacre, a Halloween art and music festival featuring 10 Chicago bands and 100 visual artists. The bands include Midstates & the Choir of Ghosts as Pulp, Darling as ELO, Word and Number as Aphex Twin, Panda Riot as Helium, The Nothingheads as Beck, The Clams as Black Sabbath, Flame Shark as The Band, Bogdog as Pink Floyd, Aviary Ghost as Tom Waits, and Abbot Smile as The Clash.

7 p.m., $10, 21 and over. More info.

Subterranean (2011 North Ave.)
A benefit show with all proceeds going to The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, who recently suffered serious injuries and damages in a van accident on the way to an out of state gig (click here for details). The lineup includes BBU, New Duncan Imperials, Canasta, and Kevin Flynn and the Avondale Ramblers.

Doors 8 p.m., show 8:30 p.m., $10, 17 and over. More info and tickets.

Metro (3730 N. Clark)
This year, Metro will also join in the "bands playing other bands" fun with their 1st annual Halloween tribute show featuring Love Me Electric as Blink 182, Color Radio as Radiohead and Plunket as Limp Bizkit.

Doors 5:30 p.m., show 6 p.m.. $10, all ages. More info and tickets.

The Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western Ave.)
The Ponys will headline the club's Halloween night "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah," with France Has The Bomb, A/V Murder and The Get Drunk DJs also playing.

10 p.m., $12. More info and tickets.

Bottom Lounge (1375 W. Lake)
Psych-rock pioneer Roky Erickson will headline, with Land of Lincoln and The Great Society Mind Destroyers opening.

8 p.m., $20, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Abbey Pub (3420 W. Grace)
The second night of the Abbey's Halloween bash will feature the Shaking Hand as AC/DC, Tomorrow the Moon as Psychedelic Furs, Androgynous Mustache as the J. Geils Band, the Delafields as the B-52s, the Webstirs as Fleetwood Mac and Tiny Speakers as the Everly Brothers.

Doors 8 p.m., show 8:45 p.m., $10 advance, $12 at door, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln)
If you haven't yet had the chance to check out Chicago's newest rock club, you might want to catch the venue's first Halloween show featuring Detholz!, with Bobby Conn and Loto Ball Show opening.

9 p.m., $10, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

Quenchers (2401 N. Western Ave.)
Three Chicago-based bands are on tap, including Knife of Simpson, mbconn (who, according to Twitter pal @rarestock, will play a set of scary movie themes) and The World In Heat.

9 p.m., $5 donation, 21 and over. More info.

Shows to see on Halloween

No plans for Halloween night? Go see a show. It falls on a Friday this year, and there's plenty going on around Chicago, so you have no excuse to stay in. Here are some options for rocking out like a monster on October 31:

Empty Bottle:

The 9th annual "Jukebox of the Dead" Halloween Party featuring:

- Detholz! - New waveish stuff influenced by the likes of Devo and Talking Heads.

- Aleks & the Drummer - Aleks Andra Tomaszewska delivers surf farfisa and icy vocals over Deric Criss's pulsing drums to create something that sounds kind of like slightly spooky, out of control video game music.

- The Hood Internet - Chicago's always fun indie mash-up kings.

(10 p.m., $12 advance, $15. More info and tickets)

Abbey Pub:

"Halloweekend 2008"

A night of true festive imitation done rock 'n' roll style, featuring Dead Electric as AC/DC, The Bon Mots as Heart, Fringe Benefits as The Cars, Phil Angotti as The Who, Nick Tremulis as The New York Dolls, John Aselin as Tommy James and the Shondells and Avalanche Rescue Team as The Smiths. Whew.

There's also a show on Friday, October 30, with different bands as different bands. See here for details.

(8 p.m., $8. More info and tickets)

The Vic:

Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band with All Smiles.

(7:30 p.m., $24. More info and tickets)

Hideout:

"Halloween Gets Heavy at the Hideout"

For the metalheads and those who want to be metalheads for Halloween, the Hideout will fulfill your gritty desires with Indian and Rabid Rabbit.

(10 p.m., $8. More info and tickets)

Bottom Lounge:

The King Khan & BBQ Show, The Goblins, CoCoCOMA and Women.

(8 p.m., $12 advance, $15. More info and tickets)