“Eleven moustachioed daughters, running in a field of fat/ The moon is high, the mandrake screams/ Please come to our Sabbat/ The changeling children shiver, round the fire their mothers dance/ With strangely painted faces/ That smile but never laugh./ The crow-pecked gibbet’s victim swings broken in his cage/ His hands cut down to make a crown/ To wear as our homage/ Round & round the magic ring soft figures fastly rush/ And wolf-like things & toads with wings whisper wetly/ ‘Come with us’.” —“Eleven Moustachioed Daughters” by Vivian Stanshall.As Halloween songs go, that one’s pretty scary, eh kids? It’s a good scare though, I promise. Similarly, this week’s Samhain-centered shows are guaranteed to freak you out. So grab whatever vehicle or implement you use to access the occult and follow on, dearies.
Show Up!: Thursday
GWAR brings their “30 Years of Total World Domination Tour” to Sunshine Theater (120 Central SW) on Thursday, Oct. 29. This mad collective of artists and musicians use brutally envisioned costumes, faux bodily fluids and insanely heavy metallic music to rouse spirits and destroy the normalcy of “This Toilet Earth.” Even without Oderus Urungus or Vulvatron, the band—led by Blothar and Balsac the Jaws of Death—rock like hell. Vale of Miscreation and Battlecross open the gates to hell that night. Tickets cost $19; this 13+ evening of mayhem and metal begins at 8pm.
Show Up!: Friday
The dark narrative underlying Halloween finds exquisite expression in doom rock. You can grok this eldritch tendency at Launchpad (618 Central SW) Friday, Oct. 30. Spirit Caravan headlines. Their oeuvre includes abysmal classics like “Kill Ugly Naked”, “No Hope Goat Farm” and “Dove-Tongued Aggressor.” Local minions of Cthulhu, Shoggoth and Burque’s atramentous lords of the metal underground, Black Maria, begin the evening’s 21+ recondite ritual. It’ll cost you $10 and your soul to get in, but don’t worry, the Old Ones are pretty decent overlords. Showtime is at 9pm.
Show Up!: Saturday
Recreate the vision and vacuity of the 1980s at the “Thrilla Halloween Zombie Apocalypse” at Sister (407 Central NW) on Saturday, Oct. 31. Featuring music like Oingo Boingo’s “Dead Man’s Party” as well as the haunting Michael Jackson favorite for which the event is named, this dance party features DJs Brad Cole and Church. Cole was among the first adherents of EDM and the rave scene in Duke City back in the day; his acumen behind the turntable is legendary. It’s $10-15 for entry into this 21+ nocturne. Brain-stained clothing is optional.
Show Up!: Monday
Scary stuff does happen after All Hallows’ Eve. In this case let such be known as Skinny Puppy at Sunshine Theater on Monday, Nov. 2. Under the direction of founding members Nivek Ogre and cEvin Key, this year’s touring ensemble of the inimitably fearful force also includes long time collaborator Mark Walk. Skinny Puppy is an industrial musical horror show with intellectually symphonic yet noisy sensibilities. Electronic body music provaocateurs Youth Code open. Check out their intensely crepuscular take on reality for only $20 and a 13+ ID. The process starts at 9pm.
Show Up!:
So yeah, Cthulhu Fhtagn and Hail Hydra: Happy Halloween concert-goers.
