Cory Graves
23 Places To Party This Halloween.
Thursdays are pretty ridiculous in this town as is, but with Halloween falling on what's already arguably the busiest night of the week, things are even crazier than usual this time around.
You can bet plenty of folks will be living it up tonight as part of this year's second round of Halloween parties (this past weekend's offerings being the first), with likely just as many calling sick tomorrow as well. To that end, we've found a couple dozen events worthy of putting together your second costume of the season for. And that's not counting all the food-related ones we mentioned yesterday.
Zeds Dead at Zouk
Canadian dubstep duo Zeds Dead, who played Zouk's New Years Eve party last year, return to the club for an All Hallow's Eve stop on their “Altered States Tour.” Cover is $25, there'll be a costume contest, and DJs Redsean and Ahab kick things off at 9 p.m. — Cory Graves
Otep at Trees
If you can't enjoy a good nu-metal bill on Halloween, of all times, then when can you, really? New Years Day, Stolen Babies, Faded Grace and Splattafish open. — CG
AT&T Patio Sessions w/ Home by Hovercraft, Bethan at Sammons Park
For the final Patio Session of the season the AT&T Performing Arts Center crew has tapped Home by Hovercraft to fit the bill. A local music act that defies categorization, Home by Hovercraft began turning heads around town over the past year or so. Rightfully so: The group is a theatrical one, combining folk, rock and classical influences into a singular sonic stew. Led by husband-and-wife duo Seth (tuba, vocals) and Shawn Magill (piano), the band has the uncanny ability to push the creative envelope without branching into totally inaccessible territory. Still, they do get pretty “out there.” An example? Well, Seth's sister Abbey Magill, who dances Irish Step, clogs along as a member of Home by Hovercraft's rhythm section. — Hannah Allen White
A Rave Called Halloween at SISU Uptown
Sure, there'll be plenty of folks dressing up and springing for bottle service at this rave-themed affair, but the real attraction here is a night-capping DJ set by Major Lazer member Jilionaire. Cover is $20 and DJs WISH FM and Little Ricky kick things off at 10 p.m. — CG
Charlie Robison, William Clark Green at Rockin Rodeo
Houston's Charlie Robison and Lubbock's William Clark Green will make sure Rockin Rodeo's “Monster Mash Halloween Bash” is all but dominated by Texas country. Before you scoff at this one, Dentonites, just know two things: cover to this show is just $10 and the venue does boast the largest dance floor in town. — CG
Halloween Hoedown with Graceland Ninjaz at House of Blues
For the third time this year, the self-proclaimed “king of party bands” will take over the House of Blues for a themed party that maybe proves they're worthy of the title. Oh, and by “take over” the venue we mean the whole venue, with ten bands performing on four stages found throughout the complex. Still, $15 gets you access to the whole shebang. — CG
The Roomsounds at The Prophet Bar
Getting with the Halloween spirit, Dallas' Roomsounds will be playing this one as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. And, unlike most everything else going on tonight, there's no cover to join in on the costumed madness this show promises. — CG
Haunted Sock Hop at Texas Theatre
In his time, '60s B-movie director William Castle invented his share of movie-enhancing gizmos. For his '59 horror film The Tingler, which they'll be screening at tonight's party, he came up with a gadget he dubbed “Percepto.” During the climax of his film, seats would rumble to mimic the lobster-like parasites burrowing their way into their victims' spines onscreen. We can't guarantee a “Percepto” appearance tonight, but, before and after the screening, DJ Mr Rid will spinning cuts from his collection of kooky Halloween tunes at this free-to-attend, old fashioned dance party. And that's fairly rocking all the same. — CG
Halloween Party! at The Where House
If you've ever been to The Where House for a big holiday or event, you're already well aware that they tend to go all out. And you know that, if they can get a room full of folks to show up in costume for their random weekly Hump Day parties, tonight should prove extra crazy. Bands performing at this one include Dark Rooms, Taddy Porter, The Hanna Barbarians, Frisky Disco and End of the World Parade. Cover is just $10 if you show up in costume, and they'll be giving away a $100 gift card to The Live Oak for whoever's garb is deemed the best in the house. — CG
Halloween Massacre at The Chat Room
Four loud bands packed into extremely close quarters should make for one head-rattling Halloween offering here. The nationally approved Pinkish Black is joined three more bands here: Terminator 2, just back home from a tour; Curse, hailing from Baltimore; and Visceral Cuts. Cover is just $5. — CG
Swamp Dogg and Bobby Patterson at Kessler Theater
Even if you're not completely familiar Swamp Dogg's distinct blend of country, soul and blues rock, you've almost certainly seen the cover of his '71 album Rat On! — widely regarded as the worst cover of all time — or perhaps just a parody thereof. For what it's worth, the music contained on thaat LP is actually a hell of a lot better than photo of Swamp Dogg riding along on the back of a giant white rat would have you believe. Legendary Dallas musician Bobby Patterson opens. — CG
Southside Pirate Halloween Ball at Shipping and Receiving
This still fairly new Fort Worth hot spot is wasting no time vying for the Cowtown's best Halloween party: Its pirate-themed throwdown will feature the requisite costume contest, tuneage by Sally Majestic, Panic Volcanic and The Royal Savages, a magician/fire eater and a sword fighting pirate troupe called Cut, Thrust, and Run. Cover is just $5. — CG
The Golden Age Halloween Party at 141 Glass Street
The Green Bandana group is taking over a warehouse in the Design District tonight for this mega bash that includes performances by Tunk, -topic, Buffalo Black, Tony Vice, Jenny Robinson, Bobby Sessions, Lord Byron, DJs Taylor Effin Cleveland and D. Teknics, art by Fred Villanueva, Steph Hargrove, Jordan Castilleja, Erica Guajardo, and free Golden Age Halloween Punch while supplies last. After that, this one will be BYOB. Cover is $10 or free if you happen to be a costume-wearing female. — CG
Honky Tonk Halloween Party at Sundown
Short on cash? Here's another free option for tonight. This one's headlined by Granada's in-house, staff-comprised '90s country cover band, and features a costume contest, late night eats, and $3 beers, wells, and Halloween cocktails. — CG
Babar, The Demigs, Savage & The Big Beat and Danny Rush & The Designated Drivers at Dan's Silverleaf
Not really all that into the pretense of Halloween night, playing dress-up, or participating in other amateur-hour shenanigans? Here's a pretty standard, but quite solid Denton-centric bill. Cover is $7. — CG
Halloween Party at Double Wide
A couple days before the venue throws its 10th anniversary blowout, they've got some Halloween-focused pre-partying to do. In the venue side, Hall & Oates cover band The Rich Girls will perform along with fellow locals Party Static. Meanwhile, the bar's weekly costumed Good Luck Karaoke offering will take place as scheduled. Cover on the venue side is $5. — CG
Vibe: Halloween Edition at Beauty Bar
Just because it's Halloween doesn't mean DJ Colly T's weekly is going to start charging cover. It does mean, however, that this costumed dance party will probably be “turnt up” an extra notch or two tonight. This week's special guest DJ is Chris Rozier, and the winner of this costume contest will be awarded tickets to see Disclosure when that buzzing group comes through town in the coming months. — CG
Big Bang Basement: '90s Halloween Bash at The Travis
For the Halloween edition of his long-running Big Bang weekly, DJ Sober is turning the basement of The Travis into an all out '90s dance party. Says the DJ: “I want to see overalls, pagers, Starter jackets, color block rugbys, flannels, Docs, Ren and Stimpy shirts — basically everything the kids are rocking these days.” — CG
All Hallow's Eve at The Travis (Upstairs)
While Sober's busy doing his thing in the basement, Joe Castillo will be handling the sounds upstairs. But why choose between the venue's floors when you can bounce between both? Just a heads up: Reservations are encouraged tonight. — CG
Lost Generation: Halloween Party at Crown and Harp (Downstairs)
Tonight's special Halloween edition of Wanz Dover's regular event at the venue features his newest band, Silver Saint, along with Frauen and Sir Name & The Janes. — CG
Track Meet 02 Compilation Release Party at Crown and Harp (Upstairs)
While the Trackmeet DJ crew encourages folks to wear costumes to this one, they do suggest you wear something you can sweat through. Tonight, they'll also be giving away free copies of their brand new compilation album. And this is one dance party it won't cost you a dime to attend. — CG
Blue Sky Black Death at Dada
BSBD are a Seattle-based instrumental hip-hop duo. What's the difference between an instrumental hip-hop duo and a hip-hop producer that doesn't want any emcees coming along and ruining their beats? Actually, we're not quite sure. — CG
Elm Street Tattoo Party
What does Elm Street Tattoo do a month after inking 13s on hundreds of clients during the first day of their inaugural three-day music and tattoo convention? Offer a special sheet of Halloween flash. In any event it'll be a Halloween party you'll never forget. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
