Musical happenings in and around the Capital City
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Toolbox
Published: October 30, 2009
Welcome to everyone's favorite holiday. No awkward moments with dysfunctional family members, gift-buying stress or whatnot – just dressing up in costumes, giving out candy to kids and having fun. And on a weekend, no less … the last weekend Halloween I remember was one for the ages, and I suspect this one may be similarly epic. There is definitely some scary good music around the region – check it out.
Tonight is Devil's Night, or Mischief Night, or Cabbage Night (never quite got that last one), and most venues are starting the Halloween party early to take advantage of the weekend holiday. I can think of no more appropriate music for the occasion than heavy metal, and Charlie-O's on Main Street will deliver it in all its leather-bound glory when local metal gods Amadis make their debut at the local dive for nice people. These guys usually rock out in Burlington, where their classic sound (think Judas Priest or Motorhead) packs 'em in at Higher Ground, but they'll be rockin' the capital this weekend to celebrate Samhain in style (FYI, Samhain, pronounced "Sow-en," is the pagan name for the holiday). The fun starts at 10 p.m. and as the boys say, "We just show up and rock because we're already wearing leather pants and somebody needs to pay the price" – awesome.
Saturday night, the ol' world famous hosts "Skaraoke," a Saturday night karaoke night that is sure to be interesting. Come dressed as your favorite rock star and take the back of the barroom microphone and go to town. This one also starts at 10 p.m., and entry both nights is the price of a drink at the bar (in other words, free) – rock on.
Another Halloween tradition takes place tonight down in Waitsfield at The Big Picture Theater, where the Barre Players will perform "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." The production features local naked-guy-around-town Nicolas Buckalew in the lead role of Dr. Frank N. Furter, a character that he was simply born to play. The band also features prominent local musicians Jay Ekis and Jen Wells. Audience participation is encouraged, so be sure and have your toast, toilet paper, rice and newspapers on hand. The fun starts at 10 p.m. and is a mere $5 at the door.
Back in Montpeculiar, a moniker the city will most certainly live up to this weekend; The Langdon Street Café has a killer lineup of music on tap. Tonight, those wacky scientists from upstate New York, Mathematicians, return to town. A wildly entertaining band that is just perfect for Halloween mayhem, their Devo-meets-The Beastie Boys style show, complete with special effects and interaction with the audience, is bound to be frighteningly awesome.
Saturday night, local electronica outfit MadDub returns to the site of their first gig for what is rumored to be their last show. Fred Wilbur, Jofus, Phil Carr and The Madtech (Bennet Shapiro) have given the region quite a run of dance parties over the past few years, and they'll kick it down one more time as they come full circle. Expect a hoppin' dance floor and a moderate cover for both 10 p.m. shows – costumes are encouraged, so come out in all your freaky finery!
The Black Door on Main Street in the city of the Golden Dome gets into the act this weekend with the return of local rockers Generous Thieves tonight. The band has been on extended hiatus for a bit, but they are back and will be cranking it up in the third floor lounge starting at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday night, Vermont banjo-master Gordon Stone brings his band to The Door for a Halloween party. Considering how crazy the other venues in town will be this weekend, this may be the place to escape to for a bit of sanity when you're out and about. Then again, sanity is overrated, especially on Halloween … at any rate, it should be a bit mellower at The Black Door than most places around the capital this weekend, so take note. Both nights are for the usual honor cover.
Figuring it was a big weekend, I thought I would check out what's going on over in scary Barre for the holiday weekend, but I couldn't find much in the way of spooky fun going on in the Granite City. Barre's number one party spot, Gusto's (on Prospect Street across from city hall) has live music as they do most weekends. It seems the same crop of cover bands come through the place every few months, so they must be patron favorites. Tonight, the venue hosts a Halloween party with Complaints. Saturday night (ironically not listed as a Halloween party on their Web site), brings Cocktail to the stage. Perhaps there is more going on in Barre this weekend, but if it ain't on the interweb, it's kind of tough for me to find out for ya.
Later on in the week, local-gone-international singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell hosts another show in her Transcontinental Review series at Langdon Street Café. On Thursday, she'll share the stage with Athens, Georgia-based performer Liz Durrett. Anaïs has a knack for picking exemplary talent to host for her T.R. shows, and this one will be no exception. Paste magazine noted Durrett's "whispery vocals and effortless instrumentations will quickly captivate listeners," and compared her to indie darling Cat Power. This should be a great show for under $10 at the door, if the usual cover scheme for the T.R. is in place, starting at 8 p.m.
In closing I'd like to wish everyone a fun and safe Halloween. Be careful out there, and if you're drinking, don't drive. Happy Samhain!
Ed DuFresne is the former talent coordinator for the Langdon Street Café and occasionally produces concerts. He lives in Montpelier with owners of vintage clothing stores, an annoying bird named Lucy and a clutter of submitted CDs that are steadily being replaced by Web links.
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