Ah, autumn in New England, the Nightcrawler’s favorite era of the annum, awash in spooks and kooks masquerading as things they are not in the never-ending quest for bags of loot.
And that’s just the election process.
Prior to the big Nov. 6 poll dance, of course, is another hallowed event in the annals of American holidays: Halloween. It’s teeming with numerous nightlife options aimed at capitalizing on the eerie aura that swirls around it all. The following represent a select few of our favorite hi-decibel haunts this week:
• First up, guitarist/singer Tor Krautter and his Reverend Tor Band will once again preside over this, their 13th annual Halloween Jam on Saturday, Oct. 27. Special guests Domino Theory and Julee Avallone (of Depth Quartet/Mike Gordon Band/Everyone Orchestra fame) will aid the RTB in doling out heaping doses of groove-rock ear candy to the masses amidst what are being billed as ongoing “pranks, contests and surprises.”
“I’d tell you more, but I honestly don’t know what will happen, because we always have this in a haunted venue, and this year, we’ve really outdone ourselves,” Krautter says of the 2007 concert site—an 1800s train station turned nightclub called The Depot in Dalton. What’s this about a haunted bathroom?
“Another surprise,” he insists. “But I guarantee it will scare the [expletive for excrement] out of you.”
Walked right into that one…
Tickets for this Tor-id affair are $10 for those over 21, $15 for ages 18-20. For more info, visit www.revtor.com.
• Valley upstarts The Drunk Stuntmen celebrate their 15th annual salute to the holiday Oct. 27 as well, with a 10 p.m. Iron Horse engagement. It’s a “kiss and sell,” to peddle the highly-anticipated, spankin’ new DVD of their collaborative efforts with the Young@Heart Chorus, dubbed Back To Back. They also promise to pucker up and plant one on any patron who attends said performance in full costume… and so desires one, we hope!
• Next up, a math lesson from School For The Dead Headmaster Henning Ohlenbusch: You plus attending his band’s Oct. 27 show at The Elevens = free.
“That’s right, it’s totally free, and if you wear a costume, it’s even more free,” he jests. “But seriously, having no admission is our way of saying thank you to the fans and ensuring as many as possible come out.”
Another great audience-attracting incentive? Pop-rock standouts The Aloha Steamtrain, Spouse and Nuclear Waste Management. To catch them all, make The Elevens by 10 p.m.
• While experimental faves Tagyerit don’t have a Halloween gig proper on the books, the husband/wife team of Rich and Flo Newman appear to have carved out a unique online niche for themselves in recent weeks. For years, the Amherst-based couple has displayed their amazingly detailed pumpkin carvings as stills on their popular website, www.tagyerit.com. This year, they’ve decided to embrace new technology and capture the entire process on video—the results of which can be viewed at www.youtube.com/tagyerit and currently hold down the number two Google spot for “pumpkin carving art” queries.
• Lastly, anyone looking to go as the bassist for Viniaviras this Halloween—and beyond—may just be able to. As the band’s Myspace (.com/viniaviras) details, current four-stringer Chaz Maelstrom is effectively filling in until the fledgling metalmeisters can find someone able to tour. All requirements and contact info can be found online. For a live sonic sampling, check out Viniaviras at their Halloween bash this Monday, Oct. 27, at Geraldine’s in West Springfield.
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email: Garycarra@aol.com.
