It’s that time of year again: the sun has set, the moon is full, and the werewolves, witches, and ghouls of non-corporeal genders have come out to play. Now you can see your favorite local acts as you’ve never seen them before as they cover the looks and sounds of some other bands you’ll be hard-pressed to find around town. Make sure you’re dressed to impress because many of these gigs have costume contests with prizes! (But if you want to wear the same costume all week, we won’t tell.) Go forth and be spooky!
FRIDAY OCT. 26
Kicking off Halloweekend early this year, ONCE Ballroom is hosting their Costumes and Covers event with Playing in France (a.k.a. members of House of Harm and Funeral Advantage) covering The Cure, members of Pet Fox and Be You Me covering The Beatles, Neil O’Neil covering KISS, and The Rosehips covering DEVO. The sounds of these classic rock bands will be echoing through graveyards long after we’re dead.
Tickets $12 advance, $15 door/8PM/All Ages Facebook
SATURDAY OCT. 27
This will be business as usual for these tribute bands at ONCE Ballroom: SuperSonic plays Oasis, The Young Americans play David Bowie, and DJ Louis Le Mod did not get the memo that you’re supposed to dress up for Halloweekend.
Tickets $15 advance, $21 door/9PM/All Ages, but minors must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian Facebook
The Deep Cuts Deli Halloween Benefit at O’Brien’s Pub is the alternative rocker’s dream gig with Glass House as Pixies, The Way Ways as Kings Of Leon, Settler as Promise Ring, and Fury Things as Dinosaur Jr. We’re sad that Today Junior (as Wavves) had to drop out, but you can see the real Wavves at the Paradise on Sunday.
MONDAY OCT. 29
The ‘90s are thriving at Disposable America’s Halloween Spook-tacular. O’Brien’s Pub hosts Horse Jumper of Love and Saccharine as Jimmy Eat World, Lilith and pushflowers as The Spice Girls, Clever Girls as No Doubt, and Bedbug (and friends) as Scrubs: The TV Show. EAGLE!
TUESDAY OCT. 30
If you can’t get to any other gig this week, you should at least go to GRCB’s Annual Halloween Fundraiser & Costume Contest. All proceeds support Girls Rock Campaign Boston’s year-round programming! This year, we’re gonna soak up the puns with The Angri-La’s as the Shangri-La’s, Madam Bruja as Patti Smith, 10,000 Spoons as Alanis Morissette, Babes of Mutilation as Pixies, SIA Next Tuesday as Sia, Attack of the Cramps as The Cramps, Jealous Girls as The Gossip, and Dyke 169 as Blink 182. And don’t forget your chance to win prizes for the widest array of costume contest categories: Best DIY, Most Creative, Scariest/Creepiest, Best Group, Needs Most Explanation, and Best Costume. Support feminist music in Boston and get bragging rights for confusing the most people with your obscure reference of a costume.
You may ask yourself, “My God! What have I done?” if you don’t make it to Halloween at The Lilypad. All Talk is playing as Talking Heads, Littlefoot is playing as Sheryl Crow, Nightime Sunshine is playing as The Carpenters, and Love Strangers are playing as The Silver Jews. Once in a lifetime chance here, folks.
Tickets $10 door/9:30PM/All Ages Facebook
WEDNESDAY OCT. 31
And finally, the day we’ve all been waiting for. The Great Pumpkin has arrived! Rush home to sugar up those trick-or-treaters, then get to your own sweet gig presented by Eye Design. Growing Up Spooky at O’Brien’s Pub has Birdgangs as Fleetwood Mac, Lady Pills as Iggy Pop, Local Jerks as The Bronx (a.k.a members of Leopard Print Taser and Tired Old Bones), and if you missed Future Teens play Kidz Bop Vol.1 at Prom Do-over last weekend, here’s your second chance at your second chance.