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| Fever Marlene |
What makes Halloween such a killer holiday? Is it just the unbridled partying, skimpy outfits and copious intake of chocolate, or is it something deeper? Well, to be honest, it’s probably just the booze, skin and candy.
But All Hallows Eve is also the perfect opportunity to don a mask, a wig or a fake mustache and, for one night only, become someone else. This is the backdrop for Saturday’s annual Cactus Club Halloween Show, where several local bands and musicians will team up to dress up as and pay homage to influential bands of years past. This year, Architects of The Aftermath joins Hammered to do their best Slayer impersonation, members of Centipedes and the Wildbirds team up to rock some AC/DC, and Morbid Tales cranks up the Celtic Frost.
In honor of this spookiest of traditions, I thought I would take a stab at making some more local/old-school band connections. Whether these local musicians share musical roots with another band, look a bit like another band, or I am just intrigued at the thought of the off-the-wall interpretations that would no doubt result, here are my recommendations for next year’s show.
Fever Marlene as Genesis
Maybe it’s just the whole singing drummer thing (a la Phil Collins) that makes me want to see this match. Or maybe it’s the whole melding of two great musical minds (Collins and Peter Gabriel). Whatever it is, I could totally jive on listening to Scott Starr’s raspy melodic vocals and Kevin Dunphy’s thundering drums breathing new life into jams like “Don’t Lose My Number” and “Invisible Touch.” If they really wanted to blow my mind, Fever Marlene could break out the acoustic guitars for a rousing version of “Against All Odds.” Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he?
Revision Text’s music has quietly grown into a mature, confident sound that seems to get more unique and well rounded with every recording. The band has become quite adept at seamlessly weaving between musical styles, a skill that they will need when they tackle the reggae-jazz-rock-infused rhythms of The Police. This one is not so much a stylistic marriage as it is a personal desire of mine to see Revision Text play some Police songs. Selfish of me, yes, but you’ll thank me when you hear lead singer Nick Perow channel his inner Sting. It will be the best Police tribute effort since Scrantonicity.
Collections of Colonies of Bees as Pink Floyd
The concept here is simple: Have one dreamy, atmospheric, mind-bending group cover another dreamy, atmospheric, mind-bending group. Bees have been pushing the sonic envelope for more than a decade, and the band’s incredibly tight, polished sound would make for a breathtaking night of Floydian interpretation. And if the boys wanted to invite good friend and Volcano Choir bandmate Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) up for a few songs, I would probably lose it.
Call Me Lightning as The Clash
Brash, loud and unapologetic, The Clash was a big, fat musical middle finger. Hearing Nathan Lilley raucously tear through “London Calling” would be a thing of absolute belligerent beauty.
