Since Halloween falls on a Friday this year, almost everyone seems (rightly) set on celebrating the holiday the exact date it appears on the calendar—get it together, Bay View. This means the music calendar is overloaded with shows featuring tribute acts, costume contests and some other hair-raising mischief. The shear amount of activities can be outright spooky, especially, if you’re plans aren’t set for tonight’s festivities. But don’t fear, below is a comprehensive guide to all the Friday night’s spooktacular music-related activities.
Tribute Shows
Halloween marks the only night of the year where it’s appropriate to dress up as your favorite band and haphazardly struggle through its discography (otherwise it’s just sad). Tonight there are five tribute performances, including Iron Maiden (first two albums only), AC/DC (Highway to Hell), Mötley Crüe, Black Sabbath and Nirvana. More information below:
Iron Maiden tribute (Killers) with Population Control, Indonesian Junk and Scapegoat at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($5) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
AC/DC tribute (Billy Bon Scott) with Mudflap at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
Nirvana tribute (Breed) at Fire on Water, 10 p.m. (FREE) – (518 N. Water St., FireOnWaterStreet.com)
Mötley Crüe (Mötley Brüe) with Conniption at Whammy Bar, 9 p.m. ($8) – (6139 W. Beloit Rd., West Allis)
Black Sabbath tribute (Hand of Doom) at Tonic Tavern, 9 p.m. – (2335 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., TonicTavern.com)
Costume Contests
Planning and assembling a yearly Halloween costume is often a costly and time-consuming affair. But some of that money can be offset by winning a bar’s costume contest, which typically only earns a bar tab. You might not be able to put any of that money away for next year’s disguise, but, heck, a victory makes the pumpkin-flavored shots go down much easier. Here’s a list of shows holding costume contests tonight.
88Nine Radio Milwaukee Halloween Bash featuring Sonny Knight & The Lakers, BJ Daniel’s Drag Review and Kid Millions’ Soul Dance Party at Turner Hall Ballroom, 7 p.m. ($14) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Cosby Sweater with Unlimited Aspect and Undercover Organism at Miramar Theater, ($15) – (2844 N. Oakland Ave., TheMiramarTheatre.com)
S.S. Web with Ando Ehlers, Highlonesome, The Drunken Cuddle at G Daddy’s BBC, 9 p.m. – (2022 E. North Ave., GDaddysBBC.com)
Choir Fight with DJ Fuzzylogic at The Jazz Estate 9:30 p.m. – (2423 N. Murray Ave., JazzEstate.com)
AfterMarket Switch at the Metal Grill, 9 p.m. ($5) – (5036 South Packard Ave., Cudahy, themetalgrill.com)
Uncle Larry at Café Lulu, 10 p.m. – (2265 S. Howell Ave., LuluBayiew.com)
The Love Monkeys at Bar Louie, 7:30 p.m. – (1114 N. Water St., BarLouieAmerica.com)
Other Halloween Shows
Jaill photo by Adam Ryan Morris.
Platinum Boys with Jaill, Sat. Nite Duets and Midnight Reruns at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. (FREE) – (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
Judy Priest with Crappy Dracula and Malpractice at Circle A Café, 7 p.m. – (932 E. Chambers St., Circle-A-Café.org)
Uptown Savages (album release) with Max & The Invaders at Frank’s Power Plant, 9 p.m. ($10) – (2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., FranksPowerPlant.com)
The Milk Carton Kids & Sarah Jarosz at the Pabst Theater, 8 p.m. ($30) – (144 E. Wells St., PabstTheater.org)
Hood Smoke with De La Buena at Shank Hall, 9 p.m. ($12) – (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)
GGOOLLDD with Boy Blue at Yield, 10 p.m. (FREE) – (1932 E. Kenilworth Pl.)
Thriftones with Caley Conway and the Lucy Cukes and MIGO at Bremen Café, 9 p.m. (FREE) – (901 E. Clarke St., BremenCafe.com)
Crazy Rocket Fuel with The Get Hot at Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, 9 p.m. (FREE) – (1920 S. 37th St., Beer-Hall.com)
Grizmatic with Manic Focus, Exmag, Late Night Radio, Lowtemp and Liberated Showcase at The Rave, 8 p.m. (SOLD OUT) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
DJ Mighty Thor with Kiki Champ and Uncleryan at Bad Genie, 9 p.m. (789 N. Jefferson St., BadGenie.com)
Punk Rock Party
And finally, for those that want to celebrate the punk rock spirit, the Alchemist Theatre is throwing a celebration of the genre, including some vintage horror movies, CBGB-themed décor, and 1970s drink prices. For more information, go here.
