Halloween falls on Wednesday of all nights this year, so the North Bay has decided that Saturday night’s all right for frightening—at least when it comes to Halloween concerts. This Saturday, Oct. 27, dozens of parties take place in Sonoma and Napa counties, with costume contests, outrageous entertainment and hair-raising hijinks.
In Rio Nido, the cowboys are coming home to roost at the Haunted Honky-Tonk Festival, featuring beloved Americana act the Easy Leaves and several others. Currently on tour with Pacific Northwest staple Karl Blau, the Easy Leaves—usually a duo of bassist Kevin Carducci and guitarist Sage Fifield—bring a full band with them for this hometown appearance.
For his part, Blau will mesmerize the crowd with a Waylon Jennings tribute set, while Seattle-based Gus Clark & the Least of His Problems play a crooning set of classics and originals, and Brothers Comatose frontman Ben Morrison performs solo. The family-friendly daylong event kicks off at 4pm at Rio Nido Roadhouse.
In Petaluma, several local artists and bands are taking the opportunity to dress like their favorite bands for the Phoenix Theater’s annual Halloween Covers Show. Included in the lineup is local punk band the Happys performing as Sublime, San Francisco psychedelic outfit Down Dirty Shake taking on the Spice Girls, and other acts transforming into the likes of Third Eye Blind and Ace of Base for a blowout night of music that benefits the Phoenix.
For those who want a mind-altering dance party, head over to the House of Rock in Santa Rosa and get ready for a night of underground art, live music, circus, drag, burlesque, comedy and more at the Quantum Cabaret. This adult-only party features swing-punk band Van Goat, 20-person marching band the Hubbub Club and others, who will be making noise while freaky fashion shows, robotic demos and more open the doors of perception, and it’s all hosted by Jake Ward, who recently took home the Bohemian‘s Norbay Award for Best Promoter.
In Napa, several shows are sure to be a scream this Saturday. At the Blue Note Jazz Club, Napa surf-rock revivalists the Deadlies, best known as the house band for longtime late-night horror-movie showcase Creepy KOFY Movie Time, play two sets of music as part of a Halloween bash. At Silo’s, seven-piece Napa party band N2L infuse equal doses of pop and rock covers featuring three-part female vocals for a concert that includes a costume contest, games and prizes.
For more info on these and other shows, see the Concerts and Clubs & Venues listings, p19.
