Halloween To Do List

OTR canceled this week - send complaints to the CA

Just kidding!!! Don't get me fired!!

There is absolutely no reason to stay in tonight with the sheer abundance of musical escapades going on in the city this evening. Don't forget to kick off the evening by checking out the final Art Trolley Tour of the season. Hop a trolley, check out the South Main Art District, and take advantage of the free wine. While you're down there be sure to stop in at the Folk Alliance located at 510 South Main and check out a free performance from Giant Bear. Cindy Cogbill of the FA promises to open up the great space next door to offer mucho space for you.

Also tonight Chris Reyas and Sarah Fleming, the cohorts behind Live From Memphis, will be premiering their epic film Goner Fest 2: Electric Boogaloo at First Congo Church in Cooper-Young. The film chronicles the classic tale of when Memphis was inundated in 2005 with garage rock fans from all over the globe who came to check out four days of the best punk rock this city has seen since the days when the legendary Antenna Club was still open. The screening is by invite only, but luckily if you’re not on the guest list for this event, you can pick up your very own copy at most locally owned record stores in mid-town. The set includes a 70 minute DVD chronicling all of the shenanigans and a 60 minute CD which has at least one song from every band in the order that they appeared at the shows, from King Louie through the Limes. Hot dog cookout, fish heads thrown in the street, it's all there.

Later in the evening the choices become much more abundant. Kicking off Halloween weekend at Murphy's Jeremy Scott's new band The Wallendas play, at The P&H Cafe expect the wild and crazy antics of Boston Chinks, 6 String Jets, and The Splints, at Neil's The Memphis Roller Derby will hold their 107th benefit of the year featuring Adios Gringo, Damn Your Eyes, and The Vacant. While the Murphy's show shouldn’t be too scary, most of the other bands playing this evening can be quite frightful. All shows are 5 bucks!

For those of you looking for a more family oriented outing on Saturday - don’t miss the 2nd Annual Not-So-Haunted-Hike held at Touliatos Nature Center located at 2020 Brooks Road from 5pm-7pm. The kid friendly event will teach children about creatures that go bump in the night, but really aren't such a fright! Also planned are games and a hike full of fun (and candy!) with speakers from the Memphis Zoo, the Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, the U.S. Forest Service, the Shelby County Agricultural Service, the Memphis Fire Department and more! The busiest band in Memphis Giant Bear will also perform a kid-friendly show. It's free and costumes are encouraged!

"Having Giant Bear as part of the Not-So-Haunted-Hike is going to be awesome!" gushes Rebekah Spurlock Director of the Touliatos Nature Center, "The ambience of their music silhouetted against the fall colors and fire light is going to make for a ghoulishly good time!"

Later Saturday evening is when the true Halloween festivities begin at Murphy's on Madison when The Memphis Feelharmonic DJ Symphony Orchestra host their costume party of death entitled Disco Bloodbath . Special guest deejays include Beyonda from Portland, Saturna and the aptly named Devilflake. ($5 10PM)

If all that sounds a little too high concept for you, check out Halloween Party From Hell XV at Premier Palace located at 629 Monroe which is being billed as the biggest party of the year! The event includes a $250.00 costume contest at midnight, free beer and jello shooters all night and something called eyeball punch! And don't expect them to run out of beer. The promoters promise to have a Bud truck on back up. Special guest Muck Sticky will also be on hand. Party starts at 8:30 pm - $15 with costume - $20 without costume.

If you're looking for the rock, The Hitone has you covered with their very own official Halloween Bash. Rockin' the stage will be Halloween Party with the Antique Curtains, Noise Choir, and Twin Pilots. Anyone who dresses like Dan will gets a free shot. It's $5 .

If midtown isn't exactly your favorite place to hang, you can always check out The Stage Stop’s HELL-oween Headbanger's Ball III. Located at 2951 Cela Lane in Raleigh, expect a costume contest, food, drinks, and a plethora of heavy metal from bands like Torn Apart, Anger Unlimited, Massacre Machine, Sacrum and The Importance of Poison. It's BYOP - Bring Your Own Earplugs. It's $5 bucks 21+ and $8 for 18-21 year olds.

Finally, let's not forget every college co-ed's favorite place in Memphis to get buck - Newby's! They're hosting their very own party called Halloween on Highland. The show included performances from One Bullet Booth, Adam to Ashes, Inner 61 and Shaved - and all bands will be playing in full costume. The shows starts early at 8PM and is $5.

But what about Halloween night you ask? Well there's really only one must-see show Tuesday night. Chopper Girl & Memphis Babylon, The Final Solutions and The Secret Service host the first annual Screamfest at The Hitone. These three bands are manned by a virtual who's who of Memphis underground rock, including Scott Taylor, Zac Ives, Justice Naczycz, Tommy Trouble, John Argroves, and Mr Steve Selvidge himself. Wear a costume but don't be surprised when your face is melted off.

As for Craig Brewer's annual Halloween Bash - don't bother trying to crash it this year - it's invitation only, it's not on Halloween and it's at an undisclosed location.