October is here, and that means it’s time to get a costume together for those Halloween parties that are coming up. Those looking for a place to spend All Hallows’ Eve have a few options: There’s, uhh, The Crofoot’s “Creepy Cheapy Halloween Treat”. A mere $5 gets you into this complex-wide shindig whose centerpiece is a rare Michigan show by The Von Bondies in the Crofoot Ballroom, who will be peddling their new “Pale Bride” 7” as a treat. Meanwhile, the Pike Room has bands performing “costumed covers”: Prussia will be The Smiths, Javelins will be The Strokes, Wildcatting will be T. Rex, and there will be “a special late night guest TBA”. The Vernors Room has The Pop Project and free candy, and DJ’s will spin all night at the Crofoot Café and the patio. The whole venue doubles as a wedding reception, as TV-20′s “Nightmare Sinema” b-movie host-turned Reverend Wolfman Mac will be marrying couples at the Erebus Haunted Attraction beforehand, as well as awarding winners for the “God Awful Costume Contest”.
The Go, Magic Shop, Infinity People show at the Magic Stick Halloween night as well. The Go is releasing their new album Tracking The Trail Of The Haunted Beat which is alternative versions of songs from their last album and new unreleased tracks. They’re playing under the name The Haunted Beat Band and will be featuring Danny Kroha on guitar for some songs.
There’s also the Zombie Dance Party October 24th at The Magic Stick w/ F’ke Blood, Sonic Boom (Sonics cover band w/ Frank Woodman, Johnny Hentch, Alex Decks, and more), and a few other bands.
Check out Detroit’s pop-culture garage sale at Rock and Rummage Saturday, October 11th at The Painted Lady Lounge in Hamtramck. Ten vendors will be selling clothes, records, books, and other vintage memorabilia. Admission is free, DJ Kyle McBee spins.
Fans of both 80′s style hard rock and hockey can get their fix at a special NHL opening ceremony at the Fox Theater on October 9th. The 2008-2009 hockey season launches with a performance by Def Leppard, followed by a televised screening of the Joe Louis match between the Red Wings and the Maple Leafs (not Leaves? Really?). Tickets to this shin-dig go on sale today.
The Detroit News weighs in on the recent reopening of Southwest Detroit’s punk and metal venue Blondie’s Nightclub. The venue had been closed since the early 90′s but reopened last week on Fort Street near the Ambassador Bridge. “I just want to promote local talent and give them a stage to play on. They need a venue in the heart of Detroit, and I’m it,” says owner Ruzvelt Stevanovski.
When I think of the tragic events that have happened in this country’s history I think of such moving songs as “Ohio” by Neil Young, “Jereme” by Pearl Jam, “Pride (In the Name of Love)” by U2, “Motor City Is Burning” by John Lee Hooker, “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan and “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot. Add to that list Ann Arbor singer/songwriter Kitty Donohoe’s “There Are No Words.” This song will stand the test of time as a tribute to those who were lost seven years ago today.