Austinist Preview: All-Star Halloween Hoot!

If it’s true that every music writer wishes they were a musician – and we can say from personal experience that it probably is – then it is apparently also true that “every musician wishes they were in a cover band.” Such are the words of Aaron Miller, guitarist for Friday After Dark and the brains behind the quirky gala being held at Club DeVille on Sunday night. What started as an oddball idea for some Halloween fun has evolved into a full-on, rock ‘n’ roll show-your-love-fest. Starting at 8 pm, a string of local bands will take the stage in the guise of the music legends we all wish we could be and sometime pretend we are in front of the mirror when nobody’s home.

Festivities will open with a DJ set by Jason Austin of PopNoir, followed by the main event: some half-dozen local groups playing all the hits from those records you stole from your older brother back in the day. Friday After Dark will be performing as the Police, the Chalk Outlines as Talking Heads, the Paper South as the Cure, and the Fall Collection will be portraying the Clash, still the only band that matters. They’ll be followed by a set from WWTJLD? - you figure it out - a sort of local tribute super-group featuring members of Cue, Woozyhead, and the Octopus Project. At midnight, the performance we’re most looking forward to, Benko will take the stage as the fabulously buxom legendary Dolly Parton. There have also been rumors of a certain local comedian making an appearance as the great Tom Waits, but don’t tell anyone you heard it from us.

Feeling cynical? Think your hipster ass is too sophisticated to get your rock on to a tribute band? Whatevs. As Miller says, “chances are if a song has been on the radio or in your record collection for twenty years, there's a good goddamned reason.” True that. Come out and shake your ass like it’s 1982 – and get there early to take advantage of the limited supply of free beer.

Halloween Band-on-Band Tribute
Sunday, October 29th
Club Deville [map]
Doors at 8 p.m.
$5 at the door