I’ve been told that Halloween is about more than buckets of candy, and while I remain skeptical, it’s tough to ignore all the evidence of the holiday’s time-honored tradition of dressing up. Musicians like to get in on the action too, and this weekend there’s an abundance of the musical equivalent of the Halloween costume: the cover version. If you like watching bands pretend to be other bands, this is your weekend. There are soooo many cover nights happening that this is only a fun-size candy bar (read: less than a mouthful) of all that’s going on.
Just in time for the most evil day of the year, Volume Bomb Records is releasing a new vinyl compilation called Under the Covers with Satan, featuring several of Portland’s finest heavy bands covering their favorite songs about the Dark One. The comp includes Disenchanter, the Decliners, Lexxi Vexx and the Modern Gentlemen, and many more tackling wicked tunes by Astaroth, Venom, the Sonics, Coven, and on and on. Volume Bomb celebrates the release of the comp on blood-red vinyl this Halloween night (Sat Oct 31) with a show at Kenton Club, featuring Disenchanter, Perfect Monster, the Latter Day Skanks, 42 Ford Prefect, Stumblebum, and the Thornes.
Fans of ESG and Liliput (AKA Kleenex) have three chances this week to catch a tribute band performing the classic tunes of those two seminal female punk acts (bands that originated in NYC and from that punk hotbed of Switzerland, respectively). You missed the first of those last night at the Know (my bad), but tonight, Lil’ ESGeniuses perform tonight at the Liquor Store (3341 SE Belmont) for their pre-Halloween prom, and tomorrow night Lil’ ESGspot—surely the same crew—will be at the High Water Mark (6800 NE MLK) alongside bands paying homage the the 13th Floor Elevators, X, and Narcosis.
Tonight, Soundcontrol PDX takes over the Panic Room (3100 NE Sandy) with bands covering King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost, and Venom. Tomorrow night, the Know (2026 NE Alberta) also has a Halloween covers extravaganza, with spooky renditions of tunes by Radiohead, Jimmy Eat World, Paramore, and Elliott Smith, performed bu: Afraidiohead (members of the band Said Goner), Jimmy Eat Worms (members of Duck Little Brother Duck), Scaramore (Kid Crash/Sky Above and the Earth Below), and Heliot Smith (Adam Ciresi). Also tomorrow, the Twilight Cafe (1420 SE Powell) hosts the Misfats, performing food-themed takes of Misfits songs, along with Bridgetown Homicides, who pay tribute to Murder City Devils. And Club 21 (2035 NE Glisan) hosts Rabbits playing the first Danzig album, along with bands dressed up as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, and Misfits (there are gonna be sooo many Misfits covers tomorrow night you guys).
There are lots more cover bands to see this weekend; head over to the Mercury‘s live music listings to find the one that’s right for you.
I want to be under the covers with satan!