The Costume-Based Guide to This Year's Halloween Concerts in Denver | Backbeat | Denver | Denver Westword | The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado
Navigation

The Costume-Based Guide to This Year's Halloween Concerts in Denver

Halloween changes as you get older. It starts off with the excitement of candy, which fades into the excitement to get dressed up to get drunk. Once you're old enough to do that outside someone's basement, but before you're old enough to be dressing up kids of your own, Halloween...
Share this:
Halloween changes as you get older. It starts off with the excitement of candy, which fades into the excitement to get dressed up to get drunk. Once you're old enough to do that outside someone's basement, but before you're old enough to be dressing up kids of your own, Halloween is a paradise of live music.

But which of the many, many holiday shows is right for you? Follow this guide based on your costume choice to see which one is suited for your suited-self.

See also: Concert Calendar: October 31.

Zombie or Vampire As The Blood Runs Black, Marquis Theater, $13/$15

As the Blood Runs Black is death core band from LA with a name to fit its music. Just like vampires who rely on humans to survive, or zombies who stick together to convert non-zombies, dark doesn't mean alone. Rings of Saturn, Upon This Dawning, Elitist, Those Who Fear are all hardcore bands who are joining the line-up.

Pirate/ Witch Widespread Panic, 1ST Bank Center, $55.75/$61

Witches and pirates can't help who they are, but it doesn't make them bad people. They get a bad name for cursing spells and stealing gold but they also have a fun side: making potions and singing loudly while drinking rum. Widespread Panic is just the same. They had a reputation of denying their fans of their music for years, but are ready to part as of their comeback in 2013. Just make sure you can dance on that peg leg!

Riff Raff Riff Raff, City Hall, $29-$79 Riff Raff is such an easy dude to dress up as: badly-braided head, sharpie tattoos, a fake grill and an open shirt. So, if you're dressing like him, why not be in the presence of the man himself? Maybe he'll pick the best impersonator to go on stage with him. Animated cartoon character The Motet, Boulder Theater, $26.50/$30

Whether it's Popeye, Bart Simpson, Homer or Yogi Bear, anyone committing to a plush suit or full body paint is committed to the past. This Motet show is titled "Mixtape 1975," so it is sure to transform the venue into a blast-from-the-past. While remember fond morning cartoons and your childhood, hearing tunes that are equally vintage is only right. Just make sure you have friends around for when your costume gets itchy or your paint stains the bro's shirt next to you.

Walking Dead/Game of Thrones characters Charlie Hunter, Bobby Previte, Sherik and Steven Bernstein , Oriental Theater, $20/$25

These musicians are all about drama. All three are composers and create music with an array of instruments designed to move the soul. As anyone who has watched any TV drama, especially Walking Dead or Game of Thrones, you know that the dramatic music means someone is dying, or a battle is about to commence. What better way to act out your costumes in a real-life way than to be at a live show with high and low innuendos? Just leave all the weapons at home -- this is one of the calm scenes.

Superhero/Ninja Turtle Methodman and Redman

Saving the world is a big feat, and that means that that you must have high energy which is needed for seeing this hip-hop duo. Plus, the two work together to create the best show possible, just like you and your side kick! Remember to use your superpowers wisely!




BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.