Weekend Picks: WRIR Monster Mashquerade, Anthony Hamilton, Milk Carton Kids, Trongone Band, Imaginary Sons, The Taters, Bush League, The Atkinsons, Life On Mars, Fear of Music

Boo! It's Halloween weekend, which now seems to mean lots of tribute bands and lots of band putting on "musical costumes" and playing a bunch of songs from another band. There's some original stuff happening too and we'll get to all of it, so let's begin. Enter if you dare!

If you're looking for something for happy hour on Friday, head to The Camel for Blues & Brews with The Bush League. It don't cost nothin' to get in and it goes from 5 - 8. You know, happy three hours. This will be Wynton's (the drummer ) birthday so be sure to buy him a drink and/or say Happy Birthday. Here's the band at Big Bugg's Island Blues Bash.



Over at Modlin Center for the Arts. folk duo The Milk Carton Kids take the stage. Tix range from $14 - $28, but for most of us will be $28. Show starts at 7:30 with special guest Vance Gilbert. The Milk Carton Kids "offer up a signature blend of flat-picking and tight harmony that earned them a 2015 Grammy® nomination in the Best American Roots Performance category and a 2013 nomination for Best Folk Album" (from the press blurb). The band was recently part of the Lampedusa Tour For Refugees to raise money to support educational programs for refugees around the world. They were joined by Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller and others. Not bad company to be in. Here they are at the show in Boulder performing Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here". Fantastic harmonies.

Psychedelic rockers Imaginary Sons are throwing a Halloween party at The Camel Friday night. The band says "This month's Halloween party show will be to raise public awareness about the mutant gator infestation and the threat of impending gatorization of our neighborhoods and families." Truly the greatest threat to our times. Tix are $6 advance, $8 day of show. My Darling Fury, Secret Nudist Friends, and Doctor Collins open. Here's Imaginary Sons in Blacksburg in 2015:



Talking Head tribute band Fear of Music are at Broadberry Friday. Doors at 8, show starts at 9, no opener is listed. There will be costume prizes so bring them on. Here's Talking Heads' "Road to Nowhere":

RVA Americana band The Atkinsons are at 7 Hills Seafood & Brewing Company Saturday evening (7 - 10 PM don't pay attention to the time on the poster, 7-10, really). Here's the band doing "Lyin' and Honesty" at The Tin Pan in February.

Speaking of the Tin Pan, The Taters  throw their Halloween Party there Saturday night starting at 8. There will be lots of fun songs from their Halloween album, "Don't Scream", and you can, of course, wear your costume. Here's "Haunted House" from their 2013 Halloween show:

WRIR's Monster Mashquerade at The Camel not only has three kick ass bands and a rockin' DJ, but your donation helps fuel RVA's independent radio station, WRIR. You get in with a $5-10 donation to WRIR. Wear your costumes as there will be prized for Best Mask and Best Costume. The doors open at 8:30. And as for music. You get Dazeases (who will also premiere her new music video), the sci-fi rock of League of Space Pirates and Pete Curry (electro/sega/synthwave/darkwave/punk/soul/surf/lo-fi/pop). WRIR DJ Jamie Lay will be spinning in between sets. Here's a clip from when Dazeases stopped by the studios of ODU. You can listen to the whole thing, which includes interview and studio tracks, or skip to the live performance at 14:18:

At The Broadberry Saturday, The Trongone Band put on their musical costume and present RVA Woman: A Tribute to The Doors. There will be prizes for best costume. They'll do an original set (and you might hear some new songs from the album they are working on) and then a set of Doors music. Hope they play this one.



Smooth soul man Anthony Hamilton is at the Altria Theater Sunday with Lalah Hathaway and Eric Benet opening. The show starts at 7:30 and tix range from $27 - $87. Here's Anthony's latest video, Ever Seen Heaven:

On Halloween proper (Monday night) David Bowie tribute band Life on Mars will be at The Camel and the powerful, soulful and beautiful Sam Reed and her band will be Cosmic Blues and cover Janis Joplin. Tix are $8 advance, $10 day of show. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. Here's Life on Mars doing a great version of a song from Bowie's last album, "Lazarus":



That'll do it. Have a great weekend! I'll leave you with this one from Bruce Springsteen.



Tony Jordan