wordplay: DJ Elroy, Shauna Hannon & Orangepeelmoses.com
images: Andrew Strasser, Bill Sitzman & Gary Isaacs
Afterlife: Halloween Massive
Afterlife is a fitting name for a party that goes after hours on Halloween. Responsible for many of Colorado’s largest dance music massives (Global Dance Fest, Caffeine) as well as time-tested weeklies at two of the biggest Mile High Clubs (Beta, The Church), Triad Dragons is a powerhouse in the event promotion field. Afterlife is one of the only the only all-night events with a monster costume purse up for grabs (another one’s downstairs at TwoAM). Four stages, five rooms and over thirty artists, including headliners Dave Aude and Jon Bishop, are promised for your dead Presidents as well.
10/31 @ City Hall (above Two AM)
TriadDragons.com
CoClubs.com
Cyber Fetish Dolls
The Cyber Fetish Dolls are one of Denver's most eccentric and exciting underground flavors. Their shows are reminiscent of the time when raves were raves and fun was just a glow stick away, and, for all your pre-Halloween party needs, REX Lounge (2936 Fox) is the place to be. Hosted by the 'Dolls, Kidnaped, and Quill, and featuring the musical talent of residents BLINGFACED, John Perez, Audio Chemist, Dr.U, Pariah, and DJake (along with some special Halloween treats), there will be plenty of ear candy for all. This show will be a truly interactive experience with amazing costumes, dancers, a live graffiti exhibition by Seap and plenty of witching-hour surprises from one of Colorado’s own icons of the candy culture.
10/30 @ Rex (2936 Fox)
CyberFetishDolls.com
Diplo
Diplo has been hailed the "champion of bass music big and small" by XLR8R magazine and has been proclaimed "the hardest working DJ in the business" by Wired. He has indeed been busy at work as one half of the Hellertronix DJ crew and founder of his own music label 'Mad Decent' and, more recently, has been on a globe-trotting world tour. As a producer, his sound is a unique blend of electronica and rap and as a DJ, Diplo brings a fresh spin to the dancefloor. His philosophy for a universal vibe is simple: "Electronic beats and samples — two things that come from hip-hop and Detroit-era techno. [Also] eliminating the necessity for live instruments, and understanding the importance of bass." With support from Abe Vigoda, Boy 8 Bit and Telepathe, Diplo joins the Mile High club at Cervantes Ballroom on October 27th.
10/27 @ Cervantes
myspace.com/Diplo
Devotchka
Truly otherworldly bands are few and far between, but Boulder-based Devotchka is a dead ringer for the gig. Easily one of our most successful Colorado acts (in a market seemingly teeming with them), the newly label-supported foursome was once a dark horse with a ghost of a chance at longevity. Many moons later, they’ve got a Grammy nod to their credit (Little Miss Sunshine) and the best festival resume around (Bonnaroo, Coachella). The devil’s in Devotchka’s details, though. Treats up their collective sleeve have been known to include aerialists and belly dancers, among others. Devotees will be out en masse.
10/31 @ Boulder Theater
Devotchka.net
Eyes Wide Shut
Billed as “Denver’s Sexiest Halloween Masquerade,” Theorie’s costume soiree borrows its name from Stanley Kubrick’s strangely intriguing swan song about a Big Apple doctor who embarks on a nocturnal odyssey full of sexual temptation (after learning his wife once contemplated infidelity with a sailor). Given that an event approximating the ritual orgy portrayed in the film could never be publicly promoted, we’re guessing the “appropriate attire” that is required does not include birthday suits.
10/31 @ Theorie
DenverMagazine.com
TheorieDenver.com
The Faint
I can’t get The Faint out of my head right now…nor would I want to. Although I’ve been a ginormous fan since Lemonwilde’s bassist turned me on to the band five or six years ago, their first self-produced, self-released affair, Fasciinatiion, has been in perpetual rotation since its release in August. Much of their catalogue fits comfortably into the dance rock niche they helped carve, but the otherworldly new “Fulcrum & Lever” borders on dub-step (a genre experiencing increasing popularity these days). Bassnectar was practically speechless when I played it for him recently…
10/30 @ Boulder Theater
TheFaint.com
Girl Talk
Armed with his laptop, a digital studio, and an arsenal of illegal samples, mashup master Girl Talk is storming the country on his “Feed the Animals” tour. With support from electronic punkers The Death Set and Mr. Hardcore Electroni-Crunk himself, CX Kidtronik, the Ogden Theatre will poppin' off hotter than hacked Miley Cyrus photos on the internet. Girl Talk has been something of a curious but controversial web phenomenon over the past several years, and the constant buzz has pushed his name into the mainstream and beyond. Girl Talk shows have been touted as having an intimate house-party vibe where “anything can happen,” including sex-crazed fans getting freaky on stage.
10/31 @ The Ogden
myspace.com/GirlTalkMusic
Greg & JJ’s Funhouse
Joining their powers of darkness for the second straight year, Image Publisher Greg Bloom and fellow promoter JJ Walker (JFly Presents) are converting Alibi into a giant Fun House of their own design. Expect to be greeted at the door by a wisecracking gypsy before stepping into an unpredictable maze of smoke and mirrors, filled with balloon animal-producing clowns and citrus-sculpting stilt walkers. Debauchery will definitely ensue here.
10/31 @ Alibi
JflyPresents.com
ImageMag.com
Ghostface Killah
Securing Ghostface on Halloween night was a killer booking decision. Ghost made his debut as a member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan many moons ago, but these days he’s a bona-fide solo artist who’s outgrown the shadow of the pioneering hip hop group. Rock the Bells was his last Colorado stop (with Raekwon), albeit as one of many frighteningly talented headliners. Look for Ghostface to kill it on the mic this time, as he’s topping the bill.
10/31 @ Vinyl
myspace.com/Ghostface
HallowFreak’nWeen
HallowFreak’nWeen is THE biggest dance party in Denver, period. Beatport is the planet’s best source for dance music, and Triad Dragons is a force to be reckoned with in the promotions field. Featuring nocturnal celebs Richard Vission, Icey, J Majik and Damian Lazarus, there will be plenty of beats for every glow stick ninja. “Prostitot” will be another popular costume. Let your freak flag fly.
10/25 @ TBA
TriadDragons.com
Hell’s Playground
Truly nocturnal creatures don’t stop at last call. The night is still young at 2 a.m., after all. Five hundred dead Presidents are up for grabs here to the disguise bearer with the finest PR department. Hellacious melodies will be provided by beat-matching zombies Cognition, Fury, Gift, Kostas, Technical Endeavor and Walt White. Just remember, it ain’t over till the fat lady sings…or the stocky bouncer verbally traumatizes you, as the case may be.
10/31 @ 2AM
CoClubs.com
Infected Mushroom
Two things immediately spring to mind when the words "Infected Mushroom" are heard:
1) The phone number to the free clinic and
2) The country's pre-eminant psy-trance band.
Fortunately, it's the latter we're concerned about. Hitting the 9th spot on the influential DJ Mag
Top 100 DJs poll for 2007, Infected Mushroom has become the epitome for dark and frantic
psychedelic trance and live dance music. No strangers to the Mile High scene, their sound has
grown on Denver like white on Michael and this show promises to be the best yet. Not only
will you get Infected's past hits, you'll be treated to music off their much-anticipated (and
currently un-named) 2009 album! Duck and cover, because the Mushroom cloud will be hitting
The Fox on October 29th.
10/29 @ The Fox
Infected.co.il
Junkie XL
Junkie XL has been a Global Dance Fest fixture for several years now and he's back for another Mile High fix. Usher in the weekend of monster masquerades with one of the state’s favorite digital musicians at one of Colorado's most popular nightspots, The Church. You’ve come to expect quality shows from SoCo and Ryan Dykstra Nightlife and, with JXL in the DJ booth, your dancin’ feet are guaranteed both tricks and treats!
10/30 @ The Church
JunkieXL.com
Naughty Tricks & Sexy Beats
There is nothing more sacrilegiously fun than celebrating All Hallow’s Eve at The Church, and Twenty40's fifth annual Naughty Tricks & Sexy Treats Halloween Bash promises to be just what the naughty nurse ordered. Local heroes Ascension, Devious D, Anomaly, and Shea Delany with J. Burkhart will be turning tricks in the DJ booth all evening while Monster of Ceremonies Kobe will be will on hand to award a thousand dead Presidents for the sickest costume. Come check out some of the sexiest costumes this side of the Green Door. Remember kids, sometimes it’s nice to be a little naughty.
10/31 @ The Church
Twenty40.com
CoClubs.com
Pete Tong
Beta Nightclub is bringing you a very special treat to help wind down the Halloween weekend: Pete Tong. Step into the fun house and bless your ears with the sweet sounds of dance music’s Essentials mix master. Pete’s new ‘Wonderland’ project in Ibiza has been a huge success and he’s bringing the vibe halfway across the world to help close out the witching-weekend with a bang. Beta and the Beatport Lounge are fast setting the standard for Denver nightlife and a Pete Tong experience on the FUNKTION-ONE sound system is something not to be missed.
11/01 @ Beta
BetaNightclub.com
PeteTong.com
Spilloween
Spill will surely live up to its name on Halloween, as spirits are guaranteed to hit the floor on a regular basis due to capacity-pushing numbers. With $2 Buds and $3 wells (‘till 11), no one’s going to mind terribly much (except for their “custodial engineer”). Spill is one of the smallest bars to offer such a hefty costume purse ($500), though only the most aerodynamic disguises have a chance at staying intact. Also, it doesn’t take a fortune teller to predict monster hangovers the following day.
10/31 @ Spill
myspace.com/SpillDenver
Studio 54
New York City’s legendary discotheque returns from the dead yet again for this Halloween blowout at The Jet Hotel. Long deceased DJ Larry Levan will even be resurrected just for the occasion. Booking a room for the night is also a wicked option for anyone who prefers to avoid riding home in a taxi or a hearse.
10/31 & 11/1 @ Jet
JetHotel.com
Victorian Fetish Ball
Other parties may pretend to be exotic or erotic, but Kevin Larson’s Victorian Fetish Ball is the only one with an actual flesh and blood cabaret license in its naughty little corner. Thanks to the permits Wish shares with its downstairs neighbors, The Diamond, full-fledged, legal nudity will be in abundant, ample supply. “See Me, Feel Me, Tease Me, Heal Me,” a subtle variation on The Who tune from Tommy, is supposedly this year’s working theme. Feathers and ice and everything nice. Lingerie versus leather. We’ll see how long that one lasts…
10/25 @ Wish
Wish-Nightclub.com
3OH!3
“Holler ‘Till You Pass Out,” the debut YouTube clip from Boulder-based duo 3OH!3 has racked up over a half million views since being uploaded just two years ago. White people rapping has long been a go-to source for comedy, and seeing two Caucasians from Colorado get “crunk” in a schoolyard fit the bill. The fact that it became a modest viral hit regionally was hardly surprising (especially considering the pair’s area code-referencing alias). Selling out shows, rocking the entire Warped Tour and scoring regular rotation on KTCL with their newest single “Don’t Trust Me” implies they just might even surpass novelty status.
10/31 & 11/1 @ The Gothic
myspace.com/3oh3