Events

[PARTY] There are a lot of options this Halloween weekend, but here we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite freaky parties. 

 LAZLO HOLLYFELD AND FRIENDS PLAY LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 
Friday, October 28, 8pm Mohawk Place
The men of Lazlo Hollyfeld have done such a great job with material by Radiohead and Talking Heads in the past, it seems as if they can do no wrong. For Halloween this year, they’re taking on the sounds of James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem for two sets at Mohawk Place on Friday, October 28. LCD’s 2005 self-titled debut was basically a collection of previously released singles, but it brought the material — which, prior, was the guarded treasure of underground club enthusiasts—to a much larger audience, sparking a dance-punk revolution that continues to this day (and garnering a bunch of Grammy hoo-hah). The electro-organic mix of instrumentation combined with Murphy’s never-ending supply of snarky rhetoric (like South Park, nobody is safe) took the indie world by storm, throwing a curveball at what we think of as dance-floor material with some very necessary musical realness. Now back from hiatus, LCD will release new material at some point in the coming year, and in the meanwhile, Lazlo Hollyfeld will tide us over. Emo tribute band Girl Jeans open the show, presented by buffaBLOG. Costumes are encouraged. 

 THE WITCHES BALL—HEAVENLY INFERNO 
Friday, October 28, 7pm Statler City
One of the bigger, glitzier Halloween parties each year is called the Witches Ball and it happens at the Statler hotel. This year’s theme is Heavenly Inferno. Think contrary forces—ying and yang, Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort, The Bills and winning—and then be that theme. It’s obviously a great opportunity for creative for couples. Guests will enter through the “Gates of Hell” but will be ushered into a heavenly paradise in the Statler City Golden Ballroom. DJ John Ceglia will provide the tunes from the DJ booth while Dave Schulz and CO Jones will jam out from the stage. The Voodoo Lounge room will feature bands Preach Freedom, No Doubt cover band Ultraviolet, and DJ Milk. Finally, the Rendezvous Room will be dedicated to a slew of DJs, a magician, and the occasional drag queen. And that’s not all, the even features more than 25 local performers, DJs, and bands.

 90s RISE AGAIN HALLOWEEN BASH 
Saturday, October 29, 9pm Waiting Room
The folks over at Rise Collaborative have put together a 1990s themed Halloween party and everyone from the Fresh Prince to Rosanne are invited. The 90s Rise Again Halloween Bash takes place on Saturday, October 29 at the Waiting Room, both upstairs and downstairs. The main room will have 1990s rock cover band Kurt & The Loders playing their favorites, likely everything from Weezer to Radiohead. The upstairs will feature a 1990s influenced dance party featuring DJs Crespo and Sean Heidinger. Tickets include a four-hour open bar, late night buffet from Fat Bob’s Smokehouse.

 MILKIE’S MASQUERADE 
Saturday, October 29, 9pm Milkie’s
For those looking for a cheap party, Yace Booking is hosting a masquerade party at Milkie’s. Entertainment comes from Buffalo’s Bold Folly and Mr. Boneless as well as Ithaca’s the Ilium Works. Partiers with a mask get in for cheaper—$3—without a mask it’s $5.

 RAVE THAT MUST NOT BE NAMED 
Saturday, October 29, 9pm Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center
For all of those Harry Potter fans—and drum and bass fans—there’s The Rave That Must Not Be Named. THe promoters of this Halloween party, BadWolf Productions and Rinse 716, are proudly shipping in drum and bass master Jaydan from the UK to drop some relentless beats. He’ll be joined by Buffalo bass breakouts Dusty Bits—who will spin some bassline house, trap, and more—and rising dnb talent Blackmask. And that’s just the so called “Forbidden Forest Room.” A second room, dubbed “Defense Against the Dark Arts” will feature Philly’s Starkiss, Hoogs in from Rochester, Quebec’s Tamerax and more. 

 THE RABIES REUNION 
Saturday, October 29, 10pm Nietzsche’s
The early 2000s “horror pop” group The Rabies will play a special five-year reunion show at Nietzsche’s on Saturday, October 29 for what should be a rocking Halloween party. They’ll be joined by Buffalo rock veterans The Irving Klaws and the always provocative Stripteasers.  

HALLOWEEN NOISE RITUAL
Sunday, October 30, 6pm Sugar City
If you’ve ever been to a really good noise music performance, then you know that it can get downright shamanistic. Noise music, done right can transport listeners to another realm or dimension and that’s what this Halloween Noise Ritual is all about. They’re shipping in Kjostad and Plagues from Michigan for this one, as well as Praying for Oblivion, God of Gaps, Uncertain, Flesh Trade, and Metrical Dimensions.