Matty King’s Top 5 Ways for Rockers to Celebrate Halloween

Matty King from the Boston band, The Lights Out, recently took some time out to give five ways rockers can celebrate Halloween. I for one, did not know you could make a scrabble board sexy. I do believe we need to prod Mr. King on how in the world that is done.

The Lights Out will be celebrating Halloween this year as Man-donna. Yep, that's four men dressed up like Madonna, singing her songs in all their glory.

Photo by Michael J. Epstein

#1: Drinking
Halloween is one of those times of year where you can just let it all hang out and do completely irresponsible things in the name of celebration. Exactly what gets celebrated on Halloween is pretty much left up to the celebrator, but when all is said and done, it’s usually done by consuming copious amounts of alcohol. Honestly, this can be done at any point during the year, but Halloween is the one time you get to do it surrounded by girls in sexy costumes. Which leads us to # 2…

#2: Dressing Up
I’ve always been a little hesitant to don a costume on Halloween, often dismissing such ventures as childish until I discovered that women’s adult costumes are ridiculously sexy (my lady friends call them “slutty”). I’ve found myself far more willing to throw on an Indiana Jones costume when it ultimately involves mingling with Sexy Vampire, Sexy Strawberry Shortcake, Sexy Tennis Player, Sexy Nun, Sexy Cheerleader, Sexy Chilean Miner, Sexy Alice In Wonderland, Sexy Firefighter, Sexy Scrabble Board, Sexy Fairy, Sexy Pirate, Sexy Ladybug, Sexy Freddie Kruger, Sexy Football Player, Sexy Optimus Prime, Sexy Catwoman (actually, is there any other kind?) Sexy Devil, Sexy British Flag, Sexy Nurse and Sexy Gladiator. All of these are actual costumes that you can actually buy, by the way. I didn’t make a single one up.

#3: Pumpkin Carving
I suck at this. But that doesn’t mean that you do! While you may not be able to carve a perfect representation of a Death Star, if you’ve got a half way decent band logo, why not try hacking that out of a pumpkin?

#4: Bobbing For Apples
Why not?

#5: Play or Attend a Halloween Show

Photo courtesy of The Boston Globe, photo by Barry Chin

Over the last few years in Boston, a Halloween tradition has sprung up where bands pick up musical costumes for one night, putting down their original songs to perform as another famous artist, complete with dressing up and everything. As far as I know, this is a fairly unique phenomenon, and I’m not sure if it’s taken hold in other cities the way it has here. When all is said and done, it’s a fantastic time to see your favorite bands performing as someone completely different. It’s not a tribute show; it’s a Halloween show. This is an important distinction to make as the bands who participate in such endeavors tend to be all-original bands who do this for one night only. If you’re in Boston this year, I totally recommend heading down to Church on Saturday 10.30 to catch a number of all male bands performing as female artists. It should be the scariest thing you see all Halloween.

Matt King plays bass in Boston rock quartet The Lights Out. After headlining a showcase at CMJ, signing a licensing deal with MTV Networks, being featured in an ABSOLUT® Vodka commercial and opening up Gillette Stadium for the New England Patriots’ season, the group has enjoyed an incredible year. The band is supporting its new EP, “Rock Pony,” by touring extensively, and plans to release it second LP, “Primetime,” on 1/1/11.  Click Here to Read More..

Neil Nathan’s Reinterpretation Of Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” Gets Dia De Los Muertos Video Treatment

Just in time for Halloween and The Day of the Dead, Neil Nathan debuts the video for “Darling Friend,” his lap steel infused re-interpretation of Ludwig Von Beethoven's "Fur Elise." In it, Nathan, bedecked in a Beethoven meets T Rex composer jacket serenades the coffin of his lost love while surrounded by a twirling, ghoulish dance troupe. “Darling Friend” is directed by Vaj Potenza (My Brightest Diamond's "Freak Out Gold Chains Remix") and choreographed by Suzanne Rydz. Vaj also co- directed two of Nathan's latest videos, "California Run" and "When The Rain Falls." The song is the second single off Neil's covers EP, Songsmiths, which was produced by long time steel collaborator Mike 'Slo-Mo' Brenner (Slo-Mo, Marah, Jason Molina).

Neil Nathan is no stranger to making music videos. His latest, “Highways,” featuring an animated version of himself, was directed by Postage, Inc. “California Run” co-stars his former roommate, Rosario Dawson. His cover of ELO’s “Do Ya,” which was also featured on the Californication soundtrack, has been viewed 20,000 times on YouTube. “Highways,” along with “California Run” and “Do Ya” can be found on Nathan’s latest full-length, The Distance Calls which was released in August.

The Distance Calls was produced by The Go’s Bobby Harlow and combines the talents of Dean Fertita (The Dead Weather, QOTSA), Kenny Tudrick and Joey Mazzola (Detroit Cobras), John Krautner (The Go), and Ross Westerbur (Deadstring Brothers). The album effortlessly merges jangly pop rock with Nathan’s mellower singer/songwriter side. With a dash of NYC glitter and some good old Detroit fuzz and stomp, it showcases a musician clearly influenced by the ‘70s (without being cliché). Click Here to Read More..