Everyone knows what time of year it is and what that means. Another Madison Halloween weekend is approaching, and there are scores of options for how to spend the occasion. As a student or simply a Madisonian, it is you the reader’s duty to take advantage of the freakin’ weekend and experience what is going down around town.
State Street, of course, will host UW’s fourth annual Freakfest. Saturday’s Freakfest will feature bands performing on three stages throughout the night and have accommodations for the hoards of revelers.
Headlining the main stage is alt-rockers of ’90s fame Third Eye Blind, who are set to entertain the costumed masses. Evidently their “semi-charmed life” is still dragging on with a fresh 2009 CD release, but really, why play new material when you have the ’90s nostalgia fanbase factor going for you? This San Fran trio should put on an energetic show, however, with a few recognizable tunes that will make you feel like a ’90s kid again. Alas, the time to consider them a big name attraction has passed.
Opening up for Third Eye Blind are up-and-coming modern rockers Cage the Elephant and Long Island pop-punks Push Play. Two additional stages will offer sets from locally based groups including Locksley, The Nod and others.
Mediocre alternative rock will be rampant at Freakfest as smashing pumpkins (sorry, not the band) will be on residential streets. Luckily, State St. doesn’t need great acts to draw a crowd. And for $7 in advance, it will be worth a visit, if only to meet up with some familiar faces (if you’re lucid enough to remember them).
As a devout Halloweener, perhaps you want more than a ’90s band and streetwide debauchery. If paying to get onto State St. isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other local options besides trick-or-treating in Middleton (please, don’t).
The High Noon Saloon showcases a series of tribute bands masquerading as big name rockers. Acts (and their tributes) include Bon Squad (as AC/DC), Boo Fighters (yep… as Foo Fighters), Cupcake (as Cake), Trick or Treat (as Cheap Trick), and Jett Blacks (as Joan Jett). For a mere $7, hear a wide range of oldies-but-goodies. You would never see these bands together elsewhere. The High Noon also has a costume contest giveaway, which may be an extra incentive to those out there. High Noon’s “Freakin’ Halloweekend” continues at 8:30 and is a 21+ event.
The Majestic’s “Mustache Masquerade” is giving the guys an excuse to grow out the upper lip strip and ladies another use for eyeliner. Pnuma Trio will keep the party going with electronica-jam grooves. All they ask is for you to wear that ‘stache with pride and get ready to get down. Opening acts Prepschool and Steez will get it warmed up. 9:00 doors and a $20 cover. If the mustache is feeling uninspired, check out the promotional flyers around the city for some ideas.
If you are a UW student, or at least visiting for the festivities, you probably have some costume parties to attend. By all means, hit up some houses, but make sure you are dressed for the occasion. No one likes a party pooper on Halloween, and dressing as a “college student” won’t cut it. Parties can be good to go to before or after Freakfest. Just remember when you’re forking over the obligatory $5 cup fee to a cowboy or Greenman, you could be showing off your stache or rocking out to live AC/DC.
Wherever your wicked weekend takes you, remember this: when it comes to Halloween, Badgers do it best.