Shock rock or shots?

With October 31 falling on a Sunday, Halloween this year stretches into a full Halloweekend. Old Town’s Vintage Vegas revue offers Rat Pack look-alikes Sunday 31, while an Amy Winehouse clone applies cat eyes and temporary tats at the House of Blues Saturday 30. But why go with cover bands when plenty of more legitimate (and debauched) options abound?

Cealed Kasket + Human Aftertaste
Saturday 30
Reggie’s Rock Club, $5
Halloween appropriate?
See the band names? Yes. Don’t be scared. The bands may seem like church-burning, necrophiliac Vikings, but they’re pure camp. And there’s a $200 prize for best costume.
Is it any good?
Aftertaste leans a little burlesque and plays for yuks, like GWAR. Chicago’s Kasket comes off like Alice Cooper after improv classes at Second City.
Ideal costume
Don’t spend more than you can win. Cover your naked body with 200 one-dollar bills, roll some cigarettes and call yourself “The Pot.”
Scariest lyric
Not a lyric, technically, but there is a guy in Human Aftertaste named Perp-A-Tron the Child-Molesting Robot.

Ghostface Killah
Sunday 31
Abbey Pub, $20–$22
Halloween appropriate?
Despite his moniker and a song called “Charlie Brown,” Ghostface Killah is rarely in the holiday spirit. Rappers are usually too cool for costumes. Which is not a bad thing. Otherwise you get Insane Clown Posse.
Is it any good?
The id of Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface spews dense, vivid verses bordering on the abstract. Hopefully, he steers clear of the bizarre Wizard of Oz–themed sex funk of his last album.
Ideal costume
A kung-fu master or Joakim Noah. Or a combination of the two.
Scariest lyric
Face fallin’ off they cheekbone, gotta take meat / From they ass, to sew it back / I’m a beast, holmes / It’s ground beef.”—“Guns N’ Razors”

LMFAO
Sunday 31
Congress Theater, $20–$25
Halloween appropriate?
Every song is about booze, boobs and texting. So if your ideal holiday involves frat boys doing belly shots off your “sexy nurse” costume, knock yourself out.
Is it any good?
This numbskull duo is so intently focused on getting drunk gorilla juiceheads to pump their fists, it might as well be a Shake Weight.
Ideal costume
Go unoriginal and slutty, i.e. Jersey Shore.
Scariest lyric
“The group LMFAO goes double platinum, heyyy!”—“Yes”

The Misfits
Sunday 31
Vic Theatre, $21.50
Halloween appropriate?
With corpse makeup and songs about zombies, the godfathers of horror punk (pictured) are the ultimate Halloween band. Unfortunately, it’s no longer 1981.
Is it any good?
Jerry Only was prescient when coming up with his stage name—he’s the only original member left. A couple of ringers from Black Flag lend some cred, but Only lacks Glenn Danzig’s knack for nihilist rockabilly.
Ideal costume
Danzig, because he really should be there.
Scariest lyric
“Hack the heads off little girls and / Put ’em on my wall.”—“Skulls”

The Tubes
Sunday 31
Reggie’s Rock Club, $20
Halloween appropriate?
As with the Cealed Kasket gig, Reggie’s hosts a costume contest. Paying concertgoers may try, but it’s unlikely they’ll best the ones onstage. Frontman Fee Waybill is keen on silver spandex and 12" platform boots.
Is it any good?
In the late ’70s, the San Franciscans’ high-concept stupidity was a little too smart, and weird, for the room. With age, the theatricality has waned, but there’s still enough snarky Bowie-inspired art-punk primed for rediscovery.
Ideal costume
Middle-aged rock critic: balding ponytail wig, stained Stones 1972 S.T.P. Tour shirt.
Scariest lyric
“Hang myself when I get enough rope.”—“White Punks on Dope”

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