What's Going On: 10/29, 10/30, 10/31 & 11/1, 2015

Screaming Females headline Saturday's "Convention Hell" as X.

Happy Halloween

I always loved Halloween as a kid. For several years in a row, as a little kid, I went as Batman. Then, there were the mummy and Dracula costumes before I just settled into the laziness of a charcoal beard and an oversized coat. Still haven't decided on something for this year, but I'm feeling the pressure with all the Halloween "Bashes" and costume contests on tap for this weekend.

Things get started on Thursday night when New Brunswick's Astro Lounge hosts The Dead Flowers, The Missing Reels, Rita Fishbone, steve., and The Great Depression's Ben Phuckman. Blues legend Bud Welch plays Langosta for free. The Revivalists are at Wonder Bar with Gedeon Luke and The People. Hankandbezzy are at The Saint with Strumbleberry Pie.

On Friday, our good, good buddies in Black Flamingos celebrate the release of their self-titled EP with a Mischief Night costume party at APYC along with Coffin Daggers and Primitive Finks. The Court Tavern hosts its annual Halloween Covers Show with sets from The Replacements, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, and more. Franchise play Maxwell's Tavern in Hoboken with Those Mockingbirds, Arrows In Her, and Archie Alone. The Saint holds a Halloween Eve costume bash with The Union, The Sakima Connection, and UFOTOFU. Streetlight Manifesto play the first of two nights at Starland. Matt O'Ree hits the Pony.

Saturday, Halloween Night, brings Daughter Vision and End of an Era to APYC. Those Semiotics boys release For How at New Brunswick's Banana Stand with Shocking Pinks and Bird Hotel. Roxy & Dukes holds an all-day Halloween Punk Fest featuring The Accelerators, TV Tramps, The Turnbucklers, and more. Streetlight Manifesto play night 2 at Starland. Cypress Hill come to The Stone Pony. Remember Jones presents R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet at Lakewood's Strand Theater. Bone & Marrow head up to Tierney's in Montclair for a show with The Porchistas and The Randy Haze.

Also on Saturday, music returns to Asbury Park's Convention Hall. "Convention Hell" features members of The Parlor Mob along with Pete Steinkopf and Jeff Plate covering Hall & Oates, Des and The Swagmatics doing Stevie Wonder, Lost In Society playing the part of The Clash, Ether Sunday / Yawn Mower covering Nirvana, Dentist doing Dookie-era Green Day, and New Brunswick's mighty Screaming Females as X. Should be a big one.

On Sunday, our friends in Overlake (coming to APYC on 11/13 with Seaside Caves and Dead Stars) head up to Brooklyn's Grand Victory for a show that also features Sink Tapes, Hey Anna, and Superpony. Semiotics keep it going with a show at St. Mew's along with Ghost Camp, The Saturday Giant, and Gabriella.

Have fun. Be safe. Give out good candy. Happy Halloween.

THURSDAY (10/29)

Astro Lounge (New Brunswick): The Dead Flowers / The Missing Reels / Rita Fishbone / steve. / Ben Phuckman, 8pm, $5

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): Rose Boulevard / Lorie De Winter // The Stewart Dolly / John Wilkey & The Infinite Vacation / Julian Fulton, 7:30pm, $8

Langosta Lounge (Asbury): Bud Welch / Stringbean, 8pm, FREE

The Saint (Asbury): Hankandbezzy / Strumbleberry Pie, 7:30pm, $10

The Wonder Bar (Asbury): The Revivalists / Gedeon Luke and The People, 7pm, $15

FRIDAY (10/30)

Asbury Park Yacht Club (Asbury): Black Flamingos (EP Release) / Coffin Daggers / Primitive Finks, 9pm, FREE

The Brighton Bar (Long Branch): Mischief / Jigs & The Pigs / The X Men, 8pm, $8 (18+)

Clash Bar (Clifton): The Schwam / Sins Of Heaven / Special Surprise Guests

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): ANNUAL HALLOWEEN COVER SHOW!, 8pm, $8

Manasquan (Manasquan): Art of Edgar / Tommy & The Kooks / Lunch Ladies / The Albino Woodchucks, 7pm

Langosta Lounge (Asbury): Swift Technique, 9pm, FREE

Maxwell's Tavern (Hoboken): Franchise / Those Mockingbirds / Arrows In Her / Archie Alone, 7:30pm, $9 adv, $12 door

Meatlocker (Montclair): The Great Depression / Overhold / Living Tradition / Ghost Camp / Wisteria, 8:30pm, donation

Princeton Junction (Princeton Junction): Dirty Dishes / Youth Expire / NGHTCRWLRS, 7pm, $5

Roxy & Dukes (Dunellen): Halloween Fashion Show ft. music by Amour Obscur, 9pm,$15

The Saint (Asbury): Halloween Costume Bash: The Union / The Sakima Connection / UFOTOFU, $200 PRIZE, 7:30pm, $10

Starland Ballroom (Sayreville): Streetlight Manifesto, 7pm, $19.50 adv, $23 door (ALL AGES)

The Stone Pony (Asbury): Matt O'Ree Band, 7pm, $12

The Wonder Bar (Asbury): The Easy Outs, 7pm, $10