For children, Halloween means staying up late, eating a bunch of candy and dressing up as cowboys and witches. For college students, Halloween means getting extremely drunk, partying into the wee hours of the morning and girls dressed as witches have turned into promiscuous nurses and cops.
In order to prepare you for the mayhem that Halloween is in college towns, I’ve assembled a list of shows in Gainesville that will take place the week or so before Halloween.
Oct. 20 – Skalloween @ 1982 Bar, 7 p.m.
Skalloween has been a Gainesville tradition for years. This year’s lineup includes: The Duppies, The Partials, Waxed Curbs and Kreepa. Doors open at 7 p.m. Skank till you drop in a costume of your choice.
Oct. 21 – Minus the Bear @ The Florida Theatre, 6 p.m.
Started in Seattle of 2001, Minus the Bear is one of the bands that solidified the indie and alternative rock scene. They recently released their latest album, “Infinity Overhead,” on Aug. 28 and are touring now. While the band has gone through different musicians, they reunited with former member and longtime producer, Matt Bayles, collaborated on the newest record. Minus the Bear is known for their heavy use of electronic and guitar sounds and vocals, but they have dabbled with acoustic as well. Tickets are $18 online.
Oct. 23 – Matisyahu @ The Florida Theatre, 8 p.m.
Matisyahu is widely known for his strong merging of rock with reggae and hip-hop influenced beat boxing. He currently made news by cutting off his beard claiming that whether it was there or not didn’t matter. In an interview with the Associated Press, he says that his previous albums were made with as reggae albums, whereas his new album, “Spark Seeker,” is made more in the format of a pop or hip-hop album. Tickets are $22 online.
Oct. 24 – Steve Aoki @ The Florida Theatre, 9 p.m.
Steve Aoki has cemented himself in the EDM world, and it is evident that he isn’t going anywhere any time soon. He crowd surfs in a blow-up raft and slams front-row victims with cakes. He is the founder of Dim Mak Records, a big name when it comes to discovering new names in the electronic music business. The crowds at Steve Aoki are always intense and exhilarating. This is sure to be a fun night. Tickets are $35 online.
Oct. 25 – The Expendables @ The Florida Theatre, 8 p.m.
The Expendables is a rock band from Santa Cruz, Calif. They have crossed genre lines into punk rock, reggae and ska, creating a musical experience that only a few other bands can create. Their latest release earlier this spring was the band’s first acoustic album. The Expendables have been making music since 1997 and have gained much critical acclaim not only from writers, but musicians within the industry as well. Tickets are $18 online.
Oct. 30 – Fedde Le Grand @ The Vault, 9 p.m.
Fedde Le Grand is not a new name when it comes to house music. Not only is he one of the most respected DJs of EDM, starting his career in the late ‘90s, he is still producing tracks that draw huge crowds and energy. Fedde is known for his songs “Put Your Hands Up For Detroit,” “Back and Forth” and most recently “So Much Love.” This show is a costume party so be sure to dress up. Tickets aren’t available online, but you can contact one of promoters with the numbers provided on the Facebook event page.
Oct. 31 – OWSLA Tour featuring Alvin Risk, The M Machine and Kill Paris @ The Vault, 9 p.m.
OWSLA is Skrillex’s record label. As many people already know, the label has signed local band, Hundred Waters. They just recently announced a North American tour that will feature different artists from its label at different stops. Alvin Risk has a very unique sound that makes dancing seem like a workout at some points. Kill Paris likes to include funky beats with that electro sound. However, I think that the artists that steal this show are The M Machine. The trio is able to take you on a very emotional experience through music, especially the dark side of it. Tickets are $15 online and were kind of hard to find, so HERE is the link.
Whatever you do this Halloween season, celebrate responsibly! Don’t eat candy that looks like it has been tampered with, and don’t drink too much that you don’t remember what you did. There’s a vast array of things to do and music to hear coming up in Gainesville. Don’t miss out.
