West Michigan's musical halloween haunts and playlists

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Halloween concerts and parties rev up as October descends into eerie spookiness. Here’s a roster of frighteningly fun shows with musical treats to consider. Plus, playlists to scare the pants off you.

Scary Music, Costumed Fun and Haunting Celebrations: West Michigan’s Halloween happenings. (Photos/Anthony Norkus/Enrique Olmos; Album Art/Deja VanOeveren-Goss)

What would Halloween be without scary music as a soundtrack?

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From horror movie staples like “Halloween” (John Carpenter), “Psycho” (Bernard Herrmann) and “The Exorcist” (Mike Oldfield) to classic creepy romps by Nine Inch Nails, Tom Waits, Iron Butterfly, Rob Zombie, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Nick Cave and King Diamond, the music world is rife with frightening musical mayhem, murder ballads and hair-raising hijinks.

And every October, Local Spins looks forward to the release of yet another “Songs of the Pumpkin Boy” compilation featuring new, spooky and blood-curdling tracks created by Michigan bands and solo artists.

This year’s “Vol. IX” collection boasts spine-chilling songs with titles such as “Tombstone Terror,” “Undead Lover, Be Mine,” “Murder is Timeless” and “Monster Mash 2.” Listen to the entire 15-song crypt of tracks online at Bandcamp.com, featuring artists such as Ghouly Get Down, Bilge and The Hexlings.

Over the years, Local Spins also has published numerous playlists of the scariest Halloween-appropriate songs, offered up by writers and musicians. Check out all of those online here, with more links below.

Of course, chilling music just adds to the revelry of Halloween costume parties and concerts, so we’ve compiled a roster of West Michigan events you might want to check out … if you dare. Find more shows in the Local Spins Concert Calendar.

A HALLOWEEN HAUNTS ROUNDUP

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics, Oct. 24 at Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids – This “Candlelight Concerts” event boast “a live multi-sensory musical experience” featuring music inspired by Halloween, from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” to the theme from “Stranger Things.” Remaining tickets, $50.50-$56.50, available here.

Garbage Angel, Oct. 24 at SpeakEZ Lounge in downtown Grand Rapids – Garbage Angel is billed as “Grand Rapids’ favorite Halloween band,” playing all sorts of scary-but-fun Halloween-appropriate tunes. Details online here, with a $5 surcharge added to patrons’ tabs.

Funk Night Halloween Party, Oct. 24 at Billy’s Lounge – This costume party features “two spooky bands performing under one scary roof.” $10 cover. Details here.

Oddities on Ottawa, Oct. 25 at 819 Ottawa Ave. NW in Grand Rapids – This block party outside Garage Bar & Grill will feature DJ music by Figure, Bluejay, Cal, Dhat Part, Drivingmisshazy, Jonvh, Jvice Muzic and Richard Ozygenn with a costume contest, beer tents, “odd performances” and food trucks. Tickets, $21.85, and details available online at odditiesonottawa.com.

Hollywood of Horrors, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids – One of the region’s biggest Halloween parties is now a two-night affair. The B.O.B.’s multi-floor transformation into “immersive Hollywood horror scenes” will feature costume contests both nights ($500 for first, $250 for second), with karaoke at BOB’s Brewery and DJs spinning tunes in four different locations (DJ Riink, DJ Matt B, DJ Ryan Henry, DJ Jay Vee, DJ VanHekken and DJ Greg Knott). Details and tickets, $42.79-$63.79, online here.

Halloween with Third Coast Swing, Oct. 31 at Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill – This West Michigan gypsy swing/manouche jazz favorite hosts Tip Top’s Halloween bash. Tickets, $12.25, available here.

Twerk or Treat, Oct. 31 at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids – DJ Jodi Dro, DJ Omega Supreme, DJ Composition and Deeechild host this Halloween bash which also features a costume contest. Details, $20 tickets here.

Daft Disko: A French House & Disco Halloween, Oct. 31 at Elevation inside The Intersection in Grand Rapids — This is billed as “a night of French house and disco” inspired by Daft Punk and more. Tickets, $22.15, available here.

MF Doom Tribute Halloween Party, Oct. 31 at Grammotones, 120 S. Division Ave. in Grand Rapids — Hosted by Wuzee, with sounds by Zero! and M-Select, with special guests M.I.C. Book, BEATRAT and more, is billed as a celebration of the life and music of the villain viktor vaughn (with the first 20 attendees getting a complimentary DOOM mask. Details and tickets ($10 and $15) here.

Halloween with Selkie, Oct. 31 at Rockford Brewing in Rockford – This top-shelf Celtic music trio hosts RBC’s Halloween bash for “a hauntingly good night.” Cover is $5, details here.

Just Wicked: Halloween Noir Nights, Oct. 31 at J.W. Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids – The hotel’s International Ballroom will host a Halloween dance with “electrifying beats” from DJ VanHekken, “wickedly delicious drinks” and a costume contest. Tickets are $20 in advance, with VIP options; details here.

Vamp Stamp: Vampire Glow Rave, Oct. 31 at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo – N3on Tiger, DJ Tribewalker, Drivingmisshazy and Dos Lopez will provide the musical accompaniment for this Halloween night affair, enhanced by a laser light show from Morfog. Tickets are $19.37 and available online here.

Grand Armory Brewing Halloween Party, Oct. 31 at Grand Armory Brewing in Grand Haven — Dank Hill unearths “jams from the 1990s and 2000s” to fire up this gathering in Grand Haven. Website here.

Odd Side Ales’ ’80s Monster Bash, Oct. 31 in Grand Haven — Just down the street from Grand Armory (above), Odd Side will host The 1985 for its retro-Halloween bash, complete with a costume contest and “creepy cocktails.” Website here.

Harbor Humane Presents Monster Mash Bash for Mutts & Meows, Oct. 31 at Park Theatre in Holland – This fundraising party for Harbor Humane features a DJ, dancing, costume contest, raffles and fortune-telling. Advance tickets are $20, or $25 at the door. Details here.

“Ghost in the Machine” Halloween Rock Opera, Oct. 31 at The Livery in Benton Harbor — The Livery’s resident sound engineer, Jon DeWitt, has assembled a special Halloween rock opera, “Ghost in the Machine,” to celebrate the spooky holiday. $10, details here.

Halloween Night at Horrocks Beer Garden, Oct. 31 in Lansing — Atomic Annie performs rock and pop hits, along with “a few spooky surprises” for this party at which costumes are encouraged. Website here.

Union Street Station Halloween Party at Union Street Station in Traverse City — Rolling Dirty provides the musical spirit with a cash prize for the winner of a costume contest. Website here.

Halloween Costume Party at TC Whiskey in Traverse City — DJ Jeb provides the soundtrack for this “festive atmosphere” that includes a costume contest and spooky cocktails. Website here.

Halloween Bar Crawl, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in downtown Grand Rapids – This two-day bar crawl touts “creepy cocktails, outrageous costumes and an electrifying atmosphere” for those 21-and-older. Details here.

Kalamazoo Halloween Bar Crawl, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in Kalamazoo – Grand Rapids isn’t the only city hosting a Halloween-inspired bar crawl. Get info online here.

Muskegon Halloween Pub Crawl and Midnight in Ireland, Nov. 1 at Unruly Brewing and elsewhere in Muskegon – Unruly Brewing celebrates “midnight in Ireland” for Halloween at 2 p.m. Nov. 1, then participates in Muskegon’s pub crawl that night with stops at Carlisle’s, Early Owl, Liquid Assets, Legends, Mike’s Inn, Rad Dads, Rake Beer, Socibowl, Top Shelf, TNT Bar, Walker and Western Reserve. Details here.

The Bootstrap Boys’ “Day of the Dead” Benefit, Nov. 1 at Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids — Vintage country band The Bootstrap Boys host a 13-act Grateful Dead tribute for its “Day of the Dead” extravaganza, raising funds to help the widow of late guitarist Nick Alexander. Nik James, Sweet Dee & The Wild Honeys, Sam Hess, Kyle Brown, Cosmic Knot, The Wild Honey Collective, RJ Nordlund, Red Thyme, 56 Tornadoes, Big Timmy & The Heavy Chevys, Full Cord, The Bootstrap Boys and Big Jake & The Open-Mic All Stars will perform. Details online here.

Of course, Halloween also brings a two-night homecoming stand by Kalamazoo progressive bluegrass heroes Greensky Bluegrass at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo; check out a story and interview about that later this month at Local Spins. Find more shows in the Local Spins Concert Calendar.