I Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts!

Halloween is a messy holiday. There's just something about mixing costumes with alcohol that leads to a super distorted sense of reality. And Halloween weekend in Orlando always means one thing -- a bunch of unprofessional drinkers (dressed as Pimps and Hos) descend upon downtown, drink themselves into oblivion and turn into complete and total douchebags. While you're bound to encounter a handful of these amateurs, you can steer clear of them by avoiding Church Street/Wall Street, and by attending any of the recommended events below:

If you're looking to engulf yourself in the chaotic mess of the annual downtown block party -- it's fun if you don't drive -- you're best bet (read: FREE) is to hit up the Halloween edition of Get Mental at Sky60. As homage to the upcoming election to rid the White House of Satan himself, the password for the evening is "Scarier Than Politicians." $5 without password.



In their annual Halloween tradition, Crooked Bayou will be hosting everyone's favorite Misfits cover band, Psycho 78. Jerry Baloney seems to like them, anyway. $5 cover.



The older and slightly eccentric crew will be over at the City Arts Factory for the Shine Psycho Circus Halloween Masquerade. Tons of stuff going on there -- check the over-saturated flyer (if you can read it) for details. $20 cover.



If the downtown mayhem ain't your scene, then make your way down Mills to Peacock Room for their annual Halloween party. I've seen people pull out all the stops to win the costume contest so it should be pretty interesting. $7 cover.



Ride your bike to Stardust Video and Bold Hype for their joint parking lot OMG WTF Halloween party. No cover.



More non-downtown action can be found at Taste in College Park, who is hosting A Funky Boogie-ween with the Windham Group and The Good Rub. $8 cover.



And finally, if you just want to get the fuck out of Orlando altogether, head over to party in Ybor with the Pulp kids for Lol-O-ween. Special guest (and my hero) DJ Mega. No cover with costume, $5 cover without.



Be safe, kids. If you do go out, I'll bet a million dollars you hear at least one of the following: Thriller, Ghostbusters or Highway to Hell. Bonus points if you hear all three!

Dew Underground: Orlando

Orlando got a nice little ego boost this past Sunday from Fuel TV when they aired the "Dew Underground: Orlando" segment they filmed while here on the last stop of the Dew Tour. They went to a few skate parks, Gatorland (I guess it's "extreme" to play with alligators) and interviewed a few local kids like Andrew Spear, Dustin Orlando and Solillaquists of Sound. All in all, a pretty decent representation of our little scene. Check out the individual segments here.

If you want to catch it on actual TV, it will be airing a bajillion million more times. Here's the official schedule:

Sunday 10/26/2008 -- 8:30 PM / 5:30 PM PT
Sunday 10/26/2008 -- 11:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM PT
Monday 10/28/2008 -- 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT
Tuesday 10/29/08 -- 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT
Wednesday 10/31/2008 -- 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT
Sunday 11/03/2008 -- 2:00 PM ET/ 8:00 AM PT
Monday 11/04/2008 -- 6:30 PM ET/ 3:30 PM PT
Wednesday 11/05/08 -- 12:30 AM ET/ 9:30 PM PT

On another note, I'm compiling the Halloween festivities this weekend and will post them all tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Flyer-Only Friday

My apologies for the boring-ness that is to follow. Waaaaaay too busy.

Friday Night:

Get Mental will be back next week. In its place @ Sky60:


At Peacock Room:


At Crooked Bayou:


Saturday Night:

The return of Turbo Love Machine at Peacock!!!


Roger Sanchez at Firestone:

Keep Feeling Fasciinatiion

The Faint is back in Orlando tonight, making a stop at Firestone on tour to promote their new album, Fasciinatiion. They put on a hell of a live show at The Social Pavilion a few years back, packing the parking lot venue and turning it into an electrified indie dance party.

The Faint - The Geeks Were Right.mp3
The Faint - Paranoiattack.mp3

And bonus remix from Does It Offend You, Yeah
The Faint - The Geeks Were Right (Does it Offend You, Yeah remix).mp3

Pop Off is hosting an official afterparty over at The Social, which is free with your ticket or $5 otherwise. BEWARE: The Social has recently converted to non-smoking (probably a good thing) and JACKED up their drink prices ($9 for vodka + soda?!?!?! You have to be out of your mind!!! This is not Miami!!!). While we definitely want to support the Pop Off guys because they kick so much ass, this will most likely force us to promptly head next door to more reasonably-priced Bar BQ Bar for alcohol.

Rock the Vote

In case you can't make it to see the dopest presidential candidate ever rallying in O-town this afternoon, you can still make a difference in your local community. Check out Fuel TV's poll on the best in the Orlando underground art and music scene.

We suggest voting for Andrew Spear, since his work clearly triumphs the other artists featured on the page. I mean, he did these out of colored pencil for Christ's sake!!!





We also have a place in our hearts for the bartenders who ignore you slash indie band Summerbirds in the Cellar, so vote for them too!



And, don't forget to vote for change (cough, Obama, cough) on November 4th.

Guru + Obamarama + Disco Express 666 + other weekend shiznet

Unlike a lot of people I know, I can admit when I’m wrong. And this Saturday, Orlando will prove me wrong. There is absolutely nothing going on. Okay, that’s not entirely true but it’s pretty fucking close. Yes, the almighty Dew Tour is happening and, yes, there’s an official afterparty at Firestone with Hawthorne Heights and These Green Eyes. Not my scene. Other people are probably excited about Dolly Parton at the UCF Arena. No one I know, of course, but I’m sure there has to be somebody who can’t wait to fork over $95 to see her boobs in person. Maybe the Dublife party at Crooked Bayou will be awesome, but with LTJ Bukem earlier this week, I’ve already had my fill. Here’s the flyer regardless:



Tonight, on the other hand, is completely going off. It sill fascinates me that these events can’t be spread around a bit more. We’ve got GURU at Firestone (!!!!!!!!!!!!):



Get Mental at Sky60 (Password: Dew Something):



A party promising disco at Peacock Room (I’ll believe it when I hear it):



An Obamarama Concert for Change at the The Plaza Theatre:



And finally, Taste’s 5th Year Anniversary Party (No flyer or additional info).

If you can’t find anything Saturday, just rest up for Blow Sundays at Tanquerays:

Lupe Fiasco VS. Nikka Costa

We're lucky to have two awesome choices tonight: Lupe Fiasco at the UCF Arena ($25) or Nikka Costa at The Social ($20).



Since they're both crazy talented and have similar cover charges, your decision will most likely depend on your proximity to east Orlando versus downtown, or if you're a UCF student. (The kids get to see Lupe for free. I'm jealous.)

What's your choice? An upcoming king of hip hop?


Or a super hot queen of soul whose skimpy blue outfit is barely hanging on?


I'm going with Nikka... mostly because I live downtown.

LTJ Bukem

Rude bwoys. Torque presents LTJ + MC Conrad tonight at Crooked Bayou. $15 before 11, $20 after.

This Weekend: MOT's bday + Sparatik + Shiny Toy Guns + Yelle + Peter Baldwin

It's finally Friday, October 10th and that can only mean one thing: it's MOT's fucking birthday. So get your ass on down to Sky60 tonight and watch him get obliterated on Jagermeister (more so than usual, that is). Since he's officially over the hill, the password for free admission is 40 is the new FUCK YOU. PS... there are rumors that Fuel TV will be filming at Sky tonight as part of their coverage on the upcoming Dew Tour. So, in the words of Andrew Spear, "look nice and slutty."



They have a special guest tonight over at The Peacock Room, a dope ass girl DJ named Sparatik. She was the headliner at one of the first parties I ever threw (in 2003 at AKA Lounge) and she completely killed it. She now resides in L.A. but will visiting us tonight for a special performance.



And now the "Another Reason People Think Orlando Sucks" report: Apparently there is a new bar opening this evening on I-Drive increasing Orlando's lameness factor. Straight from their website:

ICEBAR Orlando, on International Drive just minutes away from the Orange County Convention Center, is the first and largest permanent ice bar in the country. Open year-round, the $35 cover charge includes a 45-minute expedition into the 27-degree den of solid, sparkling, floor-to-ceiling ice. Slip on a thermal cape and gloves and sip a premium vodka cocktail (or non-alcoholic drink for guests under 21) served in a glass carved from pure ice. Reserve your block now and be the first to Experience the Chill.

Where do I begin??? For a mere THIRTY FIVE bones, you too can wear an unflattering giganti-coat that covers your cute outfit, freeze your ass off, hang out with tourists and minors, and pay too much for drinks served in cups that will stick to your hand. Sounds grrrrrreeeeeaaatttttt.



Saturday night is hipster heaven with the ultimate showdown of semi-talented national acts that are too cool for school. You'll have your choice of Shiny Toy Guns performing at BackBooth or the Uffie doppelganger Yelle over at The Social. Hipsters who are feeling overzealous can even try to hit both shows, since it sounds like STG will be performing early. Older hipsters can just hit up Bar BQ Bar, as with any other Saturday night.



If you're really into Shiny Toy Guns and don't mind dealing with the lame ass crowd at Vixen (WARNING: Clicking the Vixen link will lead to REALLY LOUD house music!!!! I mean SUPER loud. Like, "I could get fired" loud. You have been warned!!!), you can catch Jeremy Dawson's DJ set at the official after party, hosted by Go Clubnights.



If the jazzy live musician thing sounds like it's more your scene, check out Peter Baldwin over at Peacock.



So what have we learned? 40 is the new fuck you, Icebar is super lame and don't click the Vixen link at work. Have a super awesome weekend!

Common + N.E.R.D. + WPRK's Blob + Young Frankenstein

As our week of hip-hop-awesomeness continues, we have a few more big players in town this evening. Tonight at Hard Rock Live catch No-one Ever Really Dies (better known as N.E.R.D.) on award tour with Common my man (after each and every show a couple dykes in the van. Wait, no that's Kanye. Sorry!). I saw Common the last time he performed at House of Blues to a sold-out crowd. His blend of hip hop seems to toe the line between "intelligent" (self proclaimed, of course), preachy, political and fashionable (he changed Gap outfits about 10 times) but he still puts on a great show. Add N.E.R.D., the kingpins behind pretty much every catchy beat on the radio, and you've got quite a show. Don't miss out.



Lately, I've slept on a few events to help support everyone's favorite local college radio station, WPRK 91.5 but they’re not entirely over yet! Check the flyer or WPRK's myspace page for the full schedule of events.



And finally, tonight what better way to get into the Halloween spirit than with a classic monster movie? Or perhaps, a classic monster movie spoof from Mel Brooks? Young Frankenstein (pronounced Fronkensteen, of course) will be playing for free tonight in Winter Park's Central Park as part of the Popcorn Flicks series.



If you don't have plans for Friday night as of yet, mark you calendar for a very special birthday bash for Mr. MOT. It's going to be crazy -- details coming tomorrow.

HOLY CRAP THE VILLAINS! Show up or i hate you.

Tonight is the second installment of the S.O.S. Concert Series, once again at Suite B. They have ASSURED everyone that the sound system will be fully functional this week. I'm crossing my fingers!

Villains from LA/NYC are on the tables tonight. Yes, you know them, even if you think you don't. They are the masters behind that club-friendly remix/rework of Michael Jackson's Thriller. Except they call it Thrilla.

Smile for Camera has a playlist over on their site (far right side of the page, scroll a bit) with about 6 Villains songs and remixes. Hope on over to take a listen! Smile for Camera

And yes, BOTH members of Villains are spinning tonight. If you made it out to Pulp at Club Czar in Tampa, you've already dropped it low to their set. Remember this?



http://www.smileforcamera.com/galleries/2008-0509villainspulp/

Drink Specials on tap for tonight, and they are killer special, I might add:

10pm-11pm 2 for 1 Beer and Wine
11pm-12am 2 for 1 Bombs (Anything)
12am-1am 2 for 1 Mixed Drinks
1am-2am 2 for 1 Hard Shots
2am-3am 2 for 1 Pick You Up off the Floors (no its not a shot, it means you will be so passed out it will require two people to drag you out!)

Doors at 10PM
$5 cover

Photos by Smile for Camera

RSVP for the event over on facebook

Hip Hop Tuesday

B-boys and b-girls rejoice! Tonight you've got a full agenda as two special tours hit up our city on the same night.

Start out your evening by making the trek out to Disney property (I guarantee it will be worth it) for The Roots, Gym Class Heroes and Estelle performing at House of Blues.



Wash it down at with a special Phat-N-Jazzy over at The Social. The Smash Mouf tour (no, not the shitty band that sings "Walking On The Sun") is promoting the collaboration between Roc C from Stones Throw and IMakeMadBeats as The Transcontinental. Check the flyer for more info.

Atmosphere

Go to this show.




Seriously, put your opinions about firestone on hold and go to this show. You'll thank me later.

all photos are courtesy of Smile For Camera.

For more information on the show, see Becky's post below.