When many people think of this weekend's festivities, they are most likely thinking of stumbling around on Court Street, gawking at passers-by and watching for horse cops.
But tonight, tomorrow and Saturday night, the third annual Halloween Creepout will take over the indoor entertainment and leave the outside amusement for the frigid.
The Creepout is an alternative to wandering around Court Street
said Scott Winland, who is in charge of booking at The Union, 18 W. Union St.
The Creepout features three solid nights of rock spanning between The Union and Casa Cantina, 4 W. State St.
The little brother of Blackout Fest doesn't bring in quite as many people, but is still a major event in the Athens music scene, Winland said.
The Creepout starts tonight at Casa with European favorites Wheels on Fire, The Dragline Bros., Casual Future and girl punk group Loaded Revulvas.
It is great to have all these bands playing, said bartender Mikey McCarthy, but it's even better to have them all playing on the same night at the same venue.
It's a great opportunity to see a lot of good acts at once he said. It is a good show for people who don't usually come out to see concerts, McCarthy said. The show will provide a good sense of what is going on in the Athens music scene, he said.
The next night at The Union features local and national up-and-comers The Willowz, Dropdead Sons, El Jesus de Magico, Paper Machetes and White Album.
The Willowz have been featured in the Michael Gondry movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. They also have two songs on Gondry's latest film, The Science of Sleep, which is currently playing at The Athena, 20 S. Court St.
Winland said The Union is working with The Athena to promote both The Science of Sleep as well as the Creepout this weekend. Movie patrons who view The Science of Sleep and save their ticket stub can present it for half-off admission to tomorrow's show.
The final night at The Union will bring in a lot of street traffic because of the Halloween block party in addition to those seeking refuge from the cold, Winland said. Bands playing include S.S.M., local favorites We March, the Buffalo Killers from Cincinnati, the Makebelieves, Beat the Devil (from New York City) and new local band Human Lawnmowers.
This is the third year for the Creepout, which began to coincide with The Union's Rocky Horror Picture Show performances, although each of the events has evolved beyond their original pairing.
Winland said the show on Saturday is a great opportunity for out-of-town acts to be exposed to many fans who would not have a chance to see them otherwise, and vice versa for Athens music fans who are rarely treated to big-city bands.
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Chris Yonker
Halloween Creepout returns for 3rd year; The Union, Casa playing host
