Just as Halloween gives kids the chance to become one of their heroes (or a random monster), the imagination-fueled holiday affords bands a similar opportunity to emulate their idols and forebears. This year Subterranean plays host to two Halloween-themed shows including the first annual Electronic Halloween Extravaganza. Five mostly local bands will take on the first wave of electronic bands which set the scene for techno, electro and many groups in between. Boyfriend/girlfriend duo, J+J+J, apply their juvenile electro stylings to Kraftwerk’s robotic back catalog (watch for matching jumpsuits). Detroit native Goudron pays tribute to electro-pop pioneer Gary Numan, while Chicago trio Far Rad dons mustaches to play the role of Italo-disco originator Giorgio Moroder and his cohort Harold Faltermeyer. Things get gritty and sweaty when Roland Vega and Beau Wazner take on the works of Front 242 and Mandate embrace the aggressive screeds of D.A.F. DJ Saskrotch, as himself, also stops by to bombard the audience with 8-bit madness. (Steve Mizek)
First Annual Electronic Halloween Extravaganza at Subterranean, 2011 West North, (773)278-6600 on October 28, at 8pm. $8 advance, $10 day of show.
Brutal Finesse: A Preview of King Crimson at Ravinia There have been few new compositions from King Crimson these past two decades, but the live arrangements of songs from its catalog are often strikingly different than the recorded versions.
