Halloween weeeeeeeeek
Vote early, see shows: A guide for Halloween 2025 in NYC
Early voting is open in the NYC mayoral election...choose wisely.
Last week Rochester, NY’s Channel 13 ABC affiliate presented a unique performance to preview the city’s Avant Garde a Clue 2 Festival…enjoy.
Wednesday (Oct 29)
UP25 Night #1: Ryan Sawyer Trio with Bill Nace and Samara Lubelski + 75 Dollar Bill + Tara Jane O’Neil at Union Pool
None of the mayoral candidates mentioned Union Pool as their favorite NYC venue (perhaps fearing linking themselves with the place once called a “horny utopia of 2000s Williamsburg”). But let’s be real - it rocks. If it’s a utopia for anything, then it’s one for seeing experimental music, noisy rock & roll, Rev. Vince’s Monday night service, low-key indie-rock gigs, free afternoon summer shows and a host of other honest musical pursuits. This is night one of the venue’s free 25th anniversary celebration with a lineup of trusted locals (tomorrow it continues with Frankie Rose + Eric Copeland + PC Worship + Ice Balloons, also free).
Rats NYC w/ Bogie Nights Band at Nublu
Technically this is a sceney downtown fashion party (hosted by GQ/Pitchfork editorial director Will Welch) that features buzzy guest DJs (Zack Bia previously, Kitty Cash tonight) but it’s also a gig uniquely angled at jazzy jam-band fans. That’s because supremely talented multireedist Stuart Bogie, someone with a taste for funk, fusion and Afrobeat, heads up the house band.
Thursday (Oct 30)
Herbie Hancock at Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ
Lately I’ve been enjoying Herbie’s 1969 Fat Albert Rotunda, a little bit of an oddity but also sort of a waypoint for the many electric, funky places he would go after. In light of the recent sad passing of drummer Jack DeJohnette (who shared many sessions with Herbie), don’t overlook any chance to spend time with the legend, even if you need to take a train to NJ. (They play together on the cut below.)
Friday (Halloween)
Show Brain w/ Balaclava + Skorts + Bec Lauder and the Noise at Tompkins Square Park
Afternoon free punk party in the park 2–6pm.
New York Night Train Haunted Hop at Knockdown Center
DJ Jonathan Toubin masterminds this annual cover band marathon, headlined by non-cover bands including ESG and Sun Ra Arkestra. Currently sold out with after 1am entry tickets still on sale.
Pam Fleming’s Dead Zombie Band at Waverly Ave between Willoughby and DeKalb Aves
Like the Park Slope giant pumpkin and Spirit Halloween, this annual tradition is a combination of confusing and delightful. Why is there a band that pops up once a year with a songbook of campy/spooky funk-ska originals? Yes.
Egyptian Lover + Byrell The Great + more at Paragon
The mind behind stone-cold classics like “Freak-A-Holic,” “Dial-A-Freak” and “I Need a Freak” deejays this electro-heavy Halloween party.
Saturday (Nov 1)
The Beta Band at Brooklyn Steel
It’s incredible that a shoutout by John Cusack can endure more than two decades later, but such is the power of the High Fidelity cosign. It really makes you think. The reunited band, who originally set out to smother Britpop with luscious, syrupy trip-hop grooves, returns. (Also Sunday)
Sunday (Nov 2)
NYC Marathon Watching of the Folks
Both Good Bar and Eavesdrop, located a half block apart, open early with DJs and beverages.
Tuesday (Nov 4)
Shintaro Sakamoto + Habibi + Nick Hakim + El Michels Affair (DJ) at Knockdown Center
Former frontman of Yura Yura Teikoku, Sakamoto plays rock that’s funky, smooth and a little sideways. His latest single, “Dear Grandpa,” is a garage pop ditty with unsettling lyrics about the state of the world: “Grandpa, the world’s in chaos / But don’t worry, I’ll take it from here.”
Election Night Watch Party at TV Eye
If you visit a poll site earlier in the week, you can be smugly satisfied that your vote will be among the first reported at this free watch party hosted by NY Groove and Soft Power Vote. When the results come in, shout “That’s me! That was my vote!” and point at the screen.