Creatures of the night, come dance around

By Debby Jet Jennings - Herald columnist

Welcome to the dark side. Spirits walk, ghosts roam, even vampires are on the prowl — and that's just your friends, kids and neighbors in search of treats and spooky fun this Halloween weekend.

Oh, ponder the possibilities.

Take a scary stroll to encounter the band Seasoned Critters, whose destiny is to reunite tonight at Kelly's Bistro in Rock Hill. Wes Holland, Dusty Singleton and Lou Lambruschi will join forces with Barry Hodges on bass, Mike Goodson on drums, and Brother Dave Lowe, armed with his harmonicas as together they fulfill their fate, playing a wicked mix of acoustic rock, Americana and bluegrass. Their musical mission includes performing covers of songs by the legends including John Prine, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton and others. Plus, it's a chance for a dress rehearsal of your costume choice this year. Start on a spicy note with Seasoned Critters tonight at Kelly's Bistro, 1101 E. Main St. Show time is 9 p.m. Call 803-327-3311 for details.

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“This is Halloween, everybody make a scene,” so see earthquakes, lightning, even trouble on the way as the band FoolMoon is rising Saturday night at Bull and Barrister's Draft House and Grille in Charlotte. FoolMoon began as an all-original, writing/composing project by brothers Dave Mauldwin, lead guitar/vocals; and Joe Mauldwin, bass/vocals; along with Jamie Deckard — formerly with Doc Holiday — on drums. Together this trio touts influences from multiple decades: the blues and 1960s and 1970s blues rock groups Aerosmith, Cream, Deep Purple, Humble Pie, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath; Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet and the Outlaws; along with 1980s powerhouses Gun's N Roses, Whitesnake and Van Halen. For more than 25 years, they've honed their skills up and down the east coast club circuit in an assortment of cover/original bands, logging lots of live shows with regional and national acts including Autograph, Blackfoot, Blue Oyster Cult, Firehouse, Honeymoon Suite, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mother's Finest, Pat Travers Band, The Outlaws, Nantucket and Nazareth. Looks like you're in for rocking weather with FoolMoon at Bull and Barrister's Draft House and Grille, 3615 Mount Holly-Huntersville Road, Charlotte. Call 704-971-3313, or check bullandbarrister.com for more information.

Look for a shot of rock from Smack Lily on Saturday along with Echo Code for a slamming Halloween hubbub at The End Zone in Rock Hill. Smack Lily is a punk/alternative outfit formerly known as Bleeka and features Chad Gerrald, vocals/guitar; Jeff Barrett, guitar/vocals; Aaron Thomas, bass; Jim St. Clair, drums; and Donnie Honeycutt, guitar/vocals. Sown from similar seeds as alternative rockers Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains and others, the band recently picked up a nomination in the “rock band/group” category for the 2009 Queen City Awards and plans a CD release in January 2010. Get there for “ghouls gone wild” with Smack Lily and Echo Code on Saturday night at The End Zone, 2354 Ebenezer Road. Call 803-324-8300 for show details. For more on the band, hit smacklily.com or myspace.com/smacklily.

An outright onslaught of howling Halloween happenings on Saturday should keep things creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky. Plan a getaway to Tropical Escape Café in Rock Hill for music from The Oneppo Brothers. A cool costume contest is also on the agenda. Do a little turn on the catwalk, flaunt some fashion, or reveal your secret alter ego at 590 Anderson Road, Rock Hill. Call 803-366-8450 for more information.

A trio of special treats is guaranteed to keep things extra interesting. First, get your kicks with Jet on Saturday for the Blackhearts Ball at The Pavilion-Epicenter, in uptown Charlotte. Winging their way from Melbourne, Australia, this gritty rock foursome of Nic Cester, guitar/vocals; Chris Cester, drums/vocals; Cameron Muncey, guitar/vocals; and Mark Wilson, bass; stocked up on swagger and stomp a la AC/DC to help get their garage-rock throwback sound across. Get on board this supersonic Halloween blast with Jet at The Pavilion-Epicenter in uptown Charlotte. Check out the band and music at gettheband.com or myspace.com/jet.