As if L.A. wasn't scary enough...

Published: Thursday, October 31, 1996

Thursday, October 31, 1996

HALLOWEEN:

Southland haunts offer wide variety of fun for spooky holidayBy Kristin Fiore

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

So, you've got your satirical, tasteless or just plain silly costume all laid out Bob Dole as a transvestite, Bill Clinton as a nun, Sam the Butcher from the Brady Bunch on a rampage.

But Santa Barbara has been cracking down on party-goers, and Oingo Boingo are, well, deceased so where are you going to go on the one holiday that celebrates the ghoulish, whimsical side of life? True to form, L.A. has options for trick-or-treaters of every persuasion, if you're looking for a crowd and are willing to fork out the dough.

The Palace's Hollyween '96 is sure to be the most notorious party, featuring topless dancers, go-go dancers, XXX celebrities and costume contests, all hosted by Al "Grandpa" Lewis of the Munsters. The crowd will surely be one to make Madonna blush. Not something to take your younger siblings to.

KROQ fans can catch Porno for Pyros, Fun Lovin' Criminals and DJ Jason Bentley (of KROQ and KCRW) at a sold-out Mayan Theater tonight, where fans will try their best to out-drag, out-do and out-costume lead Pyro Perry Ferrell.

For the truly in crowd, the newly revamped and always cutting-edge Dragonfly is reopening tonight with sets by Sugar Ray, The Cows and Human Waste Project. The show promises to be loud, raunchy and definitely worth seeing.

For those who would prefer a more upscale atmosphere, the oft exclusive and overpriced Roxbury offers "Friction Pumpkin Bash," with three rooms of live music (bands Mobtown and Heavy Woolies) and DJs that range from disco and funk to house and hip-hop. There's also a $1000 costume contest, so you can get back some of your expenditures for white make-up, spiderweb pantyhose and those seven dollar long island iced teas.

Many other clubs are getting into Halloween, even if they're not planning special mega-events. Al's Bar, whose downtown location alone is enough to inspire a spook, is hosting "Thrilling Thursday," with bands Sluts for Hire, Barnacle and Foxations on the bill. There are also showings of "Night o' the Living Dead" and "Nosferatu," and prizes for the creepiest costumes and pumpkin carvings.

It would be pure evil for Hell's Gate not to throw a bash, but they're throwing one anyway "Larry Mann's Scary Halloween Party" (no points for thinking up a cool title) with bands Pinhead, Holy Vincent and Spooky Pie.

Luna Park is celebrating their 3rd anniversary tonight, with a "Halloween Monster Ball" and wild performances by glam and cabaret artists, as well as DJ Double Demon.

Finally, those who can't be satisfied by L.A.'s petty offerings can make the pilgrimage to Irvine Meadows Amphitheater to see KISS. The band close their reunion tour makeup, explosions and all tonight and tomorrow. The band is coming in costume, of course as themselves.

If that's not scary enough for you, you'll just have to wait until the elections next week.