Musical Treats for Halloween — and Beyond

October 12, 2017 by David K. Moseder

In the heart of autumn, with Halloween approaching and Thanksgiving not far off, Brooklyn’s musical cornucopia is overflowing. The following sampling of what’s coming up abounds with frighteningly good treats – and there’s not a turkey in the bunch.

Big Daddy Kane /photo by Al Pereira

On October 31st, The Bell House hosts the presented by Brooklyn’s own The Occasion alists with special guest singers. The show benefits the Ali Forney Center, advocating for homeless LGBTQ youth, and The Center for Anti-Violence Education. For those seeking to escape the traditional Halloween madness, Barbès has two shows that night: jazz saxophonist Michael Attias and band at 7 p.m., followed by local Balkan-soul/gypsy-funk sensations Slavic Soul Party at 9. New Orleans rapper Pell performs at Rough Trade, while San Francisco’s Griffage (Charlie Yin) does his electro-pop thing at Music Hall of Williamsburg. At National Sawdust, Heartbeat Opera combines music, Shakespeare and cross-dressing with its “All the World’s a Drag” extravaganza on both October 30 and 31.

Nicole Atkins/ Photo by Anna Webber / courtesy of Girlie Action Media

Longtime local favorites Grizzly Bear are doing three shows, November 2-4, at Brooklyn Steel. They’re touring in support of their brand new album, Painted Ruins. Opening for them is Baltimore-born, Brooklyn-based Serpent With Feet, a classically trained R&B singer.

On November 7th, Nicole Atkins makes her third return appearance in her former home town, opening for JD McPherson at Music Hall of Williamsburg. You can catch Flatbush folk singer Carolann Solebello performing solo at Pete’s Candy Store on the 14th and as part of No Fuss and Feathers on the 19th at First Acoustics (First Unitarian Church) in Brooklyn Heights.

November highlights at Kings Theater include The Art of Rap on the 4th, featuring Brooklyn’s own Big Daddy Kane and Raekwon, among others; the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on the 7th; Tegan and Sara on the 8th and Evanescence on the 10th. Barclays Center presents Masters of Ceremony with local rappers Busta Rhymes and Fabolous joining 50 Cent and other hip-hop luminaries, on the 3rd, while Janet Jackson brings her State of the World Tour there on the 15th.

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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