Jackson Hole Halloween 2013 (Week 1 of 2)

(Published by Planet JH Weekly)Well, well. It’s All Hallow’s Eve creepin’ up on us all. With Halloween falling on Thursday of next week, this weekend marks the celebratory kick-off to creepy week. The big news this year is the absence of the annual KMTN/Snow King Resort Halloween Bash that has run for thirty-four years and raised money for early childhood education. The lack of Bash is due to hotel renovations at Snow King. But that’s enough about what’s not happening. Here’s what is.Sir Mix-a-Lot’s un-killable, hysterical track about women with large buttocks, “Baby Got Back,” was the rap song that defined pop culture in 1992. Not only did it spend five weeks at number one on the Billboard Chart as a single, it sold over two million copies and went on to win a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. Will Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” (currently at number one) be remembered in twenty-one years? Doubt it.The fact that he’s the Jackson attraction for Halloween brings up a question that many have been wondering. Is Sir Mix-a-Lot a one-hit novelty act? Does that even matter when it’s Halloween? Sir Mix just turned fifty, and it’s likely that he will be touring with a deejay and possibly another emcee.Sir Mix-a-Lot (aka Anthony Ray) is a DIY success story. He promoted and produced all of this own tracks and became a platinum-selling artist with a strong following before he ever signed with Rick Rubin’s Def American label and assumed the image of an exaggerated parodic pimp. After his breakout success with “Baby Got Back,” he even collaborated with grunge/novelty band The Presidents of the United States of America to form rap-rock group Subset. No album was released, though he did release another solo album, Daddy’s Home (2003), on an independent label along with the lead single, “Big Johnson.” In 2010, Sir Mix announced that he was working on another album, Dun 4got About Mix, but only released a single, “Carz,” to YouTube.“For me, personally—and call me chauvinist—but I don't like a girl that looks like a 10-year-old boy from behind,” Six Mix told Village Voice in 2011. “There's nothing sexy about that. I like when a woman is shaped like a woman. That being said, I have to get rid of this big stomach I have. But that's another issue.” Halloween Party with Sir Mix-a-Lot, 9 p.m. Saturday at the Pink Garter Theatre. $21/advance, $23/day-of-show at The Rose, Pinky G’s and PinkGarterTheatre.com. Chanman Roots Band—your local reggae/roots/rock nine-piece—will methodically squeeze onto the stage, costumes and all, at the Silver Dollar Bar for a two-night stand. Bob your head to Chanman’s original ski-bum music—“Ski When it’s Time to Ski” and “Skis Boots Polls”—alongside a slew of reggae classics from Marley and Tosh as well contemporary asides via SOJA and Michael Franti. Chanman Roots Band, 7:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Reggae Halloween Party) at the Silver Dollar Bar. Costume Contest, 9 to 10 p.m. on Saturday for Best Female, Best Male, and Best Couple. Category winners will receive certificates for “Dinner for 2 at The Silver Dollar Grill.” Free. 733-2190.In partnership with the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Jackson Hole Community Band will be presenting a Halloween Concert 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Walk Festival Hall. Kids of all ages are invited to come in costume. JHCB will feature Halloween tunes and children will be invited on stage for a costume parade. The concert is FREE and open to the public.Next week, look for more Halloween previews for the day-of including Latyrx (Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truth Speaker) at the Knotty Pine (Oct. 31), as well as Sneaky Pete & the Secret Weapons (Oct. 31), and Black Mother Jones (Nov. 1) at Town Square Tavern.