Music Box: Hair bands dominate creeptastic Hole

By Aaron Davis (for JHWeekly.com)Jackson Hole, Wyo. - It’s an excuse be the excessive melodramatic version of yourself, take on a completely different persona altogether, even dress the way your mother scorned you for in high school. From string music to hip-hop, reggae, family costume parades, and the presence of four big-hair bands, there’s plenty to spook the masses for a Hole Halloween week.

Five days before Halloween proper (yes, you will need at least three costumes to make it through the elongated build-up), hop to reggae beats with the punchy horn positivity of Chanman Roots Band. A costume contest will reward best female, best male, and best couple with dinner for two at the Silver Dollar Grill. The eight-piece will play 7:30 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, at the Silver Dollar Bar in the Wort Hotel (free).78 Productions and Poppa Presents will deliver “Hollywood Halloween,” a triple-band hard rock bill at Pink Garter Theatre featuring L.A. Guns (known for their platinum album, Cocked & Loaded), Liberty Lush, and Gutter & the Onslaught. A guitar will be given away to the person with the best Hollywood costume. Showtime is 9 p.m., Saturday. Tickets are $20, available at The Rose, Pinky G’s or PinkGarterTheatre.com. On Halloween (Wednesday), deejays Vert-One and Richie Beats will instigate a raging dance party in the lobby outside of The Rose. The party kicks off at 9:30 p.m. and is free.The 34th Annual KMTN/Snow King Resort Halloween Bash has moved from Snow King Center back into Snow King’s “Haunted Hotel.” Even the Shady Lady Saloon will be open. Most importantly, proceeds benefit the Children’s Learning Center. Pump your fists to local ’80s hair band, 86, crushing some Guns N’ Roses and Van Halen, interspersed with sets by DJ Pete Muldoon. The costume contest is $5 to enter and features categories for most creative, sexiest male and female, best group, individual and couple, and best political. The party runs 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Saturday. The $15 admission is at the door only. A free drink awaits those arriving by 9:30 p.m. Snow King is offering a special room rate of $65 the night of the party.At Town Square Tavern, electronic dance parties are slated for Saturday and Halloween, hosting WYOBass deejays. Both parties start at 10 p.m., are free, and offer prizes for costumes.For the kids, the Jackson Hole Community Band, in partnership with the Grand Teton Music Festival, will present the 3rd Annual Halloween Concert for the Kids at 4 p.m., Saturday, at Walk Festival Hall in Teton Village (free). Kids of all ages are invited to dress in costume for this one-hour program. JHCB will feature Halloween tunes and children will be invited on stage for a costume parade. Immediately following, children are invited to trick-or-treat at participating businesses in Teton Village.If you’re a Teton Valley night hound, there’s one and only option. Portland, Oregon-based Fruition String Band bringing the strings of traditional folk and Americana with the energy of whiskey rock when the quintet delivers at 10 p.m., Wednesday the 31st, at the Knotty Pine in Victor. Admission is $8 at the door.Unfortunately, Halloween has emerged as the holiday that puts the highest number of impaired drivers on the road in Teton County. With that in mind, have fun and enjoy – but take a cab.