photo courtesy of Tyler Larson
Leave your drumsticks and normal clothing at home.
Friday at 7 p.m., the E.H.C.O. Loft at 62nd and Havelock will play host to the Halloween Spectacular Show, put on by Good Times Studio. Tickets are $7 for those not in costume, $5 for those who are.
The show will be headlined by the “man-tastic music legend,” Billy Saffyre, who is known for creating piano/vocal arrangements for top 40 songs. There will also be performances from James Brightwell, Anna Christensen, Jeremy Pape and Andy Pappas.
“It’s interesting how eclectic music can be with only a piano and vocals,” Pape says.
“People are tired of the same old, same old. They’re tired of the drums and guitars playing as loud as they can. This concert will be different than anything they’ve heard in the last eight or nine years.”
Good Times Studio owner and concert organizer Tyler Larson chose the artist lineup based on amount of activity each artist had in the past year.
“James is getting started again,” Larson said. “Anna has been working hard, Jeremy has been prepping and appearing in more places after a long hiatus, and Andy is almost constantly playing shows, like a champion.”
Also different will be the attire. With Halloween so close, Larson decided to make it a costume party, even offering prizes for the best-dressed. Posters, T-shirts and candy are all up for grabs, among other small prizes. Larson also said the idea of a dance contest was being discussed.
The concert is an alcohol-free affair, offering a pop bar instead. Pape said people shouldn’t worry about their Friday night drinking plans being ruined, though.
“Instead of pregaming, come to the concert,” he said. “It’ll end in time for you to go downtown and see other shows.”
Those not interested in heading elsewhere afterward will be free to stay and dance in their costumes.
When asked what kind of turnout he was expecting, Larson laughed. “Hundreds of thousands of people,” he said. “Realistically, 50 to 75 people would be great.”
Regardless of how many people show up, there’ll be serious talent on stage, Larson said.
“Every single one of them plays and sounds phenomenally,” he said. “This is going to be a concert full of really solid music and songwriting.”
Pape agreed with this sentiment, encouraging any and everyone to come.
“It’s not your run-of-the-mill amateur mic night,” he said. “It’s real talent.”
Tyler Keown is a Hear Nebraska contributor. He also writes for the Daily Nebraskan under the pseudonym Tyler Keown. Reach him at tylerk@hearnebraska.org.