Halloween’s Stag Nite at the Crack Fox Weds New Bands to Old(er) Music

Here’s a favorite musical memory. Like, ever.

While studying in London at the dawn of the ‘90s, I caught the then-charting Concrete Blonde at a venue called the Town & Country II, the smaller iteration of a great, old London rock club of the same name. The second T&C got the smaller-selling shows, or those that rolled into town late. For that particular gig, Concrete Blonde was fronted, as always, by founder, singer, songwriter and bassist Johnette Napolitano, accompanied by longtime guitarist James Mankey and drummer Paul Thompson, formerly of Roxy Music. At the time, the group was riding a high of popularity and didn’t need to be relegated to a little, 300-seat venue; it’s just the way it worked out for that gig. The show, if memory serves correct, was fun. A lot of fun.

On the tube ride back to Victoria Station, I wound up across the aisle from a classic rocker type, who’d been at the show, too. In conversation, he mentioned that he’d bootlegged the show; if I wanted, I could give him two pounds for the cost of a cassette and he’d get the duped tape to me shortly. I passed along the pound coins, never expecting to see the tape. In a surprise for all times, the cassette wound up in flat where I was staying the next day, a neat trick considering the locked front doors to the building.

If the set fell a hair shy of magic (and it was plenty good), this ultimate act of generous fandom certainly did put the show over the edge.

For most people, even rock fans, there’s probably not a ready, go-to “Concrete Blonde moment.” This is understandable. And unlike a lot of bands from that era who’ve enjoyed a renewed rush of attention (think: Guided by Voices or the Pixies), Concrete Blonde sits in that sort of ‘90s music dustbin, alongside acts like the Screaming Trees, Die Kreuzen, Ride… bands that had their day of niche-y play, but don’t figure to enjoy full-on revivals.

This Wednesday night, a special Halloween show’s come together at Downtown’s Crack Fox, where Little Big Bangs will be playing the music of Nine Inch Nails, while Devil’s Satans (including KDHX deejays Jeff Hess and Al Swacker) will be playing a variety pack of Halloween songs. Rounding out the bill will be Ellen the Felon and The Mattronome; they were advertised for a set of Concrete Blonde, but have added Dresden Dolls tracks to their set, as well as some added treats.

If the East Coast news bloggers are working overtime to get you breaking news this morning, know that we’re working hard, too. These interviews were conducted on Monday night, with Ryan Macias of Little Big Bangs (caught at The Royale), and Ellen Cook of Ellen the Felon and The Mattronome (found at Mangia).

Ryan Macias, Little Big Bangs:

What kind of NIN tracks are you concentrating on?

We’re trying to do songs from every era. All are songs we like.

Can you say what songs you’ll be doing? Or would you rather people not know?

I want it to be a surprise. What went into thinking about the songs is that some are harder to translate to guitars. We’re not using any synthesizers or sequencers.

How’s this set been coming together?

We practice every week, and we started doing just Nine Inch Nails maybe two, or three, months ago. We’ve taken it more seriously the last two months. We’ve stopped writing new stuff of our own and just focused on this.

With all the attention that gets paid to An Under Cover Weekend, I’m wondering how long you’d been planning for this particular set on this particular night.

I guess we were originally going to do it at El Leñador, but we decided to do it at the Crack Fox, because Johnny Vegas is doing the Stag Nite there now. It just seemed a fitting environment.

I’ve seen you play the Velvet Underground on Halloween in the past. What’s the reaction to a show like that?

People usually seem to like it. It pushes us a lot, too. You’re putting yourself into a different mode, a different direction, to learn other people’s songs. People seemed to like the energy and the songs.

Ellen Cook, Ellen the Felon and The Mattronome:

Explain how your set morphed over time.

Concrete Blonde is a little before my time. I’m only 27. But I’ve been digging deeper into what they’ve done. “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song),” that’s what I thought about for Halloween. The Seven Shot Screamers and I did that song the last time they played in town, when Mike (Leahy) was in. So, yeah, I love that and “Joey.” I never knew that “Everybody Knows” was a Leonard Cohen song, so I want to back and learn what they’re about. I love Johnette mostly because she actually sing. But we’re also going to do some Dresden Dolls songs, along with some Concrete Blonde. And I’m definitely going to dress up.

You mentioned that Concrete Blonde was tricky to pull off as a two-piece.

Yeah, there’s something about Concrete Blonde. I’d feel that in order to really, really pull it off, I’d want a full band. I can reinterpret it in my own way, but I can’t necessarily do a guitar solo on a piano. I can, but I can’t. With “Bloodletting,” there’s that driving bassline, which is killer. I’m totally excited about playing those songs.

Have you ever play An Under Cover Weekend?

No, I haven’t. I’ve never submitted. We play mostly originals.

Do you have any feelings on the cover phase that’s running through St. Louis?

I seriously love paying tribute to musicians and artists that I respect and love. But I wish… well, there’re so many cover bands and tribute bands here, and that’s awesome. Often with covers, they’re familiar, it’s something you associate with, but as a songwriter, it’s harder to grab people’s attention with original music. As a vocalist, I’ve been offered wedding band gigs, but I just haven’t felt like doing it. It’s all relative to who’s doing what. If you love what you’re covering, if it’s Concrete Blonde or the Dresden Dolls, I’m not against it. But I’d never want anyone mistaking Ellen the Felon and The Mattronome, or Ellen the Felon solo, as a cover band. What we love is our originals; we love to create. Call me a tortured artist, or starving artist, but that’s how it should be. You should be writing your own music.

But for this, I take it that you lose yourself in the moment…

For this night, it’s Halloween. For me, every night is Halloween. I’m always dressing up and being ridiculous. For me, it’s everything I love: I get to dress up, be amazing, play music, and it’s all socially acceptable.

And you’ve played Stag Nite.

Yeah, Stag Nite is what’s up. I love Johnny Vegas and Carrie (Harris) and the Crack Fox is amazing. We’re looking forward to it.

Stag Nite Halloween Concert and Costume Contest, The Crack Fox, 1114 Olive, Wednesday, October 31, 8 p.m. 21 and up, $5, crackfoxbar.net.