The Best Concerts in Dallas This Weekend, 10/31-11/02

Image via Roadrunner Records

It's Halloween weekend, which is most likely your favorite time of the year to party if you're under 30. If you're over 30, relax, New Year's Eve isn't too far off. For now, there's just a bunch of shows you should check out this weekend, Halloween-themed and otherwise. Slipknot and Korn take their oddities out to Gexa, Larry G(EE), Quaker City Night Hawks, and Taddy Porter throw a party at the Granada, Bludded Head has a release show at Rubber Gloves and Double Wide is throwing a bunch of parties to celebrate. Don't be frightened; here are your picks.

Slipknot: The Prepare For Hell Tour
With Korn and King 810 7 p.m., Friday, October 31, at Gexa Energy Pavilion, 1818 1st Ave., 214­421­1111 or livenation.com. $15­-85
Halloween is a night of traditions - trick or treating, pranks and letting our inner ghoul out for one night. Dallas, Texas has a tradition of its own as one of the premier metal destinations in the U.S.A. On Halloween Eve, Gexa Energy Pavilion welcomes two of the biggest names in modern metal history in the form of KoRn and Slipknot, who are currently touring together on their Prepare For Hell tour. Bakersfield's KoRn needs little introduction. Active since 1993, the band is responsible for making the nu metal genre a global phenomenon. KoRn has a lot to smile about these days both with the release of their most recent album, The Paradigm Shift, and the return of founding member Brian "Head" Welch to the band. Des Moines's Slipknot is smiling about a new album of their own in, .5: The Gray Chapter, an album named after fallen bass player Paul Gray. On the album the band has taken Gray's loss to heart displaying a new-found anger and ferocity that is sure to surface during their performance at Gexa. James Khubiar

Larry G(EE)
Quaker City Night Hawks and Taddy Porter, Friday, 7 p.m., October 31, at Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., 214-824-9933 or granadatheater.com, $15-$50
If you're planning on catching a Halloween show and maybe don't want to go see Slipknot and KoRn scare the absolute shit out of you, this is probably your best bet. Larry G(EE) is one of the most promising funk acts in the city and his live shows are full of energy with a backing band that's as soulful as a true Texas Thanksgiving dinner. Quaker City Night Hawks and Taddy Porter open, both of which are a throwback to the days when tough vocals, a blues influence and thunderous guitars ruled rock 'n' roll. Spend your Halloween in an evening of retro-centric tunes; it should be more than worth it. HDB

Daniel Markham and Friends as the B-52's
With Paper Robot as Nirvana and Brent Best as Roky Erickson, 10 p.m., Friday, October 31, at Dan's Silver Leaf, 103 Industrial St, Denton, TX 76201, http://www.danssilverleaf.com, $10
We don't always suggest you head over to your nearest venue to check out cover songs. There's so much great music pulsating through North Texas and coming into town each and every week. However, this is a special occasion: On Halloween, Daniel Markham, Paper Robot and Brent Best will perform as the B-52's, Nirvana and Roky Erickson, respectively. Catching some of Denton's finest perform tracks by legendary musicians should be a hell of an occasion. HDB

Halloween Spooktacular Day 2 w/ Wizards of Gore (Rigor Mortis),
Cleric, Tolar, Steel Bearing Hand, at Double Wide, 9 p.m., $5. Goriest Costume Contest at 1 a.m. $500 cash prize
Double Wide is throwing a three-day Halloween Spooktacular deal this weekend. On Thursday, Purple Wizard, Party Static and iill plays shows with a costume contest that can earn you a $50 gift card. On Devil's Night, Wizards of Gore (members of Rigor Mortis), Cleric, Tolar and Steel Bearing Hand play sets with a $500 cash prize costume contest. And Saturday, Elvis: The Experience and Hotrod Hillbillies throw down retro rockabilly with another $500 prize winning dead celebrity costume contest. You can pretty much just pitch a tent outside of Double Wide and spend your whole weekend there. Actually, best to take that up with management first. HDB

Son of Stan
With Catamaran, -topic, 8 p.m, at Club Dada, 2720, Elm St. Dallas, TX, 214-742-3400, http://www.dadadallas.com, $8-$10
Parade of Flesh put together one of the most diverse bills you've seen or will probably see in a while here. This Halloween Saturday at Dada you can catch '80s pop revivalist Son of Stan as the headliner, Dallas' resident conscious rap talent, -topic, and sunny psychedelic indie rockers Catamaran opening. A costume contest is also on the agenda, so dress like an insanely creative weirdo and catch some tunes good enough for anyone's palette. HDB