Positively State Street

MONSTER MASH-UPS: Personally speaking, this Friday marks what just might be my favorite day of the year. Aside from signaling the “official” start of the holiday season, Halloween brings with it a slew of nostalgic warm fuzzy feelings. As far back as I can remember, the costume and candy filled day of magic provided brisk weather, a solid reason to pounce through leaves wearing the most ridiculous garb I owned, and a legit excuse to rot the bejeezus out of my teeth. As an adult, Halloween simply gave me a reason to act like a seven-year-old-except with shorter skirts and louder parties.

This weekend, while Isla Vista revelers get crazy for four straight days, those of the slightly more mature variety can also ring in the days surrounding All Hallows Eve with some fittingly raucous tunes. Case in point: Thee Prodigal Sons‘ newest seasonal single, “Demons Come Dance.” For you club kids, this little ditty might ring a bell, as it’s recently been making the rounds on the dance floors of Sharkeez (416 State St.), Wildcat (15 W. Ortega St.), and pretty much everywhere else DJ Gavin Roy (djgavin.com) has been frequenting of late. A fresh addition to the S.B. music scene, the Sons seems to be off to a pretty decent start with the punk-tinged tune and hope to build on its success with additional material the band has currently in the works. But for now, we’re betting “Dead Can Dance” will be blasting through the speakers at quite a few downtown bars this holiday weekend-and maybe even a couple house parties. The song is currently available for free download on the band’s MySpace page (myspace.com/theeprodigalsons), as well as through The Indy‘s very own Web site. Visit independent.com for the MP3.

If you’re looking for something a bit more off the beaten path, may I recommend a trip down to Reds espresso bar (211 Helena St.). On Halloween night, the little coffee house that could will team up with the folks behind Fishbon (fishbon.com) for a night of interactive arts that is guaranteed to be unlike anything else out there. For those unfamiliar with the Fishbon shtick, this art collective is responsible for some of the most out-there parties Santa Barbara has to offer. In addition, the Fishbon Event Lab (fishboneventlab.blogspot.com) holds court every Wednesday night at the Pescadrome (101 S. Quarantina St.), where discussion topics range from technology to live events to dance, fashion, fire spinning, martial arts, and “empowering hacking.”

Friday night’s event (fittingly dubbed “Heroes of the Apocalypse”) will run from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and promises everything from a 22-foot robot Godzilla to a cabaret-themed dance party to live music, deejays, and an interactive build-it-yourself Utopia structure. Attendees are highly encouraged to dress up, and tickets are available (for $20 a pop) online at fishbonheroes.wordpress.com.

DAY OF THE NOT SO DEAD: Come Saturday, should you be looking to lend a helping hand or just keep the party rolling, I suggest a trip to Velvet Jones (423 State St.) for a little rock ‘n’ roll do-goodery. The club’s Dia de los Muertos event, featuring a can’t-miss set from Toronto-based electro-jazz band The New Deal (thenewdeal.com), will also benefit S.B.’s chapter of the Surfrider Foundation (sbsurfrider.org). Previous showings by these guys have sold out venues like SOhO and Velvet, and it comes as no surprise. The band (consisting of drummer Darren Shearer, bassist Dan Kurtz, and keyboardist Jamie Sheilds) has been referred to as “the Kraftwerk of the new millennium.” And their sound-something equivalent to ambient acid jazz with a pop backbone-is the ideal gateway drug for the weary electronica listener.

The guys will split the bill with Los Angeles-based turntable-ist DJ MEDI4 (djmedi4.com). Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door, or online at inticketing.com. Call 965-8676 or visit velvet-jones.com for details.