BREAKING COVER
New Years Eve doesn’t do much for me. Never has. Except for one year when my wife and I were in Alpine, Texas, and ventured into a venue called Railroad Blues, where a band called The Damn Torpedoes played hour after hour of Tom Petty covers to my overwhelming joy.
Cover shows appear to be the thing for Halloween, too, as two events this weekend caught my eye. One of them involves The Damn Torpedoes.
1. CHEAP TRICK OR TREAT PARTY
When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Continental Club, 3700 Main Tickets: $10 at the door What: Members of Houston’s beloved The El Orbits are the core around which a Cheap Trick covers band has been built — the result of an alcohol-fueled conversation during a Super Bowl party. The High Roller looks to stir up some hot love for fans of the ’70s proto-power-pop band. They’re on a bill that also includes The Damn Torpedoes, who may offer the most cathartic night of music available to Petty fans right now. And the Molly Jones will play Beatles’ songs.
2. THE HALLOWEENING 666: WALTER’S GOES STRAIGHT TO HECK
When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Walter’s, 1120 Naylor Tickets: $10 suggested donation going to the Montrose Center’s Hurricane Harvey relief efforts
What: A cool, annual tradition finds local indie rock bands picking an act to cover for a full set or, on occasion, a mash-up of two unlikely acts. This year, that means indie pop band Rose Ette transforming into the Velv Ette Underground; the Patsy Cline Inch Nails should be self-explanatory, if an odd mix; members of Lace, Ruiners Sin Fe and Clean Teens will come together as Think Again performing Minor Threat songs; and Giant Kitty and Miears will play Devo songs as Roger and the Grrrls U Want. Oh, and also New Gwarder, a Joy Division/New Order set performed in monster costumes à la GWAR.