Halloween, It Just Hits Different

Bust-outs, covers, costumes, guest sit-ins, tricks and treats…a Halloween show just hits a bit different. Explore some of our favorite 10/31 shows from years past, all available to stream with a nugs.net subscription. There’s a lot more out there so do some discovery, and be sure to check out our upcoming livestream schedule to catch the next Halloween show that’s sure to shake your bones.

• Pearl Jam – 2009/10/31 in Philadelphia, PA
  • The final night of a four-show run at the Spectrum, a massive double encore where in the final set the band came out dressed as Devo and performed live debuts of “Whip It” and “Sweet Lew”.
• Gov’t Mule – 2013/10/31 in Oakland, CA
  • One of the many special Mule-O-Ween’s, this 2013 show featured Robby Krieger of The Doors for all of set 2, with a setlist focused on The Doors catalog reimagined.
• Grateful Dead – 10/31/1971 in Columbus, OH“
  • There were friendly spirits indeed at play on this Halloween night, a gem of a show from early in Keith Godchaux’s tenure with the Dead.”
• The String Cheese Incident – 2004/10/31 in Madison, WI
  • First Time Played: Peace Train (Cat Stevens), Rock The Casbah (The Clash), I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag (Country Joe), Rockin’ in The Free World (Neil Young), Revolution (The Beatles) & Take The Power Back (RATM)
• Umphrey’s McGee – 2014/10/31 in Boston, MA
  • Massive mashups including “Sweet Emotion” x “Walk This Way” x “Funk 49”, “She’s A Bad Mama Jama” x “Give It To Me Baby” and more.
• Dave Matthews Band – 1998/10/31 in Oakland, CA
  • From one of the most well-regarded tours in the band’s history, and their last Halloween concert to-date, this show has long been hailed a classic and every performance is a highlight.
• Widespread Panic – 2015/10/31 in Asheville, NC
  • The band debuted 4 covers including “Dooley”, “The Fishin’ Hole”, “Have A Cigar” and “Young Lust”. Fiddle Player Nicki Sanders joined the band on stage for several songs.
• Lotus – 2009/10/31 in Baltimore, MD
  • Dubbed “Protein Pills in the Labyrinth”, members dressed up as several David Bowie characters including Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke, and Jareth. The band performed 8 Bowie songs that night.
• Big Something – 2021/10/31 in Wilmington, NC
  • Night three of their 2021 Halloween run billed as “Talking Something”, a tribute to the Talking Heads
• Jerry Garcia Band – 1992/10/31 in Oakland, CA
  • After three months off the road due to health issues, Jerry Garcia was welcomed by a crowd of 17,000 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in Oakland, CA. He greeted the crowd with a heart-felt “How Sweet It Is” as his first song back on stage.
• Billy Strings – 2021/10/31 in Asheville, NC
  • The Wizard of Oz themed three night run concluded with debut covers of the Rolling Stones, The Doors, Elton John, and more. Billy dressed as the Scarecrow, and the band participated in costumes from the film as well.
• Dead & Company – 2019/10/31 in New York, NY
  • This was the first show Dead & Company played together after the passing of lyricist Robert Hunter, and the first two sets featured songs that Hunter had co-written. The show began with the four original Grateful Dead members performing an emotional rendition of “Ripple,” one of Hunter’s many masterpieces.
• The Disco Biscuits – 2015/10/31 in Syracuse, NY
  • Their first Halloween show in 5 years, a disco and funk extravaganza with debut covers and guests the Philly Stray Horns and singer Alita Moses.
• Goose – 2021/10/31 in Worcester, MA
  • The Austin Powers’ themed evening consisted of rare covers like the “Dr. Evil Rap”, “My Generation”, “I’m A Believer” and more.
• Phil Lesh & Friends – 2017/10/31 in Port Chester, NY
  • With special guests Rob Barraco, Nicki Bluhm, Robert Randolph & Preservation Hall Jazz Band
• Leftover Salmon – 2013/10/31 in Atlanta, GA
  • “Basically Frightened” through “Right Now” with Col. Bruce Hampton. Count M’butu plays congas and percussion the whole show.
• moe. – 2015/10/31 in Philadelphia, PA
  • A “Halloween Star Wars rock fest” with the band members dressed as the movie characters and the show was comprised of Star Wars songs, altered themed lyrics and puns on moe. originals, and new, never before played cover songs.
• Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – 2021/10/31 in Columbus, OH
  • A “Daft Side of the Moon” Halloween featuring mashups of Daft Punk and Pink Floyd songs throughout the night.