Every Halloween, an increasing number of local bands decide to dress up and pretend to be a band they’re not. Over at SF Weekly, Jessi Phillips has a fine roundup of these Halloween cover-band shows, including bargain-basement tributes to the Cure, Prince, Devo, Thin Lizzy, Sleater-Kinney, David Bowie, Bikini Kill, the Ramones and many more.
But what if your tastes run counter to pure novelty? As usual, there’s more music happening in the Bay Area this weekend than one might know what to do with. Here are our picks — which don’t require a costume for entry.
Thursday, Oct. 29: Danzig at the San Jose Civic. The king of horror-punk doesn’t need to dress up for Halloween — as the former lead singer of the Misfits, Danzig essentially is Halloween. When he’s not out shopping for kitty litter, he’s still one of punk’s most captivating, bellowing dramatists. Details here.

Friday, Oct. 30: Kool Keith at Social Hall SF. We’ll be the first to admit that Kool Keith has delivered his share of spotty shows (a particularly phoned-in concert at the Maritime Hall after his epic Black Elvis/Lost in Space in 1999 still stings), but the twisted genius of the man born Keith Thornton is worth the risk. Styled as a Sun Ra / George Clinton for the 21st century, the producer and rapper is a true American original, here promising “the return of Dr. Octagon,” his 1996 gynecologist alter-ego. Details here.
Friday, Oct. 30: ROVA Sax Quartet at Center for New Music, San Francisco. The ROVA quartet are a Bay Area institution that we often take for granted; in fact, they’re soon journeying on a European tour to bask in the appreciation of overseas audiences. Before they go, Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs and Jon Raskin perform compositions both new and decades-old at this intimate space which, along with presenting the city’s most daring new music, nobly gives 100% of the door’s proceeds to the performers. Details here.