MOONFEST 2015
Poster by Christopher Ian Macfarlane | Haunted Mirror Forest
Billed as the biggest Halloween party in the country during which 30,000 “souls collide,” Palm Beach’s Moonfest has evolved into a proper October tradition for South Florida’s droves of party-zombies, assorted festive ghoulies, and music fans alike. While the costumes of the crowds and libations are certainly enough to make Moonfest a blast, the musical performances are the real draw here, and this year’s lineup brings the goods for just about everyone! So, while time is running out for you to figure out/construct/purchase a mind-blowingly good costume, we’ll take the guesswork out of this year’s Moonfest musical lineup with a primer on some of the notable acts performing.
Headlining the event on the 500 Block Stage of Moonfest is sorely unsung power-pop band The Romantics, whom you will immediately recognize via their inescapable, ubiquitous gift to ‘80s party montage clips, television commercials, high school dances, and grocery store satellite radio programmers, “What I Like About You”. The uninitiated will also recognize this Detroit-bred group — perhaps less immediately — from its less massive, though still quite gigantic hit, “Talking In Your Sleep”. Any fan of perfect power-pop songwriting (We’re talking to you, Big Star worshippers!) should take the time to dig beyond the Romantics’ big hits and get acquainted with one of the most underrated groups of the ‘80s. We suggest starting with the album Strictly Personal and spending some time with In Heat as well!
The Romantics
Moonfest is, above all, a chiefly local event that focuses on our community and the hometown musical heroes this year’s lineup has on tap displays the very best of what the region’s eclectic music scene has to offer. Three groups I’d make sure to see perform are Raggy Monster, the Band in Heaven, and the Riot Act. The orchestrally-infused art-rock of Palm Beach’s Raggy Monster is difficult to compare to much of anything, however, we’ve rarely heard the band discussed in anything less than near hyperbolic terms. The shoegazing-indie sect is well-represented by the Band in Heaven, whose music should appeal to anyone with a taste for the languid psych-rock of the mid ‘60s, and the fiery traditional rock ‘n’ roll of Fort Lauderdale-based duo, the Riot Act, will undoubtedly get the place shaking with the fury of Little Richard and the grit of The Cramps. $1000 Costume Contest and more!
Moonfest kicks off at 6pm, October 31 on Clematis Street in Dntn West Palm Beach. The Romantics, Raggy Monster, Gravel Kings, Lavola, Catalogues, Rivers, Jumbo Shrimp, The Band in Heaven, Stratolites, Riot Act, Cog Nomen, Miracle Men, Lftd Lvls, Fusik, PRIZM, Lo-IQ?, Dj Xta-C, James Boucher, Phat Rabbit, ONE3, Dani Fortune, Lance-O/Kulcha Shok, Beat Thief, Dj Menace, Seizure Machine, CLVB DRVGS, ENOC, SHARK Anthony, Guilty Verdict. Strictly 21+. Tickets $10 advance and $15 day of. VIP is $55 advance and $75 day of. Get yours TODAY: http://www.moonfest.me
~ Von Bader
