Goodnight Raleigh - a look at the art, architecture, history, and people of the city at night

Halloween in August a Tremendous Time!

Kaptain Lee Moore and Miss Rachel Riot

This Saturday, Boneland Productions held their Halloween in August Extravaganza to raise money for their upcoming film Going Feral, and to celebrate their producer Miss Rachel Riot’s 26th birthday. With promises of stage acts, live music, a costume contest, and birthday cake, I’d been looking forward to this event since hearing about it a few weeks ago at Back to the 80s. My evening was split with a close friend’s bachelor party, so I had my friend Myque join me with his camera to get as many shots in as possible.

Medusa - photo by Myque

Medusa - photo by Myque

I made it to Volume 11 Tavern – host of the party – at about 1130. I hadn’t been to Volume 11 before, but found it to be a pretty nice venue. A large bar area and a great sound/lighting system really set the place out and the staff kept up with orders well.

The soundman - photo by Myque

The soundman - photo by Myque

Two local musicians

There was a good crowd assembled, the majority in costumes.

A fellow photographer and his date

There was definitely a lot of great Halloween atmosphere going on, despite the waterlogged heat outside.

Kaptain Lee Moore

Kaptain Lee Moore

Miss Rachel Herself - photo by Myque

Miss Rachel Herself - photo by Myque

the birthday girl

the birthday girl

I caught up with Kaptain Lee Moore, head of Boneland Productions, to tell him congratulations on a great event and say hello. He was wearing a fantastic zombie costume. About that time Myque arrived, we ordered up some beer, and hung around the bar area trying to get a few good photographs.

Some dirty closet smoking yuppie

Some dirty closet smoking yuppie - photo by Myque

Pretty soon the next band up – Left Outlet – started warming up.

Left Outlet Keyboardist, warming up

Left Outlet warming up

Left Outlet warming up

“These guys F-ing rock!” my words disappeared into my cupped hand before reaching Myque’s ear, obliterated by the audial assault coming from onstage. In all truth, Left Outlet kicked some serious ass, providing absolutely withering metal and enough energy on stage to trip the southeastern grid. I think the band has been around for a few years, but if you haven’t seen them yet I’d definitely suggest you make it out to one of their shows.

(I apologize for not using any bandmembers’ names, I’m terrible with names and couldn’t quite figure it out from the website.)

Starting out

Starting out

Left Outlet - photo by Myque

Left Outlet drummer and keyboardist - photo by Myque

Left Outlet drummer and keyboardist - photo by Myque

Left Outlet

Left Outlet

Really putting out some sound

Really putting out some sound

Splits - photo by Myque

Splits - photo by Myque

A brief reprieve

A brief reprieve

Back at it - photo by Myque

Back at it - photo by Myque

More

More

Walking the edge

Walking the edge

Left Outlet Keyboardist - photo by Myque

Left Outlet Keyboardist - photo by Myque

Another quick breath - photo by Myque

Another quick breath - photo by Myque

Last Song - photo by Myque

Last Song - photo by Myque

After the band finished, it was time for the costume contest. There were a lot of really fun costumes – my personal favorites were the Cyberpunk (John Stancil of PopErotiq) and the Nerd (introducing himself as “what everyone here is deep down”), although the winning prize went to A.J. Reid, the keyboardist/synth player from the next band Of Colour, with her very awesome costume.

Kaptain Lee and the Cyberpunk

Kaptain Lee and the Cyberpunk

Kaptain Lee, the Nerd, and Brett Michaels

Kaptain Lee, the Nerd, and Brett Michaels

A classic pose

A classic pose

Kaptain Lee and Miss Rachel Riot with the three finalists

Kaptain Lee and Miss Rachel Riot with the three finalists

AJ Reid of Of Colour, with her winning costume

AJ Reid of Of Colour, with her winning costume

Myke Rozar - winner of the birthday kiss

Myke Rozar - winner of the birthday kiss

After the contest, there was a raffle for some prizes. Myke Rozar, the bassist for Of Colour, won the birthday kiss.

I grabbed a few more pictures in the audience and around the bar, then headed back to see Of Colour play.

B. Armitage of Of Colour, waiting for the show to start

B. Armitage of Of Colour, waiting for the show to start

warming up

warming up

Of Colour is a local rock band described by the lead singer’s girlfriend as “sort of rock, and really good”. Of Colour was really damn good. While not as hardcore or possibly experienced as the previous band (one of the members is only seventeen), they still brought a ton of just slightly more upbeat energy at a perfect time to keep the night going, even getting a ton of audience members on stage at the end. Visually, too, they were fantastic, with a great look to match their sound.

Of Colour

Zach Sterman and Myke Rozar

B Armitage - photo by Myque

B Armitage - photo by Myque

B. and Kelley

B. and Kelley

AJ Reid

AJ Reid

Of Colour - photo by Myque

Of Colour - photo by Myque

Shane O'Daniel

Shane O'Daniel

Shane O'Daniel - photo by Myque

Shane O'Daniel - photo by Myque

Kelly the Reveller - photo by Myque

Kelly the Reveller - photo by Myque

They seemed to bring quite a following with them; I definitely think they’ll be a band to watch for more great things to come from and definitely recommend making one of their shows, to.

After the show ended, we walked out back, and took a few photos with the band and Kaptain Lee.

Kaptain Lee with B and AJ

Kaptain Lee with B and AJ

Me and B - photo by Myque

Me and B - photo by Myque

B and his date

B and his date

The Aftermath - photo by Myque

The Aftermath - photo by Myque