Turn it down

Mac’s Bar hosts a Halloween Costume Carnival Sideshow tonight. The event includes a costume contest, live music, sideshow acts and a prize raffle. Performing live is the increasingly busy local gypsy-roots band Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle. Another local act is Dead Ben Rooster, a bluegrass-punk act. A Kentucky-based band, the Ford Theatre Reunion, will also play some of its “circus freak music.” The sideshow will include fire-spinning displays of poi, fans, double staffs and hula-hoops.

Wednesday, Oct. 31 @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over, 9 p.m., $7 

Doom and gloom at Mac´s

It’s a busy week at Mac’s. Earlier this month, the group Hordes (the self-proclaimed “Lansing’s most detached band”) released “Void So Serene” on the Madlantis Records label. The experimental three-song doom/drone single is streamed at hordeslansing.bandcamp.com. Friday the band plays Mac’s Bar, along with fellow heavy-hitters The Plague Years, People Grinding Axes and The Jackpine Snag.

Friday, Nov. 2 @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over, 9 p.m., $5

Decades at Avenue Cafe

During the day The Avenue Café might come off as a coffee shop/study spot. But recently it built a stage and has been hosting everything from jazz to rock ’n’ roll. Friday it hosts four bands. Headlining the show is Decades, a Grand Ledge-based pop punk band featuring front-man Matt Waterman, formerly of Jason Alarm. The trio also includes drummer Damon Depew and bassist Isaac Sprague. Also taking the stage is East Lansing band Wayne Szalinski and 10 Paces, Fire, a Milwaukee-based indie band that’s promoting its new vinyl LP “Lakes Refract & Lakes Reflect” on local label Lower Peninsula Records. Rounding out the roster is another Milwaukee indie-folk outfit, Shoot Down the Moon..

Friday, Nov. 2 @ The Avenue, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, all ages, 8 p.m., $5

Hair metal monsters at Harper´s

Glamhammer is a four member ‘80s glam rock tribute band that plays pop metal hits in an over-the-top, arena-rock fashion. Friday the band plays a free gig at Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub. Their shows come stocked with state-of-the-art lights and lasers, while the members sport the traditional ripped jeans and leather of the genre. No hair metal band would be complete without the flashy, enormous mane, so this local band will also come fully hair-sprayed out, just like Mötley Crüe back in its heyday. Some of the monster ballads in the band’s set include Skid Row’s “18 and Life,” Warrant’s “Cherry Pie” and Poison’s “Every Rose Has its Thorn.”   

Friday, Nov. 2 @ Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave., Lansing, 21 and over, 9:30 p.m., FREE

Boston folk fixture at Fiddle

Since the ‘90s, Boston folk legend Ellis Paul has steadily earned built his cred in the songwriting and acoustic circuit. Friday he returns to town for a Ten Pound Fiddle show. Paul helped revamp the acoustic scene with his urban, literate folk-rock style. He is an avid Woody Guthrie fan, and has released 14 CDs, recently exploring new media avenues with a documentary/concert DVD called "3,000 Miles." He also recently released "Notes from the Road," a critically acclaimed book of poems and stories. For his “The Speed of Trees” CD, he wrote a modern musical setting of Guthrie´s unpublished lyric "God´s Promise." Fans of true folk may want to check out this show. 

Friday, Nov. 2 @ Ten Pound Fiddle — Unitarian Universalist Church, 855 Grove St., East Lansing. Public $15, members $12, students $5. Doors at 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. tenpoundfiddle.org.

Green Door still offers up roots rock every Monday

Steppin’ In It plays every Monday from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at the Green Door. The four-piece band combines blues, folk and Cajun into one melodic blend of traditional, old time music. Aside from becoming a staple in the Lansing roots scene, the band has toured the country and released a few acclaimed albums. For the past year, the band’s bassist Dominic John Suchyta has been gigging across the world with his friend Jack White. He also has offered his bass services on a number of White’s Third Man releases. For more Steppin’ In It tour dates, go to steppininit.com.

Monday, Nov. 5 @ Green Door, 2005 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 21 and over, 9:30 p.m.