Yes! It’s Halloween! That means it’s time to dress as weirdly as you want and take advantage of any excuse to party! But wait…what to wear? Fear not, dear readers. Simply follow any of my music-inspired suggestions for another great year of candy, booze and girls dressed like hos.

Local hip-hop act State of the Mingo doesn’t intend for its lyrics to be taken seriously—but we do so, anyway. SOM’s Zach Maloof, Taylor Osborn and Nick Pfeil are MCs OG Willikers, Professor Cornelius and Nick Jackalson, respectively. This tongue-in-cheek act just released its debut EP Enter The Mingo.

A recent distribution deal with Florida’s Blues Destiny Records didn’t stop Sean Healen from immediately getting back in the studio. For his forthcoming album, tentatively titled When the Wind, Healen brought on the legendary Malcolm Burn for a new take on production.

If you haven’t heard of the Melvins, what’s wrong with you? For more than 27 years, the acclaimed grunge-punk outfit has reinvented itself through many highly varied albums.

Whether she chooses national acts or local heroes, Heather McKearnan coordinates events for Cowgirl every night of the week. That could change as of Oct. 1. McKearnan leaves Cowgirl, where she is also a bartender, to coach at local gym Undisputed Fitness. As for Cowgirl’s musical future, it’s up in the air.

Nobody’s favorite band invented music. That’s why I’m always curious to find out which bands the musicians I’m into pump in their free time. I caught up with some of my favorite local performers to find out what they listen to, far and near.

Metal trio Judgement Day doesn’t have a single guitar or bass. Rather, brothers Lewis and Anton Patzner shred the cello and violin, respectively, in place of the usual instruments. Drummer Jon Bush rounds out the band’s sound with ferocious blast beats and unbelievably intricate fills.

Some DJs are 17 years old. Local legend DJ Oona has been at the helm of a single event, Trash Disco, for that long. With a willingness to experiment and stay current while maintaining her roots, Oona blends house music with disco, soul, hip-hop, rock and more.

DJ Automatic’s Mixtale Volume II: Theater of the Mind dropped last week and is available for free online. This release marks the second iteration in Automatic’s Mixtale series (the first featured Atlanta rapper TI), and focuses on the life and music of legendary Chicago emcee-actor Common.

Since new owners Bill Wilson and Mike McKey took over in November 2009, The Pub & Grill at Santa Fe Brewing Company has been undergoing some changes. Many of us are psyched—and not just about the beer in cans.