Santa Maria Sun / Music

Monster bash

BY JOE PAYNE

October is the time of year when we can all unabashedly pull our favorite costumes out of the attic and play dress up. Some go silly, some go spooky, but the spirit of fun is the same. The Addamo Bistro and Wine Bar is celebrating the holiday spirit with a series of weekly concerts/costume parties in October dubbed “Rocktober!”

Melting time: Time Furnace will be performing twice during "Rocktober!" including ’70s Night and Fright Night. PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEITH COX

The events occur Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bistro and Wine Bar at 400 E. Clark in Old Town Orcutt. This is the second year “Rocktober” will be at Addamo; its debut was a huge success last year.

“This is something that we hope to do every year,” said manager Bethany Pinzon. “Last year we tried it, it was such a fun event, and we had so many customers who found us for the first time because of ‘Rocktober’—and now they are regulars.”

Each event will feature a local band or musician performing live, as well as food and drink specials to match the theme of the night. Each night will have a different costume theme customers are requested to dress to, with the staff all dressed up as well. This year, due to there being more Wednesdays in October, a few new themes were added to favorites from last year.

“The staff love ‘Rocktober,’” Pinzon said. “We all kind of put our heads together and found the themes as a team.”

The first ‘Rocktober’ event is Oct. 3 and is Country Night which sees the staff dressed as country girls and customers coming in their best western wear or hillbilly rags. The live music will include guitarist and singer Jacob Cole.

“Jacob does a lot of Americana, folk, and country,” Pinzon said. “He has a real Johnny Cash vibe, and a real smoky voice.”

The next event is ’70s Night on Oct. 10 featuring Time Furnace performing classic rock music. Customers are invited to don platform shoes, afros, or any other ’70s-themed attire they can come up with. There will be disco balls and black lights completing the mood in the bistro.

A new addition to the theme nights is “Superhero Night” on Oct. 17. From Superman to the Wonder Twins, all are welcome to slip on some spandex and a cape and dance or relax and listen to the music of Nataly Lola.

Get ready to Rocktober The Addamo Tasting Room and Bistro present “ROCKtober” Wednesdays in October featuring live music and a themed costume party each night from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 3 is Country Night, Oct. 10 is ’70s Night, Oct. 17 is Superhero Night, Oct. 24 is Rock/Pop Star Night, and Oct. 31 is Fright Night. The Addamo Tasting Room and Bistro is at 400 E. Clark, Old Orcutt. These events are free. More info: 937-6400 or bethany@addamovineyards.com.

Another new addition to the lineup is on Oct. 24. Rock Star/Pop Star Night is unique in that is won’t include a professional live performer. Instead, the karaoke night features performances by customers dressed up as their favorite rock or pop stars and performing their music.

The last “Rocktober” event falls on Halloween night: Oct. 31. The theme is Fright Night, which welcomes customers to get spooky. The staff will be done up as zombies, and the bistro will welcome back Time Furnace for a performance of all spooky themed music like “Witchy Woman” and “Bad Moon Rising.”

“We do live music here every Wednesday night for the last three years and we wanted to put a fun little twist on what we were doing already,” Pinzon said. “It was so much fun last year, we just couldn’t wait to do it again this year.”

Starting the season

The Allan Hancock College Concert Band presents its opening concert of the 2012-2013 season featuring selections by David Shaffer, Robert Sheldon, Modeste Mussorgsky, and others on Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 2970 Santa Maria Way, Santa Maria. Cost is $10, $5 for students. More info: 922-6966, Ext. 3252; soglesby@hancockcollege.edu; or hancockcollege.edu.

Fun at the 510

The 510 Event Center presents a live blues jam featuring local musicians led by Juan Marquez and Sangria Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. DJ Orlando entertains Thursday nights starting at 10 p.m. (dress code enforced). DJ Orlando also spins for “Margarita Night” every Monday from 9 p.m. to midnight. Saturdays feature an open mic from 4 to 7 p.m., and Saturday nights are Latin night featuring live norteño and banda music. Call for times. The 510 Event Center is at 510 South Broadway, Santa Maria. More info: 928-5510, 510eventcenter@gmail.com, facebook.com/510eventcenter, or 510eventcenter.com.

Chumash jams

The Chumash Casino and Resort presents the bluegrass/folk/country masters Alison Krauss and Union Station on Sept. 27. The Chumash Casino Resort is at 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. More info: 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.

All that jazz

The Santa Maria Inn presents “A New Twist on an Old Favorite” in the Tap Room featuring performances by Mezcal on Fridays. Mofongo performs the first Saturday of each month, the Sammy Labastida Jazz and Blues Band performs the second Saturday of each month, Louie Ortega performs the third Saturday of each month, and Lawless and Dean perform the fourth Saturday of each month. The shows take place in the Tap Room, Santa Maria Inn, 801 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More info: 928-7777 or santamariainn.com.

Maverick music

The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment, including the country music of the Jimi Nelson Band on Sept. 28 at 8:45 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 p.m. “Concert on the Deck” featuring Jimi Nelson is Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. Jimi Nelson and the Sideshow performs Sept. 29 at 8:45 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.

Contact Calendar Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.