Mid-American Metal Fest Rocks Halloween

by Jesse Gernigin

If there’s any music that really fits with Halloween’s dark side, it’s metal. And Doug Hulme, owner of Johnny’s Sidebar in Collinsville, is delivering what has to be a near-lethal dose of it this season.

Starting Friday night, he’ll be hosting a weekend of metal mania, with the Mid-American Metal Fest. The event includes twenty metal bands, ten a day for two days, starting at 5 pm both Friday and Saturday, and ending at 3 am both nights.

Doug gets animated when talking about the metal fest. To imagine Doug, envision a six-foot-three, fair-skinned gentle giant who handles his smile the way he pours his beer. That is, liberally. Dressed in a worn pair of pants and T-shirt, he breaks down the line-up of the show over a cup of coffee. Each night is heavy and hard-hitting, composed of all the elements: metal, speed metal, death metal, and brutal death metal.

“Everything!” Doug exclaims with a laugh.

“And,” he continues, “both Friday and Saturday night will have national acts going on around 1 am.”

On Friday night Lividity, (be forewarned, these guys aren’t rated PG) a famous “brutal death metal” band, headlines. Saturday night features Putrid Pile (see videos below).

Putrid Pile (story continues below)

“Which is great!” Doug says, “He’s a one man metal band, literally.  People come all across the country to catch this guy’s act.  It will be a big deal.”

Both Lividity and Putrid Pile are national acts that, even if you don’t like metal, are worth catching. Especially on Halloween.

You can pre-buy your bracelet for the show by going up to Johnny’s Sidebar (see map with address below).

“We’ve already pre-sold eighty bracelets,” Doug says, “But there will be plenty of bracelets available for walk ups on both Friday and Saturday.” Tickets are $15 at the door.

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1. Edwardsville Halloween Guide
2. Pre-Halloween Bash at Big Daddy’s
3. Celebrate Halloween at Laurie’s Place
4. Big Daddy’s Halloween Bash
5. Edwardsville and Glen Carbon Wine Fest